Imperial First Advanced Academy—inside one of the classrooms, a group of teenagers were engaged in lively discussion.
"This month's resource allocation increased again! This is amazing!"
"Yeah, but the Empire must be planning something big. They wouldn't strengthen student training this fast unless something serious was going on."
"Ever since the Empire was founded two years ago, everything has been expanding rapidly. The elders in my clan said development will only accelerate from here… but judging from that emergency notice, the situation seems far from simple."
The speaker—a boy wearing glasses with sharp, calculating eyes—was from the Nara Clan.
The Imperial First Advanced Academy had risen shortly after the founding of the Uzumaki Empire. The Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced tiers were established one after another. Though the current Advanced Academy couldn't compare to what it would become in the future, it still gathered the strongest young elites from across the entire Ninja World.
The Nara boy who spoke was Shikamaru's cousin. While not as naturally brilliant as Shikamaru, he was far more motivated. His intelligence combined with the Nara Clan's endorsement earned him a place in the Academy—and his ambition was clear. He wanted to become a high-ranking official of the Empire, much like his cousin.
"Hahaha! Who cares about all that?" another student shouted. He was muscular, loud, and—notably—didn't seem especially bright. "With my points and the school's new resource boost, I can finally exchange for that A-rank ninjutsu! My ranking will skyrocket!"
"You—can't you use your brain for once?" the girl next to him snapped, exasperated.
If she hadn't been assigned to the same future squad as him, she would never bother speaking to him.
She had been sent back to the Academy for retraining because of her exceptional potential. The Empire's newly founded education system was impressive, but the earliest batch of students—from the Elementary Academies that started from scratch—had not yet grown enough. Thus, for now, they had to select promising talents from existing shinobi.
Once the recruitment expanded across the entire Ninja World, numerous geniuses emerged—including many Kekkei Genkai users. With more resources flowing in, the students were thrilled.
Meanwhile, some departments were just as energized.
In one research division, Sasori, now promoted to a department head due to his unmatched technical prowess, stared at the newly issued notice with excitement sparkling in his eyes.
Naruto rarely restricted him and allowed him complete freedom in his research. Who could've imagined that after disappearing, Sasori would end up joining the Umbrella R&D Department—and eventually become its leader?
His original superior had already been transferred to Sky City, while Sasori remained, becoming the head of the R&D division and immersing himself in his favorite pursuit: research.
Back then, Sasori could have gone to Sky City as well, but he rejected the offer in favor of his experiments.
And now, as a department head, he no longer had to hide his inventions. His dream project—the Gundam Plan—was officially approved and funded. His original prototype had already gone through several upgrades.
"Perfect. With the funding secured, I can replace the armor material again. The hardness still isn't enough…" Sasori muttered, fully absorbed in his ideas.
Whatever happened to the Empire wasn't his concern. Naruto exists for that.
A non-combatant like him had only one mission: research.
Orochimaru was just as thrilled. He had rushed back to his lab the moment the emergency notice was issued, eager to begin working with his team on the advanced technologies Sasuke had brought from the future.
Most people were filled with excitement.
But one person felt nothing but pure suffering—almost enough to die from stress alone.
Kakuzu.
The unfortunate man had become the Empire's Minister of Finance.
He was the one managing the entire national treasury.
And now… massive allocations were being approved in a single day.
Every time Kakuzu watched funds flow out, his hands trembled violently—so much so that it looked like he had developed Parkinson's. This pitiful state quickly became the biggest joke in the capital.
In the city, Naruto reviewed a new proposal and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"The new generation of shinobi isn't weak… but we can't afford to neglect the current generation either. Their strength needs improvement too."
He sighed.
"Should I find someone to give them special training? But… who?"
"The First Hokage? No… no."
Naruto instantly dismissed the idea.
Considering Hashirama's personality—and his infamous 'just clap your hands and do it' philosophy—he was absolutely unsuitable for systematic training.
"Tobirama? No, that would waste his talents."
Senju Tobirama was a near-perfect all-rounder with countless important responsibilities. Using him as a mass instructor would be an outright waste.
"Kakashi-sensei? No… he has other duties lately."
Naruto groaned in frustration.
Choosing an instructor was trickier than he expected.
"Tsunade is already overseeing medical affairs and research. If I add anything more to her workload, she'll definitely explode on me."
Naruto rubbed his head, unable to decide who should handle the massive training program ahead.
"How about that person?"
Shikamaru—ever the calm strategist—looked up from his documents. It had been a long time since he'd seen Naruto this troubled.
"Who?" Naruto asked, turning toward him.
But before Shikamaru could even reply, a figure surfaced in Naruto's mind on its own.
Of course.
There was only one person who could unify, elevate, and maximize the strength of the entire shinobi force.
Seeing Naruto's eyes brighten, Shikamaru stretched lazily, leaned back on the sofa, and resumed reading the newspaper.
"It's been two years," he murmured. "It's time you spoke with him. Honestly… I almost forgot he was still waiting."
Naruto's gaze grew deep—far deeper than the sunny boy he had once been. The aura of a leader had long since settled over him.
A day passed swiftly.
It was time for Future Sasuke and Boruto to return.
Everyone gathered to see them off.
The present Sasuke stepped forward first. His eyes shone with a brilliance completely different from before—no longer merely sharp and cold, but vast, calm, and deep. His entire aura had transformed. Ordinary people couldn't perceive the scale of the change, but Naruto—who understood him best—could see it clearly.
Sasuke's Rinnegan had grown significantly stronger, its abilities more refined and potent. His overall power had risen tremendously.
Naruto himself had taken the measure of Future Sasuke's power… yet what he sensed was a boundless, unfathomable force—something he could not yet comprehend or reach. But even so, Naruto had not walked away empty-handed.
"Heaven Rewards Diligence… Mental Will +25."
Every step he had taken over the years—every sleepless night, every struggle—had forged him into what he was today.
He was stronger now than he had been yesterday, and tomorrow he would be stronger still.
"Thank you," Boruto said with a smile, trying his best to appear strong. "We have to go back. I have to save my world."
"Sasuke… one last gift for you," Naruto said.
He placed a hand on Future Sasuke's shoulder. A faint golden light flashed—and vanished instantly.
Sasuke smiled in return.
"Thank you. …Goodbye."
A pillar of light descended, enveloping Sasuke and Boruto. A strange, ancient power—one that did not belong to this world—began to surge.
"Understanding of the Essence of Time +0.05!"
Naruto exhaled softly.
He had once tried to study temporal power, but the mysteries of time were unreachable—there was no technique, no method, no guidance. Never did he expect the power of time itself to give him this opportunity.
The first step—from zero to one—was always the hardest.
With a rippling hum, the pillar of light activated.
Whoosh!
The two figures vanished.
A faint, bitter smile touched Naruto's lips.
They would likely… never meet again.
When Future Sasuke and Boruto returned to their own world, the sight before them was bleak. Mountains shattered. Cities reduced to ruins. The land itself bearing the scars of endless catastrophe.
"Sasuke-sensei… do you think I'll ever get to see Dad and Mom again?"
Boruto's voice trembled, sadness clouding his eyes.
Sasuke's expression softened with a bitter smile.
"We didn't return empty-handed. At least… you met your mother. And I gained a power with potential."
Because from the very beginning, Sasuke knew the truth—
The world they had visited was not their past.
It was a parallel world.
Naruto had known it as well, but neither of them had spoken about it.
To return to one's true past and change it—
The backlash from such world-altering karma would be unbearable for any being, even the strongest of shinobi.
The Ōtsutsuki understood this well. That was the only reason such a time-altering treasure could be used so freely—
because whatever changed would not affect the present reality.
What Naruto had gifted Sasuke was the seed of his Immortal Deity ability, along with a portion of his insights and theoretical breakthroughs regarding the clone technique.
For Sasuke, this was invaluable—something that could change everything.