Naruto Uzumaki, the Seventh Hokage, awoke in a realm of endless white. His cerulean eyes blinked against the blinding expanse, confusion knitting his brow. The last thing he remembered was the searing pain of Kawaki's ninjutsu, the desperate clash to protect his son, Boruto, and the fading cries of a battlefield soaked in sacrifice. His whisker-marked face, weathered by years of leadership and loss, twisted in disbelief.
"Where… am I?" he murmured, voice hoarse. "Didn't I… die fighting Kawaki?"
The space around him was vast, a formless void where no horizon dared to define itself. No wind stirred, no shadows fell—only an oppressive silence answered his call. He staggered to his feet, the familiar weight of his orange-and-black Hokage cloak absent, leaving him in the simple garb of his youth. His hands clenched, searching for the familiar heft of a kunai, but found nothing.
"Hey! Is anyone out there?" he shouted, his voice swallowed by the emptiness. No echo, no response—just the hollow beating of his own heart. Naruto's shoulders slumped. Maybe this is the afterlife, he thought, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. Heaven… or something else.
He closed his eyes, memories flooding back like a river breaking its banks. His life unspooled before him, each moment a vivid spark in the darkness of this strange place.
Born an orphan, sealed with the Nine-Tails' chakra, Naruto had been shunned by Konoha's villagers, their fearful glares branding him as a monster. Hunger had been a constant companion, his childhood a patchwork of loneliness and defiance. Yet, even in those dark days, a dream burned within him—to become Hokage, to prove his worth, to protect the village that despised him.
At twelve, everything changed. Iruka-sensei's warm smile and the forehead protector he bestowed marked Naruto's first step as a Konoha genin. Under Kakashi's sharp gaze, he honed his skills, learning the weight of teamwork alongside Sasuke and Sakura. In the Land of Waves, facing Zabuza's blade, Naruto drove a kunai into his own hand, blood dripping as he swore to carve his own ninja way. That pain, that resolve, became the cornerstone of his spirit.
The Chunin Exams brought new trials. Defeating Neji, Naruto silenced whispers of "demon fox" with raw talent and unyielding heart, earning his place as a rising star. When Gaara, consumed by his tailed beast, threatened Konoha, Naruto's fists and words reached him, forging a bond that would save the Sand Village's future Kazekage. Those victories were just the beginning.
Under Jiraiya's gruff mentorship, Naruto grew stronger, chasing the dream of peace. He rescued Gaara from the Akatsuki's clutches, earning Konoha's respect. At sixteen, cloaked in sage chakra, he toppled Pain, the Akatsuki's leader, and shed the "demon fox" label forever, becoming Konoha's hero. With Killer Bee's guidance, he tamed the Nine-Tails, Kurama, transforming their bond from cage to camaraderie. In the Fourth Great Ninja War, alongside Sasuke, empowered by the Sage of the Six Paths, Naruto sealed Kaguya, the mother of chakra, bringing peace to a fractured world.
Life after the war was a dream fulfilled. Naruto married Hinata, their love blossoming into a family with Boruto and Himawari. At thirty, he became the Seventh Hokage, his childhood vow realized. His friends—Shikamaru, Ino, Choji, Sakura—built families of their own, their laughter echoing through a peaceful Konoha. For a time, the ninja world knew harmony.
But peace was fleeting. The Otsutsuki clan, gods among shinobi, descended like a storm. Kinshiki, Momoshiki, Urashiki, Isshiki—each bore power that dwarfed even Kaguya's. In the brutal duel with Isshiki, Naruto lost Kurama, his lifelong companion, the wound deeper than any blade. Sasuke, his brother in all but blood, suffered an even crueler fate—his Rinnegan destroyed by Boruto, manipulated by the enemy's will. The pain of that betrayal gnawed at Naruto's heart, even as he forgave his son.
Desperate, Naruto sought answers at Mount Myoboku. The Great Toad Sage's prophecy rang clear: "Boruto will change the ninja world." With unwavering faith, Naruto poured his strength into training Boruto. The boy's Pure Eye awakened, and under Sasuke's tutelage, he inherited the Uchiha's sword and cloak, surpassing even the legends of old. Boruto became a beacon of hope, the ninja world's greatest warrior.
Yet fate was unkind. Boruto brought Kawaki, a boy marked by the same diamond-shaped seal, to Konoha. Their friendship was instant, a spark of camaraderie in a darkening world. But the Kara organization twisted Kawaki's heart, turning him against Boruto. Kawaki's ambition to revive the Moon Eye Plan and plant the Divine Tree ignited the Fifth Great Ninja War.
Naruto's fists tightened at the memory. He had watched his world crumble—Hinata's gentle smile, Himawari's laughter, Sasuke's fierce loyalty, Gaara's quiet strength, Iruka's guidance, Kakashi's wisdom, Shikamaru's cunning—all lost to the war's merciless tide. As Hokage, he was forced to the rear, protected while his loved ones fell. In the end, only he and Boruto remained, facing Kawaki's betrayal. Naruto's final act was shielding his son, his body breaking under Kawaki's ninjutsu.
Tears welled in Naruto's eyes as he stood in the void, the weight of his failures crushing him. "Boruto…" he whispered. "Did he save the ninja world? Did he fulfill the prophecy?"
A voice, ancient and resonant, cut through the silence. "He and Kawaki failed. The Otsutsuki's power overwhelmed them both."
Naruto's head snapped up. A figure emerged from the white haze, cloaked in robes that shimmered with ethereal light. Long hair flowed like a river, and eyes glowed with the wisdom of ages. Naruto's breath caught. "Sage of the Six Paths?"
The Sage's weathered face softened with a sad smile. "We meet again, child of prophecy."
Naruto stumbled forward, desperation clawing at his voice. "What do you mean they failed? Kawaki was with the Otsutsuki, wasn't he?"
The Sage sighed, his gaze distant. "After your death, Kawaki saw through the Kara's lies. He joined Boruto to fight the Otsutsuki, but their combined strength wasn't enough. Both became vessels for the clan's will, their bodies claimed."
Naruto's knees buckled, his mind reeling. "No… Boruto was supposed to change everything! The Great Toad Sage said—" His voice broke, tears streaming down his face. "Why? Why did it end like this?"
He collapsed to one knee, clutching his head, the weight of loss suffocating him. The vibrant, unyielding spirit of the Seventh Hokage flickered, dimmed by despair. The Sage watched in silence, his expression unreadable.
After a moment, the Sage's voice softened. "The Great Toad Sage's prophecy was not wrong, Naruto."
Naruto's tear-streaked face lifted, hope a fragile spark in his eyes. "What… what do you mean?"
The Sage's gaze pierced the void, as if seeing beyond its boundaries. "The prophecy's truth lies not in what has passed, but in what is yet to come. Your story, Naruto, is far from over."
The white expanse pulsed, a faint hum vibrating through the air. Naruto's heart quickened. Somewhere in this endless void, a new path awaited—one that could rewrite the fate of the ninja world.