The void thrummed with ancient power as the Sage of the Six Paths' words echoed in Naruto Uzumaki's mind. The revelation of the Samsara Eye—its ability to pierce time and space, to resurrect a soul in its original body—ignited a fire in Naruto's chest. His son, Boruto, had sacrificed everything to bring him here, to this ethereal crossroads between life and death, past and future. The cracked Plow, pulsating faintly in the Sage's hand, was more than a relic; it was a beacon of hope, a chance to rewrite the tragedies that had shattered the ninja world.
Naruto's cerulean eyes, still glistening with tears, burned with resolve. "The Samsara Eye…" he whispered, the weight of its power sinking in. "Boruto used it to send me here. But why not go back himself? Why me?"
The Sage's gaze was steady, his voice a low rumble that seemed to resonate with the void itself. "The Samsara Eye, known to the Otsutsuki as the key to their forbidden techniques, demands three things: immense chakra, the life of the caster, and a single use before it fades forever. Boruto's Pure Eye, inherited from my brother Hamura, carried his chakra and will. When Boruto became a vessel for the Otsutsuki, he gained the chakra needed to activate the technique. He chose to send you, Naruto, because he believed you could succeed where he could not."
Naruto's heart clenched, picturing his son's determined face, the diamond-shaped mark on his hand, the weight of his final act. "But… why not send himself back? Why risk everything for me?"
The Sage's expression softened, though a shadow of regret lingered. "The journey through time and space is perilous. A soul risks unraveling, memories scattering like ash. Boruto's Pure Eye, guided by Hamura's chakra, brought you here intact to ensure you understood your mission. I am the final safeguard, Naruto, to anchor your purpose before you step into the unknown."
Naruto nodded slowly, the pieces falling into place. Boruto had become the child of prophecy, not by defeating the Otsutsuki, but by giving his father a chance to change history. The Great Toad Sage's words, once cryptic, now rang clear. But doubts gnawed at him. "The Samsara Eye is gone now, isn't it? Boruto used it to send me here. And even if I go back, how do I know my memories will stay?"
The Sage's lips curved into a faint smile, his left hand rising to reveal a shimmering orb—a glowing, crystalline eye that pulsed with otherworldly energy. Naruto's breath caught. "Another Samsara Eye?"
"My brother Hamura awakened both his eyes," the Sage explained, his voice tinged with pride. "One was passed to Boruto through his bloodline, awakened in his moment of need. The other, Hamura entrusted to me as a failsafe. This eye, Naruto, will carry you back, and my power over yin and yang will shield your memories, ensuring they remain whole."
Naruto stared at the eye, its light casting faint reflections across the void. The Sage's foresight, Hamura's sacrifice, Boruto's courage—it all converged on this moment. A bitter laugh escaped him. "You immortals sure don't leave anything to chance, do you? Plan A, Plan B, all set up from the start."
The Sage's smile faded, his gaze heavy with the weight of centuries. "I gambled once, Naruto, believing unity could hold the ninja world together. I lost. Hamura's wisdom gave us this second chance. Now, the choice is yours."
Naruto's fists tightened, his mind racing. "What are my options?"
The Sage's voice grew solemn. "The Samsara Eye can send your soul back through time, but its power is unstable. The Plow is damaged, and the destination uncertain. You have two paths. First, I can return you to this moment—the Fourth Great Ninja War, where you and Sasuke lead the Allied Shinobi Forces against Madara and Obito. Your body awaits, preserved by the technique. Second, you can travel further back, to an earlier time, though I cannot say precisely when. Either way, my yin-yang power will protect your memories, ensuring you carry the knowledge of this future."
Naruto's heart pounded. The Fourth Great Ninja War—a time of chaos, but also a time when his friends, his family, were still alive. He thought of Neji, his quiet strength, his sacrifice to protect Hinata and Naruto. "What about Neji?" he asked, urgency sharpening his voice. "Is he… is he dead in that time?"
The Sage's expression darkened. "Yes. Neji has fallen."
Pain lanced through Naruto's chest, as vivid as the day he'd watched Neji's life fade, his final words echoing: "You called me a genius." Those words had haunted Naruto through sleepless nights, a reminder of bonds broken too soon. His jaw clenched. "If I go further back… could I save him? Could I change things?"
The Sage nodded slowly. "It's possible, but the further you go, the less certain the outcome. Time is a fragile thread, Naruto. Pull it too hard, and the tapestry of fate may unravel in ways you cannot foresee."
Naruto's mind churned, memories of the war flashing like lightning—Neji's sacrifice, Hinata's courage, Sasuke's resolve, the countless lives lost. If he returned to the Fourth War, he could fight smarter, warn the Alliance, maybe save Neji. But further back… he could stop the war entirely, protect everyone before the Otsutsuki's shadow fell. The risk was greater, but so was the reward.
He thought of Boruto's sacrifice, of Hinata's smile, of Himawari's laughter. He thought of Sasuke, bleeding and broken, and Kurama, his voice silenced forever. The ninja world deserved better. They deserved better.
"I choose the second option," Naruto said, his voice firm, eyes blazing with determination. "Send me back as far as you can. I'll save Neji. I'll save them all."
The Sage studied him for a long moment, as if measuring the weight of his resolve. Then, with a nod, he raised his left hand, the Samsara Eye glowing brighter. "So be it, child of prophecy."
Naruto's heart raced as the Sage began to weave intricate seals, his fingers moving with the precision of a master. The void hummed, the air thickening with chakra. The Sage's right hand, still holding the Plow, pulsed in sync with the eye. "This eye," he said, "is a spirit, as am I. It needs no socket to function." He pressed the Samsara Eye against his forehead, where it melded seamlessly, its light merging with his own.
Naruto braced himself, the void trembling around him. "What's the cost this time?" he asked, his voice steady despite the fear creeping in. "Boruto gave his life. What are you sacrificing?"
The Sage's smile was bittersweet, his form already beginning to fade. "My existence, Naruto. My spirit has lingered long enough, guiding the ninja world from the shadows. This is my final act. The future is yours now."
Naruto's throat tightened, tears welling as he met the Sage's gaze. "Thank you… for everything."
The Sage's voice softened, barely a whisper. "Goodbye, Naruto. Save them. Change the ninja world."
With a final seal, the Sage shouted, "Samsara Reincarnation Technique!" A blinding beam of white light erupted from the eye, enveloping Naruto in a warm, pulsating embrace. The void shimmered, then fractured, reality bending around him. The Plow in the Sage's hand shattered, its fragments dissolving into ash as the light intensified.
Naruto felt himself pulled forward, his soul soaring through a tunnel of stars and shadows. Memories of his life—his childhood loneliness, his victories, his losses, Boruto's sacrifice—flashed before him, anchored by the Sage's yin-yang power. The warmth grew hotter, the light blinding, until he was consumed entirely.
Then, silence.
Somewhere, in a time long past, a spark of chakra flickered to life. Naruto Uzumaki, the Seventh Hokage, was reborn.