"The Eye of Reincarnation and Transmigration?!"
Naruto's eyes widened in shock.
The Sage of Six Paths nodded. "Yes. Through an Ōtsutsuki forbidden art—when combined with the sacred relic, the Rinne Plow—this eye can send a person's soul across time and space, allowing them to reincarnate directly into a living vessel."
He continued, his tone solemn.
"The technique has strict conditions and a heavy price.
First, the caster must possess a massive amount of chakra.
Second, they must offer their life as a sacrifice.
Third, the Eye of Reincarnation and Transmigration can only be used once. After activation, it immediately loses its light forever."
Naruto frowned deeply. This sounded eerily similar to the Rinne Rebirth technique used by the Rinnegan… but even more terrifying.
That one could revive the dead—this one could send souls through time itself.
But something didn't add up.
"If the eye can only be used once," he thought aloud, "then why didn't Boruto just use it to send me directly back through time? Why bring me here to see you?"
After all, Boruto only had one Pure Eye—once spent, it would be gone forever.
The Sage seemed to read his confusion and smiled faintly.
"The Pure Eye Boruto awakened," he said, "was in fact a fragment of my brother Hamura's power. When Boruto fully awakened its potential, the chakra my brother left within it was activated—just like the marks of my own chakra I once left within you and Sasuke.
"In that moment, my brother's will manifested within Boruto's soul—just as mine manifests before you now."
Naruto's eyes widened further as the Sage continued.
"My brother Hamura revealed everything to your son. Knowing the truth, Boruto deliberately chose to lose—to become a vessel. That way, he could gain an immense surge of chakra. With the forbidden jutsu pre-inscribed into his eye and the Rinne Plow already in his possession, he successfully sent you here to meet me."
"Why not send you directly through time?" The Sage's expression grew heavy. "Because the soul's journey through the flow of time is dangerous. Memories may shatter, consciousness may fragment—you could lose your sense of self entirely.
"I am here to serve as the final safeguard—to tell you the truth, so that when the time comes, you remember your purpose."
He smiled wryly. "I gambled once before… and lost. I won't make that mistake again."
Naruto finally understood.
So that's how it all fit together.
Boruto had become the key to his father's revival—the true "child of prophecy" the Great Toad Sage had spoken of.
And this meeting… this explanation… was Hamura and the Sage's final contingency.
Naruto's heart trembled. "But… the Eye of Reincarnation and Transmigration is gone now, isn't it? Boruto's Pure Eye was used to send me here. And even if you revive me—how can you ensure my memories remain intact?"
The Sage's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "Tell me, Naruto—how many eyes do you think my brother Hamura had?"
As he spoke, a luminous orb appeared in his left palm.
Naruto stared, stunned. "That's… the Pure Eye! No—wait… the Eye of Reincarnation and Transmigration!"
The Sage nodded. "Hamura awakened both of his eyes. One he passed down through destiny to Boruto; the other, he left with me—as a backup."
Naruto's mouth twitched helplessly.
Of course.
The Sage of Six Paths—the man who once gambled the fate of the world—had also made sure to prepare both an A plan and a B plan.
Truly, a god among planners.
"So what should I do now?" Naruto asked quietly.
The Sage's gaze softened. "That depends on the choice you make."
"When the Eye of Reincarnation and Transmigration is activated, it can send you into the past—but the specific time cannot be chosen. Even this meeting between us, in this timeless void, is a coincidence born of that uncertainty."
"You have two options."
"First—I can use the Eye to restore you to your original body in your current timeline, reviving you in the present world."
"Second—you may choose to go further back in time. I cannot control how far—only that it will be earlier than now."
"In either case," the Sage added, "I can use the power of Yin and Yang to safeguard your soul and memories. You will merge seamlessly with your physical body, without losing even a single fragment of who you are."
Naruto hesitated. "But Boruto didn't have the power of Yin and Yang, and yet my soul still came here safely."
The Sage smiled faintly. "That is because both the eye in Boruto's possession and the one in my hand come from the same source—my brother's Eyes of Reincarnation and Transmigration. They resonate with each other. Your soul traveled safely through one and out the other. That's why Hamura left two—to complete the circuit."
Naruto nodded slowly, understanding. Then he looked up and asked, "So… in what time are we now?"
The Sage replied, "During the Fourth Shinobi World War. You and Sasuke are leading the Allied Shinobi Forces against Uchiha Madara and Obito."
"That time, huh…"
Naruto's thoughts stirred—memories flickering like old flames. Then, suddenly, something struck him. His eyes widened. "Wait! Neji… Neji's dead by now, isn't he?"
The Sage sighed. "Yes. He has already fallen."
A pang of sorrow twisted in Naruto's chest.
Even after all this time, he could still see Neji's final smile, hear those last words echoing in his mind—
"Because you said I'm a genius."
That memory had haunted Naruto's dreams countless times.
But now—he had a chance.
He could go back. Maybe far back enough… to save Neji.
Even if he couldn't control when or where, as long as it was earlier than now—it might be possible!
Determination burned in his eyes.
"I choose the second option!" Naruto declared.
The Sage looked at him. "You're certain?"
Naruto nodded firmly. "Yes."
The Sage regarded him in silence for a long moment, then raised his left hand. Without removing his Rinnegan, he merged the Pure Eye into it.
Seeing Naruto's puzzled expression, the Sage explained with a soft smile, "We are both spirits now. So are these eyes. There's no need to physically transplant them—they can merge directly."
Then he began forming intricate hand seals, his voice rising in a deep, resonant chant.
"Technique of Transmigration—Reincarnation Through Time!"
A blinding light burst from the Sage's new eye, enveloping Naruto completely.
He felt warmth surround him—a power both gentle and immense. The light grew stronger, wrapping around his body until his entire being shimmered with radiance.
The Sage's figure, however, grew dimmer and dimmer. The glow from his eye was fading, his presence dissolving.
Naruto suddenly realized—the technique required a life as sacrifice.
But the Sage… had no life left to give. Then what was he offering now?
He looked up, eyes filled with unspoken questions.
The Sage smiled faintly one last time. "Farewell, Naruto. This time… it's truly goodbye. The future of the ninja world—I leave it to you."
And with that, the Sage's spirit disintegrated into light.
Naruto's tears shimmered as the radiance around him flared to its peak, swallowing his form entirely.
With a final burst, the light ripped through the void of time—and Naruto vanished.
The Rinne Plow, now empty of power, cracked apart and crumbled into dust.