Chapter 355: Sudden Change
"Huff... huff..."
When that mass fusing multiple powers—having devoured Urashiki—[Asura Blade: God-Breaking Heaven Thunder Black Flame Scorching Tail Spiral Chaos Heaven Zero Form] completely dissipated in the air, Naruto felt unprecedented exhaustion surge over him.
He released his combat stance. The golden chakra around his body rapidly converged, revealing a somewhat pale complexion. Upon landing, he surprisingly felt weakness—his body uncontrollably staggered forward several steps, nearly failing to stand steady.
Pat.
A hand timely extended from the side, supporting his arm. It was Uchiha Sasuke. He'd similarly withdrawn remaining power, only his breathing was also slightly rapid.
"Well done, Naruto. Now... everything's finished."
"...We won." Naruto, being supported, somewhat dazedly repeated these words, eyes still somewhat unfocused. Victory's reality seemed to arrive slower than the intense battle process. Had he truly won? Even... more "easily" than anticipated?
That "Otsutsuki" he'd viewed as the ultimate threat since childhood—representing cosmic-level power, even once making him feel deep fear—just moments ago was thoroughly, completely defeated and eliminated by him?
Though the process had surprises, the final result... he'd truly accomplished it.
"Yes, won." Sasuke nodded slightly, tone gentler. "No need to worry anymore. This threat no longer exists."
He supported Naruto, then steadied himself beside him. Closing his eyes, seemingly organizing his thoughts. After moments, he reopened them, gazing at Konoha Village's faint outline in the distance, saying quietly:
"Looks like... I completely worried for nothing."
"Hmm?" Naruto turned his head. "Worried about what?"
Sasuke turned, meeting Naruto's still somewhat weary yet clear blue eyes, mouth corners hooking into an extremely faint smile. But his words showed no courtesy:
"...Even in a different world, you're still a complete idiot."
"Huh? Idiot? Why suddenly say that?"
Sasuke obviously didn't want to dwell on this question, gaze shifting toward the distant cliff direction. "Let's not discuss that. Let's go back together. Those two over there... must be getting anxious, probably very worried too."
"Wait. Just because the name's a bit long makes me an idiot? Don't you think that naming style is pretty cool?"
---
"Master! And... Naruto! Are you alright?!"
The two supporting each other had barely walked far from the main battlefield's core ruins when one golden and one black figure came rushing from the cliff direction—precisely Uzumaki Boruto and Uchiha Satsuki, who'd been waiting anxiously.
"Yes, fine." Sasuke calmly responded, releasing his support of Naruto, indicating he should stand properly. "Just significant chakra consumption. Rest a bit and it'll be fine. Don't worry—everything's thoroughly finished."
He paused, delivering the most critical conclusion: "Urashiki... death has been confirmed."
"Really?!" Boruto's eyes lit up. "Then... that means... all the Otsutsuki who appeared wanting to harm—uh, harm this era have all been eliminated?!" He'd nearly called out "Dad" again, hastily correcting himself, but excitement overflowed.
"Yes." Sasuke nodded affirmatively. "Our mission... is complete."
He looked toward Boruto. "Tomorrow, we'll activate the Plow and return to our own era."
"Eh? Going back tomorrow?!" Boruto was shocked. He'd thought they'd stay at least several more days—after all, this world still had so many novel, or rather, shocking things, plus they'd just experienced a major battle.
"Yes, tomorrow." Sasuke's tone brooked no argument, briefly repeating.
His gaze shifted aside—
Uchiha Satsuki had already moved with flying speed—even carrying barely detectable urgency—almost the instant Sasuke released his hand, stepping forward, extremely naturally taking over supporting Naruto's position.
She carefully examined Naruto's complexion. Though her voice remained cool, it clearly carried concern. "Truly just chakra consumption? No other hidden injuries? Is it serious?"
Sasuke watched this scene with some speechlessness, distaste, and a bit of "just as expected" realization.
Why didn't this world's "self" know what "restraint" meant at all?
Of course, Satsuki naturally knew what restraint meant. Not only knew—she was even the type who carved restraint into her bones—when caring for others, always seeking pretexts like "accidentally bought too much" or "worried you're too weak and will drag us down." Expressing goodwill also often came wrapped in cold packaging.
That clumsy yet proud girlish nature wrapped her true emotions tightly.
However, to see that "textbook-style" restrained, awkward, tsundere Uchiha Satsuki, Uchiha Sasuke probably needed to travel back five or six years earlier.
Once favorability climbed to a certain "threshold"—crossing that boundary—when facing Naruto, those "restraint" shells used for self-protection and image maintenance had long been discarded.
"I'm truly fine, Satsuki-chan." Naruto felt the unquestionable supporting force on his arm plus the girl's tense aura beside him, making himself stand straighter. "Just chakra consumption is a bit high. Rest a bit and I'll be fine. Now, let's return to Konoha first."
He verbally reassured her but secretly sighed internally. Though the greatest threat Urashiki was resolved, subsequent "troubles" probably wouldn't be few.
This battle's commotion far exceeded expectations—practically staging a "Six Paths-level battle" at Konoha's doorstep. Explaining Otsutsuki's origins might still be easy, but how to explain Uchiha Sasuke's world-shocking power, especially that purple armor covering Nine-Tails? That couldn't be glossed over with "traveling performer has some skills."
"Right."
Just then, Satsuki supporting Naruto suddenly turned her head, eyes looking straight at Uchiha Sasuke beside them.
"Just now... that ability covering Naruto—was that your Sharingan's... contained power?"
The instant Susanoo appeared, Satsuki had clearly sensed the chakra fluctuations flowing in that purple energy were extremely similar—even sharing the same root—to her own ocular power's origin. Only the intensity and scale reached levels she currently couldn't imagine, like firefly compared to brilliant moon.
"Yes." Sasuke responded lightly, not denying nor intending detailed explanation. "That's... one power your future will eventually awaken and master."
The future... will also awaken?
That power's strength was unquestionable—able to perfectly coordinate with Naruto, displaying world-destroying might. Though sensing the familiarity from sharing ocular power origins, at this moment gazing at Sasuke's unperturbed profile plus that unspoken understanding between him and Naruto, scorching emotions surged uncontrollably from Satsuki's heart's deepest depths—jealousy.
Not jealousy of his power but jealousy that he could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Naruto in such powerful, complete form, jointly facing and defeating powerful enemies that even made her heart palpitate. While she could only observe from distant cliffs, lacking even qualifications to intervene.
"That eye..." She forced herself to pull attention back to the power itself. "Is it called... 'Mangekyo Sharingan'?"
"How does one awaken such eyes?"
"..."
Sasuke's footsteps imperceptibly paused. He slightly lowered his head. This question touched his heart's heaviest, most unwilling-to-recall part.
"...This," his voice remained flat yet carried barely detectable stagnation, "when the 'time' comes, you'll naturally... understand, and awaken."
He couldn't—and didn't want to—explain in detail that powerful force's accompanying pain, loss, and despair's tightly connected heavy price. That price—he'd personally tasted, deeply knowing its bitterness.
Naruto, similarly knowing this power's backstory, hearing Sasuke's vague answer then seeing Satsuki's eyes carrying longing and persistence for power, his expression also became somewhat strange. He hastily attempted changing topics, using relaxed tone:
"Satsuki-chan, it's fine! That power—later, when timing matures, will definitely naturally awak—"
Before "en" escaped—
Suddenly!
Naruto's smooth words violently halted!
His facial expression froze. Pupils violently, uncontrollably trembled! Immediately after, his entire person seemed instantly thrown into an arctic ice cave.
"Urgh...!"
An extremely brief groan suppressing tremendous pain squeezed from his throat. His eyes remained wide open, staring straight ahead, but his gaze rapidly lost focus, becoming hollow and scattered.
Body control was instantly stripped away—falling straight and heavily toward the ground!
"Naruto—!!!"
Satsuki supporting him—the instant she felt the weight in her arms suddenly vanish, becoming limp—nearly screamed that name, voice filled with unprecedented panic and helplessness! She frantically tried to hold him, but Naruto had completely lost consciousness, body limply sliding down.
Satsuki collapsed to her knees, frantically half-holding Naruto in her arms, forcefully shaking his shoulders. Her fingertips could feel his body's abnormal rigidity and coldness.
"Naruto?! Naruto! What's wrong?! Answer me!!" She called out, but though Naruto's eyes remained open, he showed no reaction to any sounds or touch.
"What's happening?!"
This sudden change made Sasuke and Boruto's expressions drastically change as well! Both immediately rushed forward, crouching beside Naruto. Sasuke's Mangekyo instantly activated, carefully scanning Naruto's entire body, attempting to find traces of chakra disorder, internal injuries, or some hidden technique.
Boruto was also extremely anxious, rapidly recalling every battle detail—Urashiki had been eliminated. Could he have left some curse or backup at the final moment?!
"Is it some hidden injury from just now's battle? Or severe chakra overdraft backlash?" Sasuke's brow furrowed tightly, analyzing in deep voice. But with his ocular power, he momentarily couldn't see obvious abnormality sources.
"No... that's not right..." Boruto murmured, gaze anxiously sweeping over Naruto's body. Suddenly, he recalled certain events occurring after Otsutsuki clan members were eliminated.
He violently grabbed Naruto's hand dangling on the ground, spreading the palm open—
After just one glance, Boruto's heart instantly became ice-cold.
In Naruto's spread palm, a diamond-shaped black mark was slowly, from inside outward, manifesting and condensing—ultimately branding onto his skin!