Inside Killer B, the Eight-Tails, Gyūki, let out a low, warning rumble.
"B… looks like our future selves ran into some serious trouble."
For once, Killer B didn't burst into freestyle rap. Behind his sunglasses, his gaze sharpened.
"Idiot fool~ dumbass fool~
Future me actually gets captured~?
Looks like I gotta get serious~ yeah~!"
Land of Rain – Outside the Akatsuki Base
The Akatsuki members remained outside, all eyes fixed on the Sky Screen.
Zetsu twisted excitedly. "So the tailed beasts get captured? Looks like future Akatsuki did pretty well!"
Kakuzu snorted coldly. "Tailed beasts… that's a lot of money."
From within Hiruko, Sasori let out a hoarse chuckle. "Seems the future Akatsuki accomplished something truly extraordinary."
Itachi Uchiha, outwardly expressionless, was no less shaken than anyone else. From the corner of his eye, he subtly glanced at the figure standing ahead of him.
The world-ender… is it him?
This man who calls himself a 'god'…
The more Itachi observed, the clearer it became—Akatsuki was far more dangerous than he had imagined. And infiltrating this organization had been absolutely necessary.
The Tower – Amegakure
Through the Rinnegan of the Deva Path, Nagato stared at the Sky Screen. His emaciated face remained emotionless, yet deep within his sunken eyes burned a near-fanatical conviction.
"Do you see that, Konan?"
"Even the Five Kage are forced to unite. Their fear alone proves it—"
"They are about to feel pain."
In his heart, Nagato had already reached a firm conclusion. The so-called world-ending crisis that made the entire shinobi world tremble was none other than the future Akatsuki fully realizing his will—by gathering all the tailed beasts and unleashing ultimate pain upon the world.
"…It seems," he murmured, "my future self succeeded."
A twisted sense of satisfaction and fulfillment spread through him. He could already envision it—beyond ultimate pain, the false peace he so desperately desired.
Konan stood beside him, watching the Kage argue anxiously on the screen, then glancing at Nagato, whose breathing had grown faintly uneven with excitement. The paper wings at her back trembled softly. A trace of unease surfaced in her heart—but in the end, it turned into silent support. No matter what future awaited—she would always stand by him. Before, it was Yahiko. Now, it was Nagato.
Sky Screen – Five Kage Summit
The atmosphere was on the brink of collapse. Tsunade and the Raikage stood ready to explode at any moment.
Then—a calm, slightly magnetic voice suddenly cut in, shattering the deadlock.
"Am I late?"
The side door of the conference hall opened. A figure walked in slowly. Simple, dark clothing. Short black hair. Sharp, cold features. Most striking of all—those deep black eyes, as though they contained countless battles and immeasurable strength.
The Five Kage reacted differently to his arrival—yet every response carried a hint of the same thing: recognition.
"Sasuke!"
Relief flashed across Tsunade's face. "You came at exactly the right time!"
The Raikage's fury stalled for a fraction of a second. He snorted heavily, but—rarely—did not continue his outburst. Clearly, Sasuke Uchiha's presence alone carried enough weight to force even the Raikage to tread carefully.
Sasuke ignored the others' gazes and looked directly at A, whose face was still dark. His tone was calm and even—yet his words dropped like a stabilizing bomb.
"Raikage. Yugito Nii… we were unable to save her."
"But your brother—Killer B—I brought him back."
"What?!"
The words detonated in A's mind. His rage vanished, replaced instantly by overwhelming joy. He sprang to his feet, his massive body knocking the chair behind him to the floor.
"B?! Where is he?! How is he?!"
Watching the Raikage transform from an enraged beast into a worried older brother, Sasuke remained composed. "He's currently with my Team Hawk," Sasuke replied. "They're on their way here."
"I believe we can sit down now—and talk about the real issue."
With confirmation of his brother's safety, the heaviest weight in A's heart finally lifted. He took a deep breath, forcibly steadying his emotions. The relief faded, replaced by the solemn dignity of a Kage. He locked eyes with Sasuke.
"…No words can express my gratitude," A said heavily. "Sasuke Uchiha—I, A, owe you a personal debt."
A debt from one of the Five Kage—its weight alone was enough to shake the shinobi world.
Sasuke merely nodded. He said nothing more, moving quietly to stand in the shadows behind Tsunade, arms crossed.
Miraculously—from the moment Sasuke appeared, and especially after news of Killer B's safety—the suffocating tension in the hall began to ease. The Raikage no longer pressed aggressively. Ōnoki narrowed his eyes and refrained from stirring trouble. Mei Terumī and Gaara both let out subtle breaths of relief.
After teetering on the brink of collapse—the Five Kage Summit finally returned to order. Formal discussions began on how to confront the looming world-ending crisis.
The Shinobi World – Present
Once again, the real world was shaken to its core.
"Sasuke Uchiha? The last survivor of the Uchiha clan?"
"He… he rescued the Eight-Tails jinchūriki from the world-ender?"
"Even the Raikage owes him a debt—how powerful is he in the future?!"
"Did you see that? His arrival alone stopped the Five Kage from tearing each other apart!"
"What does that mean?!"
"It means that ten years from now, Sasuke Uchiha has power capable of standing against the Five Great Nations!"
"Ten years?! How old is he even supposed to be? That's just cheating!"
Questions, disbelief, and awe echoed across the shinobi world. For the first time—the name Sasuke Uchiha was carved into everyone's mind—not as a survivor, but as a future pillar of salvation.
Itachi Uchiha gazed at the Sky Screen. At the brother who had grown into a towering presence over the shinobi world. Deep beneath the cold surface of his Mangekyō Sharingan, a complex emotion flickered—relief, pride, and quiet sorrow.
Sasuke… is this what you become when you grow up?
That's good… truly.
It seems the future you became someone reliable. Even Lady Tsunade trusts you so deeply.
The honor of the Uchiha clan… will surely be restored by your hands.