[Konoha, Year 60. Hokage Office]
Jiraiya leaned against the window, arms crossed, listening to the Sky Screen's "final verdict" on him, the smile on his face slowly stiffening.
He scratched his head, gave an awkward, dry laugh, and cast his gaze toward Tsunade sitting behind the desk and Hiruzen on the chair beside her.
Tsunade was staring at him with a "well, go on, explain yourself" look, eyebrows slightly raised, a cold sneer at the corner of her mouth.
Hiruzen, on the other hand, puffed on his pipe, the smoke obscuring half his face, but the complex emotions in his eyes were impossible to hide.
"Alright…" Jiraiya raised both hands in surrender.
"Actually, it's not quite like that. I truly don't have the talent to be Hokage. Tsunade was really the most suitable one among the three of us—and she's doing pretty well now, isn't she?"
"Besides, the screen also showed Tsunade as Hokage from the start, which means that Tsunade was destined to be Hokage!"
Tsunade snorted coldly: "Stop changing the subject. The screen said you couldn't help sensei share his burden, and couldn't take care of Naruto either. That statement isn't wrong."
In previous years, Jiraiya had been traveling the Shinobi World writing novels, soaking in hot springs, and searching for the Child of Prophecy, while Konoha had experienced a series of crises like the Nine-Tails Incident, Orochimaru's defection and so on.
At that time she was also at the gambling dens, and Jiraiya was probably at some nameless hot spring inn every day. Neither of them were exactly competent shinobis.
Hiruzen sighed and spoke slowly: "Jiraiya, it's my fault too. My teachings to you were insufficient; I failed to make you understand that while the Child of Prophecy is certainly important, as a Shinobi, one must shoulder their own responsibilities at critical moments."
Jiraiya's smile completely vanished, his white hair hanging down to the sides of his face, obscuring his expression. "Old man, it's not your fault. It's that I myself... didn't do well."
[Of course, considering all the oddballs in the Shinobi World, Jiraiya definitely counts as a good person. Moreover, when all is said and done, Jiraiya's kindness toward Naruto was genuine, and although he didn't get to see Naruto save the world, he successfully guided Naruto onto the right path, which can be considered fulfilling his own destiny.]
[Come to think of it, when people are in extreme pain, they always want to vent, but the way they vent differs, and it is often the opposite of their usual behavior.]
[For example, when Jiraiya died, the usually rowdy Naruto became very quiet, while when Asuma died, the incredibly calm Shikamaru became hysterical.]
---
[Konoha, Year 60. Location of Team 7]
Naruto sat on the ground, hugging his knees, chin resting on them.
The summaries on the Sky Screen regarding the regrets in Jiraiya's life were like needles piercing into his heart.
He hadn't been able to bring Orochimaru back, hadn't been able to win Tsunade's heart, hadn't been able to protect his teacher, and in the end was killed by his own disciple. The Pervy Sage who was always grinning and taking him out for ramen actually had so many regrets.
Naruto truly couldn't imagine what his state of mind would be if the Jiraiya in reality were to die.
Would he be like what the screen said—usually rowdy, but actually very quiet when that moment arrived?
What kind of feeling would that be?
Would it be the numbness after grief reached its extreme, or the realization that tears couldn't solve the problem?
Naruto didn't know, but he absolutely didn't want this to happen in reality!
Strength—it always came down to strength. As long as he could reach the Six Paths-level faster, the Shinobi World would know peace sooner, and fewer people would die.
Beside him, Sakura said softly, "Jiraiya-sama… really had it hard."
Kakashi's voice also came from behind his mask: "Everyone has their own path. Jiraiya-sama chose this path, and he probably never regretted it."
Naruto turned to look at Kakashi: "Kakashi-sensei, if Pervy Sage really died, would you be sad?"
Kakashi's hand, which was flipping through his book, paused for a moment.
"I would."
"But I would also carry on his will and keep moving forward."
"That's what it means to be a Shinobi."
[Additionally, although his life had many regrets and setbacks, Jiraiya didn't become dejected or demoralized like most people, nor did he become hysterical and seek revenge on the world like extremists such as Obito. Instead, he remained unyielding and unrestrained, which is probably why he is called a Hero.]
[Even after meeting Sasuke and Boruto from a future timeline, he was able to resist asking about what happens later. One has to say, he was truly free-spirited.]
---
[Konoha, Year One. High platform outside the village]
Madara was standing with his arms crossed, looking at the Sky Screen in boredom.
But when he heard words "Sasuke and Boruto from a future timeline," his body suddenly leaned forward, his hands dropping to his sides, and a fiery light burst from his eyes.
"Hashirama, did you hear that?" Madara turned to look at Hashirama, his voice unable to hide his excitement. "Those two brats can travel through time! Doesn't that mean they can come to our present timeline?"
Hashirama smiled wryly: "Madara, calm down. Just because the screen said Jiraiya met future Sasuke and Boruto doesn't necessarily mean they can freely travel through time."
"Not necessarily!" Madara waved his hand to cut him off, placing his hands on his hips and gazing at the village being built in the distance. "As long as they can travel through time, that means there's a way."
The corners of his mouth curled up, battle intent burning in his eyes. "I really want to fight powerhouses of the Six Paths-level! Those two brats, in the future they're both Six Paths-level. If I could fight them, I would die without regrets!"
Tobirama stood not far away, expressionlessly pouring cold water on his expectations: "You should first think about how to unify the Shinobi World, and also the Otsutsuki on the moon. Future matters are for the people of the future to handle."
Madara snorted coldly: "Hmph! As if I need you to tell me! In a few days, when the time comes, I'll go to each of them one by one and see who exactly doesn't agree to the unification of the Shinobi World!"
As for the Ōtsutsuki on the moon, Madara wasn't a fool, although he was very confident in himself, he wouldn't act stupidly.
The current him definitely couldn't beat those Six Paths-level Otsutsuki, so he had to wait until the screen revealed how to become a Six Paths-level powerhouse before going to fight them.
Young Hiruzen also stood to the side, watching the conversation between these big shots, not daring to even breathe.
---
[Konoha, Year 60. Hokage Office]
When Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and Tsunade heard "Sasuke and Boruto from a future timeline," they were also all stunned.
Tsunade abruptly sat up straight, Jiraiya's body, which had been leaning against the window, straightened, and the pipe in Hiruzen's hand nearly fell to the floor.
"What does this mean?" Tsunade's voice changed pitch, "Future Sasuke can travel through time and come to our present timeline?"
"But that doesn't seem right, the screen previously introduced most of Sasuke's abilities, and it never mentioned time travel."
Jiraiya stroked his chin, brows tightly furrowed: "Could it be because of Boruto? The screen did say before that Boruto had already reached the Six Paths-level in his teens, so being able to travel through time isn't that hard to accept."
Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe and slowly exhaled the smoke: "The question is, what is their purpose in traveling through time? Will it affect the present world? If they change history, will the future Shinobi World change accordingly?"
The three exchanged glances, all seeing complex emotions in each other's eyes.
Time travel—that was a power straight out of the myths.
What exactly had the future Shinobi World become?
---
[Location of Team 7]
When Sasuke heard the words "time travel," his pupils contracted sharply.
If his future self had this ability, couldn't he go to the Night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre, kill that man, and save his parents and clansmen?
But the future him didn't do that. Why?
Sasuke's brows were tightly locked, countless questions surging in his heart.
Was it that he couldn't do it, or that he wasn't allowed to?
Or perhaps it would be useless even if he did it?
"Sasuke, what's wrong?" Naruto leaned over.
Sasuke snapped back to his senses and turned his head: "Nothing."
Naruto scratched his head and didn't press further. He looked around, seemingly hoping to see whether the future Sasuke and Boruto had traveled over.
Unfortunately, the training ground was empty except for the few of them.
Sakura muttered, "Future Sasuke-kun and Boruto can travel through time… that's amazing."
Kakashi also chimed in, "Time travel isn't that simple. Changing the past could adversely affect the future."
Sasuke said nothing more, but the questions in his heart grew deeper.
If one day he really did travel through time, what would he do?
---
[New Akatsuki Hideout]
Deidara was sprawled in his chair like a starfish, Hidan's mouth was wide open, his eyes round as saucers, and Kakuzu's gaze was fixed dead on the screen.
All members of the Akatsuki stood frozen on the spot, shocked into silence by the words "time travel."
What level had future battles reached?
That kind of ability, in their eyes, was no different from that of gods.
After a long pause, Hidan finally spoke, breaking the silence: "Itachi, all I can say is that you really were thorough and clean with your work. The future Jiraiya would rather believe Sasuke time-traveled than believe any other Uchiha survived…"
Before he could finish his words, his voice suddenly stopped. His body jerked rigid, the scythe in his hand fell to the ground with a dull thud, his eyes became hollow and vacant, his pupils unfocused, and his whole being looked as if his soul had been ripped out.
Deidara jumped in fright and shrank back: "Oi! What's wrong with you?"
But no one answered him.
Hidan just stood there, motionless.
After a moment, Hidan's eyes regained their clarity.
His eyeballs moved, and he saw the wary gazes of the people around him.
By now, his clothes were already soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to his body, but a satisfied expression appeared on his face.
"So blissful…" Hidan's voice was hoarse, tinged with a hint of intoxication. "Such pain, I feel like I saw Lord Jashin."
Deidara's mouth twitched: "Are you stupid? You got hit by a Genjutsu and you're this happy?"
Hidan shook his head and looked at Itachi, his eyes full of excitement: "Your genjutsu is really something, it totally fits my taste—that's exactly the feeling, do it again!"
Itachi sat in the corner, his eyes full of disgust. "Shut up."
Hidan wanted to say more, but in the end, he wisely shut his mouth. If he pushed Itachi too far, and he used Amaterasu instead of Tsukuyomi, he would be done for.
Itachi's gaze fell on the screen again, but his heart was thinking about something else.
The future Sasuke could travel through time. So after he returned to the past, did he change anything?
---
[Konoha, Year 83. Hokage Office]
Naruto sat behind the desk, hands clasped under his chin, looking at the descriptions of time travel on the screen, utterly baffled.
Sasuke and Boruto returned to the past?
This probably hadn't happened yet; Boruto didn't even know Sasuke yet.
"Why would they go back to the past? And how did they even get there?" Naruto muttered. "Sasuke definitely doesn't have this ability. Is it Boruto? Or some other mysterious power?"
Shikamaru stood to the side, his expression grave.
"From the earlier intelligence, we know that Boruto possesses the Jōgan, which can see through the barriers between different dimensions. Perhaps it's the power of that eye that allows him to travel through time."
Naruto nodded: "It's possible, but how old is Boruto now? His Jōgan hasn't awakened either, and how long from now this happens?"
Shikamaru shook his head: "No idea, but the 'future' the screen mentioned might not be far off. The screen said Boruto reached Six Paths-level in his teens, so it's not impossible that he'd have the ability to travel through time."
Boruto was sitting on the sofa, legs crossed, and when he heard the words "go back to the past," he became all excited.
He sprang up from the sofa, waving his hands continuously.
"Go back to the past? Doesn't that mean I could see what Dad and Mom were like when they were little? And I could even meet Uncle Neji." Boruto was full of anticipation. "Dad, were you really that mischievous when you were little?"
Naruto smiled wryly: "You brat, don't get too carried away."
"However…" Naruto ruffled Boruto's hair, "If you really can travel through time in the future, go see your grandpa and grandma."
"Your grandpa was a very gentle person, and your grandma loved me very, very much. If I could see them now, I would definitely tell them that I didn't let them down."
Himawari also chimed in excitedly: "I also want to meet Uncle Neji! Mom said Uncle Neji was a very good brother, and he sacrificed himself to protect Dad and Mom. He was a hero!"
Naruto froze for a moment. "Yeah, your Uncle Neji… was indeed a hero."
Neji's face surfaced in his mind, and the determination in those white eyes.
If Boruto really could go back to the past, could he prevent Neji's death?
A ripple stirred in Naruto's heart, but he quickly suppressed it.
Shikamaru looked at the family of three and sighed.
The ability to travel through time—if it really existed, who knew how much chaos it would cause.
He hoped the screen was just talking, and that it wouldn't actually happen.
*****
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