"A teleportation array?"
"This isn't ordinary spatial movement. It involves the nature of time and space itself. If activated, would it send someone to the past? Or the future?"
"And would that be this world's timeline… or a parallel one?"
Naruto stared at the black point thoughtfully.
"I really want to check it out…"
He extended a finger and touched it.
The terrifying pull—like a black hole devouring everything—couldn't even stir the slightest ripple in front of him.
Because Naruto stood in its center, the violent hurricane that had been tearing everything apart suddenly weakened. Magma and shattered earth crashed down around him, filling the air with scorching heat.
Yet the space around Naruto remained completely undisturbed.
The black point sensed his chakra.
As if provoked, it expanded violently.
A true black hole formed.
Its attraction multiplied dozens of times in an instant.
Space warped into grotesque spirals. The surrounding mountains trembled. Cracks spread wildly across the earth as if the world itself were about to collapse and be swallowed.
The pull spread outward.
Winds screamed.
The sky darkened.
"My God, what is happening?!"
"It's like the end of the world!"
"Naruto-kun, please be safe!"
"Retreat! The mountains are collapsing!"
"Lord Hokage is still there—we can't leave!"
"Trust Naruto. He has a way. You all go—I'll stay."
"Sasuke-kun…"
"Stop arguing. There's no time. Move!"
Sasuke glared at the center of the storm.
He had personally experienced the black hole's pull.
He knew better than anyone how terrifying it was.
If Susanoo couldn't resist it—
How much pressure was Naruto enduring right now?
Hinata shattered a flying boulder with one punch, but she didn't retreat.
Neji stood firm.
Protecting the main house had been drilled into him since childhood.
Whether from conviction or conditioning, he wouldn't step back while Hinata stayed.
"We started this mission together," Shikamaru said quietly. "We don't abandon our comrades."
Shino, Rock Lee, and the others exchanged looks.
No one moved.
"Lady Shion…" Shiho began anxiously.
Shion shook her head.
"They came here for my country's mission. If they won't retreat, how can I leave first?"
Her crystal-clear eyes pierced through the storm and settled on Naruto's silhouette.
The sprite was gone.
The curse passed down through generations of shrine maidens had ended.
Her fate—broken.
Even if she died now, she had already escaped destiny's chains.
---
"Sasuke."
Naruto's voice carried clearly through the storm.
"You've completed the mission. As captain, take them back immediately. Don't hesitate. I'll handle this."
"Naruto—"
"Relax. You'll probably reach Konoha after I do."
The voice remained calm.
Confident.
Unshaken.
Sasuke slowly steadied himself.
"Hinata, be good. Go back. Remember this—there's nothing in this world that can stop Uzumaki Naruto. I want to study this thing. Go."
At last—
They retreated.
The storm's pull was growing too strong.
If they stayed, they'd be torn apart and swallowed.
Naruto studied the black hole a moment longer.
"It's running out of energy already… guess I'll give it a little boost."
He stepped forward.
And entered the black hole.
His chakra surged outward explosively, stabilizing and fueling it at the same time.
The vortex spun violently—
Then shrank.
Collapsed.
Vanished.
High above, a crack opened in space.
A pale, weakened eye watched from within.
"That bastard actually endured the gravitational force that long…"
"I was worried the sprite's chakra wouldn't be enough."
"But he's gone now."
"The ninja world… is finally back to normal."
Within a ten-mile radius, everything disappeared.
Mountains.
Valleys.
Trees.
Grass.
Stone.
Gone.
Only a blank, white wasteland remained.
As if the earth had been bitten out of existence.
---
"Let's go."
Sasuke glanced once at the empty land, then turned away.
They returned to Konoha in silence.
When they saw Naruto sitting casually in the Hokage office, smiling as usual, the tension finally broke. Cheers filled the room.
Only Hinata remained quiet.
She looked at him deeply.
A clone stayed behind… where did you really go, Naruto-kun?
---
"Where am I?"
A massive black hole tore open in the sky.
Dust rained down.
Naruto stepped out, completely unharmed.
Below him stretched a vast forest.
He scratched his head.
"This should still be the ninja world…"
"But when?"
In the distance—
Steam rose endlessly.
"Rain Village?"
He flew toward it.
Soon—
He sensed violent chakra fluctuations.
"Someone's fighting."
His expression sharpened.
"That's not good."
---
Inside a massive pipe structure, Jiraiya clasped his hands while retreating.
Behind him, a strange bird with a triangular beak chased relentlessly, dropping egg-like bombs that exploded in chains.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"I need more time for Sage Mode to stabilize…"
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes.
His heart was tense—but his face remained calm.
He had infiltrated the Hidden Rain to gather intelligence.
He hadn't expected to be discovered so quickly.
Nor had he expected—
His enemy would be a former student.
What a cruel joke.
But there was no time for sentimentality.
He had to survive—and gather information.
---
Inside a tower, the Deva Path of Pain turned its head slightly.
"Someone else has arrived."
The tower trembled violently as battle raged inside.
---
Naruto hovered above.
"So it's Jiraiya… a master versus disciple."
"What year is this? Sixty-three? Sixty-four?"
In the future, Sasuke had mentioned this event.
Jiraiya infiltrated Rain Village.
Fought the Six Paths of Pain.
Died.
The exact year had been unclear.
"So this is that moment."
Naruto watched calmly.
"Sage Art: Goemon… strong technique, but absorbed by the Preta Path."
"He's struggling because he lacks intel on the Six Paths."
"An illusion? Clever… but still careless."
Naruto chuckled softly.
"Don't be careless, Jiraiya-sensei. You're the one who taught me that."
---
Inside the tower passage, three Paths of Pain were pinned by giant blades.
Jiraiya exhaled in relief—
Then froze.
A cold voice sounded behind him.
"You're still as naive as ever, sensei."
Jiraiya's heart plummeted.
He leapt forward instinctively.
But he knew—
He had lost the initiative.
At minimum, he would lose an arm.
He prepared himself.
Boom!
Instead of being struck—
He smashed through a wall and burst outside into open air above a lake.
He spun midair, ready to counterattack—
But no one was behind him.
Inside the broken passage, one of the Pains had been impaled by a stone spike from nowhere—its body shattered.
"Jiraiya, someone just helped you," Fukasaku croaked.
"That was close," Shima added. "You nearly lost your life."
Jiraiya landed heavily on the lake's surface, eyes wide.
Indeed—
He had walked the line between life and death.
Suddenly—
Six figures in black cloaks with red clouds emerged from the tower.
The Akatsuki uniform.
Worse—
The ones he had defeated earlier stood restored, as if nothing had happened.
"Who are you people?" Jiraiya demanded angrily.
The Six Paths did not answer.
Instead—
All of them lifted their heads.
And looked toward the sky.
As if facing something far more terrifying than Jiraiya.
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