Several days passed.
"Karui—are you sure the Queen is filming a movie in the sky?! We've flown this high already—why haven't we seen the Pillar God Mountain yet?!"
"Relax! Once we pass through the cloud layer, you'll see it. Oh—Maple! If you run into Lord Shukaku, make sure you bow. If you don't, he'll throw you off."
"I know! Chōmei told me his temper's terrible—wait—ah! Look over there! Two people are riding inside a bubble!"
"That's Shion and her teacher! Hurry, follow them!"
"…Wait, why are we following them? They're not even flying as high as we are."
"You just got here this morning, so you don't know—Shion's teacher is super handsome!"
"..."
High above the clouds, Karin, clad in a chakra-powered flight suit, and Maple, her back sprouting insect-like wings, flew one after the other toward a massive, rainbow-colored bubble.
Inside the bubble, Utakata, the Six-Tails' jinchūriki, and Shion exchanged helpless looks.
"Sensei, it's Karin again."
"Sigh… I should've brought a vehicle. Are you sure your prophecy ability really can't come back?"
"No. After Mōryō disappeared, our powers of foresight vanished completely."
"..."
Utakata fell silent, then shifted his gaze to Maple—the winged girl closing in behind them.
A voice deep inside him whispered that she, like him, was also a jinchūriki.
"After today, I'll finally be free of that fate," Utakata thought.
"But this girl…"
As he pondered, their bubble rose rapidly. By the time Karin and Maple caught up, Karin was already snapping photos enthusiastically while chatting with Shion.
Moments later, they pierced the cloud layer.
Maple's mouth fell open. Her orange eyes widened in shock.
A colossal mountain hung upside down in the sky, suspended above the clouds.
"So this is Pillar God Mountain? How is it floating?"
"A senior used Ultra-Light Boulder Jutsu to keep it suspended," Karin replied casually, quietly tucking her camera away.
"How many people live up there? Can I make friends with them?"
Maple asked excitedly.
Karin adjusted her glasses. "The ones filming with the Queen are fine. But the barrier division? Don't bother. I've tried—no matter what you say, they won't respond."
Before Maple could ask more, Utakata redirected the bubble.
Karin gestured for Maple to follow.
Soon, a floating landmass came into view—and standing on it were two familiar faces.
"It's Eiji and Sachiko! They beat us here—let's go!"
Karin clicked her tongue but followed Maple down.
As soon as they landed, Sachiko approached.
"Teacher Kushina says you're to take Barrier Route Seven."
Karin glanced at Utakata and Shion heading away and asked, "Why are they using Route One?"
Eiji smiled. "Because they've received a personal summons—from him. You're meeting Princess Koyuki."
"Who's 'him'?" Maple asked, hopping over.
Eiji's expression turned solemn.
"'Him' is simply… him."
Karin's eyes flickered. She'd heard Queen Koyuki mention this mysterious "lord" before—but never seen him. And every time Eiji and Sachiko spoke of him, they grew visibly tense.
The Plaza
On a vast open plaza, Shukaku lounged lazily, tail swaying as he laughed thunderously at something unseen.
Nearby stood Naruto, alongside a long-haired man, and seven White Zetsu, their eyes vacant.
A moment later, Shukaku tilted his head toward an empty stretch of ground.
Three figures appeared instantly.
Kushina led the way, with Utakata and Shion behind her.
Naruto raised his hand. A sealing formula flashed—and a horned oni mask materialized in his palm.
The long-haired man took it.
Golden slit pupils gleamed as he looked toward Utakata and Shion.
It was Orochimaru.
The Truth of the Dragon Vein
Why was Orochimaru here?
It traced back to the day Naruto absorbed the Dragon Vein.
After returning from Lōran, Naruto sent a shadow clone with Sasuke to meet the Queen. His true body entered the Mirror World—only to find it completely transformed.
His authority level hadn't increased.
Aside from unlocking chakra conversion, the only new notification was:
"World Gate available."
Originally, the Mirror World had contained only the outline of Konoha. Later, its operational space and consciousness interface separated.
After absorbing the Dragon Vein, the active area became an independent virtual dimension. The initial space transformed into a star-filled void—where a blue planet appeared.
The planet looked like a droplet of water suspended in space.
No continents. Just ocean.
He couldn't approach it. Couldn't land. No matter how he adjusted perspective, he couldn't view it fully.
The system explained:
This was the first replicated planet, created from Dragon Vein chakra.
In other words—
It was the ninja world's Earth.
For now, the Mirror World could only simulate its basic form. With sufficient energy, it could become real.
At that point, Naruto could open the World Gate, allowing the Mirror World to anchor itself in the real universe.
Any being entering the gate would face two outcomes:
World Guardian
World Vassal
Unlike the Mirror World, vassals could be promoted to guardians.
But all authority flowed through Naruto.
He was the true World Lord—free to grant power or strip it away.
And the energy required to open the gate?
It would come from this planet.
Only then did Naruto fully understand the Three Great Sage Regions' warning—
Why they believed he would destroy the world.
If he could own a world entirely his own…
Why would he need this one?
The Ancient Truth
Through Slug Sage memories, Kurama's knowledge, and Dragon Vein data, Naruto uncovered the deeper truth.
Before Kaguya arrived, Earth was ruled by countless powerful beings.
Humans were livestock.
The Three Great Sage Regions mastered Sage Mode and even foresight.
When Kaguya planted the Divine Tree, they hid.
Some beasts challenged her—and were wiped out by Infinite Tsukuyomi, triggering a mass extinction.
Yet Kaguya spared humans.
Some freed humans instinctively learned chakra control.
The Sage Regions guided them.
Used them.
Sent them to fight Kaguya.
They all died.
Kaguya tracked the sages down.
A war followed.
The Sage Regions lost—badly.
Only reverse summoning saved them.
Later, Hagoromo and Hamura were born.
The rest was history.
The Choice
Back in the present.
Kushina smiled.
"So Orochimaru really revived me?"
Orochimaru's jaw tightened.
He remembered nothing of Naruto—only fear.
Naruto turned to Utakata.
"Are you ready?"
Utakata inhaled deeply.
"Yes."
Naruto stepped forward.
His height surged.
Moments later, Utakata and Shion vanished.
One White Zetsu was gone.
A massive Six-Tails slug now stood beside Shukaku.
A miniature version appeared within Naruto.
Despite knowing their paths would diverge, Saiken still shared his chakra.
In the seal, the tailed beasts watched Naruto and Kurama—fists pressed together.
Finally, Kurama spoke.
"Can you meet the old man?"
Naruto smiled.
"I won't go to the Pure Land. If Hagoromo wanted to talk, he wouldn't have erased those memories."
"And Asura's chakra still hasn't been dealt with."
"If he insists we protect this world," Naruto asked calmly,
"what then?"
Kurama's eyes burned.
"Then we'll make our own choice."
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