It was an afternoon in Konoha, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows across the ground.
The Konoha of today presented a scene of unprecedented prosperity, following the conclusion of the alliance between the Five Great Nations and a wave of technological innovation.
The streets had been widened, and modern buildings had risen from the ground. In a park in the center of the village, a group of special 'little guests' were playing together.
"Charge! The treasure is in that direction!"
A little boy, about two years old with brilliant golden hair and clear blue eyes, dashed at the very front.
His laughter was bright and infectious.
He was Naruto Uzumaki, the only son of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
In this timeline, he was not the reviled incarnation of the demon fox, as the Nine-Tails was still firmly sealed within his mother, Kushina Uzumaki.
He was simply the 'Prince of Konoha,' a high-energy child inheriting the excellent genes of his parents, whose vitality gave even his Anbu babysitters a headache.
Following behind him was a group of prestigious 'little sidekicks.'
The fastest was Sasuke Uchiha. Although Sasuke was still young, his competitive streak was already showing as he pumped his short legs, trying to overtake Naruto.
Slightly behind was a red-haired boy with heavy dark circles—Gaara, the son of the Kazekage from the Hidden Sand.
Having come to Konoha as an 'exchange student' (hostage), he was originally timid and introverted. However, under the relentless pestering of a social butterfly like Naruto, he had become a member of the young leader's crew.
Further back was Shikamaru Nara, who followed lazily despite looking like he found it all a hassle, and Choji Akimichi, who was busy eating potato chips.
"That direction... isn't that the training ground outside the village?"
The ninjas from various nations responsible for protection and surveillance gathered in the shadows, communicating in low voices.
"That blonde brat is the son of the Yellow Flash?" An Iwagakure Jonin stared at Naruto with a complex expression. "That terrifying vitality... I can feel it even from this far away. Is this the Uzumaki bloodline?"
"Hmph, don't forget his mother is the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki." A Cloud ninja crossed his arms, his tone wary. "Even if the boy doesn't have a Tailed Beast inside him, who knows how much of that monster's power he inherited? If he influences Gaara, how will we handle that?"
"Watch your words." A Mist Anbu coldly interrupted them. "We are here to learn technology, not to gossip. We only need to follow the orders of our superiors."
The ninjas fell silent.
Looking at the group of children running in the sun—representing the future of their respective villages—they had to admit that Konoha's magnanimity was enough to encompass the entire shinobi world.
By gathering the heirs of each nation together, even as hostages, the seeds of future bonds were being sown.
...
"We're here! The Pervy Sage said big brother Kakashi is right here!"
Naruto skidded to a halt, pointing at Training Ground 3 ahead and shouting.
This was a forested area enclosed by chain-link fences, usually deserted.
But now, extremely rhythmic sounds of wind being sliced echoed from deep within the woods.
"Shh—"
Naruto put a finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture, and then lowered his body in a mock-serious way. "We have to sneak over and give him a fright!"
Sasuke curled his lip, seemingly finding the behavior childish, but his body followed Naruto into the bushes honestly enough.
Gaara followed nervously behind them.
The group crept quietly to the edge of the training ground.
Through the gaps in the shrubs, they saw the silver-haired young man.
Kakashi Hatake was shirtless, revealing lean muscles covered in scars.
He held the White Fang short blade, which radiated a cold gleam, performing monotonous downward slashes against the air.
Each swing was extremely slow, as if he weren't holding a short blade but a massive mountain.
Yet, as the blade cut through the air, the surrounding fallen leaves were drawn by some invisible force and cleanly severed in the middle.
"That's... Senior Kakashi."
Sasuke's eyes lit up.
In the Uchiha clan, besides Shisui and Itachi, Kakashi was the only outsider frequently praised by his father, Fugaku.
"Wow! Big brother is over there!" Naruto didn't care about the rest; once he found his target, he threw the idea of a prank to the wind.
"Big brother Kakashi!!"
Naruto launched himself from the bushes like a golden cannonball, charging straight for Kakashi.
The training Kakashi's movements paused, a hint of helplessness flashing in his dead-fish eyes.
He had sensed the presence of these little ancestors from five hundred meters away.
"Naruto..." Kakashi sheathed his blade and turned to catch the pouncing Naruto, casually ruffling the boy's blonde hair. "Didn't the Hokage tell you to take your new friends to play in the village? Why did you come all the way out to the middle of nowhere?"
"The adults in the village are so boring! They just smile at me in that fake way!" Naruto grumbled with a pout. "I want to see something cool! The Pervy Sage said you've mastered an ultimate technique that can even split mountains!"
'An ultimate technique...' Kakashi's eyelid twitched. Lord Jiraiya really would brag about anything.
At that moment, Sasuke, Gaara, and the others stepped out.
Sasuke tilted his head back, looking at Kakashi with a face full of pride and longing. "Senior Kakashi, I want to see it too. My brother said your swordsmanship has already surpassed the scope of the Sharingan."
Gaara didn't speak, but his eyes, with their dark circles, were fixed intently on the blade in Kakashi's hand.
Stared at by so many innocent and high-profile eyes, Kakashi sighed.
He knew that if he didn't show off a bit today, these kids wouldn't let him be.
Moreover, he sensed the presence of the foreign ninjas spying from afar.
Since the Hokage wanted to flex some muscle, then as his student, he naturally had to cooperate.
"Splitting mountains is impossible."
Kakashi walked over to a solid steel pillar used for testing strength. This pillar was as thick as a thigh, made of a high-strength alloy discarded by Orochimaru's laboratory.
"However, cutting through something else is doable."
Kakashi's voice became calm.
He didn't take an exaggerated stance, simply standing there casually with his right hand resting on the hilt.
The air seemed to freeze at that moment.
The foreign guards in the distance held their breath, staring intently at Kakashi's movements.
They wanted to know just how strong this specialist, who once relied on the Sharingan, had become.
Naruto's blue eyes widened, and he even forgot to breathe.
Clang—
A crisp, pleasant ring of the blade rippled out like a wave.
Kakashi's figure seemed to blur for a microsecond before returning to normal.
His hand was still on the hilt, as if he had never drawn the sword.
"Eh?" Naruto blinked. "Big brother Kakashi, did you move?"
Sasuke frowned as well; his dynamic vision hadn't captured the movement at all.
"Look there."
Kakashi pointed at the steel pillar.
Everyone followed his finger.
On the metallic surface of the solid steel pillar, under the sunlight, a line as thin as a hair suddenly appeared.
Immediately after...
Screech...
The upper half of the steel pillar slowly slid down.
The cut was as smooth as a mirror, even reflecting Naruto's wide-open mouth.
Thud!
The heavy steel pillar hit the ground with a dull thud, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Amazing!!" Naruto was stunned for three seconds before bursting into deafening cheers. "That was so cool! What jutsu was that? I want to learn! I want to learn!"
Sasuke's small fists clenched tight, his eyes filled with shock. 'Is this a realm that can be reached without the Sharingan?'
The foreign guards in the distance sucked in a cold breath.
"A pure... physical slash?" The Iwagakure Jonin felt a chill on his neck. "No chakra nature transformation, cutting special alloy relying solely on speed and sharpness... This kind of swordsmanship..."
They didn't dare think further.
Konoha's younger generation had already grown to a level that terrified them.
...
While the training ground was filled with cheers...
About a kilometer away, in the shadow of a giant tree canopy.
A figure wearing a tiger-pattern mask and a dark robe watched everything silently.
Obito Uchiha.
Through the single hole in his mask, he looked at the golden-haired child laughing in the sun, and at his silver-haired best friend surrounded by children.
His hand dug deep into the tree trunk, wood chips flying.
"Kakashi..."
Obito's voice was raspy, carrying an indescribable and complex emotion.
He had seen Kakashi's strike just now.
It was a strike that no longer relied on the Sharingan he had gifted him—a strike that had completely forged its own path.
The trash who used to be listless and lost in front of Rin's grave had now become so strong, even... so radiant.
And that golden-haired child...
"Sensei's child..."
Obito looked at Naruto's face, which bore a seventy percent resemblance to Minato Namikaze, and that signature bright smile.
In this world, Naruto hadn't lost his parents and hadn't become the demon fox brat hated by the villagers.
He lived in the light, the center of attention, possessing the childhood Obito had once dreamed of but never had.
"A false happiness."
Obito loosened his grip, his tone turning cold again.
"As long as the Otsutsuki descend, as long as the darkness in human hearts remains, this peace is as fragile as a bubble. Sensei, you think you changed the world, but you are only delaying the inevitable destruction."
Despite his words, Obito did not take action.
Currently, he could only appear outside the barrier protecting Konoha; otherwise, he would be reprimanded by his dear teacher again in the next moment.
He even thought back to when his teacher helped him seal the curse tag on his heart...
'If I were willing to turn back...'
Obito couldn't help but think.
No!
'Obito, when did you become so weak?' he questioned himself.
At this moment, Obito's heart was in turmoil. Even a guy like Kakashi had found his path, yet he...
And that woman who called herself Kaguya...
Obito took one last deep look at Kakashi's back and the training ground filled with laughter.
"Enjoy these final moments of false peace."
The surrounding space began to distort.
A vortex quickly formed, centered on his right eye, swallowing his body bit by bit.
Just before his body completely disappeared, Kakashi in the training ground seemed to sense something and snapped his head toward Obito's direction.
But he only saw leaves swaying slightly.
The vortex had already vanished without a trace.
...
Hokage's Office.
Minato Namikaze paused while grading documents.
##Discount##
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