"It doesn't matter how many times you try; the results will always be the same."
"In the dream world, you will both obtain everything you have ever wanted. The Itachi you desire, Sasuke, and the Hokage title you want, Naruto, they will all become reality," Kanon said indifferently.
The two stared back at Kanon, their expressions gradually hardening with ironclad resolve. Though the gap between them was immense, there was still time to keep pushing forward, wasn't there?
Seeing Naruto and Sasuke regain their fighting spirit, Sakura and Kakashi felt their own resolve rekindle.
"Madara could emerge at any given second. Keep your guard up."
Naruto and Sasuke stepped over to Kakashi's side. Naruto placed his hand over Kakashi's empty eye socket, and gradually, Kakashi's original eye completely regenerated.
"My goodness... how did you even do that?" Sakura gasped in awe.
"Uh... it's kind of complicated to explain in words," Naruto replied, scratching his head.
Standing beside him, Sasuke sharply cut in, "Hey! I just said we can't afford to let our guard down, Naruto!"
In an instant, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke fell right back into their old habit of bickering. Coupled with Kanon silently watching them from the distance, a wave of nostalgia washed over Kakashi.
The Team 7 he had once led, every single one of them had made something incredible of themselves. Naruto had become the Hero of the Leaf; Sasuke and Kanon had risen to the very absolute peak of power in the shinobi world. And though Sakura might have seemed ordinary compared to the other three, she had grown into an exceptionally qualified medical ninja.
Memories of the four of them from their childhood flashed through Kakashi's mind once more. Their old introductions, their declarations of their dreams, every word echoed vividly in his thoughts.
Kakashi looked at Naruto and Sakura, giving them a small nod, before turning his eyes toward Sasuke. "Sasuke... what is your dream right now?"
The moment the question left his mouth, all three of them froze.
"To become Hokage? What you really mean by that is..." Sakura looked at Sasuke, completely bewildered, while Naruto stared in equal shock.
Kakashi continued softly, "The fact that the original members of Team 7 are all gathered here like this must be the work of fate, Sasuke."
"Though none of us know what Kanon is thinking right now, it's fine if she doesn't want to tell us."
"But whether it's you or your sister Kanon, we are all members of Team 7. That is an undeniable fact, isn't it?"
At that moment, all four of them turned their focus toward the space directly ahead, the exact midpoint separating them from Kanon.
"Up ahead... here it comes."
"Do you all still remember our very first bell test?!" Kakashi asked loudly.
"Of course I do! Teamwork!" Naruto answered, a slight smirk playing on his lips.
"Even though Kanon was the only one who actually possessed a shred of team spirit back then, the rest of you should thoroughly understand it by now!" Kakashi shouted.
"You bet we do!" The Truth-Seeking Balls behind Naruto's back began to spin rapidly.
In the distance, Kanon watched the four members of the original Team 7, her expression completely devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
"Teamwork, huh?"
Suddenly, the space distorted. Controlling the Kamui from within the Kamui dimension, Black Zetsu materialized, bringing both Madara and Obito back out into the open.
"Well then, dying together can count as teamwork too," Madara stated flatly.
"Did it succeed?" Kanon asked from behind them in a quiet tone.
Madara reached back and playfully flashed a peace sign toward Kanon.
"Honestly, old man Madara... you took your sweet time!"
"Kanon, take a look at my two Rinnegan." Madara opened his eyes fully, locking his gaze with Kanon's.
"Not as pretty as mine," Kanon said softly.
Madara nearly stumbled over his own feet.
"That wasn't what I wanted you to look at!"
"I am saying that I have officially reclaimed both of my Rinnegan. Our dream is finally within reach!"
"Oh, so that's what you meant." A beautiful smile finally graced Kanon's face.
"Good grief." Madara shifted his gaze toward the three members of Team 7.
Now that he had retrieved both of his Rinnegan, he had achieved his perfect form. Under normal circumstances, he should have verified the specific Rinnegan abilities Kanon possessed, but doing so now was entirely pointless.
Madara knew that anyone else in the world might betray him, but Kanon never would. Therefore, any verification was meaningless; from beginning to end, she would stand firmly by his side.
And he, without fail, would cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi, allowing Kanon to see the people she desperately missed, making amends for the countless regrets she carried, and fulfilling his own lifelong dream of absolute peace.
Kakashi stared at Madara in the distance, his expression growing incredibly grave. "Madara... you managed to gather both Rinnegan."
"Even if I hadn't gathered them myself, I could have simply had Kanon achieve this state to execute the Infinite Tsukuyomi in my stead."
"The very moment she awakened the Rinnegan, it was a sign that you all never stood a single chance of winning."
Naruto, meanwhile, was shouting at Obito, who stood lifelessly beside Madara. "Obito! What happened to you?!"
Black Zetsu's voice drifted out, cold and mocking:
"How unfortunate, but Obito is no longer home."
"This body belongs to me now."
"The fool actually thought he could atone for the sins he committed. He was crying inside like a pathetic child, begging to entrust the future to you all."
"How utterly selfish. He's nothing but a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum."
The moment Black Zetsu finished speaking, Kanon walked up from right behind Madara.
"How many times do I have to tell you... stop standing behind me..."
"You really are sensitive about that, aren't you?" Kanon reached out and patted Madara's back. Indeed, she had done it completely on purpose.
"You brat..." Madara muttered, completely helpless.
"You're already in Six Paths Mode, so why are you still so touchy about your back?"
"As expected, an old man is still just an old man," Kanon teased.
"You miserable little brat, would it kill you not to mock me?"
"Not too long ago, you were calling me 'Grandpa' with every breath."
Kanon's face flushed a bright crimson. Madara had hit a nerve, and she stammered out of pure embarrassment, "I... I was not calling you Grandpa! You're clearly just a stubborn old man! Yeah! That's right!"
"I only said it back then on purpose!"
Hearing Kanon's stuttering, tsundere excuses, Madara couldn't help but burst into a hearty laugh. He had to admit, this junior of his was entirely entertaining and incredibly endearing.
The two bickered back and forth, completely ignoring the presence of Team 7. As they spoke, Kanon and Madara simultaneously shifted their gazes toward the four individuals standing across from them. Kanon's twelve-tomoe Rinnegan and Mangekyo Rinnegan locked directly onto Naruto and the others.
Madara's mere presence had already terrified Sakura, forcing her back several steps. But now, with both Kanon and Madara locking their eyes onto her, an invisible, crushing pressure violently erupted. It was so intense that Sakura stumbled and fell heavily to the ground.
Kakashi could completely understand her reaction. It was only natural; the combined visual prowess of Madara and Kanon possessed a crushing weight that would strike terror into anyone.
Sitting on the ground, Sakura swallowed hard as she looked at Naruto and Sasuke standing ahead of her, before casting one more glance at Kanon in the distance.
She recalled her childhood, remembering the massive chasm that had always existed between her and the other three. That gap had never truly narrowed; it had only grown wider and wider with time.
'Tsunade-sama... I think I've finally caught up to them.' Those words she had proudly thought to herself echoed in her mind once more. That's right, at a critical moment like this, how could she, the disciple of the Fifth Hokage, afford to cower and shrink away?!
The Strength of a Hundred Seal on Sakura's forehead began to unfurl, spreading across her face. This time, she absolutely would not retreat. In a sudden burst of movement, she leaped up and charged straight toward Madara and Kanon.
"I'll act as the diversion! Follow my lead!"
Naruto and Sasuke gasped in shock. Before they could even formulate a coordinated strategy, Sakura had already rushed forward completely on her own.
Predictably, Kanon merely raised a single hand. Universal Pull!
The overwhelming gravitational force instantly dragged Sakura flying through the air toward them. Standard Rinnegan techniques like the Deva Path abilities were basic ocular skills, not unique personal jutsu, meaning the newly awakened Kanon could wield them effortlessly.
"Hey! Kanon! Stop! That's Sakura!" Naruto screamed.
However, Kanon wasn't the one who struck. It was Madara.
A black receiver instantly materialized in Madara's hand, piercing clean through Sakura's abdomen. Naruto's pupils constricted to pinpricks, while a Chidori blade instantly crackled to life in Sasuke's grip.
Sakura gritted her teeth tightly as blood spilled from the corner of her mouth, but her expression was fiercer and more resolute than it had ever been. She pulled back her arm and swung a massive punch forward.
Seeing this, Madara smirked coldly. "A regenerative ability identical to Hashirama's granddaughter, is it?"
"Yeah. I remember telling you about it before, it's called the Strength of a Hundred Technique," Kanon reminded him.
"I'm getting old; my memory isn't what it used to be."
"See? I told you so, old man Madara."
"Call me Grandpa Madara, you disrespectful brat."
"Fine, fine! Grandpa Madara!" Kanon replied in a thoroughly sarcastic, mocking tone.
"Good grief," Madara sighed, completely exasperated.
Just as they finished speaking, Sakura's devastating punch slammed violently into empty air. The impact left Sakura completely stunned.
The strike had undeniably connected with something, but why?
"An invisible wall... I can't hit him!"
She was completely oblivious to the fact that she had just struck a phantom created by Madara's personal Rinnegan ability: Limbo: Border Jail.
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NOTE: This fic has been completely translated. If you want to read the whole story head over to my p-atre-on: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]