With everything settled, the only thing left was figuring out how to return.
Isamu stepped in front of the Nine-Tomoe Rinnegan pattern.
Previously, a flash of white light had brought him to this era. But now, how was he supposed to return to the world a thousand years in the future?
Originally, he had assumed that once the battle between Indra and Ashura reached its conclusion, the space-time passage would open on its own.
However, after learning that the space-time tunnel had been constructed using Indra's Nine-Tomoe Rinnegan as its foundation, he found himself at a loss.
To activate the space-time tunnel, he first had to activate that Rinnegan.
That sounded simple, but the real problem was how.
The eye had become an inert object. It wouldn't awaken by itself.
As Isamu wrestled with the problem, inspiration suddenly struck him.
A faint smile spread across his face.
"Even if I'm not sure it'll work… it's worth trying."
Without hesitation, he took out the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan that Indra had entrusted to him.
If he could use its chakra to resonate with the other eye, then two eyes that had once belonged to the same pair should respond to each other.
It was a theory he had come up with on the spot. Whether it would actually work could only be determined through trial and error.
"Come… answer my call."
"Open the space-time passage that bridges the past and the future!"
He continuously poured his ocular chakra into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
Finally, after a steady stream of chakra, the eye responded.
The six-pointed pattern slowly began to rotate, releasing a brilliant light.
At the same time, the buried Nine-Tomoe Rinnegan answered the call.
Its nine tomoe spun in unison.
Separated by distance, the two eyes resonated with one another.
The pattern on the ground glowed brighter and brighter, expanding until it completely enveloped Isamu.
"It worked."
A smile appeared on his face.
He quickly stored the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan away.
It was a gift from Indra. He couldn't afford to lose it.
Moments later, the Nine-Tomoe Rinnegan erupted with dazzling light.
Seeing the radiance, Isamu couldn't help feeling excited.
Then his expression turned tense.
"I just hope this doesn't send me into another timeline…"
The brilliant light swallowed him whole.
He instinctively closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, he found himself inside a bizarre passage filled with flowing colors.
It resembled an endless rainbow tunnel, and his body continued falling through it.
"So this is the legendary space-time tunnel…"
Looking around curiously, Isamu carefully observed the strange environment.
Just then, two figures clad in black-and-white armor suddenly appeared inside the tunnel.
Their bodies were completely covered, and their faces remained hidden behind helmets.
"Seriously, The Reviver, why are we taking the slow space-time tunnel instead of the express time route? What a waste of time," the man in white armor complained.
"Please. Time travel is supposed to remain confidential. How could we openly use the time route? Besides, I never asked you to come with me."
The man in black armor shrugged helplessly.
"Hey! That's cold. I came because I was worried you'd get into trouble. I even volunteered to be your bodyguard, and this is how you treat me?"
The white-armored man pointed accusingly at him.
"Forget that for a second. Haven't you noticed there's someone else here?"
The black-armored man pointed toward Isamu.
"Someone else?"
The white-armored man turned his head.
"Damn… how did we run into him here?"
He stared at Isamu in obvious surprise.
Then he immediately complained again.
"See? I told you not to take the space-time tunnel. But no, you wouldn't listen. Now we've bumped into him. The Reviver, you deal with it yourself."
Meanwhile, Isamu stared at the two mysterious figures with equal confusion.
How could there be other people inside a space-time tunnel?
This makes absolutely no sense.
Even so, he remained on guard.
He had no idea whether these two were allies or enemies.
The man in black armor walked over and extended his hand.
"Nice to meet you."
"Please take care of me, Isamu."
"How do you know my name?"
Isamu frowned.
"I don't remember ever meeting either of you."
Seeing Isamu ignore his handshake, the black-armored man awkwardly withdrew his hand.
As one of the Eleven Decision Makers, this was the first time someone had completely ignored his greeting.
It was… a little embarrassing.
Still, he didn't seem bothered.
"You don't need to think about it."
"This is our first official meeting."
"It's impossible for you to know me."
"My name is Lex."
As he spoke, he revealed the name that had been buried for countless years.
"How do you know that name?"
"Who exactly are you?"
Isamu's eyes widened.
Lex had been his name back on Earth before he was transported into the Naruto world.
No one should have known it.
Unless…
Unless these two weren't ordinary humans at all.
Otherwise, how could they possibly know?
"You'll have plenty of time to figure out who I am."
The black-armored man smiled.
"Wouldn't it be more interesting if you guessed?"
"As for the full story…"
"I'll tell you the next time we meet."
"I can at least give you one hint."
"We're not your enemies."
Guess?
Guess your ass.
Isamu couldn't help complaining inwardly.
If you're not my enemy, why not just tell me?
Why put on this mysterious act?
Even so, there was something strangely familiar about the way the man spoke.
It was an indescribable feeling.
"Our chat ends here, Isamu."
The white-armored man pointed toward a glowing light ahead.
"Your destination has arrived."
"Get ready."
"Oh? Already?"
The black-armored man waved casually.
"Looks like this is where we part."
"See you again in a few decades, Isamu."
"Wait!"
"You still haven't told me who you really are! I—"
Before Isamu could finish speaking, an overwhelming force pulled him out of the space-time tunnel.
After Isamu disappeared, the helmets covering the two armored figures dissolved.
Their true appearances were finally revealed.
Both possessed faces nearly identical to Isamu's.
If not exactly the same, then at least ninety percent alike, differing only in a few subtle details.
"I told you," The Transcender said with a grin.
"You acted so mysterious that I guarantee Isamu is cursing you in his head right now."
The Reviver smiled bitterly.
"Isn't that perfectly normal?"
"Back then, The Undying One treated me exactly the same way."
"I remember cursing his entire family afterward."
"Only later did I realize…"
"I'd just cursed my own family."
"Talk about karma."
"Hahaha!"
The two looked at one another before bursting into laughter.
Still laughing, they continued deeper into the endless space-time tunnel toward their own destination.
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