Upon hearing the main body's words, Uzumaki Stark couldn't hold back and immediately cursed aloud.
Not only that, he also dropped all his ongoing research, dragged over a couch, and flopped onto it in full slacker mode.
"Wait!"
"What are you doing?"
"Are you not going to continue the research on Impure World Reincarnation?"
Naruto couldn't stand seeing his clone acting like he'd lost all motivation.
'Did he really expect me to figure out how to reach Boruto's world all by myself?'
'Then what's the point of having a shadow clone?'
"Research? Screw research!"
"Let's all just go down together!"
"Might as well eat, drink, and do whatever you regret not doing before it's too late..."
At this time, Uzumaki Stark's tone was like that of an old Chinese doctor delivering a terminal diagnosis to a patient.
"Alright, main body, just dispel me already."
"You deal with this mess yourself. I don't want to see that disgusting thing."
Cold sweat instantly dripped down Naruto's back.
"I-It can't be that bad... right?"
"Is it really that serious?"
Bang…
Uzumaki Stark slammed the table and roared angrily.
"Uzumaki Naruto!"
"Do you even realize how serious this is?!"
"Chakra is practically omnipotent."
"If Boruto gets serious..."
"Not only will his world be ruined, but other parallel worlds will be ruined as well!"
"It's hopeless! We're all doomed!"
As a shadow clone, he was so furious he was tempted to dispel himself on the spot. But he knew that if he did, the main body would just summon him back to be used as a slave again.
"Calm down... calm down..."
Naruto personally poured a cup of tea for Uzumaki Stark, with a flattering look on his face.
There was no helping it. If his shadow clone quit, the work would just fall back on him.
Uzumaki Stark took the tea, downed it in one gulp, took a few deep breaths, and rubbed his temples.
"I'll... think of something."
"I'll try to find Boruto's world as soon as possible..."
"Now get lost!"
When Naruto heard this, he excitedly threw an arm around his shoulder.
"Then I'm counting on you!"
"I'll go find Sasuke first."
After saying that, Naruto pulled out a bunch of tools and handed them to Uzumaki Stark, then vanished through a portal.
Uzumaki Stark didn't even have time to react, staring blankly at the direction where his original body disappeared.
After a long time, he gritted his teeth and cursed.
"Damn it!!"
"Sooner or later, I'll hang you on the chandelier!"
'That bastard kept exploiting me, and after causing such a huge disaster, he still had the nerve to go off and have fun?!'
Uzumaki Stark grumbled for a while before crouching down to pick up the scattered tools.
"Uzumaki Stark!"
"I came to see you!"
Not far away, Aburame Shino was holding a small box and ran towards the laboratory with excitement.
Ever since the last gathering, Shino has been running to Uzumaki Stark's laboratory whenever he has something to do.
Because he can always get a lot of inspiration for modifying his insects here...
Seeing Shino only worsened Uzumaki Stark's mood.
"Stop!"
"Don't come again!"
"And stop your research on Devouring Worms!"
"If those things go out of control, it'll be a catastrophe!"
Shino is a stubborn guy. Last time, Uzumaki Stark had just mentioned a little something about the Zerg Swarm, but it made this guy so excited he couldn't sleep for days.
Now, he has stopped practicing entirely, and comes to him whenever he has something to do.
"Don't worry, I definitely won't create anything that terrifying."
Shino excitedly put the box in his hand on the table and motioned Uzumaki Stark to take a look.
Inside were his newest batch of larvae…
"What?!"
"You want my blood?!"
"Hidan, are you out of your mind?!"
As soon as Naruto arrived at Orochimaru's hideout, he received a call from Hidan.
This guy shamelessly asked for his blood right off the bat.
Through their conversation, Naruto roughly pieced together how Boruto had appeared in the first place.
Most likely, this cultist had performed some kind of ritual that summoned the abnormal Boruto.
After being rejected, Hidan didn't get angry or upset.
He didn't even notice that the kid had stopped calling him 'senpai' before, and was now bluntly addressing him as 'Hidan'.
"Ichigo, bro..."
"Lend me some blood, I really need it for something urgent."
Naruto was about to curse him out, but since the last incident was still unclear, he figured letting Hidan summon Boruto again wouldn't be too risky.
"Fine."
"Go back to the hideout and wait for me."
"Got it! I'll head back right away!!"
Hidan excitedly hung up the communicator and immediately rushed toward the Akatsuki's hideout.
Meanwhile, Naruto quickly explained to Sasuke that he had something to deal with and would help him find Itachi when he got back.
…
Amegakure, Akatsuki's hideout.
Pain stood atop the tallest building in the village, admiring the newly repaired buildings below, and was in a very good mood.
Nagato had even momentarily forgotten the pain in his own body.
"Nagato."
"The base and the village have been restored."
Konan walked up beside Pain, her face full of worry, completely unlike Nagato's cheerful demeanor.
"It's just..."
"I've used up Kakuzu's money again."
Due to the sudden attack on their hideout some time ago, they hadn't been able to react in time, resulting in two-thirds of the buildings being destroyed...
What they called 'repairs' was basically a full reconstruction.
The money spent even exceeded Konan's expectations.
"It's okay."
"If we're out of money, we'll just have everyone go out and gather funds again."
Pain felt that the problem of money is not a problem, as they can just continue to make money if there is no money. Anyway, there are so many people in the organization who can make money.
"Understood."
Konan turned around and prepared to leave, but was stopped by Pain.
"By the way, have Hidan and Ichigo returned yet?"
"Yes, they are in the lounge."
"Good."
Hearing that Ichigo was fine, Nagato felt even more pleased.
After all, this newcomer completed the mission flawlessly, showing that he is much more reliable than the others.
He'd sent him to deal with Hiruko, and within a few hours, Hidan had returned with photo as the proof of the kill.
As for bringing back Hiruko's head, that had just been Nagato's angry rant at the time, so naturally, he would not care about it.
Since the work of repairing the hideout finally completed, Nagato sent the Six Paths of Pain for maintenance, allowing himself some well-deserved rest.
…
"Obito!"
"Why didn't you act just now!!!"
Black Zetsu was on the verge of losing it.
They had clearly agreed to kill Kakashi and take back his eye before they set out.
But what happened?
Obito was actually scared to flee when he saw Kakashi.
Under his mask, Obito felt slightly embarrassed.
"Another day."
"I can take his life whenever I want."
He did want to kill Kakashi, but that guy's outfit had been downright horrifying.
If possible...
Obito would rather fight Kakashi in a proper, dignified battle.
"Never mind that for now."
"Tobi mentioned there's a new recruit in the organization."
"Let's go check him out first."
Black Zetsu's anger subsided slightly at this news, because he felt that this newcomer Ichigo...
Was extremely suspicious!