"Hmm, the Masked Man's actions seem to be in preparation for an upcoming major battle," Shikamaru mused thoughtfully.
"A major battle? You mean..." Kakashi frowned slightly, pressing for an answer.
"When Sasuke was investigating the ruins left behind by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, he discovered that Kaguya created the White Zetsu army to deal with a powerful enemy that might descend in the future," Shikamaru explained.
"I've had my suspicions for a while—that the Masked Man performing Edo Tensei and taking Sasuke's Rinnegan might be precisely to deal with the same kind of enemies even Kaguya feared."
"The Masked Man seems to have grasped some crucial information. That's probably why he resurrected several strong fighters—to prepare for those unknown enemies," Shikamaru continued, his tone growing graver.
"When he captured Might Guy, he said, 'This move cannot be used here,' which implies that Guy's Eight Gates Released Formation could be a key weapon against those enemies."
Hearing this, Kakashi's brows furrowed deeply, his eyes filled with tension and contemplation.
"If that's true, then this battle may be far worse than we can imagine. Just how strong are the enemies that even Ōtsutsuki Kaguya feared?"
"Yeah," Shikamaru sighed. "The Ninja World might look peaceful right now, but underneath, it's full of turbulence and hidden crises."
"It's a shame we can't communicate with that Masked Man. If we could share information, maybe we could prepare better," Kakashi said regretfully.
"He's not exactly the kind of person you can talk to easily," Shikamaru replied.
Kakashi nodded slowly. "Who exactly is this Masked Man? How did someone like him suddenly appear in the Ninja World? It's such a damn headache."
"Regardless, we need to notify the other Ninja Villages as soon as possible," Shikamaru said.
"I remember the joint Chunin Exams are going to be held in Konoha soon, right?" Kakashi asked.
"Yes. The other Four Kage will be there. We can use the opportunity to discuss this threat and plan our next steps together," Shikamaru confirmed.
As the sun set, the evening glow painted the sky red.
At the Valley of the End, Naruto and Sasuke lay quietly on the surface of the lake after another intense sparring match.
"Hahaha! Sasuke, that was the most exhilarating fight I've had in years!"
Naruto lay back with his hands behind his head, gazing at the crimson sky, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
Sasuke exhaled sharply, his expression mixed with pride and annoyance.
"Naruto, your strength has improved again. I honestly thought you'd get rusty after becoming Hokage, but it seems I underestimated you."
"That Wood Release: Nine-Tailed Mode really caught me off guard," Sasuke admitted, glancing at him.
Naruto chuckled. "I haven't actually trained much since becoming Hokage. But Boruto told me I can't slack off just because I'm in charge. He said there might come a day when enemies stronger than Kaguya appear—so I can't get complacent."
At the mention of Boruto, Sasuke's face immediately darkened.
"I'm not letting your son off that easily. Sarada unlocking the Mangekyo Sharingan definitely has something to do with him. He made my daughter cry—I won't forgive that."
Naruto sighed, sitting up to face him. "Sasuke, I get it, but come on. Let the kids handle their own problems."
"Handle it themselves? You mean letting him keep two girlfriends?" Sasuke snapped.
"Sasuke, don't get all worked up yet," Naruto said carefully. "Yeah, Boruto can be a little reckless sometimes, but he's not a bad kid. He knows where to draw the line."
"Besides," Naruto added awkwardly, "Sarada and Sumire don't seem to be totally against... you know... that kind of situation."
"What do you mean? Are you seriously condoning this, Naruto?!" Sasuke shouted.
"That's not what I meant!" Naruto said quickly, hands raised.
"Then what do you mean?!" Sasuke demanded, stepping closer.
"This..." Naruto stammered, completely at a loss. He sighed internally. Man, this is one mess I can't talk my way out of.
Seeing Naruto's silence, Sasuke's anger boiled over.
"Naruto! I'm not done with you!"
He stood up, blue lightning crackling around his left hand as his Chidori flared to life. The energy danced wildly, illuminating the lake's surface.
"Hey, Sasuke! You seriously wanna go again?!" Naruto shouted, already forming a Rasengan.
"Ahh... for my son's happiness, guess your old man has to go all out," Naruto muttered under his breath, charging his chakra.
"Naruto—!"
"Sasuke—!"
Rasengan and Chidori collided once again, erupting in a blinding flash that engulfed the entire valley.
Deep underground in a secret base within the Land of Fire, Boruto stood beside Yakushi Kabuto, staring at several large culture tanks filled with cloned bodies.
"Boruto," Kabuto began, adjusting his glasses, "about the eye problems of Madara, Itachi, Shisui, Fugaku, and the others resurrected by the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique..."
"Oh? Go on," Boruto replied curiously.
"After being revived by that technique, their eyes disappear—but it's only their physical eyes that vanish," Kabuto explained.
Boruto tilted his head. "So what happens to their powers?"
"Their ocular abilities—like the Mangekyo Sharingan and Rinnegan—are imprinted onto their souls," Kabuto said calmly. "That's something Orochimaru and I confirmed through research."
"Their souls?" Boruto asked, surprised.
"Exactly. That's also why Madara retained the Rinnegan after being revived by Edo Tensei," Kabuto continued.
"The soul acts like a door, and the eyes are the key to unlocking the Mangekyo or Rinnegan. Even if the key is destroyed, the door remains."
"So... we just need to make a new key?" Boruto realized, eyes widening.
Kabuto smiled faintly. "Precisely. The eyes of their clones can serve as new keys. Genetically, clones are identical to the originals—they just lack souls. Their eyes are a clean slate."
"However," Kabuto added, "whether these eyes can awaken the Mangekyo or Rinnegan depends entirely on the individual's will and compatibility."
Boruto couldn't help but grin. "This is... unbelievable."
Kabuto smirked. "This is science."
"Yeah... science," Boruto nodded in agreement, eyes gleaming.
"By the way," Boruto asked suddenly, "how come Nagato also had the Rinnegan after being resurrected by Edo Tensei?"
"That's simple," Kabuto replied. "Nagato was an Uzumaki—a direct descendant of the Sage of Six Paths. His body could withstand the immense power of the Rinnegan.
Madara implanted the Rinnegan into him when he was young, and over time, Nagato's soul absorbed its energy. That's why he retained it even after being resurrected."
Boruto's eyes narrowed in admiration. "Genes, souls, science... Kabuto, you've truly surpassed Orochimaru in this field."
Kabuto gave a modest smile, the gleam of the culture tanks reflecting off his glasses.
...
Author's Note:
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