Over the next few days, Sasuke didn't train at all.
Instead, he wandered through Konoha with his future self, much like Naruto had done with Boruto.
The older Sasuke had seen memories of this village before, but those memories were selective. He had never bothered to look at small, ordinary moments like this.
Walking down Konoha's streets now, he froze.
People greeted Sasuke naturally. Some nodded, some smiled, some stopped to talk.
The future Sasuke hadn't expected that.
He knew Sasuke was respected, but not like this.
"During Nagato's invasion," Sasuke explained calmly, noticing the look, "I organized the evacuation. A lot of people remember that. Still, that alone isn't enough."
The older Sasuke nodded, then asked quietly, "You're aiming to become Hokage, aren't you?"
"Of course," Sasuke answered without hesitation.
That answer lingered.
The older Sasuke remembered himself during the Fourth War. Back then, he had wanted the same thing, to become Hokage and reshape the world through force.
If he had won… what would have happened?
Would the world really have changed for the better?
He couldn't answer that question anymore.
Looking at this Konoha, he exhaled softly. People here lived peacefully. Not perfectly, but well enough. Maybe that alone already meant something.
Then he noticed two familiar figures ahead and stopped.
"…Them?" he asked.
"Nagato and Konan," Sasuke replied. "You recognize them."
The older Sasuke nodded. He had never seen Nagato like this, but Konan was unmistakable.
"They're still alive… why?"
"They were Jiraiya-sensei's students. They invaded Konoha, but the damage was limited. Fujimoto Tōma spared them."
That explained everything.
In his own world, Nagato had destroyed nearly the entire village. Here, with Tōma present, that future had never existed.
After a moment's thought, the older Sasuke asked, "May I speak with them?"
Sasuke hesitated, then nodded.
He drew Jiraiya aside, leaving the future Sasuke to approach Nagato and Konan.
Nagato listened quietly as the question was asked.
After a long silence, he shook his head.
"I can't answer that," he said. "Not anymore."
"Why?"
"Because I'm lost," Nagato replied. "Even if my old plan succeeded… would people truly be happy living under the shadow of a weapon that could erase everything?"
He continued softly, "Fear would breed resistance. Resistance would demand suppression. It would never end."
The older Sasuke said nothing.
"I want peace where people live without war," Nagato went on. "Even if disputes exist, they're resolved properly. But I know now… that world may never exist."
"…Then it's impossible," the older Sasuke said.
"Perhaps," Nagato smiled. "But that doesn't mean it isn't worth chasing."
Konan placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Your dream is mine too."
Nagato tried to object, then fell silent.
"Thank you," the older Sasuke said sincerely.
As Konan wheeled Nagato away, the future Sasuke stood there for a long time, thinking.
Maybe, once the Ōtsutsuki threat was gone, he finally knew what he needed to do.
Three days later, Karasuki was fully recharged.
Naruto clung to Boruto, both of them crying without shame. Sasuke and his future self simply exchanged quiet smiles.
"I hope you become Hokage," the older Sasuke said.
"Thank you. I hope you find your path too," Sasuke replied.
Fujimoto Tōma watched with interest. The moon-colored sprite on his shoulder yawned, unimpressed.
When the light flared, Tōma pushed his senses to the limit, searching for even a trace of temporal fluctuation.
Nothing.
When the glow faded, Boruto and the older Sasuke were gone.
Naruto stared at the empty space. "…They're really gone."
"If you miss him that much," Tōma said lightly, "you could always hurry up and marry Hinata."
Naruto turned bright red and short-circuited on the spot.
Tōma smiled, then looked at the sky. "I wonder where they ended up."
They didn't return home.
Not at first.
In a strange in-between space, Boruto and the older Sasuke reappeared, only to be dropped into yet another Konoha, familiar yet wrong.
Before they could react, a man appeared beside them, so quietly that neither sensed him.
"…You?" the older Sasuke whispered.
"Looks like you missed your mark," the man said with a smile. "Want a ride home?"
With a wave of his hand, a black rift opened.
They stepped through.
When they emerged, they were back in their world at last.
A day later, Naruto stood before Tōma.
"I want to face the Nine-Tails," he said seriously.
Tōma studied him. "You're sure?"
Naruto nodded. "I'm ready."
After a moment, Tōma smiled. "Alright. Let's begin."