After the initial shock wore off, Naruto explained his path to becoming Hokage. He detailed the confrontation with Hiruzen Sarutobi, the man's crimes and manipulations, and how it had ended with the Third Hokage's death. He described taking down the Elder Advisory Group: Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu. And finally, the destruction of Shimura Danzō and his entire Root organization.
When he finished, Sasuke slammed his palm against the coffee table. The wood cracked under the impact.
"You actually killed him?" Excitement bled through Sasuke's swollen features. In this world, Orochimaru had killed Hiruzen during the Chūnin Exam invasion, robbing Sasuke of that particular revenge. It had been a lingering regret. "You got to do what I couldn't."
He leaned back, satisfaction warming his chest despite the earlier beating. "At least you managed to kill Danzō yourself. After I left Konoha, I dedicated myself to destroying everything connected to that village. Went to the Five Kage Summit specifically to kill Danzō and disrupt the meeting. But Terumi Mei of Kirigakure interfered." His expression darkened. "I barely escaped alive. If Obito and Black Zetsu hadn't shown up..."
Naruto's interest intensified. He'd heard pieces of this story from the adult Naruto, but hearing it firsthand from Sasuke added crucial details. The perspective shift made all the difference.
For the next hour, they traded stories. Sasuke described his defection from Konoha after the Chūnin Exams, how Naruto had chased after him, desperate to bring him back. But teenage Sasuke had been consumed by his need for power, deaf to friendship and loyalty.
"Looking back," Sasuke admitted, "if I'd actually gone back with Naruto then, Hiruzen and Danzō probably would have killed me quietly. We were just kids. We didn't understand the political games being played."
He'd spent three years with Orochimaru, growing stronger. Learning to harness the curse seal's power, developing his lightning techniques. When he'd encountered Team Seven again, he'd defeated them all single-handedly. Been ready to kill them, even.
Then Orochimaru had appeared and talked him down.
"Looking back, I'm grateful Orochimaru interfered," Sasuke said quietly. "Otherwise, I'd be like Itachi. Drowning in regret, begging for forgiveness I could never receive."
Naruto absorbed every word, comparing this timeline to his own. The divergence point was clear. The System had changed him at age five, and from that single alteration, everything else had transformed. The friends around him had better lives. The tragedies that plagued this world, Jiraiya's death, Guy's permanent injuries, Neji's sacrifice during the Fourth Shinobi War, none of it will happened in his timeline.
And none of it would happen. With his current strength, he'd prevent every tragedy before it could take root.
That's what the power is for, he thought. To protect everyone. To make sure no one suffers needlessly.
During Sasuke's narrative, one detail stood out among the rest. A technique mentioned both by this Sasuke and by the adult Naruto. A forbidden jutsu with incredible power.
"The Rinne Tensei," Naruto said. "The Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique. Where is it now?"
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "That technique? It should be with Naruto. Nagato died using it to resurrect everyone who fell during the Akatsuki Raid of Konoha. The conditions for the technique are brutal. The caster dies when it's used. Given that, this world's Naruto sealed it away rather than risk anyone else attempting it."
With the adult Naruto then, Naruto thought. He nodded slowly, filing that information away.
The conversation shifted to Sakura's past. She described her training under Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, how she'd developed her monstrous strength and medical expertise under the Legendary Sannin's guidance.
"I'll need to find Tsunade when I get back," Naruto decided. His Sakura deserved the same opportunities. Plus, having a properly trained medical ninja among his friends would make their regular "friendly maintenance" sessions much more convenient.
"It's interesting," Naruto mused aloud. "In this world, Tsunade became Fifth Hokage. If I hadn't intervened in my timeline, she probably would have taken the position there too."
An idea crystallized. He'd been planning to travel anyway, to meet people across the world and expand his circle of friends. Tsunade could serve as acting Hokage while he was gone. She had the experience, the strength, and the respect needed for the role.
They talked for another half hour before Naruto stood. "I should get back to Himawari. I promised I'd spend time with her."
But before leaving, he turned to Sasuke with one final request. "I want all your techniques. Your jutsu, your experience, your training methods. Everything."
Sasuke smiled despite his injuries. "For the Sasuke in your world, right?"
"He shouldn't have to struggle through the same mistakes," Naruto said simply.
"Agreed." Sasuke began forming hand seals, preparing to transfer his knowledge through a chakra transfer technique. "I hope my other self has an easier path than I did."
With Sasuke's blessing and knowledge sealed into a scroll, Naruto left the house and headed directly for the Hokage Tower.
The Seventh Hokage's office was exactly as Naruto remembered from his previous visits. Neat. Organized. Everything in its proper place. The adult Naruto sat behind his desk, buried in paperwork as usual.
He looked up when the door opened, and his expression immediately became guarded.
"What are you doing here?" The wariness in his voice was obvious. His hand unconsciously moved toward his face, touching the fading bruises from their previous "sparring sessions."
It wasn't that he minded training. But young Naruto hit like a meteor strike, and the resulting injuries took days to heal. Walking around with a swollen pig-face had seriously undermined his authority. The Hokage Tower staff had started giving him sideways glances, and he could practically hear them questioning his competence.
"Relax." Naruto waved off the concern. "I'm not here to fight."
"Then why?" The adult Naruto's shoulders remained tense. "I thought you'd be home with Himawari after dropping Boruto at the Academy."
"I will be soon. But I need something first." Naruto got straight to the point. "The Rinne Tensei. The Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique. You have it, right?"
The Seventh Hokage's eyes narrowed immediately. His entire demeanor shifted from nervous to serious in an instant. "I do. After Nagato-senpai died performing it to resurrect the casualties of his invasion of Konoha, he entrusted the technique to me. But I sealed it away." He met Naruto's gaze directly. "It's a forbidden Six Paths technique for good reason."
"I need it."
"To resurrect Mom and Dad?" The question came out soft, understanding.
"Yes." No point in lying. Naruto met his older self's eyes without flinching.
The Seventh Hokage studied him for a long moment. Then he sighed and stood. "Wait here."
He left the office and returned several minutes later carrying a scroll sealed with multiple layers of protection seals. Barrier seals. Containment seals. Warning seals. The thing practically radiated "do not touch" energy.
"This is the Rinne Tensei." He held it out. "Everything Nagato knew about the technique is recorded inside."
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