Konoha Village Center.
The battle was nearing its end, houses were tilted and severely damaged.
On the road where the fighting had ended, the wounded were helping each other to the Medical Department.
This level of destruction was the most severe Konoha had experienced since the Nine-Tailed Incident.
After returning to the village center, Makoto looked at the surroundings.
He couldn't help but reflect, In the original story, Pain's Almighty Push had truly helped Naruto to the very end.
Just think about that future Kazekage lying unconscious in the back, How constrained had he been when facing Deidara's invasion in Shippuden?
Not only did he have to protect the villagers, but he also had to control his emotions to prevent Shukaku from taking over and rampaging.
If Naruto had unleashed the Nine-Tails' Chakra in a Konoha that hadn't been "renovated" by Pain, the collateral damage would have been unimaginable.
Even if he became the hero who saved the village, he'd likely face countless villagers demanding reparations—Just look at what you've actually protected!
My house is gone because of your Tailed Beast Ball!
"Ouch."
Thud.
A golden-haired little girl with a high ponytail ran out anxiously from around a corner.
She seemed to be fleeing the chaos.
She accidentally tripped over the unconscious Gaara lying on the ground and fell.
"Mmph!"
Kankuro's eyes widened.
He wanted to shout something, but with his mouth sealed by bandages, he couldn't utter a word.
Makoto's instincts kicked in.
He grabbed Temari's arm from behind and yanked her aside.
WHOOSH.
In the next moment, a volley of poisoned Senbon flew through the air, piercing the spot where they had been standing.
"Thanks," Temari breathed, sweat forming on her brow. "It seems the little girl accidentally triggered the hidden mechanism of the Crow puppet serving as a stretcher."
After thanking Makoto, Temari looked toward the source of the commotion.
The little girl was on the ground, covering her reddened cheek from the fall. She staggered as she stood up, looking disoriented.
Then, losing her balance again, she took a clumsy step back.
CLICK.
The Crow mechanism was triggered again.
THWACK-THWACK-THWACK.
Gaara's body, lying on the puppet, twitched several times.
"..."
'Damn it!' Temari screamed internally.
"The Crow's attacks are poisoned! Quickly untie Kankuro so he can administer the antidote to Gaara!"
Temari was frantic with worry.
Makoto walked over calmly.
He freed Kankuro from his restraints with a flick of his wrist. Then, he turned his expressionless gaze to the little girl who had caused the trouble.
"GAARA!!"
Kankuro rushed over and turned his brother onto his side.
Gaara's ass were covered in Senbon like a pincushion.
They were already swollen and turning purple.
"Just... why always the ass?" Kankuro muttered, quickly pulling out the needles one by one. He took an antidote vial from his pocket and jammed it into Gaara's arm.
The little girl noticed Makoto staring at her so intently.
She immediately put on a pitiful, tearful expression, sniffling loudly.
"Hey!" Temari barked at Makoto. "What are you doing?"
"First you bully me, then you ask for Granny Chiyo's swimsuit photos, and now you're staring at this little girl like a predator—do you have no boundaries about ages?"
Temari frowned.
She wanted to physically stop Makoto, but with her hands still tied to her torso, she could only gently bump him with her shoulder like a penguin.
However, when Temari mentioned "Granny Chiyo's swimsuit photos," a flicker of genuine shock passed through the little girl's teary eyes.
"It's nothing," Makoto said, not breaking eye contact with the girl. "I was just wondering if this kid is from Konoha."
"If she is from Konoha, we should take her along to see the Third Hokage. We can't let a child run around a war zone getting into danger..."
"I'm not from Konoha!" the girl blurted out instantly. "I—I'm from Amegakure!"
"Huh?"
The little girl's surprising statement made Temari look at Makoto in astonishment.
'Amegakure? aint that your village?'
Makoto, however, wasn't surprised.
He wasn't wearing an Amegakure forehead protector, so naturally, she wouldn't know where he was from.
Seeing him escorting Suna prisoners, she probably assumed he was a Leaf ninja.
But Makoto had already guessed her identity.
That's right.
This "little girl" with golden hair and a high ponytail was Tsunade Senju, using the Transformation Technique!
Tsunade had long been accustomed to using the Transformation Technique to take on various ages to evade gambling debts.
It was second nature to her.
This time, returning to Konoha, she was both worried about the village and reluctant to be discovered and forced to stay.
So, she transformed into a child.
If Konoha faced a life-or-death crisis, she would intervene.
If not, she could slip away.
Moreover, she had secretly visited the Four Violet Flames Formation earlier. She overheard Hiruzen saying he intended to pass the Hokage position to her or Jiraiya.
She felt even more relieved that she hadn't revealed herself.
Let the pervert handle the paperwork!
Just as she was about to recall Shizune and leave, she spotted Makoto returning with the sand siblings.
Tsunade felt somewhat displeased about Suna's invasion. She decided to play a "prank" on the invaders before leaving.
Having fought Chiyo in the Second War, Tsunade knew puppets inside out. Medical Ninjutsu and Super Strength were the natural counters for it.
Hence, the "accidents."
She deliberately triggered the mechanisms. The first attack targeted Temari (Makoto saved her). The second targeted Gaara (right in the ass).
But hearing Makoto suggest taking her to Sarutobi Hiruzen... Tsunade panicked.
Others might not recognize her childhood appearance, but her sensei definitely would!
"I'm from Amegakure!" she lied.
"Amegakure?" Makoto smirked internally. "Alright then, come with us. We'll take you to a safe place, and you can find your villagers on your own. We still need to see the Third Hokage."
"..." Tsunade froze.
'Wait, I just played myself.'
Temari was curious that Makoto didn't question the girl further, but didn't dwell on it.
After waiting for Kankuro to finish detoxifying Gaara's ass, the group continued on their way.
"By the way," Temari, now free from the gag, chatted with Makoto to break the tension. "If you want Granny Chiyo's swimsuit photos, why don't you ask the Hokage for Tsunade-sama swimsuit photos instead? She's legendary for her beauty, right?"
"Not asking the Hokage for it?" Tsunade, following behind, instantly furrowed her brows.
What did that mean? Could it be that this guy isn't a Konoha ninja?
But before she could think further, Makoto's reply nearly made her explode.
"I already said I don't want it," Makoto scoffed.
"What would I do with photos of two old ladies? Put them by the door to ward off evil spirits? Or by the bed as birth control?"
CRACK—
A massive fissure suddenly ripped through the earth.
"Oh my god, an earthquake!!" Kankuro screamed.
Seeing the ground split beneath his feet, he hurriedly pulled the Crow carrying Gaara and frantically sprinted forward.
Makoto reacted instantly.
He grabbed Temari with his left hand.
He hesitated for a moment with his right hand, then seized the "little girl" by the collar, lifting her like a kitten as he leaped over the chasm.
"That was close," Makoto said dryly.
Kankuro looked back at the huge chasm that had split the street, nearby houses collapsed into the void.
He patted his chest in relief.
'If Gaara got injured again...'
"Don't be scared, little sister. It's okay."
Temari gently comforted the "little girl" clinging to Makoto's leg.
The child's body was trembling violently.
'Scared?'
Makoto was currently keeping his power active at all times, observing the immediate future.
He wasn't comforting her because she was scared.
He was terrified that this "frightened," trembling little girl might suddenly reach out and crush his dick with her monstrous strength out of sheer rage.
'She's vibrating with killing intent,' Makoto noted. 'I need to tread carefully.'
"Hey, kid! There you are!"
A voice boomed from above.
Jiraiya jumped down from a rooftop, landing with a thud.
"The Old Man wants you all at the Hokage Building."
"Alright," Makoto nodded, releasing the girl's collar. "By the way, where's Orochimaru? Did he leave?"
"Yeah," Jiraiya sighed, his expression darkening slightly. "He slipped away unnoticed after undoing the barrier. He'll probably come looking for you guys later, right?"
Jiraiya scratched his chin.
Then, he looked curiously at the little girl hiding behind Makoto's leg.
"And this is?"
"Just a stray from Amegakure," Makoto said.
Jiraiya squinted.
Something about the girl's chakra... and the way she was trembling... felt familiar.
"Wait a minute..." Jiraiya leaned in.
------
Guys there will be serious time and unserious time in this fic, since its about Makoto who's trying to change the future and Boruto who's trying to keep the future remain the same, though to be honest, the serious time was mostly momoshiki killing everyone to keep the timeline in tact.