Without the emotional ties of his original timeline, Kakashi's attitude was somewhat cold as he stated directly:
"Follow me. I'll tell you everything."
Perhaps due to their overwhelming strength or because they were once acquaintances, Sasuke didn't harbor much suspicion and followed without hesitation.
There was no way they could return to Konoha—any minor conflict would cost enough money to make Kakashi wince. Thus, the group headed straight to a secret base deep within the Forest of Death.
Kakashi didn't hold back, openly recounting the altered course of history after his encounter with Ye Wen. This left Sasuke wide-eyed and filled with disbelief.
"So… because of that divine being's intervention, my parents, my brother, and the entire Uchiha clan were saved?"
"That's correct," Kakashi confirmed with a nod. "The reason I'm telling you this is because the upcoming battle doesn't require your involvement. We're more than capable on our own. The visitor from another spacetime carries a treasure called 'Karasuki', which interests the Great Vast Ocean God. We'll seize it and present it to him ourselves."
Sasuke fully understood. After all, if someone could achieve something as absurd as time travel, it was only natural that the Great Vast Ocean God would be intrigued.
However, Boruto quickly voiced his concern. "But if you take 'Karasuki', we won't be able to return!"
Kakashi shot him a look as if he were an idiot. "What are you thinking? The merciful Great Vast Ocean God wouldn't leave you stranded in this timeline. Moreover, according to my god's analysis, there's another 'Karasuki' in this world. With two of them, returning you won't be an issue."
"Ah, I see," Boruto sighed in relief, grinning foolishly.
This reaction made Minato shake his head in exasperation. How could such an elite ninja like himself have a son and grandson who acted so dimwitted? Could it be that they inherited more of Kushina's genes?
At this thought, Minato shuddered. No, no, better not think about it—if Kushina found out, she'd explode again.
After testing Kakashi and the others' strength, Sasuke was quickly convinced of their capabilities. By now, he was no longer the same Sasuke from the Fourth Shinobi World War. Without the Six Paths power, all he had left was his Amenotejikara and the intimidating but ultimately hollow six-tomoe Rinnegan—a shadow of his former self.
Though the two timelines had long diverged, making interference inconsequential, Kakashi still preferred that Sasuke and his companions didn't affect this world's development.
However, Sasuke requested permission to secretly observe his parents and see if they were happy. It was a regret he had carried for years.
Sasuke also saw his younger self, but unlike the version of him filled with hatred, this young Uchiha Sasuke's face radiated a carefree smile.
"How wonderful… If only I had been born in this world," Sasuke murmured softly.
---
At this moment, the entire Vast Ocean Realm activated its sensory barrier.
Due to Sasuke's use of the Amenotejikara, though both parties used Karasuki for space-time travel, Urashiki's arrival was slightly delayed.
In this stable spacetime, any disturbance in the fabric of space-time was like a drop of ink spreading through water.
"Target detected. Coordinates: 472, 344."
"Understood."
"Understood."
"Understood."
This high-level confrontation had been anticipated by the ninja world's peak forces for a long time.
"Heheh, so this is the period when the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was weak—"
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki was about to boast when suddenly, a meteor-like figure approached him at blinding speed.
"What the hell!?"
Moving far beyond the limits of what the Byakugan could track, Ōtsutsuki Urashiki was kicked flying several kilometers away.
"Ugh!"
Even the Ōtsutsuki, capable of traversing the void with their physical bodies, couldn't withstand such an attack without sustaining severe injuries.
As a walking treasure trove, Urashiki hastily retrieved a pill from his portable fishbowl and swallowed it.
The next moment, shocking changes began to manifest in Urashiki's pale-skinned, white-eyed form. A blue Rinnegan emerged in his eye socket, and his grievous wounds rapidly healed as if time itself were rewinding.
"Damn inferior beings!"
Fully recovered, Urashiki intended to demonstrate the might of the Ōtsutsuki clan. But to his surprise, Uchiha Madara, clad in Susanoo armor, was already upon him.
Boasting mid-battle revealed Urashiki's arrogance, sealing his fate.
"Secret Technique: Uchiha One-Stroke Slash!"
Madara crossed his arms, blades scraping against each other, unleashing a terrifying slash.
Though Urashiki's Rinnegan possessed the ability to rewind time, it wasn't without limitations. If he took this attack head-on, Urashiki knew he'd surely die.
Urashiki swung his dense chakra-formed fishing rod to clash with Madara's blade.
Their immense powers collided, creating sparks as neither side could overpower the other.
Urashiki cursed inwardly. What kind of monsters were these ninjas? They were even more absurd than those from his original world.
As part of the expeditionary force, Urashiki quickly noticed something unusual. Though the abilities displayed by his opponent resembled those of the ninja world he knew, they weren't based on chakra—they were pure, locally cultivated powers.
"Damn it, what the hell is this!?"
In his original world, defeating the ninja realm's chakra system had already been a struggle, forcing Urashiki to retreat here for a solution. Who would've thought this place would be even more monstrous?
"This world is too bizarre. Forget it—I need to escape!"
With this thought, Urashiki didn't want to tangle further with Madara. He swiftly retreated with a backward somersault, dodging Madara's flying sword energy, and hurriedly swallowed two more pills.
A golden Rinnegan appeared on his forehead as Urashiki's form shifted dramatically, transforming into something resembling a massive moth.
"You shall rue this day!"
Flapping his wings, Urashiki prepared to flee at high speed.
But at that moment, four golden pillars of light erupted skyward hundreds of meters away.
"Barrier Technique: Sealing Heaven, Locking Earth!"
This time, the barrier wasn't cast by the Vast Ocean Realm army but by the four individuals with the highest cultivation levels in the realm aside from Uchiha Madara: Kakashi, Uzumaki Kushina, Tsunade, and Uchiha Izuna.
Urashiki held deep disdain for the natives of the ninja world. Despite feeling some apprehension, in his current strongest state, he charged forward recklessly.
"Out of my way, you worthless trash!"
But Urashiki had forgotten one crucial detail—the powers wielded by these opponents weren't the "garbage chakra" he was used to.
Black smoke rose, filling the air with the scent of burning. Urashiki collapsed to the ground.
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