Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki

Two years had passed since the end of the devastating war, and the ninja world had entered an unprecedented era of peace.

On one hand, the heavy casualties suffered by all the villages during the war led to a significant reduction in the number of active ninjas. With fewer ninjas, the likelihood of skirmishes and conflicts between villages naturally decreased.

On the other hand, the cooperation forged during the ninja alliance's joint efforts to fight a common enemy had eased the tension among villages. As a result, the ninja world had become more harmonious than ever before.

The peaceful environment and reduced friction among the villages allowed economies that were once conservative and stagnant to begin thriving. Konoha, which had previously adhered to a traditional style, saw the rise of industrial and commercial enterprises that propelled it into a new era.

Amidst this era of change, a brilliant white light suddenly illuminated the outskirts of Konoha Village, where the woods were set to be demolished for reconstruction. As the light faded, two figures tumbled onto the soft grass, landing in an awkward heap.

"Ahh, why do I always land like this?" the blond-haired boy groaned, rubbing his sore backside as he pushed himself up from the ground.

The other figure, a boy with short yellow and black hair and two distinctive rings hanging from the corner of his right eye, quickly scanned their surroundings with heightened vigilance. His reflexes had allowed him to land gracefully, unlike his companion, who continued to grumble.

"Where are we?" the vigilant boy asked, his sharp eyes darting around. "This place looks familiar."

Boruto stood up and dusted himself off, squinting at their surroundings. "Theoretically, it should be Konoha... but it's not quite the same as when I was here last time."

He pulled a turtle-shaped device from his pocket and asked, "Hey, where are we now?"

The device, a turtle named Karasuki, responded in a calm, mechanical voice, "According to calculations, you have arrived approximately five years after your target timeline."

"Five years?" Boruto exclaimed, his frustration evident. "How did we miss the mark by so much?"

"Due to limited energy reserves, the device could only sustain one traveler," the Turtle explained. "By carrying two, the timeline deviation was inevitable."

Boruto sighed deeply. "I know, I know..." He had been warned about this issue during their preparations, but his desperation to find help had driven him to take the risk.

Boruto and Kawaki came from a future timeline that had been plunged into chaos. Naruto and Sasuke, the pillars of Konoha, had been defeated by Isshiki, who sought to take Kawaki away. Naruto was sealed in another dimension, while Sasuke barely escaped to Konoha before collapsing unconscious.

When Sakura discovered Sasuke at their doorstep, clutching the Turtle tightly, she heard him mutter Boruto's name repeatedly. Acting on this clue, Shikamaru, who had been interrogating Kawaki at Naruto's home, brought the Turtle to Boruto and asked him to interpret Sasuke's intentions.

Recalling his previous time-travel experience with Sasuke to hunt Urashiki, Boruto quickly deduced that Sasuke wanted him to "call for reinforcements" from the past. Despite the risks, Boruto activated the Turtle, and Kawaki, equally determined to save Naruto, joined him.

"Is this really the old Konoha Village?" Kawaki asked, his tone curious as he scanned the surroundings. "Does this mean we might meet the younger Seventh Hokage?"

Boruto frowned thoughtfully. "It should be. Last time I came, Dad was just a short kid. If this is five years later, he should be taller now." He scratched his head. "But it's going to be awkward... Dad's grown up, but I'm still the same age. How am I supposed to explain that?"

"Don't overthink it," Kawaki said with a small smile. "If there's trouble, the Seventh Hokage will definitely help. That's the kind of person he is."

As they walked toward the village, the two passed scattered construction sites on the outskirts.

"Looks like Konoha has been expanding," Kawaki observed, noting the building materials stacked nearby.

"Yeah, probably," Boruto replied vaguely. "I remember hearing that the village was destroyed once by an organization called the Akatsuki. Dad saved everyone, though."

Kawaki's eyes lit up with admiration. "The Seventh Hokage has such a history? That's amazing!"

Boruto shook his head with a faint smile. "I think it's exaggerated. They say no one died because of him, but... that doesn't sound realistic, does it?"

"I believe it's true," Kawaki said firmly, his admiration unwavering.

Boruto didn't argue further. You can't reason with diehard fans, he thought.

Entering the village, Kawaki was struck by its atmosphere. The architecture was far more traditional than the Konoha he knew.

"This is... Konoha? It feels completely different," Kawaki remarked, his surprise evident.

Boruto smirked. "Yeah, it's nothing like the future. Cool, right?"

As they wandered through the streets, Kawaki suddenly asked, "Where are we going?"

"To Dad's old house," Boruto replied confidently. But as he looked around, his confidence wavered. "Uh... I remember the way, but... the streets are a little different. Just give me a minute..."

Kawaki raised an eyebrow but followed Boruto as they continued exploring the past version of Konoha.

(End of Chapter)