Naruto: Two Worlds - United Destinies.

Darkness. Infinite, all-consuming darkness. Naruto floated within it, unable to feel his body or the passage of time. Then, like a distant flicker of hope, he sensed something familiar. Warmth. Energy. Chakra. 

Slowly, as if emerging from a deep nightmare, the young shinobi began to regain consciousness. 

The first sensation-cold. The wet floor made him shiver, his heart pounding with sudden force. His eyes remained closed, but the place was familiar. It was the inner world of his consciousness. 

An attempt to open his eyes was met with pain coursing through his entire body. Murky water surrounded him, dim light reflecting off its surface. And towering above him were massive silhouettes. Kurama. And not just him. 

Struggling into a seated position-his body felt unbearably heavy, as if filled with lead-the jinchuriki raised his gaze and froze, feeling a chill run down his spine. Before him stood all nine tailed beasts. Their glowing eyes in the dim light were fixed on him, filled with a mix of anger, sorrow, and worry. Something was wrong, and that "something" made fear tighten his throat. 

"What... what's going on?" His hoarse voice, as if unused for a long time, scratched his throat. "Why are all of you here?" 

Silence. Not one of the beasts responded-only Kurama let out a low growl, causing the water to tremble. This silence was more terrifying than any words. 

"Hey, answer me!" He tried to stand, only to collapse back into the water. Panic surged, his heart racing wildly. "What happened? Where are we? Where's Sasuke?" 

At the mention of his friend's name, Matatabi let out a soft hiss. Saiken lowered his head, as though unable to meet Naruto's gaze. This silence... it was worse than any pain. 

"Kurama, please!" Desperation tinged his voice. "Tell me what happened." 

The nine-tailed fox stared at him with a heavy expression. His enormous fangs were bared, his tails twitching nervously. Never before had this mighty bijuu seemed so... frightened? 

"You really don't remember anything, kid?" Kurama finally spoke, his voice filled with a bitterness that made Naruto's heart clench. 

Squeezing his eyes shut, Naruto tried to focus. Fragments of memories surfaced in his mind, like shards of a shattered mirror. The battle. Kaguya. Sasuke beside him. And then... 

"Pain," he whispered, his eyes opening wide in horror. "I remember unbearable pain. Like thousands of blades tearing me apart." 

Kurama nodded, his gaze softening but still laden with worry. 

"The Mother of Chakra used a deadly technique on both of you. Chakra blades that halt regeneration." 

A lump formed in his throat. His trembling hands felt foreign, unreal. 

"But... but I'm alive. How?" 

"Barely," Kurama growled, his voice trembling with restrained emotion. "We all," his gaze swept across the other bijuu, "gave up a large portion of our chakra to keep you alive. It wasn't... easy." He paused. "And not just you. I also activated a fragment of my chakra within Sasuke, the one I passed to him back on the battlefield. It helped sustain him, though not as effectively as it did you." 

Tears welled up in the young shinobi's eyes. 

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice trembling. "But... what happened after that? Where are we and… what about everyone else?" 

The heavy silence was his answer. Kokuo let out a long sigh, almost a groan. This wordless response spoke louder than any explanation. 

"Naruto…" Kurama's voice grew darker. "After Kaguya struck you, she sent you to another dimension." 

"Another dimension?" His bewildered gaze betrayed the fear gripping his heart. "Like Obito's Kamui?" 

"No," the fox shook his head. "This is something far more complex. We've ended up in a completely different world, or perhaps another planet. And…" 

The bijuu fell silent, as if hesitating to continue. 

"And what?" His voice quivered with tension. "Kurama, please, tell me." 

"We've been in this world for the past two weeks, Naruto." 

He froze. The ground seemed to disappear beneath him. Two weeks. A full two weeks wasted. No defense, no help. Kaguya was left unchecked. 

"No…" he whispered, horror filling his voice. "No, no, no! This can't be true!" 

Springing to his feet, ignoring the pain, the young man felt panic wash over him like a tidal wave. Images flashed before his eyes: Sakura smiling, Kakashi-sensei always late, Sasuke's determined gaze. 

"We have to go back! Right now!" His voice trembled with despair. "Kaguya… she might already…" He couldn't finish the thought. 

Memories flooded over him like waves of a raging ocean. His own words to Obito echoed in his mind: "I won't let my friends die!" And now? Now he was standing here, helpless and lost, while back home… back home Kaguya might already... 

"Sakura-chan, Kakashi-sensei, all our friends…" Tears blurred his vision. "The whole village! I... I let them all down." 

Visions of a destroyed Konoha, fallen comrades, filled his mind. His heart ached with pain and fear. The faces of his friends flashed before him: Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Kiba, Hinata… All the people he had vowed to protect. All the people who believed in him. 

"How... how could I let this happen?" His whisper was laced with bitterness and self-recrimination. "I promised to protect them all. I swore I wouldn't fail. And now…" 

Falling to his knees, sinking into the water up to his chest, the young shinobi slammed his fist into the surface, oblivious to the pain. Physical suffering paled in comparison to the torment in his soul. 

"I don't deserve to be Hokage," his thoughts tore at him, the lifelong dream crumbling under the weight of realization. "I couldn't even protect those closest to me. How could I dream of protecting an entire village?" 

His gaze, filled with despair and pleading, turned to the bijuu. 

"Tell me there's a way back," his trembling voice begged. "There has to be a way! We'll find it! We'll-" Nearly shouting, his frantic eyes darted between the tailed beasts, searching for support, hope-anything. 

"Naruto!" Kurama's thunderous voice interrupted his torrent of words. "Calm down. This is no time for panic." 

But how could he stay calm, knowing he had betrayed his own vows? How could he remain composed when he had failed everyone he'd sworn to protect? 

Panic had already gripped his mind, clutching his heart with icy fingers. His entire body trembled, his breathing faltered. Closing his eyes, trying to hold back the sobs, he felt the tears still streaming down his cheeks, mingling with the waters of his inner world. 

At that moment, the young man didn't feel like a cool-headed shinobi who could save everyone, but just a scared, lost boy who couldn't handle the responsibility he bore. Visions of a possible future-a world without friends, without Konoha-haunted him, suffocating him. 

"Naruto," Kurama's voice unexpectedly softened. "Listen to me." 

But his mind refused to obey. His thoughts were scattered, his heart felt like it might burst from his chest. His breath was shallow, the connection to reality growing thin. 

"I… I can't…" he rasped through fingers clutching his temples. "I've let them all down… I…" 

Suddenly, something warm enveloped his trembling body. At first, the sensation didn't even break through the veil of despair. But gradually, the warmth began to seep deeper, as if trying to reach his very soul. 

"Breathe," Kurama's voice sounded again, this time more insistent. "Just breathe." 

Trying to focus on his breathing seemed like an almost impossible task. Yet the enveloping warmth grew stronger, and slowly he realized-it was the chakra of the tailed beasts. 

"We're here with you," Gyuki said, his voice filled with compassion. "You're not alone." 

The eight-tails' words echoed in his mind. Slowly, the panic began to recede. His breathing was still uneven but no longer as shallow. 

"That's it," the fox growled approvingly. "Keep breathing." 

It took several minutes before he could lift his gaze to the bijuu. His tear-streaked eyes and trembling body betrayed his inner turmoil, but his perception of the situation began to clear. 

"I…" His voice cracked. Swallowing hard, he tried again. "I don't know what to do." 

The admission didn't come easily. His entire life, he had been the one who never gave up, who always found a way. And now… now he felt utterly lost. 

"And that's okay," Matatabi said softly. "No one expects you to have all the answers." 

Those words, strangely enough, brought some relief. Part of the tension dissipated. The fear and guilt were still there, but they no longer overwhelmed him completely. 

"But my friends…" he whispered, his voice breaking again. "I can't just sit here, knowing they're in danger." 

"And we won't just sit here," Kurama responded firmly. "But first, we need to understand where we are and what's happening. Panicking won't help your friends." 

A slow nod. The logic of the nine-tails pierced through the fog of his emotions. Taking a deep breath, the bijuu's chakra continued to wrap around him, providing support and strength. 

"You're right," he said shakily, but with a hint of determination. "You're right, Kurama. I… I need to calm down and think." 

The fox nodded approvingly. 

"That's more like the Naruto I know." 

Another deep breath. The fear and guilt lingered deep within, but now they were joined by a new feeling. Determination. Hope. 

"All right," he said, slowly rising to his still-trembling feet. "What do we need to do?" 

Kurama exchanged glances with the other bijuu. 

"First, you need to wake up. Truly wake up in reality." He paused, as if gathering his thoughts. "When we ended up in this world, we were found by the locals. They picked you and Sasuke up and began treating you. It's thanks to their help-and our chakra-that you're both still alive." 

A look of surprise crossed Naruto's face. 

"The people of this world helped us? But why? They don't even know us." 

Kurama shook his head. 

"We don't know. But the fact remains-they saved your lives. Now, you need to wake up and try to understand who these people are and what they know about our situation." 

A nod, a mix of curiosity and caution. 

"And you… you'll be with me?" 

"Always," the fox's voice radiated unwavering confidence. "We'll always be with you. You'll never be alone in this fight." 

Tears welled up in his eyes again, but this time they were tears of gratitude. A silent nod said more than any words. 

"Now," Kurama declared, his voice full of resolve, "it's time to wake up. You've got work to do, kid." 

With those words, the inner world began to dissolve, pulling his consciousness back into reality. 

The first thing that broke through the haze of unconsciousness was the faint, rhythmic beeping of machines. Then a sharp antiseptic smell hit his nose. Slowly opening his eyes, Naruto winced at the bright light. 

Cautiously propping himself up on his elbows, the young shinobi found himself on a smooth, warm medical cot. His gaze wandered over the strange room: the walls and ceiling were covered in metallic panels with embedded glowing elements. Around him stood mysterious devices with blinking lights and holographic displays. In the center of the room was a circular platform with some intricate equipment. 

Thin tubes and sensors were attached to his body. Just as he reached out to remove them, a weak, raspy voice sounded from the side: 

"Already… awake?" 

Recognizing Sasuke's voice, the young shinobi instantly forgot about his discomfort. Jumping off the cot, nearly tangling in the wires, he hurried to his friend. 

The Uchiha lay on a similar cot opposite him. His condition was alarming: a pale face, dark circles under his eyes, and several bandaged areas on his body. His gaze seemed distant, as though lost in his own thoughts. 

"Sasuke!" 

His eyes fell on the bandaged arms of his friend-the dark stains of dried blood were impossible to miss. Nearby, an IV slowly delivered medication into his depleted body. Clenching his fists, Naruto felt a wave of guilt and helplessness wash over him. 

The Uchiha slowly turned his head, focusing his gaze. 

"I'm… fine…" His weak voice still carried a hint of his usual determination. 

"Damn it! I was too weak!" The bitter confession escaped him before he could stop it. 

"Don't talk nonsense," Sasuke curtly replied. "Her power was beyond anything we could comprehend." 

Lowering his gaze under the weight of doubts and self-blame, Naruto took a deep breath and shared what he had learned from Kurama: about the other world and the two lost weeks. 

"I see…" was Sasuke's quiet response. 

A heavy silence hung between them, broken only by the beeping of medical equipment. Every second seemed to stretch into eternity. 

Suddenly, a sharp hissing sound cut through the silence. A hidden door in the wall slid open, and two figures quickly entered the room. 

" ̶ ̷H̷e̷y̷,̷ ̷i̷t̷'̷s̷ ̷t̷o̷o̷ ̷e̷a̷r̷l̷y̷ ̷f̷o̷r̷ ̷y̷o̷u̷ ̷t̷o̷ ̷g̷e̷t̷ ̷o̷u̷t̷ ̷o̷f̷ ̷b̷e̷d̷,̷" said a creature with blue fur. The words were unintelligible to both shinobi. 

" ̷W̷a̷i̷t̷,̷ ̷H̷a̷n̷k̷,̷ ̷I̷ ̷d̷o̷n̷'̷t̷ ̷t̷h̷i̷n̷k̷ ̷h̷e̷ ̷u̷n̷d̷e̷r̷s̷t̷a̷n̷d̷s̷ ̷u̷s̷,̷" said a bald man in a levitating wheelchair. Turning to their confused guest, he spoke in their native language: 

"I don't think you should be getting out of bed yet, young man." 

Freezing for a moment, Naruto quickly gathered himself: 

"Who are you?" 

"Charles Xavier. You're in my institution for gifted mutants." 

"Mutants?" Confusion laced his voice. 

The blue-furred creature gestured toward the cot. Feeling exhaustion creep in and deciding not to resist, the young shinobi slowly returned to his place, casting a worried glance at his friend. 

Noticing this concern, Charles calmly said: 

"Your friend will be fine. His condition is serious, but he will survive." 

Letting out a sigh of relief and settling back onto the comfortable bed, Naruto sincerely thanked their rescuers, but quickly frowned: 

"Why did you help us?" 

Charles smiled, his face exuding calm and confidence. 

"We try to help those in need." 

The professor recounted the day his students discovered an anomalous flash of light in the forest. They had arrived at the scene to find a massive crater amidst the trees. At its center, among uprooted earth and fallen foliage, lay two teenagers-injured, their clothing torn, with barely a spark of life left in their bodies. His voice grew softer as he described the emergency measures taken to save their lives. 

Listening attentively, Naruto's expression grew more serious with each new detail of their condition. Even Sasuke, usually stoic, furrowed his brow slightly by the end of the story. 

"So, you know we're from another dimension?" Naruto clarified, still trying to process the situation. 

Charles nodded. 

"You're safe here." 

"Then how do you know our language?" 

The professor began explaining the concept of parallel universes, using a metaphor of a tree with infinite branches-worlds. He described how, in some worlds, similar or even identical languages might have evolved. 

"Uh, I didn't get any of that…" Naruto admitted, scratching the back of his head. 

Sasuke, on the other hand, seemed to grasp the essence of the explanation, despite his condition. His experience with Orochimaru and theories of dimensions helped him connect the new information to what he already knew. 

"Well, we can leave that for later," Charles said reassuringly. "For now, you need to recover." 

"Other worlds…" Naruto whispered, still trying to make sense of what he'd heard. His eyes reflected a mix of wonder and worry. "So, is there a way to return? To our world?" 

The professor regarded him thoughtfully, weighing his words. 

"Perhaps," he said after a pause. "But I must be honest with you-it will not be easy. We've never encountered a situation like this before." 

"What do you mean?" 

"Interdimensional travel is an area we're only beginning to understand," Charles explained. "We'll need to study your case more thoroughly before we can propose any solutions." 

Sasuke, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke: 

"What if… we can't go back?" 

Whipping around to face his friend, Naruto exclaimed: 

"Don't say that! We'll find a way!" 

Charles raised a hand, urging calm. 

"For now, it's important not to panic. We will do everything we can to help you. But you need time to recover and adapt." 

"But our friends, our village…" His voice trembled with emotion. 

"I understand your concern," the professor interrupted gently. "But for now, there's nothing you can do to help them. Your task is to heal and regain your strength." 

Lowering his gaze, the young shinobi felt the weight of helplessness and despair pressing down on him. The attempt to convince himself of the inevitability of returning home grew harder with each passing second. 

"I… I understand. But as soon as we're better, we'll start looking for a way back. Right, Sasuke?" 

The Uchiha weakly nodded, despite his exhaustion. 

Charles smiled, seeing their resilience. 

"We'll help you in any way we can. For now, rest. There's a long journey ahead of us." 

When their hosts left the room, Naruto turned to his friend. 

"We'll make it," he whispered, more to himself than to Sasuke. "We'll definitely find our way home." 

***

A FEW DAYS LATER

Charles waited in the medical wing corridor, intently watching the fitting room door. Two weeks had passed since the mysterious young men appeared, and their recovery proceeded at an astounding rate, raising many questions.

The door opened, revealing the guests in new clothes. Their previous attire, torn to shreds, was beyond repair. The Professor carefully observed the newcomers' movements, noting an ease and confidence uncharacteristic of recent severe injury patients.

Naruto, in a bright T-shirt and loose pants, seemed full of energy. His eyes sparkled with curiosity, a broad smile never leaving his face. However, the experienced psychologist didn't need telepathic abilities to notice deep, hidden sadness behind the cheerful mask - a barely perceptible shadow in his gaze, fleeting moments of a trembling smile.

Sasuke presented a striking contrast. If his companion tried to hide sadness behind energy, the Uchiha remained a true enigma. In a dark T-shirt and loose pants of the same color, he stood motionless like a statue. His face remained completely impassive, not betraying a single emotion. His eyes, usually considered the mirror of the soul, resembled impenetrable depths - even rich experience in reading people couldn't solve their mystery.

"I'm glad to see you've fully recovered," the professor spoke with genuine interest in his voice.

In response - a wide smile from the jinchuriki and the usual composure from the Uchiha.

Directing his wheelchair forward, Xavier continued:

"I assume you have many questions about where you are. I'm ready to give you a small tour of the school and tell you about our world."

An energetic nod from one and a brief glance at his companion from the other served as agreement.

The path led through a long corridor of the underground level. Metal walls with built-in light panels and a perfectly smooth floor that resembled a mirror.

"Wow! Incredible! Dattebayo!" Naruto's enthusiastic exclamations were accompanied by attempts to touch the glowing panels.

The Uchiha followed silently, carefully studying every detail of the surroundings. At a massive door, almost invisible against the wall, the professor stopped. A light touch of the sensor panel - and the barrier moved aside with a hiss.

Behind it opened an enormous spherical hall, illuminated by subdued blue light. In the center rose a strange construction resembling a helmet, surrounded by holographic screens. Hexagonal panels on the walls pulsated with soft light.

"This is Cerebro," the telepath explained, indicating the central device.

"Why are you showing this to us?" Sasuke's tense question ignored formalities.

The professor froze for a moment, surprised by the directness. In his world, teenagers rarely allowed themselves such address with elders. However, he quickly reminded himself - before him were people from another world, where perhaps different social norms applied.

"I promised to help you return home," came the calm reply. "Cerebro is the key to this. With its help, we can find and communicate with any sentient being on Earth."

The Uchiha slightly raised an eyebrow. Such power reminded him of the Yamanaka clan's techniques, but on an incomparably larger scale.

"You mean there's someone who can help us?" Anxiety slipped into his voice.

For a fraction of a second, his gaze became distant. His fingers trembled almost imperceptibly, a shadow of doubt flickered in his eyes, but the moment quickly passed.

"Possibly," the telepath answered, approaching the console. "There's a mutant named Illyana Rasputin. Her abilities are unique - dimensional travel with just a glance at the destination."

The Uchiha's external calm remained, but his posture betrayed inner tension.

Putting on the Cerebro helmet, the professor activated the system. The room filled with a quiet hum. The electrified air caused slight tingling on the skin.

The space filled with billions of glowing points, like stars - above, below, all around.

"Each point is a mind," the telepath explained tensely. "Every person on the planet."

The jinchuriki's amazed exclamation was accompanied by widely opened eyes. The Uchiha outwardly remained indifferent, but curiosity slipped through in his gaze.

"Now let's find those who are different."

At the command, most lights went out, leaving only a few million bright points across the globe.

"These are mutants," the professor continued his explanation. "They're few compared to ordinary people, but each possesses unique abilities."

Suddenly all points disappeared, plunging the room into twilight. After a brief concentration, a holographic projection of a young woman with long dark hair and piercing green eyes appeared in the air.

"And this is Illyana Rasputin, known as Magik. Her abilities are unique even among mutants."

Both guests carefully studied the image, processing the information received.

"So what are we waiting for? Let's find her!" Enthusiasm rang in Naruto's voice.

A sad shake of the head.

"Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Illyana... She's very cautious and knows how to hide."

"But why is she hiding?"

A deep sigh, his face became grim.

"In our world, there are cruel laws against mutants. The government and special forces constantly hunt us. Many are forced to hide to survive. She could be anywhere - in remote corners of Earth or even in another dimension."

"And there's no way to find her?" he asked disappointedly.

"Right now - no," came the gentle but firm answer. "Cerebro constantly scans the world. If Illyana appears in the detection zone, we'll know immediately."

"How long might this take?" Sasuke frowned.

"Honestly, I don't know. It could happen tomorrow, in a month, or in a year. But the search won't stop."

Carefully removing the helmet, the professor began shutting down the system. The holographic screens went dark one by one, plunging the room into twilight.

"Cerebro is the result of many years of research," the telepath concluded. "But even with such power, there are things remaining beyond understanding." Moving closer to the guests, he continued: "I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but please don't lose hope. While we search for Illyana, you'll have time to study our world."

The jinchuriki's face expressed a mixture of disappointment and uncertainty. The Uchiha remained outwardly calm - he hadn't counted on a simple solution. A momentary clenching of his fist betrayed inner struggle, but quickly disappeared.

"Now then," the professor suggested, heading toward the exit, "I think we could use a small break. Come, I'll show you the rest of the school and introduce you to other students."

Leaving the Cerebro room, Charles pondered how the presence of these unusual young men might change life at the school.

The trio stopped before a massive metal door, above which softly glowed the word "Elevator". The door silently slid aside, revealing a spacious round cabin.

"Please," the professor gestured invitingly.

Both guests stepped inside after the wheelchair. A light touch of the control panel - and the cabin smoothly moved upward, almost imperceptibly for the passengers.

Behind the opening doors appeared a completely different interior. Walls paneled with warm-toned wood created a striking contrast to the cold metal of the lower levels. The procession moved along a wide corridor.

The Uchiha's attentive gaze noted every detail of the surroundings.

"What is this place?" Curiosity slipped through in his usually impassive voice.

Noticing the interest, the telepath smiled:

"This is my school for gifted youngsters - a sanctuary for people with unusual abilities, known as mutants. Here they learn to control their powers."

Through open doors were visible classrooms where teenagers of different ages listened attentively to teachers.

"In these auditoriums, we teach children, helping them unlock their potential in a safe environment," he explained.

Soon the group emerged onto a vast open area. Dozens of young people trained there, demonstrating amazing abilities - levitation, teleportation.

"And this is our yard for rest and practice. Here students can safely experiment with their powers. After all, uncontrolled mutant abilities are dangerous both for their possessors and those around them."

The jinchuriki watched with interest, while his companion carefully monitored every movement of the students. Noticing their reactions, Xavier decided to share additional information.

"This peaceful atmosphere is the result of enormous efforts and constant vigilance," seriousness was felt in his calm voice. "The school is protected by advanced technologies developed by our genius Hank McCoy. The remote location also helps keep our existence secret."

His gaze became thoughtful:

"However, despite all measures, danger is always near. We teach students not only to control their abilities but also to be ready to protect themselves and others."

"And how often do you have to... protect yourselves?" Sasuke inquired.

"Unfortunately, more often than we'd like," the telepath responded with a note of sadness. "But we never lose hope for a better future where mutants and ordinary people can live in peace."

The guests exchanged glances. Despite the peaceful atmosphere, anxiety grew in the jinchuriki's soul for his loved ones and home world left in a critical situation.

The Uchiha's features remained impassive, his gaze cold and focused. It was impossible to understand whether he shared his companion's concerns or his mind was occupied with something else. Even the most attentive observer couldn't penetrate this mask of calm. Perhaps the feelings were no less deep, or perhaps his mind was already calculating next steps in this new, unknown world.

Metal wheels quietly creaked on the second floor's parquet. Naruto's gaze slid over massive paintings in gilded frames and crystal chandeliers. At each turn were visible small black boxes with red lights.

At the living room doors, a sharp metallic smell revealed the presence of a sturdy man with disheveled black hair. Despite his casual pose, tense muscles betrayed him as a fighter. As soon as the trio entered the living room, Charles drew the attention of those present.

" ̷M̷y̷ ̷f̷r̷i̷e̷n̷d̷s̷,̷" the professor broke the silence, " ̷l̷e̷t̷ ̷m̷e̷ ̷i̷n̷t̷r̷o̷d̷u̷c̷e̷ ̷y̷o̷u̷ ̷t̷o̷ ̷N̷a̷r̷u̷t̷o̷ ̷U̷z̷u̷m̷a̷k̷i̷ ̷a̷n̷d̷ ̷S̷a̷s̷u̷k̷e̷ ̷U̷c̷h̷i̷h̷a̷.̷"

In response - a broad smile and greeting in their native language from one, a short nod and continued analysis of the newcomers from the other.

" ̷T̷h̷e̷y̷'̷r̷e̷.̷.̷.̷ ̷n̷o̷t̷ ̷e̷x̷a̷c̷t̷l̷y̷ ̷f̷r̷o̷m̷ ̷a̷r̷o̷u̷n̷d̷ ̷h̷e̷r̷e̷,̷" the telepath added after a pause.

" ̷W̷h̷a̷t̷ ̷d̷o̷e̷s̷ ̷t̷h̷a̷t̷ ̷m̷e̷a̷n̷,̷ ̷C̷h̷a̷r̷l̷e̷s̷?̷" The man with the metallic smell stepped forward, causing instant tension in the Uchiha.

The professor momentarily closed his eyes, activating the mental link for translation.

" ̷T̷h̷e̷i̷r̷ ̷n̷a̷t̷u̷r̷e̷.̷.̷.̷ ̷i̷s̷ ̷u̷n̷u̷s̷u̷a̷l̷ ̷e̷v̷e̷n̷ ̷f̷o̷r̷ ̷u̷s̷.̷ ̷L̷e̷t̷'̷s̷ ̷j̷u̷s̷t̷ ̷s̷a̷y̷ ̷t̷h̷e̷y̷'̷r̷e̷ ̷v̷e̷r̷y̷ ̷f̷a̷r̷ ̷f̷r̷o̷m̷ ̷h̷o̷m̷e̷.̷"

" ̷F̷a̷r̷ ̷f̷r̷o̷m̷ ̷h̷o̷m̷e̷?̷" the young man with the cold aura asked. " ̷L̷i̷k̷e̷.̷.̷.̷ ̷f̷r̷o̷m̷ ̷a̷n̷o̷t̷h̷e̷r̷ ̷c̷o̷u̷n̷t̷r̷y̷?̷ ̷O̷r̷.̷.̷.̷" frost began forming around his fingers, "...from space?"

The Uchiha's Sharingan automatically activated for a fraction of a second, noticing the manifestation of power. The jinchuriki also tensed while maintaining a friendly smile.

" ̷P̷r̷o̷f̷e̷s̷s̷o̷r̷,̷" the blue-skinned creature spoke up, nervously twitching its tail, " ̷i̷f̷ ̷t̷h̷e̷y̷'̷r̷e̷ ̷s̷o̷ ̷f̷a̷r̷ ̷f̷r̷o̷m̷ ̷h̷o̷m̷e̷.̷.̷.̷ ̷H̷o̷w̷ ̷d̷i̷d̷ ̷t̷h̷e̷y̷ ̷g̷e̷t̷ ̷h̷e̷r̷e̷?̷"

The question, transmitted through the mental link, triggered unwanted memories in Naruto of the bright flash during the battle with Kaguya.

" ̷B̷o̷b̷b̷y̷,̷ ̷K̷u̷r̷t̷,̷" Xavier began gently, " ̷t̷h̷e̷ ̷s̷i̷t̷u̷a̷t̷i̷o̷n̷ ̷i̷s̷ ̷m̷u̷c̷h̷ ̷m̷o̷r̷e̷ ̷c̷o̷m̷p̷l̷e̷x̷ ̷t̷h̷a̷n̷ ̷i̷t̷ ̷m̷i̷g̷h̷t̷ ̷s̷e̷e̷m̷.̷ ̷W̷h̷a̷t̷'̷s̷ ̷i̷m̷p̷o̷r̷t̷a̷n̷t̷ ̷n̷o̷w̷ ̷i̷s̷ ̷n̷o̷t̷ ̷w̷h̷e̷r̷e̷ ̷t̷h̷e̷y̷ ̷c̷a̷m̷e̷ ̷f̷r̷o̷m̷,̷ ̷b̷u̷t̷ ̷t̷h̷a̷t̷ ̷t̷h̷e̷y̷ ̷n̷e̷e̷d̷ ̷o̷u̷r̷ ̷h̷e̷l̷p̷.̷"

The girl approached with a friendly smile:

" ̷H̷i̷,̷ ̷I̷'̷m̷ ̷K̷i̷t̷t̷y̷.̷"

"Yo, Kitty-san!" a joyful response to the Professor's translation. The Uchiha continued maintaining watchful silence.

" ̷P̷r̷o̷f̷e̷s̷s̷o̷r̷,̷" the tall guy in red glasses stepped forward, " ̷h̷o̷w̷ ̷d̷a̷n̷g̷e̷r̷o̷u̷s̷ ̷a̷r̷e̷ ̷t̷h̷e̷y̷?̷"

Although the words remained incomprehensible, the distrust in his voice was obvious. A barely noticeable smirk from the Uchiha appreciated the display of reasonable caution.

" ̷I̷ ̷d̷o̷n̷'̷t̷ ̷k̷n̷o̷w̷,̷ ̷S̷c̷o̷t̷t̷,̷" the professor sighed. " ̷B̷u̷t̷ ̷t̷h̷e̷y̷'̷r̷e̷ ̷n̷o̷t̷ ̷e̷n̷e̷m̷i̷e̷s̷.̷ ̷T̷h̷e̷y̷'̷r̷e̷ ̷l̷o̷s̷t̷,̷ ̷a̷n̷d̷ ̷I̷ ̷f̷e̷e̷l̷ ̷w̷e̷ ̷m̷u̷s̷t̷ ̷t̷a̷k̷e̷ ̷c̷a̷r̷e̷ ̷o̷f̷ ̷t̷h̷e̷m̷.̷"

" ̷W̷e̷l̷l̷,̷" the owner of the metallic smell chuckled, approaching to carefully study the guests, " ̷a̷t̷ ̷l̷e̷a̷s̷t̷ ̷i̷t̷'̷l̷l̷ ̷b̷e̷ ̷i̷n̷t̷e̷r̷e̷s̷t̷i̷n̷g̷.̷ Welcome to the freak show!"

The mental translation of the phrase caused laughter from Naruto and even a slight smirk from Sasuke - perhaps they had indeed found a place where their unusualness wouldn't stand out.

NIGHT

The old bed creaked in the dark room of Xavier's mansion. English textbooks and Japanese dictionaries were piled on the nightstand — Naruto's attempts to adapt to this new world.

The young shinobi closed his eyes, remembering today's failure. In a desperate attempt, hidden from everyone, finding a secluded spot at the foot of the mountain, the jinchuriki activated "Kurama Chakra Mode". A golden glow enveloped his body as hundreds of shadow clones dispersed across the planet: over oceans and continents, through cities and deserts. Naruto could sense that mutants emitted a different energy than chakra. Each copy searched for that particular mutant girl whose abilities, according to Xavier, could help.

After the last clone disappeared, the bitterness of defeat flooded the ninja's consciousness. All these hours of searching had been useless. In this vast alien world, his former strength, which seemed so powerful at home, meant almost nothing. Even simple communication with locals became an insurmountable task.

His fist struck the bed forcefully.

"Hey, kid," Kurama's mocking voice echoed in his head. "Giving up already?"

"I'm not giving up," Naruto exhaled. "I just don't know what to do next. We're strangers here."

"Since when has that ever stopped you?" the fox snorted.

"Everything's different now. I can't even speak properly here."

"Then learn," Kurama cut him off. "Or did you think everything would be handed to you on a silver platter in another world?"

"Kurama is right," Gyuki intervened. "Start small. Get settled here."

"But what about our world? Everyone who was left there?"

"You can't help them right now," the eight-tails said firmly. "First, we need to understand where we are and how to return."

The young shinobi sat up on the bed. A familiar determination was igniting within.

"Alright. I'll find a way to get back home."

"That's more like it," the nine-tails smirked.

The other tailed beasts growled in agreement, expressing support for their jinchuriki.

Closing his eyes, the young man listened to his feelings. The bijuu's words gave him strength, but anxiety wouldn't let go. The familiar reminder of the ninja way and the inadmissibility of surrender echoed in his head. But in the night's silence, the questions grew louder. What about Konoha? Were his friends alive? Was it possible to return home?

His breathing quickened. The room's walls felt oppressive. Rising sharply, the shinobi felt cold sweat running down his back. His heart was pounding, pulsing in his temples. His gaze fell on the door. Beyond it, across the hallway — Sasuke's room. He wanted to knock, wake his friend, share his fears. But pride stopped him. The Uchiha already carried a heavy burden.

Approaching the window, trembling fingers managed the unfamiliar latch. Night air rushed into the room, but it didn't help. Leaning out, the jinchuriki tried to catch his breath.

Three floors down. Fatal for an ordinary person. Nothing for a ninja. In one motion, Naruto vaulted over the windowsill and landed on the grass. The tension eased slightly, the night coolness cleared his head. His feet carried him forward, not choosing a path.

The even lawn stretched in all directions. Such an alien landscape — not a single tall tree like in the forests of his native village. Everything around reminded him how far home was.

Suddenly his gaze caught the moon. Huge, almost full, it hung low on the horizon. Looking closely at the familiar outlines, the shinobi froze. The pattern of the Rinne Sharingan appeared on the lunar surface. Kaguya's eye watched from the heavens.

"This can't be here," the words escaped in a whisper.

But the eye continued to stare. Falling onto his back, the young man felt the cold grass seeping through his pajamas.

"I'll find a way to return," came the vow to the moon and to himself.

The celestial body continued to shine, indifferent to promises. Naruto lay there, not taking his eyes off the eerie reflection of the Rinne Sharingan, until the cold grass chilled him to the bone.

Suddenly his heightened senses detected a barely noticeable movement. A shadow, silently gliding across the grass. Footsteps. Quiet, almost inaudible. Only an experienced shinobi could move so silently.

Sasuke.

He appeared soundlessly. His dark silhouette stood out clearly against the starry sky. Standing motionless, the last representative of the great clan stared at the moon. Then, without saying a word, he sat down beside him. Their shoulders almost touched.

"You see it too?" Naruto whispered, not taking his eyes off the moon.

A short nod in response said more than any words.

The silence was no longer oppressive. The presence of his friend, the only one who understood their shared pain, brought peace. The night air grew cooler, but neither moved from their spot.

"Do you think," Naruto's voice was hoarse, "we'll ever get back home?"

Sasuke hesitated before answering.

"We have no choice."

Turning his head, the jinchuriki could see the determined glint in his friend's eyes even in the darkness. It gave him strength. If even the Uchiha believed in returning — then there was hope.

But the Sharingan wielder felt the weight of the unspoken truth. Black Zetsu's words echoed in his head: "Within a week, their life forces will be drained dry..." Clenching his fists, Sasuke reminded himself — first, he needed to be certain of everything himself.

When the sky began to lighten, Uchiha rose and extended his hand to his comrade. Understanding was reflected in the returned gaze.

Each of them returned to their own room. Despite Naruto managing to fall asleep, his companion struggled.

The gaze of the last of the Uchiha clan was fixed on the emptiness of the room. The internal struggle hadn't ceased for a moment since appearing in this world.

Closing his eyes, the young shinobi immersed himself in memories, vivid and painful, as if everything had happened yesterday. The scene of the battle with Kaguya unfolded before his inner vision in all its details.

The dust was slowly settling after another attack from the goddess. Turning, the young warrior saw Obito: his body was pierced by a large black rod. Around the wound, a grey spot was slowly spreading, gradually turning flesh to ash.

Naruto stood behind Obito. "Kso! Kso!" the jinchuriki shouted, desperately trying to direct healing power into the body of his former enemy.

In that moment, something flickered in his soul that couldn't be called compassion. It was becoming clear — all attempts were useless. Obito had taken the blow meant for them. It was time to act.

The activated Susanoo rushed toward Kaguya. The goddess's pale face remained impassive even under the giant warrior's attack. Her eyes looked through the opponent as if he were nothing more than an insignificant insect.

It was then, in the heat of battle, through the rumble and crack of crumbling rocks, that Black Zetsu's cold, almost triumphant voice rang out.

"All of humanity is now captured in the Infinite Tsukuyomi cocoons." He let out a sinister, venomous laugh, his lips curving into a smirk, his eyes gleaming with a cold shine. "Within a week, their life forces will be drained dry," he paused, savoring the dark anticipation, "and only dried husks will remain, devoid of soul and chakra."

These words hit harder than any attack. They penetrated deep into consciousness, leaving cold and emptiness in their wake. For a moment, concentration weakened, and Kaguya took advantage of this, knocking back Susanoo with a powerful stream of chakra.

During the fall, his gaze fixed on his comrade, still trying to stop the spread of ash across Obito's body. He hadn't heard Zetsu's words.

Opening his eyes, Uchiha returned to the reality of the new world.

Two weeks.

That's how long they'd been in this world.

Approaching the window, the last representative of the great clan peered into the unfamiliar landscape. This world was so similar yet so different from their own. There was no chakra here. Instead, there was a strange emptiness that seemed nothing could fill.

His gaze slid to the door. Across the way, in another room, his former teammate slept. Once there had been plans to kill him, to sever this connection, to become the sole evil in the world. Now Naruto remained the last thread connecting him to the past.

This thought triggered a wave of conflicting emotions. On one side — irritation. There shouldn't be this... attachment. It was weakness. The path of solitude, relying only on one's own strength — that's what made one strong, allowed one to make difficult decisions that others couldn't.

But the thought that the jinchuriki might learn the truth about their world's fate caused strange anxiety. Imagining how that eternal fire in his friend's eyes would extinguish, how that annoying smile would disappear... Somehow this image resonated with almost physical pain.

Past confrontations surfaced in memory. Each attempt to break their connection only made Naruto stronger, more stubborn. He always came back, tried to get through. And each time something inside resisted, wouldn't allow completely rejecting this connection.

"Why?" the question sounded into the void, directed at his own reflection in the window glass. "Why can't I just let this go?"

Perhaps it was because this restless shinobi was the only one who always saw something more than just an Uchiha, than just an avenger. Even in moments when darkness consumed consciousness, he continued to believe. This faith was like a beacon in the raging sea of hatred and pain.

Irritation grew inside. Now wasn't the time to think about this. There were more important problems. Black Zetsu's words still rang in his ears, reminding him that their world might no longer exist.

"Need to check myself," the decision came firmly. Not out of concern for his comrade's feelings, no. Simply necessary to know for certain before acting further.

A plan began forming in his head.

His heart beat faster in anticipation of action. A familiar feeling, almost comfortable. It reminded him of times when he stood against the whole world, when each decision could cost a life.

But now everything was different. Now there was responsibility not only to himself. This decision could cost his friend's trust. Perhaps even destroy the fragile connection that had begun forming between them in this new world.

"But isn't that what was always wanted?" the inner voice sounded uncertain. "To break this connection, to become truly free?"

However, deep inside the answer was known. This connection, despite all attempts to rid himself of it, had become part of his essence. It was like a second heart, beating in unison with his own. And the thought of losing it caused a strange feeling of emptiness.

Shaking his head, the last Uchiha tried to rid himself of persistent thoughts. The habit of acting alone was deeply ingrained. And if he had to bear this burden alone — well, so be it. Isn't that what makes one strong? Isn't the readiness to make difficult decisions what always set him apart from others?

Itachi's words about true strength coming when there's something to protect surfaced in memory. Then this idea had seemed a manifestation of weakness. But now... now the meaning of his brother's words began to take on new significance.

Silently leaving his room, he stopped at his comrade's door. A brief pause. Listening to the sounds from the neighboring room, quiet, steady breathing indicated that his named brother was still asleep.

***

The silhouette gradually materialized in the forest near Xavier's school. Chakra pulsed in his left eye. Rinnegan. The power capable of opening portals between worlds. The power that could return them home.

The last of the Uchiha clenched his fists. His face remained impassive, but a storm of emotions raged inside. Learning the truth, seeing it with his own eyes — it had become a necessity.

Closing his eyes and concentrating chakra, the Rinnegan wielder opened them again. The sacred pattern flickered in his left eye. Space began to distort, twisting into a spiral. In an instant, a dark oval portal formed in the air.

Without hesitation, Sasuke stepped forward.

Bright sunlight struck his eyes, forcing him to squint momentarily. When his vision adapted, the Sharingan bearer froze, surveying the scene before him.

Konoha. Or what remained of it.

The familiar streets were empty — no sound, no movement. Deathly silence. Only the wind drove scraps of paper and debris across the ground. Sasuke moved forward slowly, his footsteps echoing in the dead silence.

Soon he saw the first signs of catastrophe. Massive tree roots, grown from beneath the earth, pierced buildings and sidewalks. They stretched upward, intertwining with each other and forming a giant network.

And on these roots hung cocoons. Empty, torn cocoons.

Sasuke approached closer, his hand involuntarily reaching for the handle of a sword that wasn't there. But there was no enemy here either. Only empty shells and...

He lowered his gaze and froze. At his feet lay what had once been human. Now it was just a desiccated corpse — skin tightly stretched over bones, mouth open in a silent scream.

Sasuke slowly looked around. Everywhere his gaze fell, there lay similar bodies.

Hundreds. Thousands.

His face remained impassive, but something inside trembled. He closed his eyes, trying to collect his thoughts.

Everything was finished. Their world, their home, everything they had fought for — all had been destroyed.

Sasuke remembered his plans. How he wanted to become the sole evil in the world, against which everyone would unite. How he planned to kill Naruto to sever their bond.

He opened his eyes and looked at the sky. As blue as ever. As if nothing had changed. As if the world hadn't collapsed.

Suddenly, the young shinobi felt a deep, all-consuming emptiness. Everything he had strived for, everything that defined him as a person — all had vanished in an instant.

He thought he was prepared for anything. That his coldness and detachment would protect him from any emotional shock. But now, standing amid the ruins of his world, Sasuke felt something inside him slowly beginning to crumble.

Naruto's image appeared in his consciousness. The person who always believed in him. Who never gave up, even when Sasuke himself was ready to lower his hands.

Now he was the only thread connecting him to the past. To who he was before. And this connection Sasuke no longer wanted to break.

His mind still tried to process what he had seen, but something inside demanded more. He had to see everything to the end.

Concentrating, Uchiha activated the Rinnegan again. Space before him distorted, forming a new portal. This time he knew exactly where he wanted to go.

One step forward — and the world changed. Bright light gave way to gloom, and silence to the distant roar of wind.

The battlefield of the Fourth Shinobi War spread out in all its terrifying magnificence. The endless plain, once green and alive, was now dotted with explosion craters and deep cracks. Huge boulders, torn from the earth by monstrous techniques, were piled everywhere, creating a chaotic labyrinth.

Stepping forward, his gaze slid across the battlefield. Bodies lay everywhere.

The same pattern of bodies that were in Konoha were scattered randomly across the field. They had fallen from height when the Infinite Tsukuyomi cocoons drained the last drops of chakra. Some still clutched weapons in their hands, others were sprawled in unnatural poses like broken dolls.

He stopped at a group of bodies that had once been Cloud shinobi. Their uniforms were still distinguishable, but their faces...

Deciding not to stop, he moved on. His steps became slow, almost uncertain. The search objective was clear, but part of his soul still hoped not to find it.

Soon they came into view. Four figures lying near each other. These were the ones meant to be killed to start the revolution. The young shinobi's throat tightened with bitterness.

The revolution that was supposed to change the shinobi world, cleanse it of corruption, pain, suffering, and create a new world order. Memory flashed of how carefully each step was planned, how firm was the conviction in his righteousness.

Now, looking at the lifeless bodies of the Kage, came the understanding of the futility of previous ambitions. The world that was supposed to be changed no longer existed. Enemies planned to be defeated were vanquished by a power far exceeding his own.

The Kage. Leaders considered the root of all problems now lay helpless before the face of true threat, like everyone else.

Upon closer inspection, the bodies resembled ancient mummies — skin dried and darkened, tightly stretching over bones. Facial features were indistinguishable, as if erased by time and the horror of what they'd experienced.

The Raikage, mighty A, had become a shadow of his former self. His once muscular body had shriveled, becoming like a dried tree. Mei Terumi, the Mizukage, lay nearby, her figure unrecognizably distorted.

Tsuchikage Onoki, already small, now seemed tiny, resembling a shriveled leaf. Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, had lost all her legendary beauty — her body had withered, becoming indistinguishable from the others.

And finally, Gaara. The young Kazekage, Naruto's friend... Even youth hadn't saved him from the horrifying consequences.

Closing his eyes and trying to collect his thoughts, the last of the Uchiha continued across the battlefield. Soon ahead appeared what he feared most. A group of young shinobi lying together.

Naruto's friends.

With a wildly beating heart, the Rinnegan bearer approached the bodies. They could be recognized more by the remnants of clothing and hair than by appearance.

Choji, once large and strong, now resembled a skeleton covered in skin. The Akimichi clan armor hung loosely on his withered body.

Ino lay nearby, her long blonde hair turned to brittle straw. Her arm was outstretched, as if trying to reach someone in her final moment.

Shikamaru was slightly apart, his face frozen in an expression of deep thought. Even in death, the strategy genius seemed to be trying to find a way out of the situation.

And finally, Hinata. The young shinobi froze before her body. The girl who had always loved Naruto lay here, her gentle features distorted by an agonized grimace.

Sasuke knelt beside the bodies. His face remained impassive, but a storm of emotions raged inside. He remembered them all — alive, full of energy and hopes. Remembered how they fought side by side against Madara. How they believed they could win.

And now...

Raising his gaze to the sky, covered with heavy gray clouds as if nature itself mourned the dead, Uchiha whispered:

"What am I supposed to do?" In these words rang all the pain and despair so long suppressed inside.

Naruto's image appeared again in his consciousness. The eternal rival, believing in a better future. Never giving up, even when everything seems lost.

Imagining his friend's reaction to this picture of total destruction was unbearable. Even his unbreakable spirit couldn't withstand such a thing.

"I can't tell him," the decision came firmly.

Suddenly the thought of Kakashi and Sakura pierced his consciousness. Both were in Kaguya's dimension during the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Cold logic suggested — the goddess wouldn't have spared them. A ruthless being, seeking only power and control. The thought that his former teammates had met their end in another dimension, alone and helpless, made him clench his teeth.

A fleeting desire arose to open a portal to Kaguya's dimension. Just for certainty. But rationality screamed of danger.

Opening the portal could attract the goddess's attention. And if she discovered the presence of an intruder, she might follow to the new world — the world where Naruto was. The only remaining close person.

Clenching his fists until his palms hurt, the Sharingan bearer used the physical sensation as an anchor, distracting from the agonizing thoughts about Kakashi and Sakura's fate. Risking everything for a ghostly hope was impossible. Even if it meant leaving former comrades forever buried in another dimension.

With a heavy heart, the decision was made. No portals. No risking Naruto's safety and the new world for the sake of, most likely, already dead people. A bitter but necessary truth.

Slowly rising to his feet and taking one last look at the battlefield, the last Uchiha etched the picture of destruction and death in his memory forever.

Already preparing to activate the Rinnegan to return to that foreign world where his named brother remained, the warrior suddenly froze.

A wave of alien chakra, powerful and ominous, rolled in, paralyzing movement. His eyes widened in horror and disbelief.

"No... It's..." the whisper escaped his lips. But there was no doubt — this chakra belonged to Kaguya. Fear gripped his entire being. "She's still here."

Direct return to the new world became impossible. If the goddess was indeed approaching and discovered the trail, she could follow the fugitive, endangering not only him but also Naruto and the entire world that had become their temporary refuge.

The decision came instantly. He needed to confuse the trail, moving through several locations before returning.

Activating the Rinnegan, the bearer of the ancient dojutsu stepped into the portal without looking back.

New point — Suna. Desert wind threw sand in his face, the sky was covered with gray clouds. The Hidden Sand Village lay in ruins. Huge sand towers, once majestic symbols of power, were now destroyed, their debris scattered across the desert.

There was no point in staying. New concentration, new activation of ability.

The next point became Kiri. Thick fog enveloped everything around, but even through it the Sharingan could distinguish the scale of destruction. The water in the village's numerous canals had become black and stagnant. Dead silence pressed on the ears.

Straining all senses in an attempt to detect Kaguya's presence, the young shinobi detected nothing. But risk was impossible. One more jump.

The mountains of Kumo met with a new strike of reality. The majestic peaks, once hidden by clouds, stood naked and grim. A thick layer of dust covered everything around, as if life had left these places many years ago.

His heart painfully contracted. Each new location only confirmed the horrifying truth — their world was dead.

But there was no time left for grief. The threat, though distant, could still be felt. Time to return.

Concentrating all chakra, the last of the Uchiha opened the final portal. This transition was the most difficult — inter-world jumps required colossal energy expenditure.

A bright flash — and the familiar forest near Xavier's school materialized around him. Breathing heavily, his exhausted body leaned against a tree, trembling from exhaustion. What he had seen had shaken him to his core. Everything turned out exactly as terrible as suspected. Worse than could be imagined. Now came the choice: reveal the truth to Naruto or protect him from this destructive truth.

Imagining his friend's face, full of pain and despair, upon learning of their comrades' fate and their entire world... No, this couldn't be allowed.

Several minutes were spent checking the surroundings, trying to detect even the slightest trace of alien chakra. One minute, another. Nothing.

Gradually the adrenaline receded, tension leaving his exhausted body. The danger seemed to have passed. But complete relaxation was impossible.

Maintaining vigilance, the clan heir slowly moved toward the school. The night coolness refreshed his heated face, and the forest silence seemed almost soothing after everything he had seen.

The building was in semi-darkness. Footsteps echoed in the empty corridor on the way to Naruto's room. Suddenly approaching voices were heard — two female teachers were walking toward him, interrupting their morning conversation at the sight of an unexpected encounter.

Maintaining an impassive expression, the young warrior passed by. The women momentarily stopped, giving an attentive look to the unusual student. In their eyes could be read slight surprise and, possibly, concern — it wasn't often to meet someone wandering the school at such an early hour.

Without uttering a word, they merely exchanged quick glances before continuing on their way. Their footsteps and muffled voices gradually faded in the distance, leaving him alone with the weight of thoughts and decisions.

At his friend's door — a brief pause.

Silence. Only the steady breathing of the sleeping one behind the wall.

His hand hovered over the doorknob. A thought flashed to enter, wake him, tell the whole truth.

About how no one was waiting at home anymore.

"No," the quiet voice sounded with cold determination, steel ringing in it.

Straightening up, the Rinnegan bearer turned away from the door and headed to his room. Each step was difficult, as if an invisible burden lay on his shoulders — the burden of knowledge that now had to be carried alone.

In his own room — the quiet click of the closing door. Without undressing, his exhausted body sank onto the bed, gaze fixed on the ceiling.

***

The silence of the battlefield was broken by a sudden surge of energy. The air trembled, distorting and twisting into a spiral. Slowly tearing the fabric of reality, a portal opened. From it majestically emerged the progenitor of chakra, her long white hair flowing from an invisible wind.

The goddess's pale face contrasted with the third eye on her forehead, pulsing with power. Her cold and piercing gaze slid across the battlefield, strewn with the bodies of fallen shinobi. No trace of emotion — only slight puzzlement. A strange unease gripped the mistress of dimensions.

"Strange. I felt someone's presence here. Familiar chakra," the words sounded quietly, almost in a whisper.

From the shadow of the maternal figure appeared Black Zetsu. Yellow eyes carefully surveyed the surroundings, trying to catch the source of his creator's concern. The anxiety transmitted to him as well, making his form slightly fluctuate.

"Besides the dead, there's no one here, Mother. Perhaps you felt residual traces of chakra," in the creature's voice, despite attempting to sound confident, a note of doubt slipped through.

Frowning and narrowing her eyes, the deity took several steps forward, not touching the ground with her bare feet. The air around trembled with tension. Every particle of her body resonated with the surrounding space in an attempt to catch the slightest trace of foreign presence.

"No, it was something more. For a moment I felt... him." Steel rang in her voice.

The dark creation tensed, its form becoming more distinct, preparing for action. A wave of anxiety rolled through the essence of the faithful servant.

"Sasuke Uchiha? But that's impossible. We saw how the portal pulled him and Naruto in. They couldn't have returned." The words mixed surprise and fear.

Raising her hand, the ancient goddess began to distort the space around her. Fingers moved, sifting through the threads of reality in search of the invisible.

"I feel a faint trail. A portal was opened here very recently." The quiet voice was full of certainty.

A chill ran through the dark essence of the creation. The thought of the Rinnegan bearer's return made it inwardly shudder.

"What should we do, Mother? If Sasuke is really here..."

The mistress of dimensions lowered her hand, her face becoming impassive again. But in the depths of her eyes appeared a dangerous gleam.

"We will wait. If he's here, then sooner or later he'll try to return. And then we'll be ready."

Her gaze stretched into the distance. Power pulsed inside, ready to burst forth at the slightest threat.

"This world is already ours. All that remains is to eliminate the final obstacles."

With these words, the divine beings dissolved into the air. The battlefield sank back into silence, but now it seemed ominous, filled with the expectation of an inevitable storm. Only barely perceptible tension remained in the air.

***

The new day greeted Uchiha with a heavy gaze. The clock showed four in the afternoon. The young man lay motionless, listening to the sounds of the awakening building.

Slowly rising, the last of the Uchiha clan sat on the edge of the bed, and thoughts immediately returned to yesterday's discovery. A feeling of emptiness and loss enveloped his body. A deep breath helped focus on the present moment.

The noise in the corridor grew — school students bustled back and forth. Voices, laughter, sounds of footsteps carried through the door, reminding of the new reality in which the young shinobi found himself.

Every muscle in his body was tense when the heir of the Uchiha clan rose from the bed. Approaching the door, his hand touched the cold metal handle. A moment of silence, listening to the sounds outside, and then the door opened.

The bright light of fluorescent lamps made him squint. The corridor was filled with students: some hurrying to class, others lazily wandering, talking among themselves. The hum of voices and laughter echoed in his ears, intensifying the feeling of alienation.

Moving along the wall and trying not to attract attention, the Rinnegan bearer barely brushed shoulders with some guy. The latter turned around but didn't receive even a fleeting glance in response.

Finding a door with a bathroom sign, the young Uchiha entered. The smell of disinfectant hit his nose.

At one of the sinks stood a tall boy with unusually pale skin. The stranger washed his hands, paying no attention to the newcomer. In the far corner, someone coughed behind a stall door.

Approaching a free sink, the young shinobi turned on the water. The cold stream hit the porcelain with noise. Palms were placed under the burning coolness of water, splashing it on his face several times.

Drops ran down his face, falling on the collar of his t-shirt and leaving dark spots on the fabric. Raising his head, the black-haired youth met his reflection's gaze: hair disheveled, dark circles under his eyes. The Rinnegan in his left eye pulsed weakly, contrasting with the normal black color of his right.

Returning to his room, the shinobi approached the desk where books given by Xavier lay. Japanese-English dictionary, grammar textbooks — tools for adaptation in this foreign world. Gathering them into a stack, Uchiha felt the weight not only physical but metaphorical.

With books in hand, the dark-haired shinobi stopped before his friend's door. After hesitating for a second, the door opened without knocking. Uzumaki lay sprawled on the bed, his loud snoring filling the room.

His gaze fell on the glass of water on the bedside table. Without hesitation, its contents flew onto the sleeping comrade's face.

Naruto woke up sharply, spitting and coughing. Blue eyes, full of surprise and irritation, stared at the disturber of peace.

"What the hell, Sasuke?!" exclaimed the jinchuriki, wiping his face.

"Time to get up and study," came the dry response, accompanied by throwing the dictionary and textbooks onto Uzumaki's bed. "I'm going to the library. This noise is irritating."

With these words, the young Uchiha left the room, leaving his puzzled friend alone.

Footsteps echoed off the school corridor walls. Black hair, as always carelessly disheveled, contrasted with pale skin. Dark eyes looked straight ahead, not focusing on anything specific.

The corridor gradually filled with students. Conversations and laughter filled the air, creating a cacophony of sounds that made Sasuke barely noticeably wince.

Passing by a group of girls, the young shinobi didn't notice how they fell silent mid-sentence, following him with their gazes. A red-haired freckled girl slightly blushed and whispered something to her friend. Another, with bright blue hair, stared unblinkingly at his profile, trying to memorize every feature.

Immersed in thoughts, he didn't even glance in their direction. His mind was occupied with memories of yesterday, of that horrible truth.

The massive oak doors of the library promised quiet and solitude. The door opened with a quiet creak, the smell of old books and leather bindings enveloped the entrant, bringing a strange sense of comfort.

The library was almost empty — only a couple of students sat at distant tables. The young shinobi passed by long rows of bookshelves, his gaze sliding over spines, trying to decipher unfamiliar letters in book titles.

Choosing a secluded corner by the window, where a view of green mountains opened up, he settled at a table and laid out books and dictionaries before him.

The methodical study of words began with attempts to memorize their sound and meaning. However, despite all efforts to concentrate, thoughts kept returning to images of the destroyed world left behind.

Suddenly his head lifted, eyes warily surveyed the library. Making sure no one was watching him, Uchiha closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, they flashed with the bright red color of the Sharingan.

The world around seemed to slow down, every detail became crystal clear. Lowering his gaze to the dictionary pages, now each word, each symbol was etched into memory with unnatural clarity. Page after page, information was absorbed into the mind at incredible speed.

Carefully studying the English alphabet, he compared it to his world's writing system. In English, the same letter could be pronounced completely differently in different words. For example, the letter "a" in words "cat", "car" and "call" sounded different.

"This is unlike either hiragana or katakana," passed through his head. "Even kanji, with all their complexity, have more predictable readings." Memory helpfully reminded how in his world most symbols had a clear connection between writing and pronunciation, except for some complex cases with kanji.

This feature of the English language seemed an additional obstacle. He would have to not only memorize the spelling of words but also their unique pronunciation, often not corresponding to the spelling. This discovery made him think about how complex full mastery of this language might be even with the Sharingan's help.

Not stopping at the dictionary, the youth moved on to the grammar textbook. Rules and structures of the language revealed themselves before him, pieces of the puzzle instantly falling into a complete picture. His eyes moved across lines at inhuman speed, absorbing not just words, but the very essence of the language.

"Twelve tenses?" — the thought echoed with bewilderment. In his native language, the time system was much simpler. The idea of using different verb forms to express nuances of past, present and future seemed unnecessarily complex.

Perfect tenses particularly puzzled him. The concept of an action completed by a certain moment in the past or future required a completely different approach to thinking about time than what consciousness was accustomed to.

"Why are all these complications necessary?" — the question arose by itself. "Isn't it possible to simply say when something happened, without all these additional forms?"

The rules for constructing questions and negations became the next trial. The necessity of changing word order and adding auxiliary verbs looked unjustifiably confusing.

A heavy sigh escaped his chest. Mastering this grammatical system required not only memorizing rules but also completely restructuring the approach to expressing thoughts. Even with the Sharingan instantly memorizing rules, applying them in practice promised to be no simple task.

"It seems this language was created to complicate communication, not facilitate it," — the thought reflected frustration before the long process of not only learning but understanding the logic of this new language.

No more than an hour had passed, and Sasuke had already mastered language basics that would take an ordinary person months to study. He blinked, and his eyes returned to their usual dark color.

After intensive use of the Sharingan, Sasuke felt not only slight physical fatigue behind his eyes but also significant mental exhaustion. His mind, overflowing with new information, seemed heavy and overloaded.

Fingers mechanically rubbed his temples, trying to cope with growing headache. The huge volume of knowledge required comprehension and ordering. Words and rules in the unfamiliar language swirled in his head, gradually settling and forming new neural connections.

Despite the fatigue, a sense of satisfaction from the progress achieved filled his consciousness. However, it became clear that using the Sharingan for language learning would need to be dosed to avoid overloading the mind.

Sasuke leaned back in his chair, allowing a minute of rest.

His gaze froze in space: "So this is what brother felt," — the realization pierced his mind. Before his eyes appeared the last image of his brother. Bitterness rose to his throat. His back straightened, becoming unnaturally straight.

A new, terrifying thought was born in his consciousness: "Was brother's sacrifice in vain if we couldn't save what he gave his life for?"

Sasuke closed his eyes. His fingers involuntarily clenched into fists, knuckles whitening. When he opened his eyes, the Sharingan colored the world red — the clan's ancient power reacted to the surge of emotions faster than reason could suppress them. He slowly unclenched his fists, leaving semicircular nail marks on his palms. Enough. He has no time for emotions.

His gaze slid to the window, to Vermont's green hills — the state's name now easily readable on the map hanging on the wall. This was only the beginning of adaptation, but with the Sharingan's help, the process promised to be much faster and more effective. Nevertheless, the prospect of mastering not only the language but an entire new culture caused slight irritation.

***

Uzumaki trudged down the corridor, still feeling moisture on his face after the unexpected awakening.

"Damn Uchiha," escaped a grumble while his hand wiped the last drops from his chin. "Couldn't wake me up normally? Kso, so annoying!"

The muttering attracted attention from passing students. Curious, surprised, and sometimes wary glances followed his every movement. Whispers in an unfamiliar language and pointing fingers accompanied each step.

"And why learn this stupid language?" the jinchuriki continued grumbling, ignoring those around him. "Better to search for a way home..."

At a huge arched window, the young shinobi stopped, peering into the alien landscape. Longing squeezed his heart at the sight of green hills and forests instead of the familiar rocks with the Hokages' faces.

"Sakura-chan, Kakashi-sensei, everyone else... How are they without me?" the words escaped in a whisper, accompanied by a lump in his throat.

But shaking his head, the young ninja drove away the gloom. A loud "Dattebayo!" echoed through the corridor, making a passing boy jump, nearly dropping his stack of books.

"Can't get discouraged! I'll definitely return!" his fists clenched, and his body filled with new determination.

The corridor was bubbling with life and movement. Students hurried to classes, chatted by lockers, some demonstrated abilities.

"Wow," the thought flashed, "looks like everyone here has some special powers. Maybe I'm not so different from them?"

But then the language barrier came to mind.

"Without knowing the language, I'm like a mute here. Can't even ask how to get out." Ah, if Sakura-chan were here, she'd learn everything in no time...

He stopped before a door, squinting at unfamiliar letters. A girl standing nearby watched with curiosity his attempts to decipher the inscription.

"Hope this is the right door," muttered the nine-tails bearer, remembering how a few minutes ago he'd entered the wrong room. "Well, have to endure. The faster I learn the language, the sooner I'll find the way back."

A knock on the door and Xavier's familiar voice gave confidence. Casting a last glance at the girl, Naruto entered the office.

The room's size and abundance of books amazed his imagination.

"Kso! There are more books here than in Granny Tsunade's office!" the thought flashed.

Around an oval table sat a group of students, their curious glances causing involuntary tension.

But his attention was immediately drawn to two unusual girls. The first, with fiery red hair, resembled flashes of flame. Pale skin was sprinkled with freckles. Green eyes glowed with intelligence and curiosity.

"Just like Sakura-chan, only red-haired," thought the young ninja.

The second girl seemed even more exotic. Silver curls flowed down her shoulders like liquid metal.

Shaking off the stupor, Uzumaki smiled broadly.

"Yo, Xavier-sensei!" the loud voice was accompanied by an energetic salute. "Sorry for the intrusion!"

The professor, sitting in a wheelchair, turned with a friendly smile. Penetrating blue eyes shone with interest. The tension slightly released the young shinobi. There was something about this man that reminded him of the Third Hokage — the same aura of wisdom and kindness.

"What brings you here?" asked Xavier in fluent Japanese, causing surprised looks from the other students.

A hand scratched the back of his head, gathering scattered thoughts. His heart beat faster from excitement, but the habit of taking action prevailed.

"I need several identical, uh... what's it called... Japanese-English dictionaries. The more, the better, dattebayo!"

Charles raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Interesting request. May I ask why you need so many identical books?"

"Of course, I'll show you right now!" A grin lit up the jinchuriki's face, anticipating the reaction of those around. The seal formed quickly, concentrating chakra. Two identical clones materialized nearby.

The students at the table perked up, curiously examining the appearing copies. Noticing their reaction, the nine-tails bearer winked at the silver-haired beauty, feeling a surge of confidence.

"Now that's what I call making an impression!" pride filled his chest.

"The clones' knowledge transfers to me when they disappear," the explanation came with growing confidence. "I can learn the language faster and stop feeling mute in this school!"

The professor looked interested.

"A very inventive approach, Naruto. I'll make sure to arrange for the books you need."

"Excellent!" the young ninja's enthusiasm burst out in exclamation. "Thank you, sensei! Soon I'll be chattering in English as well as you, dattebayo!"

A wave to those present, and the young shinobi left the office, leaving behind slight animation and several interested glances.

"Well, first step taken," a quiet voice broke the corridor's silence while his feet carried him back to his room.

At another window his steps slowed — sunset painted the sky in orange tones.

"Wait for me, guys," the whisper carried words into emptiness, thoughts reaching out to friends in Konoha.

"I'll definitely return."