Chapter 121: The Ninja World Joins the Empire
"Stupid Naruto, everyone here except you Edo Tensei living corpses is alive."
A familiar scolding voice rang out.
Naruto's face lit up with joy. He looked toward the voice.
"Sasuke! You… my Sasuke?"
He was so excited that his words stumbled, becoming incoherent.
The group listening showed strange expressions.
"Naruto's got ulterior motives. I knew why you were so eager to find Sasuke—you like him!" Ino shouted angrily.
Sakura sweated: "Like Sasuke? How… they're both guys!"
"Guys can love each other too! Sakura, you've never read true romance novels, have you? And… don't forget, Naruto and Sasuke's first kiss was with each other!" Ino said furiously.
Hearing this, the group stifled laughter.
Some widened their eyes, as if watching a drama.
Kushina and Minato exchanged glances, their expressions shifting, seeing helplessness and slight compromise in each other's eyes.
Fine, guy with guy, let it be. After so many storms, this seemed trivial.
Sasuke's face twitched, glancing at Imperial Itachi beside him, whose expression was off.
"What are you thinking?! It's just Naruto's dumb mouth messing up! And that kiss, we were facing each other, some idiot pushed Naruto, so…"
"Sasuke! Who're you calling dumb?!" Naruto roared angrily.
"You, obviously! Dumb enough to be tricked by a fake Obito and leave Konoha, losing your life!"
Sasuke roared back.
"Huh?"
Naruto froze, then looked awkward.
"I didn't expect this world's Obito was imitating Brother Obito…"
"I'm also responsible. If I'd focused on you more back then, a few Akatsuki couldn't have hurt you. Sorry… little Naruto." Imperial Obito said regretfully.
"Dumb!" Sasuke muttered again.
"By the way, Naruto, did you know this world's Obito is your parents' killer?" Imperial Obito asked.
"Huh?"
Naruto froze again.
"This world's Obito killed Mom and Dad?"
He hesitantly looked at Minato and Kushina.
"That scum! He released the Kyuubi when I was giving birth!" Kushina said hatefully.
She punched, shattering Ninja World Obito's head, who, post-Edo Tensei, could only stand still.
"It was Obito…" Minato nodded, his expression complex.
"Why did our world's Obito do that?"
Naruto looked at the recovering Obito, utterly confused.
If he recalled right, his parents were Obito's teacher and teacher's wife.
Killing them? How could anyone do that?
Ninja World Obito wore an ugly expression, unable to speak.
"Wasn't it because that scum thought Nohara Rin died and wanted to take revenge on the world?" Imperial Setsuna sneered.
"Trash like him, completely delusional. How could Nohara Rin like him? Kakashi's far superior!"
"Still dreaming of avenging the world for Rin. Doesn't even realize if that girl needed him to do that? Disgusting scum."
"S-Shut up… you don't understand… Rin… Rin… didn't like… Kakashi!"
Ninja World Obito was furious. His anger briefly broke Edo Tensei's limits, letting him shout softly.
"The Uchiha clan massacre in this world—you had a hand in it too, right?" Imperial Setsuna asked again.
"Hmph!"
Ninja World Obito gave a cold snort, but his upturned lips said it all.
*BANG!*
Another explosion.
Ninja World Obito's head burst.
Ninja World Sasuke did it.
His right hand raised, a Chidori Eisou pierced Obito's head, releasing lightning, shattering it.
As Obito's head slowly reformed, Sasuke grinned. "So, you're trash like Itachi. For scum like this, we hit their fatal weak point. Elder Setsuna, I have an idea to keep this guy in eternal regret and despair!"
"Oh? Tell me. If it's good, I'll fully support it." Imperial Setsuna's eyes gleamed.
Others showed interest.
"Maybe we revive Rin and let her marry Kakashi. Obito becomes a statue, watching it all with his own eyes. How's that?" Sasuke said.
"Oh? A brilliant suggestion!" Imperial Setsuna's eyes sparkled.
Hearing this, Obito's eyes nearly bled tears, his teeth grinding. "You… dare…"
"You dared kill your family, teacher, and teacher's wife. What don't I dare?" Sasuke sneered.
"Good idea!" Kushina smiled, clapping.
Ninja World Kakashi said nothing, his eyes showing hope, longing, and awkwardness.
"Your idea's still lacking. How about this: when Kakashi and Rin enter the bridal chamber, then we turn Obito into a statue, letting him enjoy the view?"
"Per Jiraiya's Icha Icha Paradise, the hardest thing for a man to endure is seeing his beloved with another man. It's the ultimate male humiliation." Imperial Deidara grinned wickedly.
His words made women blush and men fall silent.
Ninja World Obito trembled with rage, his Edo Tensei face flushing. "Bastards… I'll… kill… you… kill you!"
He roared, briefly breaking limits, gaining movement, rushing at Imperial Deidara.
But after a few steps, he froze again.
He could only glare furiously at Imperial Deidara.
"…"
Imperial Obito's expression darkened, shivering unconsciously.
From his perspective, such treatment would make him want to die.
True ultimate humiliation!
"Interesting suggestion! Noted!" Imperial Setsuna laughed heartily.
She then turned to Naruto. "This world's Obito is a sinner, an enemy of the Uchiha clan and you, so we have equal rights to punish him. Back in the Empire, think carefully how to punish this scum."
"Back to the Empire… revive… the dead can revive?"
Naruto said, slightly shocked, but recalled Gaara, then said nervously. "Does reviving me require sacrificing someone? I don't want anyone dying for me…"
"Of course, it requires sacrifice, but such sacrifices can be redirected. The Empire uses criminals for this technique." Imperial Setsuna said.
Hearing this, Naruto's expression eased. "Thank you, Elder Setsuna. You're really a good person."
"Good person? Hm… strange title. In all my life, this is the first time I've been called that." Imperial Setsuna's expression was odd.
She grinned wickedly, telling Naruto some of Hiruzen's dirty deeds, watching his expression shift with interest.
"Third Grandpa… what Elder Setsuna said, is it all true?"
Naruto looked at Edo Tensei Hiruzen with a complex expression.
"…" Edo Tensei Hiruzen felt guilty toward Naruto, opening his mouth, unsure what to say.
With a crowd hating him nearby, any explanation would be refuted.
Better to stay silent.
Seeing Hiruzen's silence, Naruto smiled bitterly. "Didn't expect Third Grandpa… Sarutobi Hiruzen, you're that kind of person. For my own experiences, I don't blame you. But you and others killed Kakashi-sensei's father and Sasuke's clan… I can't forgive."
"…"
"I deeply regret… but Konoha's governance isn't just about mercy… The Uchiha back then…" Hiruzen finally spoke.
But Sasuke cut him off. "Shut up, old scum! Always yapping about the situation back then. Wasn't it your pressure that pushed the Uchiha to that abyss? Facts proved the Kyuubi incident had nothing to do with the Uchiha."
"It was all that traitor Obito's doing! He wasn't Konoha's or the Uchiha's anymore!"
"…" Hiruzen sighed.
Who'd have thought?
Edo Tensei Killer Bee was also surrounded, chatted with by Ninja World Raikage A and Imperial Raikage A.
Finally, Imperial Kakashi looked at the nine Bijuu.
The nine Bijuu shivered in unison.
"Little human, what's up?" Hachibi, close with Killer Bee, spoke first, very friendly.
"Need a bit of your help." Imperial Kakashi said.
"What help? Just say it. Me and Bee are tight."
"I need you to return to Juubi' body temporarily."
"W-What? Back to Juubi? You know how uncomfortable that place is?"
"That's outright oppressing us Bijuu!"
"We're Bijuu! Not so easily oppressed!"
Hot-tempered Kyuubi, Ichibi, and Gobi roared first.
In the past, they'd have spat Bijuudama.
Now… yell first, then talk. Fight? Courting death?
Nibi, less bold, shrank her head, saying fearfully: "D-Don't be like that, let's talk nicely. But returning to Juubi is too much. It feels like being chained, no room to move. Think from our perspective—would you accept such treatment?"
She blinked her big, watery eyes, trying to look cute.
"Hey, Imperial Kakashi, Hachibi's my closest friend and a Kumogakure member. You can't treat him like that." Ninja World Killer Bee chimed in.
"Relax, it's temporary. The goal is to use Juubi' massive spacetime particles to transport us back to the Empire. Once done, you'll be separated…" Kakashi explained.
Hearing this, the nine Bijuu sighed in relief, not resisting.
They were absorbed into Juubi' body by Empire people, then, with Ryumyaku's power, returned to the Empire.
The ninja world had many people, but their overall strength was weak.
Empire people, from another world, didn't need extra spacetime particles to return.
Thus, in one trip, all returned from the ninja world to the Empire.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Holy Land.
The Sage of the Six Paths looked at the empty ninja world, sighing silently. "This world's finished… for the remaining people to restore past prosperity, it'd take centuries… Stopping otherworlders, with my power alone, is impossible…"
"But what they said earlier, is it true? Otsutsuki… aliens?"
The Sage sank into thought.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Empire.
Roran Fortress.
Ninja world people appeared one by one, orderly.
Those in charge guided people from major villages to board airships.
Kumogakure to the Lightning District, Iwagakure to the Earth District, Kirigakure to the Water District, Sunagakure to the Oasis District, Konoha to the Fire District's capital!
In the grand high-altitude airship, ninja world people, first-time riders of such high-tech, touched everything, muttering.
The smart steward's sudden voice made them marvel, deeply impressed.
Soon, Sunagakure's people reached their destination.
Tomorrow City.
The giant airship landed slowly.
The cabin door opened, Sunagakure people stepped out.
Once outside, they froze.
The entire Oasis District capital stretched before them.
Metal skyscrapers stood tall. In the sky, besides mechanical puppets and bird puppets in exoskeletons, floating islands dotted the air.
It felt like entering a beautiful fantasy world.
"Welcome back, Gaara, and brave warriors!"
"And… new friends."
Rasa, with wine-red hair, looking young and strong, addressed those disembarking.
"Father…" Ninja World Gaara stared at Imperial Rasa, murmuring.
"So like Father in my memories, but much kinder and stronger…" Temari muttered, eyeing Imperial Rasa.
"Seems even in this world, our dad's a big deal." Kankuro smiled.
Other Sunagakure people showed faint excitement.
"Yondaime-sama!"
"You must call him Oasis District Governor. Once you step into Tomorrow City, the title Yondaime is forgotten."
A gentle voice sounded, drawing attention.
"You're Red Sand Sasori!?" Kankuro said, slightly fearful, seeing the speaker's appearance.
"My name's Sasori, but I'm not Red Sand." Sasori said softly.
"You look so different from ours." Kankuro observed Sasori top to bottom.
Full of vigor, in a white suit, gold-rimmed glasses, exuding a scholarly air.