[V2] - Chapter 78. Return
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Three days!
It's already been three days!
Three days without any news from headquarters.
Although ever since he was assigned to take care of the new boss, headquarters rarely sent any updates, this time was different!
Uchiha Madara, though blind, had indeed been resurrected. Right now, he was walking around Konoha every day, supported by the also-resurrected God of the Ninja World—Senju Hashirama.
It was utterly terrifying!
On top of that, the alien had been captured, Orochimaru's whereabouts were unknown, and that mysterious one-armed man… there was barely any intel on him either. Right now, his situation was extremely dangerous, surrounded by a group of big shots. A single mistake could lead to exposure.
So during this period...
He could only survive under the protection of Boss Yumi.
But this place was also way too close to that monster, Uchiha Yuto! Far too dangerous!
Thus—
After the Ninja World War ended, he kept releasing spores, sending messages on [Nin-Nin]… trying to contact headquarters.
Yet—
For the past few days…
There was absolutely no response.
White Zetsu 9527 was deeply worried~
Lately, he couldn't even drink milk tea or watch livestreams anymore!
"They wouldn't have been…" White Zetsu 9527 showed a sorrowful look as he stared at his now-dim [Nin-Nin] contacts, "completely wiped out, would they?"
Could it be that now…
Only he was left?
Then what about the mission?
How was he supposed to accomplish it alone?!
Boss Yumi was still young!
He hadn't even been Minister for long enough yet!
How could everything be gone already?!
White Zetsu 9527 tearfully raised his milk tea and toasted the dim profile icons one by one, "Farewell! I! Won't forget you all!"
In the end.
He was the only one left.
However—
Just as he sipped his milk tea—
Suddenly—
A dim profile icon lit up?!
White Zetsu 9527 froze, rubbed his eyes, and when he realized he hadn't imagined it, his heart pounded with excitement as he hurried to type on the keyboard.
[Hey? You there?]
Not long after sending it—
Ding! Ding!
A message came back.
[I'm here! What's up? Haven't been online for three days, just reconnected the internet today. I had to run the cable underground secretly, even dig a pit—such a hassle. If there's nothing urgent, I'm going to play games!]
"???"
Reading that reply, White Zetsu 9527 was a bit stunned.
Why dig a pit?
Why run a cable?
Wasn't the base already wired?
Don't tell me—?!
The base had already been destroyed?!
And now… the surviving White Zetsus were rebuilding?!
White Zetsu 9527 seemed to realize something, sadness swelling again... Though he couldn't really feel sad, he still quickly typed another message.
[You guys really worked hard!]
[It's okay!]
[How many brothers were sacrificed?]
[Sacrificed? Nope! Everyone's fine! We even had a feast a few days ago!]
[???]
A feast?
What kind of feast?
Whose feast?!
White Zetsu 9527 was confused again and quickly typed.
[If nothing happened, why didn't you reply to any of the spores I sent you a few days ago?!]
[Oh~ You're talking about that!]
A message came through.
As soon as 9527 glanced at it, another message followed.
[We were moving house a few days ago! And didn't have time!]
"???"
…
Today.
It was finally time to leave.
Sasuke silently looked around at the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings… Really leaving now—he still felt a little reluctant.
But—
He ultimately didn't belong to this Ninja World!
Naruto over there was still waiting for them to return!
However—
Sasuke twitched at the corner of his mouth as he looked at Boruto, who was carrying so many bags that his small body was nearly buried under them. "Why did you bring so much stuff?"
"Sister Hanabi and Grandpa Y…"
"Hm?"
"Uncle Yuto and the Fourth Hokage asked me to bring them back!" Boruto scratched his head, a little embarrassed by Sasuke-sensei's sharp gaze.
He understood perfectly well what Sasuke-sensei meant.
The relationships were… complicated.
It's hard to explain!
With a nervous laugh, "Some are for Mom, Himawari, and Grandpa. I also got plenty of souvenirs for Sarada and the others!"
Of course.
He only bought a small portion himself. The rest… were all gifts from others—including his grandpa from this Ninja World.
There were just too many!
Seeing that Sasuke-sensei wasn't mad anymore, he sighed as well, his gaze sweeping seriously across the surroundings, "It really was an incredible experience!"
"Yeah!"
"Sasuke-sensei, do you think we'll be able to come back someday?"
"No idea." Sasuke shook his head, glanced at the time on his phone. The only thing he was taking back… was this phone.
Of course—
Inside the phone were important videos and photos taken during this time.
Seeing that it was about time, he smiled and lowered his head, speaking to Boruto, "We should be going now!"
As the words fell—
"Let's go!" Boruto hoisted his oversized backpack, took a deep breath, and smiled brightly. "I'm sure Mom and the others will be really happy to hear that Sister Hanabi is living happily in this Ninja World!"
You know—
It's been so long—
Everyone thought Hanabi-sensei had already sacrificed herself!
"Then let's head out!" Sasuke nodded and picked up the turtle. "This Ninja World is really beautiful."
Just as he finished speaking—
As they were about to activate the turtle and leave—
Suddenly—
"Why are you leaving so suddenly without saying anything to your uncle? Are you shy I'd come see you off?"
A familiar voice rang out.
Sasuke's mouth twitched slightly.
They were already about to go back—how did this guy still show up?!
He had just raised his head—
"Catch!"
A small package came flying at him.
Sasuke instinctively caught it with a confused expression. It was heavy!
Felt like metal?!
He looked up in surprise. "This is?"
Then he froze.
In front of him—
There were countless familiar figures.
"Just a little gift from your father and your uncle. Pay off the mortgage when you get back, and help rebuild the Uchiha clan." Uchiha Yuto smiled and nodded, then sighed with a slightly disappointed tone. "I really hoped you'd call me 'uncle' at least once!"
"…"
This bastard!
Sasuke's eyelid twitched.
Just as he thought—
That emotional moment was completely unnecessary!
He turned to look at that expressionless figure, arms crossed, who gave him a small nod.
Sasuke's lips trembled slightly, but no words came out.
His gaze swept over each figure—
Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Yuto, the Third Hokage, the Fourth Hokage, Jiraiya-sama, Tsunade-sama, Hyuga Hanabi, Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, Kushina-sama… even the clueless Kakashi had come.
All those familiar figures!
"Say hi to Naruto for me!" Kushina waved her fist. "I believe you'll defeat all your enemies!"
"Safe travels!" Minato also smiled and nodded. "If you run into trouble, try to find a way back—we'll help however we can."
"Hey kid! I heard you surpassed me, Uchiha Madara? Ridiculous!"
"Konoha will never fall!"
Amid all the blessings, the surrounding light grew stronger and stronger.
Sasuke and Boruto looked at all those figures, and their lips curled into small smiles.
This really was… a wonderful experience!
However—
At that moment—
"How about calling me 'uncle' before you go? Just once, to fulfill my wish!"
"…"
Sasuke's mouth twitched again.
Can't this guy read the mood?!
He glared at Uchiha Yuto, but remembering he was about to leave, he simply said indifferently, "Next time—if we meet again."
Though chances were… they wouldn't.
As those words fell—
The light flared.
And finally—
"Goodbye!"
The area before them was now completely empty, only that calm farewell lingering in the air.
Everyone stood, smiling at the empty space.
Another Ninja World, huh?
They wondered how they would react when they learned what had happened here.
It truly makes one curious!
...
Meanwhile—
In the other Ninja World.
Konoha.
Ever since Sasuke and Boruto went missing while investigating Otsutsuki Urashiki, the whole village had gone into a state of alert.
A heavy atmosphere loomed.
"Where exactly did Sasuke and Boruto go?" Naruto clasped his hands, chin resting on them, face full of worry. "Just like that time with Hanabi, they suddenly vanished!"
"Maybe they found something and haven't been able to send word back yet." Shikamaru, with his small beard, calmly sorted through documents and smiled faintly. "Naruto, don't tell me you don't trust Sasuke? He's very strong!"
As he finished—
"Hahaha~" Naruto laughed, scratching his head. "Yeah, that's true! Sasuke is very strong!" Then, with a firm look in his eyes: "I'm sure everything will be fine!"
After all these years—
After so many dangers—
They had always made it through. There was no way it would end now!
Konoha still needs them!
Just then—
As everyone fell silent—
"Seventh Hokage-sama! Seventh Hokage-sama!" A Konoha Anbu ninja ran in excitedly. "They're back! Sasuke-sama and Boruto-sama are back!"
"?!"
Everyone froze.
Then their faces lit up with joy.
They're finally back!
Naruto looked at the Anbu excitedly. "They're back? I knew it—if Sasuke's there, there's no way anything would go wrong! How are they? Did anyone get hurt? Is it serious?"
As soon as he said that—
The Anbu ninja paused, a hesitant look on his face. "Well…"
His expression made everyone tense up, glancing at each other.
Could it be… they were seriously injured?
"Injured? Badly?!" Naruto's eyelid twitched, face full of concern. He looked at the Anbu. "Where's Granny Tsunade? Get the medical ninjas now! What happened? Hurry and say it! Don't tell me Sasuke—"
His eyes widened in panic.
"He… he died?!"
"?!" The Anbu ninja froze and quickly shook his head. "No no no! No one was injured!"
"Then why were you hesitating?!"
"Sasuke-sama and Boruto-sama… came back with tons of luggage. It looks like they just got back from a vacation."
"???"
Come again?
A vacation?!