"But, this place seems to be how it was before that incident."
This is the Uchiha district before the night of the massacre.
In other words, this is some time before the night of the massacre. They've traveled back through time again to the past.
"No wonder it feels so familiar yet... strange."
Compared to the ruins they see every day, the Uchiha district here is indeed completely intact, even carrying a different kind of solemn and majestic style.
"So this is another one of those dream-like dungeons, huh?"
Naruto looked here and there, recognizing some traces of the Uchiha district.
"The dungeon mission is..."
"Forget the mission for now, we have to figure out exactly what time we're in," Sasuke interrupted Naruto, sounding a bit anxious.
Because, for some reason, he suddenly felt an intense sense of fear.
'This dungeon, this place, something is definitely off.'
"Sasuke, your body...", Under the bright moonlight, Uchiha Kage noticed that Sasuke's shadow cast on the ground was starting to blur.
'As if...'
"Sasuke, you're... disappearing! What's going on?", Naruto's eyes widened.
In his eyes, Sasuke looked like someone had erased his color, then started rubbing him away bit by bit with an eraser, he was gradually becoming transparent.
"I...", Sasuke had already noticed something was wrong with his body, but he couldn't do anything. He could only watch helplessly as his body slowly disappeared.
"Kage? You again... no, you finally came!"
Just as Sasuke's figure was about to vanish, and Uchiha Kage was preparing to act, he was suddenly tightly hugged by a figure that rushed toward him.
"Mikoto?"
It was the grown-up, sexy and gentle married lady, Uchiha Mikoto.
"Mikoto-neesan, Sasuke, he...", Naruto was both surprised that Sasuke's mother had appeared again and hugged Uchiha Kage like a lover, but what really troubled him was that Sasuke had completely vanished.
"Don't worry, he should have returned to his own body... in this time period, his own body,".Uchiha Mikoto didn't seem too concerned about Sasuke's disappearance.
"W-What do you mean? I don't quite get it...", Naruto scratched his head.
"You're called Uzumaki Naruto?", Letting go of Uchiha Kage, Uchiha Mikoto curiously examined Naruto from head to toe like it was their first meeting.
'This Naruto...'
She hadn't gotten a good look last time. This time...
'He really does feel just like Kushina.'
'And also bears some resemblance to the guy beside me.'
"Yeah, didn't I say that last time?"
'The Mikoto-neesan in front of me look far more mature than the one in the previous dungeon,' Naruto felt a bit embarrassed and scratched his head.
He thought, if he had a mother, she'd probably be as beautiful and gentle as Sasuke's mom.
"No, last time I didn't know you were...", At this point, Mikoto gave Uchiha Kage, who was already lost in thought, a slightly resentful glance.
"Anyway, things are urgent now, so I'll make it quick. Sasuke's soul has returned to his original body, so the copy that appeared here disappeared."
"How old is Sasuke now?", Uchiha Kage had already guessed something.
But to confirm his guess, he needed to know what time this was.
"Half a year old. I left Itachi to take care of him," Right now, Mikoto answered every question from Uchiha Kage and Naruto as if she had foresight.
"Under my guidance, Itachi is very obedient. That kind of thing definitely won't happen in the future," She added to Uchiha Kage.
"I see. Then we need to hurry and find Kushi—", There was indeed an unusual atmosphere lingering in the space.
Uchiha Kage had a rough idea of what this dungeon was related to.
"What copy, what future... What are you guys talking about?"
Naruto had no idea what Uchiha Kage and Uchiha Mikoto were talking about.
"I only know the mission says we're supposed to help someone named Kushina..."
"Then that's right. We're going to find Kushina now."
Uchiha Mikoto reached out and held Uchiha Kage's hand, and then playfully gave his palm a light squeeze.
"Find your good wife," After answering Naruto's question, she whispered softly in Uchiha Kage's ear.
"I...", Uchiha Kage said he still didn't know anything yet.
"Don't worry, the 'you' already told me. I know. The current you is just...", Like she could read his mind, Uchiha Mikoto easily saw through Uchiha Kage's thoughts.
"But whether it's them or you, in the same time period, you're all unique, unrepeatable existences. So you are still you. It's not wrong for me to be jealous of you."
"But in terms of memory..."
'So not just Samui and Hinata, even my own self can't coexist in the same time-space?'
Uchiha Kage felt a bit helpless.
Today's events, or rather, this dungeon, might go beyond his control.
"And you didn't go to the future either. This is still the past. You can't interfere with your future self, and your future self can't interfere with... Ahem... maybe through me, but I can choose not to listen."
'Is this what real jealousy looks like?'
While dragging the still somewhat confused Naruto and Uchiha Kage along, Mikoto explained as they hurried.
"I totally don't get it."
Naruto felt like his brain was about to explode.
"It's okay, you'll understand later. For now..."
Uchiha Mikoto pulled out two masks from her chest and handed them to Uchiha Kage and Naruto.
"Put this on. If you're too conspicuous, it might cause the 'mission' to fail."
"He's lying to you."
'If repetition is impossible, then paradoxes shouldn't exist.'
That means there's no such thing as a 'failed' future, nor a first-time-success present. The two would contradict each other.
There must be another reason for wearing the mask.
Uchiha Kage thought.
"Kage, are you jealous? Jealous of yourself?"
It was rare to see Uchiha Kage so flustered.
"Alright, actually everything today was of my own doing. Whether it's me coming to find you, or other things, including the mask."
Left with no choice, Mikoto, who didn't want to bully her beloved too much, told the truth.
Everything today was her own decision. A way to vent a little jealousy and to protect him in her own way. It wasn't because of anyone's orders.
"You're saying after you went back today, you told me... told the past me, and after that...", As Mikoto spoke, her expression became even more sorrowful.
She really had a reason to be jealous, of her future self, of Kushina, and even of the past version of herself that Uchiha Kage would soon meet.
Because from "this day" onward, she never saw him again...
"What happened after that?", Hearing this, Uchiha Kage finally calmed down.
And also realized that something seemed a little off about Mikoto in front of him.
Especially when she first hugged him after entering the dungeon.
"I don't want to explain to a cheating guy like you right now!"
It was rare for the usually gentle Mikoto to suddenly argue with Uchiha Kage.
"Mikoto, you..."
Uchiha Kage became more aware that something wasn't right.
"Wait, can you guys stop? The more I listen, the more confused I get... Mikoto-neesan, aren't you Sasuke's mom? How come you and Kage..."
'Fighting like a married couple, or acting all lovey-dovey in front of me?'
Naruto was very confused by the scene in front of him.
"It's okay, Naruto. You can call me mom too, just like Sasuke does," Ignoring Uchiha Kage's question, Mikoto returned to her usual gentle demeanor and smiled at Naruto.
Then she gently squeezed Uchiha Kage's palm again.
"R-Really?"
Just now, Naruto had been thinking if he had a mom, she'd probably be as beautiful and gentle as Sasuke's. Hearing this, he was overjoyed.
If they weren't still in a hurry, he would've been jumping for joy.
'I have a mom now...'
'Even if it is in a dungeon.'
'And this mom...'
Thinking about how Sasuke's mom had also died, Naruto couldn't help but feel sad again.
'No, wait, with this amazing dungeon around, Sasuke's mom will definitely be fine!'
"We're here. This is Kushina's... place. Let's go in quickly."
Crossing a small patch of the Forest of Death, Uchiha Mikoto led Uchiha Kage and Naruto to a hidden cave.
"Kushina's so scared of pain, she must be waiting anxiously for you by now."
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