Mukade was dead. The Ryūmyaku was sealed. Time and space had begun to repair themselves.
There wasn't much time left for Naruto, the one from the future, to remain in this era.
"Dad, you…"
Naruto had so many things he wanted, needed, to say to Minato, but his words were cut short.
"Naruto," Minato said gently, "I know you have a lot to say. But now's not the time."
"Because… there's something very important I still have to do."
Just then, Kakashi appeared beside them, a person slung over his shoulder. After helping the man steady himself, Kakashi spoke.
"Sensei, I just found this guy outside."
Naruto's eyes lit up with recognition the moment he saw who it was.
"Captain Yamato! Did you travel through time too?"
Yamato gave a relieved smile.
"Naruto… it's really good to see you again."
Then, noticing Minato and Veigar, Yamato's expression grew serious. He stepped forward respectfully and bowed deeply.
"It's an honor to meet you both."
That simple gesture said it all, for Minato and Veigar, it was proof that their future selves had achieved something great.
The title that could command such reverence was clear.
Kage.
The leader of a hidden village.
But to protect the future, Minato sensed that Naruto and Yamato would soon be sent back. Raising a hand, he said calmly:
"To avoid affecting the future… I'm going to seal away your memories of this time."
"So…"
Shibi, Choza, Veigar, and Kakashi all understood and nodded solemnly. It had to be done.
Seeing everyone in agreement, Minato moved into action. He'd already prepared the sealing technique. With a firm motion, he pressed both hands to the ground and shouted:
"Seal!"
A complex sealing array lit up beneath their feet.
Then came the next command:
"Erase!"
The moment Minato completed the jutsu, time-space reached its final correction. Naruto and Yamato's bodies began to flicker, becoming incorporeal as they were pulled back to their timeline.
"Dad…"
Naruto's voice cracked as he called out.
Minato smiled brightly.
"Naruto… don't be sad. I truly believe that one day, we'll meet again. And when we do, let's take our time and talk properly."
With those parting words, Naruto and Yamato vanished from Roran.
Time and space had been fully restored.
...
Meanwhile, in the future timeline.
As soon as Naruto and Yamato returned, they were greeted by a panicked shout from Sakura.
"Naruto…!"
Both of them froze. Their memories of time travel were already beginning to fade. Naruto barely remembered what had just happened.
"We're okay, Sakura."
The group exited the ruins of Rora, stepping out from the sealed heart of the Ryūmyaku. Naruto looked up at the sky, a peaceful smile on his face.
"Sakura, you know what? I had a dream…"
"I saw my dad."
Sakura blinked. Wasn't Naruto's father… the Fourth Hokage?
...
Back in Roran.
After Naruto and Yamato left, Minato turned to Queen Sāra, who still held a chakra blade in her hand.
"Your Majesty, the mission is complete. It's time for us to go."
Sāra knew this moment would come and offered no protest. Gratefully, she said:
"Konoha shinobi, thank you for helping Roran through this crisis."
"As queen, I declare that Roran will always welcome you."
Minato nodded.
"Farewell, Your Majesty."
Shff, shff, shff, shff.
The four figures vanished from sight. Only Veigar remained, unmoving.
He turned to Sāra, extended his right hand, and quietly spoke:
"Someday, I'll come for you."
A faint purple glow shimmered in his palm. Tears welled in Sāra's eyes as she stared into his gaze.
"…I'll wait for you," she whispered.
Then, Veigar too vanished before her.
No more words were needed.
...
The next day.
Amid swirling desert winds, five figures made their way back toward Konoha.
Their memories of Naruto and Yamato's time travel had been sealed. All they remembered was that the mission had been completed, details lost to foggy forgetfulness.
To avoid disrupting the timeline, Minato hadn't just sealed the memories, he'd used two types of fūinjutsu:
One to seal the memory.
One to erase the memory of the seal itself.
In time, when the technique wore off, those memories might return. But for now, they were hidden even from themselves.
Minato had sealed Naruto and Yamato's memories not just out of precaution, but to ensure that the Ryūmyaku's ability to transcend time remained secret.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to act, after all, history was set and wouldn't change.
Unless… someone else traveled through time to alter it.
As they traveled, Veigar checked his condition. He'd also forgotten what had happened in Roran, but he felt incredible.
His Phenomenal Evil Power had fully fused within him. His chakra had surged. The Life Essence flowing through his veins had intertwined with the Ryūmyaku's ancient energy.
He'd awakened a second Constant Ninjutsu technique.
And the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal had vanished from his tongue.
Whatever had occurred in Roran… Veigar knew it had been a major turning point.
But he let it go, for now.
...
Meanwhile, in the Land of Wind.
The Third Raikage of Kumogakure appeared outside Sunagakure.
Months ago, in response to a suspected attack on a Cloud squad by Suna shinobi, the Raikage had sent forces into the Land of Wind to investigate.
Though they found no evidence of the attack, one strange fact emerged:
The Third Kazekage hadn't been seen in months.
Concerned, the Raikage had come in person to confirm the truth.
He presented his diplomatic credentials under the name of the Raikage himself, playing the formalities perfectly.
Inside Suna, high-level officials gathered in a tense emergency meeting. Dozens of elite jōnin were summoned to observe.
The secret that had been kept for months could no longer be hidden:
The Third Kazekage… had disappeared.
Among those in attendance: Chiyo, Ebizō, and Rasa.
But the Kazekage's seat at the head of the chamber remained empty.
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