Chapter 42

The elderly man stepped forward, his dignified presence commanding respect from all around. His long white hair gleamed under the soft light of the artificial sun, and the Uzumaki clan's swirling emblem adorned the rich fabric of his robes. His sharp eyes, full of wisdom and insight, scanned Naruto for a moment before he spoke with a warm, eloquent tone.

"Be at ease," the man said, his voice calm yet refined. "You must be Uzumaki Naruto. I am truly honored to meet the Emperor of the world."

Naruto blinked in confusion at the title. "Sir, you're mistaken. I'm not the Emperor of the world, and there's no such thing. I'm simply the Guardian of the world."

Genryu raised a brow, though his smile remained. "Is that so? My apologies. I merely assumed that someone with your level of power would have claimed dominion over the world by now."

Naruto frowned slightly, shaking his head. "I don't have any such interest. And, if you don't mind, could you stop calling me that? It's... uncomfortable."

The elder bowed his head slightly, an apologetic smile playing on his lips. "Of course. Forgive me, I meant no offense. I was simply surprised by your noble humility. Please, sit with me. Let's discuss the issues you've mentioned. Oh, and before I forget, I am Genryu Uzumaki. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Genryu gestured for Naruto to join him at the table. Toshiro, his expression neutral, took a seat beside his leader. Naruto nodded and sat across from them. As Naruto glanced at the Uzumaki warriors standing nearby, Genryu noticed and waved a hand to dismiss them. Once they left, Toshiro activated a barrier seal, its faint golden hue shimmering briefly before becoming invisible.

"Thank you," Naruto said, appreciating the privacy. "I don't think this is something that should be common knowledge."

Genryu gave a slow nod, taking a sip of tea. "I understand. Please, tell us everything."

Naruto leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. He began to explain the looming threats facing humanity, careful to keep the focus on the external danger rather than delving too deeply into internal affairs. His tone was calm but firm, and his words painted a grim picture.

There was a race of immortal beings that devoured life from planets with intelligent life. The weakest of them was strong enough to contend with Naruto. These creatures were strong enough to even ascend to a domain where time and space didn't even matter.

Their numbers were unknown, but even if there were just thousand of them and they had actually lived for countless thousands of years then humanity was doomed.

No matter how anyone looked at it, there would be at least Otsutsuki in the hundred ranges that had lived for a very long time and devoured countless planets. Just one Otsutsuki that might have devoured 100 planets would be too much for any of them. Could they even contend with that power?

If one of them had already ascended to the outer domain, there were definitely others beside him as well. How strong was he before he ascended? How many of them were close to ascension?

They didn't know the personality of these creatures, but none of them could risk it on the fact that they might be civil about it.

Naruto didn't say the depressing thoughts about ultimate threats, but it was everyone else around him that listened to the details. He was the only one that didn't see the futility of their resistance. He was the only one that knew all details but didn't see that their chance of success was not even 1 percent.

Naruto actually believed in the potential of his people to put up a valid resistance especially after finding so many ways to improve humanity. He didn't think they could ever go extinct if they stuck together and avoided backstabbing each other.

Just like others, Genryu and Toshiro also took the issue in a similar manner. It was a horrifying reality that they had awoken to. Was it even worth living with such details? Knowing that every moment just got them closer to a fated doom.

Naruto watched Genryu closely, noticing the slight tremor in the elder's hands and the hesitation in his expression. Concerned, he leaned forward. "Are you alright?"

Genryu took a moment to shake off his unease, his eyes sharpening as he refocused on the young man before him. "Why do you look so confident even after knowing such details?" His voice carried a mixture of curiosity and disbelief. "I believe most people would see this as an inevitable end. There's no possible way we can survive such a threat. To resist seems... futile."

Naruto met his gaze without faltering, his voice steady and resolute. "Why do you think that? There are many ways we can improve ourselves to match their level. And it's not as though their entire race is coming to cleanse us all at once. Based on what we've learned, it's likely only a team of two might come to scout the area first. If we can capture or delay them, we can buy ourselves time. The Otsutsuki don't perceive time as we do. To them, even a thousand years might feel like a single year. For us, that's enough time to build a proper resistance."

Genryu leaned back slightly, his brow furrowed in thought. "Isn't that too convenient?" he countered. "What if one of the stronger ones appears? What if these two scouts report their findings immediately upon seeing our world? These beings have devoured countless planets. Surely, they must have developed ways to judge whether a planet is worth consuming at a glance."

Naruto smiled faintly, his tone patient yet firm. "Why should we dwell on the 'what ifs'? Has focusing on such possibilities ever led to a positive outcome? Thoughts like those only serve to sow fear and doubt. They cause psychological and moral damage without offering any solutions. Or do you suggest we sit down, accept our fate, and wait for the end without even trying to change it? Because that's not who I am, and I doubt it's who you are either."

Genryu's lips twitched into a smile, and a low chuckle escaped him. "Haha, you're right. We are not such weak men that we would simply accept defeat. You've given me much to think about, Naruto." He rose to his feet, his posture straight and confident now. "You've satisfied my curiosity. I accept your helping hand, and thank you in advance for the role you'll play in safeguarding not just our clan but the entire world. And because we are not ungrateful people, I'll allow you to learn directly under Toshiro."

Toshiro glanced at his master but said nothing, his expression remaining as composed as ever.

Genryu continued, "We will also provide resources to combat this threat and ensure the Uzumaki clan plays its part in this fight. We are honored to stand alongside you."

Extending his hand with a warm smile, Genryu offered a gesture of trust and solidarity. Naruto stood and took the elder's hand firmly. After a brief handshake, Genryu pulled him into a respectful embrace to finalize the agreement.

As they stepped back, the weight in the room seemed to lift. The tension gave way to a more hopeful atmosphere, and Genryu's tone became lighter. "Now, to help you familiarize yourself with our home, I'll have one of my men show you around town. It would be a shame to leave without experiencing Uzumaki hospitality."

Naruto smiled, nodding in gratitude. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

Genryu signaled to one of his subordinates, who stepped forward with a respectful bow. With the discussion settled and their partnership established, Naruto followed the man out of the chamber, eager to learn more about the hidden haven of his ancestors.

As Naruto disappeared from view, Genryu's warm expression faded, replaced by a calculating sharpness that only a seasoned leader could wield. He turned to Toshiro, his voice quiet but laden with the weight of their conversation.

"What do you think?" Genryu asked, his piercing gaze fixed on his trusted advisor.

Toshiro crossed his arms, his expression calm but thoughtful. "They haven't gone beyond the fundamentals of chakra. Compared to us, they are no longer a threat. Their sealing techniques, their combat skills—everything has regressed. The only exception is Naruto. His chakra is... different. It's immune to ours, and his power surpasses anything we've seen. He's the only one we can't measure accurately."

Genryu's brows furrowed. "Even with all of us combined, using our full capabilities?"

Toshiro hesitated, his tone reflecting his uncertainty. "I can't say for sure. To make an accurate judgment, we'd need combat data. Anything less would be speculation."

The elder leader stroked his chin, his mind racing. "Then arrange it. Have Makoto spar with him—or you can fight him directly if necessary. Would that be enough, or will you require a more... realistic scenario?"

"A spar should suffice," Toshiro replied after a moment of thought. "We'll have the analyzers ready to record every detail. With that data, we'll be able to determine how best to counter him. But..." He trailed off, his voice dipping into unease. "Would we truly use it against him? He's one of us, after all. The world has changed, and so has he."

Genryu's lips curled into a humorless smile. "Changed? We may have endured the passage of time, but the core truths remain the same. We were once the strongest clan, our average power unmatched, and our sealing techniques inspired fear across the land. Even now, they're pathetic compared to us—too far beneath us to warrant even scorn."

He paused, his voice hardening. "And yet, we cannot afford to be complacent as we once were. Remember what neutrality earned us: betrayal. Humanity has always feared what they don't understand, and their fear turned to hatred. They destroyed our homeland and scattered our people to the winds. That must never happen again."

Toshiro's face remained stoic, but his fists clenched at his sides. The scars of their past were not something any Uzumaki could easily forget.

Genryu's tone grew colder. "We cannot allow those barbarians such freedom again. This time, we will ensure they fall in line under our rule. And this young man—Naruto—is our last obstacle. Devise a plan to control him, just in case. I don't care if he sits on the throne, as long as we're the ones pulling the strings from the shadows."

Toshiro's jaw tightened, his mind flashing back to the Uzumaki clan's long history of sacrifice and betrayal. He knew his leader's fears were not unfounded, even if the idea of manipulating Naruto left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"I understand," Toshiro finally said, his tone measured but resigned.

Genryu stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Toshiro's shoulder. "Don't worry, Toshiro. We won't harm your last living family member. We may plan contingencies, but we will not kill one of our own. That, I promise you."

Toshiro nodded silently, though his mind churned with conflict. Naruto was not just another member of the Uzumaki clan—he was a symbol of hope, of resilience, of what their people could achieve despite the odds. But in a world that had only shown them betrayal, hope alone wasn't enough to protect their future.