Chapter 261: Parallel World

Konohagakure, inside the laboratory.

"They're back."

Senju Hashirama was the first to sense something off and spoke up.

Sure enough, space distorted, and Namikaze Minato emerged, carrying a White Zetsu.

[What's going on?]

Others were more composed, but Link was genuinely perplexed. Was there a White Zetsu in that alternate world? Or did it mean they hadn't actually left the shinobi world? Or was it something else?

Minato recounted everything he'd experienced and witnessed. The higher-ups of Konoha began discussing what changing the past might imply.

"If it really was traveling back in time," the Third Hokage shook his head, "then Lord Tobirama would already have changed things. But our memories haven't changed, so nothing happened. And the idea of jumping through time seems impossible to me."

"It might be a world similar to ours," he speculated.

"Could I meet another 'me'?" asked Hashirama with curiosity, chuckling. "I have to say I'm looking forward to that!"

"In theory, yes, but…" The Third Hokage hesitated, then politely said, "If that world is still in the period of the Third Great Ninja War, you would have been—"

"Oh, right, I'd have already died," Hashirama remarked without a care. "I'm guessing if Tobirama went there, the first thing he'd do is figure out a way to Edo Tensei another 'me.'"

"Haha, just picturing that sounds fun."

A parallel world, perhaps?

Another "Naruto world" stuck in the Third Great Ninja War era.

Link pondered even further. If that were the case, could there be other "Naruto worlds" at different times?

Missing one external brain was nothing. Now they theoretically had infinite "external brains." Even if his own Sasuke's Mangekyō hadn't developed a space–time eye power, they could cultivate a few more. Then have a small army—say, sixteen Sasukes—opening their eyes daily and seeing what new jutsu they might draw.

He had even wondered whether seizing the Ten-Tails in the current scenario would be too difficult. But if they could visit other timelines, perhaps one of them was the Fourth Great Ninja War, and capturing several Ten-Tails and raising them was plausible.

Parallel worlds offered endless resources, an infinite future. The risks didn't seem that high—at worst, they'd get dropped into the Fourth Great Ninja War or face Ōtsutsuki Kaguya. But who cared? They already had two worlds to develop. One day, they could gather double sets of Naruto and Sasuke, plus the Hokage from every age, keep seeking more parallel worlds, and if they bumped into Kaguya, give her a grand beating with a righteous swarm of allies.

"I'd like to head to that world similar to ours next," Orochimaru volunteered. He could scarcely wait to grab some scrolls and flee straight over. Unfortunately, the technique required Link's chakra to activate, and Link wouldn't just hand it over freely.

That new world held so many possible experiments. Merely seeing another version of himself excited him.

But nobody acknowledged the prisoner. Only Minato—who hadn't experienced Orochimaru's betrayal or the war-time Edo Tensei, and thus remained polite—shot him an apologetic glance.

Nearby, the two advisors breathed heavily.

Think about it for a moment: a parallel world just like this one would be a veritable gold mine. Known history, untapped resources, vast territories—traveling there with prior knowledge could bring massive benefits for both individuals and the village.

With another world, there'd be no need to launch wars here. They could develop the other world's resources first. And since it was also Konoha, cooperation wouldn't be difficult; maybe they could negotiate to join forces.

If there was one such world, there could be more. The jutsu Lord Tobirama had devised was blowing everyone's mind. There were too many ways to play around with it.

Sarutobi Hiruzen said seriously, "We can't be reckless. We still need some tests, to avoid doing anything in that other world that could create problems for ours."

"Let me and Danzō go there and talk with the 'us' from that side."

He was the best fit, since during the Third War, he'd still been the active Hokage, and Danzō's Root had also been in full force—making them the two people from Konoha with the greatest influence in that era.

Then there were the next generation's Sannin: Tsunade had her fear of blood, Jiraiya was busy chasing the Child of Prophecy because of the war, and Orochimaru was gradually going down a dark path. If Minato hadn't ended the Third War so quickly, Hiruzen might have served in the Hokage office longer.

"Old man, I'm coming along," Jiraiya said gravely.

He wanted to see if he could summon Mount Myōboku over there, meet that world's Great Toad Sage, and possibly talk with another version of himself.

"What about me—" Link began, but was cut off.

Hiruzen spoke warmly, "Right now isn't a good time for you. That world is still caught in wartime. Once it settles down, you can go if you wish."

Link felt a bit frustrated—they were protecting him too thoroughly.

Another world was exactly where he wanted to go, plus capturing Tailed Beasts or something and raising them sounded great. He could possibly obtain a Rinnegan or two!

Yet even though his chakra could activate the jutsu, he didn't know how to draw its formula. Slipping away with Sasuke or others was impossible.

"By the way, time to give this jutsu a name—maybe we call it—" Minato began.

"Wait!" Hiruzen quickly stopped him. "We'll leave naming it to Lord Tobirama."

"All right." Minato sounded rather disappointed.

Hiruzen exhaled in relief. "Link, we'll be relying on you to produce a lot of extra chakra."

If they planned frequent travel between the worlds, Link's chakra was indispensable. They'd have to seal large amounts of it in advance, just in case the scrolls in the other world were destroyed or lost, leaving no way back.

Uchiha Sasuke stood by, looking like he wanted to speak. If that other era was during the Third War, it meant his clan's relationship with Konoha was still intact, and Itachi hadn't become a criminal or taken on all that guilt. Their destiny could be changed; the brothers might avoid that tragic outcome.

People all carried regrets. If they could be changed, even if only for that other world—the other version of one's family—nobody would want them to repeat the same painful fate.

Link patted Sasuke's arm, offering a comforting look. They'd get to go eventually, but not yet. Once it was safe, he'd just say the word.

Utakata stood calmly off to the side. The "Bloody Mist" fiasco was an old tradition—he'd never learned that the Mizukage had been manipulated, so he was long detached from his village.

What happened in another world was irrelevant. He'd simply keep moving forward.

~~~

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