Chapter 269: Deal

"Thanks for the meal."

Having finished his ramen, Link looked at Naruto and Sakura, both weighed down by their own thoughts, and said, "Don't be too anxious."

"In a month—two at the latest—I'll arrange for you two to see Sasuke. How's that sound?"

"Deal!" the pair replied in unison.

Glancing at them speaking with one voice, Link couldn't help but feel a bit of emotion. Even with a less frosty demeanor, Sasuke still had surprising magnetism.

"Oh, right, about Pervy Sage—" Naruto pressed again.

"That guy…" Link thought for a moment. "We still don't know where he ran off to. But sooner or later, there'll be a mission or operation to track him down. If you can master more of the Nine-Tails' power, I'll recommend you for it."

A sparkle lit Naruto's eyes. He clenched a fist in excitement. "Awesome!"

He looked brimming with fighting spirit.

Controlling the Nine-Tails wasn't so easy. Every Tailed Beast carried its own will, and once it influenced the jinchūriki, they could go berserk.

Among all the Tailed Beasts, the Nine-Tails was the strongest, naturally harboring the most potent hatred. Taming the Nine-Tails' power wasn't just "hard"—it was extremely difficult.

Link had briefly considered copying what he did with Utakata (the Six-Tails jinchūriki) and creating some "perfect new jinchūriki." But after a short hesitation, he dropped the idea.

Naruto wasn't the type to simply exploit a Tailed Beast without concern for it.

Anyway, they'd soon be heading to the parallel world, where a wild Three-Tails was waiting to be captured. No need to tarnish the future "battery's" view of him.

He gave up the notion of milking the Nine-Tails and simply smiled. "Do your best."

"Then I'm off to train!" Naruto hopped up, fired up. Despite his gloomy mood a moment ago, he'd still eaten ramen faster than the other two put together.

Sakura stared at her bowl, still holding a bit of leftover noodles. After a moment, she said softly: "So… Sasuke really has left the village, hasn't he?"

Her thoughts were complicated. The boy she liked had cut ties with the village—maybe even becoming a missing-nin. When she'd gone to his home to see him, she found the place empty. Upon asking around, nobody would tell her anything, and even saying she'd "go with him" hadn't drawn any answer.

That alone proved he was leaving, taking his family with him, and it filled her mind with possibilities.

"Don't overthink it." Link stood, and as a helpful shadow crouched down and lifted his foot so he could reach Sakura's head, he patted her pink hair. "One month—like we agreed."

That said, he ruffled her hair—remarkably soft—then hopped off the shadow's hand onto the floor, vanishing in a body flicker.

Having eaten his fill, it was time to begin his next grand adventure in another world.

Sakura watched Link's figure disappear, thoughts jumbled. He was younger than she was, yet… so gentle and mature?

A small warmth rose in her chest, brightening her expression. "One month… we've got a deal." Standing up, she left as well, heading to her own training.

Seeing Naruto so determined, she too needed to get stronger.

"Sakura," Teuchi called after her with a smile. "You haven't paid yet."

The veins on Sakura's forehead bulged. For some reason, her fists were starting to feel awfully itchy.

…

A few hours later, in the parallel world near Kannabi Bridge—

A single footstep landed with a soft thud. Link looked around, shadows at his feet scattering instantly to survey the surroundings.

His first time in this other world… it felt like even the air in his lungs was crisp and fresh.

At a glance, the nearby buildings looked well-organized. Huh, a kid over there…?

"Lord Link!" ×4

Voices rose in greeting—Uchiha in charge of registration plus some Konoha ninja on guard duty.

Behind Link stood Utakata, already in Tailed Beast Mode, a soft blue glow emanating from his body as he deployed his full sensory abilities.

Though sensing no immediate threat, he still maintained maximum vigilance. Beside them, Tobirama stepped out from behind Link.

"Lord Tobirama!" The watchers saluted. He gave a curt nod, face solemn. "Sasuke said he's built you a house. Should already be ready. He—"

Whoosh!

Uchiha Sasuke dropped to the ground, giving an uncharacteristic smile. "Link, you're here."

[A smiling Sasuke—rare sight indeed.]

Uchiha Hachidai and Uchiha Inoka exchanged looks, both rather shocked.

Since they'd been reanimated, they scarcely saw their future clan head so cheerful.

"I'll need you at the lab in a bit," Tobirama said off to the side, not bothering about friendly reunions. Dropping that line, he vanished in a body flicker. Lately, when he had free time, he spent it here, in a barrier–covered laboratory.

Now that their grand plan was in motion, he had to get the "Second Edo Tensei Hashirama" in order, plus see whether Link's Summoning technique might bring forth the dead from this world as well. Plans were plans, but these mutated ninjutsu were crucial, and they had to test it.

Link gave Sasuke a smile in return. "I heard you've been building me a house?"

"Of course." Sasuke cast a briefly cold look at Utakata, then turned back to Link. "I prepared one for your friend too."

"You won't charge me, right?" Link joked, hoping to ease any awkwardness between his two friends. "But first, show me around. I've got a major experiment to handle soon."

Sasuke's face had started to stiffen again, but he broke into another grin. "Sure—this way."

Strolling through the not–yet–finished settlement, he explained things bit by bit.

"Oh, by the way, Naruto and Sakura asked after you," Link remarked. "I promised them in a month, I'd bring them here."

"Got it." Sasuke's demeanor was quite relaxed, maybe even missing his teammates a little.

After graduating from the Academy, he'd endured the annihilation of his clan and Itachi's heart–rending betrayal.

He shut down emotionally, veering into a severe self–destructive spiral—he'd pour all his kindness onto friends, throwing himself in harm's way for Naruto in the Zabuza–Haku fight, not caring if it cost him his life.

All part of that destructive impulse.

Faced with warmth from his comrades, he was doomed to abandon them in pursuit of vengeance, so he practically tortured himself by giving them everything he could, even if it meant dying. He kept talking about revenge but couldn't help basking in the comfort they offered—like he was caught between them.

Perhaps dying for a friend had once felt like a good end. But Link's arrival changed everything, gradually healing his wounds. And now, in this parallel world, with no reason to brood on Konoha's baggage, plus a chance to change another "version" of himself and the Uchiha, he'd finally found peace.

Hence the radiant smile as he said, "Come to think of it… I miss them a little too."

And thus arose a fresh take on the "sunny Sasuke"!

~~~

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