Naruto glanced at the scarred battlefield, the lingering energy of their transformations still crackling faintly in the air. The sheer scale of what had just happened—the evolution of both Kakashi and Sakura into something beyond human—was staggering. Even for him, someone who had long surpassed mortal limits, it was a moment that deserved reflection.
Sakura still looked at her hands in fascination, flexing her fingers as if testing the raw, infinite power that now coursed through her veins. Kakashi stood beside them, his expression calm but thoughtful, as though contemplating the weight of what they had just become.
Naruto, however, knew better than to let them rush forward too soon.
"Alright," he announced, his voice cutting through the silence. "We're taking a break."
Sakura blinked, looking up in surprise. "A break? But Naruto, we just—"
"I know," he interrupted gently. "And that's exactly why we need to slow down for a second."
She hesitated, her gaze flickering between him and the ruined landscape around them. She wanted to keep pushing forward—he could see it in her eyes. The thrill of transformation, the hunger to test herself further. But Naruto had learned through experience that overwhelming power could be just that—overwhelming. If they didn't take a moment to settle into their new selves, it could lead to recklessness, to instability.
Kakashi, ever perceptive, nodded in agreement. "He's right. We've undergone something… phenomenal. It would be foolish to rush ahead without understanding what we've become."
Sakura exhaled slowly before giving a small nod. "Alright. I guess that makes sense."
Naruto smiled, relieved that she wasn't going to argue. "Good. Besides, I trust Hinata, Ino, and even Toneri to handle things while we take a moment to get ourselves together."
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Even Toneri?"
Naruto chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, I know. He's still a weird guy, but he's been doing his part. And between the three of them, the world isn't going to fall apart just because we take a short break."
Kakashi hummed thoughtfully. "It's rare to hear you talk about trusting someone else to handle things. You usually like taking all the responsibility yourself."
Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "What can I say? I guess I'm learning."
Kakashi smiled. "Good. You should."
Sakura crossed her arms but allowed a small smirk to tug at her lips. "Fine. A break it is. But don't think I'm going to just sit around doing nothing. I want to see what this new power is capable of."
As they sat in meditation, the air around them still humming with residual energy, Kakashi found his thoughts drifting. It had been a long time since he had truly taken a moment to reflect, and now, with all that had happened, there was one question that kept resurfacing in his mind.
He cracked an eye open and looked at Naruto, who sat a short distance away, his breathing steady, his energy perfectly balanced. Watching him like this—so calm, so completely in control—it was almost impossible to reconcile with the reckless, loudmouthed boy he had once been.
And yet, something still didn't sit right with him.
Kakashi had always known Naruto possessed a heart that leaned toward freedom rather than control. But after witnessing just how unfathomable his power had become, he found it difficult to understand why Naruto continued to ignore what seemed to be the most logical path.
Why did he refuse to take the throne?
With a silent sigh, Kakashi straightened, letting his curiosity finally win over his usual patience. "Naruto," he said, his voice breaking the silence.
Naruto opened his eyes lazily, his gaze meeting Kakashi's with quiet amusement. "What's up?"
Kakashi hesitated for a moment before deciding to be direct. "Why do you keep ignoring the choice to become the ruler of mankind?"
Naruto blinked. It wasn't the question he had been expecting. "What do you mean?"
Kakashi exhaled, looking up at the sky. "I mean, now that I've seen what kind of power you hold, it makes even less sense to me why you haven't taken the throne. You're strong enough to enforce real peace. You could do what no one else in history has ever managed."
Sakura, who had been quietly meditating, glanced over with mild curiosity but didn't interrupt.
Kakashi continued, his tone thoughtful. "Artoria is a good king, I'll admit that. She's noble, wise, and her rule is just. But at the end of the day, even her leadership has limits. You, on the other hand, have no limits. You could be the absolute ruler—the one who finally brings true order to the world."
Naruto was silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he let out a small chuckle and leaned back on his hands. "You make it sound so easy."
"It is easy," Kakashi countered. "For someone like you, it wouldn't even be a challenge."
Naruto sighed, tilting his head back to stare at the sky. "That's exactly why I don't do it."
Kakashi frowned. "Explain."
Naruto closed his eyes for a moment before speaking. "I could take the throne. I could rule everything. With a snap of my fingers, I could unite every nation, erase every war, force peace on everyone. But then what? The world wouldn't belong to humanity anymore. It would belong to me."
Kakashi remained silent, listening intently.
"I've seen what happens when someone with too much power decides they know what's best for everyone," Naruto continued. "People stop thinking for themselves. They stop growing. The moment I step in and take control, humanity stops being human. They'd become my subjects, my responsibility. Every decision, every life, every future—it would all fall on me. And eventually, people would stop trying to solve their own problems because they'd just expect me to do it for them."
He looked at Kakashi then, his gaze unwavering. "That's not peace. That's just another kind of cage."
Kakashi took a moment to process his words.
Naruto leaned back again, exhaling. "I don't want to be a immortal-king. I want to be Naruto—a friend, a protector when necessary, but not a ruler. If people can't find their own way to peace, then anything I give them would just be temporary."
Kakashi studied him carefully. "And what if things get worse? What if the world spirals into war and suffering again? Will you still stand back?"
Naruto's eyes darkened slightly. "If that happens, I'll act. But not as a king. I'll act as Naruto Uzumaki—the guy who fights for what's right, not the guy who forces people to obey."
Kakashi sighed. He understood Naruto's reasoning, but it still left him with an uneasy feeling. Perhaps it was because, in the depths of his heart, he knew Naruto's power was beyond anything the world had ever seen. And with such overwhelming power, wasn't it inevitable that he would one day be forced to rule, whether he wanted to or not?
Kakashi remained quiet for a few moments, studying Naruto's expression. The younger man was smiling, casual and carefree as if he had given the perfect answer. But to Kakashi, it was just another excuse. It wasn't that Naruto lacked power or the ability to lead—it was that he feared what it meant to take responsibility on such a scale.
With a slow shake of his head, Kakashi let out a sigh. "You're still the same naive kid I used to teach," he said, his tone filled with something between disappointment and frustration.
Naruto arched an eyebrow. "Oh? Care to explain, Sensei?"
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed slightly. "You talk about ruling as if it would strip people of their free will, as if humanity would stop advancing if you stood at the top. But you're wrong. Humanity doesn't stagnate under an absolute ruler—it thrives under a just and fair ruler. A leader who embodies wisdom, strength, and righteousness pushes their people toward new heights. It's not the act of ruling that leads to ruin—it's who is doing the ruling."
Naruto frowned slightly, the lightness in his expression fading.
Kakashi pressed on. "You say you don't want to control people. Fine. But do you really think stepping aside will lead to the world you want? You're underestimating how power works, Naruto. If you don't take the throne, someone else will. And if it's not you, do you think they'll share your ideals? You have followers, people who believe in you. But the moment you refuse to lead, those people become a threat to whoever does take power. And what do rulers do to threats?"
Naruto's eyes darkened slightly. "They eliminate them."
Kakashi nodded grimly. "Exactly. The moment you refuse the throne, you paint a target on the backs of every person who follows you. You might not want to rule, but the world won't just let a figure as powerful as you wander freely. They'll see you as a challenge, a danger, a symbol of opposition. And the people who believe in you? They'll be the first to suffer."
Naruto clenched his jaw but said nothing.
Kakashi exhaled. "You say you don't want to be a immortal-king. That's fine. But at the very least, be honest about why you refuse. It's not because you believe in free will, not entirely. It's because you're afraid. Afraid of making the wrong choice. Afraid of having the blood of an entire world on your hands if you fail. But Naruto…" Kakashi's voice softened slightly, though his gaze remained sharp. "You already make decisions that affect millions. Every battle you fight, every war you stop, every person you save—it all changes the world around you. You're already leading, whether you accept it or not. The only difference is, right now, you're just avoiding the weight of responsibility that comes with it."
Naruto looked away, eyes shadowed in thought.
Kakashi sighed. "I'm not saying ruling is easy. It's not. But it's the only path to the utopia you dream of. If you don't take the throne, the world will never reach that ideal. Someone else will take power, and they will be weaker than you. Less kind than you. Less just than you. And when that happens, you'll be forced to fight anyway—only it will be from the outside, and you'll have no real authority to change things permanently."
Naruto remained silent, his hands clenched into fists.
Kakashi didn't push further. He had said what needed to be said. The rest was up to Naruto.
As Kakashi walked away, leaving Naruto alone with his thoughts, a heavy silence settled over him. The words his former teacher had spoken echoed in his mind, intertwining with his own doubts and fears. He had never wanted to rule. He had always believed that power should be used to protect, not to govern. But was Kakashi right? Was his refusal to take the throne truly about preserving free will, or was it just an excuse to avoid the crushing weight of responsibility?
A deep, rumbling voice broke through his thoughts.
"You're quiet, Naruto. That's rare."
Naruto exhaled, leaning back on the stone he was sitting on. His eyes flickered toward the vast sky above them. "Kakashi made a good argument. It's bothering me."
Kurama scoffed, his massive form lounging within Naruto's mindscape. His tails swayed lazily, but his crimson eyes held sharp intelligence. "Of course it is. He hit a nerve. He made you question if you're running away. And maybe you are."
Naruto scowled. "I'm not running away."
"Aren't you?" Kurama rumbled, his voice laced with something between amusement and challenge. "Let me ask you this, Naruto—who's the strongest person in this world?"
Naruto blinked at the sudden question. "Well… me, obviously."
"And who has the biggest following? Who do people trust more than any ruler alive?"
Naruto frowned, shifting uncomfortably. "Me, I guess."
Kurama let out a low chuckle. "So let's see… you're the strongest, people already follow you, and you've changed the world more than any so-called king or emperor in history. Yet, you're refusing to lead because you think it's not your place? Sounds a little ridiculous, don't you think?"
Naruto sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not that simple, Kurama. Just because I have power doesn't mean I should rule."
Kurama's eyes gleamed. "Then tell me—was the Sage of Six Paths right to refuse rulership?"
Naruto stiffened. "What?"
"Hagoromo," Kurama said, voice suddenly serious. "He was the most powerful being of his time. He had the wisdom, the strength, and the vision to create a true utopia. But instead of ruling, he left humanity to govern itself. He believed people should find their own way. And what happened? War. Endless war. The cycle of hatred never broke. His own descendants fought for generations, and the world never found peace."
Naruto's hands clenched into fists.
"Hagoromo thought staying above the world, guiding from the shadows, was enough," Kurama continued. "But he was wrong. He let others take power, and they twisted his ideals. They fought, they killed, they turned peace into an illusion that never lasted. If he had ruled—if he had been the one to lead—maybe this world wouldn't have spent centuries drowning in blood."
Naruto gritted his teeth. "So you're saying it's my responsibility? That if I don't take the throne, I'm dooming the world to the same fate?"
"I'm saying that power alone doesn't corrupt," Kurama said firmly. "Weakness in the wrong hands does. You don't want to rule because you're afraid of making mistakes. But Naruto, mistakes are going to happen no matter what. The difference is, if you're the one leading, you can actually fix them."
Naruto looked down, deep in thought.
"You want peace? Real, lasting peace?" Kurama's voice softened. "Then don't repeat Hagoromo's mistake. Don't just sit back and hope the world figures itself out. Because it won't. It never has."
Naruto let out a slow breath. He hated this. He hated that both Kakashi and Kurama were making sense. He had always wanted to be the kind of person who inspired others, not controlled them. But what if inspiring wasn't enough? What if the only way to truly protect the people he cared about was to take that final step?
He had always fought to change the world. But maybe… maybe this was the only way to truly do it.
Naruto closed his eyes. He needed more time to think. But deep inside, he knew—he couldn't ignore this forever.