Shikaku Nara locked the door behind him as he entered his home.
The light in the tatami room flickered on, illuminating a square table set in the center. Naruto Uzumaki and Shikaku sat across from each other.
Unlike his interactions with Gaara, who was his peer, Naruto maintained a sense of respect toward Shikaku, considering him a senior figure—at least in his heart.
After sitting down, Naruto took the initiative to remove his mask.
Shikaku, without asking about Naruto's eyes or other matters, calmly heated some sake and prepared a few dishes.
He didn't press for answers, knowing that Naruto's presence here meant he was ready to speak his truth.
As the sake flowed and the dishes were tasted, Naruto finally broke the silence with a bombshell:
"Uncle Shikaku, do you believe that people from the future can return to the past?"
Shikaku smiled faintly, as if listening to an amusing tale over dinner. "Such fantastical things usually only exist in works of fiction."
Naruto's tone grew heavy. "Indeed. The past me would have dismissed it as a fairy tale—until one day, a man from a faraway land brought with him a treasure that didn't belong to this world. That treasure is called Pear. And to talk about this man and Pear, we can't avoid discussing Kaguya, the Sage of Six Paths, the Ten-Tails, the God Tree, and the Ōtsutsuki Clan. The story is long. Will you listen?"
Click!
Shikaku lit a cigarette, placed the lighter aside, and said calmly, "No one will disturb us until dawn. Speak freely."
"Alright." Naruto gathered his thoughts, his gaze turning deep as though piercing through time and space, back to the distant past.
He chose to narrate instead of using genjutsu because he needed this opportunity to unburden himself.
He believed that if it was Shikaku, he would come to his own conclusions.
By the time Naruto finished his story, three more pots of sake had been consumed, and the ashtray in front of Shikaku was filled with cigarette butts.
Shikaku massaged his temples, his mind racing to piece together everything he had just heard.
"So, you..." He paused, reaching for his sake cup, only to find it empty. Naruto refilled it for him, and after taking a sip, Shikaku steadied himself and looked directly at Naruto.
"You experienced that kind of future firsthand. At the moment of your death, you returned to the present using Pear, taking the place of the younger you. Everything that happened after—your defection and subsequent actions—was all to change that future, correct?"
Naruto nodded solemnly. "That's right. It sounds like a fairy tale, doesn't it? If you don't believe me, I completely understand."
Shikaku replied, "If you had told me this right after defeating Pain, I would have dismissed it as a delusion caused by head trauma. But considering everything you've done since, it all makes sense. So yes, I believe you."
Phew.
Naruto exhaled deeply, as if releasing the weight he had carried for so long.
Shikaku's expression turned serious. "However, my belief doesn't mean others in the village will believe you. Some things are hard to empathize with unless experienced firsthand. Even a hero of the village isn't exempt from that."
Naruto chuckled wryly. "A hero? Someone like me doesn't deserve those words anymore."
Shikaku said gravely, "True. Even though Danzo is dead and Root is practically dismantled, the negative image they painted of you still lingers—and it's only getting worse."
He added, "The day Sasuke Uchiha attacked the village, the figure that appeared on the Hokage Rock—was that you?"
"It was me," Naruto admitted.
Shikaku sighed. "But afterward, most people refused to believe it was you. Some even speculated that you came specifically to assist Sasuke."
Naruto replied calmly, "None of that matters. There are countless shinobi who sacrifice themselves in silence, their names forgotten even in death, sometimes leaving behind only infamy. As long as what I protect remains safe, nothing else matters."
He declared, "That's why I'll keep walking this path, no matter what!"
Shikaku asked, "Have you ever considered that there might be a better way?"
Naruto, swirling his empty sake cup, pondered aloud, "A better way... I've thought about it. For example, I could have returned and acted as if I knew nothing. When the Fourth Great Ninja War broke out, Sasuke and I could have received the Sage of Six Paths' blessing together. Using the prestige of saving the ninja world, we could have unified its resources to oppose the Ōtsutsuki Clan."
Clang!
Naruto pressed the empty cup onto the table.
"But I'm not that kind of smooth operator. I can't pretend nothing happened! And I refuse to take the easy way out. If change is to happen, it must be fundamental, not a quick fix to seize the most advantageous moment!"
He continued, "The Sage of Six Paths sought stability within the ninja world. His entire life was devoted to sealing Kaguya and preventing her resurrection. But he never realized that beyond this world, there exist beings a hundred times stronger than him—monsters who could easily bypass his seals and threaten this land!"
"Well, I don't blame the Sage of Six Paths. From his perspective and experience, what he accomplished was already extraordinary. At least he brought decades of peace to the ninja world. But that peace was fleeting, as the subsequent tragedies proved."
"And so, this time, I'm taking a path completely different from his—a path to truly save this world!"
Shikaku sighed. "At this point, there's no point debating whether your method is the optimal solution. At the very least, it's a feasible one. But being too far ahead of your time comes with a price—you'll face criticism. Be prepared for that."
Naruto smiled. "Compared to everything I've endured, criticism is nothing. I'll just laugh it off."
Shikaku chuckled. "At the very least, Konoha's Ino-Shika-Cho will stand by your side. The rest, we'll leave to time to prove."
Saying this, he pulled out a box from under the table and pushed it toward Naruto.
"What's inside should be useful to you. It contains the secret techniques of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, techniques not even recorded in Konoha's Book of Seals. This is, after all, another reason for your visit, isn't it?"
Naruto accepted the box with both hands, his expression solemn. "Thank you, Uncle Shikaku."
Shikaku said, "If you ever find yourself stuck, don't hesitate to come to me for advice."
Naruto replied, "Of course. I've never believed I could accomplish everything alone. When it's time to rely on my comrades, I won't hesitate."
After a moment of reflection, Shikaku added, "According to the normal timeline, the Fourth Great Ninja War would have ended by now, correct? And both Haiichi and I would have died at the Allied Forces' command center, crushed by the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb, right?"
Naruto nodded. "That's correct."
Shikaku smiled faintly. "At least your return changed that outcome. Personally, I'd much rather watch my son grow up and enjoy the warmth of family than die a hero."
Naruto smiled back. "I believe that day will come."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A heavy knocking echoed from the door.
"Shikaku! Open the door right now!!"
It was Shikaku's wife.
Looking at the mess on the table, Shikaku sighed bitterly. "The lioness of the house has returned. What a headache."
"I'll be taking my leave, Uncle Shikaku!"
Whoosh!
Using Flying Thunder God, Naruto vanished, leaving Shikaku alone on the battlefield.
Click!
Lighting another cigarette, Shikaku murmured, "Looks like I won't be able to smoke for a while."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The knocking grew more impatient.
"Coming, coming," Shikaku said, extinguishing his cigarette and standing up, bracing himself as if heading to his execution.
Elsewhere in Konoha, late at night.
Having been discharged from the hospital, Kakashi Hatake returned to his home, now back to his usual routine.
Rustle, rustle.
Hearing noises from his bedroom, Kakashi immediately grew alert. Leaning against the doorframe, he channeled lightning into his kunai and burst through the door—only to see a familiar figure rummaging through his belongings.
Kakashi froze in place. "You..."
"Ah, Kakashi-sensei, you're finally back," Naruto muttered as he turned around, looking completely serious.
"Where did you hide Make-Out Paradise? I've searched everywhere and can't find it!"
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