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Seeing Naruto's sad expression, Minato felt uncomfortable in his heart as well.
For a moment, no one spoke, and the scene was silent.
In the end, Naruto reconciled with himself. He cried and laughed as he said, "It's okay, Dad, kill Anrokuzan. It's time for me to return to my original timeline and go to Mount Myoboku to train in Sage Mode."
Naruto clenched his fists, "This time, I definitely won't let everyone down. I will protect the village and avenge Pervy Sage!"
However, the tears streaming down his face betrayed him.
The death of someone he cherished, not even being able to see them one last time, only being able to mourn in front of a memorial stone, how could he truly reconcile so easily?
He was just forcing himself to be optimistic.
Minato truly couldn't bear to see Naruto like this. At this moment, he suddenly had an impulse and abruptly looked at Obito, "Obito, tell me, if the two of us use the Flying Thunder God Formation to take Naruto to Konoha and come back quickly, is it possible?"
Obito thought for a moment, then shook his head, "Not really."
"Sensei Minato, the journey is not short. Our chakra might be enough to use the Flying Thunder God to return home, but it wouldn't be enough to fly back here after arriving. We would have to return to Roran by traveling normally."
"But traveling normally takes time."
Obito looked at the fallen Anrokuzan, who was already like a candle flickering in the wind, "He previously transformed himself using the power of the Dragon Vein. Now that he has lost that power and his core supply has been cut off by the sealing technique, even if we don't execute him, he won't last much longer."
"If… he dies while we are on our way back, what then?"
Minato fell silent.
The sealing patterns on Anrokuzan's body were closely linked to the power of the Dragon Vein. If they left Roran, they would be far from the Dragon Vein's range.
If he died during this time, no one could predict what would happen.
The worst outcome would be that Naruto could never return.
Even worse, because Naruto wasn't originally from this timeline, his existence might disappear along with it.
Minato couldn't take that gamble.
Facing Naruto's hopeful gaze that had just risen, he could only show an apologetic expression and helplessly shake his head.
With the last bit of hope shattered, Naruto had to muster up the courage and put on an expression as if he didn't care.
"Dad, it seems there's still no way. We still have to part."
"Thank you for telling me so much. Now I can take care of myself. Remember not to forget your promise to me."
"If the future me is born, you must, must never abandon him. Give him a happy future."
Minato smiled, "Don't worry, Naruto, I will definitely keep that promise."
Naruto looked at Anrokuzan lying on the ground and said in a low voice, "Dad, do it. Seeing him alive is also quite miserable. Let him be freed early."
Minato nodded and was about to pierce Anrokuzan's core with a kunai.
But at this moment, people arrived from afar.
Rin, Kakashi, and Sara came running over together.
In addition, by Kakashi's side was a person wearing a Konoha headband.
When Naruto saw this person, he couldn't help but say, "Captain Yamato? Why are you here too?"
Yamato looked confused. After glancing at the young Kakashi beside him, he said, "I don't know either. When I woke up, I was picked up by the young Kakashi."
Kakashi explained, "We encountered him when we went with Sara to shut down the Dragon Vein. He's also a Konoha ninja, but he was so useless that he fainted, so I brought him back."
Actually, Kakashi was full of doubts. According to what Obito said, wasn't Naruto's team supposed to be led by him?
'Then who is this Captain Yamato?'
'Wait… Yamato!'
Kakashi and Rin exchanged glances and looked at Yamato in surprise, "So you're that Wood Release ninja who builds sturdy houses?"
Yamato looked completely baffled, 'Am I really that famous?'
Logically speaking, he and Kakashi shouldn't even know each other at this time.
Although Kakashi had explained along the way that he was a ninja from more than a decade in the future, wasn't the development of events too strange?
And what was with the "sturdy house" remark? It was true that he liked using Wood Release when camping outdoors, but as ANBU's top expert, wasn't that title a bit...
'Forget it. Kakashi is too annoying. Since I have traveled to the past, I might as well take advantage of Kakashi's younger age and beat him up first,' With this thought, Yamato punched Kakashi on the head.
Kakashi clutched his head and turned around, "Why did you hit me? That really hurt!"
Yamato showed a smug expression, "Nothing, it's just that I've been bullied by you all the time, so I couldn't help but hit back."
Kakashi was fuming, just about to say something, but Yamato ignored him and instead walked over to Minato with utmost respect and bowed, "I never thought I'd get to meet you. It's truly an honor."
Minato smiled. He naturally understood why Yamato was so respectful toward him. In the future, he not only became the Fourth Hokage but also sacrificed himself to protect the village.
But those were things of the future. Now, it was time to set the world back on its proper course.
He said gently, "Unfortunately, it's time to say goodbye to everyone."
Sara suddenly became anxious. She rushed to Naruto with a face full of reluctance, "How could… we be parting so soon?"
Naruto smiled, "Sara, you've already become an outstanding queen. Even without our help, you can lead your people well."
Sara couldn't help but show deep emotions, "Naruto, I… will never forget you."
She knew that Naruto came from the future. Their time together would always lead to parting.
But why did her heart ache so much?
Minato watched this scene and couldn't help but sigh.
His son had made a girl fall for him in such a short time, only to face the pain of separation. He didn't know whether to feel gratified or sad.
If Naruto had been from this timeline's future, he would have sealed everyone's memories.
But since Naruto came from a future different from theirs, these precious memories could be preserved.
Seeing that the farewells were about done, Minato turned back to Anrokuzan, ready to act.
At this moment, Anrokuzan was already cursing countless times in his heart. He was now worse than dead, unable to even make a sound.
'If you're going to kill me, do it already! Stop dragging it out!'
But now… he could finally be freed.
Thinking this, he looked at Minato with eyes full of longing.
Watching Minato's figure gradually approach, he… finally felt at ease.
'This time… there shouldn't be any surprises…'
However, just then, Obito suddenly said, "Sensei Minato, wait."
Minato was stunned, his hand holding the kunai stopping once again.
Obito looked at Rin and asked, "Rin, Anrokuzan is on the brink of death now. Check and see, if you do your best to sustain him, how long can he last?"
Rin nodded, walked up to Anrokuzan, examined him, and then said, "If I use medical ninjutsu to keep him alive, he has three hours."
Obito revealed a confident expression, "That's enough."
Minato was puzzled, "Obito, what do you mean?"
Obito said to Minato, "I thought about it. I also really want Naruto to see Jiraiya-sensei one last time."
Minato frowned, "But didn't we just analyze that it's impossible? Three hours might not be enough time."
Obito smiled, "If it were just Flying Thunder God, that would be true. But Sensei Minato, have you forgotten? The space-time jutsu I have mastered isn't just one.""
Minato had yet to speak when Rin had already interrupted.
"Obito, you can't! Jiraiya-sama is far away in Konoha. Using those eyes to activate space-time ninjutsu to return to Konoha is too much of a burden and consumes too much."
Obito, however, took a deep breath and said, "Don't worry, Rin. I will soon be able to transplant Hashirama's cells. Even if I lose sight, I can still recover, right?"
Naruto, standing to the side, although unable to fully understand the meaning behind Obito's words, seemed to have gained a chance to see Pervy Sage one last time?
For a moment, a glimmer of hope appeared on his face, but in the end, he gritted his teeth and said, "No, I won't see Pervy Sage. Obito, even though I don't understand what you're talking about, I know this requires you to pay a huge price. I can't let you take risks just for me."
Obito, however, smiled and shook his head at Naruto, "Naruto, you're still just as kind. But this time, I owe you, and now, I'm repaying you."
After saying this, he did not hesitate any longer, closed his eyes, and shouted, "Kamui!"
Immediately, three scythe-shaped large pinwheel Mangekyō Sharingan eyes opened. Accompanied by a trail of bloody tears, a continuously distorting space-time passage gradually formed.
Everyone clearly saw what lay beyond the passage. Under the glow of the setting sun, the Hokage Rock stood tall, with three Hokage faces vividly visible.
On the other side—was Konoha!
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