Back at the Hokage Building, the Twelve Guardian Shinobi had gathered once more. The former Uchiha district had been their base of operations for a time, but now, the Hokage Building had become their true stronghold. It was here that they trained, strategized, and planned for the future of Konoha.
Souta entered the building, his sharp eyes scanning the office where two men were deeply engrossed in paperwork—Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi.
Shikaku let out a tired sigh, rubbing his temples as he flipped through another stack of documents. "Inoichi… I think I'm losing years off my life doing this."
Inoichi, however, was grinning, seemingly unaffected by the workload. "You need to change your mindset, Shikaku. Look at what my daughter's fiancé has accomplished in such a short time! This is the least we can do to support him."
Shikaku groaned. "So this is what it's like to have a future son-in-law. I pray Shikamaru never gets married."
Souta smirked at their exchange but chose not to interrupt. Instead, he made his way to a desk where he unfurled a large scroll and began writing. His movements were precise, his thoughts focused.
Naruto, ever curious, peeked over his shoulder. "Souta, what's that?"
"Plans," Souta replied simply.
Naruto squinted at the neat script. He recognized some words but not their full meaning. "East Konoha Trading Company? Land tax distribution? Agricultural and commercial tax reform?"
Then his eyes landed on something he did understand.
"Wait… war?" Naruto's expression darkened. "Souta, do we really have to start a war? Can't we find another way? A peaceful way?"
Souta set his brush down and turned to face him. "Naruto, the peace you dream of cannot exist without strength."
Naruto's fists clenched. "But people will die! Civilians, innocent people!"
Souta sighed, understanding Naruto's perspective all too well. He had the heart of Ashura—a belief in peace, in understanding. But Souta had seen the reality of the world.
"The First Hokage thought the same way," Souta said. "He believed that love and tolerance would bring peace. But if that were true, why did the world suffer through three great wars? Why does conflict still exist?"
Naruto opened his mouth to argue, but Souta continued.
"Dignity exists only at the edge of a sword. Truth is determined by the reach of one's power. If we don't take control, someone else will. And that someone may not be as merciful as you want them to be."
Naruto's face twisted with conflict. "But there has to be another way."
Souta patted his shoulder. "We're not warmongers, Naruto. But sometimes, to ensure lasting peace, we must be the ones to hold the sword."
Naruto fell silent, the weight of those words settling in his heart.
Uzumaki Naruto stood tall, his face creased with a mixture of frustration and determination. The words of Souta Kazuki, a young shinobi who had proven his strength and insight, echoed in the air, drawing the attention of the Twelve Guardians who stood by in silence. It was a rare moment, but Souta's statements had clearly struck a chord with those around him. His views were sharp, and there was no doubt he spoke with conviction. Yet, Naruto couldn't help but feel a slight sting of sadness as he processed Souta's words.
Naruto's connection to the Ashura Chakra had always been a powerful one, but the consequences of wielding such power were never fully understood until they were felt firsthand. Now, in this tense moment, the aftermath of his chakra's influence became all too apparent.
"But... Souta..." Naruto began, his voice trailing off, as his mind struggled to reconcile the weight of the moment.
Suddenly, a commanding voice broke the silence, as if to snap Naruto back to reality. "Naruto!!! Call your position when you are working!!!"
Naruto's brow furrowed as he quickly responded, a slight edge to his tone. "Hmph! I know!!!!"
Despite the sharp exchange, it was clear that Naruto's anger was not truly directed at the other shinobi. His irritation stemmed more from the frustration he felt in being treated like a child, even though he had long surpassed many in strength and wisdom. Looking at Souta Kazuki, he couldn't help but notice the similarities between this young shinobi and the legendary Senju Hashirama. It was as if the very spirit of Hashirama had been reincarnated in Souta, though Naruto wasn't sure whether to be impressed or unsettled by it.
"You're just like Senju Hashirama," Naruto muttered under his breath, his gaze lingering on Souta as he tried to rein in his emotions.
Souta, noticing the shift in Naruto's mood, smirked, as if knowing exactly how to provoke him. "You're really sensitive, Naruto. I didn't mean anything by it."
Naruto, despite his irritation, couldn't help but let out a low chuckle. "Hmph! Don't think you're getting away with this, Souta. You'll regret this!"
"You're still acting like a child!" Souta teased, though there was no malice behind it. "You may have the strength of a Hokage, but your temper is still as fiery as ever."
Naruto's eyes narrowed in mock fury. "When I become Hokage, you'll see! You'll regret your words!" He slammed his fist onto the table with such force that it rattled the surface, making it clear he wasn't about to back down.
The other Guardians watched in quiet amusement. They had seen this rivalry unfold many times before, but it never seemed to lose its charm. Naruto's persistence and Souta's calm demeanor always seemed to make for an entertaining spectacle.
Bang!!!
Naruto, still irritated, shot back. "What the hell, Sasuke?! Why are you hitting me?!"
Sasuke, looking ever so composed, sneered in response. "Hmph! Idiot Naruto! Do you really think you're the next Hokage? Dream on. If you're going to think like that, then I, Uchiha Sasuke, will be the first to disagree with you!" He turned his head, casting a defiant look at the others. "In fact, I might as well compete for the position of the next Hokage myself! I'll take the position of the sixth Hokage... as for you, the idiot, well... I don't mind letting you become my Dagen when the time comes."
Naruto's anger flared once more. "Ahhh!!! Damn you, Sasuke!!! You're the Dagen! Your whole family is Dagen! When I become Hokage, I'll make you the youngest Dagen in Konoha Village!!!"
The two locked eyes in fierce competition, both stubborn as ever. However, before things could spiral into further chaos, the ground beneath them suddenly shook. A loud crash echoed from outside the village, followed by the sound of two figures falling from the sky. The Guardians immediately turned toward the disturbance.
Bang!!! The dust settled, revealing two figures standing tall amidst the rubble. The first was a man with a serious expression, dressed in battle-worn clothing, and the second was a young boy with blond hair, his features sharp with determination.
Sasuke's eyes widened as he observed the duo. "Goudan? What are you doing here?"
The boy, who had been silent until now, looked up at Sasuke with a mix of frustration and confusion. "Ah... Teacher! Why don't you help me?! I'm going to die!"
Sasuke sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Okay, Goudan... Stop yelling. We need to find out where and when this is as soon as possible. Otsutsuki Urashiki must have arrived before us. We have to find Souta and Naruto right away."
Goudan, the son of Naruto, pouted as he glanced at the man beside him. "That godfather of mine is so annoying! My father named me Uzumaki Boruto, but my godfather insisted on calling me Uzumaki Goudan. Why does everyone have to agree with him? My sister's name is so much nicer—Uzumaki Himawari. Why do I get stuck with this name?"
The adult Sasuke smirked at Goudan's complaints. "Souta's decision may not make sense to us, but he's always had his reasons. Besides, it's better than him naming you after something ridiculous."
Goudan grumbled, but he wasn't entirely unhappy. "Well, whatever. I just want to see what the godfather looks like now. Maybe he'll be the fifth Hokage by now. Teacher, do you think he was strong back then? Do you think I can beat him?"
Sasuke's expression shifted slightly. "You're asking the wrong person. Souta's always been a force to be reckoned with. Back then, when he was your age, he already displayed abilities that surpassed most adults. Even now, I wouldn't be surprised if he could easily defeat you in a fight."
Goudan's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Hehehehehehehe... I can't wait to see for myself!"
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, clearly concerned. "You're going to get yourself into trouble if you don't think this through, Goudan. Your godfather isn't the same man you've heard about in stories. He's far stronger than you realize."
"Really? Well, I'll just have to find out for myself!"
As the two continued their conversation, Sasuke's mind wandered to the pressing issue at hand—the Otsutsuki threat that had already begun to stir. He turned to Goudan and spoke with authority. "We need to focus. This Otsutsuki isn't like the others we've faced. We have to be careful. Souta has already made plans, and we're just following through."
Sasuke's gaze fixed on the horizon, where Konoha Village lay in the distance. "Let's go. Konoha Village is over there. We need to keep a low profile and avoid causing too much commotion."
Goudan nodded enthusiastically. "Got it, Teacher! By the way, Teacher, what kind of eyes does my godfather have? I remember that his eyes were different from yours and my father's reincarnation eyes. Were they even stronger?"
Sasuke's smile faded slightly as he considered the question. "Yeah. Souta's eyes were called the Nine Magatama Reincarnation Eyes. They were different from mine and your father's eyes... more powerful, perhaps."
Goudan's eyes widened with awe. "Wow! That's amazing! Does that mean my godfather was even stronger than you and my father?"
Sasuke chuckled softly. "Well, he is Kazuki Souta, after all."