(Knock, knock, knock…)
"Come in."
Final-Chapter Naruto looked at Link entering the room, somewhat surprised.
He wasn't an idiot; of course he knew that this other-worldly Konoha was guarding heavily against both him and Sasuke, not allowing them near any important figures. So Link suddenly coming to see him today left him somewhat perplexed.
"Is something the matter?" he asked gently.
No matter how the other-world Konoha behaved, in the end, they had come seeking his help. Even if there was a bit of exclusion and scheming involved, he was still willing to assist.
"Sorry." Link pondered for a moment, then apologized first.
Final-Chapter Naruto, on the contrary, tried to console him: "It's no big deal." If he truly minded it, they wouldn't even have come here to help. In any case, the people in this other world were innocent, and a second destroyed world was something no one wanted. If Kaguya gained the power to cross worlds, that was all the more frightening.
He glanced out the window again and repeated, "So what brings you here?"
"I want to cooperate with you," Link said earnestly.
Naruto was a bit taken aback. "You want to cooperate?"
"That's right." Link nodded seriously. "Directly following Tobirama's plan to attack Kaguya has no guarantee of success, and I don't think it'll work out a hundred percent."
He wasn't the type to be so easily convinced. Tobirama was used to the ninja way—betting on uncertain risk was normal. Link was different.
Even though trusting them could raise the success rate, it seemed the other side refused. Link felt that, in fact, trusting them was the better course.
"So you have a new idea?" Naruto asked with interest.
"I can summon the dead for battle without needing a living sacrifice," Link explained directly. "They come back with the full strength they possessed in life, and I can even resurrect them."
"In other words, for anyone who died in your world's timeline with great power, as long as I have time, I can summon them. Above all, the crucial figure from your victory against Kaguya—Uchiha Obito."
"Of course, I can't guarantee I'll succeed, but I think it's worth a try. . ."
He paused and said, "And I'm willing to trust you."
Naruto, somewhat curious, asked, "Why?" His eyes showed a warm smile.
"Because I trust 'Naruto' and 'Sasuke.'" Link extended his hand, meeting Naruto's gaze squarely.
Through the Funa-tsū, he had found a timeline that perfectly resembled the manga in his memory. It was the future version of Naruto and Sasuke he recognized.
Anyway, if illusions weren't a threat to him, it wasn't like he had to worry about being mind-controlled. Unless someone outright wanted to kill him, he could probably escape.
"Creak—"
At the window, Final-Chapter Sasuke stepped inside. He gazed at the two calmly.
"You're the core behind that 'Funa-tsū' and the resurrection technique, right? The only one who can actually cast those?"
He looked at Link quietly.
"I did some investigating, Link."
"In our world, you never existed."
"Your mother, once war with Iwagakure broke out, never realized she was pregnant when she went to the front lines. She was severely wounded, and had a miscarriage. . . You're the only difference between that world and this one."
Even sending just a shadow clone to the main world gave them a few minutes to gather all the info. Let alone half a day. That's the power of the man who once subdued nine Tailed Beasts at a glance.
"Sasuke." Final-Chapter Naruto called his name with a hint of exasperation, then said to Link, "If you really can summon Obito, that'd help a lot. Need me to go back with you?"
After all, his heart brimmed with trust and the desire for peace.
"If the Seventh Hokage is willing," Link smiled, pulling out the Ship-Sailing scroll.
Final-Chapter Sasuke said nothing more. Having matured, he was far different from his extremist Fourth-War self.
…
Final-Chapter World, Konoha Village, Atop the Hokage Rock—
"Clack!" (x2)
Naruto from the Final-Chapter timeline landed, gazing up at the moonlit sky.
"Do we need anything else prepared?"
Despite being in a separate world, day and night seemed to align closely, the two worlds' time in rough sync.
"No," Link shook his head. "All I need is a bit of your chakra."
Before Link even finished speaking, that familiar ample chakra surged into his body—Naruto's brand of "unlimited" supply.
He thought, As expected from Naruto, the living battery. Out loud, he said, "Thank you." Then he formed seals:
"Uchiha Obito, Kaguya has revived. We need your help."
He broadcast this message to the Pure Land. Using Edo Tensei on Fourth-War Obito wasn't an option, because that man's soul had been thoroughly wiped out. So Link took the simpler route, calling out to the Pure Land at large.
Unsurprisingly, no answer at first.
Link wasn't discouraged. The initial shout was just an "alarm clock" for the dead. His Summoning of the Deceased would inform them of how much time had passed in the living world—some were in a deep sleep.
He repeated it a few more times, then started flinging out ropes from the Net to fish for souls. With normal chakra consumption, that would be impossible, but next to him stood the infinite-battery Naruto, who didn't even break a sweat or show any sign of exhaustion.
The very first soul who "took the bait" was Nohara Rin. Then a bunch of extras followed, soon hooking a big fish: Senju Hashirama. Next came the Third Raikage, the First Tsuchikage—people once summoned by the Sage, all hearing the name "Kaguya" and taking interest. They'd attach themselves to the Net.
With so many lines out, Link's head spun—he was relying on Naruto's monstrous chakra supply but still felt mental fatigue from linking all these souls. The Net-based video platform? Hardly. This was a tidal wave of spirit signals.
(Naruto's chakra is unbelievably strong. If it was Utakata, he'd have run dry ages ago.)
He felt a hint of excitement. Then, forging ahead, he pushed the Summoning and Net jutsu beyond its normal capacity. At some tipping point, lines turned into an entire net thrown over the Pure Land, hooking countless dead. The wave of voices poured back into him, making him dizzy.
"Hey, are you okay?" Final-Chapter Naruto asked, seeing Link on the verge of mental collapse.
"I'm fine," Link barely managed, promptly canceling the Summoning. He reeled back into his body, panting heavily.
After a short pause, he looked up, face brightening:
"Found him."
~~~
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