Chapter 177: Crossing into the Naruto World
"I'm Franklin. This isn't a dream anymore — this is reality. Momo, calm down."
"Momo? Reality? Of course I know this is reality. You say you're Franklin — what evidence do you have? Just your words?"
The black tail, glowing with pink light, was pressing against Franklin's forehead.
Her cold words and harsh gaze made Franklin feel that a single wrong answer would make her strike.
"Again with this question. Prove I'm me — how am I supposed to—"
Before he could finish, Franklin moved with lightning speed, grabbed Momo's tail, and a soft gasp escaped her. Momo went limp on top of him.
The pink glow along her tail immediately faded. The roles flipped in an instant: Momo ended up pinned beneath Franklin.
Seeing Momo's flushed cheeks but still wary eyes, Franklin didn't relent. He placed her tail in his mouth and bit down gently.
"Mm… ah…"
Momo's eyes filled with moisture, but she still wore a stubborn expression. Even a slow-witted Franklin sensed something was off.
"You're not Momo. Momo would never make that face. Did you activate a talent? No — talents are controllable. So you must be a second personality."
"I'm not. You're the inner demon of Franklin."
Her defiant look made Franklin speechless.
"Uh… your accusation's hard to deny. Fine — let's flip it. If I were Franklin's inner demon, where's the real Franklin? Dead?"
At the sly glint in Franklin's eyes, Momo's expression shifted slightly.
"Then you must be Franklin, right? Anyway, I'm not Momo's second personality."
Her childish denial only confirmed Franklin's suspicion further.
"Okay. You're not Momo's second personality — so where did that second personality go?"
"Don't try to make me say it. Momo is Momo. Momo has no second personality."
Momo's angry glare met Franklin's hand, still holding her tail. He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"You two are both denying the other's existence. Are you two fighting, or is there another reason?"
As soon as those words escaped his lips, Franklin figured out the situation indirectly. Momo's face twisted with surprise and anger.
"You jerk."
At that, Momo's familiar expression returned. The shy look washed over her face and Franklin felt suddenly comforted.
"Franklin, please let go of my tail."
"All right…"
He said it on impulse and began to release his grip, but then paused. His inner demon used every trick; Franklin realized disguise was an art.
"Momo, one question: how do you prove you're Momo and not that other strange personality?"
The same question caused shy Momo to freeze.
"How can I prove it? Franklin, I really am Momo."
Seeing her flushed face and her frantic attempts to explain, Franklin smiled.
"Good. I'll take your word for it. If not, I'll make another move."
He let go and slowly stood. Momo didn't struggle; she hurried to sit on the bed in a kneeling posture. Franklin sat down beside her.
"Your second personality is weird — what you described doesn't match her behavior. I don't have time to go into it now. I'm leaving."
"Leaving?"
Momo didn't attack but watched him with puzzled eyes, and Franklin relaxed a little and nodded with a faint smile.
"Yes. Leaving this world. Maybe for a little while, maybe for a long time. I'm not sure."
"To the past? Or to another world?"
Franklin was surprised. "You know? You weren't there that time, right?"
Momo smoothed her face, stifled the intense sensation she'd just felt, then laughed as she explained:
"Nana and I came long ago. I was there that time too. When are you leaving, Franklin?"
"When will I leave… 3… 2… 1…"
As soon as he finished, he was engulfed in white light and vanished from the spot. Far from Earth, Latiz, possessed by a phantom, collapsed at once.
At the same time, in Sword Art Online's New Town, Ikaros, Astraea, and Nymph — who had just finished introductions — suddenly logged out. Their bodies were bathed in white light. You Wange, who had been away for days, shook her head helplessly and was then enveloped as well.
Regaining consciousness, Franklin scratched his head in confusion. Before he could fully take in his surroundings, lines of text floated into view:
[Ikaros has been registered into the Dimensional Tome]
[Nymph has been registered into the Dimensional Tome]
[Astraea has been registered into the Dimensional Tome]
[Phantom has been registered into the Dimensional Tome]
[The awakened talent user has entered the Naruto world; task activated successfully]
[Designated Task 1: A fully matured Divine Tree Fruit that Franklin can consume without side effects]
[Task time: Three years]
[Subtask 1: Find the Ōtsutsuki pair that descended to Blue Star]
[Completing Subtask 1 will unlock subsequent tasks. After Designated Task 1 is complete, you will be sent to Konoha Year 48 for follow-up tasks.
If Designated Task 1 is not completed within three years, it will be treated as failed and you will be transported to Konoha Year 48.]
After reading the floating text, Franklin breathed out and surveyed the surroundings: a crude wooden hut, simple wooden bed, stone tools piled in a corner.
He was in the Stone Age of the Naruto world. His immediate goal: find the two Ōtsutsuki.
He wondered which pair the system meant — besides Kaguya, who was the other?
He tried to recall what he knew. He'd watched Naruto Shippuden, but information about the Ōtsutsuki clan was sparse. The only prominent Ōtsutsuki he remembered was Kaguya; her two sons, if counted, were maybe three. He hadn't watched Boruto — the reputation put him off. The only iconic scene he'd seen was Naruto and Sasuke's fight with Momoshiki and Kinshiki, which had given him some insight into Ōtsutsuki: the existence of Kāma, Byakugan-like eyes, Rinnegan-like changes, and strange bodies.
He stepped outside. Dressed in pajamas, he looked out of place among the people wearing hemp clothing.
He had no intention of wasting time talking to them. Franklin leapt up and scanned his surroundings. His current power was still a bit low.
He planned to break through to the Nascent Soul stage first, then think of other options. If he broke through now, the disturbance might attract the attention of the two Ōtsutsuki — and Subtask 1 might be completed sooner.