New Gen kids blinked in unison.
The Seventh Hokage… a genin?
[Sarada]: Wait—Seventh… is a genin?!
[Boruto]: Dad, tell me you're joking.
[Naruto (adult)]: Ahahaha… stayed a genin 'cause of… y'know, youth. Never took the chūnin exam.
[Itachi]: Remarkable, in its own way.
On the battlefield, Naruto's Rasengan evaporated in Nagato's palm.
Great. That's bad.
"Hey, Nagato—what is that jutsu? Little help?!" Naruto yelped.
Nagato said nothing—Kabuto's strings pulled tight.
[Pain]: Kabuto… you wield a god's eyes but not a god's will.
[Kabuto]: Heh, Rinnegan control isn't exactly beginner-friendly.
[Madara]: Just rip out the soul, then Shinra Tensei. Neat, clean—no theatrics.
[Orochimaru]: So this is the Rinnegan… exquisite.
"Naraka Path."
The earth split; the King of Hell surged up, jaws creaking wide.
Killer B couldn't watch anymore. He dashed in, blade singing for Nagato's arm—
—but a single motion from Nagato's hand snared B by the throat.
Two Jinchūriki, pinned like insects.
[Sarada]: This is bad…
[Boruto]: Sasuke-sensei, where are you?!
[Sasuke]: Timeline says I'm… unconscious.
[Itachi]: Hold on. I'm en route.
[Mei Terumī]: Even if you get there, the Rinnegan will see you coming.
[Itachi]: Every jutsu has a fatal flaw.
Mechanized limbs clicked—Asura Path restraints clamped B down.
A cannon spun, bead-sighting B's head.
Naruto's soul stretched blue-white between Nagato's fingers—Human Path tugging hard.
Then—
A red blade skated across the ground like a comet, shearing Nagato's arm clean off.
Thunk.
An enormous crimson Susanoo hand scooped Naruto and B out of danger.
Confusion exploded in the gallery.
"Weren't there summoned scouts with Rinnegan watching the whole field?"
There had been.
Itachi had arrived early—silenced the summons in the dark with a handful of kunai.
No eyes. No warning.
"Susanoo!"
Cloak flaring, Itachi stepped free of the avatar's chest—effortless and unbearably cool.
[Boruto]: Okay he's cool. Like… really cool.
[Sasuke]: Hmph. If I felt like it, I could—
[Pain]: At this point in time, even with you, you would fall.
[Sasuke]: …
[Deidara]: The rain stops, the sun's out—and the brat thinks he's got it again.
Relief flashed in Itachi's eyes—Naruto and B were alive.
Far away, Kisame grinned. "Knew Itachi-san would handle it."
Nagato pushed up, Edo flesh knitting, arm re-forming with a hiss. The cripple was gone; a scarlet youth stood in his place.
The air popped.
A black sphere spun into Nagato's hands.
"Chibaku Tensei."
"Move!" Itachi barked.
The sphere drifted skyward. Gravity roared.
The land heaved; boulders sheared free and spiraled up into a newborn moon.
[Killer B]: Substitute then go all out—yo, that's pure flow!
[Raikage A]: B, stop rapping. It's a war, not karaoke!
[Minato]: Naruto… what's the plan?
[Kushina]: Itachi's there. He'll manage!
Kids in the present stared up, awestruck.
"Can a ninja even do that?" Denki whispered.
"Clearly… yes," Sumire muttered, lips pale.
On the field, Naruto swallowed. "I've been caught in this before… Once you're dragged in, you're done!"
Itachi's look was flat as a shuriken. "Then how are you alive?"
Naruto blinked. Process… processing…
[Tobirama]: Why does he remind me of my brother…?
[Hashirama]: Am I really that—
[Madara]: Yes. You both are.
The new moon thickened, gravity gnawing at the earth.
Itachi's gaze sharpened, tracking vectors, searching for the core.
"Listen," he said, voice calm in the storm. "If there's a center… we destroy it."
Naruto's eyes lit. B grinned, fangs flashing.
High above, the black star pulsed—hungry, inevitable.
And then Itachi raised his hand—
—chakra spinning into a storm of magatama—
The screen flickers, the pull intensifies, and the world tilts toward the void…
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