[Boruto]: Hearing all this, I'm getting more and more hyped for Uchiha Madara…
[Sarada]: Same! I want to look up his records, but they're all restricted…
[Madara]: Hmph. So this era forgets my name. The world truly moves backward.
[Hashirama]: C'mon, Madara—let the kids talk. We antiques don't need to jump in every time, right?
Hashirama clapped Madara's shoulder. Madara's expression didn't budge. The new brats mocking him? He couldn't care less. What he cared about was the Eye of the Moon Plan—and what would happen to this world once he returned in full.
As Itachi turned to leave, Naruto stepped up, ready to chase down the caster of Edo Tensei himself—but his chakra sputtered out.
Naruto stared at his palm, chest heaving.
"Ran the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode too long. No more clones for now, Naruto," Killer B sighed.
"Quit trying to solo everything. Let me handle Edo Tensei," Itachi said, voice steady. "I have a method."
But Naruto shook his head. He wanted to shoulder it all—alone.
Watching the boy panting in front of him, Itachi saw his younger self.
"You've grown stronger," Itachi said softly. "But along the way, you've forgotten something crucial."
The audience blinked.
Forgotten… what?
"Listen. Those villagers who once hated you—why did they start to admire you? Why did they begin to see you as a comrade?"
"It's because you recognized their existence and worked to earn their approval."
Naruto swallowed hard.
"You said it yourself: you only came this far with everyone's help. If, now that you're strong, you forget the people around you…"
Itachi paused—remembering the path he once walked.
[Sasuke]: …Itachi.
[Kisame]: Heh. That's Itachi-san—always dropping truth bombs.
[Hiruzen]: Seems future Naruto matured a lot, but he's overlooking the most important thing—companions!
[Boruto]: Why do Uncle Itachi's words sound so deep…?
The new gen went quiet.
Don't forget your comrades—was it really that simple?
"If you grow arrogant and cling only to yourself… one day you'll become the second Uchiha Madara."
Naruto's pupils tightened.
In his mind flashed another face—Obito.
An ebony crow circled once and landed on Itachi's shoulder.
"No matter how strong you become, don't try to carry everything alone. Walk that road and you will fail."
"Your father became Hokage because your mother—and your comrades—stood behind him."
Itachi's gaze held steady on Naruto.
"I remember your dream—you want to be Hokage, right?"
Naruto nodded.
"Then carve this into your heart:
It isn't becoming Hokage that wins people's recognition—
It's being recognized by the people that makes you worthy to become Hokage."
"Don't forget your comrades."
Silence—then the chat exploded.
[Ōnoki]: So leadership belongs to the one who earns the people's trust?!
[Raikage A]: Hah! Well said. I approve!
[Rasa]: Damn, that line is profound.
[Sasuke (youth)]: As expected of Nii-san…
[Naruto (youth)]: Big bro Itachi's right. I'll keep that with me—always!
In the Hokage's office of the Boruto era, Naruto sat back, smiling at the sky-screen. Since taking office, he had treated the entire village as family and borne every duty he could. Hearing Itachi's words again felt like having the road ahead lit with warm light.
[Sarada]: I'm writing that in my notebook!
[Boruto]: So cool!
[Iwabe]: Decided—I'll earn everyone's approval first, then become Hokage!
[Denki]: Ahaha… dream big, buddy.
Having said his piece, Itachi burned away the crow on his shoulder.
Everyone gaped.
You just tossed away Kotoamatsukami?!
[Itachi]: A power that manipulates the heart has no place in this world.
[Itachi]: Besides… that Naruto in the video has strength far beyond Shisui's eye.
[Naruto]: Itachi-nii…
Back in Year 64 of Konoha, young Naruto stared up at the screen, stunned. Someone—someone like Itachi—had recognized him. He'd been mocked for his dream of Hokage for so long… but never once had he stood alone: Iruka-sensei, the Pervy Sage, and so many comrades had believed in him.
[Obito]: Naïve. I gave up on that Hokage dream long ago…
[Minato]: Obito, why would you—?!
[System]:Uchiha Obito has withdrawn a message.
[Obito]: Typo.
[Minato]: I knew it! You haven't given up at all!
[Kakashi]: Obito, I miss you. If you were still alive… maybe stab me once in my sleep?
[Kakashi]: …Kidding. Probably.
Itachi's eyes gentled.
"Even without that eye, you can stop Sasuke."
"But—" Naruto began.
"No more 'but.'" Itachi's sleeve flicked as he turned away. "Trust your comrades."
Naruto watched him go, resolve hardening again like tempered steel.
[Kabuto]: So… Uchiha Itachi is coming to stop me?
[Orochimaru]: Kukuku. That Kabuto in the video has Sage Mode. How could Itachi possibly win?
[Sakura]: Looking closely… Itachi does look a lot like Sasuke-kun.
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