Inside the time-space passage, chaos and an eerie aura filled the surroundings, as if one were standing within a bottomless sea of mist.
Rengoku tried his best to see everything within this mysterious realm.
But everywhere his gaze reached, there was only endless darkness and blurred, indistinct light and shadow.
At this moment, he was in the midst of an unprecedentedly wondrous experience.
This was his first time traveling through time and space while fully conscious.
His body was tightly wrapped by the powerful Dragon Vein, streaking forward like a bolt of lightning toward a predetermined direction.
Rengoku's heart was filled with curiosity. He could not help but look around, trying to catch even the slightest bit of useful information.
However, no matter how hard he tried, all that lay before him was still that confusing scene.
With no other choice, he closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and used his own perception to explore the surrounding environment.
At that moment, something surprising happened. Through his sharp perception, he could clearly sense the direction of the time-space he had previously left behind for Minato.
It turned out that the clone bead had become the anchor linking the two time-spaces.
'If that's the case, then I'll just name that time-space the "Minato Time-Space,"' Rengoku thought to himself.
But he soon realized that he was rapidly moving away from that time-space.
As he continued traveling through the time-space tunnel, Rengoku felt his thoughts gradually slowing down.
He almost completely lost his sense of judgment regarding the passage of time.
Perhaps only an instant had passed, or perhaps a very long time had already gone by.
Finally, after a journey of unknown length, the end of the time-space passage appeared before Rengoku's eyes.
Through the faint light ahead, he vaguely saw the destination he was about to cross into.
That familiar desert.
Not only that, he also noticed people from Konoha Village busily moving back and forth there, investigating something.
"It looks like not much time has passed," Rengoku murmured softly, the tension in his heart easing slightly.
Just as such a thought suddenly flashed through Rengoku's mind, he plunged forward without hesitation.
However, something unexpected happened.
Between the seemingly close-at-hand time-space tunnel and everything beyond it, there appeared to be a mysterious barrier, like a layer of transparent gauze.
Although Rengoku could clearly see this thin membrane, no matter how hard he tried, he could not pass through it.
Attempt after attempt ended in failure.
Suddenly, inspiration struck Rengoku, and he communicated with the Dragon Vein.
He gathered his focus and poured all his thoughts and questions into the Dragon Vein.
["Time-space… sealed…"]
After sending back a few fragmented and vague words, the Dragon Vein fell completely silent, like a kite with its string cut.
What was worse, the Dragon Vein energy that had been tightly wrapping around Rengoku also began to gradually diminish, as if it were being devoured by some invisible force.
At this very moment, the ninja world he longed for was already right before him, within arm's reach.
Yet he was trapped inside this damned time-space tunnel.
No matter what methods he tried, he still could not step out of this tiny domain.
Facing such a predicament, Rengoku did not sit around waiting for death.
After careful consideration, he decided to try using the unique dojutsu he possessed to shift his consciousness and transfer it to one of his clones.
This method was extremely difficult to carry out, and the transmission speed was very slow.
But at the very least, he succeeded.
———
On the other side, far away in Orochimaru's laboratory, Orochimaru was fully focused on examining various precious materials.
Suddenly, his movements came to an abrupt halt.
The reason was simple. Rengoku's voice appeared inside his body without any warning.
"How are things on your side? When can you come back?"
Since Orochimaru's current body itself was made from Rengoku's clone, the two of them only needed to think silently in their minds to communicate without any obstacles.
Rengoku's voice carried a bit of distortion, but the meaning contained within was still very clear.
"The ninja world's time-space has been sealed by someone."
"And right now, I'm trapped inside the time-space tunnel, looking for a way out."
Rengoku spoke very quickly, wanting to explain everything as soon as possible, "The energy I'm carrying is extremely limited. If before it is completely exhausted, I still can't successfully break free, then I'll have no choice but to go to another time-space to look for a solution."
"However, the flow of time between different time-spaces may not be the same, so I don't know when I'll be able to come back next time."
At this point, Rengoku paused briefly, then continued, "As for the development plan of the Land of Fire, just carry it out according to the plan we previously decided on together."
"And also, for now, hide all information related to Minato, and see if you can use the news of my death as bait to lure the Cloud Village into attacking."
"If that doesn't work, then help me arrange things with the Sand Village and bring all of Gaara's relatives back."
At this moment, the previously silent Orochimaru finally frowned and spoke slowly, "I'll think of a way to see if I can bring you back. You don't need to worry about the rest."
Rengoku said in a very relaxed tone, "With you and Minato around, I'm very at ease. I'll leave Konoha to you two."
After finishing his last sentence, Rengoku's voice gradually faded away.
———
The Dragon Vein energy protecting him was already nearly gone, and he transferred his consciousness into another body within himself, one that possessed shamanic power.
This body was quietly placed on the lowest level of the laboratory.
He struggled to open his heavy eyelids. His vision gradually became clear, and he finally realized that he was lying on a hospital bed.
The entire room was exceptionally bright, as if it could illuminate every corner.
As for Karin, she had moved a table over and placed it beside Rengoku's bed.
On the table was a neatly stacked pile of thick textbooks, all personally written by Rengoku, with detailed records of various sealing techniques.
Looking at Karin, who was completely absorbed in studying the materials, a complicated emotion rose in Rengoku's heart, "I really don't know how long this child has kept herself in this state."
Despite his body being extremely weak, Rengoku still exhausted every ounce of strength to control it.
After a struggle, he finally managed to slowly raise his arm and gently place it on top of Karin's head, just an arm's length away.
[T/N: Lo and behold, MC still thinks his plans are omnipotent even after being outsmarted a thousand times. After making Hamura, Jigen and Zetsu, every single unpredictable character his enemy, he is off to other timelines, leaving everything on Konoha.]
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