"Grand Councillor Kado, the number of qualified candidates this year has once again fallen below the required quota. Director Orochimaru has already completed cross-regional bridge-linking technology and even finished constructing the Stellar Bridge. If this report is submitted to the Ashihara Divine Court…"
"Lord Shikaku, please—please help explain things to His Excellency! I've been working tirelessly for him every single day! And my son, Eiji—he's practically been running nonstop between the planets of Takamagahara via teleportation arrays. Two years ago, he even assisted your son, Councillor Shikamaru, in completing the terraforming program on Planet Yinghuo!"
Sigh…
"You and your son's competence is obvious to everyone," Nara Shikaku said helplessly.
"But the quota wasn't t. Punishnt is unavoidable. I'll do what I can—but it would be best if you ca with to the Divine Court."
"No! Absolutely not, Lord Shikaku!"
Kado collapsed to his knees, clutching Shikaku's leg and wailing.
"If I go to the Divine Court, I'll definitely be lumped in with those incompetent fools and sent to the Underworld! I worked my life away cultivating to jōnin level just to reach the required energy threshold for lifespan extension—I can't lose all of this!"
Inside the minimalist office, Shikaku stood there awkwardly as Kado cried his heart out.
So ti later, Shikaku boarded a shuttle shaped like a sleek skiff. Just as he turned to close the hatch, he saw Kado kneeling on the rooftop, repeatedly kowtowing toward him.
With a quiet sigh, Shikaku sealed the hatch.
The shuttle rose swiftly into the air. Below him, the endless sprawl of cities blurred into indistinct shapes. A few breaths later, the craft plunged straight into a floating continent suspended in the sky.
Sowhere in a Fog-Shrouded Forest
Ordered footsteps echoed through the mist.
Monts later, a squad clad head to toe in black armor erged from the fog. The figure at the front raised his left arm, and a holographic screen appeared before his eyes.
After confirming sothing, he lowered his arm. Black tal wings unfolded from his back, and with a light beat, he took to the sky.
The rest followed suit.
But just as the last mber's wings were only halfway deployed, a handso young boy appeared behind him out of thin air, gripping the wing joints with both hands.
Crack—crack—crack.
The armored man's head twisted a full circle. Two red dots lit up on his face like eyes, and a hoarse, familiar voice rang out.
"Prince Mitsuki… what is it this ti?"
"Damn it—just a chanical puppet?!"
Annoyance flashed across the boy's face. He straightened and said stiffly,
"Director Orochimaru, you've mistaken . I'm Uchiha Takahiro."
"Hehehe~ very well," Orochimaru chuckled.
"Then tell , Prince Takahiro—what business do you have with ?"
"Tch. Boring."
With a poof, smoke exploded. The boy instantly transford into a red-haired girl with twin buns. She rolled her eyes and grinned brightly.
"Director Orochimaru! I want you to be my master!"
Crash!
The chanical puppet dropped to its knees.
"Huh?"
Mitsuki blinked and smacked the puppet's head.
Click!
Its head fell backward and snapped clean off.
She froze, then shouted,
"Teacher Orochimaru! Are you still there?!"
A Palace in Takamagahara
Outside an ancient palace, a crystalline pegasus circled several glowing fruit trees in midair. Suddenly, blue light flared in the sky.
The pegasus flicked its ears, plucked a green fruit with its mouth, and flew into the palace.
Not long after, Shikamaru descended from the sky. He glanced at the fruit trees, his expression slightly awkward, then entered the palace.
After passing through several corridors, he stopped before a lotus pond.
Naruto sat inside a pavilion by the water. A small table lay before him, holding a jade-white teapot and two porcelain cups. Steam visibly rose from the spout.
Shikamaru steadied himself and walked in, sitting opposite Naruto.
"Where's the invitation?" Naruto asked with a faint smile, pouring tea.
Shikamaru flushed slightly and handed over an exquisitely crafted card.
"Here."
Naruto opened it and glanced through.
"Who else did you invite?"
"Besides the Nine Guardian Gods… the Akimichi clan, the Hyūga clan, the Uchiha clan."
He hesitated, then added,
"And Asuma and Kurenai… along with so colleagues."
Naruto nodded lightly.
In the next instant, Shikamaru's expression changed.
The surroundings dissolved into a void. A massive holographic screen appeared, displaying continent after continent of mortal worlds.
"You've done exceptionally well," Naruto said calmly.
"In just two years, Planet Yinghuo's population exceeded two billion."
Shikamaru stared at the screen, stunned.
The people of Yinghuo lived like walking corpses—no labor, no production. White Zetsu units handled their food and daily needs. The people did nothing but cultivate… and reproduce.
The population skyrocketed at an absurd rate.
"These people…"
Shikamaru's lips trembled. He had personally overseen the planet's transformation after Takamagahara absorbed it. He had left once the task was complete—never imagining this outco.
"These are individuals who failed to reach jōnin-level combat power and chakra-energy thresholds within the allotted ti," Naruto said evenly.
"At the current growth rate, we'll be ready to formally wage war on the Pure Land in ten years."
With a wave of his hand, the screen vanished. They returned to the pavilion.
Seeing Shikamaru's unease, Naruto smiled gently and handed him another card.
"This is my invitation—with Hinata."
Shikamaru accepted it dazedly, opened it, and froze.
"You and Hinata are getting married too? And… earlier than my date?!"
Mount Qingqiu
Kurama and Shukaku, both in human form, floated in the air facing one another.
"Hey, fox—what are you giving Naruto as a wedding gift?"
"That's why you ca? I thought you were looking for a fight."
"Hmph! I already picked out Naruto's wedding gift on Titan. I don't have ti to fight you. What are you giving him?"
"Titan?" Kurama raised a brow.
"Don't tell you're gifting them a Gaia-class behemoth as a pet."
"You think I'd pick sothing that tasteless?!"
As Shukaku spoke, seven figures appeared around them.
Kurama glanced sideways. "Why are all of you here?"
Mu smiled. "Sa reason as Shukaku. We're curious what you plan to give Naruto."
The Summoning Realm
A colossal purple Susanoo warrior descended from the sky—three heads, six arms, wielding a greatsword, a bow, a spear, a shield, a war fan, and a gourd-shaped weapon.
Boom!
A massive white serpent burst from the ground, coiling around the warrior's waist and snapping toward one of its heads.
"Seeking death."
A cold voice echoed.
Black light exploded outward. The serpent shattered into pieces, falling into a lake of blood. Nearby lay the mountain-sized corpses of several toads.
Once the blood subrged the remains, two won appeared atop the warrior's head—Karin and Sakura.
The Susanoo vanished. Sasuke flew before them, frowning.
"How did you get here?"
"Sasuke-kun~ Aunt Mikoto asked to give this to you."
Sakura smiled gently, offering an invitation card.
"And Uncle Fugaku asked to give you this," Karin added, smiling as well.
"…?"
Sasuke took the cards. He opened the first and nodded. Upon opening the second, his expression froze.
"That bastard… he's actually getting married."
Six Years Later
Naruto stood in the kitchen washing vegetables.
Suddenly, a little girl with a bob haircut and a pink dress jumped onto his back.
"Dad! Himawari got first place again! I want pickled fish tonight!"
"Nope."
Hinata's gentle voice sounded as she walked over in an apron and lifted the girl into her arms.
"Last ti you fought with your aunt over fish and choked on a bone. You scared us half to death."
Himawari widened her eyes. "But I got first place!"
Naruto laughed. "How about spicy chicken instead?"
"Spicy chicken…"
She smacked her lips, then shook her head firmly.
"I want pickled fish!"
"Alright! Pickled fish it is!"
"Exactly! Adults breaking promises—how disgraceful! Big brother and sister-in-law better prepare lots of fish! Himawari and I are eating until we're full today!"
Two fiery voices burst in.
Himawari's eyes lit up. She wriggled free and dashed into the yard, leaping straight into Kushina's arms. Minato stood nearby, smiling fondly.
"Hahaha! Grandma loves Himawari the most!"
"Co here, sweetheart—Auntie loves you too!"
"No! Auntie stole fish from my bowl last ti!"
"Hey! You stole mine first! Co here—I'll teach you how to bully Sōsuke and Sarada!"
"Mitsuki, don't teach her bad habits. Their mothers aren't easy to deal with!"
"Don't worry, Grandma! I won't bully my friends like Auntie does!"
"Ahahaha—"
Night
Outside a cinema, at the very end of a long line, Sasuke squatted against a wall with a faint smile.
He held the left hand of a cool-looking boy and the right hand of a lively little girl. On the wall hung a movie poster—featuring Gaara, of all people.
Soon the line began to move. Sasuke stood, leading the two kids forward.
Just before the ticket gate, Naruto appeared from a side passage holding Himawari's hand.
The children imdiately started chatting excitedly.
"So? Did Gaara break the Demon King's seal in this one?"
"Did he et the Sage?"
"He didn't et the Sage, but he broke the seal at the end! It was amazing!"
"Really?! How did he do it?"
"Well… he t a beautiful princess, and then—anyway, Sōsuke, Sarada, you'll see when you watch!"
Listening to the children chatter, Naruto looked at Sasuke with a strange smile.
Sasuke twitched. "What are you smiling at?"
"Heh. Nothing."
Naruto chuckled.
"Not refusing, not initiating, but willing to take responsibility. Enjoying the blessings of harmony—with both a son and a daughter. Yeah… you're a good man."
"…What are you talking about?"
"Enjoy the movie with the kids."
Naruto lifted Himawari into his arms. She waved enthusiastically.
"Bye, Uncle Sasuke! Bye, Sōsuke! Bye, Sarada!"
Sasuke smiled warmly. "Bye, Himawari."
The children waved back.
"Bye, Uncle Naruto! Bye, Himawari!"
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comnt!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon/FinalArcHero789
Reviews
All reviews (0)