Title: Shun's Counsel
....
As Shun observed Sasuke, he couldn't help but wonder whether he still fell prey to Urashiki chakra stealing rod. With all the training he had subjected Sasuke to, he expected more.
Looking at his hands once again, he confirmed that it was his original causing him to be more confused.
It was a given that he didn't fight Naruto for some silly reasons as he did in the original. That should mean his two hands would still be usable in a fight. How he managed to be subjected to such a situation baffled him.
"It's Urashiki, he has a rod that could steal chakra." Sasuke answered, but seeing the doubtful as well as disappointed expression on Shun's face, he hurriedly said. "It's a rod made of chakra, it isn't block-able."
"Excuses." Shun snorted. "Since it's chakra, it's all the more reason for me to be disappointed."
Sasuke chuckled dryly and looked away. "Not everyone could reach your level of control over chakra."
"Did you say something?" Shun asked to which Sasuke simply didn't reply. To him, how could Shun not have heard him? That question in itself was a trap for him.
"It seems you still have some common sense." Shun nodded and stood up. "Come with me, let me see how powerful you are now."
"Eh? Nii-san, I don't have much of my Chakra now, plus, the effects of the battle would alert the Shinobi." Sasuke said and Shun paused before nodding reluctantly.
"A pity. I would've loved to see how much you've grown so as to understand how to train the little you under Orochimaru." Shun said and sat back down.
"Well, tell me about the younger generation then."
Sasuke hearing this smiled and began to narrate how the world changed after the Fourth Ninja War.
According to him, Shun had created an entire island dedicated entirely to nurturing the younger generation after they graduated from the academy.
According to him, Shun had lamented that the reason the Shinobi System would remain weak in comparison to the Otsustsuki was that they lacked proper education: Theoretical and Practical Education.
As such, he had created a higher institution dedicated to those who were willing to renounce their Village identity and fight for the greater good.
"Oh? I did something like that?" Shun asked in surprise. He had that idea but he didn't exactly wish for them to renounce their village identity.
"Yeah. You didn't intend to have them renounce their village identity, but most of the Kages, the current Kages sent in ninjas in hope of getting your knowledge and resources for themselves." Sasuke nodded with a disgusted expression.
"Human nature I guess." I nodded nonchalantly. "They never see the bigger picture."
Sasuke nodded. "After the war, together with Indra and Ashura, the heavy hitters of the war, Naruto, Nagato, Itachi, Shisui, and myself took a portal in Eien to go to the Myriad Islands."
"When we got there, the sheer density of energy there was too much for us to handle, only Indra and Ashura were able to handle it a little, and I and Naruto only survived due to..." Sasuke hesitated and looked at Shun, causing him to be confused.
"What? Spit it out."
"Yurou... she hurriedly came over and helped us along with one guard under her." Sasuke said.
"Oh? Yurou is it? That little evil princess." Shun chuckled remembering the princess who had too much of a crush on him. Unfortunately, for her own good, he could only stay away.
Sasuke on the other hand looked at him in admiration. Only Shun could call that demoness a little princess.
"How is she doing now?"
"According to her, with your prestige, no one dared lay their hands on her territory. In fact, she was basically the Queen of the entire Floating Island... continents." Sasuke said.
"Hehe, they're called islands because to them, it's actually an island, to you and people weaker, it's a continent." Shun corrected.
"Anyways, what happened then?"
"With her help, we were able to gain a foothold there, but only Indra and Ashura chose to remain. They were the only ones with nothing to lose anyways."
"So you guys gave up on an opportunity to expand this planet's influence?" Shun asked seriously to which Sasuke nodded seriously as well.
"..."
"Well, you guys did good. I estimate it should be your children's generation that will pioneer space travel, you guys are just too weak... disappointing actually." Shun said, but he was actually joking.
"Those kids..? For real?" He asked with a weird look on his face causing Shun to frown.
"What? You're now doubting me?"
"No, it's just...My daughter..."
"Oh please. Don't worry about nothing. With me in the future, as soon as she Awakens her Mangekyou Sharingan, I'll be taking over her training, as for that kid you came over with..." Shun said and smiled.
"I guess he already has a good line up of teachers who'll train him up well."
"Boruto? He still has a long way to go." Sasuke shook his head reflexively only to suddenly pause and look at Shun, who was giving him the look. "Sorry, it's just..."
"He has a Kama seal on him no?"
Sasuke looked surprised for a second before nodding.
"Then he has no problems. I should've already placed a seal on him in the future right?" Shun asked and Sasuke nodded.
"Then that's good. After you guys return, your next mission would be to master your Rinne-sharingan abilities properly. After that, search for Ishikki. He's a dangerous fellow, far stronger than Momoshiki and Urashiki. In fact, he's even more powerful than Kaguya."
Sasuke's expression changed drastically, from confusion to dread and then annoyance before resignation and then despair.
"What's with that rollercoaster of emotions?"
"... I'm tired." He said, to which Shun paused for a full minute before nodding.
"That's understandable. That's all the more reason for you to get stronger quickly. I'll just take a guess and assume the Genins of the future are all spoiled kids, grown in a flower house without any real experience of how the real world works... right?"
Sasuke looked at Shun before nodding.
"Peace. It's as dangerous as war, but humans seek it in times of war." Shun said.
"In your time, now, there aren't many wars, but the Akatsuki, Orochimaru, Kabuto and some minor organizations make the world chaotic enough for you lot to grow. In the future, you're all just living in peace, am I right? No chaos to the masses since there are powerhouses like you, Naruto, Itachi, Gaara, and some others from the war, right?"
"When there is a major incident, you all would be there to fight so as to minimize damage to the masses."
"That's the world we all fought for." Assume replied and Shun shrugged.
"It's a beautiful world. But there is a reason why there were many war heroes during war time. Wanna know why?" Shun asked.
"Because the Kages all sat in their office while leaving the fighting to the Jounins. Only when a Kage level Ninja or a Jinchuriki enters the fray would they move. That was why there was peace during Hashirama's reign, Tobirama was greatly injured due to the Gold and Silver brothers making Hiruzen take up the helm to lead the Leaf."
"That's also why the Sanin came into prominence during the Second World war. Hiruzen could've put an end to Hanzo before Hanzo even knew what hit him, but if he did, the Sanins wouldn't have surpassed their limits, becoming the Legendary figures they are now."
"During the Third Shinobi war, if Hiruzen had acted, Minato wouldn't have had to slaughter a thousand Iwa Ninjas, leading to his rise. Due to coming out when your fellow Kages were chilling, Ay the Third was killed after fighting three thousand Shinobi by himself."
"What do you think I'm trying to say?" Shun asked and Sasuke immediately replied.
"That sometimes, we need to sit back and trust the younger generation, our comrades."
Shun smiled at the answer. "Exactly. Some will die, some will be permanently maimed. It may be cruel but without those intense emotions directed to the world outside our world, Shinobi won't grow."
"Shinobi Alliance. An alliance to protect the people of the world from Madara, right?" Shun asked and Sasuke nodded.
"Then why not continue being Shinobi? But this time, protect the entire world as Shinobi." Shun said and suddenly stood up. "Our time has come to an end, it seems."
"He's here huh?"
"Yup." Shun said. "I'll be leaving it to you then."
"You're not fighting him with me?"
"Hm? Why should I?" Shun turned to Sasuke and asked in confusion.
"You...why did you tell me all these then? Why not implement them before it happens, when we're still young? Why lecture me for so long and then leave?" Sasuke asked, sounding a little angry and frustrated.
Shun observed him for a good while before snapping his finger, causing the world to come to a halt.
"Y-You..."
"Hn. I stopped time." Shun answered and sat back down. "There's a reason why you came back here. As much as I would like to deny it, there is a reason behind it."
"A reason? I know the reason! We chased Urashiki back to this point in time to prevent him from changing the future." Sasuke answered angrily.
Shun smiled and said. "That's your answer." Standing up, he continued. "If with the knowledge you've let me know now, I decide to implement the changes I just mentioned, you wouldn't exist. The you now would have nowhere to return. You'd become a...Time remnant of sorts, but without a place to return to, you'll be obliterated from existence."
Sasuke looked shocked for a good while before he nodded in understanding.
"Just like I could stop time, I could remove you three from this timeline, or even destroy Urashiki before he even understands what's going on, but this is a journey, for you and for Boruto over there. While you're listening to these words of wisdom you won't hear from the future me, Boruto is with a clone of mine, understanding how and why his father turned out the way he is."
"Wha-What?"
"Hm. I left a clone in his mind, it'll show him his parent's life when you two enter the portal back home. Maybe then, he'd appreciate his parents more. They don't have much time. The earlier he becomes stronger the better... You too. If in the future, anything happens, I won't stop it, I'll come for revenge after you two are...well, dead." Shun shrugged.
Although he knew the potential threats of Kawaki, Amado, and those Otsustsukis wanna be, Damien and Ada possessed, he wouldn't nip them in the bud.
Afterall, they were needed for character development.
But those two kids...'I wouldn't say I am not interested in how they came to be.' Shun said as his perception was extended to a fine young and intelligent man who was happily married with a daughter of 7 in the Land of Rain.
Shun knew she would die in five years time due to the excess exposure of the potential Negative Natural Energy that would spill with the Juubi's resurrection.
Still, she wouldn't be the only victim. A young man from the Land of Iron would also lose his son due to the doctors in the future refusing to treat him without a decent amount of money.
This young man would then begin a revolution that will be nipped soon after by team Seven.
In short, they would be a lot of victims in the aftermath of the War, and Shun wouldn't be saving them, they were necessary for evolution.
But then....This beggars the Question...Why did Shibai allow Amado to mess with his Corpse, or rather, Why did he even allow Ishikki to find his corpse.
'I guess I need to visit an old friend after this.' Shun made a mental note to himself before snapping his finger and releasing his hold on the time of the planet.
Pointing his finger at Sasuke, he said. "This will be my gift to you. Make sure to suppress the memories of Jiraiya, Naruto, and all those Boruto came in contact with that are relevant, not erased. Release the seal as soon as you return, they'll appreciate it."
"Huh?" Sasuke exclaimed "I'm confused-", but before he could speak further, a beam of chakra shot from Shun's finger and into his body.
"Well then, I'll see you in the future." After saying that, Shun disappeared.
...
Flash Back End....
'And to think I haven't met Shibai after all this time. Sigh. The thing we do for the Later good.' Shun thought as he decided to turn in for the night.
All other tasks would have to wait till he was well rested. Even if it was urgent.
At most, he'll take the task himself. After all...He was the strongest.