Naruto's sudden request drew the attention of everyone present. Minato glanced at Aizen, curious about how he would respond. According to Anbu regulations, members were not allowed to reveal their real names or faces. Minato himself had only made an exception due to the extraordinary circumstances of Naruto's time travel.
"My real face? Well... no problem," Aizen replied softly, then slowly removed his mask, revealing a handsome face with black-rimmed glasses and a neatly styled haircut.
Naruto didn't recognize the face before him, but Yamato's eyes widened in shock. The sight was all too familiar to him.
"Oh! So that's what you look like, Brother Moon! Your appearance really suits your personality—gentle and friendly," Naruto said with a smile, not realizing the significance of what he was seeing.
"Really? A lot of people say that about me. Your evaluation is spot on," Aizen chuckled.
Meanwhile, Yamato, who had been silent, finally snapped out of his stupor. He looked at Naruto with a mix of horror and disbelief, as if the young ninja had lost his mind.
"Goodbye, everyone. I'll always remember you!" Naruto said affectionately, sensing that his time in the past was coming to an end.
The others smiled and returned his farewell. But Aizen's goodbye carried a different weight.
"Goodbye, boy who traveled through time. I look forward to meeting you again in the future," Aizen said with an enigmatic smile, his words leaving Naruto slightly puzzled. At the same time, a cryptic spiritual message was transmitted to Naruto's mind, further confusing him.
Just as Naruto opened his mouth to ask Aizen something, he and Yamato were suddenly pulled back to their own time.
As soon as they returned to the ruins , Yamato grabbed Naruto, shaking him frantically. "Do you realize who that guy with the glasses was? You actually called him gentle and friendly! Are you out of your mind?"
Naruto, already disoriented from the time jump, was even more baffled by Yamato's outburst. "Captain Yamato, calm down! How am I supposed to know who he is?" Naruto protested, swatting Yamato's hands away.
"Who is he?" Naruto asked, still confused.
Yamato's face twisted as he struggled to comprehend Naruto's ignorance. "Haven't you seen pictures of him from when he was young? That guy is a taboo in our village, someone whose name we're not even supposed to mention! He's the 'Eternal Darkness,' the one who caused endless disasters in the ninja world—Aizen!"
Yamato was visibly shaken. The realization that they had encountered the legendary forbidden ninja during their time-travel mission was overwhelming. The fact that Yamato had survived the encounter only added to his disbelief.
"I faced the Eternal Darkness and lived to tell the tale," Yamato thought, feeling a mix of horror and bizarre pride.
As for Naruto.
"He... he's the Eternal Darkness? Aizen!" Naruto's eyes widened in shock, his mind racing. The kind and mysterious ninja who had guided him turned out to be the very figure responsible for countless tragedies in the ninja world.
Naruto was at a loss, unable to reconcile the gentle Aizen he had known with the terrifying legend he had heard about.
Back in the past.
"Alright, now that the dragon veins are sealed and the mission is complete, it's time for us to leave," Minato said, taking a deep breath as he prepared to part ways with Sāra.
"Thank you! We will never forget the help you've given Loulan!" Sāra said, bowing deeply in gratitude.
"No need to thank us," Minato replied with a warm smile. However, his expression grew serious as he continued, "But Queen Sāra, I need to warn you—now that the power of the dragon veins is known, it might attract unwanted attention. In the past, various circumstances kept the larger nations from targeting Loulan, but that may not be the case anymore. You must be prepared."
Minato's concern wasn't just professional; he felt a personal connection because of the bond Sāra had with his future son.
Sāra's eyes flashed with understanding as she nodded. "I understand. Thank you, I'll make the necessary preparations."
Having experienced the danger Mukade posed, Sāra was well aware that holding onto the power of the dragon veins was like carrying a treasure in a city full of thieves. She now understood the saying, "A common man is innocent, but the guilt lies in possessing the treasure."
Seeing that Sāra grasped the gravity of the situation, Minato gave a final nod of approval.
Minato was confident that the young, queen would make the right choices for Loulan's future.
Afterward, Minato, Aizen, and the others donned their masks once more and began their journey back to Konoha.
"You know, Minato, while Mukade was indeed a troublesome opponent, especially given his ability to counter your style of ninjutsu, I find it hard to believe that you were truly at a loss," Aizen said softly as he ran alongside Minato.
Minato rolled his eyes playfully and returned Aizen's smile. "Oh? And what makes you say that?"
Aizen glanced at Minato, his tone both teasing and insightful. "To deal with Mukade in that form, aside from severing the dragon veins, there are actually two other methods. One is to directly destroy his soul, perhaps using a spiritual technique. The other... well..." Aizen trailed off, smiling knowingly at Minato.
"The other is the Reaper Death Seal," Minato finished with a grin.
"Exactly! So why did you leave Mukade to me and not handle it yourself?" Aizen asked, still smiling.
Minato didn't answer directly. Instead, he looked at the sword hanging at Aizen's side, Kyōka Suigetsu, and remarked, "Aizen, I've noticed that you rarely use that sword of yours."
Aizen's gaze sharpened slightly behind his glasses as he took in Minato's words. "You're curious about my true strength, aren't you?"
Minato met Aizen's gaze evenly, his expression thoughtful. "I've been in Anbu for only a year, but I've grown to trust my instincts. At first, I just had a hunch that you were holding back. Now, I'm certain you've been hiding your true abilities."
Aizen's eyes flashed with a hint of admiration as he looked at Minato. "It seems you've grown quite a bit, Minato."
With the mission in Loulan concluded on a relatively harmonious note, the group continued their journey back to Konoha. Even though there was an anomaly in the form of Aizen, it seemed that it hadn't significantly altered the outcome of the original story.
But is that really the case? Aizen thought to himself, a subtle smile playing on his lips as he ran alongside Minato.