Shinho leapt down, landing directly in the center of the purple chakra that engulfed the area.
With a single, powerful stomp, he summoned a colossal phantom white elephant that loomed above him.
The force shattered the purple chakra and revealed the battered puppet spider that was Anrokuzan.
With a thunderous crash, the white elephant's massive foot came down on Anrokuzan's back.
The ground around them disintegrated into dust, and Anrokuzan's puppet form was pressed into a deep crater, debris and dust flying everywhere.
The air rippled from the sheer force, and waves of shock exploded outward.
"What incredible strength!" Minato exclaimed, feeling the intense gust from the impact.
"Is that really my son?" Shibi Aburame stared in disbelief, his eyes wide.
Only Choza Akimichi seemed prepared, expanding his hands to shield them from the oncoming storm of debris.
"You wretched pest!" Anrokuzan was still alive, but his situation was dire.
His back was torn open, revealing broken gears and parts. Purple chakra from the Dragon Vein began to repair the damage, though much slower than before.
"Sara, take them to the Dragon Vein's source," Shinho called out, stomping down again.
The barely repaired parts on Anrokuzan's back shattered once more.
"Ahhh!" Anrokuzan screamed, his voice filled with rage and pain. "I'll kill you!"
Purple chakra oozed from the ground like smoke, engulfing Shinho and Anrokuzan in a swirling mist.
"Let's go!" Kakashi urged. "Unless we seal the Dragon Vein, Anrokuzan will keep growing stronger!"
"Follow me!" Sara, realizing the urgency, glanced at Shinho one last time, then led them through a nearby door.
Though still somewhat confused by everything, she decided to trust Shinho. After all, aside from her mother, he was the only person who had ever shown her kindness.
Kakashi and Sasuke followed closely behind, leaving Minato, Choza, and Shibi to continue fighting.
Another scream echoed through the air. Even with the Dragon Vein's power, Anrokuzan remained trapped beneath Shinho's relentless blows.
"This strength…" Choza muttered, astonished.
As a member of the Akimichi clan, Choza was accustomed to using physical strength to overwhelm opponents.
But even after being enhanced by the Dragon Vein, he doubted he could restrain Anrokuzan without using the clan's secret three-coloured pills—an option with severe drawbacks.
Shinho, however, didn't seem to need anything extra. He was simply that strong.
"Do the Aburame even have a technique this powerful?" Choza turned to Shibi, who was just as stunned.
"No…we don't," Shibi murmured. "Maybe it's his mother's bloodline?"
It was a reasonable thought. After all, traditional jutsu and clan techniques could only go so far; a powerful kekkei genkai might explain this unusual strength.
"Do any bloodlines like that even exist?" Choza scratched his head.
"I have no idea," Shibi replied after a pause. During that moment, Anrokuzan let out another agonized scream.
"He's certainly having a rough time," Choza remarked with a smirk.
"Indeed," Shibi agreed. "I almost feel sorry for him."
"After being under control for three years, he finally gains freedom, only to get beaten down again," Choza chuckled. "Then again, it serves him right. He was planning to use the Dragon Vein for war."
"So it was Sara's mother and Shinho who moved the citizens," Shibi mused, rubbing his chin. "Not bad…not bad at all. He's definitely my son."
"What are you so proud of?" Choza teased, a hint of jealousy in his tone.
Just then, the massive flow of chakra around them abruptly stopped, as if it had been forcibly severed.
"No!" Anrokuzan shrieked in terror. His connection to the Dragon Vein had been cut, and the wound across his chest no longer healed.
"If I can't win, then I'll take you all with me!" In a final, desperate act, Anrokuzan triggered a self-destruction sequence.
A massive explosion centered on him, swallowing everything nearby in an instant.
"Shinho?!" Shibi shouted in panic, rushing forward, only to be held back by Minato.
In this kind of explosion, any ninja would be lucky to survive.
"I'm fine," came Shinho's calm voice as he walked out of the smoke, unharmed.
"Not even a scratch?" Minato was impressed. "No wonder Kakashi says you're more gifted than he is."
"I just have better luck," Shinho replied coolly.
"That's more than just luck," Minato said, his expression suddenly shifting as he glanced around. "Ah, This place is collapsing!"
Cracks snaked across the ground, spreading rapidly.
"The Dragon Vein's source—it needs to be sealed to stabilize everything," Shinho explained, turning to Minato. "In fact, unsealing your previous work on the Dragon Vein was how we ended up here."
"I see." Minato nodded, quickly understanding. "It's a combination of Flying Thunder God and sealing techniques."
The four of them hurried to the Dragon Vein's origin, which was located in the same courtyard where Sasuke had first arrived. In the original timeline, it was Naruto who ended up there.
"Is everyone all right?" Kakashi greeted them as they arrived.
"All good," Shinho replied, noticing the Dragon Vein in Karin's hands.
Now secured within a complex array of sealing techniques, it resembled a dragon-shaped jade pendant.
"What happened back there?" Kakashi asked, eyeing the trail of destruction behind them.
"Anrokuzan is gone, and you'll soon be sent back to your time," Minato replied, shaking his head.
Kakashi hesitated, unsure what to say.
"Are you leaving too?" Sara suddenly asked, her voice full of realization as she approached Shinho.
"Yes," Shinho replied, gently patting her head. "Your mother is waiting for you at the oasis north of Roran, with all the citizens."
"I…." Sara's expression softened, though a look of sorrow lingered. She took a step forward and hugged him.
After a few seconds, she released him and said, "Thank you!"
Though they shared a bond, Shinho had intentionally kept some distance, knowing he would eventually have to leave her world behind.
Minato approached the Dragon Vein's source and embedded a Flying Thunder God kunai in it. A sealing array began to activate, spreading intricate patterns across the area.
As the seal took effect, the ground's tremors ceased, and everything returned to calm.
A sudden spatial distortion appeared, and Shinho and the others felt a powerful pull on their body and soul.
"Before we go, we should cast a memory-erasing technique on each other," Minato suggested.
"Sensei, can I keep just a little bit of my memory?" Kakashi pleaded, reluctant to forget the time they'd shared.
He had longed for a chance to make new memories with Minato, only to have it slip away as quickly as it had come.
"This precaution is necessary." Minato's expression softened.
However, Minato spoke in a resolute as he spoke. "If we keep these memories, we might alter the future. Everything you know could disappear."
"It's fine," Shibi Aburame reassured them. "We'll see each other again someday."
He wanted to connect with Shinho, but after thinking about it, realized there wasn't much to say.
They were strangers to each other at the moment—meeting again in the future might be more meaningful.
Kakashi remained silent, his expression somber.
"No matter what, we cannot remain in the past," Minato said firmly, sensing Kakashi's hesitation.
Being a ninja meant treading the dangers of the world head on, and he knew the cost of trying to hold onto what wasn't meant to stay.
"It's time." Minato pressed on. "If we wait any longer, you may not be able to return."
Kakashi nodded gravely, the weight of leaving this time almost too much to bear. He would have liked to stay, but he couldn't let his selfishness warp the future.
Together, they began forming hand seals with Minato. As they finished, Kakashi, Shinho, Sasuke, and Karin were swallowed into the space-time vortex, disappearing from the era.
….
At the Ruins of Roran
Tsunade sat on the ground, clutching a bottle of honey wine as she gazed out at the ruins beyond.
Beside her, Shizune had her eyes closed, performing sensory ninjutsu.
After a moment, Shizune sighed and opened her eyes.
Tsunade didn't even need to ask; she already knew Shizune hadn't found any sign of Shinho.
Taking another sip of wine, Tsunade asked, "How long have we been here?"
"Three days," Shizune replied.
"Only three?" Tsunade murmured, eyes drifting. It felt much longer. So this is what it means for each day to feel like a year…
Just stay safe, brat, she thought, her hand tightening around the wine bottle. Shaking her head, she pushed away the unease creeping up in her chest. He'll be fine, I don't have a reason to doubt that fact!
As she took another sip, a slight flush began to colour her cheeks.
Shizune glanced over. Tsunade, face softly flushed, still radiated a mature elegance despite her obvious worry.
But now there was a touch of melancholy mixed in, something unfamiliar to Shizune.
For a moment, Shizune wondered, if it were her who had gone missing, would Tsunade be this distressed? Though they were both Tsunade's students, she couldn't imagine Tsunade being this anxious for her.
Suddenly, Tsunade's eyes snapped open. "Someone's coming!" she said, rising swiftly.
She peered into the distance, her face falling slightly when she saw the figure. It was a young girl, maybe in her teens, with striking red hair.
"Are you looking for someone?" Shizune asked, approaching the girl with a friendly smile.
"Who are you two?" the girl asked, eyeing the ruins. "I sensed some kind of movement in the Dragon Vein just now."
"What?" Shizune's face filled with surprise.
"Are you certain?" Tsunade frowned. "Why didn't we sense it?"
"That's because I'm the daughter of Queen Sara of Roran," the girl said proudly. "Our family has a natural bond with the Dragon Vein."
"So, you're a descendant of Roran," Tsunade said, understanding lighting up in her eyes, followed by a hint of excitement. "If the Dragon Vein activated, that could mean they're about to return!"
"Yes!" Shizune's face brightened, her voice laced with excitement.
Return? The girl looked confused, trying to understand their reaction. Return… from where? The Dragon Vein?
"Where does the Roran clan live now?" Tsunade asked, buoyed by this hopeful sign.
"In the oasis up north," the girl replied, pointing. "You're both welcome to come visit, big sisters."
"Big sisters?" Tsunade chuckled. Making small talk, she asked, "This place—was it destroyed because the Dragon Vein went out of control?"
"Our records say that about twenty years ago, two outsiders, named Anrokuzan and Shi Siming, arrived," the girl explained thoughtfully. "They misused the Dragon Vein's power, which caused the city's destruction, though fortunately, there weren't many casualties."
"Wait, two?" Tsunade glanced at Shizune. "Wasn't Minato's mission report only about Anrokuzan?"
"Yes," Shizune confirmed with certainty.
"That is strange." Tsunade's expression shifted to one of puzzlement.
Minato was a meticulous ninja; he wouldn't have overlooked someone as significant as Shi Siming unless there was something hidden.
As she pondered, Tsunade suddenly sensed a surge of chakra.
Instinctively, she looked up. The sealing formation left by Minato had started reassembling itself inexplicably. Just as it completed, the space twisted, and four figures were expelled from the vortex.
"That brat!" Tsunade's eyes widened with excitement before anger took over. "Oh, he's in big trouble!"
In a flash, she was by their side. But when she reached Shinho, she paused in surprise.
"Shinho looks taller than before…" Shizune murmured in confusion.
"He does," Tsunade agreed, her mind racing.
"Why didn't the others change?" Shizune asked, puzzled.
Tsunade frowned. She felt a pang of unease.
Such a change could only mean Shinho had experienced a great deal while in the Dragon Vein's influence. Whatever had happened, she would have to wait until they woke up to hear it.
"They're unharmed, they're just unconscious for now," Tsunade said, relaxing as she checked their vitals. Gently, she lifted Shinho and carried him to the tent.
Shizune called in Anbu, including Yugao Uzuki, to set up additional tents for the others.
After everything was prepared, they noticed that the young Roran girl had left quietly. But they paid it no mind—they only wanted to know what had happened within the Dragon Vein.
As time passed, Shinho stirred and opened his eyes, blinking at the unfamiliar ceiling.
What happened?
[Achievement unlocked: "The Missing History of Twenty Years." Reward: Djinn Mind Gu.]
[Djinn Mind Gu: A Rank 4 Gu worm that amplifies the Gu Master's willpower by threefold. Can be combined with Djinn Body Gu and Djinn Heart Gu to form the killing technique, Djinn Transformation.]
Abruptly, images flooded back into his mind—the memories that Minato had sealed away. Shinho's face showed a look of clarity as he processed everything.
So that's what happened.
The system was impressive, he had to admit. Although losing those memories wouldn't have affected him significantly, it was certainly better to retain them.
"Kid." A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts, and a shadow fell over him.
It was Tsunade.
Leaning over him, her top gaped slightly, revealing a tantalizing curve that drew Shinho's eye for just a moment.
Ah, he thought with a nostalgic smile. Now that's a familiar sight.
"Care to explain?" Tsunade demanded, studying his face, which looked somehow sharper and more mature.
Shinho organized his thoughts and recounted his experience, leaving out the fact that he had intentionally crossed into the past.
He also omitted that Anrokuzan's arrival had originally been six years earlier; his presence had likely shortened the it to three years.
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