In the 128th year of Konoha, on a nameless small island located a hundred miles from the Land of Water, deep within a cave, the flickering light of a candle barely illuminated the space.
On a stone bed lay an elderly man, his hair streaked with white and his face deeply wrinkled, his life nearing its end.
If not for his piercing turquoise eyes and the symmetrical three whisker-like marks on his cheeks, no one would believe this man to be the Seventh Hokage of Konoha—Naruto Uzumaki!
Throughout his life, he had risen from suppression to glory, only to return to despair in the end.
At the age of 12, he graduated from the ninja academy and became a Genin in Konoha.
At 16, he defeated Pain and became a hero of Konoha. That same year, he participated in the Fourth Great Ninja War, teaming up with Sasuke Uchiha to seal Kaguya and bringing peace to the ninja world.
However, the cataclysmic disasters of the ninja world did not end with Kaguya's sealing.
Afterwards, Kin, Momoshiki, Urashiki, and Isshiki all brought forth further conflicts!
During his battle with Otsutsuki Isshiki, Naruto lost the Nine-Tails, and Sasuke lost his Rinnegan.
Reluctantly, they entrusted the future of the ninja world to the new generation, led by Boruto.
Boruto did not disappoint; after growing and training, using his Byakugan and the powers of Momoshiki Otsutsuki, he surpassed his father's prime, resolving several ninja world crises and bringing new prosperity to the land.
But that prosperity was reduced to ashes with the arrival of Otsutsuki Kinshiki!
Kinshiki was overwhelming, far stronger than Kaguya!
The battle gathered the full might of the ninja world, but it ended in a brutal tragedy.
His best friends, his wife, his children, and comrades perished in the fight!
Their final cries echoed in Naruto's mind during countless nights, tormenting his heart with unbearable pain:
"Naruto, our power was useless."
"Naruto, please live. Forgive me, I can't continue with you."
"Father, I've tried my best!"
"Seventh Hokage, please retreat quickly! You are our last hope!!!"
In the final battle, Naruto, exhausted, was sent away through a secret technique by the Hidden Cloud ninjas. When he awoke, the enemy was gone, leaving behind a scorched earth where the ninja world once stood.
Naruto fell to his knees, crying until no more tears could come, and began a life of exile.
He thought of what to do, but as an old man, he was no longer capable.
Living aimlessly, he was finally ready to leave this world.
Beside the candle, an ancient turtle-shaped artifact sat. It was a time-traveling tool from the Otsutsuki family, named "Li," which had been passed to Naruto from Urashiki.
Unfortunately, "Li" was broken—it no longer had the power to travel through time and couldn't even speak anymore.
In his solitude, this artifact was the only thing Naruto could confide in.
"Hey, do you know?" he whispered, "My biggest mistake in life was underestimating the power of that clan."
Through his encounters with the Otsutsuki, Naruto had learned a brutal truth.
Far, far away from the ninja world, in the vastness of space, there was a planet named Takamagahara. This was the birthplace of the Otsutsuki clan!
On Takamagahara, there were countless beings even stronger than Kaguya!
When we sealed Kaguya and later defeated Momoshiki, I naively thought the enemy was only of that level. How foolish I was! I believed that if we all worked together, we could defeat those celestial invaders.
Humanity has always been at a disadvantage from the start. The Six Paths Sage's path wasn't entirely correct. What Kaguya feared back then has all come true. In the end, we were too short-sighted. Cough, cough…
Naruto coughed violently, his vision growing dimmer.
The candlelight flickered at the edge of extinguishing. Time was running out.
At that moment, the long-silent "Li" suddenly spoke: If you could start over, would you seek revenge?
Naruto thought it was just a hallucination before his death, so he didn't pay it any mind.
His gaze was calm as he replied, his voice weary: Revenge only breeds hatred in a vicious cycle. I won't walk that path. But if I truly had a second chance, I would stop at nothing to gain the power necessary to fight those bastards. Only then can I truly protect the people most important to me.
"Li" was silent for a moment, then responded: Stop at nothing? That doesn't sound like something you would say.
Naruto slowly closed his eyes, a faint, desolate smile on his lips. The innocent, idealistic Naruto Uzumaki died the day my country and family fell.
"Li" was silent for a long time. Perhaps I can grant your wish.
Naruto murmured, Can you send me back to the past?
"Li" responded, I can send your soul back, but it's a one-way trip. You won't be able to return. You'll remain in that era forever. Even so, are you willing?
Naruto smiled faintly. What would I return to in a world where no one is left?
"Li" said: Then extend your hand.
With his remaining strength, Naruto shakily stretched out his hand.
Whoosh!
The last bit of chakra in his body was absorbed by "Li"!
Buzz!
The artifact activated!
Naruto's soul left his body and traveled through time, back to the past!
Whoosh!
The candle was extinguished.
The Naruto of this time, his eyes closed forever.
Crack! Crack!
Cracks spread across "Li's" body. It was about to be destroyed completely.
In my journey through time, I have witnessed countless things. Naruto Uzumaki, if anyone can stop the atrocities of that clan, it's you. Come back, on a world line that is neither too early nor too late.
Naruto felt his consciousness sink through the tunnel. When he opened his eyes again, he was in a gray, sealed space!
In his hands was a book—Jiraiya's Tales of the Strong-Willed Ninja!
Before him, in a mechanical carriage, sat a gaunt Nagato, with Konan standing nearby!
What's going on? Is this a dream?!
Naruto, confused, pinched his leg hard, the pain waking him from his stupor.
This isn't a dream!!
Nagato, speaking with a sad tone, began: When the protagonist changes, the story becomes different.
I'm your senior, someone who shares the same teacher and admires the same master. I said before that we should be able to understand each other.
Though, I was just joking before.
You're such an incredible person. You remind me of my former self.
Nagato's uncharacteristic tone made Konan realize something.
I can't believe in Jiraiya anymore.
No, I can't believe in myself either.
But I have a feeling that the path you and I walk will lead to different futures.
I'll try to believe in you, Naruto Uzumaki!
At that moment, Nagato formed a hand seal, summoning the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique!
Konan exclaimed, Nagato, you…!
Nagato resolutely replied, Konan, enough! I've made a new choice—the one I had abandoned before!
Naruto suddenly snapped back to his senses. What is this?!
Konan explained, The user of the Rinnegan can control the Six Paths of Pain, and the legend says they can even transcend the cycle of life and death. Nagato's power controls the technique of life and death—he is the Seventh Pain!
Naruto clenched his fists tightly. He realized the voices he had heard before his death weren't hallucinations. They were "Li's" words!
I'm back. I really came back. My soul returned to the moment when I negotiated with Nagato after defeating Pain!
His heart raced, almost leaping from his chest, his trembling hands unable to rest. The sweat on the book's cover showed his excitement!
The Naruto before him was still Naruto, but his soul had returned from the future!
Konan, of course, had no idea about this. She looked at Nagato with concern: With Nagato using this technique, he'll soon be pushed to his limits, but he's willing to help this child.
She then looked at Naruto, thinking: The incredible child who changed Nagato.
Nagato's hand trembled as he formed the seal, sweat pouring down his skeletal body. His chakra and life force were depleted to their limits, turning his Uzumaki red hair into a pale, desolate white!
After performing the technique, Nagato's hand dropped weakly: I guess this can be considered a small atonement.
Rustle, rustle!
A small slug that had been hidden in Naruto's clothing crawled out and spoke: The people in the village are being revived.
Naruto understood. Everything before him was something deeply embedded in his memories from when he had lived it!
Only now, his mindset was entirely different.
Nagato, gasping for breath, spoke his final words:
War is accompanied by death and injury on both sides.
The more important the person, the harder it is to accept their death.
You think the people you care about don't have to die.
Especially you, this generation that doesn't understand war. You can't understand.
You search for the meaning of death.
But all you'll find is pain and hatred with no outlet.
Death is as insignificant as that of an ant.
Endless hatred, and wounds that will never heal.
That is war.
Naruto, this is what you must face next.
Looks like my mission ends here. Naruto, if it's you, maybe you really can.
With a rustle, the paper-like tree created by the technique scattered.
Naruto lowered his head, his face hidden in shadows.
I understand now. Senior, everything you said today, I've experienced it all, and it's engraved deep in my heart!
I feel your pain even more acutely than I did back then!
So, when I return this time, I must change everything!
Nagato smiled slightly: *Whether it's the book or you, it feels like this was arranged for me. No