The night slipped away quietly, ushering in another vibrant morning in Konoha Village.
Jingle bell—
The alarm clock chimed right on time, announcing the start of a new day. However, unlike his usual habit of lazily hitting the stop button and rolling back into bed, this time, Shinomiya Uzumaki woke up immediately, sitting upright with an eager glint in his eyes.
A surge of excitement coursed through him as he thought about what lay ahead.
"What kind of surprise will I get by adding new people to the chat group today?"
He had purposely waited until today, holding onto this anticipation, hoping that as the morning sun bathed the village in golden light, he would be greeted with good fortune.
As soon as this thought settled in his mind, a translucent virtual screen appeared before his eyes. Without hesitation, he uttered a single word:
"Start!"
[Ding!]
[The chat group is inviting new members…]
A moment later, as new names appeared on the screen, Shinomiya Uzumaki's eyes widened.
"It's them?! This batch is outstanding!"
A delighted smile spread across his face.
---
At Naruto's House
"Naruto, wake up."
A gentle voice called out beside him, accompanied by a warm touch shaking him slightly. Slowly, Uzumaki Naruto stirred from his dream, his eyelids fluttering open.
The first thing he saw was a kind and beautiful face gazing down at him with a tender smile. The warmth in those eyes made his heart swell.
"...Mom?"
Naruto responded in a sleepy but cheerful voice.
Kushina Uzumaki chuckled softly and ruffled his hair. "Hurry up and wash up. Your dad's already made breakfast."
With that, she left the room, still smiling.
Naruto sat up and blinked in mild confusion, as if making sure he was truly awake. This—this moment, this warmth—was something he had longed for so many times.
A life where his mother and father were here with him…
"It's real."
After quickly freshening up, Naruto stepped into the living room, where Minato Namikaze and Kushina were already seated at the dining table. A delicious aroma filled the air as steam rose from the food.
When Minato noticed his son, his eyes softened with warmth.
"Come on, Naruto, we're waiting for you."
Naruto, momentarily dazed by the overwhelming happiness, quickly shook it off and grinned.
"Coming!" He rushed forward and took his seat eagerly.
Breakfast was filled with laughter, warm conversations, and the clinking of utensils. It was a moment Naruto wanted to cherish forever.
However, in the midst of this peaceful meal, Minato's expression suddenly shifted. He became momentarily distracted, his gaze drifting into the distance as if he were focusing on something unseen.
The change did not go unnoticed.
"Minato, what's wrong?" Kushina asked with concern.
"Dad? Something happen?" Naruto tilted his head.
Minato blinked and quickly masked his thoughts with a reassuring smile. "It's nothing. Just keep eating."
Though still a bit curious, Naruto and Kushina decided not to press further, resuming their meal.
In reality, Minato's attention was now on a new notification flashing before his eyes.
"Huh? More new members?!"
---
At the Sarutobi Household
The dawn sun cast its golden glow over the village as the conversation in the Sarutobi residence reached a temporary pause.
The entire night had been spent in deep discussion—Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, and Sarutobi Hiruzen had talked at length about Konoha's governance, development, and future.
Hiruzen, who had served as Hokage for decades, shared his knowledge and experiences, which both Senju brothers found enlightening. They absorbed every bit of insight, gaining a better understanding of how their village had evolved.
It wasn't until birds chirped outside the window that they realized how much time had passed.
"Wow… We actually talked all night?" Hashirama muttered, stretching his arms.
Tobirama nodded and stood up. "It's about time we go back."
Hiruzen looked at them, a trace of reluctance in his eyes. "Must you leave so soon? Konoha might need you now more than ever…"
He understood that they were not the Hashirama and Tobirama of this timeline, yet he still wished they could stay.
Hashirama grinned. "Hiruzen, we don't belong here. Besides, if we stay too long, it could disrupt the timeline."
"And frankly," Tobirama added, "your leadership has maintained the village well. You've done a competent job as Hokage."
The praise caught Hiruzen off guard. He lowered his head slightly, feeling a mix of pride and responsibility.
Still, there was something else weighing on his mind. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke again.
"There's something I need to ask… About him. Should I tell the higher-ups about his true identity?"
The "him" he referred to was Shinomiya Uzumaki—the mysterious yet powerful figure who had shaken his understanding of the world.
At first, he had assumed Shinomiya was just another talented ninja. However, seeing his ability to summon individuals from different time periods…
It was beyond comprehension.
Tobirama folded his arms and answered without much thought. "Not necessary. For now, just treat him like a regular person."
Hiruzen almost choked.
"Treat him like an ordinary person? Are you serious?"
Hashirama nodded in agreement. "Yeah! Youyue—I mean, Shinomiya Uzumaki—doesn't seem power-hungry. He prefers a normal life."
Hiruzen sighed. A normal life? Who had ever seen an "ordinary person" with such god-like abilities?
Still, he relented. "...I'll try."
As the Senju brothers prepared to leave, Hiruzen hesitated one last time.
"Teacher… About Danzo…"
Tobirama's expression remained indifferent. "He won't be coming back."
A heavy silence fell over them. Hiruzen finally nodded, accepting the reality.
Just then, Hashirama suddenly exclaimed, his eyes widening.
"Huh?! Madara has joined the group?! And—not just one, but two?!"
---
At Konoha Hospital
The warm morning light filtered into the hospital room, casting a soft glow over the space.
Uchiha Obito stood beside the hospital bed, observing Kakashi's condition.
"Looks like you're recovering well."
Kakashi, who had been lying back comfortably, cracked open an eye and smirked. "What, disappointed?"
Obito scoffed but didn't answer.
Before the conversation could continue, the door opened, and a familiar voice chimed in.
"Obito, I'm back! Mission was a success!"
Nohara Rin entered the room, carrying two bags of breakfast. She beamed as she held them up triumphantly.
Obito raised an eyebrow. "That shop is still open? Damn, that place is durable."
Kakashi chuckled. "Still the same old Obito."
As Rin set the food down and distributed their meals, the atmosphere became relaxed and lighthearted.
However, as they ate, both Obito and Kakashi suddenly froze, their attention caught by the translucent screens appearing in front of them.
New names were flashing in the chat group.
"...Madara?!"
A shiver ran through Obito as he read the list.
But that wasn't all.
There were two Madaras.
And they had just joined the chat group.
---
To be continued…
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