Several years earlier. Land of Fire.
Konoha Village. Ninja Academy.
A little turtle with time-travel powers appeared, smiling as it watched the students hurrying to morning classes.
"This is where our benefactor went to school in the past."
"Those two over there being stared at by everyone—that's our benefactor and the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, right? Our benefactor's been cool since he was a kid. Wherever he goes, he's the center of attention!"
"The Nine-Tails jinchuriki has been dopey since he was little, too!"
"No, wait—the way the others are looking at them… it doesn't feel very friendly…"
Karasuki hid in the shadows, quietly watching the benefactor rushing toward the school gate.
"Shinju, when do you think we'll finally graduate from the Ninja Academy?"
Young Naruto slung an arm around young Shinju and asked.
At those words, young Shinju suddenly froze, staying silent for a long time…
Karasuki: "This… (≖╻≖;) "
...
Several hours earlier.
A different space.
A curly-haired woman and the leader of the organization sat face-to-face.
The leader had already taken off his black cloak and was casually eating lunch with a knife and fork, occasionally swirling a glass of red wine—completely relaxed, almost stylish about it.
"Jigen, the 'vessel' has been taken—how can you still just sit here, calmly enjoying lunch…?"
The woman looked anxious.
Holding the wineglass, Jigen knew the Delta in front of him was impatient by nature and didn't take her words to heart.
"I'm anxious on the inside, but I still need to eat."
Delta clearly couldn't understand Jigen's attitude.
"The airship has already been brought back to Konoha by that meddlesome Sixth Hokage. It's only a matter of time before he finds the vessel."
"Even though Koji Kashin has gone, I still don't feel at ease… you know what I mean, right?"
Jigen nodded. "More or less. You want to go too, don't you."
Delta nodded. "Yes."
Jigen said, "Alright, if you want to go, then go. You can bring along an Outer member—when it's inconvenient for you to act, have him make the move… and don't forget to self-destruct at the crucial moment. Never underestimate your opponent."
...
Half an hour earlier.
Northwestern border of the Land of Fire.
Ao lay quietly in the bushes, studying the border-guard squad ahead.
After searching all night, he had finally found the "important cargo" the Inner member had mentioned.
But that "cargo" had been locked onto by the border guards—troublesome!
"Good thing they haven't moved it yet. I still have a chance…"
Ao muttered to himself.
The mission Kara had entrusted to him—he would complete it no matter what.
He longed to rise from Outer to Inner, and gain overwhelming power!
In a spot Ao couldn't see, the masked Koji Kashin stood atop a tree, continuously observing the situation below.
Suddenly, Koji turned his head. "Looks like Jigen doesn't trust me. You came too, Delta."
A yellow-curled-hair Delta appeared beside Koji.
"You know I hate people who dawdle. The vessel belongs to Kara—it must never fall into anyone else's hands."
Compared with Delta's urgency, Koji seemed far more composed.
"I'll take care of everything."
...
On the other side, hidden in the bushes, Ao finally found a perfect chance to make a move.
The border patrol squad looked ready to report back, sending two people off…
Ao waited in the brush a bit longer, making sure the messengers had gone far.
Then he spotted a perfect opening—the patrol squad relaxed!
"Water Style: Water Surge!"
Ao formed hand signs and erupted, spewing a waterfall-like torrent from his mouth!
The sudden attack shattered the patrol squad's formation!
At the same time, Ao seized the chance and whip!—flung the chakra blade from his prosthetic hand!
Then he kicked off with his left leg; boosted by his prosthetic limb, he flashed instantly to one of the squad members!
"Shunk!!"
The chakra blade punched through the man's chest!
Without pausing, Ao continued—his movements slick and sharp as he weaved and darted through the remaining members!
"Ao of Kirigakure, do you even know what you're doing! (ꐦ ಠ 皿 ಠ)" one Anbu recognized him and roared in fury.
Ao answered with a smile. "Of course I do!"
With that, he pulled open the clothes at his chest…
"Hiss—!!"
A small missile shot out from his chest!
"Boom—!!"
The missile exploded as it hit the ground, blowing the patrol members head-over-heels!
Ao laughed smugly. "See the power of my body now? This is the result of Kara's remodeling!"
"What the Hidden Villages couldn't give me, Kara can!"
"Flesh is weak—mechanization ascends!"
Then Ao rubbed a Rasengan together with his prosthetic hand and blasted a patrol member away.
"Oh, and this prosthetic hand is a masterpiece from Konoha's research lab. The Sixth Hokage was even watching at the time…"
The remaining patrol members formed a tight guard around the discovered boy.
"Looks like this kid is important. We absolutely can't let Ao take him!"
...
Up in the tree, Delta watched Ao fighting the patrol squad and sneered.
"He really doesn't think he can actually ascend, does he."
Koji said nothing either way.
Seeing Ao, backed by multiple scientific ninja tools, about to crush the patrol squad, Delta suddenly looked up.
"Garō, you go take the vessel."
Koji looked a bit speechless. "You really have to compete over this?"
Arms folded, Delta replied with a playful smile,
"Yep. Since I'm here, I'm bringing the vessel back myself. (•̀⌄•́)"
"Garō! Move!"
On the battlefield.
Just as Ao was happily thinking he was about to perfectly finish his mission, a walking mountain of flesh appeared in front of him!
The burly Garō, certain of victory, said, "Sorry, but I'm taking the vessel!"
Ao had fought this hard and was one step from the goal—no way he'd just give in.
"Dammit! Keep dreaming! (눈益눈) "
In the tree.
Koji said, "You actually brought this single-celled organism… You caused the conflict—go deal with it."
Arms folded, Delta watched like it was a show. "Garō won't lose. Taking Ao away is your best option."
"Don't drag this out. You know the Sixth Hokage of Konoha—he'll be here soon…"
Koji: "Delta, you're being reckless! (′д｀σ)σ"
The moment he finished speaking, Koji's expression suddenly changed! He grabbed Delta, and the two vanished on the spot!
In the midst of the battle, Ao tried to reason with Garō.
"The mission matters most. Wasting time helps no one—how about we take him first?"
Covered in bulging muscle and fitted with twin mechanical arms, Garō shook his head.
"Only I get to take him."
The words had barely fallen—
"Whoosh!"
A dark figure appeared between the two who were facing off.
A boy's playful voice rang out. "How about this—stop arguing. I'll take him."
The rain cloak on the boy's shoulders fluttered in the wind. Garō's eyes went wide as he read the big characters printed on the cloak.
"Six…th… Ho…kage!ヽ( ຶ▮ ຶ)ﾉ!!!"