The wind in the abandoned training ground stopped.
The air solidified into an invisible slab of iron, pressing down so heavily it became hard to breathe.
In that moment, Akashi Sora's gaze turned completely cold.
Those amber eyes — usually curved in a perpetual smile — now resembled two frozen pieces of amber, radiating an indifference that sent chills down the spine.
He looked at the two uninvited guests before him, thoughts racing through his mind at lightning speed.
Future Sasuke?
Naruto's son?
They don't recognize me?
That means this isn't the future of *my* timeline.
Parallel world? Or some accident caused by a space-time ninjutsu?
Whatever. Doesn't matter.
If it's not my future, then there's nothing to hold back for.
The corner of Sora's mouth curled into an icy arc.
"You two."
His voice was soft, yet carried an unquestionable sense of oppression.
"Are you going to come over yourselves, or do I have to invite you?"
Middle-aged Sasuke's pupils contracted sharply.
He could feel it — the dangerous aura radiating from the young man in front of him was climbing at a terrifying rate.
Like an apex predator gazing down at prey.
"Boruto, get behind me."
Sasuke spoke in a low, measured voice, each word deliberate.
His single arm had already gripped the hilt of the Kusanagi sword at his waist.
Boruto might usually be brash and carefree, but even he sensed the shift in atmosphere.
He swallowed hard and obediently stepped behind Sasuke.
"Looks like I'll have to invite you myself."
Sora sighed, as though regretting something.
The next instant —
His figure vanished.
Not the afterimage of Body Flicker Technique.
Not the spatial shift of Flying Thunder God.
Pure, absolute speed — beyond the limits of visual perception!
Middle-aged Sasuke's Sharingan spun frantically, desperately trying to track the other's movement.
But all he caught was a blurry shadow trailing faint afterimages.
Too fast!
This speed had already surpassed even his peak!
Clang!
The sound of the Kusanagi sword being drawn exploded in the air.
Relying on instinct alone, Sasuke swung toward that shadow.
The blade tore through the air with a piercing screech.
But it hit nothing.
Akashi Sora's figure reappeared like a ghost behind Sasuke's side.
He reached out, fingers spread, and lightly pressed down on Sasuke's shoulder.
A simple motion.
Yet middle-aged Sasuke felt as though an entire mountain had crashed onto him.
In that instant, his chakra seemed to freeze solid — completely immobilized!
"What?!"
Sasuke's expression changed drastically.
He tried to struggle, but his body felt like it had been filled with lead — impossibly heavy.
"Don't move."
Sora's voice sounded right beside his ear.
Calm. Cold. Utterly emotionless.
"Move again, and I'll take that remaining arm off too."
Sasuke's body instantly went rigid.
He could feel the terrifying strength in the fingers pressing against his shoulder.
That wasn't a threat.
It was a statement of fact.
"Uncle Sasuke!"
Boruto's eyes turned red at the sight.
He formed hand seals and charged forward.
"Shadow Clone —"
Before he could finish —
A thick emerald vine burst abruptly from the ground, wrapping around his ankle like a living serpent and yanking hard!
Thud!
Boruto was flipped upside down and slammed face-first into the dirt.
More vines surged up immediately, binding his limbs tightly and hoisting him into the air.
"Mmph— mmph—!"
Boruto struggled desperately, but the vines only tightened further, squeezing his face red.
"Kid, quiet down."
Sora didn't even turn his head.
"Keep making noise and I'll gag you too."
Boruto's struggling stopped instantly.
He stared wide-eyed at the young Hokage, disbelief written all over his face.
Who…
*who the hell is this guy?!*
How is he *this* strong?!
Akashi Sora released the hand pressing Sasuke's shoulder.
Yet Sasuke made no move to resist.
He knew — in his current state, he stood no chance against this opponent.
Especially not with Boruto in the other's hands.
"Good. Looks like you're at least somewhat smart."
Sora walked around to face Sasuke and studied him up and down.
The middle-aged face, the weathered eyes, the single arm, the travel-worn cloak.
"Uchiha Sasuke… right?"
Sora tilted his head, tone almost confirmatory.
"Middle-aged version. One-armed. Running around with a spiky blond brat."
He paused, eyes turning playful.
"You two… time-traveled?"
Sasuke's pupils shrank again.
This guy…
saw through it with one glance?!
"Looks like I guessed right."
Sora smiled — but the smile held no warmth.
"Interesting. Very interesting."
He crossed his arms and looked down at Sasuke from above.
"Speak. Where are you from? What are you doing here? And also…"
He pointed at Boruto, still dangling in midair.
"Who's that kid's father? Don't tell me it's that idiot Naruto's illegitimate child with someone."
Boruto nearly exploded at those words.
"You're the illegitimate one! My dad is the Seventh Hokage! Uzumaki Naruto!"
"Oh?"
Sora raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
"Seventh? Naruto?"
He glanced at Sasuke, then back at Boruto. The curve of his mouth grew wider.
"Sounds like your world is pretty fun."
"But…"
His tone shifted. His gaze sharpened like a blade.
"What does that have to do with me?"
He stepped closer to Boruto, reached out, and pinched the boy's chin, forcing his head up.
"Kid. I'll ask one more time."
"What are you two doing here?"
Pinned by those amber eyes, Boruto felt ice crawl down his spine.
It was the sensation of being targeted by a predator.
"I… we…"
He stammered, trying to explain.
"Enough."
Sasuke suddenly spoke, voice hoarse.
"Let him go. I'll talk."
Sora released Boruto's chin and turned to face Sasuke.
"Go ahead. I'm listening."
Sasuke took a deep breath and organized his words.
"We come from the future. While pursuing an enemy, we accidentally triggered a space-time ninjutsu and ended up in this era."
"We mean no harm. We only want to find a way back."
"Is that so?"
Sora's tone revealed nothing — neither joy nor anger.
"Then why did you appear in Konoha?"
"Because…"
Sasuke paused, eyes complicated.
"Because we needed to confirm whether this is our past."
"And?"
Sora asked.
"It isn't."
Sasuke shook his head.
"Everything here is different from our history."
"The Hokage isn't Tsunade — it's you."
"The Third… has already…"
He didn't finish.
But Sora understood.
"Oh. Quite the coincidence. I can more or less guess what happened in your world."
Sora smiled and walked over to a nearby tree, leaning against the trunk.
"So what do you plan to do now?"
Sasuke fell silent.
He didn't know how to answer.