Under Nagato's full-power Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei, Kaguya's chakra gradually faded, and she returned to the Moon.
Kaguya was sealed once again, except this time she did so willingly, and she had a filial son by her side.
Initially, Naruto wanted to keep Black Zetsu around, after all, Black Zetsu's abilities were useful. However, the punk refused to be separated from Kaguya, so Naruto had no choice but to seal him along with her.
After Kaguya's chakra receded, only Six Paths Madara remained. He hadn't been unconscious while Kaguya descended, instead, he had heard the group's conversation and understood the situation.
Obito was dead. Black Zetsu was sealed. There was no need for him to continue fighting.
The Eye of the Moon Plan had been Madara's sole hope for the second half of his life. After struggling for decades, he finally discovered it was all a lie. Madara's heart was in turmoil.
"Madara, would you like to join us? Join Akatsuki?" Naruto extended an olive branch. "Akatsuki's ideals differ from yours, but our purpose is the same, peace."
With Nagato and Madara, they could handle even an Otsutsuki invasion.
"Not for now." Madara shook his head, neither clearly refusing nor agreeing. "I want to travel and see this world with my own eyes."
"Let's discuss it after I've finished all this. When the time comes, I will come find you."
The Allied Shinobi Forces' campaign was also coming to an end. Akatsuki claimed victory with absolute superiority. After this battle, Kumogakure's status plummeted from one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages to that of a minor village.
As for the nobles of the Five Great Nations...
The world would no longer have nobles. The world would belong to the ninjas and the people.
"Sasuke." Once all matters were resolved and they returned to the Land of Whirlpools, Naruto spoke. "Call Neji, Rock Lee, and the others. Let's begin a new round of special training. The destination is that Super Gravity Dimension."
Three months later, only Sasuke barely qualified to enter the Super Gravity Dimension. The rest were still stuck in the training stage of the Super Added-Weight Rock Technique.
Naruto prepared to cross worlds once more, but this time he would travel alone.
With a creak, Naruto opened the portal. He took a step forward, and his figure vanished.
Papaya Island, once a deserted rock, grew into a city thanks to its strategic location.
Normally, the island remained quiet. Now, it bustled with activity. People of all sizes crowded the streets, and the constant cries of vendors filled the air. The atmosphere crackled with excitement.
A grand event, held once every three years, was about to begin.
Martial artists from across the globe traveled great distances to participate. This gathering was known as the Tenkaichi Budokai.
Organized by an anonymous benefactor, the tournament aimed to determine the world's strongest fighter. Anyone who considered themselves skilled could register, there were no restrictions on age, gender, or race. The roster included nearly every martial arts elite in existence, a true gathering of masters. Every past champion had been the elite among elites.
Among the bustling crowds, humans shared the streets with strange humanoid creatures with the heads of tigers, leopards, lions, and dinosaurs. Winged beings soared overhead.
The humans remained unfazed. Many walked arm-in-arm with these creatures. The scene was remarkably harmonious.
"Never thought I'd be back here after three years." At the registration office, a little bald boy signed his form and sighed. He looked up, confidence radiating from him. "This time, I'm definitely taking home the championship."
He had suffered and trained hard for this day.
"Krillin, don't forget you still have me to deal with." A young man with shaggy hair clapped the bald boy on the shoulder and pointed to himself. "That championship belongs to me."
"Even if we're fellow disciples, I won't show you any mercy, Yamcha," Krillin retorted.
"It's good that you young people have such vitality," an old man wearing sunglasses said slowly. "But don't forget Goku. He hasn't been wasting the last three years. His strength has surely improved by leaps and bounds."
The old man continued to lecture his two disciples. "Besides Goku, you have many other opponents. Some are your equals, others surpass you. Remember, there is always someone better. The path of martial arts has no end."
"Yes, Master Roshi," Yamcha and Krillin replied respectfully.
Though the man was often unreliable and lecherous, his words carried great wisdom when it came to martial arts.
Roshi was his name, though he was better known by his title: Turtle Hermit. A century ago, he was the world's number one martial artist, revered as the God of Martial Arts. He founded the Turtle School and created the Kamehameha.
He was a grandmaster.
"By the way, where's Goku?" Master Roshi suddenly remembered his other disciple.
"I don't know." Krillin scanned the area around the registration desk. "I don't see him anywhere."
"That punk didn't forget the date, did he?" asked a beautiful girl standing beside them. Her name was Bulma.
If it were anyone else, it would be impossible. Knowing Goku, it was entirely plausible.
"Excuse me, is there a young man named Son Goku registered?" Master Roshi asked the clerk.
"One moment, sir!" The staff member immediately flipped through the forms, comparing the names one by one.
The Tenkaichi Budokai was open to the entire world with no restrictions.
Many martial artists had come, but the number of actual participants was low. Not all were fond of fighting, most came to watch, while others sought an opportunity for a martial arts breakthrough. Aside from the experts, most people on Papaya Island were simply enthusiasts or ordinary folks enjoying a spectacle.
"You must be talking about the kid who was the previous runner-up," the staff member said after checking the registration form. "He hasn't registered yet."
"Hasn't come yet?" Master Roshi murmured, checking the time. "There are only fifteen minutes left before registration closes."
"What the hell, Goku?" Krillin complained. "He better not have forgotten. I was looking forward to fighting him."
As the group grew anxious for Goku, Master Roshi leaned toward the staff member.
"Please register the name Jackie Chun."
"Jackie Chun? The previous martial arts champion? Could you possibly be, "
"Shh!" Master Roshi cut him off, glancing nervously at his surroundings. Seeing that his disciples hadn't noticed, he removed his sunglasses. "Please keep this a secret."
"Ah, only ten minutes left! What is Goku even doing?!" Bulma looked anxious. "Should we just have Puar transform into Goku and register for him?"
Puar, a small blue cat floating beside the group, was an animal-type Earthling with the ability to transform.
"That's a great idea." Everyone exchanged glances and unanimously agreed.
"Master Roshi, where were you just now?"
Master Roshi laughed. "I went to the bathroom."
"You sure pooped a lot," a sea turtle beside him commented.
"Well, if it isn't Roshi?" An oddly sarcastic, unfamiliar voice rang out nearby. The speaker was an old man wearing a crane hat and a green gi. Like Master Roshi, he wore sunglasses, though the style differed.
"What a coincidence."
Though the words were a greeting, the mockery in his tone was obvious to any passerby.
"Oh? If it isn't Shen." Master Roshi offered his own greeting. His tone was neutral, at least not sarcastic. Then he added, "Still not dead yet?"
"Hmph, you're the same as always, ugly as ever, with a mouth that stinks," Master Shen sneered. "Why are you wearing a hat? Is it to hide the fact that you're going bald?"
Master Roshi fired back without hesitation. "Aren't you wearing a hat too? What's there to be proud of regarding a receding hairline?"
"Excuse me, please move aside." As the two men locked eyes and prepared to clash, another unfamiliar voice spoke up.
A blonde-haired shinobi pushed through the crowd, walking right between Master Shen and Master Roshi. He headed straight for the Tenkaichi Budokai registration desk.
"Please help me register. I want to participate in this martial arts tournament."
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki."
Since leaving the Naruto-verse, Naruto successfully crossed into the Dragon Ball-verse he had dreamed of. However, this world was not the timeline of Kid Goku, nor was it the timeline of Adult Goku. It was an entirely new timeline, independent of both and set even earlier.
Naruto's arrival coincided precisely with the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, landing him right on Papaya Island.
It was the perfect opportunity to join the excitement.
Just as Master Roshi founded the Turtle School, Master Shen founded the Crane School. The two had been rivals for a hundred years, both considered legendary martial arts traditions.
Master Roshi and Master Shen were actually Senpai and Kouhai under the same master. Long ago, they fought side by side against an Demon King Piccolo. In Master Roshi's words, Master Shen had gone down the wrong path after that.
That was true enough. Compared to Master Roshi's magnanimity, Master Shen was petty.
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