The night was as dark as ink, and Shun stood with his hands behind his back, his robes flapping loudly in the wind.
He looked up slightly, the star tracks reflected in his deep eyes. His gaze seemed able to penetrate layers of nebulae and synchronize with the rhythm of the Universe.
Fragments of past memories suddenly surged. The memory of being forcibly dragged into the River of Time by Shibai still brought a sense of lingering fear.
As one of the few experts capable of controlling the rules of time, he had already mastered several Time Shinjutsu to the Transcendent level.
For instance, Time Acceleration, Time Pause, Time Reversal, Time Deceleration, and Time Travel were the foundations of his standing at the peak.
Yet, remembering the horror of the River of Time at this moment, he dared not let down his guard in the slightest.
The more he understood the essence of time, the deeper the reverence in his heart became.
The River of Time was never a plaything to be manipulated. It was a special carrier independent of reality, yet bearing the trajectories of all living beings and all historical Karma.
The waters of the River of Time surge endlessly, hiding infinite unknowns and dangers. Here, any ability to prophesy the future or peek at trajectories is completely blocked, and every choice hides unknown variables.
No one can predict the course of a battle. Even he, who controls time, can only grope forward in the chaos. One slight misstep, and he would be swallowed by the power of time, completely dissipating from the world.
This ultimate duel with Shibai was never a simple collision of power or a competition of Chakra. It was a clash of wills, a contest of influence on reality, a defense of each other's soul anchors, and the ultimate game of time rule mastery.
The River of Time and reality are tightly connected, like roots and branches.
A single drop of water in the river might carry a person's entire life. From the cries at birth to the sighs in old age, every smile, every breath is sealed within.
Every ripple in the river might affect the trajectory of reality and every wave might rewrite established history, making things that once existed disappear and etching things that never happened into time.
Therefore, this final battle will inevitably stir up a massive wave of time.
At that time, perhaps the existence of countless people will be erased, as if they never appeared. Countless segments of history will be distorted beyond recognition, and countless bonds will be washed away without a trace, leaving only blurry shadows.
This was the reason why he had previously distributed the spiritual light of his soul to his wives and children. Those were his soul fragments, bonds that transcended time and space. Even if they are affected by the waves of time or forgotten by history in the future, they can anchor each other with it, repair distorted memories, and protect their warm past without losing themselves in time.
"Perhaps, it's time for a gathering."
At this moment, Shun wanted to say a proper goodbye to these old friends who had fought alongside him.
With a thought, he let everyone who received the invitation instantly understand it was his summons.
In less than ten minutes, a group of figures gathered in the Palace Hall.
Madara and Hashirama leaned against the pillars, sharing the unspoken understanding between old friends.
Orochimaru, dressed in white, had a hint of curiosity in his eyes, seemingly speculating on the purpose of this gathering with a somewhat eerie fervor.
Minato held Kushina's hand, and both looked at Shun with concern.
Naruto stood beside his parents, his golden hair brilliant under the candlelight, his hands unconsciously clenched, and his eyes determined.
Hiashi's eyes were slightly closed, his Byakugan quietly active as he silently sensed the surrounding aura with a solemn expression.
Rasa, Ōnoki, A, Guy, Kakashi, Anko, Kabuto, Konan...
"Shun-sama, why the sudden summons? Is there something you need to announce?" Minato spoke first, breaking the silence in the hall.
Shun raised his hand slightly, and strands of silver-white spiritual light overflowed from his forehead, floating precisely to everyone present and gently merging into their brows.
The moment it entered their bodies, everyone instinctively closed their eyes, and a wonderful sense of connection instantly swept through them. It felt as if they were tightly connected to Shun's soul, and they could clearly sense the tenderness hidden within his resolve, as well as his deep concern for everyone. That unwavering determination to face fate infected everyone present.
Shun slowly withdrew his hand and said warmly and solemnly, "This is my soul fragment. It will help you anchor yourselves. Even if you are affected by the waves of time in the future, you can protect your memories and existence. You won't lose your way in the vastness of time or forget our bonds."
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell into a dead silence. Even the crackling of the burning candles was clearly audible.
The warmth in the air gradually faded, replaced by a heavy pressure. The expressions on everyone's faces became serious.
They were all sharp-minded individuals and instantly understood the deep meaning. For Shun to leave his soul fragment so solemnly, he must be going to face a life-and-death danger, perhaps even never to return and join them again.
Kakashi was the first to break the silence. He pushed off the wall he was leaning against, his brow furrowed with urgency and worry. "Shun-sama... are you going to have a final battle with that Shibai?"
The Chakra around him fluctuated slightly, he was clearly ready for battle at any moment.
Shun nodded calmly, with no fear in his eyes, but rather a confident self-assurance.
"Yes. My ultimate duel with him will unfold in the River of Time. This is our destiny and a responsibility I must bear alone, unrelated to anyone else."
He paused, then detailed the special rules of the River of Time and the dangers of the battle. He also informed them of the potential distortions the duel might cause to reality. With every word, the heavy atmosphere in the hall deepened, and everyone's expressions became increasingly serious. The suppression in the air almost threatened to consume them.
When they heard words like "conventional combat power is ineffective... history might be distorted... people might be forgotten...", the atmosphere in the hall reached a peak of suppression.
Naruto viewed Shun as a senior and a role model. He couldn't just stand by and watch him face life-threatening danger alone.
He couldn't hold back any longer, stepped forward, and shouted, "Shun-sama, can't we help you? We can fight alongside you, even if we can only help distract him for a moment! We can't let you face such a dangerous battle alone!"
Shun patted Naruto's shoulder, seemingly wanting to pass on his confidence.
He spoke firmly, leaving no room for negotiation, "No. The rules of the River of Time are special. If you enter, not only will you be unable to help me, but you'll also be swallowed by the violent power of time, or even become leverage for him against me, making us burdens to each other. This battle must be faced by me alone."
Madara heavily patted Shun's shoulder, expressing a comrade's concern and trust.
His scarlet Sharingan was full of undeniable expectation as he said, "Since we can't interfere, then you must come back alive. Don't make us old guys wait for nothing, and don't disappoint those who care about you."
Orochimaru licked his lips, his eyes flashing with extreme fervor, his tone carrying a hint of expectation and recognition. "A duel on the River of Time... truly exciting. You'd better not die. I want to wait for you to return and properly study the ultimate mysteries of Time Rules. To see what level a powerhouse who controls time can truly reach."
Shun looked at everyone's various expressions, his heart full of warmth, and the tension around him gradually eased.
There was Madara's tough talk but soft heart, Hashirama's gentle concern, and Naruto's hot-blooded urgency. There was also Orochimaru's unique expectation.
These complex emotions intertwined to become the most solid strength in his heart.
These people were his bonds across time and space, his strongest backup in this Universe.
He signaled the palace servants to bring out the feast, and they entered in a line, gracefully placing fine wine and delicacies on the tables one by one.
The aroma of mellow wine filled the hall, slightly dispelling the gloom and easing the atmosphere.
There were no excessive sentimental instructions, nor were there heavy farewell words.
Everyone raised their glasses, suppressing their worries and reluctance in their hearts, and talked freely about the past. They talked about the slaughter and glory of fighting side by side, and teased each other about past embarrassments and growth. The atmosphere in the hall gradually warmed up, as if returning to those fearless, hot-blooded times.
Shun picked up his wine glass and took a small sip. The mellow wine spread on his tongue, but it couldn't hide the attachment and reluctance in his heart. He etched every face and every laugh deep into his heart and soul, making them his most precious memories.
This meal was a pre-war gathering, a final farewell, and his source of courage as he headed to the battlefield.
The battle in the River of Time would surely be fraught with danger. History might be rewritten, and bonds might be washed away.
But the warmth and bonds hidden in his heart would become his strongest anchor, supporting him as he protected himself and defeated the enemy in the chaos of the River of Time.
Halfway through the feast, everyone gradually dispersed.
Before leaving, everyone said goodbye to Shun in their own way—some with instructions, some with blessings, and some leaving behind emergency measures, all full of concern.
Shun stayed in the hall alone, slowly walking to the window and looking at the brilliant starry sky.
The candles in the hall gradually went out, leaving only the starlight from outside, casting his figure as both lonely and upright.
The Time Patterns deep in his pupils flowed once more, echoing the star tracks, as he quietly waited for the moment of the final battle to arrive.