Chapter 193: Konoha Year 48, the Night of the Nine-Tails' Invasion
"Entertainment type…?"
Nymph repeated Ikaros's words, her cheeks growing redder by the second.
The atmosphere grew increasingly suggestive, enough that even Astraea stopped mid-bite.
Franklin cleared his throat, breaking Nymph's train of thought—and completely dissolving the rising tension.
"I will. Just not now. Ikaros, you don't need to worry about me so much. And Nymph, Astraea—you three are my wings. You're important family to me. Being by my side like this is already more than enough. If I ever need help, I won't face things alone."
Hearing the seriousness in Franklin's voice, a faint confusion flickered in Ikaros's eyes. She placed her other hand lightly over her chest, right where her reactor core was.
"It feels warm… but also painful. But meeting Master makes me truly happy."
Beside her, Nymph's face was also growing red.
Her emotion system was flawless—she understood love even better than an ordinary human.
Ikaros's words, which sounded very much like a confession, made her heart tremble uncontrollably.
Scenes of her painful past in Synapse flashed in her mind, but she quickly forced them back down.
"Meeting Master makes me really happy too. Please take care of me from now on."
Seeing Ikaros expressing emotions she barely understood, yet speaking with such sincerity—
Seeing Nymph's shy, trembling expression—
Franklin felt deeply satisfied.
If the future could remain this peaceful, maybe that wouldn't be so bad.
"Yeah! I'm also happy to have met Master. After all, Master's food tastes amazing."
Astraea's sudden declaration shattered the warm mood instantly.
Watching her nibble on a half-eaten lamb leg—with oil glistening around her mouth and crumbs stuck to her chest—Franklin covered his face helplessly.
She might be clueless, but her affection was the purest.
With a faint laugh, he conjured a tissue and gently wiped the oil from her face.
"I understand what you mean, Astraea. But still—try to mind your appearance a little. I'll have to find something else for you next time."
"No! Master, I want grilled meat! Only grilled meat is the most delicious!"
She held up her lamb leg in protest.
Franklin was helpless, but also couldn't bring himself to deny her. She was his angel—of course he would spoil her.
He rubbed her head. "Fine, fine. Keep eating. Just try not to spill anything this time."
Nymph watched this scene with a soft smile.
They were all created by Daedalus—and seeing Astraea this carefree made her genuinely happy.
The warm moment didn't last long.
All three girls suddenly turned into white light and were pulled into the Dimensional Tome.
And the next moment, Franklin himself was swallowed by white light.
He didn't know how long it lasted.
As the dizziness and brightness faded, he released a slow breath and looked around.
He had been teleported into the Uchiha clan compound—the very place he used as a hiding spot before.
New wooden beams, new tatami mats—everything was pristine.
Floating text appeared before his eyes.
[The Talent Bearer has been transported to Konoha Year 48, the Night of the Nine-Tails' Invasion. Task activation successful.]
[Designated Task 2: Absorb the Dimensional Split Technique – Dimensional Tome Fragment inside Uchiha Madara's body]
[Mission Duration: 17 years]
[Sub-Task 1: Locate Uchiha Obito and obtain Madara's location]
[Further tasks will unlock upon completion. Failure will result in alternate tasks.]
After taking in the situation, Franklin exhaled softly.
His divine sense expanded in an instant, enveloping all of Konoha and its surroundings.
Aside from a handful of night guards, every Uchiha had fallen into deep sleep.
Uzumaki Kushina was writhing in pain inside an underground delivery chamber.
Beside her stood two medical-nin—and the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze.
Franklin shook his head helplessly.
Two pitiful people were about to be treated like sacrificial pawns.
No guards during the most vulnerable moment of a Jinchūriki's childbirth?
Konoha deserved everything that was about to happen.
What should have been a moment of family joy was about to become a tragedy—parents dead, a child forced to grow up alone and in pain.
Then the Uchiha massacre would follow—because the Third couldn't keep the clan under control.
The more Franklin thought about it, the more he felt speechless.
Should he change the timeline?
The thought appeared for only a second—before he crushed it.
The first time he entered the Naruto world, the timeline perfectly matched the original.
Changing things randomly would have unpredictable results.
But after a little thought, he remembered everything he'd done—the real Ōtsutsuki Kaguya inside his body, the false Kaguya, Hagoromo, and Hamura he created moving the worldline forward.
Rinnegan opened, and Franklin quietly implanted a suggestion into everyone in Konoha—
Ignore his existence.
Then he stepped out of the main hall and onto an open ground within the Uchiha compound.
Looking up at the Planetary Devastation moon hovering in the sky, Franklin let out a slow breath.
"A fake Nine-Tails Invasion… guess I'll finally fulfill a childhood regret."
He summoned the three angels from the Dimensional Tome, then erased their presence from every mind in Konoha.
"We're thousands of years in the future now. This is Konoha—the village founded by the reincarnations of Indra and Ashura, the sons of Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki."
Nymph was unfazed—she was used to him casually travelling across worlds and eras.
"Master, do you need us to do anything?"
Seeing their eager expressions, Franklin chuckled and shook his head.
"I just didn't want you cooped up in the Tome. I'm about to stage a grand performance—one to deceive the entire worldline, just like before.
You can watch… or explore the ninja world if you like."
At the mention of leaving, Astraea immediately wrapped both arms tightly around his right arm.
Those two large, soft, snow-white masses completely enveloped his arm.
"Master, don't joke like that! If I leave you now, I'll definitely starve to death outside!"