"The news of the Kazekage's death has spread throughout the Land of Wind. We don't know the Daimyo's reaction yet, but many bandits and robbers have appeared, and the Ninja of the Village have to help deal with them for free…"
Walking through the desert of the Land of Wind, Temari recounted the current situation of the Hidden Sand Village to Bai Mo.
The Land of Wind is vast and sparsely populated, mostly desert, with its population concentrated in a few fixed areas.
Aside from the Villages near the Hidden Sand Village, villagers in other areas who encounter bandits find it difficult to travel to the Hidden Sand Village to request missions, and even harder to have money to pay for them.
"So, this is 'adding insult to injury for an already struggling family'?"
"Mm."
Hearing Bai Mo say this, Temari, surprisingly, did not refute him, but only grunted in agreement.
"Did you forget something? Are you only remembering the swimsuit photos? The Mutual Aid Alliance, the Mutual Aid Alliance."
"…"
After Bai Mo's reminder, Temari finally remembered that Bai Mo had said to find him if she wanted to develop something.
"When you have free time, remember to compile a list of special products from the Land of Wind. The purpose of the Mutual Aid Alliance is to exchange goods and develop the economy—this isn't charity, it's mutual need."
Bai Mo explained the purpose of the alliance to Temari.
He vaguely remembered a few special products from the Land of Wind: unique flowers, tropical fruits, and although its variety wasn't as extensive as the Land of Water, in terms of tuna species, the Land of Wind was top-tier.
That's right, the Land of Wind also has marine products.
It might be poor, but its area is truly vast.
In terms of area alone, it's the largest of the Five Great Nations, bordering the sea to the south and southeast, and even having a deep bay extending into the land in the southeast.
"Mutual need, huh?"
Temari muttered, already beginning to think about what special products there were.
But as she thought, Temari suddenly felt something was off.
Where would the Hidden Sand Village get such great authority?
Even if Gaara became the Kazekage, he could only govern the area around the Hidden Sand Village.
Temari immediately thought of the Land of Water and the Land of Earth, which no longer had Daimyo.
"You're not thinking of having us assassinate the Daimyo, are you?"
Temari looked at Bai Mo in astonishment.
"Let me tell you a story."
Bai Mo did not answer directly.
"A story?"
"Mm."
"Once upon a time, there was a devotee who believed in the Goddess of Fate. She considered no one more devout than herself, and was certain she would receive the Goddess of Fate's favor.
One day, her mother fell gravely ill. An itinerant physician passing through her Village offered to help treat her, but she refused.
She said, 'I believe in the Goddess of Fate; she will naturally save my mother.'
Then her mother died, and she was heartbroken.
Another day, a merchant passed by and discovered that the unique flowers of the Village could be used as medicine. So, the villagers began to cultivate the flowers and became rich.
Only she, believing that the Goddess of Fate would lead her to prosperity, refused to accept the dirty merchant's charity.
Thus, she was the only one in the entire Village who remained poor and destitute.
Later, heavy rain continuously fell near the Village. Someone from a neighboring Village came and advised everyone to leave the Village to avoid being submerged by a flash flood.
She still refused, believing that with the Goddess of Fate watching over her, she would surely be protected.
This time, she died.
She met the Goddess of Fate and questioned her, asking why, despite her devout belief, the Goddess had never helped her even once.
What do you think the Goddess answered?"
"The physician the first time, the merchant the second time, and the villager from the neighboring Village the third time—they were all sent by the Goddess of Fate to change her destiny, but she herself refused them."
—
Konoha.
Having experienced an even more terrifying incident a second time, Naruto no longer trusted Boruto.
Upon learning of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi personally visited Naruto, persuading him that Boruto had his reasons and it wasn't as he thought.
Anyone in the world might hurt him, but Boruto never would.
Naruto still greatly respected Hiruzen Sarutobi, and under Hiruzen Sarutobi's earnest persuasion, he finally reconciled with Boruto again.
Furthermore, Hiruzen Sarutobi brought his grandson, Konohamaru, and together with Naruto and Boruto, they went to the forest outside the Village, preparing to guide the three of them in their training.
After some guidance, Konohamaru and Naruto secretly went to the river to fish, leaving only Boruto and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew the time for subtle probing had come, and just as he was about to speak, he noticed Boruto clutching his head, looking as if he had a headache.
"Child, what's wrong with you?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped forward, concerned.
"Uh…"
Boruto did not answer; he was communicating telepathically with the voice in his mind.
[Idiot, that Urashiki guy is an idiot, and you lower beings are also idiots!]
[He clearly had instructions, why didn't he follow them!]
Boruto heard Momoshiki's somewhat angry voice and remembered the warning the turtle had given him and Sasuke when they first arrived in this era.
It told them to minimize contact with people from the past and not to change the past, otherwise it would trigger a series of changes in the future.
Listening to Momoshiki's curses, Boruto only then realized that Urashiki wanting to go back to the past to capture his dad wasn't that also a form of changing the past?
Could the current changes be caused by Urashiki?
[That shouldn't be, the fates of us three have no intersection with you lower beings, so we shouldn't be affected. How could I disappear… ]
Boruto understood; Momoshiki was so anxious because he had discovered that he too would disappear.
"If you disappear, that's a good thing. Let's just disappear together in this era and not go back to trouble Dad and the others."
Boruto now had conviction.
[Hmph! Did you forget what I told you? You don't care about your own disappearance, but what about your sister?]
[Not just your sister, but also your relatives and friends—they will all disappear!]
"…What exactly happened?"
Boruto's conviction changed.
[Hmph, I also want to know what that idiot Urashiki did! What you need to do now is correct this chaotic spacetime, otherwise you and I, along with your sister and friends, will all die!]
Momoshiki's voice repeatedly emphasized Himawari and Boruto's friends in Boruto's mind.
"Then, what should I do?"
Boruto compromised.
[Correct all errors, then have the Rinnegan use genjutsu to adjust everyone else's memories, returning spacetime to its proper course.]
"I'm asking, how can I make spacetime return to its proper course!"
[… ]
Momoshiki gave Boruto an example.
"No!"
[You only have two choices: let the fate that has already occurred return to its proper course, or let your sister and friends take your place.]
"…"
[Change people, kid.]
"…"
"Boruto? Boruto? What's wrong with you?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi saw Boruto's extremely pained expression and became anxious, preparing to contact Tsunade to come and see him.
As Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around to cast a communication Ninjutsu at the crystal ball, Boruto behind him had completely lost his pained expression, standing up emotionlessly.
A faint blue Chakra emerged on Boruto's body, one of his eyes turned into a Byakugan, and a horn grew above his eye.
"Let me think, what was that jutsu called?"
"Oh, Rasengan."
Chh.
Hiruzen Sarutobi heard the movement behind him and was about to turn around when he saw a hand wielding a Rasengan pierce through his chest.
His heart was instantly pulverized by the compressed Rasengan.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's vision went dark, and he fell down.
Before he fell, he only heard a single phrase: "Filthy monkey."
....
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