Mikoto took a few steps forward and stopped in front of the older Sasuke, her eyes unusually bright.
A mother's instincts told her that the person standing before her was her son.
But the rational mind she had developed as a shinobi told her that such a thing was impossible.
The contradiction left her momentarily confused, and the words in her heart slipped out before she could stop them.
"Sasuke... is that you?"
The older Sasuke desperately wanted to say yes. More than that, he wanted to call her Mom once again.
But reason overcame impulse, and he remained silent.
Everyone present, however, was a shinobi skilled at reading subtle expressions. Even with half his face concealed, they could clearly detect the flicker of emotion that had crossed it.
The younger Sasuke immediately became displeased.
"Mom, you've got the wrong person. I'm right here."
Only then did Mikoto snap back to her senses. Quickly pulling herself out of her emotional state, she grabbed the younger Sasuke and smoothed down the hair sticking up on his head.
"My apologies, Sasuke. Don't be angry with your mother."
The younger Sasuke shot the older Sasuke a smug look.
"Hmph."
The older Sasuke: "..."
The version of himself who had never experienced the destruction of his family was certainly happy, but he truly understood nothing. Just an immature little tsundere brat.
In fact, the older Sasuke found himself feeling a bit of envy and resentment toward this world's version of himself.
Still, he couldn't seriously get angry at a child.
So he could only glare at Makoto with one eye.
This is all your fault.
Makoto: Family dramas are my favorite. They're way more entertaining than Jiraiya's trashy books.
Kushina pulled Boruto closer and said, "Hey, hey, Mikoto, don't they look really alike?"
Mikoto glanced at Boruto and Naruto.
"They do look alike. It's really amazing. But it's probably just a coincidence, right?"
Kushina snorted.
"Hmph. Since when are there that many coincidences? Maybe that's your future son bringing my future grandson back to the present."
At this point, everyone already had similar suspicions.
But because of a shinobi's natural caution—and the possible consequences involved—no one dared voice them openly.
Only Kushina, carefree and utterly unconcerned, bluntly shattered the unspoken understanding.
Minato and Naruto could only sigh helplessly.
That was just how Kushina was.
Fugaku was much calmer.
"Time travel is impossible, isn't it? Makoto, what do you think?"
Makoto: "..."
I've been watching the whole thing from my seat. It's been very entertaining.
The older Sasuke still didn't dare look at his parents. Instead, he shot a warning glance at Makoto.
Everyone understood that, aside from the two unexpected visitors themselves, if there was anyone here who might know more, it was probably Higashino Makoto—whose strength had long surpassed anything they could comprehend.
Higashino Megumi spoke up.
"Makoto, you know something, don't you? Is it something you can't talk about?"
Higashino Jirō immediately replied, "Megumi, if that's the case, then don't ask."
Kushina frowned.
"What's there that can't be said? I seriously don't understand what everyone's so worried about."
Makoto was completely certain that Sasuke and Boruto were not from the future of his own world.
Neither of them knew who he was, which was obvious from their reactions.
More importantly, after spending the entire day studying Karasuki, he had already begun sensing faint spacetime fluctuations connected to an entirely different timeline.
The signal was incredibly weak, but it unquestionably existed.
That was the world where the older Sasuke and Boruto truly belonged.
"There's nothing inconvenient about saying it."
Ignoring the older Sasuke's warning stare, Makoto continued, "Kushina-sensei, you're surprisingly perceptive."
"This gentleman really is Sasuke from the future."
"As for the blond brat... I have no idea what his identity is in the future, but I'm willing to bet he's related to your family somehow."
Everyone: "..."
Even though they had already suspected it, hearing it confirmed still left them stunned.
The older Sasuke suppressed his anger and said, "Higashino Makoto, do you even realize what you're doing?"
"Of course. I'm exposing your identity."
"And do you understand the consequences that could cause? Nothing may happen to your timeline, but my disciple and I could disappear completely. Not die—vanish entirely. Along with everyone else. Our entire world could cease to exist."
"Then may I ask..."
Makoto looked at him.
"Have either of you disappeared yet?"
Seeing that both he and Boruto were still perfectly fine, the older Sasuke relaxed slightly.
Even so, he remained uneasy.
"Know when to stop. Maybe things haven't gotten bad enough to change the future yet."
"No, this... older Sasuke."
Makoto looked at him.
"I believe that from the moment you recognized Itachi, you had already realized it, hadn't you?"
"This isn't the world you once lived through at all."
"Did you ever meet me when you were a child?"
"If we're talking about changing the future, then the moment you appeared in this world, took your first breath, and met the first person here, the future was already altered irreversibly."
The older Sasuke: "..."
He felt the logic made sense, but he had no idea how to explain the current situation.
Boruto asked in confusion, "Then where did we come from?"
Minato replied gently, "I discussed this with Makoto before. The place you came from and this world of mine are probably similar worlds—parallel worlds."
"Perhaps they share the same history, but because of certain factors, they eventually diverged into different futures."
"Parallel worlds? Something like that really exists?"
"Aren't you the answer yourself? By the way, what's your name?"
Boruto glanced at his teacher. Seeing no objection, he answered, "My name is Uzumaki Boruto."
Kushina's eyes widened.
"Huh? Uzumaki? Then you really are my descendant, aren't you? Are you Naruto's future son?"
Naruto: "..."
Who am I?
Where am I?
What am I looking at?
How did I suddenly end up with a son my own age?
Who did I have him with?
Who even is my wife?
The entire Fugaku family was stunned.
The younger Sasuke in particular couldn't understand what the parallel-world version of himself had gone through to end up like this.
Mikoto asked with a pained expression, "Sasuke... life must have been very hard for you in that world, hasn't it?"
The older Sasuke didn't answer. He also stopped Boruto from speaking.
"My apologies, everyone."
"Even if what you've said about parallel worlds is true, I won't reveal any more information."
"Because there's no meaning in it."
"Some things in this world are destined never to happen."
"And I don't want information from my world to influence this world's future."
Even though he refused to say more, some things had already been settled.
At the very least, Kushina had completely embraced Boruto and was already treating him as her grandson.
Naruto: Before I even have a wife, before I've even become an adult, I've already lost my place in the family because of my son. Where am I supposed to file a complaint about that?
Minato nodded.
"That's right. Knowing those things serves no purpose. Everyone should stop asking."
As Hokage, he naturally wanted to know what wars and dangers awaited the future shinobi world.
Even if the two worlds were different, such information could still serve as a useful reference.
But he understood that the older Sasuke probably wouldn't reveal anything unless force was used.
And that was obviously impossible.
It also went against his ninja way.
The other man wasn't an enemy.
Boruto, meanwhile, was thrilled.
Now he'd never have to envy Inojin, Shikadai, and the rest of his buddies again.
He, Uzumaki Boruto, had now been hugged by his grandmother too.
The only problem was that the look his bargain-bin dad kept giving him was extremely unsettling.
But he soon had no time to worry about that.
The moment he thought of his friends, his intelligence briefly spiked, and he suddenly realized a very serious problem.
"Uh, sensei... how are we supposed to get back?"
"Karasuki said it could travel through time, but it never said anything about traveling between different dimensions."
The older Sasuke: "..."
How should I know?
I'm in the same mess myself.
Makoto took Karasuki, sensed it for a moment, then tossed it back to Boruto with a smile.
"Kid, time and space are inseparable."
"I can sense your world through this thing, and it's still there, perfectly intact."
"Getting back shouldn't be a problem."
Boruto stared at him.
"You're kidding, right?"
"You can actually sense my world from here?"
The younger Sasuke snorted arrogantly.
"Hmph! What would you know?"
"Sensei's strength is beyond anything you can imagine."
"Why do you think this place is called the True Sage Dojo?"
Boruto: "..."
No wonder sensei was so annoying when he was young.
No wonder he eventually left the village.
The older Sasuke said, "If that's the case, then all the better."
"We only came here for one reason."
"Once we've dealt with it, we'll leave immediately."
Mikoto looked disappointed.
"So soon, Sasuke?"
Itachi kept the distinction clear in his mind.
His own little brother was doing just fine.
The older Sasuke standing before them was merely someone from another world.
Still, seeing the worry on their mother's face, he asked, "With that tool's help, wouldn't it be fine to stay a little longer?"
The older Sasuke lowered his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"This place... doesn't belong to me."