"This is Rōran... wait, something is not right!"
Seiryū spoke, deliberately showing a look of surprise.
Then he began forming hand seals, looking Naruto up and down.
Using a tone both curious and serious, he began to act mysterious. "Boy, something is wrong with you, very wrong!"
"M-me? What is wrong with me?"
Hearing Seiryū's serious voice, Naruto somehow also became a little nervous.
Seiryū circled Naruto once. His tone was calm, yet carried a hint of surprise.
"Just now I already felt something strange. As a shinobi of Konoha, you actually do not know my name. That itself is something very unusual."
"After a quick calculation, it seems you are not someone from this space-time, but rather someone from another space."
After encountering Naruto from another space-time, how could he not have some fun?
There was also another point.
The other party should have already mastered Rasenshuriken.
Since there was a ready-made ninjutsu, it was naturally more convenient than developing and researching it himself.
If he could trick the other party.
And make him tell the related techniques, would that not be easier than spending time developing it himself?
Seiryū really liked getting things for free!
"Another space-time?"
Naruto was confused. His brain was not exactly the sharpest. He scratched his head. "What does that mean?"
"Follow me."
Seiryū beckoned Naruto with his hand and walked toward another passage on his own.
His tone sounded profound and unfathomable. "According to my deduction, you should have been affected by the Dragon Vein's chakra and crossed into another space-time that does not belong to yours."
"So what exactly does that mean?"
Naruto followed behind, still full of question marks. "What space-time and another space-time?"
"So stupid!"
Seiryū glanced at Naruto and explained, "The Dragon Vein's chakra is extremely special. It can distort space-time. After being affected by it, you crossed through time and space and arrived at this different space-time where we are."
Naruto opened his mouth. Question marks kept popping into his head. In the end he could only smile awkwardly. "I still do not really understand..."
Seiryū: "..."
"Let me ask you a question. What year of Konoha is the time you are in?"
"Konoha Year 66. That is common knowledge, right?"
Seiryū nodded slightly. "Which means you come from another different space-time. Right now here it is Konoha Year 46."
Naruto froze again. "N-no way? I actually came to twenty years in the past!?"
Perhaps it was because of Seiryū's "unfathomable demeanor," or perhaps Naruto's brain was not very sharp. Coupled with suddenly appearing in this unknown place...
Naruto started to believe it.
All these circumstances seemed to point to one fact.
This was indeed not the Rōran he recognized.
Then... perhaps this "Sage Seiryū" was telling the truth!?
Th-this...
This was too unbelievable!
Seiryū corrected him. "Not twenty years in the past, but twenty years earlier in another space-time."
"There are many unknown things in this world. Crossing through time and space is not impossible."
Seiryū sighed. "Just like my Eternal Youth Technique. In the eyes of many people, it is also an unbelievable ninjutsu. It can even be considered a form of immortality."
As he walked, Seiryū continued speaking, guiding the conversation.
"By the way, boy, I have not asked your name yet."
Naruto was still in a dazed state and answered subconsciously. "My name is Uzumaki Naruto..."
"Sage Seiryū, is this really Konoha Year 46? Then how do I go back? Will I be trapped here? Ahhh, that will not do. I still have many things waiting for me to do!"
Naruto was starting to panic.
If this really was Konoha Year 46.
How was he supposed to return?
Would he end up trapped here?
Seiryū nodded slightly, his hands behind his back, speaking in an old and experienced tone. "Do not panic. Since you came here, there is a way back. You arrived in this space-time because of the Dragon Vein's chakra. I have considerable research on Dragon Vein chakra and have a method to send you back."
Hearing this, Naruto's eyes lit up. He said gratefully to Seiryū, "Thank you so much! I will definitely help you complete your mission!"
"You are welcome. I see that you have also learned the Rasengan. Although it is a different space-time, perhaps it still has some connection with me."
"Huh? Sage Seiryū, you know the Rasengan?"
"After all, I was also one of the people who participated in developing that technique."
Seeing Naruto brought up the topic under his guidance, Seiryū smiled inwardly.
He raised his right hand. Chakra spun wildly in his palm, gathering into a glowing Rasengan.
He sighed with emotion. "I put quite a lot of effort into this technique..."
Naruto stared blankly at the Rasengan in Seiryū's hand and swallowed. "You... could you be the Fourth Hokage-sama!?"
In his understanding, the Rasengan was developed and perfected by the Fourth Hokage.
Could it be...
Seiryū fell silent.
This kid's brain... it was really difficult to evaluate!
"This technique was developed and perfected by me together with two others. However, I am not the Fourth Hokage. The Hokage right now has only reached the Third Hokage."
Seiryū said slowly, "Boy, it seems you still have not understood what I said earlier. This space-time is different from the one you came from. So do not use your understanding of that space-time to interpret this one."
"O-oh!"
Naruto still did not fully understand.
But he had one advantage.
When he could not figure something out, he would not waste too much brainpower thinking about it.
It was enough to know that this was another space-time from twenty years ago... probably?
"Boy, although it is a different space-time, you also mastered the Rasengan and are someone from twenty years in the future of another space-time. Then has the further development of the Rasengan I envisioned been perfected?"
Walking through the passage, Seiryū finally revealed his true intention. "For example, a Rasengan that incorporates chakra nature transformation. Has anyone in your space-time mastered it?"
"A Rasengan with nature transformation?"
Naruto repeated the words, then struck his right fist into his left palm, showing a look of sudden realization. "You mean Wind Release: Rasenshuriken?"
A Rasengan with nature transformation?
Was that not his Wind Release: Rasenshuriken?
"Wind Release: Rasenshuriken?"
Seiryū muttered, then pretended to sigh with emotion. "A Rasengan with Wind Release nature added, it seems it was indeed developed. The person who created that technique must be remarkable, definitely a genius."
"From your words, it seems that in your space-time I do not exist. Then... who developed this Wind Release: Rasenshuriken?"
Seiryū had begun laying the bait!!
(To be continued.)