Restricted by the threat of Urashiki and unable to find a way back, Sasuke and Boruto naturally followed Seiryū and the others to Konoha.
Since their identities had been confirmed, no one restricted their freedom.
This also gave them time to process everything that had happened.
Thus, Sasuke and Boruto began wandering around the familiar yet unfamiliar Konoha.
Looking at the four Hokage faces carved into the Hokage Rock, Sasuke still felt strange.
"This really is difficult to get used to."
The faces of the First, Second, and Third Hokage were normal, but the Fourth had become Tsunade.
He needed time to adjust.
"The more I look at it, the more unbelievable it feels. Granny Tsunade actually took Grandpa's place, and she even has a future partner."
Boruto took a breath.
"More importantly, her future partner looks about the same age as me!"
That left him both surprised and shocked.
It was simply too strange.
Did Granny Tsunade, who had never married in her life, actually like boys of this age?
Could she have some unusual preference?
He was too young to understand, but he was deeply shocked!
Sasuke fell silent.
Thinking about it carefully, it was indeed strange.
The Tsunade he knew was not someone who would have that kind of preference, right?
In the end, Sasuke could only make one guess.
"Perhaps Seiryū only looks young."
"He has mastered the Yin Seal, which can preserve a person's youth."
"That must be it."
Boruto nodded seriously.
"Otherwise, someone who looks about the same age as me becoming Granny Tsunade's future partner would be far too strange!"
Sasuke nodded slightly.
"Don't dwell on it. It's enough to know that this timeline is very different."
"Let's go. I'll take you to the Uchiha Clan compound first."
After wandering around for a while, Sasuke led Boruto toward the Uchiha Clan compound.
Fugaku had previously invited Sasuke to visit the compound.
However, Sasuke had wanted to walk around the village first and understand how this Konoha differed from the one he remembered.
There were indeed some differences. Several buildings were different from those in his memories.
Konoha was also more prosperous than it had been during his childhood.
However, that was all he could learn from walking around.
Now, he wanted to see his brother, Itachi, and his mother, Mikoto.
Sasuke confidently led Boruto toward the Uchiha Clan compound.
Then he got lost.
'I nearly forgot. The Uchiha Clan compound was relocated. The original compound before the relocation was somewhere else.'
Sasuke felt foolish.
The Uchiha Clan had relocated once after the Nine-Tails incident.
That incident had not happened at this point in time, and it probably would not happen in the future either.
Naturally, the Uchiha Clan compound had not been moved.
After changing direction, the two soon arrived at the compound.
Once they asked for the location of the clan leader's residence, Sasuke led Boruto there.
Seeing this son again, Fugaku greeted him.
"How was it? Is Konoha different from what you remember?"
Sasuke took a sip of tea.
"There are some differences, but they aren't significant. A few buildings are different."
Fugaku smiled.
"Under the leadership of the Fourth Hokage, Konoha is now more prosperous than before."
"She holds no prejudice against us, and the Uchiha Clan is now entrusted with important responsibilities."
"However, because of Madara and Ryota, some people in Konoha have criticized us. Aside from that, everything is moving in a better direction."
Fugaku brought this up because he wanted to learn about the Uchiha Clan in Sasuke's timeline.
From Sasuke's previous words, he had already realized something.
Long time no see.
That greeting was enough to suggest that Fugaku from the other timeline was probably dead.
"Hmm."
Sasuke responded.
The Uchiha Clan here was in a much better position than the one from his timeline.
Being entrusted with important responsibilities by Konoha sounded almost unbelievable.
However, it was a good thing.
Perhaps the tragedy of the Uchiha Clan would never happen here.
Sasuke continued, "Father, there are still some things about this place that I need to ask you in detail."
Fugaku nodded.
"Ask. The Hokage also said that different timelines shouldn't affect each other's history, so there are some things we can share."
"I also have several things I want to ask you."
"Earlier, Seiryū introduced himself as the future Hokage's assistant."
Sasuke's eyes flashed.
"Then what happened to Danzō?"
Danzō could be considered the greatest enemy of the Uchiha Clan.
Naturally, Sasuke wanted to ask about him.
If Danzō was still alive, Sasuke would not mind eliminating him in advance.
That would prevent certain tragedies from happening.
Fugaku replied, "He's dead. Danzō committed serious crimes while serving as the Hokage's assistant and was publicly executed before the villagers of Konoha."
Sasuke was astonished.
"He's dead?"
Danzō had actually died?
No wonder Orochimaru had defected at this point in time.
Could the conspiracy between the two of them have been exposed?
Sasuke exhaled.
"It's good that he's dead. Someone like him would only cause disaster while alive."
Fugaku noticed the hostility in Sasuke's tone.
"You seem to hate Danzō deeply."
"He was an enemy of the Uchiha Clan. I don't think I need to explain much more than that."
Sasuke continued, "Some parts of history remained the same, which means he should also have transplanted Sharingan here."
"It appears all the changes began with Seiryū. Without him, Danzō's actions probably wouldn't have been exposed."
Fugaku narrowed his eyes.
"Did Danzō cause trouble for the Uchiha Clan? He was always extremely hostile toward us."
Sasuke fell silent.
It had been far more than mere trouble.
Danzō could even be considered the greatest culprit behind the Uchiha Clan massacre.
Sasuke merely nodded.
"He caused serious trouble, but it shouldn't happen here."
"Is that so?"
Fugaku sensed that Sasuke was hiding something, but he temporarily suppressed his questions.
Instead, he asked about another matter that concerned him.
"Did the version of me in your timeline die? Otherwise, you wouldn't have greeted me by saying 'long time no see.'"
"Did I die during the Third Shinobi World War or the Fourth Shinobi World War you mentioned?"
Sasuke fell silent once again.
He had been silent many times today.
These questions were extremely difficult to answer.
After a pause, Sasuke spoke vaguely.
"I didn't die in a war."
"Dead is dead. Why can't you say it?"
Seeing that Sasuke did not want to discuss it, Fugaku frowned.
"You and I come from different timelines with different histories. Events have already changed, so what happened in your timeline may not happen here."
"Besides, if I know what happened, I can prepare in advance and prevent it."
"It's not that I don't want to tell you, Father. I simply don't know where to begin."
Sasuke rubbed his brow, thought for a moment, and carefully chose his words.
"When I was seven years old, the Uchiha Clan attempted a coup."
Fugaku listened to Sasuke's explanation in silence.
Two seconds later, the corners of his mouth began twitching, and his voice was filled with disbelief.
"You're saying Itachi killed me and then killed everyone in the Uchiha Clan except you?"
Learning about the Uchiha Clan massacre dealt Fugaku a tremendous shock.
His obedient and sensible eldest son, Itachi, had actually done something so unthinkable?
Although Fugaku understood the circumstances and knew Danzō, who was already dead in this timeline, had been involved, Itachi's actions were still far too extreme.
He had slaughtered the entire Uchiha Clan!
Sasuke's expression became heavy.
"Yes."
Even after so many years, he still did not want to bring it up.
"However, that should not happen in this timeline. The conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan isn't nearly as severe, and Danzō is already dead."
Sasuke's expression relaxed slightly.
"Just as you said, Father, the Uchiha Clan is now trusted with important responsibilities by Konoha."
After learning about the Uchiha Clan's circumstances in this timeline, Sasuke did not believe the same tragedy would happen again.
In that case, this timeline was not bad.
Everything had changed.
It was moving in a better direction.
Although Fugaku understood this, he still felt unhappy.
He snorted coldly.
"I'll find an excuse to beat Itachi tonight. That brat needs to be properly disciplined."
Sasuke fell silent.
'Sorry, Brother.'
The Itachi of this timeline would have to bear the blame for the actions of his counterpart.
He would simply have to endure the beating.
However, the idea seemed rather interesting.
Sasuke wanted to watch.
He continued, "Father, I still want to know more about Seiryū."
Fugaku nodded.
"Ask. I'll tell you everything I know."
"Hmm? Father? Fugaku, who is this friend of yours?"
Before the father and son could continue, a voice came from the doorway.
A graceful woman in the later stages of pregnancy slowly walked inside.
Mikoto's curious gaze moved between the two men, and her expression became extremely strange.
What was going on?
Someone who appeared to be around the same age as her husband had just called him Father?
Was she trapped in a Genjutsu?
Seeing Mikoto, Sasuke subconsciously called out, "Mother? You're here too?"
"?"
Mikoto froze.
Her beautiful eyes widened as she pointed at herself.
"You called me Mother? Me? Your mother?"
Was he out of his mind?
This man looked older than her.
Yet he had actually called her Mother?
When had she given birth to a son this old?
Sasuke fell silent.
No matter how much he had experienced, he still felt his face grow warm under Mikoto's questioning.
The main problem was that the woman before him truly was his mother.
He could not simply refuse to call her that.
He had missed her deeply.
"Ahem."
Fugaku choked and coughed twice.
Looking at his wife's expression, he inexplicably found the situation amusing.
He had worn the same expression earlier.
Complete confusion.
Fugaku pointed toward Sasuke and introduced him.
"My dear, you didn't mishear. His name is Uchiha Sasuke, and he really is our son."
Mikoto fell silent.
Her eyebrows rose, and her eyes suddenly became sharp.
She stared directly at the two men, her voice carrying a dangerous edge.
"Don't make such outrageous jokes about our family!"
"And don't joke about my child. Fugaku, have you been drinking?"
Wasn't Sasuke the name chosen for her unborn son?
She did not even know whether the child was a boy or a girl yet.
Yet her husband was telling her that a man older than her was their son?
A child who had not even been born?
Did he truly expect her to believe that?
Had Fugaku been drinking too much?
"This is a long story."
Fugaku also knew the explanation sounded absurd.
He began explaining Sasuke's circumstances.
"He came from another timeline with a different history. Simply put, it happened like this."
After hearing the whole explanation, Mikoto was also shocked.
"So that's what happened? This is unbelievable."
Could such a thing truly happen?
However, Mikoto knew her husband's personality.
He would never deceive her about something like this.
This middle-aged man, who looked older than her, was actually her future son from another timeline?
Mikoto touched her stomach and muttered, "He hasn't even been born yet, but I've already met my future son?"
She truly had lived long enough to see something new.
Sasuke awkwardly touched his nose.
"That's what happened. Long time no see, Mother."
'Long time no see?'
Mikoto glanced at Sasuke's missing left arm, then looked at the handsome but weathered face of her son.
She immediately understood something.
After a brief pause, she revealed a gentle smile.
"It's good to have you home. Sasuke, what would you like to eat? I'll prepare it for you."
There were no unnecessary questions, only a mother's concern for her son.
This son had clearly experienced many hardships and had probably endured them alone.
The thought made her heart ache.
After all, he was her son.
Sasuke recalled his childhood, and nostalgia appeared in his eyes.
"Tomato soup and bonito rice balls. Sorry to trouble you, Mother."
Those had been his favorite foods when he was young.
They were also his mother's specialties.
He had not eaten her cooking in many years.
He never expected to have another chance.
"Tomato soup and bonito rice balls?"
Mikoto now completely believed that Sasuke was her son.
Those were her specialties, something only her family knew.
"You two continue talking. I'll go prepare dinner."
Mikoto stood up, intending to give the father and son some space.
Then she remembered something and asked Sasuke, "By the way, will that young man who was spending time with Itachi be eating here tonight? If so, I'll make more food."
"Uh."
The phrase "spending time with Itachi" made Sasuke pause.
It sounded rather strange to him.
Then he shook his head.
"Boruto will be eating at Minato-san's home tonight. He is Minato-san's grandson."
"Kushina's grandson? She must be shocked as well."
Imagining the expression of her close friend Kushina, Mikoto could not help feeling amused.
She chuckled.
"My son hasn't even been born yet, but I've already met my friend's grandson. This is really interesting."
Since Boruto was her grandson, that meant the child in Kushina's womb was also a boy.
"They're both boys. What a pity."
Mikoto sighed.
"I was thinking that if one was a boy and the other was a girl, I could arrange an engagement with Kushina."
Sasuke fell silent once again.
His mother had actually considered such a thing before he was born?
This was truly unexpected.
(To be continued.)