The last rays of the setting sun dyed the massive Hokage Rock a warm and solemn gold-red, the outlines of the four statues on the rock face appearing increasingly profound in the fading daylight.
Behind the head of the statue of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, two figures landed almost simultaneously and soundlessly in this spot.
They were none other than Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Boruto, who had arrived punctually for their meeting.
Sasuke quickly glanced over Boruto, confirming he was unharmed, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Boruto, on the other hand, looked somewhat travel-worn, his eyes still holding a dazed expression from receiving too much shocking information during the day. However, upon seeing Sasuke, he immediately made an effort to focus.
"Mr. Sasuke."
Boruto greeted in a low voice.
"Hn."
Sasuke gave a slight nod.
The two of them sat down leaning against the cold rock wall, using the statue's shadow and the deepening twilight to conceal their forms.
Boruto spoke first, reporting what he considered important intelligence:
"I went to a few places. There wasn't much direct information about the Hokage or the Uchiha; the villagers don't seem to talk about these things openly much.
However..."
He paused, his face showing a mixture of absurdity and disbelief.
"At the entrance of a gambling house, I saw... the First Hokage-sama, and the Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade."
Sasuke's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.
The First Hokage was definitely dead. If he were alive now, he'd be over ninety years old.
"Give me the details."
"It's just... the two of them, Senju Hashirama and Tsunade, were gambling inside a gambling house called 'Kachi-ya'."
Boruto tried to keep his tone sounding like he was just stating facts.
"The First Hokage-sama looked... well, very amiable, like an ordinary, good-natured uncle. Lady Tsunade was... very much in the gambling spirit."
He added a key observation, "But... their gambling luck seemed particularly bad. The First Hokage-sama basically never won, and Lady Tsunade didn't win at all."
Sasuke fell silent for a moment.
A living First Hokage, gambling at a gambling house with his granddaughter... And according to Boruto's description, the First Hokage didn't look like a frail old man either.
Edo Tensei?
This situation, like the abnormal relationship between Kakashi and the female spy Karin he discovered during his investigation, belonged to scenes that "should not exist" or "should not exist in this state."
This further confirmed that this time point was not the time of their world.
"Anything else?" Sasuke pressed, his gaze sharp as he looked at Boruto. He had a feeling Boruto's report was a bit too brief, especially since his eyes seemed somewhat evasive.
"Uh... I also went to Ichiraku Ramen," Boruto said quickly, but instinctively avoided certain details.
"Old man Teuchi mistook me for Dad from this era and said Dad 'hadn't been to eat ramen in a long time.'
Also, he mentioned that Dad was ostracized as a kid because of the 'demon fox' rumor, but after entering the Ninja Academy, he made friends and his personality became brighter... These things seem pretty similar to the history we know."
As for what Old man Teuchi said later about "many girls liking Naruto" and that specific, hair-raising list of names... Boruto's reason and survival instinct were screaming wildly: Absolutely! Must not say! Must take this matter to the grave!
That guy Naruto, he hasn't been to Ichiraku Ramen to eat in a long time?
Sasuke calculated the time. If things were happening the same way as in their time...
Then at this moment, Naruto should be cultivating with Jiraiya.
He should still be in the Village cultivating with Jiraiya. In a while, he'll probably go out to Cultivate with Jiraiya.
However, this world's Jiraiya seems a bit more serious than the one from their own world.
And also... Sasuke's right eye stared quietly at Boruto. The gaze wasn't severe, but it carried a kind of scrutiny that seemed able to penetrate a person's heart.
Years of experience and sharp intuition told him Boruto was hiding something.
Although this kid was trying hard to stay calm, the subtle shifting of his eyes, the slightly faster speech, and the almost imperceptible, relieved little movement after finishing his report—none of it escaped Sasuke's notice.
This kid... what exactly is he hiding?
Sasuke pondered inwardly.
Was it something related to Naruto, but possibly involving privacy or something embarrassing?
Or did he discover something else, and he's not saying it because he's uncertain or too shocked?
Boruto felt his hair stand on end under Sasuke's gaze, a fine layer of sweat breaking out on his back.
Silence stretched between them for a few seconds, with only the moaning of the evening wind passing over the rock wall.
Just as Boruto was about to crack, Sasuke slowly withdrew his intensely oppressive gaze.
He turned his head, looking down at the gradually lighting myriad lights of the familiar yet unfamiliar Konoha below, and said in a flat tone:
"Forget it."
Boruto was taken aback.
"Everyone has things they're not good at."
Sasuke's voice betrayed no emotion, as if he were merely stating an objective fact.
"Gathering intelligence doesn't seem to be your strong suit."
"..."
Boruto opened his mouth, momentarily unsure whether to feel relieved at having slipped through or somewhat indignant at being looked down upon.
But he wanted to know more: was Sasuke's statement more like a kind of... letting it go without digging deeper?
Or did he genuinely think Boruto lacked ability?
Sasuke didn't continue the topic. Instead, he began concisely sharing his own discoveries:
"On my end, I confirmed a few things."
His voice lowered, carrying gravity.
"First, the time point of this Konoha indeed differs from the 'Fifth Hokage period' initially indicated by 'Plow.' The first clue is my parents and the First Hokage—people who should have died are alive again.
Second, the Konoha Crush Plan just ended not long ago, but the Third Hokage, who should have perished in that turmoil, is still alive.
Then, Jiraiya might become the Fifth Hokage. Currently, he has already begun acting as the Hokage temporarily."
"Jiraiya? My grand-teacher?"
Boruto's eyes widened.
Most of his knowledge about this legendary Sannin and his grand-teacher came from his father's memories and scattered records. He knew he was his father's mentor and a powerful Ninja.
"Hn."
Sasuke nodded.
"He is indeed Naruto's teacher. In this timeline, he doesn't seem to be traveling the world for long periods searching for the Child of Prophecy like in our history. Instead, he's involved himself in Konoha's affairs earlier and more deeply.
Perhaps the Third Hokage's survival, and possibly other variables, led to this outcome."
Jiraiya might become the Fifth Hokage, not Tsunade.
The impact of this change would be profound.
Jiraiya's leadership style, policy inclinations, and his way of handling internal Village conflicts could be completely different from Tsunade's.
More importantly, the two of them searched all day but couldn't find where Naruto was, which was very strange.