The group chat went silent.
Moments ago, the God-Level Multiverse System had only hinted at the Pure Land's existence. Now it had fully materialized. The silence shattered with one impossible notification.
Madara Uchiha has joined the chat.
The shinobi world collectively froze. If Madara was here, then where was Hashirama? What about the other Hokage?
Tsunade: Madara's here... so why aren't my grandfather or the Third here yet?
Madara Uchiha: Hmph. That Hashirama woman had better not show her face before me.
Izuna Uchiha: Nii-san, temper your tone. If I can join after all these years, they'll be here too.
Fourth Raikage Darui: Wait. That really was my father earlier?
Mizukage Mei Terumi: Haha. Raikage cursing his own dad. Impressive.
Ohnoki: He's ruthless... even to his own blood.
Third Raikage: Don't talk that way. You're my son. I'll crush you when I catch you.
Fourth Raikage Darui: Son, knock it off...
Third Raikage: You wait, you little brat. I'll gut you!
Mizukage Mei Terumi: These father-son insults. It's like killing a thousand enemies but wounding yourselves.
Ohnoki: First turtle grandson, now turtle son. Self-roast tradition continues.
Madara Uchiha: And this Ohnoki... is he that rock skeleton?
Madara Uchiha: Tsunade must be of the Senju... the Raikage is the Fourth... rare to see others like this.
Izuna Uchiha: I've been dead for ages too.
Hatake Kakashi: If the dead are in here... Obito? Rin? Are you two there?
Rin Nohara: Heehee. I'm here! Obito?
Obito Uchiha: ...I... I'm here...
Kakashi stared at the chat. His heart trembled.
That voice... Rin?
After all these years, masked by pain and war, it was Rin. Obito's mind swirled. Was it love? Longing? Pain? It all flooded him at once.
Rin Nohara: Obito, where are you in the Pure Land? When I opened my eyes, I was back where I died. It feels like the real world.
Obito Uchiha: I... I'm also where I died...
Madara Uchiha: Fascinating. They've mirrored the Shinobi World in the Pure Land. Souls remain intact, no hunger, but everything else feels the same.
Izuna Uchiha: Nii-san, tell me where you are. I'll come find you.
Madara Uchiha: No need. I know your position. Wait for me.
Izuna Uchiha: Okay.
Tsunade: Huh? My grandfather should've been the first to speak. Where is he?
[Video Footage]
Sasuke, held by the collar, stared at Naruto with confusion.
"Why, Naruto? Why do you care about me so much?"
Naruto's voice was steady, eyes filled with warmth.
"You're the bond I finally built. That's why I must stop you."
Naruto smiled calmly. Nine-Tails chakra flickered around him, but his expression stayed gentle.
Sasuke slowly drew his Leaf headband and tied it around his forehead.
"Too late, Naruto... it's already too late to turn back."
"Come on. Let me sever this bond with my own hands."
Naruto tilted his head.
"Sever it? Then why wear the forehead protector now?"
Sasuke gave a faint smile.
"Because I respect you. You're strong. Because you and I both know what loneliness and pain feel like."
Naruto froze in place.
"Pain can make you stronger. So if I sever this bond, I'll become stronger."
"From now on, I'll fight you as an equal."
"But you'll never even scratch my forehead protector."
He pointed to the Leaf symbol, smirking with confidence.
"Enough talk. Next comes life or death. Let's go!"
The battle reignited. They exchanged blows, no longer boys but true rivals.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Technique!"
Flames roared. Sasuke watched, panting. Naruto lay motionless amid the scorched ground.
"Too late, Naruto. It's too late now."
He grabbed Naruto's body and slammed him down. Then he leaped, stomping onto Naruto's gut with brutal force. He pinned Naruto's feet with his hands and smashed his head into the earth.
Tsunade: Naruto!Kushina Uzumaki: Naruto!Hatake Kakashi: Naruto...
The entire world watched in horror.
Kushina clutched her chest. She had watched silently for so long, just waiting to hear her son's voice. His hair was the same yellow as Minato's, and his chakra overflowed like a true Uzumaki.
Tears filled her eyes.
Fugaku Uchiha: Sasuke's blow is ruthless.
Mikoto Uchiha: We cannot interfere. Our children died too early.
Kushina Uzumaki: You can't just stand aside, Mikoto!
Mikoto Uchiha: I'm not shirking. @Sasuke Uchiha maybe?
Sasuke slumped. Then he heard a voice.
"I'm not ignoring you. @Sasuke Uchiha!"
His mother?
Sasuke looked up at the glowing avatars. His hand trembled.
"...Mom? Dad?"
Fugaku Uchiha: Sasuke, you've grown.
Mikoto Uchiha: Yes, it's Mom. Sasuke.
Kushina Uzumaki: I should be furious for what you did to Naruto... but I feel sorry for you.
Fugaku Uchiha: Your son's heart is in chaos.
Mikoto Uchiha: Sasuke, run now!
[Video Footage]
Naruto's lifeless body suddenly burst with red chakra. He rose from the water like a demon reborn. Sasuke's three-tomoe Sharingan widened in disbelief.
Naruto roared and launched a punch straight into Sasuke's face. Red chakra boiled, evaporating the water beneath.
His speed soared. Even the Sharingan couldn't keep up.
Sasuke braced himself. Every dodge, every step, was calculated. But Naruto's attacks kept coming.
A massive chakra arm formed behind Naruto and slammed toward Sasuke.
Sasuke's panic surged. He couldn't win like this.
"No choice..."
He activated the cursed seal. Black marks crept across his skin. His hair darkened, a purple hue settling in. His eyes turned jet black.
"You are special... but I am more special!"
Fourth Raikage Darui: What nonsense are they yelling? Are they competing to see who's more mentally unstable?
Ohnoki: Honestly, I'm starting to believe both are unhinged.
Fugaku Uchiha: If I were alive, I'd deal with both right now.
Kushina Uzumaki: Where's my husband? Minato, come out and deal with this!
First Raikage: I'm dead.
Second Raikage: Same here.
Third Raikage: Should I come back to help?
Fourth Raikage Darui: Stop! I'm the one being roasted!
Kushina Uzumaki: Minato, answer me already!
Tsunade: Where are my father, grandfather, the Third, and the Fourth Hokage? What are they doing, playing mahjong?
Meanwhile, inside the Death God's belly...
"Yo! Flying Thunder God was my jutsu!"
"Huh? Nine-Tails can kill?"
"So Orochimaru failed again?"
"Wait... are all four Hokage stuck inside the Death God?"
"...Huh."
They shivered as they glanced at each other.
"Whatever. So what happened next?"