Hokage's Office
Tsunade sat in her chair, gazing forward with a serious expression.
Standing before her were Kakashi, Guy, Shikaku, Choji, Inoichi, Shikamaru, Naruto, Sakura, Sai, Lee, Tenten, Choji, Yamato, and a group of other elite Konoha ninja.
"You all understand what I just said, right?" Tsunade asked.
"We understand… but it's still a bit hard to believe." Shikamaru said with a wry smile.
"Tsunade-sama, talking about another world, that Tang being Lee, Neji, and Obito from another world… it's too unbelievable." Ino complained.
"It's very unbelievable, but the expressions on Kakashi and Shikaku tell me they likely believe it, so I believe it too…" Inoichi said.
"I never imagined Lee from another world would be so strong. This is youth! This is Martial Arts! I'm burning!" Guy shouted passionately.
"I want to be as strong as my other-world self! I want to train in Martial Arts! Guy-sensei! I want to run a hundred laps around Konoha right now!" Lee said, his face brimming with excitement.
"Then let's run, Lee!" Guy raised his fist high, ready to head out.
"Guy, Lee. Both of you, calm down a bit. Tsunade-sama hasn't finished speaking." Kakashi, standing nearby, couldn't stand the teacher-student duo and instinctively rolled his eyes.
"Sorry, got carried away…" Guy quickly apologized.
"But… Tsunade-sama didn't tell us at first, and now suddenly shares this. Is there a specific plan?" Choza asked thoughtfully.
"You all heard Tsunade-sama's conversation with Imperial Neji earlier, right?" Shikaku said.
"Tsunade-sama… is going to the Empire? To another world?" Inoichi recalled, speaking with slight disbelief.
The others looked shocked.
"That's right. The Empire's people have incredible technology, able to use the Bijuu's power for space-time travel."
"I want to see the Empire with my own eyes. But I'm worried I might fall under a genjutsu, so… I'll have them set up a two-world video communication. I'll use secret codes to communicate with you all along the way to ensure my safety and autonomy."
"Only then can we truly confirm if the information about the Empire is accurate." Tsunade said with a serious expression.
"So Tsunade-sama has already thought this through."
Everyone nodded in understanding.
"Tsunade-sama, may I go with you?" Kakashi asked.
"Kakashi, you?"
"I have the Sharingan, stronger resistance to genjutsu. I can protect Tsunade-sama." Kakashi explained.
"Me! I also want to see the other world, to see the other me!" Kiba suddenly raised his hand excitedly.
"Then I want to see too—what's my other-world self like?"
"I want to go too!"
The Konoha 11 suddenly grew excited, shouting in unison.
"Quiet! You think this is a field trip? This concerns the survival of Konoha, even the entire ninja world!" Tsunade furrowed her brow and shouted coldly.
Finally, the group of eager youngsters quieted down.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Another Secret Cave
Obito leaned against a rock with a gloomy expression, staring at Zetsu in front of him.
"So you don't know that person's origins either?"
"I'm just the embodiment of Madara's will… not an all-knowing god. It's normal not to know, right? But give me some time, and I'll figure it all out." Zetsu's black face remained unchanged, his voice low.
"You'd better hurry. Otherwise, our plans might be affected." Obito said with slight worry.
"Scared, Obito? Just ordinary taijutsu, and it's got you this frightened?"
"Hmph! That punch's power—you saw it too. Is that something a human could have?"
"It's indeed very strong. But Madara in his prime was stronger. Relax, Obito. Our plan won't fail."
Zetsu comforted Obito, slowly sinking into the ground and disappearing.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The Next Day
Morning.
Konoha's Gate.
A group of Konoha ninja stared at the Empire duo with complex expressions.
Among the Empire trio, Obito was nowhere to be seen.
Lee and Guy kept giving thumbs-ups to Imperial Lee.
Imperial Lee, slightly confused, returned the thumbs-ups.
"Those expressions—you all seem to know everything?"
Imperial Neji scanned the Konoha ninja, noticing their strange looks, and was slightly surprised.
"We know. My other self." Neji from the ninja world replied with a complex expression.
"Hmph. I didn't expect Hokage-sama to keep it hidden all this time, but now suddenly tell them. What's this new plan?" Imperial Neji said.
"You mentioned before that you have video equipment for cross-world communication." Tsunade said, pausing.
Imperial Neji showed understanding.
"I see… you're very cautious, but that's fine."
"Good then." Tsunade sighed.
"By the way, Kakashi will be coming with me to the Empire."
"Kakashi? His strength is quite weak, not even Kage-level. It won't affect the journey, so it's fine." Imperial Neji said bluntly.
"Hey… Neji, those words really hurt." Kakashi said helplessly, rolling his eyes.
"Kakashi-sensei's being underestimated… Neji from the other world, is he strong?" Kiba asked curiously.
"Very strong. They say he's only slightly weaker than Lee from the other world." Tsunade said.
"Lee from the other world…"
At that, everyone swallowed hard.
Their gazes instinctively shifted to Imperial Lee.
"Yo!"
Imperial Lee grinned widely.
Everyone shuddered and looked away.
"All monsters!" Shikamaru muttered.
"Monsters? We wouldn't dare call ourselves that. It's just that you're too weak, so we seem very strong." Imperial Neji said.
"You mean there are many in the Empire stronger than you? Even Lee?" Shikamaru asked.
"Of course."
Imperial Neji nodded without hesitation.
"Haaa… that's truly terrifying." Shikamaru said, raising his hands in surrender.
"The Hyuga clan in the other world… how are they doing?" Neji asked.
"I'm not interested in answering that. If you want to know, let Hokage-sama show you later. Alright, we need to leave now."
Imperial Neji seemed uninterested and turned to leave.
Tsunade, with Kakashi, waved to everyone and departed.
The three ran toward the Ryumyaku site, quickly disappearing from the Konoha ninja's sight.
While running, Tsunade asked, "This time, only you're escorting us? Where's Obito?"
"That guy will show up soon. No need to rush." Imperial Neji replied.
The three left the Land of Fire and arrived at the sand-filled ruins of Roran.
From a distance, Tsunade and Kakashi saw four vague figures in the yellow sand.
"This…?"
"Finally here. You guys are a bit slow."
A cold voice sounded from afar.
Kakashi's pupils shrank unconsciously.
"That voice… Sasuke?"
"Kakashi…?" The voice from the other side responded.
Kakashi and Tsunade quickened their pace, breaking through the yellow sand, and arrived before the four figures.
"Orochimaru! You're still alive!"
"Sasuke! It's really you! And… Yakushi Kabuto…"
Tsunade and Kakashi exclaimed.
"Tsunade, long time no see… why so surprised to see me alive?" Orochimaru stuck out his tongue to lick his lips but ended up licking sand, his expression changing as he retracted it.
"Kakashi, you don't seem to have improved. Having a Sharingan but so weak—truly pathetic." Sasuke said, looking at Kakashi arrogantly.
"It's an honor that Kakashi-kun still remembers a small fry like me…" Kabuto said, pushing up his glasses with a smile.
"Orochimaru, you took a hit from that monster—how are you still alive?" Tsunade said in disbelief.
"You're talking about that? I nearly lost my life… Obito-kun, we're both in the same organization. Why didn't Lee-kun hold back when he attacked?" Orochimaru complained.
"That guy's just like that—straight as a board. When he gets excited, he forgets everything." Neji approached slowly, speaking softly.
"If you died, you'd only have yourself to blame for being too weak, Orochimaru." Sasuke said mockingly.
"Joining the Empire? That's just like you, Orochimaru…" Tsunade whispered.
"So Sasuke joined too?" Kakashi added.
"Hmph! The Empire can give me the power to defeat Itachi. I live only to kill that man." Sasuke said.
"Alright, enough reminiscing. Next, we'll head to Ryumyaku together. I'll open the Ryumyaku gate for you." Imperial Neji urged.
Everyone entered the Ryumyaku site.
Neji took out the doll-like Sanbi and began forming hand seals.
Soon, a green light shot into the sky.
The figures of Orochimaru, Tsunade, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Kabuto slowly vanished.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The Empire
Ryumyaku Fortress, a green light exploded.
The figures of the five from the ninja world slowly appeared.
"Yo! You all finally made it!"
A vibrant, cheerful voice rang in the ears of the five.
They slowly opened their eyes.
The next moment, the pupils of Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Kakashi shrank sharply.
"Sensei…" Kakashi's voice trembled.
"Minato-kun…" Orochimaru whispered.
"Minato!" Tsunade's expression was complex.
"Minato? Namikaze Minato, the Fourth Hokage?" Sasuke muttered.
"What an honor. Just arriving in this world and already meeting the Fourth Hokage." Kabuto said, pushing up his glasses.
"Minato-kun is the one welcoming us this time?" Orochimaru said with a smile, his snake-like eyes scanning the surroundings.