"My dad is gone too?!"
Before Hashirama could fully grasp what he was reading, Menma's voice erupted with frustration.
This couldn't be true! In this world, his father, the Fourth Hokage, died trying to seal the Nine Tails?
No way! Kurama is strong, sure, but he could handle it now!
Yet, in this world, his father had to sacrifice himself just to seal Kurama? This felt completely wrong.
"The Nine Tails attack in Konoha's 48th year resulted in the death of the Fourth Hokage and countless other shinobi."
Hashirama's expression grew somber.
"Is it really so difficult for Konoha in this world to seal the Nine Tails?"
"At least, we can confirm something." Kakashi raised a finger, his tone calm but his eyes serious. "Based on the Third Shinobi World War, the Fourth Hokage in this world was one of the stronger Kage among the Five Great Nations. And yet, he still had to sacrifice his life to seal the Nine Tails. That suggests the power of the Five Kage in this world is only at Kage-level, with very few, if any, super Kage-level individuals."
"So, with our strength, there shouldn't be many threats here that we can't handle."
Menma nodded, processing the information, but then something hit him.
Wait... 48 years of the Konoha calendar? He was born in the 8th year of the Imperial Calendar in their world.
Does that mean... he wasn't even born in this world?
"Hmm, interesting." Kakashi chuckled. "By the looks of it, Menma, you probably don't even exist here."
Menma's expression twisted in frustration. He'd been looking forward to meeting another version of himself. Instead, he was discovering that this world was a nightmare version of his own. His father died sealing Kurama, Kakashi's father died mysteriously, and Orochimaru became a rogue ninja? What else could go wrong?
"Wait a minute." Hashirama frowned. "After the death of the Fourth Hokage, Konoha reinstated the Third Hokage?"
That didn't make sense. Shouldn't they have chosen a new leader? Why bring the old man back to the position of Hokage? Was there no other suitable candidate?
"What's more, Orochimaru defected in the 49th year of the Konoha calendar?" Kakashi looked stunned. "Lord Orochimaru actually became a rogue ninja?"
"That can't be right," Menma said, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Didn't Lord Orochimaru compete with my father for the position of Fourth Hokage? Even if he lost, why would he defect?"
Back in their world, Orochimaru was the empire's chief scientist, overseeing all scientific research and development. Yet here, he was branded a traitor?
"This world is a mess!" Menma flipped through the book with a scowl. "It's just one ridiculous thing after another. My father's dead, Kakashi's father is dead, and Lord Orochimaru is a criminal? What's next?"
"At least we have a decent understanding of this world's situation now," Kakashi said, rubbing his forehead. "It's clear there are threats here, but nothing that should truly endanger us. The Five Kage's strength in this world is manageable."
"So, what's next?" Menma asked, glancing at the radar on his watch. "We need to collect some tailed beast chakra. That way, we can establish a connection to this world and set up proper communication with the empire."
The watch's display shifted to show a radar screen, flashing with several bright dots.
"Good, the tailed beast chakra radar still works." Menma nodded. "This will help us locate the tailed beasts of this world."
"That Chakra signature right there," Kakashi pointed at one of the dots on the screen, comparing it to a map of the ninja world. "Based on the location, it's probably the Nine Tails. It's in the Land of Waves, not in Konoha."
"If it's Kurama's chakra, we need to go and collect some of it," Hashirama said.
"It's a long way from here," Kakashi added, studying the map. "We'll have to cross the entire Land of Fire."
"True. But there's a faster way." Menma smirked as he reached for his chest.
The three of them pressed a specific point on their chest, causing a strange, fluid-like substance to pour out and cover their entire bodies.
Within moments, the substance solidified into sleek, high-tech armor.
This was the Empire's latest technological marvel—Chakra Armor made of nanomaterials.
"Land of Waves, here we come." Kakashi said firmly.
The Chakra armor on their bodies activated, flames bursting from the soles of their feet. With a loud whoosh, the trio shot into the air, soaring toward their destination.
Land of Waves
A thick fog blanketed the bridge under construction, courtesy of Zabuza's Hidden Mist Jutsu.
Hatake Kakashi was growing increasingly anxious. His vision was completely obscured, and he couldn't tell what was happening with Naruto and Sasuke. The ice-wielding boy was far too powerful for them to handle alone.
And then...
He felt it. A flicker of Kurama's chakra.
Was Naruto's seal breaking?
No. He had to deal with Zabuza quickly before anything worse happened.
He was just about to summon his Eight Ninja Dogs when—
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The bridge shuddered violently under his feet. It felt like some enormous beast had just landed.
"What's going on?" Kakashi murmured, his eyes narrowing. Was this Zabuza's backup?
From the mist, three figures emerged, their bodies glinting with strange armor, and their presence radiating power.
Team 7 was about to get the shock of their lives.