The Seven-Day Return Cycle

Shazo had no answer to Naruto's question, because he currently had no way to solve it.

He could play dumb in front of the Third Hokage for at most another five years. After that, there would be no need.

But what about Asura's chakra inside Naruto Uzumaki?

Without the "mask" to bear Asura's subtle influence in Naruto's place, the clever, resourceful Naruto Uzumaki—who could even fool Anbu ninja—would be forcibly dumbed down.

Unless Asura's chakra was dealt with, Naruto could not free himself from the mask.

He could further improve the [Mind-Body Separation Technique], turning the "mask" into an accessory so it would no longer cover Naruto Uzumaki's mind.

But no matter how he dealt with Asura's chakra, he would directly come into conflict with the Six Paths Sage in the Pure Land.

That was a true immortal. He toyed with his younger brother Black Zetsu at will, sealed away his mother for a thousand years, let her out for a breath of fresh air, then switched her to another prison for eternal suppression.

Shazo greatly admired Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the Six Paths Sage, for the ruthlessness of his methods, the malice of his heart, the long reach of his schemes, and the meticulousness of his plans.

Even with his own help, Shazo could not yet see any hope of confronting him head-on.

But there was no need to despair.

As long as a Shazo appeared from a high-magic Dragon Ball World—a cosmic powerhouse who could casually blow up planets—or a Primordial Golden Immortal Shazo from the high-magic Great Wilderness World, one who understood yin and yang, knew the workings of heaven, and aligned with the Great Dao, the problem would solve itself.

Before mighty beings capable of plucking stars and moons, what was a god like the Six Paths Sage, who could only scheme over people's hearts on a tiny planet?

Putting those fantasies aside, Shazo dispelled the window illusion, shut down the Sealing Technique on the ceiling, and left Naruto Uzumaki's home through a blind spot in the two Anbu ninja's surveillance.

After returning home, Shazo gave up on the idea of completely indulging himself today and picked up his materials to read again.

Demon Xiazhuo was right. Even if he had to rely on himself, he still needed to work hard. Otherwise, he would end up like Naruto Uzumaki, raised like a pet by others.

Now that his time to relax was over, it was time to work hard again.

Shazo read and memorized ninjutsu materials until night fell. Only then did he wearily wash up, climb into bed, and slowly drift into sleep.

Then Shazo returned to the Plane Dreamscape.

Excited, he slapped the Bronze Long Table before him. "Seven days! The interval is seven days!"

"I spent seven goddamn days trembling in fear, and I finally came back!"

"From now on, I just need to remember to go to sleep on time every Wednesday night!"

Pirate Shazo burst into laughter. "Great, mine is also one week. That's a very convenient interval."

He looked at the teenage-looking Shinigami Xiazhuo and asked, "How long is yours?"

Shinigami Xiazhuo held up two fingers. "Two years. I waited a full two years—seven hundred nights!"

Marvel Shazo sucked in a sharp breath. "Then once the plot begins, you won't have a chance to come back a second time!"

Shinigami Xiazhuo forced a smile. "It's fine. I'll make all my preparations before the plot begins."

"For now, my goal is still to get into the Central Spirit Arts Academy and come into contact with Kido, then learn it."

He glanced at Naruto Shazo. "The feeling of only being able to share the fruits of someone else's hard work, while being unable to work hard myself, is truly awful."

Marvel Shazo choked on a breath, then quietly swallowed.

The Marvel World was extremely accommodating toward power. After doing some tests upon returning, he discovered that he could use all of a ninja's abilities.

He could refine all seven types of chakra, use Naruto Shazo's taijutsu and ninjutsu, and had even sensed mysterious changes within his body, realizing that the power of a Kekkei Genkai was beginning to sprout.

It was completely different from when he had been unable to share Star Trek Shazo's telekinesis.

Marvel Shazo had finally transformed from an elite old cop into a superhuman police officer, but the question was, where did he go from here?

Naruto Shazo had been born in Konoha. His path of growth lay in Konoha.

Shinigami Xiazhuo was striving to enter the Central Spirit Arts Academy. As long as he succeeded, he could systematically learn Kido step by step.

Star Trek Shazo had originally been a powerful figure in the Galactic Federation. He was now following the military system, trying to return to the center through military achievements.

As long as he returned to the center, he could gain access to the Federation Academy and solve the problem of having telekinesis but being unable to share it.

Pirate Shazo's goal was the Navy. As long as he entered the Navy, he could further display his talents and receive its systematic education.

Demon Xiazhuo's target was his host. As long as he took that down, he would have everything and would undoubtedly become the greatest backer among all the Shazos.

Even his demonic life would be complete.

Only he, Officer Shazo of the Marvel World, stood lost and uncertain of the road ahead.

The Marvel World had an incredibly high power ceiling, but no orderly system for growth.

The poor relied on mutation, the rich relied on technology, and gods relied on bloodlines.

But Shazo Dawson relied on none of those three. He could only rely on himself.

But he did not want that. He wanted to improve. He wanted to share a portion of his own power with the others.

Yet every powerful force in the Marvel World belonged to someone and was controlled by all kinds of organizations.

There were Earth-based organizations, future organizations, alien empires, the Galactic Duchy, space pirates, and a mess of private organizations.

The vast majority of those organizations did not do anything proper. They were merely tools for the ruling elite to enjoy themselves or throw their weight around.

Take Hydra and S.H.I.E.L.D., for instance. Take The Hand. Their attitude was to use whatever they acquired, toss it into a laboratory for research once they were done with it, and then train barely adequate enforcers once results were produced.

Within organizations like those, there was only the accumulation of power and the rise of political status. There was no system for increasing one's own strength.

Shazo had no interest in joining such organizations.

The Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy did not suit his style either.

Looking across the Marvel World, the only organization he favored was Kamar-Taj under the Sorcerer Supreme, because mages truly were willing to train newcomers.

The Sorcerer Supreme never minded her subordinates growing stronger quickly. She even hoped someone could replace her, so she could cast aside centuries of responsibility and live a carefree retired life.

Shazo had gone to Nepal, yet he could not find Kamar-Taj's entrance. In New York, he could not find the door to the New York Sanctum. He had also tried looking for the Hong Kong Sanctum and the London Sanctum, but naturally found nothing.

If fate had not arrived, they could not meet.

Shazo did not hope to replace Doctor Strange, nor did he want to become the next Sorcerer Supreme. He only wanted to become a librarian like fat Wong.

A librarian. What an elegant, prestigious, high-class position.

If he could really become Kamar-Taj's Sweeping Monk, he would absolutely earn the envy of every Shazo in the Plane Dreamscape.

Unfortunately, he could not make contact with it yet.

Thus, in the Marvel World, where all sorts of superhuman powers abounded, Shazo was utterly lost as to where to begin. He had become nothing more than a hanger-on who enjoyed the fruits of the other Shazos' efforts.

Demon Xiazhuo chuckled. "No new Shazo came this time. Let's begin sharing memories and powers. I can't wait to see more ninjutsu materials."

Six hands were placed on the Bronze Long Table.