The Light Screen Was About to Play

Iwagakure.

The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, gazed at the hollow in the sky with a troubled expression and shook his head helplessly.

"So be it," Ōnoki muttered. "Let this old man see Iwagakure's future."

Crash!

Kurotsuchi hurried into the Tsuchikage's office, panting as she reported, "Grandpa, I've passed the order down. Every department will record every detail they see in the sky."

When Ōnoki did not answer, Kurotsuchi frowned.

She took another look and noticed his worried expression. "What are you thinking about, Grandpa?"

"No matter what happens in the future, I'm going to become Tsuchikage."

Her words pulled Ōnoki from his thoughts, and he smiled fondly.

"Hahaha..."

Ōnoki slowly approached Kurotsuchi and affectionately patted her head.

"You've still got a long way to go. Becoming Tsuchikage takes hard work."

"You can't just talk about it, Kurotsuchi."

Kurotsuchi nodded quickly. "I know, Grandpa."

"Starting today, I'll work even harder. I'll make myself strong."

Ōnoki looked at his well-behaved granddaughter with pride, then thought of the disobedient Deidara and grumbled.

"My granddaughter really is the best."

"Unlike that damned Deidara."

"At a time like this, who knows where he's run off to?"

"Hmph!"

Kurotsuchi frowned in protest. "Grandpa, don't talk about Deidara like that. He's the best."

"Hmph!"

"What's so great about that brat? Is he better than your grandpa?"

"Honestly."

Kurotsuchi pouted. "Grandpa!"

Kirigakure.

The Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, stared gravely at the black hole in the sky.

Karatachi Yagura touched his stomach and asked the tailed beast inside him, "Three-Tails, you've lived a long time. Has anything like this happened before?"

Isobu slowly opened his eyes within the sealed space but gave no reply.

He chose instead to stare silently at the black hole above.

Old man, will that future you spoke of for the tailed beasts really come to pass? Isobu wondered.

And does the savior of the Shinobi World you mentioned truly exist?

In the pitch-black sealed space, Isobu slowly closed his eyes.

He drifted off to sleep...

Jiraiya, who was searching for the Child of the Prophecy, stopped and looked up at the sky, his expression grave.

"The future, huh?" he murmured at last.

"Then I guess I don't need to keep searching for the Child of the Prophecy."

"Looks like my journey ends here."

Nostalgia filled Jiraiya's face. "Perfect timing. I haven't been back to Konoha in ages. This gives me a chance to see Minato and my old teacher."

"Ahaha."

Tsunade walked out of the casino with Shizune, her face silent and grim.

She looked calmly at the black hole in the sky without saying a word.

Then, suddenly...

As if she had made up her mind, Tsunade said firmly, "Shizune, it's time we went back to Konoha."

"Pack your things. We're leaving now."

Holding Tonton, Shizune stared at her in disbelief.

But Tsunade did not look as though she was joking.

Once Shizune realized Tsunade meant it this time,

she could barely contain her joy.

She remembered how, ever since Dan Katō's death,

Tsunade had left Konoha and spent her days gambling and drinking.

The Tsunade I used to know is finally coming back.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade!" Shizune replied happily with a giggle.

They were going back to Konoha...

At a certain base.

In a basement, Orochimaru, who had defected from Konoha, licked his lips with a dark expression. "Interesting. How very interesting."

"Just wait for me, Konoha. And you too, my dear teacher."

"I'll make sure you watch with your own eyes as the village you cherish most..."

"...is destroyed by me, Orochimaru, in the future."

"Hehehe..."

Akatsuki.

Konan looked at Nagato with worry and tried to reassure him. "Nagato, Akatsuki will lead the Shinobi World into the light."

"This is also our chance to see whether that man calling himself Madara Uchiha truly wants to help us."

"So please don't dwell on it."

Nagato answered calmly, "We carry Yahiko's hope for a brighter future."

"We cannot fail in the future. We must not."

"No matter what happens, I'll hold fast to what we believe."

Obito Uchiha irritably asked Black Zetsu, who stood before him, "You can't destroy it?"

Black Zetsu replied, "Lord Madara, I just sent twenty thousand White Zetsu."

"They used all kinds of ninjutsu and attacks on that dark space in the sky."

"Every attack passed straight through. We still couldn't destroy it."

Obito Uchiha said coldly, "What a bunch of useless fools."

"Just looking at your pitch-black face makes me sick."

"Get out."

This damned future... It won't interfere with my plan to revive Mother, will it? Black Zetsu thought.

Mother...

Seeing Black Zetsu lost in thought, Obito snapped, "What are you spacing out for, you useless thing? Either get out..."

"...or hurry up and come up with another plan."

Black Zetsu came to his senses and answered through gritted teeth, "Yes, Lord Madara."

"I'll leave right away."

Black Zetsu hurriedly sank into the ground...

Just you wait, Obito Uchiha, he cursed inwardly.

Once I revive Mother, I'll make you pay!

The Pure Land.

Tobirama Senju covered his face helplessly as he watched Hashirama Senju grinning beside him.

The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, laughed without a care. "Don't be so cold, Tobirama."

"Ahaha..."

"Even though we're dead, we get to see Konoha's future."

"And the future of the Shinobi World, too. What a wonderful thing!"

"Ahaha."

Tobirama Senju folded his arms and scolded him. "Brother, be quiet! Yes, seeing the future is a good thing."

"But..."

"...it also means something extraordinary is about to happen in the Shinobi World."

"And you're standing here looking pleased with yourself, you idiot?"

"You fool."

Hashirama Senju's grin vanished at once.

He retreated to one side and began drawing circles on the ground.

Tobirama Senju looked at his dejected brother, still drawing circles in the distance, and continued, "Come on, Brother. At least I'll get to see what those wicked Uchiha..."

"...get up to in the future. Maybe they'll show their true colors."

The moment Hashirama Senju heard his younger brother speaking ill of the Uchiha again,

he sprang to his feet and snapped, "How many times have I told you, Tobirama?"

"The Uchiha aren't like that at all. Keep talking nonsense, and I won't go easy on you."

"Hah."

Tobirama Senju turned his head away and folded his arms. "You and I are both dead anyway, Brother."

"We can't do anything to change the future, can we?"

"Besides..."

"...who knows whether those rewards we heard about will let us come back to life?"

"Forget it. No point worrying. We'll see what happens."

Hashirama Senju sighed, looking crestfallen. "Ah..."

"I wonder how Madara's doing in the Pure Land."

"I really miss Madara."

"But the Shinobi World is in the hands of the next generation now."

"Ah, Madara..."

Tobirama Senju glared at his brother, whose thoughts were always full of Madara.

Madara this, Madara that, day after day, he cursed inwardly.

What in the world did that damned Madara Uchiha do to get my brother so bewitched?

Damn Uchiha.

Elsewhere in the Pure Land.

Izuna Uchiha calmly turned to Madara Uchiha. "Brother, I've gone through all the information that appeared in my head."

"There's even a way to come back to life. Anyone featured in the videos can receive incredible rewards."

"If I get a chance to come back to life..."

"...the first thing I'll do is find that damned White-Haired Monster of the Senju and get my revenge."

The more Izuna Uchiha thought about it, the angrier he grew. "Damn Tobirama Senju. If he hadn't caught me off guard back then..."

"...I never would've lost, least of all to him."

Seeing how worked up his younger brother was, Madara Uchiha reassured him. "Just watch, Izuna. Once the video plays, you'll have all your answers."

"There's no need to be angry."

"Huh?"

Izuna Uchiha stared at Madara Uchiha in bewilderment.

His expression seemed to ask, What are you talking about, Brother?

Why don't I understand a word of it?

Madara Uchiha understood Izuna Uchiha's confusion.

A faint smile touched Madara Uchiha's lips. My foolish little brother, just wait until you see the surprise I've prepared for you.

"Hehahaha."

Once I rule the entire Shinobi World...

...I'll bring you back to life, of course.

But...

...I can't tell you any of this yet.

Because your big brother is the savior of the Shinobi World.

"Hehahaha."

My foolish little brother.

The Light Screen in the sky began to play.

Sad music played.

"Little Luck," sad version.

I never got to thank you for the courage you gave me.

It let me be myself again.

Perhaps back then, I was too busy smiling and crying...