As the sun sank into the sea of sand, its last rays bathed the Dragon Vein Altar outside Sunagakure in a dark gold.
Around the altar, Sunagakure researchers were operating Chakra stabilization devices with great tension. The metal instruments emitted a low hum, and energy ripples vibrated in the air.
Tobirama Senju stood in front of the central control console, his gaze fixed on the holographic projection, his fingertips tracing the data stream, his brows slightly furrowed.
"Energy fluctuations exceeded expectations..."
He muttered to himself, his voice carrying a hint of solemnity.
As the technical core of the Shinobi Alliance, he understood the risks of this operation better than anyone else.
Although the power of the Dragon Vein is immense, the passage across time and space is extremely unstable. The slightest carelessness could trigger an energy storm that could raze the entire altar to the ground.
" Obito for three more seconds," he said without looking up, his tone leaving no room for argument.
At the edge of the altar, Obito's right Mangekyō Sharingan slowly rotated, its Kamui power permeating the energy flow of the Dragon Vein, forcibly stabilizing the boundary of the passage.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, clearly indicating that he was not at ease.
Temari stood on the outer edge, her hands gripping the Three-Star Fan tightly, her knuckles white from the force, her gaze fixed on the center of the altar.
There, Hoshino and Shion had already entered the core area of Dragon Vein.
Not far away.
Hatake Sakumo led a reconnaissance team consisting of the Second Tsuchikage Mu, the Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki, the First Raikage A, and several Elite Jonin.
At this moment, the once- Shinobi World " Konoha's White Fang " had a solemn expression, his short sword already drawn three inches from its sheath, its cold light faintly visible in the twilight.
at the same time.
Hoshino stood at the center of the storm of Dragon Vein energy, his figure almost swallowed up by the purplish-black energy torrent, with only the four-colored mark between his eyebrows shimmering with a faint light.
Shion stood beside him, her Pure Moon Eye fully open.
A pale purple light poured out like moonlight, and fingertips continuously traced various sealing runes, but the speed was getting slower and slower.
"Spacetime coordinates... found!"
Shion suddenly opened her eyes wide, and the light of her Pure Moon Eye intensified abruptly.
In her vision, countless timelines intertwined into a net, with one dark and twisted line standing out prominently—the path leading to the Shinobi World No. 2.
Hoshino did not respond, but his senses had already locked onto the direction Shion was pointing.
The next second, his figure suddenly blurred, as if stretched into countless afterimages, and he briefly entered a higher-dimensional state.
In dimensions beyond the comprehension of ordinary people, Hoshino's "vision" penetrates the barriers of the world.
What he saw was no longer a three-dimensional world, but countless intersecting lines of spacetime, like a giant woven net.
The barrier of the Shinobi World No. 2 was like a thin veil, twisted by some kind of force, and appeared a sickly dark red.
Hoshino raised his hand, and grayish-white bone spurs extended from his fingertips. This was no longer an attack in the physical sense, but a direct interference with the laws of the world.
With a tearing sound, a pitch-black rift was forcibly ripped open in the void.
Through the cracks, the outline of another world could be vaguely seen: a desolate desert, twisted buildings, and a suffocating silence.
" Shion!"
Hoshino's voice emanated from a higher dimension, carrying a kind of ethereal quality that transcended the mundane.
Without hesitation, Shion clasped her hands together, and the light of the Pure Moon Eye surged into the rift like a tide.
The Priestess Power transformed into countless pale purple threads of light, wrapping around the edge of the rift and forcibly stabilizing the passage's boundary. However, maintaining such a passage was too strenuous for her, and blood was already spilling from the corner of her mouth.
"Quick!"
She gritted her teeth and shouted, her voice filled with unprecedented urgency, "The passage can't last much longer!"
Outside the altar, Tobirama Senju stared at the data on the holographic projection, his expression suddenly changing.
Without hesitation, Hatake Sakumo took one last look at the sky of the main world and stepped into the rift without a second thought.
The rest followed closely behind.
Just as the last team member disappeared into the crevice.
The passageway vibrated violently.
The light in Shion's Pure Moon Eye suddenly dimmed, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood, staggering backward.
Hoshino fell from his higher-dimensional state, his grey robe torn in several places by the violent energy.
The crack closed abruptly before everyone's eyes, as if it had never existed.
A brief silence fell over the altar.
Temari quickly stepped forward to support the swaying Shion, Tobirama Senju swiftly adjusted the stabilizing device, and Obito's Kamui power slowly receded.
Hoshino stood still, silently gazing in the direction where the rift disappeared.
"Did they... succeed?" Temari asked in a low voice, her voice filled with barely concealed worry.
"Success. We must complete full preparations for the Shinobi World No. 2 within three months."
Hoshino turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.
He paused for a moment, then continued issuing instructions, " Shion, Tobirama, Obito, you stay here and continue communicating with the Dragon Vein to find a way to keep the passage between the two worlds open for an extended period."
"Notify the Shinobi Alliance's research department to maintain closer communication with Blue Star. We need to integrate all available resources, including technology, Ninjutsu, intelligence... all forces."
Temari supported Shion, feeling her body trembling.
The strong priestess was so weak that she could barely stand, but her eyes still shone with determination.
Temari suddenly realized that this war that transcends time and space had only just begun.
Tobirama Senju had already resumed his work, his fingers rapidly sliding across the holographic projection as he analyzed the data he had just collected.
Obito leaned against the edge of the altar, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing; the Mangekyō Sharingan in his right eye was still throbbing faintly.
Hoshino took one last look at the Dragon Vein Altar, then turned and walked away.
His silhouette appeared exceptionally lonely in the twilight, yet it conveyed an unwavering resolve.
Three months is enough time for them to make all the necessary preparations to meet the challenges from another world.
Shinobi World No. 2.
Hatake Sakumo tumbled out of the spatial turbulence, his short sword instantly plunging into the ground to steady himself, the sand grains spreading out in a ripple pattern as his Chakra surged.
The setting sun, like blood, dyed the ruins of the ancient city of Rōran an eerie orange-red.
The ruins, which should have been buried by the yellow sand, are now brimming with a sickly vitality.
Fluorescent vines entwine the broken stone pillars, and the half-collapsed palace walls are covered with childish graffiti.
A twisted dragon Dragon Vein altar has been transformed into the shape of a carousel, with wind-up puppet horses swinging up and down, playing off-key music box melodies.
"This is... Shinobi World No. 2?"
The Second Tsuchikage Mu's voice rang out from behind. The protective shield formed by Dust Release gradually dissipated, revealing the equally shocked crowd.
Sakumo's fingertips traced the graffiti on the stone wall, next to the crooked, smiling sun, which read, "Peace is the greatest!"
That's so strange.
The Rōran of the main world is an ancient battlefield filled with a chilling atmosphere, not this absurd amusement park before us.
" Chakra perception is normal!" Hozuki Gengetsu's Water Clone seeped out from the ground.
The First Raikage A, slammed his fist into the stone pillar, but was bounced back the instant he made contact. Pink heart patterns immediately appeared on the surface of the pillar, and a cheerful mechanical voice rang out.
Violence is prohibited! Please keep smiling!
Hatake Sakumo's nerves tightened abruptly. He raised his hand to signal everyone to be on alert, and then slowly walked towards the central altar.
The carousel's gears made a piercing "clunking" sound, which was particularly eerie in the twilight.
The music suddenly stopped as he stepped onto the stairs.
Welcome to Peace Paradise!
A sweet, cloying female voice came from above.
Everyone looked up and saw Scorpion's puppet 'father' and 'mother' suspended on a wire, with exaggerated blush on their cheeks and mechanical arms making a welcoming gesture.
The core location, which should have been storing the Dragon Vein's energy, now contained a cake model filled with candles, with buttercream frosting spelling out the words " Tenten ".
Hatake Sakumo's lips twitched involuntarily.
He had seen the Sunagakure elders control these puppets to slaughter enemy troops, and they were nothing like the comical puppets before him.
"Someone's coming," Wu suddenly hissed.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a bouncy figure emerged from behind the sand dune.
Her red ponytail flew up and down with her movements, and the 'love' character Forehead Protector on her forehead shone brightly.
When he saw the person's face clearly, Hatake Sakumo's breath caught in his throat.
"Brother, this place is so much fun!"
As a teenager, Gaara came running up shouting, and what spewed out of the gourd behind him was not sand but colorful ribbons.
Even more chilling was that he was holding a life-sized Shukaku doll in his arms, the doll's eyes being two flashing neon lights.
Hatake Sakumo nearly dropped his short sword.
In the main world, the cold-blooded Minister of the Inspection Department, Gaara of the Sand Waterfall, is currently humming a nursery rhyme in a childish voice, with sand grains automatically forming adorable heart shapes at his feet.
Are you tourists?
Kankuro emerged from around the corner of the ruins, his face painted with clown makeup. The Crow puppet he controlled wore a party hat and had a balloon in its mouth.
"Would you like to join tonight's peace celebration? We can go together..."
The words abruptly stopped.
Kankuro's smile suddenly froze, and a glimmer of clarity flashed in his eyes beneath the camouflage paint.
His gaze swept over Sakumo's short sword, Mu's Dust Release, and finally settled on the Lightning Armor of the First Raikage A, A.
"You... are not from this world..."
Kankuro's voice suddenly became hoarse, and the veins under his party hat bulged.
Hatake Sakumo's muscles tensed instantly.
But the next second, Kankuro's expression returned to an exaggerated smile, "Just kidding! Long live peace!"
Night had completely fallen.
This world is a bit strange. The team left Rōran without Kankuro and Gaara not paying attention.
As for killing them, both of them were people of status in Sunagakure, so killing them would be easy, but it would easily cause trouble, so I decided against it.
At this moment, the team stealthily approached the outer wall of Sunagakure.
The defensive fortifications, which should have been filled with traps, have been turned into amusement rides.
Barbed wire is wrapped with colorful lights, watchtowers have been transformed into ice cream stands, and even the moat is filled with jelly-like liquid.
"Look at that."
The village scene was reflected in the Water Mirror of the Hozuki Gengetsu.
The main hourglass building was painted light blue, with a revolving restaurant atop it. The windows of the Kazekage's Office were covered in cartoon stickers. In the training ground, Sunagakure were playing a ring-throwing game with Shuriken, the targets being grinning sun patterns.
The most unsettling place is the central square.
The golden sand sculpture of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, has been changed into a comical clown shape, with the inscription "Peace is the strongest ninja way" engraved on the base.
"Attention, everyone." Sakumo's voice was colder than the desert night wind. "Maintain disguise and gather intelligence."
They blended into the crowd at the night market.
The stalls were no longer selling ninja tools, but various peace-related merchandise.
There are gummy candies shaped like explosion tags, Forehead Protector clips printed with the word "love," and even illustrated guides that depict the Tailed Beast as adorable pets.
A Sunagakure Genin is using Wind Release: Sky Bullet to blow bubbles for the children.
Make way! Make way!
Joyful shouts came from behind.
Everyone turned around and saw Temari waving Three-Star Fan covered in stickers, clearing a path, followed by...
Hatake Sakumo's blood froze instantly.
It was a boy wearing Himawari- patterned kimono, with orange hair and exaggerated blush on his cheeks.
" Naruto Uzumaki...?"
He whispered the name of this chosen one.
But Naruto was skipping and hopping around handing out candy to passersby, with a pink-haired girl following closely behind.
" Sakura -chan! Try this lollipop!" Naruto laughed as he handed the last lollipop to Sakura.
Sakura very kindly took the lollipop and put it in her mouth.
"Nine o'clock," Hozuki Gengetsu suddenly said to Hatake Sakumo.
Following the directions, Hatake Sakumo saw that in the outdoor seating area of Sunagakure Cafe, Kakashi Hatake was loudly reading an inspirational version of " Icha Icha Paradise ".
He lifted his mask, revealing a face painted with face paint, and his eyes gleamed with an abnormal, excited light.
"Today's story teaches us!" Kakashi waved his book, "Youth is about bravely expressing love!"
The surrounding Sunagakure female ninjas immediately let out exaggerated screams.
Hatake Sakumo's knuckles were white from clenching his fists.
The son, who always lazily said "I'm late," was now writhing like a circus clown.
"Dad!" A more childish voice suddenly broke in.
A silver-haired boy lunged at Kakashi, holding a windmill in his hand. "I got a perfect score in the Shuriken throw!"
Hatake Sakumo's vision began to darken at the edges; was that... Kakashi as a child?
"Something's wrong with this world," Raikage A said in a deep voice. "I have a feeling that these people are extremely strong, only slightly weaker than those from the Shinobi World No. 1, yet they're acting like this!"
Hatake Sakumo was about to say something.
Just then, a piercing alarm sounded throughout the village.
All the villagers stopped moving at the same time, like dolls whose pause button had been pressed.
Immediately afterwards, they all turned their heads toward the reconnaissance team, their lips curving upwards in the exact same way.
"An element of discord has been detected." Rasa's voice came over the radio.
As soon as he finished speaking, the Sunagakure ninjas formed Hand Seals in unison, but instead of using killing moves, they used various twisted Ninjutsu.
The golden sands transformed into a rainbow bridge, the Wind Release formed a carousel, and even Shukaku's sandstorm turned into cartoon-shaped clouds.
"Retreat!"
Hatake Sakumo's short sword was finally drawn, its cold light shattering the first heart-shaped Shuriken that attacked.
When they leaped onto the wall, the last thing they saw was Kakashi holding little Kakashi, the father and son making the same heart shape with their hands, their Sharingan glowing with an eerie pink light.
The night breeze dispersed the cold sweat on Sakumo's forehead.
Behind them, the lights of Sunagakure suddenly turned into a heart shape, and a cheerful children's song came over the loudspeaker. "A peaceful world~ needs no war~ let's hold hands~ and always smile~"
The melody echoed through the desert, more chilling than any deadly attack.