CHAPTER 675: SASUKE-KUN, YOU DON’T WANT THAT EITHER, RIGHT?

Naruto refused, but Lux wasn’t discouraged. At the moment, only a few forces in the entire world had the qualifications, ability, and foundation to achieve unification. In reality, it was just the Five Hidden Villages and the Kara organization.

As for smaller nations and minor forces, it wasn’t that they couldn’t be supported; it would just take more time and effort, and it wasn’t worth it. To complete unification, at least two elements were needed: a capable leader and a formidable force.

Lux could, of course, choose a powerful individual, like Kaguya in this world. But individual strength, while capable of destroying the world, would require rebuilding the political and economic systems afterward and recruiting many people to govern the world to maintain peace. That would take a lot of time.

Only a strong leader, paired with a sufficiently powerful force, could quickly unify the world and maintain stability. So, while Kaguya in Parallel World 7 was on the list of options, her ranking wasn’t high; after all, she was alone and lacked political talent.

As for Otsutsuki Isshiki? His strength was certainly sufficient. But he was the lowest-ranked choice.

His goal was to plant a Divine Tree, consume all life and energy on the planet, and condense a Chakra Fruit. The consequence would be the death of nearly all living beings in the world. And if everyone died, who could say whether that would still meet the system’s unification requirements?

One survivor, ten survivors... would the system still consider that unification? Who could guarantee it?

There was a possibility, but Lux didn’t need to take that gamble. After all, killing all living beings in the world was easy, but reviving so many people or waiting for humanity to repopulate to sufficient numbers would be extremely difficult and time-consuming.

So, if he could choose to support a force in the world, Lux naturally didn’t need to bet on Otsutsuki. Even if it succeeded, if they obtained the Chakra Fruit and left, the twenty-year peace requirement wouldn’t be met. Unless absolutely necessary, Lux wouldn’t take the risk.

Though Otsutsuki Isshiki and the Kara organization complemented each other, they weren’t entirely unified. Lux could defeat Jigen and Isshiki, replace the leader to take over Kara, and continue supporting Kara to unify the world. Theoretically, this was entirely feasible.

So, after considering everything:

Priority by force: Konoha Kara Other Four Villages All remaining small nations and villages.

Priority by individual: Six Paths Sasuke Kakashi Orochimaru Boruto Kaguya Kawaki Shikamaru Amado Many other remaining options Otsutsuki Isshiki.

The priority ranking for forces was basically accurate, with Konoha as the top choice, given its wealth of talent, strong foundation, and support from Konoha in other Parallel Worlds, making it the best solution.

As for the priority ranking of individual leaders, it was a rough estimate. Except for a few specific ones, the differences between others weren’t significant.

Which to choose specifically? Lux hadn’t made a final decision. He still needed to assess their personal desires, some luck, and real-world factors. In short, he’d contact them one by one.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

In Konoha,

Naruto’s disappearance caused a stir throughout the village. Shikamaru, upon receiving the news, immediately led a barrier team to Naruto’s house and set up a barrier. He detained Boruto, Kawaki, Sarada, and Mitsuki temporarily at Naruto’s home.

Kawaki, eager to rescue Naruto, used the chakra connection with his artificial right arm to track the dimension where Naruto was. Together with Boruto’s Kama power, they opened a space-time portal.

The cautious Shikamaru naturally wouldn’t let Boruto and the others take risks, and he didn’t trust Kawaki, who had drawn the enemy to them. So, he activated his ninjutsu: Kagemane no Jutsu, restraining all four.

Unfortunately, the Nara Clan’s secret jutsu was meaningless against the "high-tech" pressure of the Otsutsuki Clan. The Kagemane no Jutsu was instantly absorbed by the Kama on Kawaki’s hand. Freed, the four hurriedly moved, crossing the portal into Isshiki’s special dimension, ready to rescue Naruto.

They didn’t know that Naruto, whom they longed for, had coincidentally already left Isshiki’s dimension.

Seeing Boruto and the others leave, Shikamaru felt a bit helpless. These spirited kids were far more aggressive than they were back then. He only hoped they could find Naruto and that nothing else would go wrong!

"How’s Sasuke’s condition?"

"He’s been taken to the medical ward. But he’s still in a coma, with no signs of waking..." an Anbu ninja beside him answered.

A few dozen minutes ago, Sasuke had returned to Konoha through a space-time portal and was immediately found by his wife, Sakura.

Sakura promptly used medical ninjutsu to heal and repair some of Sasuke’s injuries, but he still hadn’t regained consciousness.

Shikamaru, upon receiving this news, rushed to Naruto’s house to gather more information through Boruto and the others. Unfortunately, the new Team 7 was more aggressive. Without waiting for him to discuss strategy, they all rushed into Isshiki’s dimension.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Meanwhile, at Konoha’s medical hospital,

Sasuke, with his single arm, rested in a hospital bed. Though his injuries were fully healed, the side effects of excessive chakra depletion lingered. After all, chakra is a combination of physical and spiritual energy, and overexertion naturally affects a ninja’s mental state and consciousness, easily leading to a prolonged coma.

But for Sasuke, this wasn’t a big deal. Sakura had even specifically called in a medical expert, Hospital Director Kabuto, for a specialized diagnosis, providing an accurate assessment. He confirmed Sasuke was fine and expected to wake within a day. Sakura sighed in relief but continued to guard Sasuke’s bedside with worry.

Though years had passed and she was now a wife, her fangirl obsession with Sasuke hadn’t diminished one bit. Sometimes, she’d even faint from overexcitement.

"Sasuke, please wake up soon!"

"Don’t let anything happen to you!"

"And Naruto, you can’t let anything happen either!" Sakura held Sasuke’s hand, her eyes red with hope.

Since the Fourth Great Ninja War, she hadn’t seen Sasuke this weak in years. What kind of powerful enemy could defeat both Naruto and Sasuke like this?

As Sakura was lost in confusion, a strange voice suddenly echoed in the patient’s room, unnoticed by her until now!

"Still as lovesick as ever! But for the old you, this was a dream come true..." Lux looked at Sakura leaning by Sasuke’s bedside, unable to help but sigh.

By the way, Sakura was the true winner in all of Konoha. She won Sasuke, the heartthrob who charmed thousands of girls, and happily gave birth to the adorable Sarada.

No wonder Naruto and Sasuke fought so fiercely and desperately in their final battle at the Valley of the End.

At the same time, Sakura was startled by the unfamiliar voice, quickly turning toward Lux:

"Who?!"

Unfortunately, she faced a pair of Nine-Tomoe Rinnegan Sharingan. The next second, with just one glance, the unprepared Sakura fell under Lux’s genjutsu and fainted, collapsing beside the bed.

Lux needed to have a proper talk with Sasuke, and letting the lovesick fangirl chatter and interfere wouldn’t help negotiations. So, he let Sakura sleep for now.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

After dealing with Sakura, Lux turned to Sasuke on the hospital bed.

Sasuke was indeed fine, just suffering from excessive chakra and mental exhaustion.

Lux raised his hand, injecting a small stream of True Wood Chakra into Sasuke’s body, quickly replenishing his physical and mental deficits.

In less than ten seconds, Sasuke, now restored, slowly regained consciousness.

"Naruto!"

Sasuke’s first words upon waking were to call out for Naruto, showing that the nightmare he’d just experienced wasn’t pleasant.

The next second, the awakened Sasuke entered high-alert mode, gathering his thoughts and scanning his surroundings.

"This is the hospital?"

"Sakura!"

Sasuke’s eyes swept around, spotting Sakura beside the bed, then finally settling on the stranger nearby.

The next moment, Sasuke leaped up, shielding Sakura, his right hand forming a Chidori short blade, pointing at Lux.

"Who are you?!!!"

"Nice reaction. But you just woke up—are you sure you want to move? Don’t forget where you are."

Lux revealed his Rinnegan Sharingan, staring directly at Sasuke. He knew the clever Sasuke would understand his limits.

As expected, the pressure from the Nine-Tomoe Rinnegan Sharingan made the one-armed Sasuke tremble.

A dojutsu one level higher than his own Six-Tomoe Rinnegan—Sasuke had only seen such eye techniques in Otsutsuki Kaguya!

Just this pair of eyes was enough to imagine how powerful this opponent was! Plus, with several Truth-Seeking Balls floating behind him, Sasuke knew how bizarre those things were. If they fought here, in the heart of Konoha, it would be a catastrophic disaster for the village.

Moreover, Sasuke’s condition wasn’t good. His chakra was less than a tenth, far from enough for another fight. Considering he’d just woken up and Sakura’s state, the opponent likely didn’t come with malicious intent. Otherwise, they could’ve taken advantage of his unconsciousness to harm him and Sakura...

In the end, the one-armed Sasuke, who’d been adventuring for years, was far more mature than before.

Back then, the rebellious Sasuke would’ve hit any passerby with Amaterasu; now, even when beaten brutally by prison guards, he could endure it. His growth was evident.

"Sorry, I was too aggressive."

"May I know who you really are?" Sasuke dispelled his Chidori Blade, apologizing while subtly checking Sakura’s condition behind him.

After confirming his wife was only unconscious, he relaxed slightly but maintained a certain level of vigilance.

"My name is Tenshou Sennin, you could say a relative of the Sage of the Six Paths. That old man Hagoromo—you should still remember him, right?"

"Elder Hagoromo?" Sasuke was enlightened. Though he’d only met him once in a dream, he had a deep impression of the Sage of the Six Paths.

So, the person before him was another Sennin on par with the Sage? Then why had he suddenly come to find him?

"As a Sennin, what do you want?" Sasuke lowered his hostility slightly, asking sincerely.

"I just met Naruto."

"Hmm?!!! Naruto? How is he now?" Sasuke’s eyes lit up, instantly excited.

"His condition is so-so, but his environment isn’t great. So, Uchiha Sasuke, do you want to save Uzumaki Naruto? You don’t want anything to happen to him, right?"