Chapter 253: Sasuke: How Great Would It Be If My Timeline Had Akira

When they came, it was Akira and Sasuke using the Heavenly Transfer Technique, making a dazzling entrance. But on the return trip, they were four in total—including Roshi and Han.

Han was the first to step forward, expressing his willingness to follow Akira. On one hand, he didn't want his presence to endanger Iwagakure anymore. With the death of the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, Iwagakure couldn't afford more crises.

On the other hand, it was also for his own safety. Both the Akatsuki and Urashiki sought to collect the Tailed Beasts, and the leaders of the Akatsuki and Urashiki wielded the legendary Rinnegan. Against them, the strength of a Jinchūriki was simply not enough.

So, for his own protection, staying by Akira's side was the safest option.

Roshi was a bit unconvinced, but it was also a matter of his safety. After Han spoke up, what else could Roshi say? Naturally, he followed Han and joined Akira.

With two of the biggest rivals leaving, Kurotsuchi's ascension as the Fourth Tsuchikage was simply a matter of course.

The four of them returned to Konoha—two Super Kage-level fighters and two Kage-level Jinchūriki. With such a team, no one dared to pick a fight.

After traveling for about ten days, Akira and his group finally arrived back in Konoha. During those ten days, Akira had nearly exhausted his savings, naturally increasing his chakra reserves considerably.

Speaking of which, Akira originally had a considerable sum of money, and with the additional one hundred million ryo as compensation from Iwagakure, it shouldn't have run out so easily, right?

However, Sasuke took forty million along the way. Since it was a "compensation fee," Sasuke figured he was entitled to half of it.

If Akira hadn't claimed that he covered the transportation costs using the Heavenly Transfer Technique, Sasuke would've probably taken fifty million instead.

Thus, Akira complained about Sasuke with annoyance. Why? Back when they were negotiating the fee with Iwagakure, Sasuke had looked embarrassed to be associated with him, urging him to leave quickly.

Yet now that they had actually received the money, Sasuke wanted half of it.

It was like those scholars who found talking about money vulgar and filled with the stench of copper. But when it came to their own interests, could they really regard money as dirt? Naturally, that wasn't possible.

After ten days of traveling, Akira and his group successfully returned to Konoha.

Fugaku was naturally shocked to see Akira return with two Jinchūriki from Iwagakure.

Jinchūriki—they were like a village's nuclear deterrent.

To a shinobi village, a Jinchūriki wasn't just a simple Kage-level fighter; they represented an enduring strength that could be passed down indefinitely.

Like a noble lord compared to an iron-clad title that could be inherited endlessly—the significance was entirely different.

But Akira had brought back both of Iwagakure's Jinchūriki? Hadn't the people of Iwagakure fought him to the death?

Afterward, Akira briefly explained to Fugaku the situation of the two Jinchūriki voluntarily choosing to follow him. The events that had taken place in Iwagakure also shocked Fugaku.

A mysterious figure possessing both blue and red Rinnegan, and even the Byakugan? And not even Akira could defeat him?

His goal was to gather all nine Tailed Beasts?

"Sigh, the world truly has changed," Fugaku said with a sigh after Akira finished explaining what had happened in Iwagakure.

Hearing this, Akira gave Fugaku a puzzled look, unsure what he meant by the world changing.

"The existence of Tailed Beasts has always been a source of fear. The Jinchūriki are the most treasured assets of each village, formidable weapons on the battlefield. But who could've imagined that, in today's world, the Tailed Beasts would become the prey of countless ambitious individuals, and even the Jinchūriki can no longer protect themselves?" Fugaku said, noticing Akira's confusion.

Akira nodded in agreement.

Indeed, Jinchūriki were powerful, each capable of wielding the power of a beast. But against the Rinnegan, not to mention even a Mangekyo Sharingan, they would bow down.

Bringing back two Jinchūriki from Iwagakure wasn't a major issue for Konoha. Although their presence might draw the attention of the Akatsuki and Urashiki, Konoha had the strongest of the Tailed Beasts, the Nine-Tails, sealed within it. There was no way Konoha could stay out of this just by wanting to.

Fugaku quickly arranged for Roshi and Han to be assigned roles within the Anbu Black Ops, placing them directly under Akira's command.

It was worth mentioning that, with the addition of Roshi and Han, Akira's progress in collecting the Nine Tails' chakra advanced significantly—or rather, collecting the "Dragon Balls" of the shinobi world.

One-Tail Shukaku, Three-Tails Isobu, Four-Tails Son Goku, Five-Tails Kokuō, and Nine-Tails Kurama.

Now, Akira had successfully gathered part of the chakra of five Tailed Beasts.

In the original story, the chakra of all nine Tailed Beasts was necessary to revive the Ten-Tails. However, even a half portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra sufficed without much of an impact.

Therefore, Akira was curious—if he gathered not the complete chakra of the nine Tailed Beasts but just portions, what kind of transformation would occur if he succeeded?

Now that he had the chakra of five Tailed Beasts, Akira found some joy in the collection process.

Upon returning to Konoha, Sasuke naturally met up with Boruto. He then recounted the story of their support of Iwagakure, their battle against Urashiki, and their eventual victory.

"That incredible? This Akira is really powerful. During my time in Konoha, I've heard more about him," Boruto said, his face showing astonishment as he heard Sasuke describe how Akira had forced Urashiki to flee.

Boruto then told Sasuke everything he had learned about Akira during his stay in Konoha.

Listening to Boruto, Sasuke gained a deeper understanding of Akira. Simultaneously, his heart shook—Akira's existence was indeed both mysterious and powerful.

As someone who came from a parallel universe, Sasuke could confirm that the one difference between the two timelines was Akira. The stronger Akira's presence became, the more the two timelines would diverge.

Akira's existence and his development over the years were the best evidence of this.

Although there was no such concept as the butterfly effect in the shinobi world, Sasuke could clearly understand what it meant.

Silently, Sasuke couldn't help but think—if only his timeline had someone like Akira. How great would that be?

But that was just Sasuke's internal musings.

Following the events in Iwagakure, news spread like a hurricane throughout the shinobi world, and the incident once again shook everyone.

Particularly, the battle involving three individuals with Rinnegan became the most striking feature of the event.

Rinnegan had resurfaced—and there were three pairs? How could this be possible? For so many years, the Rinnegan was merely a legend, yet now so many had appeared.

The Raikage of Kumogakure, a neighboring Great Shinobi Village to Iwagakure, quickly received the news, his face showing shock.

Initially, the Raikage felt that his power was at the pinnacle of the shinobi world since the Akatsuki had never dared to attack his village. But now? With so many Rinnegan appearing?

For the first time, the Raikage felt as though he had been a frog in a well.

"Sigh, this world runs too deep. The so-called Great Shinobi Villages might just be a joke," he muttered.

Meanwhile, in Sunagakure, another neighboring village to Iwagakure, they also learned of the events.

Gaara's expression was similarly filled with helplessness. As the Kazekage of Sunagakure, Gaara had once considered himself among the strongest in the shinobi world. But in recent years, powerful individuals had emerged one after another—the Akatsuki, Rinnegan, Akira…

Now, with Rinnegan appearing like bamboo shoots after rain, Gaara began to doubt if he truly deserved to be one of the Five Kage.

For the first time, Gaara had a crisis of confidence in his own strength.

"So, Akira has a Rinnegan too? That's huge news!" On the other side, in Kirigakure, Mei Terumī, the Mizukage, naturally heard about it too, and a smile spread across her face.

"My dear husband is truly powerful—he even has a Rinnegan!"

Beside her, Chōjūrō rolled his eyes in secret.

Well, it seemed Mizukage-sama was daydreaming again.

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POWER STONE!!!

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