33. Minato’s Urgent Call (END OF ARC 1)

A/N thanks to all stones, hope y'all enjoyed the 7k words <3< p>

As Ryusei stood at the center of the ruined battlefield, his breath heavy but controlled, the residual energy of his intense battle with Kurogane still crackling faintly around him. The silence that followed the clash of powers was almost deafening. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Anon approached, their expressions a mixture of awe and relief at seeing their comrade victorious against such a formidable foe.

Naruto, his usual grin creeping back onto his face, was the first to speak. "That was insane, Ryusei! I've never seen anything like it!"

Sasuke, though silent, nodded in acknowledgment, his Sharingan still active, assessing the aftermath of the battle with sharp focus. Sakura was still catching her breath, and Anon remained calm, his Void energy fading as he analyzed the situation.

Just as the tension began to fade and the group started to regroup, the air around them shifted again, but this time, it was different—smoother, yet more sudden, like a sharp flicker in space and time. A wave of unfamiliar energy swept across the battlefield, freezing everyone in place for a brief second.

Ryusei's senses went on high alert. His gaze shot toward the source of the disturbance, and there, standing on the edge of the destroyed battlefield, was a figure that radiated immense power. The man's golden hair fluttered in the wind, his eyes sharp with purpose. He was draped in a white cloak with red flames licking at the hem, and the unmistakable kanji for "Fourth Hokage" emblazoned on his back.

It was Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash, but something about him was… different. His presence felt stronger, more refined, as if this wasn't the Minato they knew. The air seemed to part around him, the space itself folding in his presence. It was clear—this was not the Minato from their timeline.

Before anyone could react, Minato teleported in front of them in a blink of an eye, his signature Flying Thunder God technique executed with flawless precision. His face was calm, but the urgency in his eyes told a different story.

Ryusei took a step forward, immediately understanding the gravity of the situation. "You're from a different timeline, aren't you?" he asked, his voice steady.

Minato nodded, his expression grave but composed. "Yes, and I don't have much time. I've come to warn you all about an impending war that will engulf the weaker timelines—yours included if it isn't stopped."

Naruto's eyes widened in shock as he stepped closer. "Wait… Dad? What do you mean 'weaker timelines'?"

Minato glanced at his son, a small, fleeting smile crossing his face before it was replaced by a more serious expression. "In my timeline, we've discovered that the fabric of time itself is under attack. Forces from beyond the known realms—entities more dangerous than anything we've encountered—are tearing through the weaker timelines, disrupting the balance of the multiverse."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Forces from beyond… You mean like Kurogane?"

Minato's eyes flashed. "Kurogane was a vanguard, a harbinger of what's to come. There are others like him, much stronger, who have already begun targeting timelines that are more vulnerable. They seek to unravel reality, exploiting weaknesses to take control over the infinite possibilities of the multiverse."

Ryusei's mind raced. He knew the battle they had just fought had only scratched the surface of the challenges ahead, but hearing it from Minato confirmed the scale of the threat. The Void and Time weren't just isolated forces—there were entire planes of existence at stake.

Minato continued, his voice urgent. "In my timeline, we've already faced incursions—powerful beings that defy all understanding of chakra, time, and space. They destroy realities as easily as you or I would crush a stone. They're targeting timelines like yours, ones that are still stabilizing, to absorb their energy and fuel their war."

Sakura stepped forward, her fists clenched. "Why ours? Why would they target our timeline?"

Minato's gaze shifted to her. "Because timelines like yours are crucial to maintaining the balance of the multiverse. You've only begun to tap into the deeper energies—Void, Time, elements beyond chakra. If they take control here, they can destabilize countless other timelines, including ones where we're already fighting back."

Naruto's fists tightened as his knuckles turned white. "So what do we do? How do we stop them?"

Minato's expression softened for a moment as he looked at his son, but his voice remained resolute. "You need to prepare. The enemy isn't like anything you've faced before. These aren't just shinobi or monsters—they're beings that transcend the limitations of our world. You need to grow stronger, faster. Master the Void, Time, and all elements at your disposal."

Minato then turned to Ryusei, his eyes locking onto him with a deep intensity. "Ryusei, you're the key. You've already begun to understand the depths of Time and the Void, but you must go further. The enemies coming after us—they bend not only space and time but reality itself. You need to be able to counter that. You have the potential, but you need to push yourself beyond anything you've imagined."

Ryusei took in Minato's words with a sense of gravity. His recent battle with Kurogane had shown him the vast potential of the powers he wielded, but it was clear that he had only scratched the surface of what was possible.

Minato continued, "I'm not the only one fighting this war. There are other versions of me, other versions of you all, across countless timelines, preparing for this. But we're scattered, and if we're to survive, we need to start uniting our strength. This timeline is on the brink of being consumed."

Sasuke's Sharingan gleamed as he processed the information. "And where do we begin? How do we fight back?"

Minato reached into his cloak and pulled out a small, glowing sphere, shimmering with an energy that seemed to pulse with life. "This," he said, holding it out for them to see, "is a temporal core. It will allow you to travel between timelines, but it's extremely dangerous. It can only be used by those who can already manipulate time to some extent. You'll need this to find other allies, stronger versions of yourselves, and fight back against the coming storm."

Ryusei stepped forward and took the core from Minato's hand, feeling the raw power radiating from it. He understood the significance of what they were being tasked with, but there was still so much to learn.

Minato's voice lowered as he prepared to leave. "You don't have long. The enemy will strike soon, and when they do, it will be with a force that could wipe out your entire timeline in an instant. Prepare yourselves. Trust in each other. This war is bigger than any of us."

Naruto's voice cracked as he called out, "Dad, wait! Can't you stay and help?"

Minato smiled softly at his son, his eyes filled with pride. "I wish I could, Naruto. But my timeline needs me. We're fighting the same battle, just in different places. You're stronger than you know. And now, it's time for you to protect your world."

With those final words, Minato raised his hand, forming a familiar seal in the air. In the blink of an eye, he vanished, leaving only the faint ripple of his teleportation behind.

Ryusei stared at the temporal core in his hand, the weight of Minato's warning sinking in. A new war was coming—one that stretched across time and space, one that would challenge them in ways they couldn't yet understand.

He turned to the rest of the team, his eyes hard but filled with resolve. "We need to train. We need to prepare. This war will be unlike anything we've ever faced."

Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Anon all nodded, their faces set with determination.

The countdown to the invasion had begun. And this time, they would not be fighting alone.