A soft breeze moved the hanging scrolls in the Hyuga training hall. Hiashi sat in quiet meditation as Hanabi walked past him, yawning.

  Hanabi (groaning):

  “Dad, remind me again why we’re babysitting the Uzumaki kid?”

  Hiashi (calmly):

  “He is Hyuga by blood. And Hinata is my daughter.”

  In the distance, Yuta walked awkwardly onto the polished floor, trying to imitate the stance he had seen Hiashi take the day before. He fumbled, stumbled… and still held his hands up, proud.

  Hanabi (watching):

  “He’s got guts. And that grin…”

  (pauses)

  “It reminds me of someone.”

  Hiashi’s eyes lingered. A vision flickered—Neji, as a boy, standing tall, fearless, and cursed. Yuta moved again, almost mimicking Neji’s rotation.

  Hiashi stood slowly.

  Hiashi (softly):

  “…He’s too young to carry a legacy. But it’s already in him.”

  They spent the full day training. Hiashi guided him with care—silent, but observant. Every block, every question, every accidental fall… made the memory of Neji ache like an old wound.

  At sunset, Yuta dozed off on the wooden engawa, snoring softly.

  Hanabi (smirking):

  “Worn him out, huh?”

  Hiashi didn’t answer. His eyes were on the sleeping boy.

  In that moment, he wasn’t looking at Naruto’s son…

  He was staring at a second chance.

  Somewhere beyond time…

  Cracks tore through the divine sarcophagus.

  BOOM.

  The throne chamber of the Celestial Plane exploded with power.

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  SHIBAI ōTSUTSUKI—the living god—awoke.

  Shibai (screaming):

  “SYLUSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

  YOU BASTARDDDDDDD!!

  I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!!!

  AND I’LL DRAG HER WITH ME!!”

  The floor melted beneath his footstep as Asmodeous and the Nine Heralds knelt instantly.

  Asmodeous (without lifting his head):

  “My Lord… he has returned.

  Sylus has been reborn… as has his guardian.”

  Shibai turned toward the glowing cocoon, pulsing in divine chains.

  Inside it: Aria, asleep, sealed… glowing faintly.

  Shibai (pressing his foot onto the cocoon):

  “That girl… that foolish immortal girl…

  I told Sylus to finish me—AND HE JUMPED OFF A CLIFF FOR HER.”

  His voice broke the stars.

  Shibai (laughs bitterly):

  “Love made him reject godhood. And his brother… Kashin… died of heartbreak. How pathetic.”

  Asmodeous (low):

  “They were blessed to be born in the best timelines…

  Yuta — child of the Alternate Naruto and Hinata.

  Ryouta — son of Alternate Madara and Kaguya.

  But I… erased those universes.”

  Shibai chuckled darkly.

  Shibai:

  “So they fell into the worst timeline — this primitive Earth where chakra is still a toy.

  Perfect. Even if they remember… they’ll never awaken.”

  Inside the cocoon, Aria stirred.

  Her lips trembled. A tear drifted upward in zero gravity.

  Aria (softly):

  “…Sylus… you were reborn…? Then… please…”

  She pressed her hand against the glowing shell.

  Aria (whispers):

  “Come save me…”

  She smiled faintly through tears.

  Aria (drowsy):

  “Toneri Otsutsuki… my knight… you too… please…”

  And she slipped into sleep again.

  Tsunade slammed a clipboard on the desk.

  In front of her:

  Naruto, Sasuke, Sai, Shikamaru, Choji — all sweating bullets.

  Across from them:

  Hinata, Sakura, Ino, Karui, Temari — all visibly pregnant.

  Tsunade (annoyed):

  “You idiots. You’re all gonna be fathers — and the due dates are staggered like a damn mission schedule.

  Did you coordinate this somehow?!”

  Hinata (blushing):

  “If it’s a boy… I want to name him Boruto.”

  Naruto:

  “Wait—why Boruto?”

  Hinata (gently):

  “Because I want Yuta to be the older brother.”

  Naruto froze.

  Sasuke (coolly):

  “If it’s a girl, she’ll be Sarada.

  Ryouta’ll have to keep an eye on her.”

  Sakura (smiling):

  “He already does.”

  Temari:

  “Ours will be Shikadai.”

  Shikamaru (groaning):

  “…So troublesome…”

  Karui:

  “Girl name? Chocho.”

  Choji (laughing):

  “She’ll out-eat all of them.”

  The room laughed awkwardly.

  Unaware… that outside this “weak” timeline, gods had already turned their gaze.

  To Be Continued…

  Next: Chapter 10 – “Eyes That Remember, Power That Sleeps”

  LORD OF THE SEAS

  The sea does not bow… it judges.

  Julien Fronterra, had everything—fame, legacy, and a shot at immortality in the world of combat sports. But in his moment of triumph, his body betrayed him. As his vision faded and regret swallowed him whole, he made one final plea—to live again, to find his own people, to carve out a life worth more than just titles. The gods listened.

  “A saga with mythic depth and tidal stakes.”

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