Chapter 46

God Rock

Perched atop the artificial moon created by the Otsutsuki, Naruto sat beside Mystogan. Before them lay the fallen figure of Kushiki.

Once a being bound by layered curses and Karma, Kushiki Otsutsuki had been stripped of his burdens, reverting to his true self—Menma Uzumaki.

Menma's red hair rustled slightly as his unconscious body shifted.

"So this guy is the alternate version of you?" Mystogan asked, his arms crossed as he studied the motionless figure.

"Yeah… not just that, but a perfect version of me," Naruto replied.

"Perfect?" Mystogan raised a brow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Not in power or looks, okay?" Naruto huffed. "This guy had everything —a mother, a father… even Kurama by his side. Lucky bastard."

Mystogan's gaze flickered toward Menma before returning to Naruto. "And you didn't?"

Naruto let out a dry chuckle. "Nope. This guy? He was a genius. Respected by everyone. Surpassed everyone. Held in high regard." He exhaled sharply. "Meanwhile, I had the opposite experience."

Mystogan studied him for a moment. "You were an orphan?"

Naruto nodded. "Both of them died the day I was born. A terrorist attack of sorts…" He glanced up at the endless expanse of space above them. "My mom carried a tailed beast—the Nine-Tails, Kurama, the one I used to house within me. That made her a target. The seal keeping Kurama inside her was weakest during childbirth, and some bastard took advantage of that." His voice dipped slightly. "A man named Madara ."

Mystogan's expression darkened slightly at the name.

"He ripped Kurama out of her, used me as a hostage… Dad, even with all his skill, was outplayed." Naruto smirked bitterly. "Then Madara unleashed Kurama on the village, let it wreak havoc while he slipped away."

Mystogan remained silent, his jaw tightening.

"My dad managed to save my mom and faced Madara, drove him off—but by then, the damage was done. Kurama was still raging. They had one choice left… they sealed it inside me." Naruto exhaled, shaking his head. "It cost them their lives."

"Years later… i was seen as an outcast… had to stir trouble just to get acknowledged" naruto shook his head"

"But you did get acknowledged in the end, right? You pulled through…" Mystogan said with a small smile.

Naruto grinned. "Hell yeah, of course, I did." His gaze drifted to Menma's unconscious form. " I'll escort this poor bastard back to his home. Bet his parents are worried sick." He scoffed lightly. "Lucky bastard."

Shaking his head, Naruto turned to Mystogan. "Thought you'd use the teleport Lacrima. What happened there?"

Mystogan sighed. "After I succeeded in turning Dorma Anim into the new core, I activated the teleport Lacrima. Should've landed back at the royal castle, but somehow, I got whisked away by that guy." He gestured vaguely towards Menma. "These Otsutsuki… what an absurd ability they have."

Naruto chuckled. "Tell me about it."

Mystogan narrowed his eyes slightly. "You sure you can handle them back in your own world?"

Naruto smirked. "I'll definitely pull through… that's for sure."

Mystogan studied him for a moment, then exhaled through his nose. "Even with your absurd abilities, you're still cautious, huh?" He shook his head. "What a terrifying enemy you're up against."

Naruto's grin faded slightly, replaced by a more thoughtful expression. "Yeah…"

Mystogan nodded, turning away. "Let's head back."

With a flicker of energy, Naruto hoisted Menma onto his back. The glow of the teleport Lacrima enveloped them, and in an instant, they vanished—reappearing in Edolas, back within the grand halls of the royal castle.

Royal Castle

Mystogan stood before King Faust, having just finished his report. Beside the king were Panther Lily and Erza Knightwalker, both standing in silent observation. Mystogan had detailed everything—the battle against the Otsutsuki, Naruto's role in their victory, and how they had successfully replaced the artificial moon's core. The new core, he explained, would harness nature energy from the sun and convert it into ethernano, ensuring Edolas' magical sustainability.

He had expected some kind of relief, perhaps even a hint of satisfaction from the king. Instead, Faust remained eerily composed, his expression unreadable.

"Is something wrong, Father?" Mystogan asked cautiously.

Faust finally exhaled, his gaze heavy. "Son… I never asked you to perform a miracle." His voice was measured, almost weary. "For you to plan out a replacement core… that means you expected me to go back to what I originally intended, didn't you? To plunder Earthland for its magic?"

Mystogan met his father's gaze without hesitation. "Yes."

Faust closed his eyes, his expression darkening with a mix of disappointment and self-reflection. How far have I fallen…? For his own son to anticipate him as a liability , as a threat —it was a bitter pill to swallow.

"I… see," the king murmured.

"K-King…" Panther Lily started, his tone uncertain.

Faust drew in a slow breath before shifting his focus to Naruto and Mystogan. His once prideful posture softened, and then—against all expectations—he bowed deeply.

"Naruto… Mystogan… If not for the two of you, this world would have been doomed at the hands of the Otsutsuki god. For that, I express my sincerest gratitude."

It was a gesture no one in the room had expected. Faust, a man who had once ruled with an iron will, was now showing humility— genuine humility. Away from his son's watchful eye, perhaps the king had indeed grown in ways Mystogan had never seen.

Panther Lily and Erza Knightwalker exchanged brief glances before following suit, bowing as well. Their loyalty was still to their king, but at this moment, they acknowledged Naruto and Mystogan as the saviors of their world.

Mystogan and Naruto accepted the gesture with quiet respect.

Then, Mystogan turned to Naruto. "Naruto… I have another request for you. I'm sorry for asking so much of you today."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "What is it now? Geez, loosen up ex-mustache man. You gotta learn to lean on people, y'know? That's just common sense. Or do you wanna end up like that guy?" He jabbed a thumb at Menma's unconscious form—an unspoken warning about what happens when one shoulders everything alone.

Mystogan's lips curled into a faint smile. "I'm in your debt… Naruto."

"Bah, it's nothing." Naruto waved him off nonchalantly.

Mystogan nudged Naruto. "Follow me."

Without another word, he led Naruto down toward the lower levels of the royal castle.

Mystogan led Naruto through the dimly lit corridors of the royal castle's underground laboratory. As the heavy doors groaned open, a sterile, artificial light illuminated the vast room. Lining the walls were massive glass tanks, each containing grotesque, mutated creatures. Some were barely recognizable as living beings—twisted, writhing forms with distorted limbs, scales, and vacant, suffering eyes.

Naruto's gaze hardened as he took in the sight before him. The creatures, once human, had become victims of failed experiments—tailless lizards, horrifying results of attempts to harness the foreign energy from the God Rock . The same experiments that had gone so terribly wrong.

"You want me to undo all this?" Naruto asked, his voice low, controlled.

Mystogan nodded solemnly. "Like what you did for Menma. Can you return them to what they were?"

Naruto sighed, cracking his knuckles before lifting his palm toward the nearest tank. "Of course."

A surge of power rippled through him as his Aokugan flared to life, his blue eyes shifting into an ethereal, luminescent glow. The once-opaque tanks glowed in response, as if the energy inside them recognized his presence.

Mystogan pointed first to Hughes, then to Sugarboy—two of his former allies lost to the experiments. Naruto focused, channeling his power into their distorted bodies. Slowly, their grotesque forms began to shrink and shift, limbs returning to their rightful places, scales dissolving back into smooth flesh. Within moments, they were human again, unconscious but breathing steadily.

Mystogan's eyes widened in disbelief. "You really are… a miracle worker." He had prepared himself for a slow, agonizing process, but Naruto had reversed years of suffering in mere seconds. This was something Mystogan could never have accomplished alone.

"There. Done and done." Naruto dusted off his hands as if he had just finished a mundane chore, though the sheer weight of what he had just done was monumental. Without wasting time, he turned toward the rest of the mutated figures trapped in the tanks and began restoring them one by one.

The heavy clanking of boots against the floor signaled the arrival of King Faust, Panther Lily, and Erza Knightwalker. Their faces bore a mix of shock and disbelief as they took in the sight of Naruto healing those they had once considered lost.

Time passed, and with each patient Naruto restored, the atmosphere in the lab became lighter—less suffocating. What was once a graveyard of failed experiments was now a place of second chances.

As Naruto finished the last of them, he let out a long exhale, scratching the back of his head. "Now, I know these tailless lizards are still out there. And people? They're definitely still experimenting with whatever remains of that chak—" He coughed mid-sentence, correcting himself. "I mean, that energy ."

Mystogan frowned. "What are you implying?"

Naruto smirked and reached for his staves, gripping them firmly as his Aokugan flared once more. This time, rather than healing, he channeled something different—an enchantment. The air around him crackled as his hands moved fluidly, inscribing glowing runes along the length of the weapons, embedding them with a divine-like energy.

When the glow faded, Naruto turned and handed the modified staves to Mystogan.

"Here. With these, you can restore them—anyone who's been transformed. Just channel your magic through these weapons imbued with my runes. I made the process simple, so you should be able to replicate it." He gave Mystogan a confident grin. "Ya still got a lot to work on, my man. But like I told you before… you don't have to do this alone."

Mystogan looked down at the weapons, feeling the power coursing through them.

Naruto continued, "Using my engravings as a reference, you can modify other weapons, other tools… spread this knowledge. That way, anyone in Edolas can help mend the ones who are still out there."

Mystogan clenched his jaw, gripping the staff tighter. Naruto hadn't just helped him—he had entrusted him with a way to fix what was broken, to heal what was left.

"...Naruto…" Mystogan muttered, unable to find the right words. But in his heart, he knew—this wasn't just gratitude. This was a turning point.

Mystogan walked alongside Naruto toward the grand entrance of the royal castle, the towering doors casting long shadows beneath the pale moonlight. Behind them, Menma's unconscious form had been placed in the guest chambers, resting peacefully. The night sky stretched endlessly over Edolas, stars shimmering like scattered jewels, while the cool evening breeze carried the distant hum of the city beyond the castle walls.

As they reached the threshold, Naruto stretched his arms behind his head, a casual grin tugging at his lips. "First stop—Fairy Tail," he announced. "Figured I should check in on them before I head out."

Mystogan nodded, arms crossed over his chest. "I expected as much." His voice was calm, yet there was an unspoken weight behind his words.

Naruto caught the subtle tension and smirked. "Don't worry, I'm not leaving just yet," he reassured him. "I'll come back and talk to you before I go for good. Take care of Menma for the meantime."

Mystogan exhaled softly, a quiet relief settling in his chest. Though Naruto always carried himself with an easygoing demeanor, his presence had changed the fate of Edolas in ways no one could have foreseen. Saying goodbye wouldn't be easy.

With a small wave, Naruto turned on his heel, setting off toward Edolas's Fairy Tail guild. The faint glow of lanterns illuminated the path ahead as he disappeared into the night, leaving Mystogan standing at the castle gates, watching his friend go.

Fairy Tail, Edolas

Naruto arrived at Fairy Tail's Edolas branch, the warm glow of lanterns flickering against the wooden guild hall. Inside, familiar laughter and chatter filled the air, but his focus was on one person—Lisanna.

She stood outside, illuminated by the moonlight, her expression uncertain as she met his gaze.

"Naruto… I don't think I should go back to Earthland," Lisanna said softly, hesitating as the words left her lips.

Naruto tilted his head, studying her. "You sure?" he asked, his tone gentle but curious.

Lisanna gulped, gripping the hem of her shirt. "I can't help it… I've been here for years. This is my home now. I can't just leave my brother and sister behind."

Before Naruto could respond, two familiar voices cut through the night.

"Lisanna."

She turned sharply, eyes widening as Mirajane and Elfman stepped forward.

"Sis… Brother…" Lisanna whispered, her voice trembling.

Mirajane smiled warmly, while Elfman—usually the loud, boisterous one—stood firm, his presence unusually steady.

"It's okay," Elfman said, his deep voice softer than usual. "We know."

"We've always known," Mirajane added before pulling Lisanna into a tight embrace.

Naruto watched silently as the bittersweet moment unfolded, the sound of Lisanna's muffled cries echoing in the serene night. The wind rustled through the trees, carrying with it the weight of her emotions.

After a moment, Mirajane turned to Naruto, her gaze unwavering. "Take care of Lisanna, Naruto."

He gave a small, conflicted smile. "No worries. I'll send her back to Earthland with little to no trouble. Mira and Elfman over there… they'll be elated to have her back."

Mirajane nodded, though her grip on Lisanna tightened briefly. "That's good… that's good…"

Naruto exhaled, stretching his arms behind his head. "Lisanna, meet me at the entrance of the royal castle tomorrow before dusk," he instructed. "Spend some time with Mirajane, Elfman, and the others first. Make the most of tonight… and send Lucy my regards."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked off into the night, leaving the three Strauss siblings alone on the grassy plains—one last evening together under the stars.

Royal Castle, Menma's Chambers

The guest room where Menma rested was quiet, the steady rise and fall of his breathing the only sign of life. Beyond the chamber doors, Mystogan and Naruto stood on the balcony, gazing at the vast Edolas night sky. Stars twinkled like scattered shards of crystal, illuminating the world below in a soft, silver glow.

"I see… so Lisanna wasn't dead all along," Mystogan murmured, his expression contemplative. "A rogue Anima must've pulled her into Edolas during that incident…"

Naruto nodded. "Yeah. Tomorrow at dusk, we're heading back." He then glanced over his shoulder at the unconscious Menma, lips quirking into an amused smirk. "Sheesh, that guy's still knocked out."

Mystogan chuckled lightly. "You did mention he's been working in solitude. Maybe exhaustion finally caught up to him."

Naruto huffed, shaking his head. "Seriously, this guy…"

The Next Day

Morning light filtered through the curtains as Menma finally stirred, blinking groggily before fully regaining consciousness. By then, Mystogan had insisted that both he and Naruto have a proper meal before preparing for their departures to their respective worlds.

Seated at the dining table, Menma ran a hand through his dark hair, still processing everything. His sharp gaze shifted to Naruto.

"To think you were able to undo my layered Karma…" Menma muttered, a rare hint of reverence in his tone. "That's no small feat. You must be one hell of a genius to pull something like that off."

Naruto waved him off with a grin. "I didn't get here on my own. A lot of people helped me along the way."

Menma fell silent, his fingers curling slightly. His voice dropped to a whisper. "No wonder you're so strong…" He exhaled deeply before continuing, his words laced with quiet regret. "I couldn't do that. I was too afraid… afraid of sacrifice, of risking my friends—my family's lives. That's why…"

Naruto leaned forward, his tone softer but firm. "If that's how you feel… then imagine how your parents must have felt. Your close friends."

Menma's hands clenched against the table as he stared down, guilt flickering across his face. A heavy silence settled between them.

Finally, after a long pause, Menma inhaled sharply and lifted his head.

"You have my thanks, Naruto Uzumaki," he said, sincerity woven into every word.

Later that day, Lisanna arrived at the entrance of the royal castle, her steps steady but her heart heavy. Behind her, Mirajane and Elfman stood side by side, waving their goodbyes. Their smiles were warm, yet their eyes betrayed the sadness of parting. Behind them, the entirety of Fairy Tail had gathered, their voices filling the air with farewells. Some waved enthusiastically, while others wept openly, their emotions unguarded.

Naruto stood beside Menma, exchanging a silent nod with Mystogan. The king of Edolas, usually composed, now looked visibly shaken.

Lisanna took her final steps toward Naruto, stopping just before him. He acknowledged the crowd with a wave before reaching into his ninja pouch, pulling out a scroll. With a swift motion, he unfurled it, summoning Twilight , the artifact that would send them home.

Before he could activate it, Mystogan stepped forward.

"Naruto…" His voice wavered. Then, gripping Naruto's shoulders firmly, he continued, his hands trembling slightly. "Thank you… truly… for everything."

Naruto blinked, surprised for a moment. Then, a sheepish grin spread across his face as he lifted a fist. He didn't speak, but his expression conveyed more than words ever could—a silent promise, a shared understanding.

Mystogan exhaled sharply, his own lips tugging into a rare smile as he met Naruto's fist with his own. Their knuckles connected in a quiet moment of brotherhood.

They did good. They did good.

Standing nearby, King Faust, Panther Lily, and Erza Knightwalker gave Naruto a formal bow, acknowledging his deeds and offering their silent goodbyes.

With a final nod, Naruto activated Twilight . A brilliant glow engulfed them, and in an instant, they vanished.

Magnolia Outskirts

Naruto, Menma, and Lisanna reappeared just outside Magnolia, near a small hut nestled in the quiet woods—Natsu and Happy's home. The familiar scent of Earthland filled the air, and Lisanna inhaled deeply, as if savoring the moment.

She turned to Naruto with a soft smile before stepping forward and wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you, Naruto."

Naruto chuckled, patting her back. "No need for that."

Lisanna pulled away slightly, looking up at him. "Are you sure you don't want to see them? Natsu, Sis, the others?"

Naruto shook his head, his expression calm. "Nah… I already said my goodbyes. Just send my regards to Mira and Elfman, alright?"

Lisanna nodded, hugging him one last time before stepping back. With a grateful smile, she watched as Naruto activated Twilight again. The glowing energy enveloped him and Menma, and in the blink of an eye, they were gone.

Menma's World, The Village Hidden in the Leaves

Naruto and Menma reappeared on the rooftop of a familiar building in Konoha, the breeze carrying the scent of ramen stalls and fresh pine. The Hokage Monument loomed before them, the four great faces carved into the mountain standing tall under the setting sun.

Naruto let out a low whistle. "Only four, huh… Guess your pops is still alive."

Menma nodded, his expression unreadable as he took in the sight of his home.

Naruto's gaze lingered on him before he reached out, lightly tapping Menma's chest with a closed fist. "Take care of them, seriously. Don't throw yourself away again." His voice held a rare softness, though a faint glimmer of something unreadable flickered in his eyes. Perhaps a trace of jealousy for what Menma had—a mother and father who was still alive.

Menma clenched his fists, nodding firmly. "Y-Yeah… I swear to you, Naruto. I'll live."

A small grin tugged at Naruto's lips. "Good."

Menma raised a fist, and Naruto met it with his own, their knuckles colliding one last time.

Lifting Twilight , Naruto gave him a final nod. Menma returned it, his blue eyes steady.

"…See ya, Naruto."

And with that, Naruto vanished, leaving behind only the whisper of the wind.

His last stop—his own world.

Epilogue

Uzumaki Kawaki stood atop the roof of the Uzumaki household, the night air cool against his skin. Nearly two years had passed since his fate with Boruto had been reversed—an accidental use of Shinjutsu had rewritten their destinies. Now, Kawaki walked in Boruto's life, while Boruto lived as an outcast, condemned as the one who caused the disappearance of the beloved Seventh Hokage.

It had also been nearly two years since Kawaki had sealed his father and mother away in his pocket dimension, ensuring their safety—or so he believed. Yet, despite his control over that space, Naruto had suddenly vanished without a trace.

"Lord Seventh…" Kawaki muttered under his breath, his gaze locked onto the Seventh's face carved into the Hokage Mountain. The stone visage of Naruto seemed to stare back at him, unyielding, as if silently judging the choices he had made.

Then, a sharp jolt coursed through his body. His fingers trembled as he instinctively clutched his hand. A chilling realization struck him—his connection to his mother in the pocket dimension had severed.

Something was wrong.

A presence materialized behind him, its sheer force suffocating. It wasn't just powerful—it was something beyond comprehension, something even he, with all his abilities, could neither perceive nor measure. The air grew heavy, crackling with an unfamiliar energy.

Kawaki turned, and his breath caught in his throat.

There, standing before him, was the lost Hokage.

Naruto knelt on the rooftop, cradling Hinata in his arms. His Aokugan flared, glowing like smoldering embers in the darkness. His breathing was steady, controlled—but beneath that calm exterior, an undeniable intensity radiated from him.

Kawaki staggered back, his mind racing to process the impossible sight before him.

"L-Lord Seventh…!"

Fin