Hokage's Office.
Tsunade, Kakashi, Shikaku, Shizune, and several others stare wide-eyed, their expressions filled with astonishment, at Imperial Lee, Neji, and Obito, who have returned to their normal appearances.
Seeing faces so similar to Konoha's Lee and Neji, yet with remarkably robust physiques, they're momentarily stunned.
Tsunade shifts her expression and mutters, "So strong… Are all people from your world this powerful? One's over 190 cm tall, another around 188 cm…"
"Lee and Neji from another world feel so different from those here." Shizune murmurs.
"Obito…" Kakashi gazes blankly at Imperial Obito, his face full of memories.
"Hahaha! We've all trained in the martial arts taught by His Majesty the Emperor, so it's only natural our bodies are stronger! If you train too, your bodies could be this strong!" Imperial Lee laughs heartily, giving a thumbs-up to everyone.
Tsunade and Shizune shudder involuntarily.
Muscles that big? No thanks!
Such muscles and their beauty simply don't mix!
"You three do look remarkably like Konoha's Rock Lee, Hyuga Neji, and the late Uchiha Obito. But appearances alone prove nothing, unless…" Tsunade's eyes lock onto Imperial Neji and Obito, pausing before continuing.
Imperial Neji whispers softly.
Blue veins instantly bulge around his eyes.
Imperial Obito's eyes turn blood-red, three tomoe slowly spinning.
"Byakugan! Sharingan! It's true! Are they really Neji and Obito from another world? Does such a world actually exist?" Shikaku, seeing the changes in their eyes, gasps and whispers.
"In the entire ninja world, only the Hyuga main family's Byakugan lacks the Caged Bird… and the Sharingan, even more so… If so, their identities might indeed be as Naruto claims. Otherwise, it's hard to explain…" Kakashi whispers.
"See? Now you have to believe what we said!" Naruto says, rubbing his nose with his finger, a bit proud.
"For now, I believe maybe seventy or eighty percent…" Tsunade says cautiously.
"You still don't fully believe us?! Why's Granny Tsunade like this?!" Naruto cries, a bit upset.
"As ninjas, we must keep some skepticism toward things beyond reason. Blindly trusting others isn't right, Naruto!" Tsunade lectures.
"Fine, fine! Whatever you say, Granny Tsunade, since you're the Hokage!" Naruto sighs.
"This still isn't enough to convince you? It seems no matter how much we say or how much proof we provide, you won't believe us." Imperial Neji says coolly, his face expressionless.
"Exactly. Unless you can take me to your world and let me see it myself, I'll always have doubts." Tsunade nods.
"Is that so… I understand. But crossing space and time requires certain things. We need some preparation." Imperial Neji says.
"Requires something…" Tsunade and Shikaku exchange glances.
Their hearts ease slightly.
Whether these people are truly from another world or not, Konoha is safe for now.
If what they say is true, they could've sent a million Kakashis and conquered the ninja world already. Why bother interacting and negotiating?
But deep down, they hope the three before them are just pulling off an elaborate act.
"Don't worry, Tsunade-sama. Soon, we'll show you the magnificent Empire! I believe you, Naruto, and the others will fall in love with it!" Imperial Lee beams brightly.
"Well, then, I look forward to it." Tsunade nods, smiling.
The room falls into a brief silence.
Until…
"Kakashi… why didn't you protect Rin properly in this world?" Imperial Obito suddenly stares at Kakashi, asking abruptly.
"Rin… I'm sorry…" Kakashi freezes, then shows a guilty expression, lowering his head without explanation.
"Sorry? That's your only answer, Kakashi of this world?" Imperial Obito frowns, his fists clenching tightly.
"Uchiha… Obito from another world, let's call you that. It seems you know about Rin's death. She fell as a hero in the war. Kakashi's grief over this is no less than yours. His bond with Rin is clearly as strong as yours! After all, you're Rin's husband in your world, aren't you?" Tsunade says, feeling that, even if he's Obito from another world, he has no right to interrogate Konoha's Kakashi like this.
"Rin's husband…" Imperial Obito's face freezes, his cheeks burning.
Exactly!
'That bastard Kakashi is Rin's husband. Even in this world, I believe their friendship is no less than mine…'
'What can I even say?'
"What Hokage-sama says is true… I was out of line… I'm just an outsider, after all…" Imperial Obito says.
"Hokage-sama, that's not fair. Though he's Obito from another world, I believe his bond with Rin is the same as in our world… Of course, he wouldn't want to see her die…" Yamato, seeing Imperial Obito's expression, quickly defends him.
"Right! Right! It's like when I went to the Empire's capital. Uncle Minato and Aunt Kushina were so kind to me. Even in different worlds, some feelings connect! I get how Brother Obito feels!" Naruto adds.
"I understand that, but Kakashi isn't to blame. In war, surviving is hard enough—how can you expect to protect others? Especially when Kakashi was only thirteen then." Tsunade replies.
In her heart, she scolds Yamato and Naruto.
'These two idiots are way too friendly with these three maybe-from-another-world guys! Why do they keep defending them?'
'Do you even remember you're Konoha ninjas?'
"I spoke too much." Imperial Obito says, his expression cooling as reason reclaims him.
Recalling the Uchiha Clan's destruction by Uchiha Itachi, he senses something off and asks:
"As an outsider, asking about Rin might've been too much. But as fellow Uchiha, even across two worlds, we share one heart, one strength!"
"So, can you tell me if the Uchiha Clan in this world was truly destroyed by that beast Uchiha Itachi? Did he really kill his own parents?"