Naruto: Passerby and Returnee

Chapter 442 Shadow

Mingzhao is a pupil technique that theoretically has no upper limit, but is extremely limited in its use.

Its activation range extends to the user's field of vision and the space they occupy. The specific range can be adjusted according to the user's needs, and its size is limited by the strength of the user's eye power. Once the user marks the area they wish to alter with their eye power, they can achieve the effect of reversing time simply by consuming chakra.

Naruto discovered this while observing Sasuke's body, because eye power is actually converted from special chakra, and one might not even realize this double-consumption mechanism when using it. Strangely, while ordinary ninjas must use chakra through certain parts of their bodies to use it, the chakra used to reverse time simply vanished into thin air.

Naruto observed carefully several times and finally concluded that the chakra consumed came directly from the soul. For this reason, he showed his tough side to Sasuke for the first time, suppressing Sasuke's use of the technique and not allowing him to use it casually until the soul light in Sasuke's eyes returned to the level before the technique was used.

As for Sasuke, who was completely bewildered, he didn't understand why Naruto could observe souls; he was simply amazed by Naruto's serious and earnest side. Before, when he heard Naruto tell the story of "Hikaru," and saw his mother and the other Konoha elders showing Naruto both love and respect, it all seemed unreal. Naruto was reliable, but Sasuke found it hard to reconcile the seemingly childish guy in his presence with the leader of a vast organization. Only after witnessing this other side of Naruto did he finally begin to believe that the stories he had heard weren't fabricated legends, but rather true history.

The eyes of the Uchiha clan are indeed a huge burden in a certain sense, especially when they are upgraded to the Mangekyou Sharingan.

While Sasuke was researching his new technique, Naruto inside him was experiencing the hardships of Kurama. Sasuke was using it, and Naruto was struggling to master it from behind, constantly reminding him to control his power...

"Heh, he's much more obedient than you." Kurama lay there leisurely, finding it quite amusing to watch the former culprit bustling around as someone who had been through it all. However, this kind of repair was also a form of chakra fusion, and it was only because Naruto had left enough power that it could withstand such a torment.

"What does this mean? Does he often torment himself like this?" Sasuke's figure appeared instantly. His speed in and out of the mental space increased rapidly, and he would soon be able to stay there permanently. This was considered a multitasking ability. Responding to tailed beasts in battle was a basic skill for Jinchuriki. Sasuke wasn't a Jinchuriki trained from childhood, so it was already quite genius that he could adapt to this level in such a short time.

However, Naruto sometimes felt that being too talented wasn't a good thing, for example, he really didn't want Sasuke to hear their conversation just now.

"It's not that exaggerated! At least two years ago, I was in great shape..."

"Two years ago?" Sasuke's ability to grasp the key points was still as sharp as ever; his expression changed instantly. "Could it be because of the Box of Elysium?"

"No, no, that's not it!" Naruto shook his head and hands, his movements blurry. He couldn't yet recount his experiences in the Land of Demons; those beings, clearly not of that level, would only breed useless suspicion. He himself had to go to the Pure Land to find the truth; how could his remaining consciousness in the human world possibly explain it?

"It's...it's because I didn't notice this guy's corrosive abilities when I was fighting the demon. I only realized I'd been affected after I finished." Naruto tried to justify himself, even tugging at Kurama's hair to get him to vouch for him. "Although the corrosion was dealt with quickly, it disrupted the fragile balance my body was maintaining, which is why it slowly started to crumble. Kurama knows that! Ask him!"

Faced with the kid's six-pointed star threat, Nine-Tailed Fox yawned and said perfunctorily, "Hehe, it's all your fault for being too careless and insisting on doing it yourself."

"That was a threat that would destroy the world if it wasn't resolved, and it was something that 'Hui' inadvertently caused. As the leader of 'Hui,' I naturally have to set an example." When talking about righteousness, the flaws in Naruto's performance disappeared, showing that he truly thought so.

Kurama hated this "righteousness," for it not only took Naruto away, but also the old man, Ashura, and countless others. Yet, he couldn't help but admire this "righteousness," for it was its existence that created such a prosperous and glorious human history.

At that moment, Kurama was startled by a smooth flow of chakra. He turned his pupils to look in the other direction, his eyes, now back to their original blackness, staring straight at Naruto. For the first time, the resonance of their souls finally broke the shackles of connection, making the link between Sasuke and him closer.

After all these years, finally someone can share my helplessness.

Sasuke also felt that connection, but he couldn't look away. In just one week, he was tormented by his new eyes, but the pain was gradually subsiding. Once his body fully adapted, he would be able to use these powers without any burden. But Naruto's illness was incurable. How much suffering did he endure to survive two whole years? Was it his selfless dedication to the world that kept him going?

He really is a complete idiot...

"Sasuke, I'm telling the truth! You have to believe me!"

Naruto was completely baffled by the silence of the two, and was still racking his brains to come up with a solution. Then Sasuke looked away and suddenly began making vows.

"Naruto, you said before that I could choose whatever I wanted, and now I've made my choice."

"Hey?"

"I choose your path." Sasuke didn't look directly into those eyes, but instead looked up at the gray sky. "I will continue your dream, protect everything you cherish." And... protect you. Only in this way can I leave a trace of your existence in this world, and your name will be remembered forever.

I am your other half, your shadow, the idiot who shares your life. Even if you cannot return, I will still... live the most wonderful life with your name.