Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

"I see... then it sounds like you've gone through a great many hardships."

Naruto listened to Sara's story, sadness filling his heart.

Although he didn't possess those memories himself, hearing that the kingdom his future self and his father had once saved together had ultimately fallen still left a bitter feeling in his chest.

If Uzushiogakure had shown him the tragedy of a nation destroyed by war with his own eyes, then Loulan was a different kind of sorrow.

A tragedy he had never witnessed personally.

Yet one whose helplessness he could still feel.

For the first time in his twelve years of life, Naruto found himself seriously reflecting on words his father had once spoken.

"Naruto, how do you think wars can truly end?"

"If you wanted to stop war, what kind of things would you do?"

"Naruto, try to find your own answer to that question."

"Because my answer may not necessarily be right for you."

Those were the words his father had spoken within his inner world.

It was the first time Minato had ended a lesson without his usual smile.

Back then, Naruto hadn't understood.

Now, however, he vaguely realized that those questions concerned everyone.

And he could feel the deep sorrow hidden within Sara's heart whenever the subject arose.

Without realizing it, a sorrowful expression appeared on his own face as well.

Sara looked at the young boy before her and hesitated.

He reminded her a little of her husband.

Their personalities shared certain similarities.

Sara was a rational woman.

As a queen who had lost her nation and later become the leader of a merchant caravan, she had long since accepted reality.

Yes, she had once loved the Naruto she met in that distant future.

But for her, that chapter belonged to the past.

There had been times when she wondered—

If her memories had never been sealed...

Would she have married?

Would she have had children?

Would she have... waited for him?

Yet as the years passed, those thoughts became nothing more than ripples in her heart.

Naruto had once been the savior of both herself and Loulan.

But now?

What remained was gratitude.

Nothing more.

And there could be nothing more.

Shaking her head, Sara chose not to recount the countless hardships she'd endured over the years.

She skipped over most of her own suffering and continued.

"...Then, several years ago, while traveling as merchants, I sensed an abnormality in the Dragon Veins."

"My daughter and I inherited the ability to sense them."

"When we felt the seal loosening, I immediately led our people back to Loulan."

"At the time, my health was already poor, and I had fallen ill."

"My daughter and the others became so worried about my condition that they failed to remain vigilant."

"As a result, when we arrived at the ruins of Loulan, we were captu—"

She paused.

Then corrected herself.

"...We encountered the leader of the Uchiha."

"At first, we thought we'd fallen into the hands of bandits."

"But instead, they took excellent care of me and helped me recover."

"Later, I learned that the Dragon Veins' disturbance had been caused by her accidentally breaking part of the seal."

"However, she had already established a new barrier afterward."

This seemed to be one of Sara's happier memories.

A faint smile appeared on her face as she spoke.

"While caring for me, she discovered the seal placed upon my memories."

"She removed it."

"And I remembered everything."

"Although she never told us exactly what her clan had experienced before coming here, I saw that she wore the same Konoha forehead protector as all of you."

"So I chose to help them."

Inside Naruto's inner world, Minato fell silent in thought.

She can undo the Dragon Vein seal...

My memory seal...

Even the Flying Thunder God markers...

Can all of them really be broken?

After Sara finished speaking, Naruto finally understood the general situation.

He immediately asked:

"So you know where they are?"

"Can you still contact them?"

"Yes."

Sara nodded.

"But Naruto..."

She looked directly into his eyes.

"We promised her that we would never reveal their location."

"You saved us, so I won't lie to you."

"But please understand."

"Without their permission, I cannot bring you to them."

"That's okay!"

To Sara's surprise, Naruto showed no disappointment whatsoever.

Instead, he let out a long breath of relief and grinned.

"So the trip to the Land of Wind wasn't a complete failure after all!"

"That's a huge success!"

"Could I trouble you to—"

"Naruto."

Sara interrupted gently.

"I'd prefer if you simply called me Sara."

She sighed softly.

"Although I suppose I am technically old enough to be your... elder."

"I really don't want you treating me so formally."

Looking at her sincere expression, Naruto nodded.

"Alright."

"Then, Sara, could you please contact them for me?"

"Tell them that Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke would like to meet them."

"Uchiha... Sasuke?"

Sara froze.

Then she remembered the black-haired boy traveling with Naruto.

So he's one of Izumi's people as well?

"Very well."

"I'll pass along the message."

"If they agree, how should I contact you?"

"Here."

Naruto pulled a Flying Thunder God kunai from his pouch and handed it over.

Sara blinked.

Receiving another gift from Naruto left her slightly confused.

"How long will it take for you to reach them?"

"About half a month."

"Our caravan delivers supplies periodically."

"If you're in a hurry, I could try to—"

"No need, no need."

Naruto waved both hands.

"Half a month is perfect."

"By then, we'll have already left the Land of Wind."

"?"

Sara couldn't quite follow his logic.

"Anyway," Naruto continued, "if they're willing to meet us, just give them this kunai."

"Tell them Sasuke and I will come visit."

"If they refuse, simply bring it back."

"I understand."

Just then, Kurama's voice sounded inside Naruto's mind.

"Naruto."

"Remember this."

"Whatever method they used before, don't let them erase the Flying Thunder God marker again."

"Oh!"

"Right!"

Naruto immediately explained the importance of the kunai to Sara.

Then, deciding one wasn't enough, he reached for a second Flying Thunder God kunai.

His original plan was to have Sara carry one herself at all times.

However, Sara gently shook her head.

Instead, she held out the worn chakra blade she had been carefully preserving.

"Use this instead."

"Let it serve as a keepsake."

Holding the blade, she watched as Naruto placed his hand upon it and left his mark.

A warm smile appeared on her face.

"For all these years..."

"I never forgot the promise I made to you."

"For the people of Loulan, I truly did everything I could."

Naruto had absolutely no memory of making such a promise.

Yet seeing the relief and peace in Sara's smile, he instinctively returned it with his own bright grin.

"I always believed you could do it."

"That's wonderful."

At that moment, Sara looked at the blond boy before her.

This time, there was no confusion.

No overlapping image of the future Naruto she once knew.

She simply engraved this smile into her heart.

How fortunate I was to meet you once.

And how fortunate I am to meet you again.

"Thank you, Naruto."

Stepping forward, Sara gently embraced the young boy.

Just as she had done when they parted all those years ago.

And in a soft voice, she whispered:

"Thank you."

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