The world barrier rippled slightly, like a ripple on the surface of a lake, and an ancient sword tore through space.
"This... doesn't look like the Great Universe."
A young man in modern attire followed the ancient sword through the spatial membrane, entering this mysterious starry sky.
The young man's starry eyes seemed to penetrate everything. A casual glance appeared to take in the entire starry sky. He chuckled and murmured to himself, "A parallel world of the Forbidden Law Great Universe? Or a dimensional world projected and evolved from reality?"
"No matter what, this is not my destination."
"Let's go, Sword Brother!"
Having just escaped the Forbidden Law Great Universe, the man had no desire to linger in this ghost place.
The ancient sword twirled, as if surprised by its wrong turn. The sword body rose, and the power of time and space permeated. Just as it was about to break through the barrier again to find the correct path, a point of light happened to traverse the world barrier.
The point of light clearly did not anticipate such a situation. Its light flickered twice, and it swiftly fled towards a nearby planet.
However, they were clearly not in the same league.
*Buzz!*
The little sword hummed, and a wisp of temporal power drew it in. The sword body moved slightly, as if appraising the origin of the light spot.
"Oh?"
The young man let out a soft exclamation, glanced at it, and then chuckled, "I didn't expect to encounter something like this."
"Hmm, it's still one of my own kind, Lin Yu, isn't it?"
The man was not overly surprised, having heard the most about travelers in the Forbidden Law Great Universe.
With a casual wave of his hand, the soul contained within the light spot detached and descended towards the nearby planet.
"Give them back their things."
The little sword hummed twice, somewhat hesitant, but still spat out the previous light spot. However, the light spot now appeared much dimmer.
"Did you absorb the consciousness of someone's system?"
The young man was a little helpless, but the sword's characteristic of devouring everything was also a great help to him. He could only shake his head.
"So be it. Consider him lucky, he won't become a system's puppet."
Just as the man was about to toss the light spot away, the little sword seemed to develop a touch of petulant pride. It gathered the power of time and space at its tip and slashed fiercely at the world barrier. Instantly, a surge of temporal power enveloped them.
"Not good!"
The man hurriedly threw the light spot away, but it was still a second too late. The light spot was affected by the temporal power, and time became chaotic.
The man sighed. This one-second delay might have caused ten years to pass in this world.
"Consider it an apology from a kinsman. It seems that kid will have to suffer for ten years."
The man gently tapped, and two streams of temporal power flowed into the light spot, heading towards the planet where the soul had descended earlier.
The power of time and space once again enveloped the man and the little sword. With a swoosh, they plunged into the rift and disappeared.
The starry sky calmed down again, as if nothing had ever happened...
...
"Achoo!"
On a small island on the ruins of the original Land of Whirlpools, a red-haired man was lying on the beach basking in the sun with his legs crossed. A fishing rod lay beside him, adopting a posture of waiting for the fish to take the bait willingly.
"Who's badmouthing me? You've scared away the fish."
Lin Yu rubbed his nose and muttered to himself, "Is it those brats like Naruto? Or someone else? Anyway, it can't be the mute system!"
Lin Yu tapped his head and tentatively said, "Hey, if you have the ability, pop out a word. Can you come with a smart voice template like the systems of other traveler predecessors?"
"You're too lame!"
"Daddy, who are you talking to?"
A childish voice pulled Lin Yu back to reality. A little fellow less than half a meter tall tiptoed to Lin Yu's side and asked in a childish voice.
"Hope, Daddy is thinking about how to explain if he doesn't catch any fish tonight."
Lin Yu hoped his big eyes blinked, and he said in a childish voice, "If Daddy doesn't catch fish, Auntie Konan will definitely be angry."
"Hahaha, compared to Auntie Konan being angry, Dad is more afraid of Mom cooking tonight."
Lin Yu hoped seemed to recall Kushina's terrifying cooking skills. He quickly reached out a small hand to grab Lin Yu's pant leg, blinked his eyes, and pouted, "Daddy, let's hurry and find Auntie Mikoto to cook. Hope doesn't want to eat Mom's cooking."
Lin Yu looked at Hope's small frowning face, reached out to stroke his little head, and smiled, "Okay, whatever Hope wants. Let's go back."
"Hope will help Daddy carry the fish!"
Inheriting the Uzumaki clan's physique, Hope's small hands easily lifted the water bucket beside him.
*Splash...*
The fish in the water bucket flipped twice, as if they felt it was better to become a delicacy than to be ruined into dark cuisine by Kushina.
"Hope, how did you know Dad was here?"
"Auntie Tsunade told me. Auntie Mei Terumi seems to be looking for Daddy, and she looks so fierce!"
Lin Yu gave a wry smile. It wasn't the first or second day that Tsunade and Mei Terumi were competing for precedence.
"Also, that white-haired Toad Grandpa is also looking for Daddy. Auntie Snake seems angry and is ignoring him."
Lin Yu's footsteps paused, his eyes quite strange. It must be Orochimaru chasing Jiraiya, and Jiraiya came to him for refuge.
I wonder if Jiraiya succeeded, Auntie Snake... Hiss!
Lin Yu hoped shook his little head and continued to mutter, "Uncle Itachi and Uncle Shisui went on their honeymoon. Uncle Kaka and Uncle Kai were eaten by Uncle Tsuchi, but they'll spit them out after a while."
The amount of information was a bit overwhelming, and Lin Yu almost couldn't hold back his laughter. He said softly, "Has anything else happened recently?"
Lin Yu hoped raised his little head and thought for a moment, then clapped his small hands and said mysteriously in a small voice, "This is what Hope secretly heard last night. Daddy has to keep it a secret!"
"Hmm?"
Lin Yu was very curious and lowered his head. Lin Yu hoped leaned into Lin Yu's ear and whispered, "Last night I heard Aunt Kaguya telling other aunties that they want to join forces to eat Daddy, and then give Hope a sister."
"Auntie Yugao also brought back a lot of little red pills, saying that she must make Daddy surrender."
Lin Yu's face instantly turned dark. How could a child hear such things?
He would deal with all of them when he got back tonight!
"Hope, Dad is asking you, what do you want to do when you grow up?"
"Hope wants to become a ninja like Daddy!"
"Why?"
"Because I can bask in the sun like Daddy every day and be a salted fish. It's so happy!"
"..."
As the sun set, the sunset on the beach cast the silhouettes of the father and son, their voices gradually dissipating in the sea breeze.
Lanterns flickered, and beautiful women of various appearances stood under the eaves, looking out expectantly.
When one large and one small figure appeared on the winding path, the round-faced woman at the head of the group stepped forward. Her originally puffed-out cheeks softened as she saw the smile on the man's face. The women, like orioles, surrounded them.
The lights were bright, and a few wisps of smoke curled up. The family entered the house, playfully bickering with each other, their atmosphere warm and harmonious.
"Welcome home!"
(The End!)