Written: March 28, 2023 (stopped for finals and break) (then...stopped again for classes... And then I completely stopped..)

See note at the end.

Published: April 3, 2024

Word Count: 3,066

Edit: May 27,2024

Last known: March 28, 2023, and April 3, 2023

Edit 2: ____

Revision: April 7th, 2024
Revised 2: August 25, 2024 (fixed spelling errors and mistakes)

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Author's POV

-FLASHBACK BEFORE NARUTO FINISHES HIS HAND SEALS-

As he finished the hand seals, he let out one final breath as the bright light consumed him whole, Naruto took in what was left of the scene in front of him.

He knew everything would change once he goes back to the past, changing the events, manipulating the timeline, and putting things to an end but, is it worth leaving behind everyone he loved?

He couldn't even say goodbye to Sasuke during his last moments. What was the point? Naruto looked up at the still grey skies that indicated it was still nighttime.

He remembered running across the empty plains to find Sasuke or even Madara for the most part but, seeing so many dead bodies of what was left of the alliance.

-WARNING: G∅RE , BL∅∅D, MENTIONS OF D3@TH-

Limbs scattered across the plains, missing bodies, missing limbs, blood coating the soil.. he couldn't take it anymore.

Not when Lee, Sai, and Kiba went MIA during one of their missions to intercept any sort of information about Madara's second invasion--- only to receive back body parts.

Tenten died in battle using what was left of her weapons to effectively destroy as many Zetsus as she could before she got impaled.

Hinata died from saving Sakura and Ino from white Zetsus causing her eyes to bleed profusely and collapsing from chakra overuse.

Choji died from using his clan's secret food pills, and without Shikamaru there to counteract the effects, he was gone.

Shikamaru died after hearing his best friend passing as he went on a rampage against Zetsu, wiping out as many as he could but soon he died from charka exhaustion.

Kakashi passed away peacefully in his sleep from an infected wound that he hid from his students. Once Sakura had learned of this, she made a vow in her heart to check every shinobi for any injuries no matter how small or if they don't appear to be injured.

Gai died a second time after opening the eighth gate, taking down as many Zetsus as he could.

Sakura and Ino both died from charka exhaustion but, their efforts were not in vain as they had injected a lethal dose of poison capable of killing off an entire population---for this, it all went into the heart of the production of Zetsu.

Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to kill them all off instantly, but it had effectively slowed down enough to finish them all off and destroy the source itself permanently.

Gaara died the moment Madara laid his hands on him, tearing him from limb to limb.

Tsunade tried her best to heal as many shinbois as she possibly could with the extent of her chakra, and with the help of Katsuyu while bearing major injuries of nearly being cut in half from Madara's Susanoo's blade that had hit nearly all her major organs.
But, later she died of chakra exhaustion, extensive blood loss, and major injuries that were weighing on her.

Sasuke and Naruto were the only ones left after everyone died.. they had to make due what was left at the very moment.

Sasuke tried to remain as sane as possible for the sake of helping Naruto while maintaining the very relationship he created with him but it wasn't enough to break down in tears as nobody else was left but them.
Before Sasuke died, he created a seal, a seal that would prevent Madara from forcefully taking his eyes, a seal that he knew Madara could not break.

God.. Naruto remembered his last words before he died...

Naruto cradled Sasuke into his arms as he whispered his last words.

"I'm sorry.. my love...I couldn't hold my promise... As soon as you go back to the past, m-make things right, h-help nii-san, an-and don't let me go down the pa-path that I had taken..Forge a new future.. a new path.."

Everyone else.. either died an honorable death or died from charka exhaustion.

For Naruto..? He was lucky.

When Naruto knelt amidst the chaos of the battlefield, mourning the loss of Sasuke, a sudden gust of wind alerted him to the presence of another.

Before he could react, a powerful force struck him from behind, sending him sprawling across the blood-soaked earth.

As Madara's blade sliced deep into Naruto's throat, a searing pain ripped through him, and he fell to his knees, clutching at the wound with bloodied hands.

The shock of the attack coursed through him, leaving him gasping for air as blood gushed from the grievous injury.

Unable to speak, Naruto could only stare up at Madara with a mixture of defiance and disbelief.

His vocal cords damaged, his ability to use jutsu severely compromised, he knew that he was in a perilous position.

Madara stood over him, his eyes gleaming with triumph as he watched Naruto struggle. "You were always too weak, Naruto," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "You never had what it takes to defeat me."

But even as Naruto fought to stay conscious, a fire burned within him. Memories of his friends, his village, and all those who had believed in him flashed through his mind, strengthening his resolve. He refused to give up, not now, not ever.

Summoning every ounce of his willpower, Naruto forced himself to his feet, his hands shaking with effort. Though his voice had been taken from him, his determination remained unbroken.

Naruto launched himself at Madara, his movements fueled by sheer desperation. Despite the overwhelming odds stacked against him, he fought with a ferocity born of desperation, refusing to let his enemy claim victory.

The battle raged on, each blow exchanged between them echoing across the battlefield. Though Naruto's strength was waning, his spirit remained unyielding, a beacon of hope in the darkness. Madara was dealing blow after blow from the rage Naruto was feeling. Every bone in his body failed to regenerate even with Hashirama's cells, it refused to heal.

As the final blow fell, Naruto collapsed to the ground, his vision swimming as darkness crept in around him. But even as he felt himself slipping away, he knew that his sacrifice had not been in vain. For as long as the spirit of Konoha burned bright, he would live on in the hearts of those he had fought to protect.

-END OF FLASHBACK-

As Naruto emerged from the blinding light, he found himself in a realm unlike anything he had ever seen before... Instead of the Konoha grassy lands he had expected, he stood amidst a breathtaking landscape of shimmering crystal forests and cascading waterfalls.

The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the distant sound of birdsong echoed through the tranquil silence. Everywhere he looked, Naruto saw vibrant colors dancing in the sunlight, painting the world in hues of emerald green, sapphire blue, and golden yellow.

But despite the beauty that surrounded him, Naruto couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that permeated the air. There were no signs of life anywhere, no bustling villages or signs of life, just an endless expanse of untouched wilderness stretching out before him.

'Did the seals fail..? I.. did it right..? Right?' Naruto's thoughts raced as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. He couldn't understand why he had been brought to this serene yet eerily empty realm.

As he stood there, grappling with his confusion, Naruto felt a familiar weight settle on his shoulders. The memories of his fallen comrades flooded back, their faces haunting him even in this beautiful but barren land.

Suddenly, a voice broke through the serene silence, cutting through the stillness like a blade.

"Uzumaki Naruto."

Startled, Naruto whipped around to see a figure emerging from the shadows. It was a man cloaked in darkness, his features obscured by the veil of night. But what Naruto doesn't know is that the person standing in front of him is known as The Guardian of Time, the Guardian of Time is a mysterious and enigmatic figure cloaked in darkness, embodying ancient wisdom and possessing an otherworldly presence.

His role is to protect the realm and oversee the course of time, ensuring that destiny unfolds according to a greater plan. But he rarely appears before humans, always in the shadows admist of the chaos watching the events unfold as humans fight with one another to obtain so called peace, and a piece of their territory.

Although he wishes he could interfere but cannot due to the unforeseen rip holes that would cause the timeline to collapse due to its sudden change. However, this timeline was no more as the signs of life had vanished expect Naruto, and so he decided to appear before Naruto, and aid in his mission.

Naruto wished that he could speak but this man in front of him felt immensely powerful, and his voice was heavy with wisdom.

The man stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light.

"I am the guardian of this realm," he replied, his voice echoing with a sense of ancient wisdom. "And I have been expecting you, Uzumaki Naruto.."

Naruto's heart raced as he stared at the mysterious figure before him. He couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was somehow significant, that the fate of the world hung in the balance.

"Listen closely, Uzumaki Naruto," the time guardian said, his voice grave. "You have been given a rare gift, a chance to reshape the future. But the path ahead will not be easy. You will face trials and tribulations beyond imagining, and the choices you make will determine the fate of all."

Naruto swallowed hard, the weight of the guardian's words sinking in.

"But know this," the guardian continued, his eyes burning with intensity. "You are not alone. Though the road ahead may be fraught with peril, you carry within you the strength and courage of those who came before. Remember their sacrifice, and let their memory guide you."

After delivering his message, the Time Guardian fades back into the shadows, leaving Naruto to contemplate the profound words and prepare himself for the trials to come. Naruto is spurred forward by a newfound determination to embrace his destiny and forge a path of hope amidst uncertainty. Taking a deep breath, Naruto steeled himself for the challenges that lay ahead. He couldn't afford to falter now, not when the fate of the world hung in the balance.

With determination in his heart and the memory of his fallen comrades spurring him forward, Naruto set out into the unknown, ready to forge a new future and carve out a path of hope in beauty and emptiness.

As Naruto stood amidst the ethereal landscape, contemplating the weight of his mission and the words of the Time Guardian, a sudden gust of wind swept through the crystalline forests. With it came a blinding flash of light that enveloped Naruto, obscuring his vision and causing him to stagger backward.

When the light finally subsided, Naruto found himself falling to his doom well above in mid-air about 10,000 feet off the ground, before Naruto could even register the very question in his mind of why the hell he was falling tens of thousands of feet in the air, he felt the panic that gripped his heart. Instinctively, he reached out with chakra to cushion his fall, desperately trying to regain control.

The wind whipped past him, roaring in his ears as he plummeted towards the ground below. Naruto's mind raced, searching for a solution knowing that his charka wouldn't be able to surface or cushion his fall without breaking every bone in his body.

Quickly thinking, he carefully drew out a bit of Kurama's charka that he merged with Naruto before ceasing to exist, carefully drawing just enough on its immense chakra to form a protective barrier around him without having other shinobi sense him in the distance. The air crackled with energy as Naruto stabilized himself, slowing his descent to a manageable speed.

As he descended, Naruto's surroundings began to shift once again, the vibrant colors of the crystalline forests fading away to reveal the familiar landscape of Konoha below. As he handed onto the surface, he stood in the open plains of some unknown area of Konoha. He slowly looked around, staring at the luscious green plains of Konoha, plants, animals-- all life was around him.

Breathless and shaken, Naruto took a moment to collect himself, grateful to have escaped the perilous fall unscathed. But even as he caught his breath, he knew that his journey was far from over. The Time Guardian's words still echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of the challenges that lay ahead.

Naruto stared into the horizon or rather the forests, and the empty roads ahead of him. Suddenly, he collapses onto his knees and breathes heavily as the charka within him suddenly depleted.

The sun glared brightly across Konoha's plains as Naruto struggled to regain his breath. His chest heaved with each labored breath, and the depletion of his chakra left him feeling weak and vulnerable.

For a moment, doubt crept into his mind. Was he truly ready for the trials that lay ahead? Could he overcome the obstacles that stood between him and the salvation of his village?

But Naruto was not one to succumb to doubt for long. With a determined shake of his head, he pushed himself back to his feet, his resolve burning brighter than ever. He couldn't afford to falter now, not when the fate of Konoha hung in the balance.

Summoning the last reserves of his strength, Naruto pressed forward, his footsteps steady as he made his way across the plains.

The journey ahead would be fraught with danger, but he knew that he could not afford to hesitate. With each step, he drew closer to his destiny, his heart set on saving his village from whatever threats may come.

As he walked, memories of past battles flashed through Naruto's mind, reminding him of the countless challenges he had already overcome. He drew strength from those memories, using them to fuel his determination as he ventured deeper into the heart of Konoha.

Hours passed as Naruto pressed on, the sun sinking lower in the sky with each passing moment. But he did not falter. With each step, he grew stronger, his resolve unwavering in the face of adversity.

Finally, as night began to fall, Naruto reached the outskirts of the village, his eyes scanning the familiar streets for any signs of trouble. But all seemed quiet, the village bathed in the soft glow of moonlight as though untouched by the chaos that had consumed his dreams.

For a moment, Naruto allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief, the weight of his journey lifting from his shoulders. But he knew that his work was far from over. The Time Guardian's warning still hung heavy in his mind, a constant reminder that the true test lay ahead.

Naruto slowly crept into the shadows, blending in perfectly in the dark without letting the gate guards notice him as he was not ready for Kotestu and Izumo to see him. Memories of the eternal gate guards flashed into his mind, the very shinobis who guarded Konoha with the last of their breaths, defending the remaining survivors were killed in battle after Zetsu forced his way in.

His heart felt heavy with the weight of the memories of fallen comrades and the burden of his mission, he knew that he couldn't afford to dwell on the past. The fate of Konoha and the safety of its people rested on his shoulders, and he couldn't allow himself to be distracted by thoughts of revenge or sorrow.

With a determined set to his jaw, Naruto set out into the night, his senses sharp and his focus unwavering. He moved swiftly and silently through the shadows, his years of training as a shinobi serving him well as he navigated the familiar streets of Konoha.

His first task was to gather information, to learn everything he could about the current whereabouts and activities of the Akatsuki as well as saving Itachi, save Hizashi.. Neji's father, and even stopping Orochimaru. He knew that the Akatsuki and Orochimaru posed a grave threat not just to Konoha, but to the entire shinobi world, and he was determined to put an end to their reign of terror. Hizashi, to stop Neji's destiny and fate bullshit in the future. Blackmailing Kumo too so, that will work in his favor.

As the night wore on, Naruto's determination only grew stronger. He knew that the road ahead would be long and fraught with danger, but he was ready to face whatever challenges came his way. For the sake of Konoha and all those he held dear, he would not falter. The fate of the shinobi world depended on it.

But for now, a new identity.. He can't pose as Uzumaki Naruto as there is already one. Seeing as he looked completely different than what he was, there was a chance that he could blend in well enough.

Naruto pondered for a bit for a name, an imaginary light bulb lit up above his head.

Shizuki. Uzumaki Shizuki.

Naru- or rather Uzumaki Shizuki went on his journey to a different nation to hunt down both Orochimaru and the Akatsuki for good.

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Hello everyone!
I am so, so sorry for not updating for like a whole year.. I have been busy and lost motivation but, I don't like having this book incomplete and just sit in my drafts..

But for now, I will try my best to update the chapters when I can.

I apologize for the lack of updating and nearly abandoning this book. I promise you, I didn't exactly abandon It. :")

Till next time :)

PS. I will try and find a long red-haired anime man or long red-haired Naruto that matches the description I have for him.