CHAPTER 676: SASUKE’S RESOLVE

"Naruto! Can you really save Naruto?" Sasuke couldn’t contain his excitement.

No one wanted to save Naruto more than Sasuke. Naruto had nearly sacrificed his life to save him. If there were no other options, Sasuke would rather trade places with Naruto!

Unfortunately, he couldn’t do that now.

Though he didn’t know who the person before him was, if he was indeed a Sennin on par with the Sage of the Six Paths, he might truly be capable of rivaling Isshiki and saving Naruto.

Of course, Sasuke himself wanted to rush to Naruto’s rescue immediately. After all, he could still use his Rinnegan to travel dimensions and infiltrate Isshiki’s dimension. But he didn’t know Jigen’s condition or that Jigen had exhausted his chakra and would need days to recover.

Sasuke only assumed Jigen was still guarding that dimension. If so, in his current condition, recklessly charging in wouldn’t save Naruto—he might end up trapped himself. If he could’ve saved Naruto alone, he wouldn’t have fled alone earlier.

"Of course I can." Lux gave a firm answer.

After all, Naruto was in his hands now. As long as Sasuke agreed to his request, he could release Naruto immediately. And his request, unlike the divine jutsu Kawaki asked of Eida, wouldn’t alter everyone’s memories, harm Konoha, or hurt Boruto and the others...

It was a highly beneficial boon for Konoha with no downsides.

"Then what’s the price I have to pay?" Sasuke was tempted but asked calmly.

As an adult, he understood there was no such thing as free help or kindness in this world. Since this Tenshou Sennin was willing to assist, he must have a request, just like the Sage of the Six Paths needed them to seal Kaguya back then.

Otherwise, why would they help?

Unlike his hormone-driven teenage years when he could do anything just for being handsome, in the end, it was all just fleeting desire.

As for the Tenshou Sennin before him, it’s not like he’d have to sell his body, right? Even if he did, for Naruto’s sake, Sasuke would be willing!

"It’s simple. I need you..." Lux concisely and directly stated his request: for Sasuke to take over Konoha and unify the entire world.

For Naruto and Sasuke at this stage, there was no need to hide anything. Rather than beating around the bush, it was better to be straightforward. If they truly didn’t agree, he’d move on to someone else—he didn’t need to fixate on one option now.

Upon hearing this, Sasuke immediately hesitated.

"You want me to inherit the Hokage position, then lead Konoha to destroy all other nations and unify the world?" Sasuke frowned, summarizing and understanding clearly.

"Yes."

"As long as you agree, I can immediately help you save Naruto and easily eliminate threats like Jigen." Lux reaffirmed, showing he was very serious.

"An enemy like Jigen, you can deal with easily?"

"Of course."

If Lux wanted, he had at least nine ways to defeat him! It was no issue for him at all.

The condition was that Sasuke agree, commit to being the bound agent of this force, and complete the unification mission for Parallel World 7. If Sasuke agreed, with Lux’s support and that of other Parallel Worlds, all problems would vanish.

Even if Sasuke just called out, a number of Uchiha ancestors and experts from previous Parallel Worlds could be summoned to assist him!

"Oh, I see!" Sasuke realized, secretly shocked by the terror of this Tenshou Sennin.

Jigen’s incredible power, in his and Naruto’s eyes, was nearly on par with Otsutsuki Kaguya from back then, even surpassing her是大 in speed and strength! Such a formidable enemy was nothing in Tenshou Sennin’s eyes?

Good thing he hadn’t recklessly attacked earlier.

"But I have one question."

"Ask away."

"I have no intention of replacing Naruto or inheriting the Hokage position. Can I just destroy the other nations to complete unification and let Naruto remain Hokage?"

"No." Lux rejected it outright.

When binding a force, it had to be the current designated leader of that force to enable space-time travel with them. After binding or unification, it wouldn’t matter.

Like Tobirama in Parallel World 2, it was fine if he passed the position to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen. But the initial binding required the nominal and actual leader of the entire force. Sasuke would need to inherit the Hokage position, control Konoha’s power, and become its true leader before passing it on.

Of course, there was a clever alternative: Sasuke could leave Konoha first, bind with Lux personally, then return and take over Konoha, turning it into his personal force. That could work too...

But it would be more complicated. If Sasuke betrayed the village again, Naruto might end up a "widow" again, leading to conflicts and disputes. And Sasuke himself likely wouldn’t agree to take over Konoha that way.

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Receiving a negative answer, Sasuke hesitated again. After weighing it for a while, he reluctantly refused:

"I can act, destroy all other nations and villages!"

"But I’m sorry, I can’t replace Naruto or take his Hokage position! And I’m not the type to be Hokage..."

This was Sasuke’s line. Unlike Naruto, he wasn’t naive. During his dark Shippuden days, he killed swiftly and mercilessly. So, he could do the dirty work, destroying other nations and villages for Konoha, even if it meant clashing with Naruto.

As long as it saved Naruto and Konoha, Sasuke was willing and capable!

But replacing Naruto, becoming Hokage, and taking Naruto’s beliefs and dreams, betraying his vision of peace—that, he’d never do.

It’s like being willing to sacrifice, stab backs, or take blame for a brother, but never taking his place with his woman or stealing his identity and dreams.

After all, in Naruto’s eyes, Konoha was almost like an untouchable lover.

Of course, if Sasuke told Naruto he wanted to be Hokage, Naruto would likely hand over the position willingly without hesitation. But Naruto’s willingness didn’t mean Sasuke would accept it.

Humans are often so awkward and contradictory...

"Just because you don’t want to be Hokage, you’d give up the chance to save Naruto?"

"It’s not giving up. I just can’t take everything from Naruto when he’s in trouble! He’s sacrificed too much for the Hokage role, for the whole village..."

Again, Sasuke could commit crimes and kill to save Naruto, but he couldn’t tarnish Naruto’s identity and ideals for it.

"It’s not taking. After unification, you can return the position to Naruto." Lux offered a solution.

By then, the world would be unified—a done deal. Even if Naruto was unwilling, he couldn’t change it. Letting him return as Hokage to rule Parallel World 7 would work.

"It can work that way?" Sasuke was surprised, not expecting such an approach.

But what was the point? If he only became Hokage temporarily, then handed it back to Naruto, it felt like a waste of time, didn’t it? Or was there another special meaning?

"Wait..."

"You said after unification, I’d hand it back to Naruto, meaning I can’t save him right away?" Sasuke, sharp as ever, caught the key point and quickly asked.

"Yes."

"I can ensure Naruto’s safety, but it might be hard to rescue him immediately."

It wasn’t that Lux didn’t want to release Naruto, but Naruto’s stubbornness would only cause trouble. If released now, Naruto’s mouth jutsu might easily sway Sasuke, breaking any agreement to unify the world.

Then, Lux might have to abandon Konoha and support another force, which could be a worse disaster for Konoha!

If unnecessary, Lux didn’t want to support another force and destroy this world’s Konoha again... So, let Naruto rest for now.

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Hearing this, Sasuke frowned, clearly not the outcome he expected. He thought agreeing to Tenshou Sennin would mean saving Naruto immediately. Instead, he’d have to wait until unification was complete.

This deviated from Sasuke’s original intent.

Unable to see Naruto and being asked to work hard to destroy other nations and villages felt like being used. It wasn’t wrong for Sasuke to be suspicious—after all, he was far more cautious than before.

His goal from the start was Naruto. Without seeing him, he wouldn’t rashly agree to any deal!

So, Sasuke suppressed his doubts and asked hesitantly:

"May I have some time to consider?"

"I need to consult with my friends before deciding."

Lux smiled faintly, seeing through Sasuke’s thoughts:

"You want to use this time to try saving Naruto yourself or figure out how to defeat Jigen, right?"

Sasuke, his thoughts exposed, didn’t feel embarrassed and admitted honestly:

"Yes, I want to try with my friends first."

"I’m sorry!"

Though Tenshou Sennin’s terms were tempting, not being able to save Naruto immediately and having to go against Naruto’s beliefs and will made Sasuke hesitant to agree. So, he planned to try saving Naruto himself first. If successful, he wouldn’t need external help...

"Fine."

"There’s still time. Go ahead and try to save Naruto or defeat Jigen..."

"Think it over carefully, then give me your answer."

Lux didn’t push. A few days or weeks—he could wait.

After a few days, when Naruto couldn’t be saved, when Jigen and Kara’s threats loomed closer, and after experiencing the harsh reality, Sasuke and the others would naturally change their minds.

After all, Sasuke was far easier to persuade than Naruto, and he wasn’t opposed to the killing and unification required.