Makoto said, "My Senjutsu isn't nearly that simple. With the Senjutsu practiced by the three Sage Regions, reaching Sage Mode reliably is basically the end of the road. After that, it's just a matter of proficiency."
"But the Senjutsu system I created is different. Right now, you're only in the first stage. The primary goal of this stage is to guide secondary white natural energy through your body every day to strengthen it, gradually adapt yourself to natural energy, and increase your tolerance for the power of annihilation."
"When you're able to absorb a large amount of natural energy into your body at once and sage markings appear on your forehead, you'll enter the second stage—the same Standard Sage Mode used by the three Sage Regions."
"But even that isn't the end. You'll still need to continue training until your body is completely compatible with secondary white natural energy. Then, at the appropriate time, you'll draw in a vast amount of natural energy to wash through every cell in your body, purging the foreign wills hidden within your chakra."
"At that point, you will have achieved complete control over your own chakra. The sage markings on your forehead will no longer fade, marking your entry into the third stage: Constant Sage Mode."
Boruto looked at Makoto's forehead.
"Makoto-sensei, then why don't you have any sage markings on your forehead? Does that mean you haven't reached the third stage either?"
"No, Boruto. You're surprisingly dumb for a kid," Makoto replied. "As the creator of the True Sage system, if I hadn't reached the third stage, how could I possibly have mapped out all these training paths?"
Boruto was completely engrossed in the explanation and didn't even notice he'd just been called an idiot.
"Huh? Makoto-sensei, does that mean there's a fourth stage?"
"Of course. That's the stage I'm currently in—Naturalization Mode. However, for anyone other than me, entering the fourth stage is extremely difficult."
"Over the past few years of research, I've discovered that secondary white natural energy, after being converted, can only take a person as far as Constant Sage Mode."
"If you want to enter Naturalization Mode, you must begin coming into contact with the far more dangerous primordial natural energy."
"But for anyone besides me, that's basically suicide. Right now, I'm trying to find a way to reduce the danger of that step."
Boruto hesitated.
"Um... Makoto-sensei, don't tell me there's a fifth stage too?"
Makoto replied, "I have a feeling there is. I just don't know what it looks like yet. I'm looking forward to finding out."
Boruto: "..."
His head was spinning.
He had never imagined that in this world, someone had not only developed a natural energy training system suitable for humans, but had pushed it this far. It was already far beyond anything he understood about Senjutsu.
After grasping the full path of the system, the older Sasuke's eyes filled with admiration.
The Senjutsu he had always paid little attention to turned out to be a road that led straight to the heavens.
Although he felt that Makoto sometimes had the same habit as his former team leader Kakashi—enjoying messing with people's heads—he genuinely admired him when it came to the pursuit of strength.
During the time he had been forced to remain in this world, he had already investigated Makoto's background.
He knew that Makoto came from an ordinary civilian family. Without relying on a bloodline limit or a tailed beast, he had become the strongest person in the ninja world through nothing more than his own unique qualities.
More importantly, he kept nothing for himself and had single-handedly created an entirely new training system for Konoha.
"Makoto-senpai," the older Sasuke said, "forgive the question, but just how strong have you become?"
"How strong?"
Makoto felt that words alone wouldn't convey it properly. A demonstration would be far more intuitive.
With a thought, his appearance began to change.
A long white robe covered his entire body, adorned with intricate and mysterious black patterns.
A black Truth-Seeking Ball appeared in his right hand, then transformed into a uniquely shaped nine-ring staff.
Behind him, nine black Truth-Seeking Balls floated in formation.
The older Sasuke was visibly surprised.
"This is... Six Paths Mode?"
"No, it's True Sage Mode," Makoto corrected him seriously.
At the same time, he casually changed the color of his chakra cloak and increased or decreased the number of Truth-Seeking Balls at will.
"Actually, none of that is fixed. I can adjust it however I want. It only looks like this to impress people and make me seem a bit more mysterious. In reality, it's no different from my normal level of strength."
Sasuke silently clenched his fists.
In his own world, he had already reached the pinnacle of strength. The only person who could compare to him was Naruto.
But both of them had essentially reached the end of their paths.
Even if they improved in the future, it wouldn't be through training alone.
Yet now, after unexpectedly arriving in this parallel world, he had finally seen an opportunity to advance even further through training.
He swore to himself that he would devote himself wholeheartedly to the True Sage system.
Perhaps it wouldn't be long before he surpassed Naruto.
And when that day came, he would definitely... beat the hell out of him.
...
Just like always, Konoha was prosperous and peaceful.
The older Sasuke walked through the Uchiha Clan District, taking in the familiar sights before him.
In this world, the Uchiha Clan had also been forced to relocate to the outskirts of the village after the Nine-Tails Incident. But unlike in his own world, the growing rift between the clan and the village had never led to tragedy or driven the clan to extinction.
Every problem had been resolved through the combined efforts of Itachi, Shisui, and Makoto.
Now, the Uchiha were fully integrated into Konoha's system. Even the entirely new training system developed by Makoto was completely open to them.
In fact, Itachi and Shisui ranked among the very best Konoha shinobi in Senjutsu training.
The clan district and the village no longer felt like two separate worlds.
As he looked around, the older Sasuke saw plenty of shinobi and civilians who weren't Uchiha freely entering and leaving the district.
The clan members found it perfectly normal. No members of the Military Police Force stepped forward to question outsiders with suspicion as though they were visitors from another village.
It felt familiar, yet strangely foreign.
So the Uchiha and Konoha really could have coexisted.
Then why had things ended the way they did in his own world?
Just as Sasuke was lost in thought, a figure flashed into existence before him.
After spending some time together, the younger Sasuke was no longer as resistant to the future version of himself from a parallel world.
Tilting his head arrogantly, he said, "Hey, you. Mom told me to call you home for dinner."
For once, the older Sasuke smiled.
"Alright. Let's go. Thanks for putting up with me during this time, Sasuke."
"Hmph. It's no trouble. It just feels weird hearing you call me Sasuke."
"There's nothing weird about it. We're both Uchiha Sasuke."
...
Inside Minato's home, Boruto's bowl was piled high with food like a mountain.
"Grandma, that's enough! There's no way I can eat all of this!"
Kushina replied, "Quit complaining. You have to finish every bite. Once you leave this world, your grandma won't be around to spoil you anymore."
"I have a mom, you know. My mom spoils me too."
Kushina's intelligence suddenly came online.
"Really? I don't believe you. Not unless I can inspect her personally."
Boruto: "..."
Grandma, your ulterior motives are practically hitting me in the face.
Minato laughed.
"Alright, Kushina. Let nature take its course. The Naruto of our family and the father Boruto knows grew up under different circumstances. Even if you find out who it is, it doesn't necessarily mean they'll end up together."
Kushina pouted.
"I'm just curious."
Naruto: "..."
He wasn't curious at all.
Who his future wife would be wasn't important.
What mattered right now was training hard and making sure Sasuke couldn't get ahead of him.
Boruto said, "As much as I'd like to stay, this isn't my world. I have to go back to my dad, my mom, and my little sister. Otherwise they'll worry about me."
Minato nodded.
"That's the right choice. Family will always be the most important people in your life."
Kushina blinked.
"Huh? You have a little sister too?"
"Of course I do. Didn't I mention that?"
"..."
Kushina waved her hand.
"Forget it. Since you're leaving, I'll let it slide. Just remember—when you get back, make sure you introduce your grandma to your little sister properly. Tell her I'm very beautiful and very gentle."
Boruto: "..."
Beautiful? That's definitely true.
As for gentle...
Grandma, don't you have at least a little self-awareness?
Yes, after spending more than a month in this world, the older Sasuke and Boruto had finally reached the day when they would return to their own world.