Naruto: Vertex

- Yes, Shin, Hayato made that gigantic Fireball, even when he was down, because he realized that the receptacle was...

- Even though he was injured, Hayato still tried to save me... - Shin's eyes filled with tears and he bowed his head, the sadness evident on his face. Hanami continued her story, her voice lower:

- Afterwards, I just remember falling next to... - She looked at Shikadai, her voice breaking a little. - Of... - She lowered her eyes, and he, with a gentle gesture, smoothed her knee, trying to convey comfort without words.

Shikadai stood up slowly, running his hand over his chin as he watched his friends.

- My theory seems to be the most plausible so far. - He sighed, visibly tired. - Somehow, which I still don't understand, this explosion caused you to go through some kind of dimensional portal.

- Does that mean we're in another dimension? - Shin asked, confusion evident in his voice.

- I'd say we're in the same dimension, but in another reality. - Shikadai replied, trying to organize his thoughts.

- What do you mean? - Boruto frowned, trying to understand.

- You've ended up in an alternative reality to your own. One in which different decisions have been made. That's why some things are the same, but others are completely different.

- Like a time tunnel? - Hanami asked, puzzled.

- Not exactly. We're in the same time period, but... - Shikadai hesitated, looking at the ground. Talking about this wasn't easy. - In a reality where the Nanadaime married Sakura.

- Yes, she's our mother. What about that? - Hanami answered bluntly.

- Sakura? Sarada's mother? Married to my father? - Boruto abruptly pulled away, tugging at his hair. - So... in their reality, Sarada... is my sister?!

- We don't know any Sarada," Hanami commented, looking at Shikadai. - Is this... something serious?

Boruto, without another word, ran off. Shikadai shouted for his friend, frustrated:

- Wait, Boruto! Don't do anything stupid! - He huffed, annoyed. - Shit...

- For Kami... what now? - Shin was in shock, still sitting and trying to piece together what Shikadai had said. The fear in his eyes was evident, but he couldn't find a solution.

- Shin... - Shikadai bent down to him, more seriously. - If my guess is right... your lack of dreams could be a sign of something very serious.

- More serious than anything you've said so far? "Putz!" Shin exclaimed, his apprehension growing.

- "Yes... maybe your unconscious mind isn't 'working' here in this dimension. That's why you're not dreaming - Shikadai paused, taking a deep breath. - You're not forming memories. Which is good, because if you go back, you probably won't remember anything. But it also means...

- ...that I'm ceasing to exist in my real dimension! - Shin exclaimed, putting his hands on his head, realization suddenly hitting him.

- That's it. - Shikadai lowered his gaze, saddened.

Shin stood up suddenly, a panicked expression overtaking him:

- Shika, we need to leave. My God, we have to go quickly!

- Let's go find Uncle Sasuke, Shin. - Hanami suggested, trying to stay calm. - He can help us with his Rinnegan.

- Good idea, Han... - Shikadai interrupted with a tired sigh. - Sasuke Uchiha no longer has the Rinnegan in this reality.

- Huh?! - The two brothers exclaimed in unison, completely stunned.

- And he's the hardest ninja in the world to find. He's never in the village. - Shikadai concluded, his frustration evident.

- But who then can help us? - Hanami asked, perplexed.

- My father is the Hokage's advisor here. - Shikadai said, his voice heavy.

- Sensei Nara? Advisor? - Hanami asked, startled.

- My father... is he your sensei? - Shikadai asked, surprised.

- He will be. When I enter the Academy. - Hanami replied with a smile, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere.

- You haven't entered the Academy yet? - Shikadai asked, surprised.

- Stop it, you two! - Shin shouted, visibly frustrated.

- We need to find a way out of here, not dwell on the differences between our realities! And then there's Boruto, that crazy guy - he pointed to the horizon - running around doing who knows what!

- We need help from an adult, Shin! - Hanami whimpered, the desperation clear in her voice. - This is too serious! We can't deal with this alone!

- Didn't you hear what Shikadai said, Hanami? It's impossible to find Sasuke Uchiha. And he doesn't even have the Rinnegan anymore! What do you want me to do? Find my father and say, "Hi, I'm your son from another reality, I've gone through a strange portal and now help me get back before I and everything I know disappear from the universe"? Dove! What can he do?

- Yare, yare... - The voice emerged from the shadows, making them position themselves to fight. - Amazing the stories we hear on a night with a waning moon, all because we're out reading a book.

- Rokudaime-sama? - Shikadai exclaimed in surprise, quickly undoing his fighting stance. The others followed suit. They saw the gray-haired man approaching calmly, both hands in his pockets. When he got close, he stooped slightly, looking at them with a discreet smile beneath his mask.

- So you're Naruto and Sakura's kids? - He asked, with a smile on his face. - I knew that, in some reality, these two had to have been together.

Shin watched the former Hokage, dressed in moose-print pyjamas, cross-legged on the sofa. He wondered if Kakashi was sleeping in that mask, when he was interrupted by the ninja's voice.

- ...can it be?

- Huh? Sorry, Rokudaime, I didn't...

- Stones. - Kakashi stood up with a sigh. - Can you tell me everything again, but using stones?

At that moment, Hanami appeared, yawning as he stretched inside a gigantic shirt that barely covered his knees.

- Good morning, gentlemen! - She looked down at the table and her eyes sparkled with gluttony. - Hummm, Dad told me you were a good cook, Rokudaime.

- Make yourself at home, Hanami. - Kakashi replied, smiling slightly.

He then got up and left the room, still in his pajamas, leaving the two brothers alone. Shin was staring at the wall with a faraway look in his eyes, apparently lost in thought, while Hanami was enthusiastically munching on jam and bread.

- Rokudaime was very kind to let us stay at his house, wasn't he, brother? - Hanami commented, his mouth full, without noticing Shin's distracted tone.

Waking from his reverie, Shin made a disapproving face, assuming his role as older brother.

- Yes, it was. So, do yourself a favor and live up to the education Mom gave you and help out around the house, Hanami. And make sure you don't eat it all in one go.

- Ah, you're very annoying, Shin. - Hanami grumbled, making a face.