Chapter 302

In the Ninja World, when Naruto was five years old.

Late summer to early autumn.

On a desolate island far from the Land of Water, untouched by humans since ancient times, two men suddenly appeared in the forest, having traversed worlds.

Strangely enough, one of the men was tightly bound by glowing golden chains, while the other, a blond man, had only half his body present, the other half stuck outside the world.

Looking at the chains on himself, Shinji then glanced at Gilgamesh, who was only half-present, his lower body stuck outside the world.

After about five seconds of silence, Shinji took a deep breath.

This is insane! Gilgamesh used Enkidu to bind another man!

Unlike the grumbling Shinji, Gilgamesh was meticulously observing this world. Despite being in an awkward position, suspended a meter above the ground and unable to move.

Upon seeing some familiar structures—like the ruins of ancient palaces—Gilgamesh smirked knowingly.

"How bold of you, Shinji. To prepare such unsightly ruins for the king in the king's own territory. But rejoice! The king shall forgive you this time!"

Ignoring Gilgamesh's incessant chatter, Shinji squinted and stayed silent, suspecting that Gilgamesh had been hiding all along since the start of the school year, waiting for this moment to sneak into the other world trip.

Like a stowaway on an Indian train.

Since he was a stowaway, he ended up stuck in the world's cracks, colloquially known as a "wall rider."

Hmm...

Looking at Enkidu binding him, Shinji pondered for a moment, then ignored Gilgamesh's incessant talking and turned to leave.

"Wait—!!"

...

Watching Gilgamesh, who was smirking and gazing at the sea with hidden excitement, Shinji couldn't be bothered to remind him too much.

"Anyway, don't get yourself killed. I won't save you. And stop shouting about going back. I won't return until my business is done."

At Shinji's words, Gilgamesh frowned in displeasure, but before he could retort, Shinji had already turned and left.

Watching Shinji walk toward the island's central ruins, surrounded by fierce ocean currents and inaccessible to ordinary people, Gilgamesh thought for a moment and then followed.

...

Inside the ruins, Shinji was carefully inspecting everything.

This was also the starting point last time; all the ruins and historical traces were fabricated by Shinji, creating a fake history of six thousand years, which no one could distinguish from the real thing.

Even Gilgamesh, upon first arriving, was fooled by the historical aura of these ruins, only realizing something was amiss after a thorough inspection.

After all, even the inscriptions were copied from oracle bone scripts.

Upon checking, Shinji found that despite over two years having passed, no one had arrived here.

Hearing Gilgamesh's mocking laughter from the side, Shinji remained indifferent and casually said, "There's nothing funny about it. In this world, even the true history is unclear; all history vanished into the dust because of a few aliens."

Gilgamesh frowned.

Shinji continued, "This is a twisted world. Not just history, but even human souls have been distorted into something like cloud data."

"So, the king's descent is necessary? Hmm, the king approves! Spread the king's fame and await the king's rule! From today, this world belongs to the king!"

Watching Gilgamesh suddenly become all dramatic, Shinji remained silent but didn't pay too much attention. He was about to bid farewell when he suddenly felt...

On this island untouched by humans for thousands of years, someone had landed!

...

Standing on a distant, hidden peak, Shinji watched the ninjas exploring and making rubbings of various inscriptions in the ruins. He couldn't help but smirk.

Konoha forehead protectors!

Tsunade did well. She actually used the dream I gave her to pinpoint the location of this island and even sent ninjas to explore it.

Judging by the weathered faces of these ninjas, it's unclear how long it took them or how many died to get here.

After all, to reach this island, they had to navigate ocean currents that could easily tear ships apart. Ninjas are indeed stronger than ordinary people, but against such natural forces, they're not much different from regular folks.

Glancing at the monument beside him, Shinji, understanding that these ninjas who survived the treacherous journey would eventually reach here, waved his hand and left.

"Gilgamesh, do whatever you want after seeing this world. Also, in this world, my name is Angra Mainyu, the Evil of This World.

Though I didn't expect you to come along, coincidentally, when I buried these ruins, I mixed in the Epic of Gilgamesh to make the history more believable."

Watching Shinji leave, Gilgamesh pondered.

The nearby monument inscriptions about Angra Mainyu were also seen by Gilgamesh, though Shinji had backdated the history to six thousand years ago.

After a while, Gilgamesh smirked and turned away, hands in his pockets.

"I see..."

From his outward expression, it seemed Gilgamesh truly understood.

...

At night, in the sky.

Riding Vimana, Gilgamesh glanced one last time at the ninjas below, who, exhausted after making rubbings, were resting. Then he sped away in his kingly vehicle.

This twisted world was now officially part of Gilgamesh's collection.

Of course, that was just Gilgamesh's private thought.

"Can't you fly slower?!"

Originally sitting cross-legged on Vimana, Shinji almost fell off due to its sudden acceleration.

Gilgamesh didn't respond, continuing full speed towards the Land of Water, eager to see how twisted this world had become!

...

In the Land of Water, on an island belonging to Kirigakure.

At dawn.

Watching Shinji, who was retching against a boulder, Gilgamesh frowned. His servant was pathetic, not only ungrateful but also motion-sick.

Pfft—!

Glug glug—

After rinsing his mouth with water from the system space and drinking a few gulps, Shinji felt a bit better.

Ignoring Gilgamesh's displeased expression, Shinji adjusted himself and looked towards the island, which was still snowing against meteorological norms.

Gotta say, the timing is spot on.

Seeing the villagers, led by a man with a torch, secretly gathering with various farming tools and kitchen knives, Shinji immediately knew what day it was.

The beginning of Haku's tragic story in Naruto, the character often mistaken for a woman.

Due to the anime's inconsistencies, Shinji was never sure when Haku's tragedy occurred or when Zabuza defected from the village.

The anime showed Zabuza encountering the Kaguya clan during their rebellion after failing his coup and fleeing with Haku. But later, the Kaguya clan was shown destroying the Grass Village, implying Zabuza hadn't escaped yet.

Sometimes, Shinji doubted if the anime team even read the original work, given the timeline discrepancies they created.

Returning his thoughts to the present, Shinji looked at Gilgamesh, understanding why he was still following him—probably curious about Shinji's initial actions.

"I'm planning to save an innocent girl... no, boy!"

Hearing this, Gilgamesh frowned and glared at Shinji before striding towards the villagers heading to a certain place.

...

Watching the man, as if brainwashed, leading the villagers to kill his wife without her using her bloodline ability to resist, Shinji sighed.

The infamous Blood Mist Village of the Ninja World, living up to its name.

The brainwashing here surpasses anything I know about cults.

Gilgamesh stood coldly, arms crossed, showing no emotion at the seemingly brutal scene to ordinary people.

The man, tears streaming, uncontrollably pushed his eight-year-old child into the house, his actions unwavering.

Tears were due to humanity, while the unwavering actions were due to policy brainwashing.

...

Facing his advancing father, eight-year-old Haku's eyes widened in disbelief, tears streaming down his face.

Father killed mother and now wants to kill me...

Haku's small face was filled with doubt, questioning everything.

Escape? Seek help?

Where could he escape when the most trusted and closest person was right in front of him?

Seeing his father raise the weapon step by step, Haku's trembling pupils were filled with disbelief before finally giving up thinking.

A blank mind.

Ding ding ding!

"What are you spacing out for? If you don't clearly see the face of your father's killer, how will you avenge him?"

It was a playful, magnetic male voice, bringing Haku out of his subconscious escape.

The man stood amidst the bloody scene, holding a long sword, yet unstained by any blood. Blue-haired, a first for Haku, but the most memorable was Shinji's smiling face, exuding a non-repulsive warmth.

"From today, your life's meaning is to avenge your father by killing me."

After saying this, the blue-haired youth sheathed his sword somewhere and turned to leave, leaving Haku stunned.

Until Shinji left the house, Haku regained his senses and uncontrollably followed the man who had spoken those strange words.