Chương 123

Daniel had barely finished introducing himself when Rei raised a hand.

"Sensei, how come you are able to walk now. Weren't you in coma?" Rei asked.

"I am able to move and walk around as your mother and doctors have released me from the god awful hospital bed, but don't expect me to fight. The only reason I responded to your call is because the world here is really peaceful." Kakashi replied.

"And I can read in peace and go for manga hunting again." Rei rolled his eyes at this response and then looked towards Daniel.

"Daniel... one thing." His tone immediately turned serious again.

"Call Jūgo and Karin over here. Tell them it's urgent. After that, get every vehicle ready. We're leaving for Manhattan as soon as they arrive."

"Manhattan?" he repeated.

"Last time I checked there wasn't anything particularly important happening there. We only have one office in Manhattan, do you wish for me to contact the Allied?"

"No. We are going to meet someone." Rei replied.

"Because our dear friend here has made some questionable life choices." Every pair of eyes instinctively turned toward Sasuke. The Uchiha merely frowned, folding his arms across his chest while pretending not to notice the stares coming from almost everyone present. They didn't understand what the change of attire or his special abilities entailed, but from the reaction of Rei, it must be something grave.

"... I haven't even done anything." Sasuke replied flatly.

"That's exactly the problem." Rei answered before anyone else could speak.

"You don't even realize what you've done." Daniel understood from Rei's expression that this wasn't the time to ask further questions. He simply nodded before heading toward the garage, while Laura stepped inside the ranch house to contact Jūgo and Karin. Barely fifteen minutes later, two sleek black Cadillac Escalades slowly rolled out of the spacious garage, their polished bodies gleaming beneath the afternoon sun.

Tsunade, Jiraiya and Shizune couldn't help staring at the massive machines with unconcealed curiosity.

"... They're moving without horses." Tsunade muttered.

"They're called cars." Sakura replied with an excited smile.

"They use engines instead of animals. I'll explain everything on the way." The group divided themselves between the two vehicles. Tsunade, Shizune, Sakura, Karin and Jūgo climbed into the first Escalade, while Rei, Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, Jiraiya, Daniel and Laura occupied the second. Soon both vehicles rolled onto the highway leading away from the ranch, accelerating smoothly toward Manhattan.

Though the new trio were confused about what was going on, and that included the rest too as they didn't understand where they were going but from the looks of it, this was something serious. Besides the new group were too curious about this new world to even question, and just ride along. As this kind of experience was something they had never expected in their life.

nside the first vehicle, Tsunade remained glued to the window as endless stretches of paved roads, towering electrical poles and countless speeding vehicles passed before her eyes. Even someone who had witnessed many nations throughout the shinobi world couldn't hide her amazement.

"... Their roads don't even have potholes." Sakura smiled proudly.

"This world doesn't use chakra to build cities. Everything is done through engineering, machinery and science. They have taken technology to unimaginable levels. You should have seen Asgard, it would blow your minds."

"Asgard?" Tsunade was hearing new names every second now.

"Yes, a different planet.." Sakura explained and then she went deep into how Rei's contract actually worked and how he was able to make friends with another alien. This made her jaws drop along with Shizune's. Now they got the vague idea of what was going on. And this vague idea itself sent chills down their spines. No wonder Rei refused to talk more and even threatened them to seal, if they didn't sign the contract. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

It was too much of a huge deal for anyone to even know, let alone experience.

"What does those signs mean?" Shizune asked as he was busy looking and digesting the information, that she was being thrown at. She was missing Tonton which she left at her room, she needed her pet to come to this world too.

"They guide drivers." Karin answered this time.

"There are traffic laws too. If people don't follow them, the police stop them." Jugo, meanwhile, was thinking why was he struck with all girls coach, even Laura was the driver. He had decided to go for the driver license test soon, as this couldn't go on. Meanwhile, inside the second Escalade, Naruto had already buried Jiraiya beneath an avalanche of explanations.

"And then Rei brought me here for ramen! Oh, and they have moving stairs! And boxes that show people talking! And food that cooks in minutes!"

"... Slow down." Jiraiya laughed helplessly.

"One miracle at a time." Kakashi, however, wasn't paying attention to Naruto's excitement. His single visible eye remained fixed upon Sasuke before shifting toward Rei.

"... What exactly happened back there?" Rei remained silent for several seconds before finally answering.

"Sasuke made a deal."

"A deal?"

"... With someone who is could be said as one of the Gods if we go by history."

"Like the Asgard?" Kakashi asked.

"No. But also yes. Odin is a historical figure. While Sasuke made deal with a mythological tuned real figure." Rei replied. Kakashi and there rest were confused and Naruto explained what Asgard was and just like Tsunade, he realized the gravity of the ability that Rei had in his hands. Silence immediately filled the vehicle. Even Daniel briefly glanced into the rearview mirror before returning his attention to the road. Kakashi frowned.

"... Who?" Rei slowly looked out the window as skyscrapers gradually began appearing on the distant horizon.

"For the longest time..." he said quietly, "... all of you believed I was the only one capable of traveling between dimensions."

"That was never true." His gaze shifted back toward Sasuke.

"There are others. Beings who move between worlds as easily as we walk between villages. Some seek knowledge. Some seek conquest." His expression hardened.

"And some seek followers." The inside of the vehicle became deathly silent. Even Naruto stopped talking.

"So..." Kakashi finally asked, "... the being that approached Sasuke..." Rei slowly nodded.

"Was one of them."

"And where are we going now?" Kakashi asked.

"Someone whom I wanted to meet for the longest time, someone like me, and someone who might have a way to help Sasuke here." Rei replied. The two Escalades finally left the busy streets behind before slowing to a stop along a comparatively quiet road lined with old brick buildings. Daniel glanced once at the navigation screen before looking toward Rei through the rearview mirror. The address matched perfectly. On the building before them, the brass numbers quietly read 177A Bleecker Street.

To everyone except Rei, it appeared to be nothing more than another ordinary residence tucked between larger buildings. There was nothing majestic or intimidating about it, making the destination all the more confusing. Everyone stepped out one after another while quietly observing the surroundings.

Naruto scratched the back of his head in confusion, Jiraiya narrowed his eyes at the seemingly ordinary building, and even Tsunade couldn't understand why someone capable of knowing gods and traveling between dimensions would bring them to such a regular place. Well it was a regular place as she could see after the drive of one hour. Rei, however, remained completely serious as he faced everyone before they approached the entrance.

"I need all of you to promise me something." Rei said firmly.

"No matter what you see inside... no matter who you meet... you are not to respond with anger, hostility or violence unless I explicitly tell you to. Be respectful. Don't attack anyone, don't threaten anyone, and don't let your emotions get the better of you. Trust me on this." The group exchanged uncertain glances before slowly nodding one after another. Even Tsunade, despite her usual confidence, could tell from Rei's tone that this wasn't an ordinary warning. Naruto folded his arms before puffing out his cheeks.

"... Fine. But if somebody hurts my friends, I'm punching them." Rei simply looked at him. That single silent stare was enough to make Naruto awkwardly cough before looking away.

"... Right... I'll behave." Without another word, Rei walked toward the entrance while everyone followed closely behind. Standing before the large wooden door, he raised his hand and knocked three times. For several long moments, absolute silence answered him. Then, without anyone touching it, the enormous door slowly creaked open by itself. Several people instinctively stiffened.

"... Nobody touched it." Shizune whispered. They cautiously stepped inside. The moment everyone crossed the threshold, the atmosphere changed completely. The interior was vastly larger than the building should have allowed, with towering staircase, countless ancient relics, shelves overflowing with books and strange artifacts resting upon pedestals. The air itself carried an indescribable feeling of something that was quite different from outside.

"Excuse me... Is anyone here?" His words echoed softly throughout. For several seconds, nothing happened. Then slow footsteps echoed from above. Everyone instinctively looked toward the upper staircase where a man dressed in elegant yellow and crimson robes descended with composed, measured steps. His expression remained calm as his eyes swept across the unusually large group before finally settling upon Rei.

"You've brought quite a gathering." the robed man observed politely.

"May I ask... what exactly you are looking for?" Rei inclined his head respectfully.

"We're here to meet the Ancient One."