Another universe?

Questions

Morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the Hokage office as Naruto sat at his desk, fingers laced together in deep thoughts.Across from him, shikamaru stood with his eye crossed,his sharp gaze.

The room was quieter than usual.No ANBU guards standing in the shadows, no unnecessary onlookers. Just Naruto and shikamaru trying to solve a problem far bigger than anything they had dealt with before.

"This is a mess." Shikamaru muttered,rubbing the back of his neck."We've dealt with a lot of weird things over the year,but people crossing over from different universes?Thats a whole level of complicated."

"Tell me about it."Naruto expression was serious, the usual carefree air gone."We've been so focused on them keeping them safe,making sure they're not a threat..but we never really stopped to think about how to send them back."

"Well that's no easy answers.Dimension travel isnt something anyone can pull off."Shikamaru gestures towards one of the scroll."The only one person who had a deep understanding of this kind of thing was Kaguya.And she's long gone."

Naruto frowned."What about Sasuke?Hes traveled between dimensions before."

Shikamaru nodded."Yeah but even his Rinnegan had limits.He could only travel to known dimensions. If Hikari and Yukio world isn't tied to ours in any ways,    Then sasuke abilities won't be enough to bring them back."

"There gotta be something.."

Shikamaru let out a big sigh."We need more information and there is only a handful of people who might be able to help us with that."

"Youre talking about Orochimaru,aren't you.?"

Shikamaru grimaced slightly but nodded. "As much I hate to say this but yeah.If anyone in this world had knowledge about inter-dimensional travel outside of Sasuke,it's him. The guy spent his entire life studying things normal people don't even think about."

Naruto sighed."Alright,I will have to send a letter to Sasuke."

Shikamaru nodded.

As the two fell in silence,Naruto glanced out of the window,he thoughts about Yukio and Hikari, two kids in completely different worlds,trying to make sense of their situations.

They don't belong here.

Not in a bad way—but this wasn't their home, as much as they were trying to adapt,Naruto knew better than anyone what it felt like to be in a place that doesn't feel like yours.

No matter how long it took,he was going to find a way to send them back.

..........

Sasuke stepped inside of the Hokage room, his cloak trailing behind him and without preamble, he spoke.

"I'll handle it."

"Huh?Are you sure?" Shikamaru asked.

"I'll go to him by myself.I don't trust anyone else with this."

"You sure?You know he's not the kind to do favors for free—We don't want his hands on Yukio and Hikari,if he finds out they're from a different world."

"He already knows."

Naruto and shikamaru stiffened at Sasuke words.

"How?" Shikamaru asked sharply.

"Orochimaru has his ways,he been keeping an eye on things,even without stepping foot in the village.He doesn't know everything,but he knows enough to be interested."

"That bastard..."

Sasuke didn't say anything as he walk out the door and in a blink of an eye he was gone.

........

The air was thick with the scent of chemicals as Sasuke stepped into Orochimaru hideouts.As walking at the end of the hallway,a pair of doors creaked open.Revealing Orochimaru sitting at a long table,idly examining a stroll.He looked up with a sly smile.

"Sasuke..I was beginning to wonder when you'd come."

Sasuke didn't wasted no time."You already know why I'm here."

He chuckled."You're always were direct." He tilted his head."Yes I do know.Two children from another world—how fascinating."

"Then you also know what I want."

Orochimaru leaned back,a knowing smirks on his lips."You want a way to send them back,but that's no simple task."

"I don't need a lecture."Sasuke said coldly."Just answers."

Orochimaru hummed thoughtfully, tapping his fingers on the table."Dimensional travel is a rare ability.Even with rinnegan, its limit to known some dimensions.If these children come from a world separate from our chakra network, then traditional methods won't work."

"Then what will work?"

Orochimaru golden eye gleamed."There are...possibilities but they require research,resources, and time."He paused,then added with amusement."And, of course something in return."

"What do you want?"

Orochimaru smile widened."Oh,nothing too drastic, just access to the data gathered on them so far. I'd like to study their chakra,their biology—purely for research purposes of course."

Sasuke expression remained unreadable,but his mind was already working through the risk.He had expected Orochimaru to make demands like this— but he wouldn't allow the kids to become test subjects for one of his fuck up experiment.

"I'll agree to your help," Sasuke said finally,his voice cold and firm."But I'm not giving you access to their data."

"Oh?And here I thought you'd be more flexible, Sasuke.Science requires knowledge,after all."

Sasuke gaze sharpened."Youre not studying them."

"You've always been difficult.Fine, I won't ask again." Then with a snake-like grin,he added."But you know,others might be interested in them too,If I figured out their origins,it won't take long before someone else does."

"That's not your concern."

Orochimaru chuckled."Perhaps not,but very well Sasuke,I'll help.But don't expect immediately results. Dimensional travel isn't something I fully understand,it may take time."

"I don't care how long it takes,just find a way."

Orochimaru gave a small nod,his grin lingering. "I'll see what I can uncover.But remember Sasuke...nothing in this world comes without a price."

Sasuke turned,already heading for the exit."I've paid enough prices."

He disappeared into the shadows.

"Interesting.." orochimaru murmured to himself. "This just got much more intriguing."