Chapter 32: Do You Believe in Parallel Universes?

Uchiha Fugaku was reading the book in his hand with intense focus at this moment.

"There are no eternal friends, only eternal interests." Uchiha Fugaku recited, sinking into contemplation.

The situation in the Ninja World was exactly as this ancient saying stated; alliances between the major Villages were always temporary, and interests were the eternal, unchanging pursuit. Whether yesterday's Enemies or today's Allies, none could be fully trusted.

Just then, with a "click," the heavy metal door slowly slid open.

Hearing the sound, Fugaku looked up to see a tall, dark-skinned man appear in the doorway; his features resembled those of people from the Raikoku.

The man stood with hands clasped behind his back, straight and tall in the doorway. His gaze fell on Fugaku, the corners of his mouth curving slightly in a friendly smile. "Won't you invite me in?"

Uchiha Fugaku rose slowly from his chair and gave a slight nod to the man. "Please enter."

The man strode into the Room, stopping before Fugaku. "Hello, I am General Stark. I have long heard of your reputation."

Fugaku glanced down at Stark's outstretched right hand, stunned for an instant, but he quickly recovered, extending his own right hand to shake Stark's. "Uchiha Fugaku."

The two sat facing each other across the table. Stark's gaze swept over the untouched food on the table. "What, doesn't it suit your appetite?"

Following Stark's gaze, Fugaku looked at the food on the table; those meticulously cooked and plated dishes had gone cold by now, yet still emitted an enticing aroma.

"No, not at all." Fugaku said directly. "It's just that in an environment like this, I think it's better to be cautious."

Stark froze for a moment, not expecting the other party to be so blunt. He picked up a french fry from the table and put it in his mouth. "Understood."

A moment later, Stark swallowed the food in his mouth, his expression suddenly turning serious. He stared straight into Fugaku's eyes, his tone carrying a hint of probing. "Then, Uchiha Fugaku, who exactly are you?"

Facing Stark's question, Fugaku's expression didn't change, as if he had long anticipated this question's arrival.

"General, do you believe in the existence of Parallel Worlds?" Fugaku suddenly asked, his tone calm yet carrying a trace of mystery.

Stark froze, seemingly not expecting Fugaku to pose such a question. "Parallel World?"

He subconsciously repeated it, his expression turning somewhat confused.

"I've only heard of some theories and hypotheses, could it be..." He suddenly paused, a flash of Shock and Disbelief crossing his eyes. "You mean..."

Fugaku nodded, seemingly satisfied with Stark's reaction.

"That's right." He affirmed, voice calm. "I come from a world completely different from this one."

"What?!" Stark's eyes went wide, his face full of Disbelief.

Uchiha Fugaku looked at Stark calmly, his tone carrying a hint of indifference. "In our Universe, human technology has developed to a degree you would find difficult to imagine." He spoke slowly, voice unhurried.

"We can not only detect the existence of the Multiverse, but also traverse and intervene between different universes."

Fugaku paused, his gaze growing deep. "When we discover that humanity in a certain universe is facing a massive Danger, especially like this time, suffering an Invasion by unknown Creatures, we dispatch personnel to provide necessary help and support." Stark seemed to finally come back to his senses; he took a deep breath, struggling to calm the Shock in his heart. "Then, how was your battle with that monster that day?"

Hearing this question, Uchiha Fugaku's eyes sharpened slightly. The next moment, his eyes suddenly turned blood-red, three Magatama-shaped patterns emerging within them, rotating slowly.

"These eyes are the crystallization of our world's technology." Fugaku said calmly, yet his voice carried an indescribable power. "The Giant you saw is the energy manifestation released from these eyes."

General Stark listened to Fugaku's explanation, the expression on his face growing ever more Shocked.

"This is a bit too... Disbelief." He spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of hesitation. "What you say exceeds all our cognition and imagination. I'm not doubting your words, but... do you have any evidence to prove all this is real?"

"I certainly can prove it." He said calmly, his voice carrying an undeniable confidence.

"However, rather than explaining with words, better to let you see it with your own eyes."

As he spoke, he abruptly widened his eyes; the Three Tomoe in his pupils rotated crazily, transforming into a bizarre pattern. An invisible force instantly Burst Out from his eyes, shooting toward Stark's eyes like sharp arrows.

"Wh—" Stark only managed a cry of alarm before feeling a massive suction pull his consciousness into a vortex-like Passage.

His vision instantly twisted and distorted, as if he had entered a spacetime Tunnel; everything around him turned into colorful lights and shadows flying past rapidly before his eyes.

Boom! With a deafening roar, Stark felt his consciousness finally stop its rapid flight. He snapped his eyes open to discover he had actually arrived in outer space.

Before him was an incomparably massive planet. It occupied most of his field of view, its surface flashing with a cold metallic luster. That was no naturally formed terrain, but something constructed from countless gigantic machines.

Stark stared dumbfounded at the scene before him, his mind a blank.

"Th-this is where?" He murmured, his voice full of Disbelief.

A calm voice rang out beside his ear. "This is our world."

Stark whipped his head around to discover Fugaku had appeared beside him at some Unknown When. He still wore that same indifferent expression, as if everything before them was perfectly normal.

"This planet is the Technology Hub of our world." Fugaku spoke slowly, his gaze sweeping over those massive Buildings. "Gathered here are our top scientists and engineers, responsible for developing and maintaining those devices that cross universes."

He pointed toward a spot on the planet's surface, where a towering Tower stood reaching into the clouds. The tower body consisted of countless complex pipes and circuits, flashing with a dim blue light.

"The Tower you see is the core of the Transmission Device." Fugaku said calmly. "It can open a Door to other universes, letting our Messengers pass through Wormholes, crossing the boundaries of time and space."

Stark opened his mouth but no sound came out. His gaze locked dead onto that Tower, his expression turning blank and dull.

Just then, Stark's vision suddenly distorted. Accompanied by a flash of dazzling white light, Stark abruptly came back to his senses, discovering he had already returned to that cramped metal Room.

He looked around in shock, heart still pounding. His hand subconsciously gripped the chair back, knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

"Do you believe now?" Fugaku spoke faintly, breaking the stagnant air in the Room.

(Chapter End)