Haori's motivation is simple: he is dedicated to eliminating the fundamental control the Ōtsutsuki clan has held over the ninja world since
Haori's motivation is simple: he is dedicated to eliminating the fundamental control the Ōtsutsuki clan has held over the ninja world since the birth of ninjas. As for the consequences after this elimination-whether the ninja world becomes better or more chaotic-that is not within Haori's thought process and is something to be dealt with later.
As he said, those are matters for the living. Whether they fight to the death or live in harmony is "their business." The Sage of Six Paths has been dead for so many years; isn't it better for him to just rest in peace? Why meddle unnecessarily?
This is not Haori's concern; if the world ends, it's not his responsibility, and saving the world is not his duty.
Overall, Haori may appear lazy and carefree, but life always needs some tension. Specifically, he seeks excitement when there's something to do and even when there isn't.
The chakra remnant version of the Sage of Six Paths is not wrong in his thinking-in fact, his worldview is quite sound. He has sufficient reason to continue existing: to constantly watch over his mother. After all, she is immortal and could break free from her seal at any moment.
To always be ready to "clean up after his mother," the Sage must remain, even though he has long been dead.
Haori's decision to act immediately after a few words is wise because the longer he delays, the more chakra the Sage recovers, making him stronger.
In terms of appearance, the Sage exudes confidence, seeming to have victory assured, while Haori only has "momentum." The Sage can float cross-legged like a grandmaster; can Haori do that?
Well, actually, he can-using a high-end magnetic levitation with sparks flying-but Haori isn't accustomed to this style of flight and finds it unsuitable for combat. For him, "keeping his feet on the ground" is steadier and better suited.
Strategically, after some brief talk, Haori drew his sword and charged across the water surface toward the Sage.
First, he wanted to test if the Sage's Rinnegan had powers similar to Pain's. Second, he simply speculated that a high-status figure like the Sage might not be skilled in close-quarters combat.
Haori often fights in groups and once had the glorious experience of being chased by ten thousand enemies. The Sage, as the eldest son of the "Rabbit Goddess," must be at least a royal-level figure. So, has he ever fought in a brawl? Been scratched by fierce women? Been fantasized about in bizarre ways by perverted fans?
Haori hasn't experienced all these things.
If it came to close combat, the scenario would be like this:
Haori charging from the south, wearing a raincoat and wielding a controlled knife, rushing at Haori himself, who dodges but has his yukata torn, revealing... well, that was just overthinking.
Just as Haori was about to reach the Sage, the latter remained seated and motionless, extending one hand, his palm nearly touching Haori's nose.
Then, a very familiar attack was triggered, abruptly halting Haori's momentum and forcefully repelling him.
Haori, who had charged from afar in a straight line, was violently tossed across the water surface, leaving a long ripple behind.
This happened because the Sage used the Rinnegan's technique, Shinra Tensei.
Haori was very familiar with this attack and defense technique.
What he wasn't prepared for was what came next.
The Sage did not form hand seals but gently waved his palm downward, unleashing another powerful attack effortlessly.
Just as the Shinra Tensei's force faded and Haori was still unstable, this move, though intimidating, caused him no real harm-partly because Haori was prepared, and partly because he was on water, so he only skipped across the surface.
But then, a greater danger suddenly loomed. Before Haori could dodge, a massive shadow descended from above.
Used to summoning techniques, Haori usually throws things at opponents, but now karma struck-this time he was the one being struck.
A mottled crimson torii gate fell from the sky, and Haori felt immense pressure on his shoulders, instantly pushed beneath the water.
He was too unstable to resist, dragged down, and with a loud splash, ended up half-kneeling on the seabed.
But it wasn't over-second, third strikes followed, repeatedly pressing him down with layers of heavy torii gates.
The Sage used the most orthodox "Six Paths Technique": the Divine Art Seal, Meishinmon.
This man is extravagant-his casual technique is S-rank.
It's a sealing technique designed to restrain Tailed Beasts, originally meant to control the Ten-Tails' movements. Now it was Haori's turn to be suppressed.
Or rather, the Sage had no lower-level jutsu to use?
Haori experienced a taste of the Five Elements Mountain treatment-layers of interlocking torii gates and immense water pressure caused dizziness and suffocation, making him realize he had to escape quickly. Otherwise, his arrogant trip to another country to die instantly would be too honest and un-ninja-like.
Despite the surprise of the Sage's two-stage attack, Haori was not panicked. He had a solution.
Meishinmon cannot seal a ninja's hands; it suppresses chakra flow and limits ninjutsu but not prepared sealing techniques.
Since the Sage used sealing, Haori countered with sealing.
His hands trembled with effort as he slowly formed seals at the slowest speed in history.
This should have been one of Haori's most common and skilled sealing techniques, but in fact, it was his first time performing it again in eight years.
Familiar yet strange.
He avoided using it before because it was ineffective at critical moments. Though not shameful, he subconsciously resisted it.
But now he had no choice.
A black spherical barrier rapidly expanded around him, instantly dispelling the suppressive force.
This was the Inner Four Symbols Seal-or more precisely, the Multiplicative Four Symbols Seal.
However, this technique's range was only a ten-meter radius, and its duration was momentary.
Even so, it perfectly helped Haori escape.
Reducing the range and adjusting the activation time made this technique extremely suitable for Haori, as it became more energy-efficient.
Shrinking the Inner Four Symbols Seal's range was something Haori had long wanted to do but only achieved now after many years-a difficult and meaningful accomplishment.
To compare, it's like the difference between a nuclear bomb and a portable nuclear bomb-the latter has the same power but is more flexible and easier to use.
By creating a hole in Meishinmon, Haori escaped, though the main structure of the layered torii gates remained intact. He climbed the pillars, emerged from the water, and lightly flipped to land on the highest torii's crossbeam.
"Cough! Cough!"
Haori coughed out seawater that had entered his throat before finally catching his breath. Though this was a mental space, everything felt so real that dying here would truly mean death.
Haori was prepared for Shinra Tensei but hadn't expected the Sage to use such a powerful and effective sealing technique from such a distance, causing a slight setback.
He was now more than ten meters above the sea surface, able to overlook the motionless Sage below. The Sage's creation ability was impressive, suitable for civil engineering, especially for shrine construction.
A world-class boss is a world-class boss-even at half health, he was very tough. Haori felt that even a cluster of Three-Tails beasts was less troublesome than the Sage.
However, the Sage's attitude was subtle-he hovered motionless, as if saying, "I won't move; if you can, come at me."
After Haori's breathing steadied, he leapt down from the torii and charged forward at the moment his feet touched the water's surface.
Like a gale, he had to quickly change direction into a zigzag to avoid more falling Meishinmon seals. A straight line would have meant being crushed.
The ripples and splashes from Haori's rapid movement and the falling seals intertwined, resembling a chaotic, thunderous musical score viewed from above.
The melody was far from beautiful-its main beat was heavy drums, with a disordered, terrifying rhythm.
How could it not be terrifying? The Sage threw S-rank ninjutsu like hail.
Haori swiftly weaved through it, then casually brushed his hand over his body, producing a massive shuriken in his raised palm.
The hollow ring of the shuriken was large enough to fit around his waist.
He spun and hurled the shuriken with great force toward the Sage's position, simultaneously completing hand seals with both hands.
The Sage's Meishinmon was hail; Haori's giant shuriken shadow clone was a downpour.
With a calm "I won't move" attitude, the Sage naturally used Shinra Tensei to repel everything, but no matter if it lasted five seconds or less, this jutsu had a cooldown.
Haori waited for that gap.
At the same time the lightning pattern of his Chidori Style Third Stage appeared on him, he appeared beside the Sage.
Sure enough, the second Shinra Tensei didn't catch him.
Then, a swift hand blade charged with wind and lightning struck the Sage decisively.
No matter who you are, you get stabbed first.
Since using Chidori Style Third Stage, Haori had been nearly unstoppable. Except for a desperate Might Guy, no one could block his attack at this range.
Before the strike landed, Haori's calm gaze was his response to the Sage's previous words.
He said only three words:
Bring it on.
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