Shinra Cave Heaven—the alternate dimension born from the burial of the Sage of Six Paths' corpse!
From above, Shinra Cave Heaven looks like a vast canyon suspended in midair.
Forests blanket both sides of the gorge. These trees, grown from the Sage's cells brimming with boundless life force, are laden with "exotic fruits"—eating them greatly restores chakra and vitality!
At either end of the canyon flow two springs—one fiery red, one deep blue. These are the Two Principles Springs, formed from the Sage's Yang Release and Yin Release chakra.
To the east, south, west, and north stand four great mountains, each shaped by the Sage's peak Lightning, Wind, Water, and Earth chakra, fused with the energy of nature itself.
These are the Five Elements Mountains—the Sage's five elemental chakras given form. For reasons unknown, the Fire Release mountain was left behind in the outside world.
Indra ignored all the wonders around him, striding straight for the canyon's center.
There, a stone platform stood. Its surface was carved with the symbol of reincarnation—the very same mark once emblazoned on the Sage's brow.
Indra halted before the dais, gazing at the skeletal remains seated at its center. With hatred—and some emotion even he couldn't name—he murmured, "Asura…"
Black Zetsu sneered, "To watch over Hagoromo like this… Asura, you really were a foolishly filial child."
Without looking back, Indra ordered, "Bring out the sacrifice."
Crack!
Black Zetsu plunged a hand into his own chest and yanked out a living person he'd been hiding inside his body—a ninja from the Land of Lightning!
Black Zetsu grinned wickedly, "The Yozuki clan of the Hidden Cloud—also distant descendants of Asura. Using his own bloodline as a living offering… I wonder how he'd feel if he knew?"
Indra couldn't care less. He immediately set up the ritual, forming hand seals.
—True: Impure World Reincarnation!
Rustle, rustle, rustle…!
Asura's skeleton crumbled entirely to ash, which enveloped the living sacrifice!
Boom!
Before his true form could even fully manifest, a raging storm of chakra exploded outward!
Black Zetsu hastily retreated to a safe distance. "Now it's your show, Indra…"
Indra stood tall and unflinching, staring straight into the wind.
From the Impure World Reincarnation emerged a young man—his youth preserved by Indra's mastery of the technique. His build was similar to Indra's, clad in the white robes of Ninshū, six tomoe at the collar, a pattern of reincarnation and nine tomoe arrayed on his back.
He had close-cropped hair, his forehead wrapped in layers of bandages, with two small braids hanging beside his ears.
His features were sharp and resolute, his black eyes fixed on the figure before him.
Asura spoke: "Brother, I never thought that even after death, we'd still be fated to fight!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Truth-Seeking Orbs formed behind Asura.
Indra's long hair whipped in the wind as a dark purple Susanoo surged skyward. "This is the curse passed down by Ninshū!"
Asura's gaze followed the rising Susanoo, and he shouted, "This is Father's eternal resting place—can't we do this somewhere else?!"
Indra glared down coldly. "No!!!"
Crack! As the word fell, Susanoo's great sword was drawn and came crashing down!
Asura flashed through hand seals.
Clang!
Giant wooden hands rose up on either side, catching the blade!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Susanoo spewed fireballs that detonated around Asura!
Asura leapt back with lightning speed. "Forgive me, Father—this isn't what I wanted!"
Clap! He pressed his palms together.
—Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands!!
The colossal Thousand-Armed Kannon statue soared up behind Asura!
Indra's Susanoo activated Sage Mode. In this Shinra Cave Heaven, a torrent of natural energy roared into Susanoo's armor!
Indra's voice was icy: "Asura, the Tailed Beasts are already where they belong. You can't borrow their power anymore. This time, you're destined to lose!"
The natural energy absorbed by the armor transformed into pure Lightning Release!
Indra's right eye narrowed.
—Takemikazuchi!
Crackle, crackle…!
The lightning, transformed by sage power, condensed under Takemikazuchi's ocular might into a thunderous arrow and bow in Susanoo's hands!
He drew the bow, notched the arrow—shrill thunder screamed toward Asura atop the True Several Thousand Hands!
—Six Paths: Indra's Arrow!
"Not good…"
Asura clapped his hands together.
—Buddha on the Summit!
Thousands of arms surged forward, trying to intercept the arrow!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
But the overwhelming force shredded them like paper!
At the last moment, Asura summoned his Truth-Seeking Orbs as a barrier!
Indra smirked, "Oh? Impressive—you blocked one with just your own power. But let's see how you handle the second!"
Crackle, crackle…!
A second Indra's Arrow shrieked through the air!
Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble!
A lightning storm that split the heavens engulfed the entire True Several Thousand Hands!
Fragments of Truth-Seeking Orbs scattered as Asura was blasted away, half his body already shattered!
Indra stepped out of Susanoo.
He commanded Susanoo's hand to seize Asura, then hurled him forward with brutal force!
Whoosh…!!
As Asura flew, the Yin mark in Indra's palm erupted with black lightning, piercing straight through Asura's chest!
"Asura, I'll be taking your chakra…"
—Six Paths: Dark Absorption!
Asura's chakra surged into Indra's body!!!
Zzzzt!
Indra's eyes evolved into dual "Six Tomoe Rinnegan"!
With a flick of his wrist, black rods pinned Asura's body, sealing his chakra points completely!
Gazing down with his new eyes, Indra said coldly, "Asura, my brother whom I hate to the bone—repent before the Sage's tomb, and wait for the death knell to sound!"
Indra pressed his palms together.
—Chibaku Tensei!
Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble…!
Asura was flung skyward, where rising boulders soon buried him completely!
When the dust finally settled—
Black Zetsu approached, admiring, "As expected of you—accomplishing in moments what took Madara a lifetime."
Indra replied coldly, "Don't compare me to a mere reincarnate."
"Heh, fair enough." Black Zetsu's tone shifted. "Still, instead of just sealing him, wouldn't it be better to wipe Asura out completely…"
Indra looked up at the sky. "There's no need. At this point, he can't change anything."
Zzzzt! A sun-shaped white mark appeared on Indra's right hand!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
At the same time, Truth-Seeking Orbs appeared behind him.
Indra declared, "Now that I've gained Asura's power, I stand equal to the Sage of Six Paths. Once I obtain the Ten-Tails, I'll become—Six Paths: Complete Form!"
Black Zetsu grinned, "With your current strength, claiming the Demonic Statue will be child's play. But the statue still lacks the most crucial Nine-Tails chakra, which is in the hands of Naruto Uzumaki and his son in Amegakure!"
The gates of Shinra Cave Heaven opened, and Indra and Black Zetsu departed!
Whoosh!
As they left, the resonance of the Kamui dimension rippled—and Obito Uchiha appeared within Shinra Cave Heaven!
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