White Zetsu from the real world was carefully tending to the three unconscious individuals.
After making sure all three were covered with blankets, he began idly spacing out.
A minute passed… Then ten… Then an hour…
Not sure how much time had passed, White Zetsu noticed them waking up one by one.
As soon as Madara woke up, he immediately threw off his thick blanket and used Yin-Yang Release to seal off the entire underground chamber.
Madara pulled out several scrolls, setting up multiple layers of barriers.
The reincarnated Hashirama entered Sage Mode, reinforcing both seals even further.
Filled with questions, White Zetsu watched their actions in confusion.
"Show yourself," the aged-looking Madara suddenly exuded an astonishing aura, "Black Zetsu!"
Everything started half an hour ago.
Inside the illusionary space, both Madara and the reincarnated Hashirama wore expressions of horror, staring intently at the elder who had abruptly appeared and floated midair.
Clad in white robes, he held a khakkhara resting across his crossed legs.
Horns adorned his head while the old man lacked a tail. His eyes were Rinnegan—eyes bearing concentric circles.
More importantly, on his forehead shone another crimson red eye identical to Kaguya's.
"I am Hagoromo Otsutsuki," the elder gazed downward toward the three men, declaring his identity. "The world commonly refers to me as the Six Paths Sage."
Madara and the reincarnated Hashirama both felt a sudden surreal sensation.
They exchanged glances before simultaneously choosing to widen their eyes, staring intensely at the helpless-looking Shen.
"I am not this child's projection," Hagoromo descended slightly. "Apparently I can no longer read memories."
Feeling his mind being invaded, Shen released part of his defenses. "How about now?"
Expressionless, the Six Paths Sage shifted his attention to the other two.
A faint smile appeared on his face. "Reincarnations of Indra and Asura—the future does not concern either of you."
"I have already decided to bring this cycle to a definitive end."
Only afterward did the Six Paths Sage directly face Shen's gaze. "Child, ask your question."
"Six Paths Grandpa," Shen, expression solemn, went straight to the point, "Why didn't you change the shinobi world's current state?"
It was only then that Madara realized—he had become someone else's pawn... again.
Yet the reincarnated Hashirama reached out and gently patted his shoulder. "That kid means no harm."
"Hmph." Madara smacked the hand away, his tone extremely cold. "I just feel frustrated."
Filled with curiosity, the smiling reincarnated Hashirama kept watching the other's expression closely.
This strange contradiction—clearly kind-hearted but still wearing an expression full of bitterness—left Hashirama confused about how to describe it.
Still, this didn't affect Hashirama's amused speculation about Madara in this moment.
After prolonged contemplation, the Six Paths Sage finally gave an answer. "I am an outsider; I do not wish to interfere excessively in worldly affairs."
"Then why did you spread chakra among humanity?"
Once again falling into deep thought, the Six Paths Sage caused Shen's frustration to surge.
"Did you foresee the shinobi world growing steadily worse?"
The Sage of Six Paths, who had just attempted another invasion, finally understood why his mother Kaguya transformed ordinary humans into White Zetsu back then.
The Otsutsuki Clan, which had scattered the God Tree throughout the universe, would surely return one day in the future to harvest its fruit.
"I am not a god."
"Nor is the Great Toad Sage."
"Therefore, I have come."
This cryptic conversation caused both Impure World Reincarnated Hashirama, who had just been playing around, and Madara, who acted cold but was secretly proud, to show moderate confusion.
"Are you saying you can't defeat Black Zetsu?"
"He stole the Rinnegan from Indra's reincarnation."
This statement from the Sage of Six Paths struck Madara like a thunderclap.
Even before becoming your pawn, did my "loyal Takako" already stab me in the back?
"Rinnegan?" The reincarnated Hashirama suddenly realized. "Madara, you have the Rinnegan?"
Madara, unwilling to pay him any attention, focused on waiting for recovery.
Half a lifetime of effort had all turned to nothing. Right now, Madara Uchiha didn't even know what purpose he still had for living.
After thinking deeply for quite some time, Shen finally understood why Black Zetsu had tried to stop him from leaving the Land of Earth.
This Takako, who had hidden for thousands of years, kept resorting to underhanded tactics even after stepping into the spotlight.
"You want me, someone who changed the prophecy, to stop him?"
"You've got what it takes." The Sage of Six Paths chose not to directly answer this question.
"Fine." After reaching an agreement, Shen stated his condition. "But you cannot interfere with my approach."
"I only oversee the Pure Land."
"That couldn't be better then."
Just like that, the two decided the life-and-death destiny of everyone on this planet.
Shen would determine who deserved to go to the Pure Land and who could continue remaining in the real world.
As for the Sage of Six Paths, he would take responsibility for all souls in the Pure Land without interfering in any matters of the real world.
"I hope you can bring light to the shinobi world."
Shen's Mangekyō Sharingan with a nine-pointed star pattern fixed his gaze upon those Rinnegan eyes. "Those scums that shouldn't exist in this world, I'll send them all to meet you."
"You will eventually obtain," the Sage of Six Paths looked toward Madara with calm tone, "what you desire."
Shen smirked slightly, expressing his utmost contempt for this old man who wore sage-like virtue like a mask.
Wanting to obtain both Indra's and Asura's powers, Madara absolutely must eliminate Black Zetsu in the real world.
That Black Zetsu—the one with the Rinnegan.
Suddenly, Shen realized that in the Naruto world, every elder was a shameless leech.
"Pay in installments." The Sage of Six Paths proposed a plan that made him jump in surprise.
"Just pay half upfront." Before Shen could even finish uttering the word "half," he felt two faint forces continuously churning inside his body.
Shortly afterward, one of these forces merged into his eyes while the other permeated every cell in his entire body.
Feeling rather speechless, Shen could hardly believe that this weak energy, whose chakra reserves were even less than his own when he was five years old, was actually the legendary Yin-Yang chakra.
With a meaningful smile, the Sage of Six Paths stepped aside to stand before the reincarnations of his two sons.
"Madara Uchiha, you already know the true nature of the Stone Tablet. I shall say no more."
"Release the hatred in your heart. Power is not the measure of all things."
Then he turned to Impure World Reincarnated Hashirama, his stern expression softening slightly. "Hashirama Senju, I shall await your arrival in the Pure Land."
"Lastly," the Sage of the Six Paths began to fade away, "Shen Uchiha, I eagerly await the new world you will bring forth."
At this moment, within the Illusionary Space, only the three remained, silently glaring at one another.
As if entrusting a final wish, these words stirred a profound unease deep within them all.
Could it be that Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the progenitor of ninja history, had simply vanished—without so much as a farewell?
Yet what troubled them most was the Black Zetsu—now unaccounted for somewhere in the real world.
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