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[Congratulations, Host! You have unlocked Rinnegan ocular powers: "Amenotejikara (Left Eye)", "Takamimusubinokami (Right Eye)", "Space-Time Teleportation", "Chibaku Tensei", "Shinra Tensei"…]
As the system rewards were delivered, a wave of warmth flooded into Chiba's body, beginning to transform his physique and soul. Given the sheer magnitude of this upgrade, he figured it would take some time to complete.
Watching the notifications pop up one after another, a wide grin spread across Chiba's face.
"Hah. Everything's going according to plan. Now, I finally have the foundation to go up against Kaguya—"
"Bastard! Who gave you permission to save that inherently evil Madara Uchiha?!"
Just as Chiba was feeling pleased with himself, Tobirama appeared behind him out of nowhere and delivered a sharp thwack to the back of his head.
BAM.
Chiba said nothing. He simply face-planted onto the ground.
"Kid, don't play dead on me. Get up! This is no time for your antics!"
Seeing Chiba lying there like a lump, Tobirama's temper flared. He kicked Chiba squarely in the rear.
"Hm?"
To Tobirama's surprise, Chiba remained completely unresponsive, as if he had genuinely been knocked out cold. Tobirama's brow furrowed.
"Lord Tobirama! Lord Hashirama, he…!"
Jiraiya's alarmed shout came from the side. Tobirama turned to see Hashirama, who had been full of energy moments ago, now slumped on the ground cradling Madara, both of them unconscious.
"Aniki and Madara too… What on earth is going on?"
"Hashirama is in an Edo body… Is this a technique that targets the soul directly? But I don't sense any chakra fluctuations at all… Or is the caster's level simply far above mine?"
Tobirama's frown deepened. Though he prided himself on being the "Tactician," today's events had long since left his understanding behind.
Drip. Drip.
When Chiba regained consciousness, he found himself lying in a dim, cavernous space.
Water droplets fell intermittently, creating ripples on the shallow surface, yet his clothes were completely dry.
Just as I predicted. This is getting interesting. Heh.
He suppressed the playful glint that had flashed in his eyes and looked over his shoulder. Sure enough, the "person" he expected was there.
A figure with horns, much like Kaguya's, and clad in white sage robes sat cross-legged atop nine floating black orbs—Truth-Seeking Balls—presenting only a mysterious back to Chiba.
Sensing Chiba's gaze, the nine orbs rotated slowly, turning the figure around to reveal his face.
It was the legendary figure nicknamed the "Gift-Giving Old Man"—the Sage of Six Paths, son of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki: Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki.
"I am an ancient one who has long since passed from this world. The ninja world knows me by many names. Perhaps you have heard the most widely spread among them—the Sage of Six Paths, founder of Ninshū."
Hagoromo's voice was low and grave, seeming to know time was of the essence. He cut straight to the chase, introducing himself.
"The legendary Sage of Six Paths? Excellent!"
Chiba's face lit up with genuine delight. This wasn't an act; he was truly thrilled.
In the original storyline, Naruto and Sasuke were summoned to a mental space just like this by the Sage, handed cheat codes, and gifted with god-like powers in an instant.
Following that logic… those goodies were now coming to him, Chiba!
So this is the protagonist treatment, huh? Even keeping a low profile, the old man still finds me. Sweet. The system already gave me Six Paths power. Once I get this old-timer's gift on top of that, handling Kaguya will be a walk in the park. I'll be unstoppable.
His mind buzzing with glee, Chiba took two steps forward, ready to quickly brief the Sage on the current crisis and get those sweet, sweet powers.
He had to hurry. Once his system upgrade finished and his Rinnegan popped out, things would get awkward fast!
"Great Sage, have you come because of this crisis? I am the Child of Prophecy, designated by the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku. I've been striving for the peace of the ninja world."
"But this enemy… she is too powerful. Powerful enough to inspire utter despair, to snuff out any will to fight. The ninja world teeters on the brink. You are the legendary founder of Ninshū. Please… grant me the power to stand against Kaguya Ōtsutsuki!"
Chiba's words rang out, passionate and resonant. He nearly moved himself with the performance.
The Sage of Six Paths, however, remained utterly unmoved. His aged face grew darker by the second. A Six Paths staff materialized in his hand, as if he was barely restraining the urge to whack Chiba with it.
"…I once saved a Sunagakure kunoichi. And fulfilled all her needs."
No choice. Chiba gritted his teeth and doubled down, extolling more of his righteous deeds—protecting the weak, upholding justice.
"Enough! You ambitious, conniving little whelp! Do you truly believe this old man is unaware of your actions?!"
Listening to Chiba's continuous stream of nonsense, the Sage was practically fuming, his nose twitching. He finally lost his patience, pointing the Six Paths staff at Chiba and roaring.
"You were the one who stirred up the recent conflicts in the ninja world! For me not to suppress you here and now is grace enough. There is absolutely no chance I will share my power with you!"
Hagoromo's lingering chakra had wandered the world for ages, silently watching over it. The massive disturbances Chiba had caused recently had naturally drawn the Sage's attention to this ambitious young man.
"Chakra was meant to be a bond, a force to connect people's hearts—not a weapon for the strong to bully the weak!"
As he spoke, Hagoromo's aura sharpened. A terrifying pressure, like a tidal wave, bore down on Chiba.
You motherf— So no gifts, just threats?
Chiba's cheerful expression vanished in an instant, replaced by a dark scowl. Dangerous thoughts flickered through his mind.
"…However, a great enemy stands before us all. I can give you one more chance to redeem yourself."
Seeing Chiba fall silent, Hagoromo assumed his imposing aura had cowed the young man. He spoke slowly.
Though this junior had some peculiar traits, the gap in their power was like that between cloud and mud. Hagoromo didn't dwell on it, shifting his tone.
"Shortly, I will bestow power upon Hashirama and Madara. Assist them in sealing Kaguya. The ninja world may yet be saved. You can preserve your life, your status, and your position. I have said all I need to. Choose your path wisely. Do not bring about your own ruin."
With that, the Sage of Six Paths flicked his sleeve, preparing to depart.
Chiba was left utterly speechless.
He knew this plotline all too well. He thought he had the protagonist template, was the chosen one. Turns out, he'd picked up Sakura's script?!
His face grim, Chiba pulled up his system interface.
["Amenotejikara (Left Eye)": Can instantly swap positions with any object the user's gaze is fixed upon.]
["Takamimusubinokami (Right Eye)": Can absorb any ninjutsu or chakra attack where the total chakra volume does not exceed twice the user's own. The absorbed ninjutsu and chakra can be used to restore the user's strength or be released as an attack.]
Scanning the descriptions of his two soon-to-be-acquired exclusive ocular powers, Chiba's gaze toward Hagoromo turned decidedly unfriendly.
No one gets my help for free. Even Pakura and Karin gave me rewards. You're leaving something behind too, old man.
A dangerous light flickered in Chiba's eyes. He lowered his head, adopting a respectful tone.
"Great Sage, your reprimand is just. However, there is one more matter I must report. It concerns… intelligence on the Ōtsutsuki clan."
"Oh?"
Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki paused, his figure halting mid-departure.
Within Madara Uchiha's mental world.
"Kaguya is indeed my mother. She used the reincarnating souls of my two sons—Ashura and Indra—to resurrect herself over a vast stretch of time."
The Sage of Six Paths looked at Madara and sighed heavily. "In this lifetime, Ashura's soul has reincarnated as Hashirama. And Indra's soul… has reincarnated as you."
"Hmph!"
After hearing the tale spun by the Sage, the sense of displeasure within Madara Uchiha grew even stronger.
The grand scheme he had meticulously crafted over half a lifetime… had ultimately become a gift wrapped for someone else. So he, Madara Uchiha, was merely a pawn in another's game!
"I am not Indra's reincarnation. I have no wish to be anyone else. I am Madara Uchiha. I am myself!"
Madara had zero interest in the Sage's story. All he wanted now was greater power for revenge. He spoke impatiently.
"Enough talk. Hurry up and give me your power. Give me Hashirama's share as well. I will make that woman who dared to play me for a fool pay!"
"So that is your answer. Very well."
Despite Madara's terrible attitude—far worse than Chiba's feigned respect—and despite the evils Madara had committed surpassing Chiba's, the Sage of Six Paths merely smiled. He showed no anger at all.
After all, the man before him was his "own son," not some outsider.
"I will now bestow power upon you both. What you do with it, what future you create… that will be entirely up to you."
Madara's personality was too extreme. The Sage naturally couldn't give him all the power. He needed Hashirama, whose nature complemented Madara's, to form a balance and stabilize the ninja world's future.
"Come. Give me your hand."
The Sage extended a hand toward Madara Uchiha, gesturing for him to approach.
Madara, having long lost his patience, strode forward and slapped his hand toward the Sage's.
Bzzzt— Bzzzt—
But at that moment, the Sage of Six Paths before Madara began to glitch like a lagging video stream. His form flickered violently, like TV static, and in the next instant—poof—he vanished without a trace, as if someone had switched off the screen.
Madara Uchiha: "???"
He stared at the empty mental world. He looked at his own hand, still suspended in mid-air. His expression darkened to an extreme degree.
So… he'd been made a fool of again?
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