Chapter 195: The Power of Outer Path Maru, Unleashing Hidden Potential, Yagyu’s Ascension to the Peak

Whoosh——

As the partial chakra of the nine tailed beasts flowed from the Wood Clone into Yagyu's main body, his appearance underwent a dramatic transformation.

Not dazzling or blinding, but rather like fireflies, countless white photons suddenly emerged from Yagyu's body.

However, these white photons didn't scatter. Instead, after appearing, they covered Yagyu's black robe and skin.

Immediately, Yagyu's already fair skin became even paler.

His robe rapidly changed from black to pure white, with the remaining black gathering at the collar to form several black tomoe patterns.

Yagyu's aura shifted from an overwhelming, domineering presence to one of simplicity and transcendence. He appeared utterly pure, as if he had just been born or had ascended beyond humanity, reaching a state where no impurity could touch him—a true sage.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that Yagyu's body still contained an ocean of Sage chakra. Natural energy from all directions, invisible to the naked eye, rushed into his body like tadpoles searching for their mother.

However, the red markings around Yagyu's eyes had disappeared, and his golden pupils had returned to their original red color.

Now, Yagyu was absorbing natural energy in his natural state to form Sage chakra.

In other words, Sage Mode had become his default state.

Using gaming terminology, Sage Mode had become a permanent buff.

And indeed, this was the case.

Because Yagyu's current state was known as… Six Paths Sage Mode.

Six Paths Sage Mode was also a form of Sage Mode, but it existed on an entirely different plane, with a world of difference in terms of power and capability.

What was the difference?

Simply put, Six Paths Sage Mode, like the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki's body, granted the privilege of flight.

This wasn't just floating using techniques like the Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique. It was true, unrestricted flight, with a body so powerful that even the moon and outer space wouldn't cause suffocation.

This Six Paths Sage Mode was one of the Sage of Six Paths' greatest assets. Even after ceasing to be the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, his strength remained at the pinnacle of the Six Paths level.

In the original story, one of the power-ups Naruto received from the Sage of Six Paths was this Six Paths Sage Mode.

To activate Six Paths Sage Mode, two conditions had to be met. First, one had to possess a true Sage's body—the pinnacle of Yang Release—and also master Sage Mode. Second, one had to obtain partial chakra from one to nine tailed beasts. By fusing the chakra of the nine tailed beasts, the pinnacle of Yang Release, and natural energy, one's life essence would undergo a transformation, reaching an entirely new plane of existence.

In truth, the fusion process was the most difficult part.

Even Hashirama Senju, who had developed his Sage's Body to its peak and in the original story surpassed even Asura Ōtsutsuki, couldn't activate Six Paths Sage Mode.

Even Naruto needed the Sage of Six Paths' assistance to activate Six Paths Sage Mode, and it wasn't permanent. After the final battle and the Valley of the End, he could no longer use it.

But Yagyu was different. Not only had he perfected his Sage's Body, but he had also obtained the complete chakra of Asura and Indra, making him a more perfect unifier of the two polarities than even Madara Uchiha.

Having awakened the Rinnegan, Yagyu not only possessed Yin-Yang Release but also the overpowered exclusive technique, Outer Path Maru.

It was thanks to Outer Path Maru that Yagyu's Wood Clone had been able to steal partial chakra from the nine tailed beasts within the Ten-Tails without Madara or Obito noticing.

Similarly, it was thanks to Outer Path Maru and the creative power of Yin-Yang Release that Yagyu could effortlessly fuse the partial chakra of the nine tailed beasts, Sage chakra, and the pinnacle of Yang Release into Six Paths chakra, which contained the various attributes of the nine tailed beasts, natural energy, and the source of life.

"What's going on?!"

As soon as Yagyu's Six Paths Sage Mode formed, Madara Uchiha, who had been effortlessly handling Naruto and Sasuke, as well as Naruto and Sasuke themselves, all turned their attention toward Yagyu, their expressions filled with shock.

Even Hinata and the others maintaining the Four Red Yang Formation widened their eyes in astonishment.

"Yagyu's chakra… it's disappeared. What's going on?"

"Did something happen?"

Sakura asked worriedly through Ino's mental connection in their group chat.

"Yagyu is fine. It's just that his chakra can't be sensed anymore," Karin, who possessed the Mind's Eye of the Kagura, said with confusion.

Hinata, who had activated her Byakugan, also couldn't understand. "Yagyu is clearly there, but it's like that masked man—his chakra and energy pathways can't be seen. However, the masked man is sometimes visible and sometimes not, likely because his body enters another dimension. But… Yagyu isn't entering another dimension. He's standing there, yet we can't sense his chakra or presence at all."

"My mental technique has also lost its connection with Yagyu, and I can't reconnect," Ino added, sharing her discovery and speculation. "It's as if… Yagyu is no longer in the same world, or even the same dimension, as us."

Ino had inadvertently stumbled upon the truth.

Just as she had guessed, Yagyu's Yin and Yang Releases—his spirit and body—had both reached the Six Paths level.

Like Six Paths-level beings who enjoyed the privilege of flight, those who reached this level became higher-dimensional beings in this world, capable of dimensional strikes against those below the Six Paths level.

Faced with such a higher-dimensional being, just as the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki was immune to ninjutsu, ordinary sensory abilities were unworthy of glimpsing their chakra and secrets.

Even the Byakugan, one of the three great dojutsu, could only barely see Yagyu's figure without reaching the level of the Ōtsutsuki clan. Attempting to peer into the secrets of his body was nothing short of wishful thinking.

It was precisely this dimensional gap that made Hashirama Senju, in the original story, admit that he was no match for Obito Uchiha after he became the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki.

After all, as a reanimated corpse, Hashirama couldn't use the Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands, his only means of threatening a Six Paths-level opponent. Naturally, he was no match for Obito, who could use Truth-Seeking Orbs.

"Is this the power of Outer Path Maru? Even Kekkei Mōra and divine techniques pale in comparison!"

At this moment, Yagyu, unaware of how his current state had shocked the inexperienced Madara and the others, floated into the air after activating Six Paths Sage Mode, rising to the top of the Four Red Yang Formation.

However, he didn't look down or marvel at the power of Six Paths Sage Mode. Instead, he was in awe of the strength of his exclusive technique, Outer Path Maru.

Raising his hand, Yagyu condensed blue chakra, instantly forming a Rasengan the size of a billiard ball.

But in the next second, the Rasengan changed colors—and not just one.

Several of the colors resembled the chakra of the tailed beasts.

Fusing tailed beast chakra into the Rasengan was something Naruto could easily do after receiving the Sage of Six Paths' power-up and activating Six Paths Sage Mode. He could even create a Truth-Seeking Orb version of the Rasenshuriken.

If that were all, Yagyu wouldn't have been so amazed.

But if the Sage of Six Paths were here, he would have realized why Yagyu's Six Paths Sage Mode wasn't golden like Naruto's, and what the nine colors that flashed through the Rasengan meant.

The reason was simple!

In the original story, Naruto's Six Paths Sage Mode wasn't permanent because the tailed beast chakra within him was only a small portion.

Moreover, the Yin-Yang Release and Six Paths chakra were temporarily lent to him by the Sage of Six Paths.

After using it, all he had left was the pinnacle of Yang Release and his Sage's Body.

But Yagyu's Six Paths Sage Mode was entirely different.

The pure white robe, the flawless pale skin, and the aura of simplicity all indicated that Yagyu's Six Paths Sage Mode was the same as the Sage of Six Paths' original version.

In fact, Yagyu's Six Paths Sage Mode was even more perfect than Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki's.

Because the colors that flashed through the Rasengan weren't the result of fusing tailed beast chakra—they were Yagyu's… Kekkei Genkai!

Yes, Yagyu's Kekkei Genkai.

And these Kekkei Genkai weren't ones he had obtained from enemies in the past. They were ones Yagyu had just fused.

The reason some of the colors resembled the tailed beasts was because among the Kekkei Genkai Yagyu had fused were the One-Tail's Magnet Release, the Two-Tails' Scorch Release, the Four-Tails' Lava Release, and the Five-Tails' Boil Release.

This was why Yagyu wasn't marveling at Six Paths Sage Mode but at his exclusive technique, Outer Path Maru.

Because both Six Paths Sage Mode and these Kekkei Genkai were gifts from Outer Path Maru.

Like Madara's Limbo: Border Jail, Yagyu's Rinnegan had the same technique in both eyes: Outer Path Maru.

As the saying goes, techniques with the same name in both eyes were all bug-level abilities.

Outer Path Maru was no exception—in fact, it was far more powerful than techniques like Kotoamatsukami, Yachihoko, Kamui, and Limbo.

Even Yomi no Tsukai, which could damage souls and resurrect, was, in Yagyu's eyes, unworthy of carrying Outer Path Maru's shoes.

After all, techniques involving souls and resurrection weren't unique in the Naruto world.

Moreover, Yomi no Tsukai's uses and resurrection limits were very restricted. With Yagyu's current strength, if he encountered someone capable of killing him, that person could likely kill him nine times in a short period.

Thus, for Yagyu, Yomi no Tsukai was only useful for its ability to attack souls.

Outer Path Maru, on the other hand, was entirely different.

Outer Path Maru's ability was simple: devour.

Unless it was a physical attack like Wood Release, any energy-based attack, even soul-based ones, could be devoured by Outer Path Maru.

At first glance, this ability seemed like a supercharged version of Limbo: Border Jail, merely a combination of the Preta Path and Human Path.

But in reality, devouring attacks was only the simplest use of Outer Path Maru—just its surface ability.

The reason this ability was rated by Yagyu as unparalleled in offense, defense, and support was that all attacks devoured by Yagyu would have their chakra instantly digested and turned into his own.

Not just absorbing the chakra from the attack to replenish his own, but truly making it his own.

The nature transformation, shape transformation, and even deeper aspects contained within the attack would be instantly digested by Yagyu, becoming his own.

For example, if Yagyu didn't possess Fire Release chakra or know Fire Release nature or shape transformation, and an enemy's attack happened to be a Fire Release technique, Yagyu could use Outer Path Maru to absorb it. Not only would the Fire Release chakra enhance Yagyu's own chakra, but the Fire Release nature and shape transformation would also become Yagyu's.

Yagyu would instantly gain Fire Release chakra and the corresponding mastery of nature and shape transformation.

This ability was a bug-level power even for those who weren't proficient in the five elemental releases.

By simply devouring the five elemental releases, one could immediately become a wielder of all five chakra natures.

However, Yagyu wasn't just an all-nature user—he was the most skilled in the five elemental releases in the current ninja world, with all seven nature transformations at their peak. As long as his level ascended and he found the method, he could begin synthesizing Kekkei Tōta and even Kekkei Mōra.

When Outer Path Maru, with its synthesizer-like effect, appeared on Yagyu, what did it mean?

Six Paths Sage Mode and several Kekkei Genkai were the best manifestations!

Over the years, the countless Wood Clones Yagyu had sent across the ninja world to gather insights into the seven chakra natures had finally paid off.

Using Outer Path Maru to devour partial tailed beast chakra from the Ten-Tails not only instantly gave Yagyu Six Paths Sage Mode but also temporarily granted him their elemental releases.

After being devoured by Outer Path Maru, Yagyu, whose nature transformations had already reached their peak, instantly synthesized the same Kekkei Genkai.

Not just Kekkei Genkai—even the Kekkei Tōta Yagyu had been trying to synthesize for years, aside from Wood Release, were instantly created.

"Dust Release: Spiraling Shuriken!"

The Rasengan in Yagyu's hand rapidly expanded, emitting a dazzling white light, and was then hurled toward the densely packed Ten-Tails spawn below.

Unlike the usual whirlwind, the shuriken formed by a transparent white barrier spun rapidly, carrying a white energy sphere like a massive top falling to the ground.

Whoosh——

There was no deafening explosion, no earth-shaking tremor—only a blinding white light that turned night into day, resembling the Planetary Devastation.

When the light faded, Madara, who had returned to the Ten-Tails' head, and the others who had been watching, fell into silence.