Chapter 314

After leaving Konoha Hospital, Hui instructed the Anbu to summon certain individuals to the Hokage's office.

"Brother-in-law, what do you need us for?"

It didn't take long before Nawaki's voice rang out. The office door opened, and four young figures stepped inside.

The four individuals were Nawaki, Minato, Konan, and Kushina.

These four were the people Hui deemed most suitable for the task.

Nawaki was his brother-in-law and had grown up under his guidance. Hui had high hopes for him.

Minato was a disciple of Tobirama Senju and was an ardent admirer of his. Given that Minato didn't have close family ties, he could almost be called "Senju Minato" in spirit.

Although Kushina belonged to the Uzumaki Clan, she possessed the mentality and resolve that Hui demanded.

As for Konan, she needed no explanation. Hui had rescued her from despair and brought her out of hell into paradise. To Konan, Hui was the only god in her heart.

"I've summoned you because there's something important I need to discuss. This matter concerns your futures and the future of the shinobi world."

Hui's words immediately made the four turn serious.

However, their hearts soon began to race with anticipation.

A task concerning the future of the shinobi world. Was the responsibility they longed for finally about to fall on their shoulders?

"Brother-in-law, just say it. No matter the task, I can handle it!" Nawaki said, suppressing his excitement while speculating on what Hui was about to entrust them with.

The other three felt equally restless, their thoughts spiraling as they anticipated his next words.

"Since you're ready, let's begin with you, Nawaki. Step forward."

Hui's command prompted Nawaki to instantly appear in front of him.

Such eagerness. It was as if the short distance was crossed using the Body Flicker Technique.

Looking at Nawaki's eager expression, Hui raised his arm and extended his fingers.

A soft glow shone at his fingertip as he pressed it against Nawaki's forehead.

When he lifted his hand, a distinct seal had appeared on Nawaki's forehead.

"Alright, you're done. Minato, your turn."

Hui's calm instruction left Nawaki bewildered.

Wasn't this supposed to be something that concerned the future of the shinobi world?

What exactly had just happened?

Why did it end so quickly?

Though filled with doubt, Nawaki still obediently stepped back. After all, this was Hui. The only person Nawaki fully respected and admired.

Hui proceeded to place the same seal on Minato, Kushina, and Konan.

Once he was finished, he finally addressed their curious expressions.

"I've placed a seal on your foreheads known as the Sage Seal. You'll understand its purpose after you study the techniques I'm about to give you."

As he finished speaking, Hui pulled out a scroll.

The scroll's cover was inscribed with the words: Eight Gates Sage Ascension Technique.

Tossing the scroll to Nawaki, Hui instructed, "Follow the training methods detailed in this scroll. It's best to seek guidance from Grandpa Tobirama. He'll be able help you grasp the fundamentals more quickly."

"Eight Gates Sage Ascension Technique?" Nawaki murmured as he read the title. He wanted to ask more but was quickly waved off by Hui.

Though inscribing these four seals didn't consume much of Hui's energy, the thought of repeating the process for a large number of people made him uninterested in further explanations.

After the four left, Hui instructed the Anbu to continue summoning people he deemed suitable.

These individuals were mostly young, some even in their early twenties.

Each had been meticulously selected by Hui, ensuring their mindset was unwaveringly loyal and free of doubts.

Many of them were orphans without ties or attachments, devout followers who saw Hui as their object of faith itself.

One after another, Hui marked fifty people with the Sage Seal that day.

Once the process for these fifty individuals was complete, Hui planned to wait another three years before inscribing another batch.

This path was not one that could be implemented all at once. it had to be taken step-by-step.

These fifty would be the first generation of Human Sages.

Many of their names were destined to shine across the entire universe and echo throughout the stars.

It was because of this event that future generations would come to regard this year and this day as the first year of the Sage Era.

The Sage Era referred to the Era of Sages, a new age of cultivation.

Just like how the founding of Ninshu heralded the start of the Shinobi Era.

In contrast, the Warring States Era and the Shinobi Village Era were more about the geopolitical landscape of the world.

This year marked a pivotal step forward for the shinobi world's cultivation system. Hence, it was called the Sage Era.

However, at present, the world was still entrenched in the Shinobi Village Era, also known as the Era of the Five Great Nations.

But none of that mattered.

Seven years later, the world's era would shift from the Shinobi Village Era to the Sage Era.

After engraving the Sage Seal on his carefully chosen first batch of individuals, Hui began selecting candidates for the next batch. Konoha continued its steady progress under the grand blueprint he had laid out, requiring little of his day-to-day intervention. He only needed to handle the most crucial matters.

While Hui was busy selecting the second batch of candidates to bear the Sage Seal, elsewhere in the shinobi world, Madara had once again tracked down Black Zetsu.

To be honest, when Black Zetsu saw Madara, he was utterly stunned.

A youthful, thirty-year-old appearance, clad in familiar dark red battle armor, with a pair of Rinnegan.

Was this really the Madara Uchiha he knew?

Wasn't this supposed to be the same elderly, frail Madara who was on the verge of death?

Could this be an illusion?!

Black Zetsu even suspected that he was caught in a genjutsu to witness such an absurd sight.

However, he quickly regained his composure.

After all, Black Zetsu was the very will of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya. No genjutsu below the level of the Sage of Six Paths should have any effect on him.

Could this be Ōtsutsuki Isshiki? Had he been discovered?

A chill ran down Black Zetsu's spine. In the entire shinobi world, if there was anyone at the level of the Sage of Six Paths, it could only be Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.

With this thought, Black Zetsu immediately attempted to merge into the ground and flee.

His mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, had yet to be rescued. His mission was not yet complete, he could not afford to be captured by Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.

However, Madara had no intention of letting Black Zetsu escape.

He had gone through immense trouble, spending two entire months tracking down Black Zetsu. There was no way he would let him slip away again.

At that moment, Madara activated his Rinnegan ability.

Limbo: Border Jail!

In an instant, four "shadows" materialized and moved toward Black Zetsu.

Yet Black Zetsu remained completely unaware of them.

This was due to the unique nature of Madara's Rinnegan ability, which allowed him to create "shadows" of himself in the Limbo dimension. These shadows could shield Madara from attacks or be used to ambush his enemies.

In the original timeline, with only a single Rinnegan, Madara could summon one shadow. But with both Rinnegan, he could summon up to four shadows.

The shadows created by Limbo: Border Jail were invisible and undetectable to ordinary people. Only those who possessed the Rinnegan or had mastered Six Paths Sage Mode could perceive them.

Thus, this technique was a skill of the Six Paths level.

With both Rinnegan, Madara was unimaginably powerful.

Limbo: Border Jail alone elevated his combat capabilities to the level of the Six Paths. Combined with techniques like Rinne Rebirth and the abilities of both the Six Paths and Outer Path, Madara with dual Rinnegan was more than capable of facing the Ōtsutsuki Clan head-on!

After all, Madara with dual Rinnegan was on par with both Six Paths Naruto and Six Paths Sasuke, who were able to battle Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki, and Kinshiki Ōtsutsuki, although slightly weaker.

Thus, with both Rinnegan, Madara's strength had reached the Six Paths level, though he was held back slightly by his physical body.

If his body were to take one more step forward, there was no doubt that even without becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, Madara would become Six Paths Madara!

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