Chapter 159: Sougen Kohaku Master, Flying Thunder God Slash—Tobirama
Chapter 159: Sougen Kohaku Master, Flying Thunder God Slash—Tobirama
A terrifying vortex forced everyone to retreat.
Uchiha Kagami focused intently, carefully experiencing Shisui's eye evolution in real time.
With his current level of power, he could clearly perceive the invisible threads of the world's will.
It confirmed his theory.
The awakening of the Mangekyō Sharingan involved the intervention of the world's will.
The same resonance he had felt during his own evolution had surfaced again.
His vision pierced through the Shikkotsu Forest, extending beyond to Naruto and Sasuke in Konoha.
Following this thread to its origin, he finally saw—
The Six Paths Sage, standing at the threshold of life and death.
—
Through the boundaries of time and space, across the gap between life and death—
Uchiha Kagami's Four-Tomoe Mangekyō met the pale lavender Rinnegan of the Sage.
—
The Sage was coiled in the void, a black staff in hand, with Truth-Seeking Orbs floating behind him.
"…Kagami."
He had long expected that, given Kagami's power and trajectory, their meeting was inevitable.
He simply hadn't expected it to be now.
Both of them already knew what the original future of the shinobi world should have been—so there was no need for exposition.
The Sage was the first to speak.
"The being you sealed away all those years ago… is that the one my mother feared?"
Kagami didn't answer.
Instead, he posed a question of his own.
"I always thought you might be some hidden mastermind."
"But is this really all that's left of you?"
—
The Sage's lips curved slightly.
"…I had no choice."
"I entrusted everything to my children."
He sighed lightly, as if recalling a distant memory.
"My descendant was meant to find the right path… That was what the prophecy of the Great Toad Sage foretold."
"However… it seems the prophecy was wrong."
"You were not the blue-eyed child that was predicted."
And certainly not a boy who would be laughing and playing with the Tailed Beasts.
Kagami scoffed.
"Of course not."
"The one you call your 'child of prophecy' is Naruto Uzumaki, not me."
The Sage shook his head.
"No… The prophecy changed."
"From the moment you opened your eyes, you became the Child of Prophecy."
Kagami let out a mocking laugh.
"I knew it. Talking to you fate-obsessed people is always irritating."
"If you're still watching over the Pure Land, then you should understand the true nature of souls by now."
"If your so-called 'prophecy child' fails, then the souls you've gathered here—that's your backup plan, isn't it?"
—
"…No."
The Sage's voice was calm.
"I still believe the Child of Prophecy will be able to seal my mother once more."
"The shinobi world gave me life."
"I was born from the blessings of all living things."
"But…"
"I also fear the one my mother feared."
Kagami stared at the Sage in silence.
For a long moment, he simply observed him.
Then, he finally understood everything.
—
"…So it was you."
Kagami's gaze hardened.
"So that's how it works."
"No wonder the world's will always selects the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Because the Uchiha's Yin Release, in particular, makes it easier for you to manipulate."
"…Back then."
"It was you who helped me ascend."
"Just like I'm doing for Shisui now."
—
The Sage didn't deny it.
"I saw what Madara did—how he summoned the Ten Tails' husk."
"As you can see, without using the Pure Land, my ability to intervene directly is extremely limited."
"I sensed an unknown force manipulating Madara. For a thousand years, that feeling has only grown stronger."
"And you…"
The Sage's eyes narrowed.
"You know what that unknown force is, don't you?"
Kagami was silent for a moment.
The Sage didn't know about Black Zetsu, but he had at least sensed its presence.
He wasn't a fool.
The Akatsuki's plan to gather the Tailed Beasts had been far too obvious.
They even had the Gedo Statue—how could the Sage not know what they were doing?
And yet, he never interfered.
—
Kaguya Otsutsuki's revival had relied on far too many coincidences.
If any single step had failed, she would not have returned.
If the Sage truly wanted to prevent it, he could have sealed some of the Tailed Beasts himself, burying them for decades.
The Akatsuki would have fallen apart before they ever got close to their goal.
—
Which meant—
The Sage had never truly feared his mother's return.
He was waiting for the mastermind to reveal itself.
In other words…
In the original timeline, the Sage's true goal was to seal Kaguya and Black Zetsu together.
That was the real reason he had waited so long.
—
Kagami fell into deep thought.
The Sage's voice broke the silence once more.
"So, Kagami…"
"The one you sealed—was it the true puppet master behind Indra and Ashura's thousand-year war?"
Kagami shook his head.
"No."
He answered without hesitation.
"The one I sealed is called Otsutsuki Isshiki."
"He was above Kaguya in their clan's hierarchy."
—
The Sage's Rinnegan trembled.
Kaguya had been the most powerful being he had ever known.
Yet Kagami had sealed someone even stronger?
"…How is that possible?"
—
"I don't have time to discuss it."
Kagami's voice was flat.
"This time, I don't need your help."
"I will personally craft Shisui's Mangekyō abilities."
"…Wait!"
The Sage nearly stood up.
"What is this 'Otsutsuki Isshiki'? My mother feared an alien clan, but—"
"Did they already descend upon the world?"
"Was I blind to them all along?"
—
Kagami's eye power receded.
"You're too indecisive."
"If you weren't, you would have already passed your power to Madara or Hashirama."
"I told you before."
"The shinobi world's future will be decided by me."
"A dead sage from a thousand years ago…"
"…should stay buried in legend."
—
Kagami's awareness returned to his body.
For everyone else, no time had passed.
No one had realized that Kagami had just visited the boundary of life and death.
Now—
He began refining the energy inside Shisui.
—
If left alone, Shisui would have exploded dozens of times over.
First—
Shisui's left eye.
The fourth tomoe spun rapidly, forming a bladed ring—different from his original Mangekyō design.
It wasn't a pinwheel, but four kunai tips forming a circle.
—
Mangekyō Sharingan Ability: Sougen Kohaku Master
Using the White Snake Sage's body as fuel, this ability granted a healing factor rivaling Hashirama Senju.
It also greatly extended lifespan, ensuring at least a few hundred years.
—
Mangekyō Sharingan Ability: Flying Thunder God Slash—Tobirama
A soul-severing slash through time and space.
Wherever Shisui's gaze fell, Tobirama's spirit would descend instantly—as his living weapon.
—
"…Damn it."
Tobirama's voice echoed.
"Why am I still here?!"
"Why didn't you at least erase my consciousness?!"
Kagami chuckled.
"I needed to give Shisui a pet."
He smirked.
"Teach him well, Tobirama."
"When you're done…"
"…I'll let you go."
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