A/N : finally got some free time and also got a new phone, Hopefully you guys love this chapter and I guess
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In a luscious green forest, the atmosphere was extremely harmonious, entirely in tune with nature.
Sitting upon a boulder, meditating quietly and trying to communicate with the natural energy around him, was a white-haired boy whose eyes were tightly shut.
Then, he slowly opened them, let out a deep breath, and looked down. As he clutched his hands, a small smile appeared on his face.
A tiny slug suddenly materialized on his shoulder, congratulating him in a gentle tone:
"Masao-sama, you have been making steady progress. I believe that within a few months, you might actually be able to use Sage Mode."
Hearing this, Masao's smile became even brighter.
"It's all thanks to you, Lady Katsuyu," Masao said with a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his head at the compliment.
"That may be so, but undoubtedly, you possess potential surpassing both your parents. Lady Tsunade, your mother, her physique is certainly suitable for Senjutsu, but because of her explosive temper and impatient nature, she wasn't able to learn Sage Mode," Katsuyu noted with a soft sigh.
Hearing this, Masao couldn't help but have a sudden flashback of his mother's terrifying temper, causing him to laugh nervously.
I guess so. He was a bit too embarrassed to defend his mother against that assessment.
Sensing his awkwardness, Katsuyu smoothly changed the subject. "Still, I have to say you definitely have the best aptitude for the art of Senjutsu, aside from Lord Hashirama, of course."
Hearing this instantly piqued Masao's interest.
"How did my great-grandfather learn Sage Mode, Lady Katsuyu?"
"Well… how should I put it? He basically just showed up, meditated for a single day, and learned it." Even Katsuyu had a speechless mental reaction just thinking about how outrageous Hashirama was. Even Asura wasn't that exaggerated.
Hearing this, Masao's mind went entirely blank. He was speechless beyond words.
He already knew his great-grandfather was strong, but he never expected him to be this ridiculously broken.
Is this really the goal I'm chasing? he thought to himself blankly, before quickly shaking the doubt away. How can I give up? Even Lord Naruto and Lord Guy became the strongest through sheer hard work, so how could I quit?
And right on cue, an image of Indra flashed through his mind. I definitely cannot afford to fall behind him.
Sensing his brief flash of despair, Katsuyu immediately offered comfort. "You don't have to compare yourself to a monster like Lord Hashirama. He simply exists beyond all common sense."
"Don't worry, Lady Katsuyu, I won't give up. If anything, it just makes the climb that much more interesting. When I finally reach the top, it'll be all the more fulfilling. I will definitely surpass my great-grandfather, and defeat Indra!"
Masao's eyes burned with an intense, unyielding fire.
Hearing the name Indra, Katsuyu immediately perked up. Masao held this individual in such staggeringly high regard, and given how incredible Masao's own talent was, the thought of someone even more prodigious instantly piqued the slug's curiosity. Not to mention, the name reminded her of the Uchiha ancestor.
"Lord Masao, who is this Indra you speak of?"
"Oh, I haven't mentioned him to you before, have I? Ever since I returned to Konoha, I figured I'd easily be the strongest of the new generation. I certainly didn't expect to run into my eternal rival there."
Masao grinned, his eyes gleaming. "He is the only one I deem worthy of the title of true genius. Creating jutsus is basically just a hobby for him, and there isn't a single field he doesn't excel in. He truly deserves to be called Konoha's number one genius, and the person I aspire to surpass... my eternal rival, Indra Uchiha!"
Masao was practically radiating excitement as he spoke.
Meanwhile, the more Katsuyu listened, the more startlingly familiar it all sounded.
Creating jutsus as a hobby... plus the name Uchiha...
Katsuyu's mind was suddenly flooded with question marks. Wait. Isn't that literally the description of the founder of Ninjutsu & Uchiha and the eldest son of the Sage of Six Paths?!
Could he have somehow reincarnated? But how is that even possible when the cycle of reincarnation was broken by Naruto and Sasuke?
What on earth is going on here? After pondering it for a moment, Katsuyu mentally shook the thoughts away. It didn't really matter to her anyway; she had never cared to interfere in the chaotic affairs of the shinobi world, unlike a certain stubborn toad.
"Then... congratulations, Lord Masao, on finding a rival worth chasing.
Though, privately, Katsuyu couldn't help but feel a pang of deep sympathy. If that really is who I think it is, even if Masao chases him his entire life, he'll never catch up. Even Asura, armed with the full power of the Sage of Six Paths, could only fight him to a 50-50 stalemate when that man had nothing more than a Mangekyō Sharingan... Thinking of this, Katsuyu let out a silent, internal sigh for the boy.
Hearing the encouragement, Masao threw his head back and laughed aloud toward the sky. "Indeed! He is the only one worthy of being my eternal rival. I will catch up to him, and eventually, I will surpass him!"
....…
A/N : Sorry for the late update! I actually had a reason for the delay. My phone was in really bad condition, even trying to write on it was enough to make my blood pressure rise because of all the glitches. 😭
Thankfully, I just recently got a new phone, so things should be much smoother from now on. ✨
And also remember to Drop those power stones it's the source of my motivation, The more power stones I get the more motivated I am to write new chapters.