The fact that Akira intended to revive Kaguya left Naruto shaken and at a loss.
"Sage… are you certain? Uchiha Akira… is he really going to revive Kaguya?"
The Sage of Six Paths replied firmly, leaving no room for doubt. "Absolutely. I can sense it with complete clarity."
With that confirmation, cold sweat streamed down Naruto's face. "Th-then doesn't that mean… Akira is going to activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi? Drag all of humanity into another grand illusion? But that would mean sacrificing himself too… would he really do something like that?"
The Sage said calmly, "The method Akira is using to revive my mother does not involve the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
"What!?" Naruto and Sasuke, who had remained silent until now, both looked up at once.
Sasuke asked, "Then what exactly is going on?"
The Sage's expression grew uncertain. "Uchiha Akira has gone to extreme lengths, collecting countless elements. Using one of my mother's severed hands as a medium, he combined the pure powers of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. With the aid of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, he also incorporated remnants of the Rabbit Beast's true form, as well as fragments of the Divine Tree and its blossom… to cultivate an artificial body for my mother."
"Unfortunately, I could not observe the exact process. He completed it within the ancient sanctuary of the Six Paths sect—the Peach Paradise—a place even my residual soul cannot reach."
"However, through causal sensing, I can perceive the outcome."
"Akira intends to transfer my mother's soul—currently residing within the Rabbit Beast—along with her remaining chakra… into that artificial body."
"My mother will be revived… in a form completely different from before."
Sasuke thought calmly. "It sounds terrifying, but in reality… Kaguya won't be revived at full strength, will she? She's missing most of the Ten-Tails' power and the life force of the Divine Tree."
The Sage replied, "Even so, her powerful and violent nature will remain unchanged. If she so desires, she can use any means necessary to restore herself to full strength."
"We must intervene before things reach that point. We must eliminate this threat at its root!"
"Naruto, Sasuke… step forward. I will grant you new power!"
The Sage spread his palms, revealing the marks of Yin and Yang.
Naruto took a step forward.
"Wait."
"Sasuke?"
Naruto and the Sage both turned toward him.
Sasuke clenched his fists, his gaze dark and steady as he stared directly at the Sage. "Sage… through causality, you can only perceive that Kaguya will be revived by Uchiha Akira, and the method of her revival. That's all, correct?"
"…Correct."
"So you cannot see Akira's true motive for reviving her. Nor can you see how events will unfold afterward."
"And regarding Akira himself… you've never even met him. Your judgment of his morality—good or evil—is entirely subjective, isn't it?"
"Sasuke, you…" Naruto sensed something had changed within him. It felt eerily similar to the atmosphere at the Valley of the End.
He couldn't quite describe the feeling.
After a long silence, the Sage finally said, "Yes. It is my subjective judgment. Do you have a different view?"
Sasuke replied, "If it's just subjective speculation, then at best it should be treated as a potential threat. Deciding to eliminate him outright… isn't that too hasty?"
The Sage's expression shifted. His staff flew into his hand, planting itself beside him as he asked in a deep voice, "Sasuke… can you tell me why you're defending Uchiha Akira?"
Sasuke lowered his gaze, setting aside all personal grievances and speaking purely from reason.
"I wouldn't call it defending him. I don't truly know him either. I don't know what he really thinks deep down."
"I'm only stating the facts in front of us."
"Years ago, he warned us about Isshiki's existence and tried to reach an agreement with us. We were the ones who rejected him."
"That directly led to… today's tragedy in Konoha."
"Every time we fought him, he could have taken our lives at any moment. Yet we're still alive. Even our chance to regain Six Paths power… came from Yakushi Kabuto, who acted under his arrangement."
Naruto's eyes widened. What!? Kabuto was working for Akira!?
Sasuke continued, "These are facts. Things that actually happened."
"And that forces me to consider… whether his decision to revive Kaguya has a deeper purpose."
The Sage narrowed his eyes. "A deeper purpose? Such as?"
Sasuke thought for a moment. "The most plausible possibility… is that he wants to bring Kaguya to his side, to face the Ōtsutsuki clan together."
"That logic holds. The enemy of your enemy is your ally. Kaguya fears her own clan and once tried to build an army of White Zetsu. That's no secret."
"…." Naruto lowered his head, deep in thought.
Clink!
The ringing of the Sage's staff snapped him back to attention.
The Sage stared at Sasuke, his voice firm. "Sasuke… only someone who doesn't fully understand my mother could say something like that."
"How many times do you think my brother Hamura and I tried similar approaches over the ages?"
"In the end, we reached one conclusion."
"My mother's stubbornness is absolute. It cannot be changed by any external force!"
"If Akira truly intends what you suggest… then it only proves he is arrogantly ignorant!"
"Sasuke! Can you vouch for him? Can you place the safety of the entire shinobi world on the same scale as his moral character?"
"No. I won't vouch for him, and I won't make that comparison."
Sasuke raised his head. In that instant, the cold intensity in his eyes suppressed even the Sage's presence.
"I just don't want to fight blindly anymore."
"My wife, Sakura Haruno… is about to die."
"She didn't have to die."
"Sage… if you want us to attack Akira again, then either provide undeniable proof… or wait until the consequences you speak of become reality."
The Sage struck the water with his staff. "If we wait for that reality… it will already be too late!"
Sasuke met his gaze without flinching. "That's fine. Consider it repaying Akira for what we owe him."
"Until then… our priority will be to eliminate Isshiki."
"Whether you grant us power under those terms… is up to you."
Sasuke's stance left the Sage momentarily speechless.
To seal his mother again… he needed Naruto and Sasuke.
But there were still ways to make them comply.
He set his staff aside.
Then, once again, he spread his hands.
"Step forward."
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