Deep within the bamboo forest, the night was as black as ink.
At Arisu's gesture, Hagoromo slowly sat down. Green healing light still covered his entire body, and his injuries were recovering quickly.
But Hagoromo's mood was anything but good.
"Sigh..."
He let out a deep sigh, his vacant gaze fixed on the swaying bamboo shadows before him.
"Just a few days ago... our whole family was living together in harmony... But now everything has completely turned upside down. Mother wants to kill me, and that transmigrator who took over my younger brother's body is helping her hunt me down...", As he spoke, his throat bobbed, and his eyes were filled with pain and confusion.
"The road ahead is dim, terror lies everywhere I look, heaven and earth seem covered in darkness..."
Hagoromo looked up at the pitch-black night sky and murmured to himself.
Arisu stood quietly at the side. He did not interrupt Hagoromo's lament at once.
Only after Hagoromo had calmed down a little did Arisu speak, "The world is unpredictable. Even family bonds are sometimes the easiest to shatter."
Turning around, Arisu looked deeply at Hagoromo.
"Sorrow is useless, and hatred must also be restrained. What you need to do now is survive first, grow stronger, and then change all of this. Seal the Divine Tree, save the people, and do this for your dead younger brother and Haori... Those are your true destiny."
Arisu could not be bothered with Hagoromo's feelings. He only wanted Hagoromo to hurry and push the proper storyline forward.
Hearing this, Hagoromo slowly clenched his fists. His blood-red Sharingan flickered faintly in the darkness.
Taking a deep breath, Hagoromo forced down the grief in his heart and looked up at Arisu.
"... I understand. Please teach me."
In the bamboo forest, Arisu looked at the determination gradually filling Hagoromo's eyes and gave a slight nod.
"Very good. Since you've made up your mind, I'll pass on true power to you."
Standing with his hands behind his back, Arisu began his instruction, "There are three greatest Sage Arts in this world. One of them comes from Mount Myoboku."
"The Toad Sages there have mastered the secrets of natural energy. They can become one with heaven and earth, gaining power far beyond ordinary people."
"Your mother's chakra is powerful, but if you can master Mount Myoboku's Sage Art, you'll have the foundation to stand against her.", Arisu spoke slowly.
Of course, there was some exaggeration in that. Sage Art alone could not contend with Kaguya unless all five top-tier Sage Arts were fused together.
"Please teach me, Teacher!"
A gleam flashed through Hagoromo's eyes. He immediately stood up and bowed deeply to Arisu.
Without another word, Arisu raised a hand and pointed. A Sage Art mark flew straight into the center of Hagoromo's forehead.
In an instant, a vast amount of knowledge about Mount Myoboku's Sage Art, its training methods, breathing techniques, and how to sense natural energy flooded into Hagoromo's mind like a tide.
"The foundation of Sage Art lies in 'stillness' and 'harmony.'"
"You must first learn to sense the natural energy around you, then draw it into your body and balance it with your own chakra. Remember, never be greedy. Otherwise, natural energy will consume you, and you'll become a stone statue."
Arisu's voice slowly sounded beside Hagoromo's ear.
He had no concerns. In the original story, Hagoromo mastered it very quickly. His talent for Sage Arts was certainly greater than Naruto's, Minato's, Jiraiya's, and the others'.
Hagoromo closed his eyes. Following Arisu's teachings, he sat cross-legged and began his first attempt at guiding natural energy.
At first, everything inside him was in chaos. But after repeatedly adjusting his breathing, he gradually found that subtle balance.
A full day later, when the first strand of gentle natural energy successfully merged with his chakra, a faint cloak of Sage chakra appeared around Hagoromo's body, and his aura became noticeably stronger.
Arisu nodded, a trace of satisfaction appearing in his eyes.
"Not bad. With your talent and your Sharingan, your speed in learning Sage Art is even faster than I expected."
Hagoromo slowly opened his eyes. Feeling the surging power within his body, he bowed once more to Arisu.
"Thank you, Teacher, for your great kindness in teaching me! I will certainly live up to your expectations!"
Feeling the newly born Sage chakra within his body, a hint of excitement flashed through Hagoromo's eyes.
Hagoromo suddenly realized that he still did not know the true identity of the mysterious Teacher before him. He stood up and respectfully asked, "Teacher, I have yet to ask your name... How should I address you?"
Hearing this, Arisu fell silent for several seconds. His hair swayed gently in the wind as he looked deeply into the night sky.
A moment later, Arisu slowly spoke, "My name... has long since become useless. Just call me the World Observer."
Arisu felt that he might still have to reincarnate many more times. He would meet Hagoromo many more times.
Hagoromo was slightly stunned. Though he still had questions, he nodded solemnly.
"Yes, Teacher."
"Teacher, these powers have indeed improved me greatly... But I'm afraid I still can't stand against Mother and Hamura."
"That transmigrator has taken over Hamura's body. His strength was already considerable to begin with, and Mother's eye power and chakra are unfathomable..."
Hagoromo closed his eyes again to feel the surging Sage power within him. Soon, however, he let out a soft sigh and looked up at Arisu as he spoke.
Arisu nodded gently, without the slightest trace of surprise on his face.
He had never intended for Hagoromo to rely on Mount Myoboku's Sage Art alone to confront Kaguya. That would be no different from throwing an egg against a rock.
"That's right. The fact that you clearly recognize the gap between you and them means you're still clear-headed."
"I never planned to have you fight Kaguya with Sage Art alone. Don't worry. I'll give you even greater power later.", Arisu spoke calmly.
A trace of delight flashed through Hagoromo's eyes, but it quickly faded as he continued listening attentively.
"For the next few days, focus on learning Sage Art and building your foundation. The more solid your foundation, the greater the power you'll be able to bear in the future. Never rush for quick results.", Arisu spoke slowly.
Hearing this, intense gratitude and determination welled up in Hagoromo's heart. He bowed deeply once more.
"I understand! Thank you, Teacher, for your guidance!"
Arisu waved a hand slightly and stood with his hands behind his back in the bamboo forest, his gaze distant.
"Go on. Train well. Time is short, but the foundation must never be neglected."
The bamboo forest returned to silence. Only Hagoromo remained seated cross-legged, tirelessly polishing the Mount Myoboku Sage Art he had just obtained day and night.
———
Half a month later, Hagoromo had scarcely left the bamboo forest, immersing himself in the training of Mount Myoboku's Sage Art day and night.
Every morning, he began by sensing natural energy. During the day, he meditated and refined it. At night, he tried to combine Sage chakra with his Sharingan.
Arisu quietly watched over him the entire time, occasionally offering a few pointers, and at other times remaining silent.
Living together day after day, the bond between teacher and studente quietly deepened without a word.
Arisu slowly raised his head and looked toward the young figure sitting cross-legged in the distance.
Watching this scene, Arisu slowly closed his eyes.
In his mind appeared the days during his first cycle, when he had taught his own students.
Back then, he had also stood quietly to one side, watching one young person after another practice...
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