Isamu looked at Indra with a strange expression. To be honest, he really didn't like the idea of digging up one's own biological father's grave.
"Don't look at me like that. Although I value power above all else, I haven't reached the point of being a maniac. I am doing this entirely at the Old Man's request!"
Seeing his beloved little sister crying nonstop and the strange look on Isamu's face, Indra had no choice but to explain.
"The Old Man's request? How is that possible? Who would want someone to dig up their own grave, even if it's their own son?"
Garuda stopped crying, but she still didn't believe Indra's words.
Isamu nodded in agreement. Indeed, no one would allow their own grave to be dug up. Indra's explanation was not very convincing.
"Hmph! I, Indra, am not one to lie. A few years ago, when the Old Man's life was coming to an end, I went to see him. At that time, the Old Man said that if one day I were to fall into a state of helplessness, I should go to the interior of his tomb, as there was something he had left for me. However, I didn't pay much attention to it at the time. After all, how could I ever fall into a state of helplessness? But recently, I discovered that with my current strength, I simply cannot defeat Ashura. That is why I thought of that tomb and am taking you all there to retrieve a few divine artifacts to increase our strength!"
Indeed, a few days before the Six Paths Sage's life came to an end, Indra had gone to see him alone. Although his father had once rejected his philosophy, he was still his biological father. At the very end, Indra had not failed to see him off because of resentment.
From this, it could be seen that Indra was not an evil person. It was merely a conflict of philosophy and family.
"Oh, is that so? Then why didn't you say so earlier, Big Brother? You made me worry so much!"
Upon hearing this, Garuda was completely convinced. She wiped the tears from her face and pouted in dissatisfaction.
"I already told you I was going to retrieve what belongs to me. Who's to blame if you didn't believe me?"
Indra rolled his eyes at Garuda and continued leading the army toward the Tomb of the Six Paths in the south.
After hearing Indra's explanation, a smile appeared at the corner of Isamu's mouth. Back when he watched Naruto, he had always felt that Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo was too biased. Both Indra and Ashura were his biological sons, so how could he favor Ashura so heavily?
It turned out that while passing on the Six Paths Power to Ashura, he had also left a contingency plan for Indra. It seemed that, in the end, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo had not given up on his clever eldest son after all.
Things were becoming more and more interesting.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Ashura was leading tens of thousands of troops, marching imposingly toward Indra's clan grounds.
"Bad news, Lord Ashura! Indra has taken Uchiha Tensei and his army and headed south!"
Just then, a member of the Ninja Sect rushed up to Ashura in a panic and reported respectfully.
"Left? Could it be that he heard our army was coming and fled with his people?"
Hearing the report, Mandala asked in confusion.
Ashura shook his head.
"I know Indra. He would rather die than flee when facing me. He must have another reason for doing this. Furthermore, if he were fleeing, how could he only take the army? At the very least, he would have taken those ordinary followers along."
"If it's not fleeing, then what could it be for?"
Mandala felt that made sense. Big Brother Indra was famously stubborn and prideful. He should not be doing something as undignified as running away.
"Indeed! What could it be for?"
Ashura had already moved beyond the anger caused by Shōkai's death. As the leader of the Ninja Sect, he had to remain calm at all times, though the grudge still had to be avenged.
Touching his chin, he began considering every possible reason behind Indra's actions.
His elder brother was well known for acting with clear purpose. There had to be a major reason behind this mobilization. Otherwise, he would never have moved the army.
But what exactly was the reason?
Ashura pondered for a full ten minutes before turning his gaze southward.
"South… south… what could possibly be in the south that would attract Indra? South? Wait… could his target be that place?!"
Suddenly, Ashura thought of something.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
After considering every possibility, only the Tomb of the Six Paths in the south seemed capable of attracting Indra's attention.
Still, he wasn't completely certain. Indra shouldn't be crazy enough to go that far.
"Second Brother, did you think of something?" Mandala asked.
"Could it be that I displayed too much strength, or that he learned I obtained the Nine Tailed Beasts? Was he driven to desperation because I have become too strong?"
Ashura muttered to himself, completely ignoring Mandala's question.
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
"Second Brother? Second Brother?"
Seeing that Ashura was ignoring him and continuing to mutter to himself, Mandala nudged his shoulder.
"Not good! Indra is about to do something crazy! Taizou, lead the army south at full speed! Mandala, come with me quickly!"
After issuing instructions to Taizou, Ashura grabbed the bewildered Mandala and dashed south at top speed.
As they traveled, Ashura explained his reasoning to Mandala, while the Ninja Sect army, lacking Ashura's speed, could only follow far behind.
On the other side, Isamu stared at Indra's back, feeling deeply conflicted.
He knew that this journey would inevitably lead to Indra's death.
Although he didn't know where Ashura currently was, the gears of fate would certainly bring the two together.
As a descendant of Indra from more than a dozen generations later, watching his ancestor walk toward his doom left a bitter taste in Isamu's mouth.
Although his soul had transmigrated here, this body truly belonged to a descendant of Indra. Seeing his ancestor in danger, knowing what was coming, yet being unable to save him—Isamu truly disliked that feeling.
"Isamu, what's wrong with you?"
Seeing that Isamu looked troubled and depressed, Garuda asked.
Hearing this, Indra slowed his pace and walked shoulder to shoulder with Isamu.
Patting him on the shoulder, Indra said,
"If there is something on your mind, just say it. I've noticed it all along the way. Ever since we learned we were heading to the Tomb of the Six Paths, you've been acting strangely. If something is bothering you, speak up. Perhaps I can provide you with an answer."
For some reason, Indra always felt an inexplicable connection to Isamu, as though they were family.
If someone else possessed strength comparable to his own, he would, at the very least, be wary of them and would likely try to suppress them.
But the feeling Isamu gave him was completely different.
Not only did Isamu carry traces of his own shadow, but that inexplicable sense of familiarity also prevented him from feeling any hostility toward him.
The feeling was strange—very strange indeed.
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