After a long moment, it seemed the people of the Shinobi World could finally move again. They couldn't help but swallow nervously.
[Konoha, Year 60]
The higher-ups of the four major Hidden Villages—Kumogakure, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure—were all thinking the same thing.
What should they do now about Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke?
According to the future revealed by the Sky Screen, the Ōtsutsuki clan on the moon was eyeing the Shinobi World with hostility.
And Naruto and Sasuke were the ones who would definitely reach Six Paths-level in the future—and they weren't unstable like Uchiha Obito.
If they moved against these two, what would happen when the Ōtsutsuki clan came to the Shinobi World?
But if they let these two grow without interference, how would their own villages' interests be guaranteed?
---
[Kumogakure, Raikage's Office]
A sat with his arms crossed, his expression gloomy.
One after another, the Six Paths-level monsters on the screen kept appearing.
The Ōtsutsuki clan on the moon was lurking, and the only ones who could stop them in the future were the two brats from Konoha.
"Raikage-sama," Dodai asked carefully, "What should we do about Naruto and Sasuke…?"
A was silent for a long time. "For now, do nothing. We'll need them in the future."
Dodai breathed a sigh of relief.
"But that doesn't mean we do nothing at all."
"Keep an eye on them. Gather all intelligence. We will make plans after the threat of the Ōtsutsuki is confirmed."
Dodai nodded.
---
[Iwagakure, Tsuchikage's Office]
Ōnoki floated in midair, his expression equally complex.
"Six Paths-level!"
"Konoha is about to produce two more Hashiramas… no, two more Sages of the Six Paths!!"
Kitsuchi stood nearby. "Father, what should we do…?"
"Do nothing."
Ōnoki's voice was heavy. "The Ōtsutsuki threat is most likely real. We can't dare to gamble… those two brats must be allowed to grow."
"But that doesn't mean we do nothing too."
"Kitsuchi, focus on intelligence gathering—especially on the Ōtsutsuki. Share information with the other villages if possible. The enemy of the future is not something any one of us can handle alone."
"Yes, Father."
---
[Kirigakure, Mizukage's Office]
Mei's tone was resigned. "Six Paths-level… Konoha is truly lucky."
An elder beside her nodded in agreement. "Mei, we can leave Konoha alone for now. Currently, the most important thing is to put great effort into changing the Village's policies!"
"Otherwise, Kirigakure will soon have no one left to lead." He sighed deeply.
"Mm, understood." Mei sighed as well.
At that point, Ao could no longer hold back and spoke up. "Mizukage-sama, should we…"
"Should we what?" Mei cut him off. "Kill them? And who's going to fight the Ōtsutsuki? You?"
Ao fell silent.
Mei sighed again. "Just keep an eye on them. Don't provoke them, and don't let anyone else provoke them. Until the Ōtsutsuki threat is resolved, no one touches those two brats."
---
[Sunagakure, Kazekage's Office]
Rasa sat in his chair, his face livid.
"Six Paths-level…" His voice squeezed through gritted teeth, "Konoha again."
Chiyo sat nearby, her tone flat. "So what? What do you intend to do?"
Rasa didn't answer.
What could he do?
Had Sunagakure not embarrassed itself enough? To provoke two future Six Paths-level fighters?
"Strengthen our relations with Konoha. At the very least… don't become enemies."
Chiyo nodded, offering no objection.
---
[Land of Rain, Amegakure]
When Nagato saw Sasuke's Rinnegan on the screen, his mind became a chaotic mess, countless questions surfacing in his mind.
Why had Sasuke's left eye turned into a Rinnegan? And why was Sasuke's Rinnegan different from his own?
His own Rinnegan was ring after ring of purple patterns—but Sasuke's had six tomoe!
What was even more important was that Sasuke only had one Rinnegan in his left eye, while his right eye remained a Mangekyō Sharingan—yet his power had already reached Six Paths-level.
And he had Rinnegan in both eyes, so why was his strength only at the threshold of the Super Kage-level mentioned by the Sky Screen?
Also, how exactly does one awaken the Rinnegan?
Sasuke had actually awakened a Rinnegan from his Mangekyo Sharingan!
Thinking back to how his own Rinnegan had awakened, Nagato recalled that he had been unconscious at the time. He had assumed it was the awakening of a latent bloodline power.
Even Jiraiya-sensei had thought the same, and had regarded him as the Child of Prophecy who would bring peace.
But now, looking back, something felt off.
Based on the information the Sky Screen had revealed earlier, Nagato felt that Sasuke's method of awakening the Rinnegan had more basis.
After all, Sasuke was the current Indra, and Indra was the eldest son of the Sage of the Six Paths. Though Nagato didn't fully understand the significance of that, it made perfect sense that the eldest son's bloodline would awaken the Sage's eyes.
But what about him? Was the Uzumaki clan descended from one of the Sage's other children, apart from Indra and Asura?
Was he also some sort of "something-something" of this generation? Like Naruto and Sasuke?
"Nagato." Konan's voice interrupted his train of thought.
Nagato came back to his senses: "Hmm?"
"Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." He closed his eyes, but his heart could not calm down for a long time.
---
[Akatsuki Hideout]
Deidara stared at the figures on the screen, unusually quiet.
Hidan hoisted his scythe, his usual arrogance absent from his voice. "Six Paths Obito, Six Paths Naruto, Six Paths Sasuke, and now Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki… How is anyone supposed to live in this world?"
Kakuzu's expression was unreadable. "So our goal is to go up against monsters like that?"
Sasori's puppet eyes shifted slightly. "The Ōtsutsuki clan… just how many of them are there?"
Itachi said nothing, his gaze fixed on Six Paths Sasuke, finally lingering on the Rinnegan in his eye.
After a moment, Deidara turned to Tendo Pain, his tone tinged with mockery. "Leader, one Rinnegan puts him at Six Paths-level—you've got two and you're only Super Kage. Are you sure your eyes… aren't fake?"
The hideout fell silent for a moment.
Pain looked at him expressionlessly.
Deidara shrank back and wisely shut his mouth.
But the way the others looked at Pain had shifted—carrying a hint of curiosity and doubt.
They had thought Super Kage-level was already impressive. But compared to Six Paths-level, it suddenly seemed inadequate.
Could it be that Pain's Rinnegan was a knockoff?
Or—like the Sharingan and Byakugan—was there a hierarchy within Rinnegan as well? Was that why Pain's strength was what it was?
---
[Somewhere underground in the Shinobi World]
Black Zetsu only felt his whole body go cold.
When the Sky Screen had mentioned "High intellect of Kaguya" before, a bad feeling had already crossed his mind. Now it was clear—the Kaguya the screen spoke of was exactly who he had been thinking of.
It seemed his plan in the future had succeeded—but also failed.
Mother had been released, but then defeated by those unfilial descendants, Indra and Asura.
'Mother!'
'What should I do now? Should I still try to save Mother?'
After a thousand years of scheming, was this all he got—a future where she was defeated?
Black Zetsu felt his panic rising.
He gritted his teeth and forced himself to calm down.
The future the Sky Screen showed wasn't necessarily the final outcome. As long as he prepared in advance, as long as he changed his strategy, Mother would surely win!
---
[Konoha, Year One. Hashirama's home]
Madara stared at the Six Paths Naruto and Sasuke on the screen, visibly shaken.
"Sage Fox Mode… Six Paths Mode…"
He gritted his teeth. "A Nine-Tails Jinchuriki can become that strong?"
"And what gives that Uchiha brat the right to reach Six Paths-level?"
Hashirama sat across from him, his tone serious, "Madara, did you not hear what the screen said? Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki is stronger than Six Paths Obito."
"I heard." Madara replied impatiently. "So what?"
"So we need to get stronger. Strong enough to protect Konoha's future—and the entire Shinobi World."
"Of course I know that!"
"But how are we supposed to reach Six Paths-level?"
Hearing Madara's question, Hashirama found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
*****
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