"Father..." Seeing the Sage of Six Paths appear, Ashura stood up beside Indra's corpse.
"..." In mid-air, the Sage of Six Paths looked toward Kaguya lying in the distance. Kushina and Minato were guarding nearby, wary of him.
After withdrawing his gaze, the Sage of Six Paths turned to look at Naruto.
"Naruto, I didn't expect you to actually do it. This is very surprising to me, but..."
"..." Naruto's gaze was somber, waiting for the "but" from the Sage's mouth.
After pondering for a long time, the Sage said: "Regarding whether mother will firmly maintain her united front with humanity in the future, I still have reservations."
"However, having done this much, you have reason to make me temporarily believe in you. At least, your ability to act and your determination are genuine. So I will fulfill my previous promise—that is, in the future, I will act according to your policy."
At this point, he changed direction again: "But before that, I hope you can make a guarantee."
Naruto looked up: "Guarantee what?"
The Sage of Six Paths said: "Guarantee that no matter what heights you reach in the future, you will never become someone who views power as everything, like mother once did!"
Naruto had not yet responded, but Madara couldn't listen anymore. He spoke bluntly: "Sage, I think this is meaningless. Even if Naruto really becomes what you describe in the future, if he's strong enough, what can you do to change it? So-called guarantees are just empty talk. Having lived so long, you can't possibly not understand this principle. In my view, you're just seeking psychological comfort."
The Sage of Six Paths looked deeply at Madara: "Madara, you'd better look out for your own safety..."
Madara frowned: "What do you mean?"
The Sage of Six Paths said meaningfully: "Those who toy with life and death rarely meet good ends. Do you remember how you escaped your Impure World Reincarnation body? Moreover, unlike Naruto who acts for others, you act for yourself—this touches an even greater taboo."
"..." Madara's brow furrowed deeply, thinking: This guy knows something.
The Sage of Six Paths seemed unwilling to say more on this topic. He looked at Naruto again: "Naruto, you and I are both awakeners of the ocular technique 'Futsunomitama'. If we establish a connection and make a 'soul oath,' should either party violate it, their soul will face punishment. If you're willing to accept this price, I'll be completely at ease with you!"
Madara was furious: "Hey... I say, old man, don't push your luck!"
"Forget it, Uncle Madara." Naruto stopped Madara and stepped forward, saying in a deep voice: "Fine, I agree. I'll make that contract with you!"
"However... since it's a contract, it's mutual. If I make a self-restraining contract, shouldn't you also declare in the contract that you won't interfere with us anymore?"
Naruto's gaze was dark: "To be honest, Sage Grandpa, Konoha once had two advisors... both were senior veterans with deep qualifications who deserved respect. But being overly presumptuous about their age made them unpopular."
The Sage of Six Paths smiled helplessly: "Since we've come to this point, Naruto, don't think of me as too stubborn. To make me feel secure about passing the torch, you must show sufficient sincerity, right?"
"Then let's do it..."
Naruto and the Sage's gazes met, creating invisible sparks!
—Futsunomitama: Soul Covenant!
"I, Uzumaki Naruto, swear that regardless of future circumstances, I will maintain my original intentions and not be trapped by power. Should I violate this oath, may my soul perish and never recover!"
"I, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, promise never again to interfere with worldly affairs. Should I violate this oath, may I become dust for the world to trample!"
Sizzle!
After both parties made their oaths, an eternally indelible 'contract' was imprinted on their souls!
Naruto's expression was displeased: "Are you satisfied now?"
Hagoromo stroked his beard and nodded slightly: "Then, according to our prior agreement, I entrust the power I've hidden here..."
At this point, the tense atmosphere finally eased.
The Sage of Six Paths raised his hand, pointing to the Rinnegan pattern on his forehead: "Naruto, do you know what this is?"
Naruto said: "I've been wondering too. After entering Sage Mode, there seems to be a similar mark on the back of my clothes. That thing on your forehead—isn't it just decoration?"
The Sage of Six Paths said: "This is the mark of the Reincarnator, not decoration."
Naruto was puzzled: "Reincarnator?"
The Sage of Six Paths said: "On each land, the first person to awaken the Rinnegan will awaken the ocular technique 'Futsunomitama' and receive this mark, becoming a 'Reincarnator.' A Reincarnator's soul can freely travel between the yin and yang worlds and has the ability to control souls. For example, if I wished, I could forcibly cancel all Impure World Reincarnation!"
"..." Hearing this, Obito's eyes narrowed slightly.
The Sage of Six Paths continued: "For another example, I can use 'Pure Land Summoning' to directly summon souls from the Pure Land back to the present world."
Naruto thought: I see. I've long suspected that the Sage's abilities should be related to 'Futsunomitama'. I didn't expect there were such secrets hidden.
Naruto: "Wait, Futsunomitama was an ocular power I awakened during my 'Eternal Mangekyō' period..."
The Sage of Six Paths: "That's why your Futsunomitama is a castrated version, because there can only be one Reincarnator per land."
"So that's how it is. You're the one who made my Futsunomitama..."
Naruto thought this but didn't say it aloud.
He asked: "Does that mark have any other functions?"
The Sage of Six Paths: "Let me show you something."
Hum...!
The mark moved slightly.
Six tomoe suddenly appeared on the Sage of Six Paths'Rinnegan!
Naruto was shocked: "This is—so your Rinnegan can also become six-tomoe...!"
The Sage of Six Paths said: "This mark can continuously refine and store reincarnation power, releasing it when necessary to keep ocular power flowing continuously without worrying about depletion. Ah, it's somewhat similar to the Strength of a Hundred Seal principle, though the former refines ordinary chakra while the latter refines reincarnation power..."
Naruto understood: "I see."
The Sage of Six Paths added: "After transferring this mark, you will replace me as the 'Reincarnator,' gaining the true power of 'Futsunomitama.' But this comes with a price—if you die, you cannot be revived by Impure World Reincarnation or Samsara of Heavenly Life. You can only wander between the yin and yang worlds like me, neither alive nor dead!"
"Whether to accept this power... you choose!"
Naruto closed his eyes in contemplation.
"Futsunomitama, Reincarnator—if I die, I'll completely retreat behind the scenes, becoming an idle old grandfather like the Sage..."
"Forget it. Fighting those guys was already risking my life anyway. I can't plan based on the premise of my death, but must strive to live—to survive more tenaciously than a cockroach!!"
Naruto opened his eyes: "I accept the Reincarnation Mark!"
The Sage of Six Paths: "Good..."
Sizzle!
The Reincarnation Mark appeared on Naruto's forehead!
The Sage of Six Paths' figure began to become ethereal, as if relieved: "This way... I can finally reincarnate. To be honest, I've long grown tired of wandering between the yin and yang worlds..."
Naruto: "I feel like you've tricked me."
The Sage of Six Paths: "I can only say we've mutually fulfilled each other..."
He looked one last time at Kaguya lying on the ground: "Mother, I don't wish to see you again, and you don't wish to see me. Let's both keep out of each other's sight..."
By a twist of fate, the Sage of Six Paths, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, was reincarnated with his past life memories and soul oath to the Ōtsutsuki clan's location in Takamagahara!
But that's a story for another time.
"Roaaaaaaaar...!"
At this moment, the Ten-Tails' roar echoed across the earth.
Naruto turned to look: "It's time to become a true Ten-Tails Jinchūriki..."
🔥 Want to read the next 80 chapters RIGHT NOW?
💎 Patreon members get instant access!
⚡ Limited-time offer currently running...
👉 [Join on - patreon.com/DarkGolds]