"Holy crap? Rikudō Sennin?"
"Holy crap? Old man?"
Kazuyama and Chōmei yelled at the same time, man and beast equally stunned beyond belief.
The next second, Chōmei broke away from Kazuyama's body and appeared beside him in full Tailed Beast form.
In the Heart World, he could manifest physically rather than as chakra.
"Long time no see, Chōmei."
"Seeing you brings me joy."
The Rikudō Sennin gave a faint smile the moment he saw Chōmei, his aged voice filled with the warmth of meeting family.
Chōmei flapped his wings, sending ripples across the water.
"It really is the Rikudō Sennin. Damn… this is insane!"
"But that just makes me more confused—why did you want to see me?"
Though Kazuyama was shocked to meet the Sage of Six Paths, his bigger question was why the Sage sought him out.
Everyone knew that although the Sage had died long ago, he continued to exist in the shinobi world through a form of will and power.
The figure before him now was a spiritual existence.
Even so, he clearly possessed a unique strength.
"You truly are extraordinary. Fewer and fewer people in this world even know of me."
"And you—you are neither Ashura's heir nor Indra's."
"In you, I even see traces of my mother. The same solitary pride… yet also something different. There is love in your heart. I can feel it."
Rikudō Sennin—Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki of the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
And his mother was Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
Kazuyama grew even more bewildered.
He looked like Kaguya? Impossible.
"Old man, you're joking, right? Kazuyama? Like her?"
"No way."
"They're nothing alike. I've never seen someone as sleazy, timid, and downright rotten as him."
Chōmei voiced his own opinion immediately. His perspective wasn't even close to the Sage's—there wasn't a single good quality, only terrible ones.
Kazuyama's face darkened instantly.
"Seriously, Chōmei? You're exposing me now?"
"How can you talk about your own brother like that? Want me to seal you up? I think Kurama's binding method was pretty effective!"
Man and beast immediately fell into bickering.
The Rikudō Sennin simply watched silently, the curve of his lips revealing his amusement.
"Enough. Don't quarrel."
"Kazuyama, I sought you out because I have something to ask of you."
Huh? What the hell?
Seeing the Sage's suddenly serious expression, Kazuyama felt a heaviness settle over him. He didn't understand why the Sage of Six Paths would come to him specifically.
"I know you understand many things."
"About this old man. About my mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki."
"And even the Senjutsu you now wield has reached a level nearing the pinnacle of this world."
"The reason I can meet you is precisely because your Senjutsu unconsciously absorbs vast amounts of chakra. When I died, I scattered my entire chakra across this world."
"The chakra you've absorbed and refined contains my essence."
"And you've made contact with many Tailed Beasts, exchanging chakra with them. Through these connections, I was able to find you."
Kazuyama remained silent, listening quietly.
Beside him, Chōmei curled up and lay low on the water.
"Your Senjutsu shows me a different future."
"A path completely unlike the ones walked by my sons, Ashura and Indra. That is why I see traces of my mother in you."
"It made me realize this world possesses a third possibility."
"Kazuyama, let me ask you: if you were given the strength to confront my mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, what would you choose to do?"
Face Kaguya Ōtsutsuki? What kind of question was that?
Of course he'd take her down—
Wait. Kaguya couldn't be killed. She was immortal.
"Yes, she cannot be killed. Only sealed. And there is but one method: the Six Paths: Earth Explosion Star."
"Then what are you asking me for? Is there any option besides sealing?"
"Indeed, there is no other way."
See? No other way!
Kazuyama rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"My mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, acted only to prevent future threats."
"But her methods were unacceptable. That is why so many events unfolded afterward."
The Sage let out a faint sigh.
He knew his mother's past, but her methods had gone far beyond reason. Neither he nor his brother could accept them.
Thus, they had rebelled against her and sealed her away.
"Hey, Sage. Everything you're saying—I already know. How about telling me something I don't?"
"Besides, I have no intention of reviving your mother. I won't hide anything from you—I'm a Jinchūriki myself. I've hidden the other Jinchūriki and the Tailed Beasts."
"So even if someone tries to come for them, I'm not afraid."
Kazuyama crossed his arms with overflowing confidence. He'd planned for years—there was no way he would fail now.
The Sage smiled gently and shook his head.
"You are confident, indeed. But Madara Uchiha has already obtained Ashura's chakra, which allowed him to awaken the Rinnegan."
"His strength now steps halfway into the Six Paths realm."
"How do you intend to deal with him?"
These words left Kazuyama momentarily stunned.
Right. Even if he didn't fear Madara, defeating him outright was another matter entirely.
"That is why I came to you. I wish to propose a trade."
"I can grant you my power to help you face Madara Uchiha. In exchange, you must agree to use your own strength to accomplish something for this world—something only you can do."
Something only he could do? What did that mean?
"Your Kekkei Genkai—both Transparent Escape and Crystal Release—have changed under Sage Mode. Haven't you noticed?"
Kazuyama's expression gradually hardened. He had noticed.
Ever since he mastered Sage Mode on his own, his Transparent Escape Technique and Crystal Release had undergone subtle changes.
Not obvious, but as their wielder, he could feel it clearly.
What he didn't understand was why the Sage would be aware of this.
The words that followed made Kazuyama's eyes widen in disbelief as he stared at the Rikudō Sennin.