Rikudō Sennin was utterly speechless. He knew Kazuyama's mind was unpredictable, but he never imagined the brat would be this bold—and this shameless.
"You little brat! I can't even argue with you anymore!"
"If you want to hold them, then hold them."
"Chōmei! You little brat too! You just watched him snatch them from me and didn't help at all!"
The Sage seethed. All nine Tailed Beasts were his children, yet here he was—robbed in front of one of them while Chōmei laughed without restraint, watching the entire spectacle.
"Old man, you can't blame me. I'm his bug now."
"If he hadn't saved me back then, I probably wouldn't even be here to see you."
"So you two are both my dear family. I'm not helping either of you!"
"Heh heh!"
The Sage's eyes widened at this revelation. He never expected Chōmei to become like this. But soon, his gaze shifted sharply to Kazuyama.
He knew his children well. If Chōmei had turned out like this, it was definitely this little demon's influence.
"Enough, stop running!"
"Hold on if you want!"
"You can't take it anyway—it's mine!"
Seeing he couldn't reclaim it, the Sage simply gave up. This was the Mind World, and he was only a wisp of spirit. He needed to stay calm—getting angry at this brat would be the end of him.
"Oh? Old man Six Paths, done chasing?"
"Tch. Boring. I thought you'd last longer—you're the Rikudō Sennin, after all."
"How can you quit so fast?"
Kazuyama and his clones stopped, holding the Truth-Seeking Balls while openly taunting him. The Sage trembled with fury—literally shaking.
[Ding! Host has successfully mocked Six Paths Sage Uzumaki Hagoromo and stolen his Truth-Seeking Ball. Daring to toy with a Sage—host, you're practically ready to graduate!]
[Special Reward: Six Paths Resistance +10%]
Kazuyama was delighted. Mocking the Sage came first; getting the reward mattered most.
He gathered his clones, stacked the Truth-Seeking Balls together, and wrapped them in Senjutsu chakra so the Sage couldn't recall them. The Sage could only roll his eyes.
"Kid, you don't need to do that. I won't take them back!"
"Where was I…"
"Damn it, my memory is failing!"
"All your fault, brat!"
He strained to remember their previous topic but failed, resorting to venting his frustration at Kazuyama again.
Chōmei shifted and spoke.
"We were talking about how you could help Kazuyama deal with Madara Uchiha."
"But Kazuyama needs to do something for you in return."
Both Kazuyama and the Sage turned to stare at Chōmei, their expressions perfectly synchronized—as if saying: Seriously? Your memory is that good?
"Hey! What's with those faces?"
"I'm Seven-Tails Chōmei! Of course I remember something this small!"
With Chōmei's help, the conversation resumed.
The Sage, now holding only his staff, tapped the water's surface. Ripples spread, revealing the forms of the nine Tailed Beasts.
Kazuyama leaned forward slightly.
"Hm? The nine Tailed Beasts?"
"Old man, what are you up to?"
The Sage didn't answer. He tapped the water again, and in the next moment, all the Tailed Beasts except Chōmei appeared in their true forms within the Mind World.
"I don't know if you did this intentionally or unintentionally."
"But you, a human, have come into contact with all nine Tailed Beasts. Traces of their chakra remain within you."
"Combined with your own innate chakra—this is why I say you surpass Ashura and Indra."
"Kazuyama, I can bestow both the Yang Power and Yin Power I possess upon you."
"To help you perfect everything within you, allowing you to become a Sage unlike any before."
"Based on my analysis, my Yin and Yang correspond to your Crystal Release and Transparent Escape Technique."
Kazuyama frowned, glancing around at the gathered Tailed Beasts. He truly had interacted with all of them—from One-Tail to Nine-Tails. Some he had fought, others were comrades.
The Sage continued.
"Crystal Release, born from creation, belongs to yang."
"Transparent Escape Technique, centered on stabilizing the self, belongs to yin."
"Combine yin and yang with your own strength, and even I cannot predict what you will become."
"But your power will be extraordinarily great."
"What I need you to do is simple: protect this world from my mother's harm, and guard against any crisis that may appear in the future."
Kazuyama's expression shifted into understanding.
So this was the old man offering power in exchange for protecting the Ninja World.
Honestly, he wanted to refuse. Such a mission sounded exhausting, and he wasn't someone who liked responsibility.
But the Sage's next words hit him where it hurt.
"I know you don't want this responsibility."
"But understand this—you're not just protecting the world. You're protecting your family."
"If Madara Uchiha succeeds in reviving the Ten-Tails, do you think this world will remain safe?"
"And those visitors from beyond—what do you think their purpose is?"
"Kazuyama, protecting this world is protecting your family."
A smug, scheming smile crossed the Sage's face, making Kazuyama want to punch him.
The old man had manipulated him.
Damn it.
And worst of all—Kazuyama couldn't refute a single word.
He had a lover. He had children. He had things he couldn't lose.
"Old man… you schemed well. Fine."
"I accept."
"But listen carefully—I'm not reviving your mother."
"Madara Uchiha? I'll handle him. Hmph."
Kazuyama already had a plan in mind: kill Madara and Black Zetsu outright, severing all possibility of the Ten-Tails' revival.
That was the safest solution.
"Excellent. Truly worthy of my acknowledgment."
"You are brave—"
"Old man, cut the nonsense. While we've been talking, the front lines are probably burning. Hurry it up, will you?"
Rikudō Sennin: …You little bastard.