Kiyosuke asked the White Snake Sage,
"White Snake Sage-sama, are you saying that I'm still going to die?"
"Oh? So you already know your fate?"
The White Snake Sage looked slightly surprised, then said,
"I see… you learned of your destiny, and by knowing it, you've already changed it? Interesting. Asakawa Kiyosuke, your future will affect this entire world. In that battle, you must find a way to survive. The two Children of Destiny both fell despite their strength. Waiting for a new generation to rise is simply too slow."
Taking a puff from her pipe, the White Snake Sage exhaled and said,
"This planet has always been guided by humans. It was so in the past, and it will be so in the future."
"In the past?"
Kiyosuke froze, then asked,
"You don't mean… the Sage of Six Paths, do you? He… doesn't really count as human, right?"
He still didn't know what the true origins of the Sage of Six Paths were.
There were two versions of his and his brother's birth.
One said that after Kaguya arrived on this world, she ate the Chakra Fruit, used Infinite Tsukuyomi to quell the wars, and later conceived through the "blessing" of her worshippers. Like Black Zetsu, her children were born from her own body. In this version, Kaguya was a "celibate being," free from bodily desires.
The other version said that after Kaguya came to Earth, she fell in love with a king of that time and bore his children. Later, disillusioned by humanity, she devoured the Divine Tree's fruit and cast Infinite Tsukuyomi to end the wars.
In short, one story was of a naïve, innocent princess from the stars who fell for the oldest scumbag on Earth, was betrayed, blackened, and killed him—only to later be sealed away by her two "dutiful" sons.
Hiss…
Now that sounded familiar.
The White Snake Sage said,
"Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo can't truly be called human. He was more like a chakra construct with human form and thought, much like the Tailed Beasts. But unlike them, he possessed a soul. Even in death, he could freely enter and leave the Pure Land. His power was terrifying."
Even the White Snake Sage couldn't help but sigh in admiration at the Sage's strength.
Not only could he freely walk the Pure Land, he could also watch over the entire shinobi world…
It seemed the White Snake Sage knew that the Sage of Six Paths—that old man who handed out powers like candy—wasn't really dead.
Of course. As one of the Great Sages of the Three Holy Lands, how could she not know?
"Enough of that. Since you've already peeked into fate, my warnings no longer matter. You may leave. But as an exception, I'll allow you to choose two new sage techniques. Pick them yourself, then you can go."
Originally, she had summoned Kiyosuke because she sensed a shift in destiny. Now that fate had changed, she had glimpsed another possible outcome, and decided to let this human continue living.
What? There was actually a windfall like this?!!
Kiyosuke's heart leapt with joy. He hadn't expected this trip to net him Ryūchi Cave sage techniques for free. What a bargain!
Nothing felt better than getting something for free!
Well… unless it was "free again next time."
Ichikishimahime, however, seemed displeased.
"Tch. I was planning to trick him out of his chakra, but now that won't work."
The White Snake Sage said,
"That's enough. Take him down."
"Yes."
...
One man and three snakes departed.
Kiyosuke bid farewell to the sages and entered a cavern. He drove off the snakes that lived there, then unrolled two prepared scrolls.
From one, he released a condemned prisoner—a murderer and arsonist guilty of countless crimes. Originally bound for Konoha's labs, Kiyosuke had intercepted him for his own purposes. A fitting use for such trash.
From the other scroll, he retrieved a preserved piece of Uchiha Madara's flesh.
It was a small, pale lump of meat floating in some unknown yellowing fluid. Who knew how many years it had been stored?
Once everything was ready, Kiyosuke whispered,
"Alright then… let's begin."
He laid out a scroll inscribed with the runes of Edo Tensei, pulled the stopper from the test tube, and poured the flesh onto the scroll.
Forming hand seals rapidly, he called out,
"Edo Tensei!!"
The meat fused with the jutsu. Dense black seals spread across the ground, encircling the sacrifice. Ashes and dust began swirling around the condemned man, wrapping him completely.
The agony of life being stripped from him wrenched him awake, making him scream in torment.
"AAAAHHHHHH!!!"
Amid his howls, the dust finally engulfed him. And then, standing before Kiyosuke, appeared an old man with a head of white hair.
His hair was long and gray, his body frail, his face a map of wrinkles. His eyes remained shut, his form decrepit—clearly a man at the end of his life.
This was Uchiha Madara, in the exact state he had been before his death.
Normally, Edo Tensei revived someone in the form they had at the moment of death.
The "Madara" who fought the Allied Shinobi Forces had been a special body Kabuto had prepared for him. That was why the army of Edo Tensei shinobi had been so dangerous—most of them were revived in their prime. Immortal bodies, endless chakra, and peak combat ability. Losing to them was nothing unusual.
"Well, well. This brat's got guts."
The White Snake Sage, who could sense everything within Ryūchi Cave, naturally noticed what Kiyosuke was doing. She had heard of Uchiha Madara—Indra's reincarnation. Every now and then, she paid attention to such figures.
Still, as long as he didn't cause too much trouble, she had no intention of interfering.
"Perfect… it worked."
Kiyosuke rose, laughing. He pulled out a handful of kunai, each tied with sealing tags, and drove them into Madara's limbs, torso, and head.
"Shhh!"
White smoke rose from Madara's body, which regained lifelike color. Slowly, his eyes opened.
"At last… revived."
He stretched his fingers and flexed, then muttered,
"So, Obito succeeded? That brat Nagato must have finally grown strong enough to use Rinne Tensei, then…"
But something felt off.
Why did he only have one eye?
And this young man before him—why did he seem familiar?
"It's been a while, Madara-sama."
"You are… Asakawa Kiyosuke?!"
He remembered. That was the name of Obito's friend—the boy who had once tried to rescue him, only to fail. That attempt had forced Madara to use Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan to overwrite Obito's will.
It had been effective, yes, but it risked exposure. And now, that boy—grown into a man—stood before him. Something must have gone very wrong.
"That's right. Looks like you're not senile yet. It's me, Asakawa Kiyosuke. So, what do you think of the Edo Tensei I prepared for you? Are you satisfied?"
Kiyosuke grinned.
His bright smile made Madara feel utterly irritated.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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