Chapter 112 - Chapter 111: The Power of Six Paths, Sage Body and Immortal Eyes!

"Orochimaru? Didn't that guy die at your hands?"The Nine Tails couldn't believe what Naruto was saying. He had personally witnessed Naruto, empowered by his chakra, obliterate Orochimaru with a single Rasenshuriken."With your power, you completely destroyed him. There was nothing left of him."Naruto shook his head, a serious expression on his face. "If Orochimaru had really died that easily, he wouldn't have been such a long-standing threat to the ninja world.""What do you mean by that?" Nine Tails asked, puzzled.Naruto's tone grew heavier. "I mean, Orochimaru is not only alive—he's doing just fine."The memory of that day flashed through Naruto's mind."Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!"The devastating jutsu had landed directly on Orochimaru, tearing through him with brutal force. The nature transformation-enhanced Rasengan had disintegrated his body in front of everyone. It should have been the end.But no one had noticed—at least, no one except Naruto—that Yakushi Kabuto had vanished during the chaos.Naruto, trusting his strong intuition, had created a clone to secretly follow Kabuto. That shadow clone had witnessed something terrifying—Kabuto summoning Orochimaru back into the world by using the summoning technique. From within a snake's mouth, Orochimaru had emerged, barely alive.Although he had survived, his body was shattered. He had no chakra left, couldn't speak, and looked like he was hanging by a thread.Fortunately for him, Kabuto had been absolutely loyal. Using medical ninjutsu, he stabilized Orochimaru's condition and then spirited him away from Konoha.Naruto's clone couldn't chase them too far—the distance from the main body was too great. He had considered pursuing and killing them both, but Orochimaru's final words had stopped him."Naruto-kun… One day… you will still need me… I promise you…"It was those words that made Naruto hesitate. He had already destroyed the Orochimaru who killed the Third Hokage. That should be enough.Letting him live—just in case—might prove useful in the future."Tsk… Naruto, you're really cunning," Nine Tails muttered, half-annoyed and half-impressed.Even the Nine Tails couldn't help but feel admiration. Naruto's foresight, calm judgment, and subtle manipulation were qualities that not even many veteran shinobi possessed.Nine Tails had once been viewed only as a monster—a disaster in fox form. No one respected the tailed beasts. They were either weapons to be controlled or targets to be sealed.But things had changed.Under Naruto's influence, the Nine Tails—Kurama—had become a protector of the village. Even if it didn't care about such titles, deep down, it felt a faint warmth.Long ago, during the time of the Sage of Six Paths, the tailed beasts were revered. People even built shrines for them. But as time passed, that respect had vanished.Now, it was coming back.---Elsewhere in the Shinobi World Group Chat...Four Tails, Son Goku: "Yes, we tailed beasts are part of this world too. We have chakra, just like humans—just more of it!"Eight Tails, Gyūki: "Right! I've already proven that humans and tailed beasts can live in harmony!"Killer Bee: "Yo, that's true! Hachibi and I are bros for life!"Uchiha Obito: "Enough nonsense! The tailed beasts are evil creatures!"Obito's face twisted in anger as he typed. These words stirred bitter memories he tried to keep buried.He had raced to the battlefield that day, hoping to save the people he cared about. But he was too late.He could still see it clearly—Kakashi's Raikiri piercing through Rin.Rin, the girl he loved, had died before his eyes.All because of the Three Tails sealed inside her.If it weren't for the tailed beasts, she wouldn't have been made a jinchuriki. She wouldn't have been forced into battle. She wouldn't have had to die.Without that pain, Obito wouldn't have become who he was—a man living in darkness, like a walking corpse.He imagined another future—one where there were no tailed beasts, no wars.In that world, he would've arrived in time. He would've saved Rin. And Kakashi too.He'd say, "I'm sorry, Kakashi. Seems like you still need me after all."They'd return to Konoha together. Maybe Obito could even become Hokage, with Rin as his wife.As for Madara?Just a long-dead ghost. His plan wouldn't matter anymore.---Hatake Kakashi: "Obito..."Nohara Rin: "Obito, are you alright?"Obito took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. His message in the group had been too emotional.Now was not the time to reveal his true identity.Uchiha Obito: "I'm fine, Rin… Kakashi. Just… the history of war caused by the tailed beasts gets to me sometimes."Nohara Rin: "It's okay, Obito. Of course we understand. Right, Kakashi?"Hatake Kakashi: "Ah? Yeah, of course…"Kakashi replied, but something felt off. Obito's reaction to the tailed beasts was too intense.Could it be that Obito knew something about Rin and the Three Tails?Something Kakashi didn't?---Back in the present—"But Naruto," Kurama said cautiously, "even if you say Orochimaru may know the secrets of the First Hokage's Sage Body… how are you going to find him?"Naruto smirked confidently. "Don't worry, I've already thought of that."Kurama narrowed his eyes. Naruto was clearly planning something.Then Naruto asked, "Kurama, tell me honestly… is the Sharingan really that powerful?"Kurama's heart skipped a beat.Is this kid going to expose all my humiliations today? he thought.First the Sage Body… now the Sharingan?"Well," Kurama said reluctantly, "it depends on who's using it. For example, that Izuku from your village? Not impressive at all. But if…""What if it's Uchiha Madara?" Naruto interrupted, completing Kurama's sentence.Kurama's tone instantly grew serious."Uchiha Madara… those cursed Sharingan… I'll never forget what he did. Just by making eye contact with him, he controlled me."He fell silent for a moment, clearly uncomfortable remembering how easily Madara had subdued him. It was humiliating for a tailed beast of his power.Naruto didn't mock him or even react negatively. He understood.There were beings stronger than Kurama—stronger than even Uchiha Madara or Senju Hashirama.At the top of them all stood the Sage of Six Paths."Kurama," Naruto asked quietly, "if there's a Sage Body… then is there also a Sage Eye?"Kurama didn't respond."Relax, I'm just thinking out loud," Naruto said, smiling to defuse the tension. "But think about it. If I could get the power of both the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara… maybe I could really obtain the power of the Sage of Six Paths."Kurama remained silent, but in his heart, he was startled by Naruto's ambition.The path Naruto was considering wasn't just a dream.It was a path that, if walked properly, could lead to godhood.The power of the Sage of Six Paths—the fusion of a divine body and divine eyes—wasn't just myth.It was a real possibility.And Naruto was walking toward it.