"Naruto… is this…? Am I dead?"
Naruto suddenly opened his eyes, looking around in confusion.
At that moment, an elderly voice sounded.
"Why would you make such a judgment? Your understanding of death is quite different from that of my era. To speak so casually of your own death… you truly have courage, young one."
Naruto looked at the figure's back with confusion.
"Who are you?"
"It is natural to ask such a question when one arrives here."
The man slowly turned around, revealing his appearance.
He had two horns on his head, brown hair, and wore a white robe. On his chest were six black magatama, and on his back was a red spiral emblem.
"I am the one who maintains peace and order. My name is Hagoromo."
Naruto remained confused, clearly not recognizing the name.
But elsewhere—
Hearing the name "Hagoromo" and seeing the Rinnegan, Sasuke spoke with a grave expression:
"You are… the Sage of Six Paths?"
Hagoromo was slightly surprised that Sasuke knew him but quickly regained his composure.
"As expected of Indra's reincarnation. (Indeed, somewhat sharper than Ashura's reincarnation.) Yes, I am the one the world calls the Sage of Six Paths."
After receiving confirmation, Sasuke reached into his ninja pouch and took out a cluster of chakra.
The chakra gradually formed a projection.
"This is…?"
Hagoromo looked at the projection with confusion.
The image soon took the form of Shiranui Nagi, who smiled gently.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo. My name is Shiranui Nagi, a friend of Sasuke's."
Seeing this, Hagoromo stared at him with a serious expression.
"What business do you have with me, young man?"
Hagoromo already knew of Nagi. The incident in Kumogakure, when the Jashin descended, had awakened him from his slumber. He had originally intended to intervene.
However, when he arrived, he saw Nagi after his ascension.
With just a single glance exchanged, Hagoromo understood—
He was absolutely no match for this person.
Even if this was only a projection.
Nagi replied calmly:
"I simply ask that you awaken the Ashura and Indra chakra within Naruto and Sasuke. As for their lingering consciousness, I will return them to the Pure Land so they may finally rest."
"Uh…"
Black lines appeared on Hagoromo's forehead.
Why did that sound like he was sending his two sons to die?
Even though they were technically already dead.
"Could you… explain a bit more?"
Hagoromo asked cautiously.
After all, he clearly couldn't afford to offend Nagi.
Nagi shook his head.
"There's no time. Your mother's clan has already arrived."
"They came in considerable numbers this time. You should awaken the chakra of your sons' reincarnations quickly."
"Mother's clan…? Does that mean Mother really was—"
Hagoromo suddenly felt as though he might have committed a grave betrayal long ago.
Nagi spoke bluntly:
"You awaken their chakra. I'll remove the consciousness."
"The thousand-year feud between your sons should end today."
"Well… young man, this really—"
Hagoromo still hadn't fully processed the situation.
"If you don't do it, I'll forcibly awaken their power myself," Nagi said casually.
"But that might damage your sons' spiritual consciousness."
"I'll do it immediately!"
Hearing that, Hagoromo quickly acted, afraid Nagi might truly harm Indra and Ashura's spirits.
After all—
He genuinely couldn't defeat Nagi.
Thus, Hagoromo awakened the chakra within Naruto and Sasuke, while Nagi stripped away the spiritual consciousness of Ashura and Indra.
Back on the Battlefield
After injecting chakra into the Flying Thunder God kunai, Madara looked again at Black Zetsu.
"Next… it's your turn."
"Madara-sama, I'm innocent! You must believe me!"
Seeing his plan of thousands of years about to collapse, Black Zetsu was practically losing his mind.
Madara held a Truth-Seeking Orb in his hand.
"Since you are a creation of Yin–Yang Release, then Yin–Yang Release will deal with you."
At that moment—
High above the battlefield stood six figures.
They wore white robes, had pale skin, white or blue hair, Byakugan or dark eyes, and horns growing from their heads.
One of them pointed at Six Paths Madara.
"Lord Baishiki, it's that one. The energy inside him is very similar to Kaguya's."
Suddenly—
A crack appeared in space.
Someone stepped out.
His attire was far more luxurious than the others.
Baishiki examined Madara calmly.
"So this is the one?"
"The quality and quantity of his chakra are excellent. A superior ingredient for refining chakra pills."
"And…"
Baishiki suddenly turned his head toward the moon.
"There are also two Ōtsutsuki signals there."
"Hm? Over there?"
Another Ōtsutsuki scanned with a device.
"You're right. One of them feels similar to Kaguya, though the energy is quite weak now. Looks like that traitor Kaguya encountered some trouble."
"But the other Ōtsutsuki's chakra… we've never sensed it before."
"So it's not Isshiki."
Baishiki's eyes glowed with excitement.
"Forget Kaguya and that unknown Ōtsutsuki for now."
"Turning the one in front of us into a chakra pill is the most important thing."
Madara's Crisis
Madara was just about to attack Black Zetsu with Yin–Yang Release when—
"Hmm?"
He realized something was wrong.
He couldn't move.
"What's going on?"
Then a voice rang out.
"Hahaha… excellent. Excellent."
Space cracked open behind Madara, and Baishiki stepped out.
He examined Madara carefully.
"Very good… very good. Perfect material for pill refinement."
"Although…"
"Turning you back into a Chakra Fruit might be an even better choice."
"I can't move…"
Madara used all his strength but remained completely immobilized.
Shock filled his mind.
Who is this person?!
Black Zetsu's eyes widened in disbelief.
"That appearance… it's so similar to Mother."
"Could he be… one of the Ōtsutsuki clan?!"
Minato, Kakashi, and Sai felt something else entirely—
A pressure from a higher lifeform.
Breathing itself became difficult.
Baishiki reached his hand toward Madara's head, intending to instantly transform him into a chakra pill.
But just before he could—
A pale hand grabbed Baishiki's wrist.
A gentle voice sounded.
"Excuse me… would you mind letting go of my friend?"
Seeing the newcomer—
Kakashi, Minato, and Sai instantly relaxed.
Madara also regained the ability to move.
Nagi smiled politely at Baishiki.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Unknown Ōtsutsuki."
Those simple words felt like a summons from hell.
Cold sweat poured down Baishiki's body.
He felt a terrifying suppression on the level of life itself.
It felt as though his life could end with a single thought from this man.
Baishiki spoke in a trembling voice:
"May I ask… who you are?"
Nagi simply smiled and looked up at the sky.
"Shibai, stop watching the show."
"Otherwise your subordinates might really die here."
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Chakraflow789