Naruto and Sasuke had no idea what the Sage of Six Paths meant when he spoke about Indra and Asura, or why he said he had something to entrust to them.
Since they couldn't leave right now anyway, Naruto and Sasuke just had to listen while the Sage of Six Paths continued speaking.
The Sage began, "First, let me tell you about my mother and myself. My mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki, came from a distant land to this place, seeking the fruit of the God Tree."
Naruto asked in confusion, "God Tree's fruit?"
The Sage nodded, "Yes. The Ten-Tails is the God Tree itself. After Kaguya ate its fruit, she obtained immense power and ruled over this land. Her strength surpassed everyone else's. People revered and feared her, calling her either the Rabbit Goddess (Tsukiyome, a lunar deity) or an Oni (a demon-like creature in Japanese folklore)."
"Later, Kaguya bore two children—myself being one of them. The God Tree, whose fruit had been taken away, rebelled to reclaim it. My brother and I fought against the God Tree's incarnation—the Ten-Tails—and sealed it within our bodies to atone for my mother's actions."
"Afterwards, I too had two sons—one was named Indra, and the other Asura. I taught both of them the ninja path, but they grew in very different ways. One carried my strength within him by birthright, while the other did not, leading to two very different paths of power."
"You probably still don't understand what I'm saying. To put it simply, there was the outstanding elder brother Indra, and the incapable younger brother Asura."
Naruto nodded repeatedly as he listened, "Right, right. Sasuke definitely wouldn't understand. It's better if you explain it more simply."
Sasuke shot Naruto a sidelong glance and muttered 'idiot' under his breath. Just who didn't understand here?
Looking at Naruto, the Sage of Six Paths continued, "You already understand this deep in your heart, Naruto… because you, too, have walked that very same path."
Naruto pointed at himself incredulously, "Eh? Are you talking about me, Grandpa Sage? I think I inherited plenty! I'm super awesome!"
Sasuke scoffed, "Isn't that spot-on? You haven't mastered Hokage-sama's Flying Thunder God Technique or Kushina Aunt's Sealing Technique, have you?"
"Uh..."
Naruto was momentarily speechless. When Sasuke put it that way... he actually had a point.
The Sage continued, "Indra and Asura took different paths. Born with extraordinary ocular powers and talent, my eldest son Indra was called a genius. He handled everything by himself, realizing the difference between his own might and others', believing strength alone could obtain anything."
"On the other hand, my younger son Asura struggled constantly since childhood, unable to accomplish much alone. He learned that to match his older brother's strength, he needed both relentless effort and the support of those around him. Through rigorous training, Asura awakened his vast chakra potential, eventually attaining the same level of power as his elder brother."
Asura believed that his strength came from the support of others. Through this, he discovered the true power of love—the force that makes all things possible.
I saw new possibilities in my younger brother Asura's path. I divided the power of the Ten-Tails within me and gave each fragment a name. True strength, I believe, can only come from mutual support.
Then I appointed my younger brother Asura as the successor to the Ninja Sect, the guiding philosophy for all. I thought my older brother would help him too, but..."
The Sage of Six Paths shifted his eyes toward Sasuke.
Sasuke slightly furrowed his brows. He had already figured it out. Previously, the Sage mentioned that he and Naruto were reincarnations of Asura and Indra. Back then, he didn't fully understand, but now he did.
The Sage of Six Paths spoke with regret, "However, my older brother Indra did not agree with my chosen path. Since then, prolonged conflict began. Even after their physical bodies were destroyed, the chakra they had created never vanished—it continued living on through time, passed down generation after generation."
Naruto made a weird face and quipped, "Feels like we're getting haunted by ancient spirits. Definitely doesn't sound fun~"
Sasuke reminded him, "Idiot, don't you get it yet? The chakra of Indra is possessing me right now, while the chakra of Asura is inside you."
Naruto asked in shock, "Really?"
The Sage of Six Paths nodded, "What Sasuke said is correct."
Looking at the Sage, Sasuke asked, "Since you say this cycle continues through countless reincarnations, there must have been others before Naruto and me. What happened to them?"
The Sage replied, "Indeed, the previous reincarnations were Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha—Hashirama carried the soul of Asura, and Madara bore that of Indra. You should already know what became of them. However, before ending his reincarnation cycle, Madara created a problem.
Madara, consumed by his thirst for power, took Hashirama's abilities—causing a fusion of my younger brother Asura's chakra with that of my elder brother Indra. Ultimately, this led to the awakening of my own chakra—the Rinnegan, the Eye of Heavenly Perception.
I foresaw long ago that such an individual would eventually arise among Indra and his reincarnations. That's why I left behind the stone monolith and writings urging change in heart. However, it seems they didn't work."
Naruto asked in confusion, "So Grand Sage, have you been merely watching your sons' sibling rivalry all along?"
The Sage of Six Paths sighed and said, "In a sense, yes. The Ninja Sect defines chakra as the power that connects individuals. I firmly believe chakra shouldn't be used simply to amplify an individual's strength. After ending the chaotic era, my mother Kaguya alone unified the world with her might.
Yet ultimately, my mother grew arrogant because of her power. People began fearing its existence. Once known as the Rabbit Goddess (Tsukiyome's divine protector), she gradually became the feared demoness that all shunned!"
When power falls into the hands of one person, it goes rampaging, and that individual becomes obsessed with power. This is exactly what has happened to Madara—he's become just like Mother Kaguya. His current reincarnation as Indra has come to an end. When the Ten-Tails revives and he gains its power, his strength will approach mine, and he might even try to reach for Mother Kaguya's level.
The Infinite Tsukuyomi is not just a Genjutsu—it traps people in an illusory dream world. To use their energy while they are still alive, it connects all beings to the God Tree's root, turning them into living husks.
Besides the Byakugan, Mother also wielded the Sharingan, and she used her ocular power to perform jutsu on the people. It was a tragic jutsu—if all chakra merges into a single source, a new Chakra Fruit will form. No matter what happens, we must never allow this to occur, or else the world will be destroyed!
I hope you two can stop Madara. You're both unlike any previous reincarnations—you hold limitless potential within you!
Sasuke suddenly asked, "You said we're different… Is it because Naruto and I didn't end up fighting each other like past reincarnations—or Indra and Asura—did?"
Looking directly at the Sage of Six Paths, Sasuke posed this question.
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