The Sage of Six Paths still wanted to try one last time—
To see if he could guide this wayward son back to the right path.
"Naruto… look."
"Isn't this planet beautiful? The people of the Shinobi world are all trying so hard to live in peace…"
"Can you really bear to see it all destroyed?"
The Sage gazed lovingly into the distance—toward the world known as the Shinobi planet.
From the Moon's surface, the Earth really did look like a stunning sapphire jewel.
Naruto heard him—then smiled.
It wasn't a smile of sentiment—but of quiet dismissal.
Even in his past life, wage slaves had it better than most civilians in the shinobi world.
With the existence of chakra and jutsu, ninja were born superior.
The vast majority of people lived in poverty, lacked education, and were brainwashed into stupidity—like those blind villagers in Konoha.
"A world full of fools like that… is it really worth protecting?"
If the Sage of Six Paths had never created the ninja religion or taught chakra…
If this world had remained civilian-only…
Maybe it would have turned out better than this.
That scornful smile on Naruto's face told the Sage everything:
This son… was beyond saving.
"Sigh…"
He let out a heavy sigh.
Why was it that all his loved ones always lost their way… corrupted by power?
Then—
He formed a hand seal.
In that instant, Naruto felt a ripple in his internal seal space—
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Nine bursts of smoke erupted around the Sage.
The nine Tailed Beasts had been forcibly summoned to his side.
Even Naruto couldn't stop it.
The Sage shared a unique summoning contract with the Beasts that superseded any bond.
But unlike other Jinchūriki who would be gravely injured from such separation, Naruto's body was far beyond ordinary.
Plus, he still had the Super Five-Tails sealed inside him.
The ordinary beasts were irrelevant now.
Only Kurama, the full Nine-Tails, stood out—with the others like the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails looking drained and depleted.
Kurama, however, wore a troubled look rather than joy at being free.
His red fox eyes flickered with deep conflict.
On one side was the man who gave him life—the Sage.
On the other was Naruto—the first to ever trust him…
The only one who treated him as a partner.
Both were people he deeply respected.
Kurama turned to the Sage and bared his teeth.
"Old man… maybe we should talk this out."
"Naruto's got his own plans—and even if he lets your mother loose, I doubt she can handle him."
The Sage's eyes widened in surprise.
He knew Kurama's nature—proud and stubborn to the core.
And now this fox… was defending a human?
"Kurama, if you're this close to him, try talking some sense into him."
"I really don't want this to escalate."
Kurama turned back, his expression grim.
"Naruto… do you really have to let that woman out?"
"The old man's not wrong. She's dangerous—more dangerous than anything you've ever faced."
Naruto shot him a glance.
"Don't you know what kind of person I am by now?"
That single sentence—
Was all Kurama needed to understand.
There would be no turning back.
The Sage's face hardened.
He no longer had hope for reason.
With solemn hands, he clapped them together.
"Gedo Statue—Summon!"
The Moon quaked.
The towering Demonic Statue of the Outer Path appeared beside them.
Withered, grotesque, and massive.
This statue was once the body of the Ten-Tails—now an empty husk after the Tailed Beasts were separated.
The Sage summoned it alongside the nine beasts…
His intent was clear:
He planned to recreate the Ten-Tails to deal with Naruto.
His eyes swept across the Beasts.
"Children… forgive me."
"I promise I'll split you apart again when this is over."
"But for now… go back where you came from."
Kurama's pupils trembled.
He opened his mouth to speak—
But it was too late.
The Sage's Rinnegan flared, bursting with divine light.
Laced within it was the true power of the Six Paths.
The Beasts had no way to resist.
Chains burst from the Gedo Statue—thick, barbed, and brutal.
Similar to the Uzumaki sealing chains—but even more oppressive.
Kurama, bound tightly, looked devastated.
"To think I'd be caught by the old man himself…"
He twisted his head, being slowly dragged back.
"Naruto—guess it's all up to you now."
"You better not die, you bastard."
Naruto simply waved.
"Don't worry. I'll get you out."
"A promise is a promise—even if it takes time."
That simple reply—
And those calm, confident blue eyes—
Made Kurama grin in spite of himself.
"Yeah… that brat's never lost once."
"Even the Sage might not win this time…"
Clink! Clank!
All nine Tailed Beasts were sealed into the Gedo Statue.
Its hideous face—now opened with nine bloodshot eyes.
Each eye represented a Beast.
The Nine-Tails' eye was bright and sharp.
The others—wounded and weak—barely held themselves open.
The contrast made the statue even more grotesque.
In the past, Nagato needed four full days to absorb a single One-Tail using the Phantom Dragon Seal.
The Sage did it in mere seconds.
Now full, the statue ripped off its shackles and let out a thundering roar—
It was filled with rage.
Kaguya, watching from afar, felt nostalgic seeing the forming of the Ten-Tails again.
The Sage turned back, his expression solemn.
"Naruto Uzumaki. This is your final chance."
"Will you stand down?"
Naruto said nothing.
But the power radiating off him began to climb.
—
Sage Mode – activated.
Tenseigan Chakra Mode – activated.
Eight Gates Released Formation — Death Gate – activated.
Super Five-Tails Chakra Cloak – activated.
—
Naruto didn't speak.
He just kept stacking buffs.
Even the Death Gate, which took Might Guy over 20 years to master—
Naruto activated casually, his Sage Body withstanding the strain with ease.