Naruto: Sasuke Uchiha Returns from Soul Society

Sasuke shook his head: "No need, he's here."

Chapter 216 The True Face of Myth, The Origin of Pure Land, Six Paths Pupil Technique (5k) Requesting votes for next month?

"No need, he's here."

As soon as Sasuke finished speaking, the previously silent Pure Land space trembled slightly.

In the void ahead, a point of pitch-black ink suddenly spread out, rapidly expanding until it transformed into a black sphere suspended in mid-air.

It was the Seeking the Dao Jade that had led them in earlier.

Immediately afterwards, an old man, sitting cross-legged and floating, emerged from the hazy gray void.

He wore a simple white robe, with six red magatama necklaces around his neck and a black tin staff in his hand.

He had brown hair, wore a white robe, had paper-white skin, two short horns on his forehead, and a ring of markings around his chest.

His eyes are "Rinnegan", and there is a scarlet "blood-red Rinnegan" in the center of his forehead.

"..."

Sasuke gazed silently at the legendary founder of the Ninja Clan.

All of these characteristics are exactly the same as those of the Otsutsuki clan described by the giant tortoise.

So, does that mean the Sage of Six Paths is also a descendant of the Otsutsuki clan, who nearly destroyed the world?!

No wonder my body underwent those changes after the power within me was fully transformed.

It's less about evolution and more about atavism.

After all, the Uchiha clan are descendants of the Sage of Six Paths. In other words, the Uchiha clan can even be considered a branch family of the Otsutsuki clan.

The perfection of his power restored the Ōtsutsuki bloodline within Sasuke, which had long since thinned out.

"Uchiha Sasuke." The Sage of Six Paths approached slowly, his tone gentle, without a trace of malice. "I've wanted to see you for a long time."

"However, due to certain reasons, I am unable to appear in the world of the living to interfere with the cause and effect of this world."

The Sage of Six Paths sighed softly, then smiled again.

"But I think, given your personality and circumstances, you'll come looking for me sooner or later."

He gently swung the tin staff in his hand.

The ritual was completed in such a casual manner, and a warm campfire was lit among the group.

"Sit down." The Sage of Six Paths sat down cross-legged. "We have plenty of time; we can talk slowly."

Sasuke stared at him blankly, without making any comment.

Seeing that Sasuke was still standing, the Sage of Six Paths was not annoyed. Instead, his tone became even gentler, with a hint of ingratiation.

"Speaking of which..."

"From a bloodline perspective, you are the reincarnation of Indra's chakra, and I am Indra's father. The Uchiha clan can also be considered my descendants."

The Sage of Six Paths pointed to himself and said with a smile.

"So, it's not an exaggeration for you to call me Grandpa."

"..."

Sasuke's lips twitched slightly.

grandfather?

The way this title came from the mouth of this ancient monster who had lived for countless years sounded incredibly awkward.

However, he also had to admit that blood ties were indeed the most convenient and easiest way to break down barriers and win people over.

If two complete strangers suddenly become acquainted and discover they share a common relative, they might not necessarily become very close, but the atmosphere will certainly not be as cold and awkward as when two complete strangers meet.

Moreover, from a bloodline perspective, what the old man said wasn't wrong.

It won't hurt to shout it out.

But Sasuke completely ignored his attempt to get closer to him.

"I've been thinking about it."

He sat cross-legged by the campfire, watching the flickering flames, and said calmly, "Although it is the final resting place of the dead, since it is given such a sacred name as 'Pure Land,' it should not be as terrible as some legends describe."

"But after coming here today and seeing it with my own eyes, it is indeed different from those legends, but there isn't much difference either."

The Sage of Six Paths looked at Sasuke, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

"It is indeed as you see here, there is nothing but eternal tranquility, except for the vast number of souls produced after the death of the living."

He paused, then turned his gaze to Aizen, who maintained a smile throughout. "And this... guest from another world, please have a seat as well."

Aizen raised an eyebrow slightly, not surprised that the Sage of Six Paths could see through his origins at a glance.

After all, the person in front of them is a god of this world.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Aizen calmly sat down on the other side of the campfire, his gaze shifting between the Sage of Six Paths and Sasuke.

"Sasuke, I know you have many questions."

The Sage of Six Paths' voice deepened, "About this world, about chakra."

“The past cannot be changed, and I have never been very interested in that old history.”

Sasuke sat cross-legged, watching the flickering flames, and said calmly, "But seeing you like this, I'm actually a little curious."

He raised his head and looked directly into the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths.

"What exactly is your relationship with those Otsutsuki who invaded the ninja world?"

Upon hearing this question, the Sage of Six Paths paused slightly in the hand holding his staff, a bitter smile appearing on his face.

"You already knew about this too...?"

He sighed, his gaze drifting into the distance. "This all started a long, long time ago..."

"You must have heard of the legend about the 'Goddess of the Rabbit', right?"

Sasuke nodded.

That is the oldest myth circulating in the ninja world.

Legend has it that in the chaotic world of ancient times, a goddess descended from the sky, quelled all the wars, brought the first peace to this land, and gave birth to two sons amidst the blessings of the people.

One of them was the Sage of Six Paths, who was later revered as the founder of the Ninja Sect.

"In fact, that legend is almost entirely wrong."

The Sage of Six Paths spoke, his tone heavy, "But the goddess who descended was indeed my mother."

"Her name is Kaguya Otsutsuki, the same Otsutsuki clan you mentioned who invaded the ninja world."

“And I…” he pointed to the horn on his forehead, “is called Otsutsuki Hagoromo.”

Aizen, who was standing to the side, had a slight glint in his eyes when he heard the surname, clearly showing interest in this so-called "Otsutsuki".

"At that time, my mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki, was born into this world."

The Sage of Six Paths' voice turned colder, "She planted the Divine Tree, drawing life energy from this planet to produce that one and only chakra fruit."

Sasuke frowned. This did match the description of the giant tortoise quite well, but he hadn't expected that the one who did this would be the goddess of the rabbit, who would be celebrated in later generations.

"But she was afraid of something at the time."

The Sage of Six Paths continued, "To combat that fear, she began to become paranoid and insane."

"She attempted to control humanity through the Divine Tree, turning them into living puppets, and even created an army called 'White Zetsu' as her weapons against her enemies."

"So, you killed her back then to protect humanity?"

Sasuke remembered the giant tortoise's words, in which it said that the Otsutsuki were defeated by the Sage of Six Paths.

The Sage of Six Paths shook his head at Sasuke's guess, his expression helpless.

"No, even if she did those things, we still consider her our mother."

"After learning the truth, my brother Hamura and I tried to dissuade her, but we failed."

The Sage of Six Paths closed his eyes and reminisced about the past.

“Until one day…” his voice turned low, “the divine tree outside went out of control.”

"It transformed into a terrifying monster with ten tails, a calamity capable of destroying the world—the Ten-Tailed Beast."

"In order to stop the Ten-Tails' destruction and to protect this land, Hamura and I have no choice but to fight it."

"It was a deadly battle that lasted for months, the earth cracked and the mountains and rivers were shattered."

The Sage of Six Paths opened his eyes and looked at Sasuke. "In the end, we exhausted all our power to barely seal him with 'Planetary Devastation'."

He raised his hand and pointed to the empty sky above.

"That huge sealing stone was lifted into the sky and became the moon that hangs in the night sky today."

"moon......"

Sasuke's eyes flashed with surprise upon hearing this.

He looked up at the void. Although he couldn't see the moon from there, he could imagine how shocking the scene would be.

Such a huge celestial body was actually just a cage created to seal the Ten-Tails?

Such immense power truly befits the title of "immortal".

But Sasuke's brow did not unfurrow, because the Sage of Six Paths' answer kept avoiding the most crucial question.

"What does that have to do with your mother?" Sasuke keenly seized the loophole and pressed on, "You just mentioned the Ten-Tails, not Kaguya Otsutsuki."

"If the Ten-Tails is merely an incarnation of the Divine Tree, then what was Kaguya, as the guardian of the Divine Tree, doing at that time?"

Faced with Sasuke's question, the Sage of Six Paths' expression stiffened.

"It seems nothing can be hidden from you."

He shook his head with a wry smile, a look of sorrow in his eyes.

"It was only after that that we learned the truth about it all..."