White Zetsu was like a child who had suddenly gained power and was now acting recklessly.
Stepping into the Sequence 4 meant it was no longer just a mortal, but a saint who had taken a half-step into the realm of gods!
However, it still needed some time to fully digest the Beyonder potion.
"It won't take long. Soon, once I completely absorb the potion, I'll come to find you," White Zetsu said.
Clenching its fists, White Zetsu felt an explosive power surging through.
The air slipped rapidly through its fingers, creating a sharp, piercing whistle. It grew more confident by the moment.
This was what it meant to be a saint!
After enduring so much hardship, it had finally succeeded!
Then, using its psychological invisibility, White Zetsu quietly disappeared into the mountains.
It needed to find a place to continue digesting the leftover potion from its transformation.
Watching White Zetsu vanish, Uchiha Sogetsu, who had just enjoyed a good show, gently stroked Erii's hair and smiled softly.
"Well, the show's over. It's time for us to head back."
"Are we going back to Konoha?" Erii asked.
"Do you want to go, Erii?" Sogetsu asked in return.
Erii thought carefully for a moment, then nodded.
"I want to see how Sasuke is doing."
Though they hadn't spent much time together, Erii already considered Sasuke a friend in her heart.
In the battle chasing after Gaara, Sasuke relied on her half-matured "Shunko" and the various forms of Chidori to overwhelm Gaara in his normal state.
But in the end, she forced out the tailed beast.
As a result, Sasuke was slammed to the ground and given a harsh beating.
If Naruto hadn't arrived just in time to rescue Sasuke from Shukaku's mouth, the Uchiha clan might have been wiped out completely.
However, unlike the original story, Naruto had not received training from Jiraiya.
Without summoning techniques and with the Nine-Tails secretly suppressed by Lu Mingze, Naruto simply couldn't defeat Shukaku.
At the most critical moment, it was Orochimaru's "Cursed Seal," allowing Naruto to escape successfully.
Eventually, just as Jiraiya arrived late, Gaara and the others were defeated.
Naruto and Sasuke were rescued and taken back to the Konoha hospital to recover.
"I'll leave a clone behind to stay with you," Uchiha Sogetsu smiled and then formed another Virtual Persona.
"Sogetsu, aren't you coming back?" Erii tilted her head and asked.
"No, I have other matters to attend to."
Sogetsu gently ruffled her hair and smiled, "When you've had enough fun, come back on your own."
"Okay!"
Erii nodded obediently and said, "I won't cause any trouble."
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Sogetsu couldn't help but smile.
"No worries. Even if you cause a massive disaster, I can handle it."
This wasn't bragging on his part.
Given the current power balance in the ninja world, unless the Ōtsutsuki clan's gods revived, there was practically no one worthy of his concern.
Sequence Two — the Angel Persona was truly that formidable.
Inside the grand and towering Cathedral of Bones, Uchiha Sogetsu settled back into the bronze chair, resting his cheek against it as his gaze shifted to Adam beside him.
"So, what's the rush to call me back? Something happened?"
Adam's lip twitched, his somewhat messy hair falling out of place. He took a moment to compose himself before calmly replying, "The Chaos Sea broke through the Pure Land seal and invaded the Material Realm. That was your doing, wasn't it?"
"Not entirely."
Sogetsu shook his head lightly and said with a faint smile,
"The Chaos Sea would have broken free sooner or later. Better to release it early and add some fuel to the ninja world's fire."
Add some fuel to the fire?
Adam frowned, clearly puzzled.
"You want to increase the number of 'Beyonders'? That's not exactly a wise move."
"Are you familiar with the three fundamental laws of Beyonder Characteristics?" Sogetsu asked calmly, tapping his fingers on the table like a teacher testing a student.
"Indestructibility, Conservation, and Convergence," Adam answered in order, pushing up his glasses before adding,
"Convergence means conflict. Any life form possessing Beyonder Characteristics will inevitably be drawn together by the intense will of the 'Original Creator.' The more Beyonder Characteristics that exist, the closer they become to the 'Original Creator,' leading to a strong tendency toward Convergence."
"Not bad."
Uchiha Sogetsu tapped the table, signaling him to continue.
"Conservation gives the Beyonder ambition to fight."
Adam pushed up his glasses, his pale golden eyes flickering slightly. "The number of the Beyonder neither decreases nor increases. To raise your Sequence, you have to take from others."
"Indestructibility causes conflict and ambition; it never fades." He looked up at the man seated in the bronze chair and said in a deep voice, "All Beyonder Characteristics never disappear. Therefore, conflict will never end. By letting 'Chaos Sea' flow into the material world, you are stirring up 'conflict.'"
"Whatever separates will unite, and whatever unites will separate."
Uchiha Sogetsu stopped tapping and said calmly, "I intend to cultivate the Naruto world into a new world. You should know well that if the base number is too small, there's no way to advance. So the role of the Chaos Sea is indispensable."
His ambition never stopped at Sequence Zero, but aimed at Above the Sequence!
But Above the Sequence means many Pathwayways to explore and numerous Sequence-one Beyonder Characteristics to contain — far too many for him now.
Just one Pathway of the Tyrant alone would take several generations to cultivate.
Not to mention the other four Pathways. When truly cultivated, it would probably take at least ten or even a hundred years!
So, he needed a large base of ordinary Beyonders — like raising poisonous insects in a jar. Under the effect of the three great laws, suitable candidates would eventually emerge.
And all he needed to do was gently pull the strings of fate along the tide of the era and quietly wait for the fruit to ripen.
"I understand your idea, but... isn't this moving too fast?" Adam rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling something was off, or rather, not stable enough.
"If you are overly cautious, you will only miss opportunities."
Uchiha Sogetsu smiled gently. "I am not a flower growing in a greenhouse, nor am I Amon. If I can't even dare to take this risk, how can I guarantee that I won't be swallowed by the will of the 'Original Creator' as I climb higher in the Sequence?"
From the moment you step onto this Pathway, the stronger you become, the closer you get to the 'Original Creator.'
It has no way out.
Looking at the determined man, Adam suddenly smiled with soft eyes and said, "Alright, go ahead and do it. I will help you handle any worries behind you."
Mount Myoboku.
The great toad sage, who had been asleep for a long time, suddenly opened his eyes.
His tired eyes looked into the distance, as if holding feelings that were hard to express.
The toad attendant by his side glanced at the aging ancestor. "Sage, what did you dream about this time?"
"I dreamed of a future full of despair, but also hope."
The great toad sage spoke slowly, each word seeming to take great effort. "Fukasaku, Shima, you must go to Konoha and find young Jiraiya. Tell him that the future has changed, and many strange creatures that I cannot describe will appear—both a hope and a curse."
Hope? Despair?
Listening to the great toad sage's words, Fukasaku was a bit confused but still followed the order.
"Yes, Sage!"
Just as Fukasaku was about to leave, the great toad sage called out again.
"Wait, Fukasaku."
"Yes, Sage?"
Fukasaku asked.
The Great Toad Sage gazed into the distance, remaining silent for a long while before finally speaking, "By the way, go to the Shikkotsu Forest and the Ryūchi Cave. Tell the other two that I want to see them."
Upon hearing this, Fukasaku was instantly shocked, his eyes wide with astonishment.
The sages of the Three Great Sage Region—after nearly a thousand years—they were going to meet again?!
*******
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