The starry sky was truly beautiful, even if it was just a reflection on the water's surface.
However, Sasuke Uchiha didn't quite understand what the Sage of Six Paths meant.
"This is the boundary between life and death," the Sage explained, revealing the source of the beautiful starry scene. His voice was deep. "Every point of light is a soul that has lingered for a thousand years, held here by an attachment, unable to find release. They are forever trapped in this space, never able to move on."
Sasuke felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. Looking down, he realized the stars were countless.
How many souls are trapped here on the edge of life and death, unable to find peace?
"An unresolvable attachment," the Sage continued, "often means their life in the world of the living was unfulfilling. Not everyone can calmly accept their own death."
The Sage of Six Paths swiped his staff again, and the gigantic figure of a man named Emiya Shirou appeared. He quietly reached out, lifted a star, and allowed the soul trapped at the boundary to return to the Pure Land and rest in peace.
"He..." Sasuke still didn't understand.
"For a thousand years," the Sage explained, "Emiya Shirou has been doing the same thing: helping every soul trapped by obsession find release.
With power and wisdom far beyond ordinary people, he has spent a thousand long years on this edge of life and death, witnessing the lives of souls who suffered in the world.
All he ever sees is despair..."
Sasuke was silent, at a loss for words.
"I once tried to communicate with him," the Sage continued softly, watching the starlight on the water's surface begin to fade. "However, he never chose to meet me. This suggests his heart may be completely closed off. I suspect he has been swallowed by the dark world my mother created, which means he could become your greatest obstacle in stopping her revival."
"I understand," Sasuke said, nodding as if he had grasped the Sage's meaning. "So, if we want to stop Madara Uchiha and prevent Kaguya's revival, we have to get rid of Emiya Shirou. Is that it?"
The Sage of Six Paths hesitated.
A look of genuine bewilderment crossed his wise face, as if he couldn't comprehend what Sasuke was saying.
-----
Meanwhile, in the other space, Naruto Uzumaki's answer had left the Sage of Six Paths quite satisfied.
"I'll make him see hope again!" Naruto declared, clenching his fist with determination as he looked at the Sage. He couldn't believe Emiya Shirou had experienced so much pain.
A soft laugh escaped the Sage's lips. He seemed to see his own naive son, Asura, in Naruto. They even wanted to do the exact same thing.
"Then..." The Sage looked at the re-energized Naruto, his face filled with the same hope he once had for his son. "I'll leave everything to you."
Back with Sasuke, he was surprised. The Sage of Six Paths hadn't responded to his words.
What's going on? he thought. Did I misunderstand him?
"You and Indra... are exactly the same." A wry smile appeared on the Sage's face. He saw the shadow of his eldest son in Sasuke. "Back then, when Indra first heard Emiya Shirou's name, he also wanted to kill him."
Sasuke's brow furrowed, clearly unhappy with the Sage's words. "But power is the fastest way to solve problems, isn't it?"
"Unfortunately, Indra lost to Emiya Shirou," the Sage said, shaking his head.
His wry smile deepened with a sense of helplessness. "Asura, on the other hand, convinced Emiya Shirou to give up on destroying Ninshu."
Sasuke's expression immediately soured. He almost didn't want the Sage's Yin Power anymore.
What is this old man trying to say? he thought angrily. Is he mocking me?
Mocking me for not thinking before I act?
"I just want to tell you that in this world, power cannot solve all problems." The Sage seemed to see right through Sasuke's thoughts.
After his gentle persuasion, he added a very important piece of information. "Emiya Shirou's current power has definitely surpassed my own. I don't know the true extent of his strength, but it's very likely it has already surpassed even my mother's."
Sasuke's stomach dropped.
Such important information... why is he only telling me this now?!
"You possess the Sharingan," the Sage said. "You should understand that chakra is a power influenced by emotions. Emiya Shirou obtained power that originated from me, and he has personally experienced a thousand years of despair. His soul has been wandering in pain."
The Sage was being subtle. He didn't mention that the Uchiha's kekkei genkai was only a fraction of the power he once possessed.
Emiya Shirou, on the other hand, had obtained his body.
In a way, Emiya Shirou had likely found a means to obtain his complete power, and his own chakra would have grown stronger due to his emotional state.
"The Yin-Yang Power you gave us," Sasuke began, glancing at his palm. "It can't seal two people at once, can it? We can seal one of them..."
The Sage seemed truly helpless. He could only offer a guarantee. "Forget it. If you really can't handle it, when the chakra of Indra, Asura, and the Nine-Tails combine, my residual chakra will be able to descend."
Sasuke looked at the Sage with suspicion.
Wait... at this point, can we even deal with Emiya Shirou?
But things had come to this. He had no choice but to trust the Sage of Six Paths. The difference in their power was simply too vast.
Back in the living world, the situation on the battlefield had changed once more.
Madara Uchiha slowly raised his finger. Like a rushing torrent, the Ten-Tails was rapidly absorbed into his body. His hair turned pale white in an instant, fragments of chakra fluttering around him as a short horn grew from his forehead. The Ten-Tails Jinchuriki!
Madara was content, immersing himself in this abundant and powerful force. Nine pitch-black Truth-Seeking Orbs slowly materialized behind him. J
ust as Madara was looking down on Hashirama Senju and the Allied Shinobi Forces with pleasure, treating them as if they were nothing, Emiya Shirou's figure quietly appeared beside him.
"My apologies, Lord Emiya. I'm a little late." Madara's eyes narrowed. He subconsciously tried to sense Emiya Shirou's power to compare it with his own. "I don't know if it's my imagination, but your chakra seems..."
"Stronger than yours," Emiya Shirou stated, shaking his head and casually answering Madara's unspoken question. "Once you master the power of the Six Paths, the strength of chakra no longer makes much difference to us."
"Even the strong can be defeated by a special jutsu," Emiya continued. "And even the weak may have a chance in a desperate battle."
Madara agreed with him. Still, after becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, the thought that he wasn't the strongest in the ninja world was inevitably disappointing.
"Madara, cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi first," Black Zetsu urged, stepping forward cautiously. "Hurry and end this war. It will prevent more people from dying."
He sounded like quite the peace-lover, which struck everyone present as a bit strange.
"Then..." Madara glanced at the advancing Allied Shinobi Forces.
"Don't worry," Emiya Shirou said, stepping forward and raising a hand toward the Allied Shinobi Forces. "Leave this to me."
"Alright. But don't let Hashirama return to the Pure Land." Madara had no doubt Emiya could stop the Allied Shinobi Forces.
He looked back at his old friend, then flew toward the sky, leaving behind an arrogant explanation: "I want Hashirama to see for himself the eternal peace the Infinite Tsukuyomi will bring to this world!"
Black Zetsu's expression grew strange.
Really? We have to be this petty right now? he thought. Oh well. It doesn't matter anymore.
As long as the light of the Infinite Tsukuyomi covered the earth... Black Zetsu looked up at Madara flying toward the blood moon.
He finally began to relax. At this moment, he was only one step away from reviving his mother, Kaguya.
However, just as Black Zetsu relaxed, a giant purple arrow suddenly appeared, shooting straight for Madara!
"That's...!" Black Zetsu's heart tightened.
"Don't worry." A Truth-Seeking Orb appeared in Emiya Shirou's hand.
He threw it, pinning the giant purple arrow in place. His voice was as calm as ever. "It seems someone has met the Sage of Six Paths and learned some tricks."