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"Manji… you are the strongest person on this planet."
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's voice was crisp and clear, yet laced with an undercurrent of quiet desperation.
"If Isshiki Ōtsutsuki is allowed to continue unchecked, your world will eventually be destroyed. And I refuse to become a sacrifice for that monster. All I want is to live peacefully with the one I love."
She lifted her gaze to meet Manji's, her eyes flashing with steely resolve. "Why don't we join forces? We set a trap for Isshiki—and feed him to the Ten-Tails!"
"When the Divine Tree bears its Chakra Fruit… it's yours."
Kaguya extended her olive branch slowly, her gaze locked firmly on the young man before her.
Manji's expression was grave. He watched her in silence, not uttering a single word—as though carefully weighing every advantage and risk of allying against Isshiki. The silence stretched on.
Seeing that he still hadn't responded, a shadow of disappointment crept across Kaguya's face. She turned away slowly. "In a few days, I'll be offered as a sacrifice to the Ten-Tails. If you change your mind… come find me in the Land of Ancestors."
Her words lingered in the air as her figure shifted—and vanished without a sound through the cave's entrance.
.....
Inside the cave, Manji sat alone on the cold stone seat, sinking into a long, heavy silence.
He wasn't originally from this world. He was a transmigrator.
When he first arrived, he assumed he'd landed in ancient Japan—until two streaks of light tore across the sky and the terrifying silhouette of the Ten-Tails loomed into view.
That was when it hit him. This wasn't ancient Japan at all. This was the primordial era of the Naruto world.
From that moment on, Manji threw himself into the pursuit of power like a man possessed—driven by one singular obsession: to grow stronger, and to live forever.
And fortune favored the relentless. Against all odds, he actually found Mount Myōboku.
The Sage Arts legacy of Mount Myōboku set him on the path of cultivation, and his talent turned out to be nothing short of extraordinary.
Not only did he master Sage Jutsu, he pushed Sage Mode to its absolute limit—a permanent state. No activation required. No time limit. Sage energy flowing through him at all times, as naturally as breathing.
And then—as if fate wasn't done being generous—in the very same year he achieved Permanent Sage Mode, the System arrived.
It presented him with two choices:
[Choice One: Invincible for One Hundred Years!]
[Rewards: Rinne-Sharingan, Chakra Fruit, Ōtsutsuki Body…]
[Cost: After one hundred years of invincibility, instant death. No method of revival exists.]
.....
[Choice Two: The Immortal]
[Rewards: Eternal life. Infinite lifespan!]
[Cost: Strength permanently capped at Beyond-Kage level. You will never cross the threshold into Six Paths tier—infinitely close, yet forever short—unless you encounter a heaven-defying opportunity.]
Faced with these two options, Manji didn't hesitate for even a second.
He had always believed that eternity itself was the ultimate art.
A hundred years of invincibility sounded thrilling, sure—but a century of reckless glory could never compare to savoring a thousand years of quiet existence.
He'd just arrived in the Naruto world. Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, Madara, Hashirama… all those legendary figures—he hadn't met a single one yet.
Coupled with his deep-seated obsession with immortality, the choice was obvious.
He picked [The Immortal] without a shred of regret.
Beyond-Kage level was more than enough for him.
Worst case scenario, he'd lay low in the mountains—outlast Kaguya, outlast the Sage of Six Paths, outlast Indra and Asura.
Before Madara and Hashirama were even born, there would be a long, empty era where his Beyond-Kage strength would be enough to dominate the entire world with virtually no opposition.
And besides—at Beyond-Kage level, for the vast majority of history, nobody could touch him.
His original plan was simple: wait for Kaguya to be sealed, for the Sage of Six Paths to pass on, for Indra and Asura to return to dust—and only then emerge from hiding. Safe. Calculated. Bulletproof.
But the best-laid plans always have one flaw.
On one of his rare outings to help nearby villagers, he happened to cross paths with the Emperor of the Land of Ancestors, who was out on a stroll—with Kaguya at his side.
The Emperor was just an ordinary mortal. He couldn't sense anything unusual. But Kaguya was different—she possessed the Byakugan and had seen more than most. One glance was all it took for her to detect the extraordinary power hidden within Manji.
He'd wanted to immediately reverse-summon himself to the Toad Sanctuary and escape—but it was already too late.
And that was how Kaguya ended up at his doorstep.
.....
"Do I help her… or not?"
Manji rubbed his chin, brow furrowed.
Honestly, Isshiki Ōtsutsuki was ruthless and cunning—not someone to be taken lightly.
Between Daikokuten's spatial manipulation and Sukunahikona's size-shifting ability, both were absurdly overpowered—capable of countering virtually every ninjutsu in existence. And in terms of raw physical combat, Isshiki could ragdoll base-state Naruto and Sasuke simultaneously without breaking a sweat.
If Manji recklessly jumped in to help, there was a very real chance Isshiki would put him down with a few black rods and a couple of punches. The risk was enormous.
But then again… he couldn't suppress the fire burning in his chest:
"The Divine Tree Fruit… Kaguya ate that fruit and gained near-infinite chakra and an immortal body—ascending to the absolute pinnacle of the shinobi world in a single leap!"
"If I eat that fruit… could it break through the System's shackles and push me into Six Paths tier?"
The System had said it clearly: unless he encountered a monumental opportunity, his strength would be forever capped at Beyond-Kage.
So—could this Chakra Fruit from the Divine Tree be that heaven-defying opportunity?
If he got his hands on it, it would be an instant ascension!
Manji narrowed his eyes and pulled up the System panel:
[Name: Manji]
[Constitution: Eternal Immortality]
[Lifespan: ∞]
[Abilities: Permanent Sage Mode, Toad-Style Sage Arts, Monkey King Clan Staff Techniques…]
"With my current strength, going one-on-one against Isshiki would be borderline suicidal."
Manji murmured to himself.
"But with Kaguya backing me up... in canon, Kaguya actually managed to ambush Isshiki successfully. That means the odds aren't bad at all."
"And once we pull it off—once I get the Chakra Fruit—it's a quantum leap in power!"
Going all-in—that's not recklessness. That's wisdom.
Besides, he still had an escape route. Worst case, if things went south, he'd bail to the Toad Sanctuary and retreat to Mount Myōboku.
"Alright—I'm going for it!"
Manji's eyes flashed with determination as he slammed his fist into his palm.
"You miss every shot you don't take!"
No more deliberating. He immediately began preparing his "arsenal."
And his source for weapons? Naturally—his old friends at Mount Myōboku.
After years of living in the shinobi world, he'd long since forged a deep bond with the toads of Mount Myōboku.
"Reverse Summoning Technique!"
No hand signs needed.
Manji focused his intent, and the jutsu activated instantly.
.....
Mount Myōboku—bathed in its eternal daylight.
The sacred mountain looked almost exactly like it did in canon.
"Mount Myōboku really is a paradise… In the original story, even when the Infinite Tsukuyomi engulfed the entire world, this place was completely unaffected by its radiation."
Manji navigated the familiar paths with practiced ease, making his way toward the Grand Toad Hall.
"Oh? Manji—you're here!"
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