Chapter 375: Is Hyuga Fuji the Child of Prophecy?
Uchiha Madara leaped across the battlefield, watching as Hyuga Fuji and Kaguya clashed and teleported away. He fell silent.
When Hashirama caught up, Madara let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "I never expected things to turn out this way… Infinite Tsukuyomi was all part of Black Zetsu's scheme."
"Madara…"
Hashirama scratched his head, unsure of what to say.
After Infinite Tsukuyomi was activated, they had hurried to the battlefield, encountering Allied Forces ninjas along the way and learning what had happened.
To put it bluntly—after hearing the truth about Black Zetsu, Hashirama couldn't help but feel that Madara had been played.
His methods may have been flawed, but his desire for peace had been genuine. Who could have predicted that he was just a pawn in someone else's plan?
"Should we go after them?"
After a moment of thought, Hashirama suggested, "Maybe we can help."
"Hmph."
Madara shot him a glance before turning away with a cold snort. "We'd just be a burden. Their level is far beyond ours, and both are skilled in space-time ninjutsu. We wouldn't even be able to keep up."
As much as he hated to admit it, in their Edo Tensei states, neither he nor Hashirama could contribute to a battle of that magnitude.
Hashirama frowned but knew Madara was right. He sighed in frustration.
Just then, both men felt their spirits tremble as they were pulled into a vast mental space shrouded in darkness. In front of them sat an old man floating in the void.
"Hmm?"
Hashirama eyed the elder warily, his focus immediately locking onto the man's Rinnegan. "Who are you? Why did you bring me into this place?"
"Do you… need power?"
The Sage of Six Paths looked at Hashirama and cut straight to the point.
"Power to join the battle."
Since the man before him was Asura's reincarnation, keeping things simple was best.
"Eh?"
Hashirama blinked, momentarily stunned.
---
"The Sage of Six Paths, huh?"
Madara crossed his arms. The moment he saw the man's Rinnegan, he understood his identity.
"So, you're not dead after all. Well, I suppose it makes sense. If a Ten-Tails Jinchūriki couldn't escape death, that would be disappointing."
"Dead?"
The Sage of Six Paths let out a weary sigh. "By the common definition, I am indeed dead… but my soul lingers."
His gaze fell upon Madara's Rinnegan, identical to his own. His expression grew complicated.
"Just like Indra, who once resided within you."
Madara frowned slightly, confused. The Sage patiently explained, recounting the ancient conflict between his brother and Kaguya, as well as the enmity between Indra and Asura.
He expected Madara to shift his attention to Kaguya after hearing this. Instead, Madara's expression darkened as he demanded answers.
"So what you're saying is… Black Zetsu was the mess you left behind? He rewrote history, leading me down a false path, which ultimately resulted in Kaguya's resurrection?"
"…That's correct."
The Sage couldn't deny it.
Black Zetsu's existence was something he had failed to notice, and because of that, Kaguya had been revived…
…Wait a minute.
Something wasn't right.
The Sage suddenly realized—he hadn't discovered Black Zetsu, yes, but did Black Zetsu actually do anything to revive Kaguya?
Didn't that guy just sit back and win effortlessly?
The one who truly revived Kaguya was Hyuga Fuji and his brother!
I'm not taking the blame for this!
And what was that about rewriting history? There was no such thing as an original historical record!
The so-called Four Great Historical Texts were fabricated—a web of lies spun by Hyuga Fuji!
The Sage of Six Paths wanted to argue, but when he saw the cold glare in Madara's eyes, he sighed in resignation.
Indra had once been a good child—just and caring toward his kin. It was his own flawed teaching methods that had led Indra astray.
As Indra's reincarnation, Madara had been deceived by Black Zetsu. He had every right to hold resentment toward the Sage.
"Failing to handle Black Zetsu properly was my mistake. That is why I have come to you—to correct that error."
The Sage's eyes bore into Madara.
"Your Rinnegan was taken, but your foundation remains. I can restore your life and grant you a portion of my power to help you awaken it again."
"In the past, I placed my trust in Asura and overlooked Indra. Now, I want to entrust the future to both of you."
Madara narrowed his eyes.
He didn't need the Sage to say it—he already knew who Asura's reincarnation was in this era.
Hashirama.
"According to your logic, Indra and Asura have already reincarnated again. Without them, you still want to give Hashirama and me your power? Why not seek out their latest reincarnations?"
"They are still children."
The Sage sighed, recalling the Dragon Vein Incident three years ago.
Then he continued, "Besides, the timeline is now in a closed loop. Eventually, their reincarnations will return to this era, reconcile, and depart for the Pure Land together."
"Strictly speaking, there will never be another 'true' reincarnation of Indra or Asura. By the time they reach the right age, they will return to this time, leaving no successor behind."
"As for lacking Indra and Asura's presence… even among their reincarnations, you two are exceptional. You inherited their full power—perhaps even surpassed them. You are more than capable of handling my strength."
Madara pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked, "You once mentioned a friend of yours—a prophetic toad. That must be the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku, correct?"
"He prophesied that the shinobi world would be saved and transformed by a blue-eyed boy. That person must be Hyuga Fuji, who awakened the Tenseigan?"
"If he is the one, then why give us power? Do you not trust him?"
You sure ask a lot of questions…
The Sage nodded. "That seems to be the case. Hyuga Fuji's impact on the shinobi world is undeniable, and his Tenseigan matches the description. Based on my observations, my mother is not his match. He is about to defeat her and save the world—fulfilling the prophecy."
"That is why I have not interfered with him. Even that toad has acknowledged him as the Child of Prophecy and is simply waiting for him to seal Kaguya."
"However, prophecy is not absolute. If guided incorrectly, even the Child of Prophecy can bring destruction."
The Sage's expression darkened.
"Hyuga Fuji may be the prophesied one, but his obsession with power worries me. I fear he may go astray. Granting power to you and Hashirama serves both as insurance against Kaguya and as a failsafe against Hyuga Fuji—should the need arise."
Madara scoffed. "I don't see anything wrong with pursuing power. You're mistaken about him. Even if we have our differences, as long as he doesn't destroy this hard-won peace, I won't raise a hand against him."
He then smirked. "Besides, I brought up that toad not just to talk about the prophecy. If you grant me power, I might just use it on your little toad friend."
That damned toad had played him before.
Ever since being revived, he hadn't had the chance to settle the score.
Now that he knew the toad had the Sage of Six Paths backing him, his desire for revenge had only grown stronger.
He was Uchiha Madara. He didn't care who the enemy was—even if it was the Sage himself!
(End of Chapter)