Within the consciousness space, all was silent. Naruto Uzumaki opened his eyes and murmured, "Am I... dead?"
"I do not know how you define death, but by this old man's definition, you are not dead yet." The old man's voice rang out through the silent space. Naruto gave a puzzled sound as he rose and looked toward the voice.
An old man in white robes floated cross-legged in the air. Black Truth-Seeking Orbs formed a ring beneath his feet, seemingly holding him aloft. His beard was exceedingly long, hanging all the way to his waist, while a Sage Staff floated before him.
A stern and old-fashioned old man! That was Naruto's instinctive impression, and it was also the impression most people had upon first meeting the Sage of Six Paths back then.
"Who are you, old man?" Naruto asked. "And where is this place?"
As he spoke, he looked around. Other than the silent emptiness, there was nothing. Beneath his feet was a pool of stagnant water, yet he did not feel as though he were standing on its surface. If he had to compare it to something, it resembled the space within him where the Nine-Tails had once been sealed. But the Nine-Tails was no longer here, nor was there any seal.
Though Naruto was asking questions, he was also secretly studying the Sage of Six Paths before him, constantly analyzing him. From his appearance alone, the other man was clearly different from modern humans. His face was covered in wrinkles, and concentric ripples spread through his pupils. Naruto was familiar with those—they were Rinnegan.
There were two inhuman horns on his forehead, and it seemed there was another eye between his brows.
"My name? That is indeed a good question. However, I am not certain whether the name