Hagoromo Becomes a Disciple

Though he claimed he wanted to save the world,

Manji really just wanted revenge for Kaguya betraying him all those years ago!

As the saying went, cutting off someone's livelihood was like killing their parents.

Kaguya had directly robbed him of the opportunity that should have been his. What's more, Manji had been deceived into risking his life to help her fight Isshiki.

And then she'd deceived him!

Manji was easygoing, but even this was too much!

If he simply laughed it off and chose not to take revenge, then he really would be an idiot.

"Ah, my cultivation still isn't good enough. If I had a few more centuries, maybe I wouldn't be angry anymore..."

When Manji realized his temper was getting unstable, he sighed inwardly.

A few centuries from now, perhaps these things wouldn't hurt so much.

So sometimes Manji just couldn't understand why some ancient beings in other novels, despite having lived for centuries, still got angry at the drop of a hat.

How old was he, really? And yet he was already becoming detached—or perhaps just more composed.

Even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, he wouldn't bat an eye.

So, don't get angry!

Every illness in the world comes from anger.

To live a long life, you have to keep a good mood!

Let it go! Let it go! Let it go!

The heavy silence in the hall was broken by Hagoromo's labored breathing. His clenched fists had turned his knuckles white, and his Three-Tomoe Sharingan trembled violently in their sockets.

Hagoromo looked at Manji with a hint of trepidation, but his gaze held even more resolve. "Sage, what should we do?"

"Mother... Kaguya is beyond saving."

Manji rose slowly. His black-and-red robes swept across the floor of the empty hall with a faint rustle.

"The path of resistance will be one of near-certain death."

"Kaguya possesses the power of the God Tree Fruit. She is immortal. With your Sharingan and Byakugan as they are now, you can't even break through her defenses."

Manji walked up to them, his gaze passing over their faces as he spoke in a voice as steady as a mountain.

"I wish to take you as my master. Please teach me your arts!"

After saying this, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo knelt on one knee.

"Big brother!"

Hamura cried out in alarm.

He instinctively glanced up at Manji on the dais, then turned back to stare at Hagoromo's back. His voice carried a barely perceptible tremble.

"Do you know what this means? We'll be going against Mother!"

Hamura's hands clenched tight, his knuckles whitening.

From Manji, Hamura had heard how their mother Kaguya had been controlled by Isshiki and nearly turned into a sacrifice, as well as the grievances she had suffered at the hands of that scoundrel. He had always felt reluctant to condemn her.

But the crystal ball had shown their mother ruthlessly betraying Manji. The corpses piled beneath the God Tree and Haori's cold face were like sharp knives, repeatedly piercing his limits.

"She may have had her reasons, but... but can betraying the Sage and harming the innocent really be forgiven?"

Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo spoke in a low voice.

"That's true..."

Hamura murmured, his voice full of anguish and hesitation. His gaze wandered between Hagoromo and the Void, as if searching for an answer that could convince him.

"Hamura!"

"Why are you still hesitating at a time like this?"

Hagoromo jerked his head up, the red glow of his Three-Tomoe Sharingan flaring brighter!

"Think about Haori!"

Hagoromo abruptly raised a hand and gripped the Magatama Necklace around his neck, long since gone cold.

Haori had tied it around his neck herself while she was alive. Now it had become the sharpest reminder of her!

"Have you forgotten how Haori died? She was just an ordinary human. She had never hurt anyone, yet Mother made her a sacrifice and turned her into that cold silkworm cocoon!"

"Mother's rule was built upon the bones of countless people! Do you think those who were sacrificed had no families? No one they cared about?"

"If this continues, the entire Ninja World will become a living hell, and every life will become a pawn for her to use against her clan! What is there left to cherish about a mother like that?"

Hagoromo sprang to his feet and turned to face Hamura.

His voice rang like thunder!

"But... she's our mother!"

"We should at least talk to her first. Maybe... maybe she can still turn back."

Hamura was still making one last attempt to convince himself. Memories of their mother's rare moments of tenderness flashed through his mind.

Manji remained silent on the dais, watching the two brothers.

He was also quietly assessing them.

No wonder Hamura would later choose to accompany their mother to the moon.

Although Hamura had chosen to stand against his mother alongside his elder brother, he still loved her.

Manji's gaze settled on Hamura.

Now it was time for him to speak...

"Blood ties are the hardest bonds in the world to sever."

"Kaguya was betrayed and endured hardships. That may explain why she went to extremes, but it can never excuse her harming the innocent and breaking her promises."

Manji paused. His gaze swept over Hagoromo's hand gripping the necklace, then returned to Hamura.

"You want to talk to her because you still care about her as your mother. That sentiment is precious, but you must understand that once someone takes the wrong path and commits certain sins, there may be no turning back. Her heart has long since been filled with fear and selfish desire. Negotiating with her will only make more people pay the price."

Manji spoke slowly, his gaze profound.

Hagoromo heard him and dropped to one knee again, bowing his head even lower. "The Sage speaks the truth! I have made up my mind. Whatever the cost, I will stop Mother! I beg you to take me as your disciple and teach me the power to oppose her!"

Manji looked at Hagoromo.

To be honest, he hadn't originally intended to take the Sage of Six Paths as his disciple. He'd only wanted to use him to get revenge on Kaguya.

But since the Sage of Six Paths had come to him of his own accord...

Then...

He wouldn't turn him away.

Hamura stood where he was, his expression shifting.

Manji looked at Hagoromo's resolute figure, then at the uncertainty on Hamura's face, and slowly nodded.

He raised a hand, and a gentle ribbon of Senjutsu Chakra drifted down onto Hagoromo.

"I can take you as my disciple and teach you Mount Myōboku's senjutsu, along with the ninjutsu needed to stand against Kaguya."

"But Hamura, I won't force you. You can choose to train under me, or you can choose to visit Kaguya.

I must warn you, though: when you find her, the person you face may no longer be the mother you remember, the one who was occasionally gentle. She may instead be a tyrant completely consumed by power and fear."

Manji sighed softly.

Hagoromo's eyes blazed with joy. He bowed his head to the floor. "Your disciple, Hagoromo, pays his respects to Master!"

His forehead struck the cold stone with a sharp knock.

Hamura remained standing, his gaze complicated as he looked at his kneeling elder brother,

then up at Manji on the dais, his expression calm. The scales in his heart began to tip, little by little, between family and justice.

Then, Ōtsutsuki Hamura made a compromise.

"Sage, I'll go back and talk to Mother first. If she refuses to change, I'll come back!"

Ōtsutsuki Hamura bowed slightly and spoke respectfully.

Manji nodded and cautioned him, "Be careful."