Mount Myōboku was shrouded in thick fog.
Manji laid White Eyebrow's remains to rest by the river on Mount Myōboku, letting those thousand-year-old immortal bones become one with the mountains and waters.
Though in the human world, there was a saying that burying someone by a river was inauspicious.
But this was the land of toads, where a riverside burial was considered lucky.
Gamamaru stood watch outside, his eyes red-rimmed.
Manji stood before the tomb, gazing at it in silence.
The mountain breeze swept through, carrying pine needles and the rosy glow of the sunset. They settled on Manji's white robes, like the gentle touch of the Sage White Eyebrow he had first met a hundred years ago.
Manji stood before the tomb, watching the clouds drift across the mountains.
His fingers unconsciously rubbed the hilt of the Six Paths Sword. White Eyebrow's final words still echoed in his ears: "Guard your heart. Do not lose yourself."
Meanwhile, far away, across the desolate plains.
The traces of Kaguya's battle from long ago had long since been covered by grass and trees. Only the pockmarked earth bore witness to the earth-shattering battle that had once taken place here!
Hagoromo's many disciples
"Let's build a home together!"
Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo rolled up his sleeves, sweat beading on his brow as he and his followers tamped down earth and laid stones.
His Chakra was powerful enough to raise a palace in an instant, yet he always chose to labor alongside everyone else. Rough wood shavings clung to his robes, but the sight kindled a fervent light in every follower's eyes.
"The foundation of the Ninja Sect lies not in power, but in unity."
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Hagoromo spoke gently.
"Had Sage Manji not guided me back then, I would not be who I am today, and none of us would have gathered here."
And everyone worked together with one heart!
Several days passed in a flash!
A simple yet stately hall rose from the plains, its beams and pillars imbued with the warmth of everyone's shared labor.
On the day it was completed, Hagoromo personally carried a portrait and slowly climbed to the raised platform at the center of the hall.
The portrait showed a youth in black and red robes, standing with a sword on his back. His expression was serene, his features breathtaking, and his figure tall and graceful. Behind him, clouds and rosy skies filled the view of Mount Myōboku. It was exactly how Manji had looked in Hagoromo's memories a hundred years ago!
Hagoromo had painted it himself after the battle with Kaguya. Though he had failed to capture the man's full spirit, the portrait held all the reverence in his heart.
Carefully, Hagoromo hung the portrait in the center.
"Today, the Ninja Sect is founded!"
"I, Hagoromo, pledge to devote my life to passing on the Sage's teachings and protecting the peace of the world. The source of the Ninja Sect, the guide of this world, is my master—Sage Manji!
"From this day onward, he shall be the Grandmaster of the Ninja Sect. Generation after generation must pay him homage and revere him as a god!"
Hagoromo turned to face the thousands of followers below the steps, his voice ringing with conviction.
"!!!!"
The crowd answered in unison!
But an elderly man slowly stepped forward, looking apprehensive.
The old man bowed. "Lord Hagoromo, you often say that you are a disciple of Sage Manji, and we have no doubt of it.
"But... the Sage's given name is Manji. Would it not be disrespectful for us to address him by name?"
His words were like a stone thrown into a lake, and the crowd immediately echoed his sentiments.
"Indeed. The Grandmaster's might and prestige are unmatched. How could we address him by name?"
"We should give the Grandmaster an honorific title to show our reverence!"
The discussion rose and fell around them. Hearing this, Hagoromo nodded slightly and rubbed his chin as he considered the matter.
"That makes sense..."
Hagoromo's gaze casually passed over the long sword behind the youth in the portrait. The sword's name suddenly came to mind—the Six Paths Sword.
Manji had given the sword that name long ago. "Six Paths" was quite a fine name!
Why not use those two words?
Change Sage Manji to the Sage of Six Paths?
"Six Paths..."
Hagoromo murmured, and his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Sage Manji wielded the Six Paths Sword to bring peace to the world and protect all living things. Why not honor him as the 'Sage of Six Paths'?"
The moment he announced the title, the crowd below erupted in astonishment, then broke into even more enthusiastic agreement.
"The Sage of Six Paths! What a fine name!"
"The story's been good so far? Add it to your bookshelf so you won't lose track of it!"
"It conveys his divine might while sparing us from using his given name. Most appropriate!"
Hagoromo watched the crowd's excitement, though a trace of hesitation crossed his heart.
He had not sought his master's approval. Was it improper to bestow an honorific title on him without permission?
But then he thought again. His master had lived in seclusion for many years, and his whereabouts were unknown. Now that the Ninja Sect had just been founded, they needed a title that could unite everyone. If his master was displeased, they could change it later.
"Everyone, listen!"
Hagoromo raised a hand to quell the uproar, his tone solemn.
"From this day forward, no one may address Sage Manji by name!
"He shall be known throughout the world only as the 'Sage of Six Paths.' This is the Grandmaster's honorific title. Anyone who disobeys will be punished for showing disrespect!"
Hagoromo paused, then glanced at the old man who had made the suggestion.
"Send people at once to every Manji temple across the land. Replace all the plaques with the new honorific title, and inform the people of the world that everyone must revere the Grandmaster, the Sage of Six Paths."
"Understood!"
The old man bowed and hurried away.
Hagoromo turned back to the portrait in the center of the hall, straightened his robes, and slowly bowed in worship.
Seeing this, the thousands of followers dropped to their knees and bowed respectfully, chanting in unison, "We pay homage to the Sage of Six Paths!"
Their voices rang through the hall, swept across the plains, and spread throughout the world.
From that day on, Sage Manji was officially renamed the Sage of Six Paths!
Another hundred years passed.
Throughout those hundred years, Manji had devoted himself to governing Mount Myōboku.
He established a council of elders and eliminated some of Mount Myōboku's cumbersome, antiquated interests. At the same time, he made clear that Mount Myōboku's core was not merely power.
It was spirit.
Manji had borrowed many of the great principles and philosophical ideas from his previous life and taught them to the toads.
The greatest thing Manji accomplished during those hundred years was writing a book!
Back when Manji had watched Naruto, he had always felt that its history was far too carelessly handled, with hardly any records at all.
So he decided to use his standing on Mount Myōboku to help the world create a history of its own!
One that was sufficiently fair and absolutely detailed.
It would use no biased, roundabout language and would take neither side.
It would be entirely neutral and objective!
Of course, Kaguya's history was an exception...
Inside the Sage Hall
Manji sat upright on the platform.
"Next, I'll speak, and you'll write."
Manji looked at the little toad below him, who was bowing respectfully, and spoke slowly.
"Great Sage, please wait a moment. In our historical records, we do not dare to write your name directly. How should we address you?"
The little toad asked respectfully.
Manji gave the matter some thought. In the history of his previous life, court historians had to avoid writing the reigning emperor's name.
"Just call me the Great Sage."
"We'll start at the beginning. Two aliens descended from the sky. They wanted to control the world, but the Great Sage bravely resisted them. Though he failed the first time, through diligent training, the Great Sage ultimately defeated..."
Manji cut out part of the story and recast himself as a native hero who had resisted foreign invaders.
He also removed the part about joining forces with Kaguya to steal the Chakra Fruit, erasing that dark side of the story.
He simplified the complicated history of the Otsutsuki God Tree Fruit, changing it to a straightforward tale of a desire to rule the Earth.
He also erased the truth of his own unknown origins. The world's history began with Kaguya and Isshiki descending to Earth.
He continued writing history up to the present.
Only then did Manji let out a long breath.
"Phew..."
"I don't know what happened after that. I haven't visited the human world in many years.
"Order Mount Myōboku's Intelligence Department to look into the human world. Remember, verify everything from multiple sources and remain objective. Once the history is written, bring it to me for review."
Manji waved slightly, indicating that the little toad could leave.
The little toad bowed and withdrew.
"If you've enjoyed the story so far, add it to your bookshelf so you won't lose track of it!"
Before you continue