The Ninja Sect and the Sage of Six Paths

Mount Myōboku was shrouded in thick fog.

Manji laid the remains of White Eyebrow to rest by the riverbank of Mount Myōboku, allowing those thousand-year-old immortal bones to merge with the landscape.

Although there is a saying in the human world that burial by the river is ill-omened.

But here, where toads dwell, burial by the river is considered auspicious.

Gamamaru stood guard on the periphery, his eyes rimmed with red.

Manji stood before the tomb, gazing silently.

The mountain breeze swept through, carrying pine needles and the colors of the sunset, brushing against Manji's trailing white robes like the gentle touch of White Eyebrow when they first met a hundred years ago.

Manji stood before the tomb, watching the clouds roll across the mountains.

His fingertips unconsciously rubbed the hilt of the Six Paths Sword; White Eyebrow's dying words still echoed in his ears—"Guard your heart, do not lose your true self."

Meanwhile, on a distant wasteland.

The traces left by the great battle against Kaguya had long been covered by vegetation, and only the uneven pits and craters hinted at the earth-shattering conflict that once took place here.

Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo's many disciples shouted, "Let us build our home together!"

Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo rolled up his sleeves, thin beads of sweat on his forehead, as he worked alongside his followers to ram earth and lay stones.

His chakra was sufficient to raise a palace in an instant, yet he chose to labor shoulder-to-shoulder with the others; though rough wood shavings clung to his hem, they ignited a fervent light in the eyes of every follower.

"The foundation of the Ninja Sect lies not in power, but in unity."

As Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo wiped the sweat from his brow, he said in a gentle voice, "If not for the guidance of Manji, there would be no me today, nor these people gathered here."

And the crowd worked in unison!

Days passed in the blink of an eye!

A simple yet solemn hall rose from the wasteland, the beams and pillars imbued with the warmth of their collective labor.

On the day of completion, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo personally held a portrait and walked slowly up to the high platform in the center of the hall.

In the portrait, a youth in black and red robes stood with a sword on his back, his expression calm, his features peerless, his stature elegant; behind him were the clouds of Mount Myōboku—it was exactly as Manji had looked in his memory a hundred years ago!

He had painted it himself after the battle against Kaguya; though it failed to capture his full spirit, it held all of his reverence.

Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo carefully hung the portrait in the center.

"Today, the Ninja Sect is established!"

"I, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, vow to use my life's strength to pass on the immortal's path and protect the peace of the world. And the root of this Ninja Sect, the guide of this world, is my master—Manji!"

"From this day forth, he is the founder of the Ninja Sect, to be worshipped by generations, revered as a god!"

Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo turned to face the thousands of followers below the steps, his voice ringing out with conviction.

"!!!!"

A unified response erupted from the crowd!

Yet an old man stepped forward slowly, his face filled with trepidation.

The old man bowed and saluted: "Lord Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, you often say you are a disciple of Manji, and we believe it without doubt."

"But... the immortal's name is Manji; is it not disrespectful for us to address him by his name?"

These words were like a stone cast into a lake, instantly sparking agreement from the crowd.

"Indeed, the founder's prestige covers the world; how can we call him by his name?"

"We should bestow a title upon the founder to show our reverence!"

The discussions rose and fell, and Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo nodded slightly upon hearing this, his fingertips rubbing his chin as he fell into thought.

"That makes sense..."

Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo's gaze inadvertently swept over the long sword on the youth's back in the portrait, and the name of that sword suddenly surfaced in his mind—Six Paths Sword.

When Manji named the sword back then, this "Six Paths" sounded quite good!

Why not take these two characters?

Change Manji to Sage of Six Paths?

"Six Paths..."

Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo whispered, his eyes suddenly brightening.

"Manji wielded the Six Paths Sword to settle the world and protect the common people; it would be better to honor him as the 'Sage of Six Paths'!"

As soon as this title was spoken, the crowd below erupted into an uproar, followed by even more enthusiastic approval.

"Sage of Six Paths! A great name!"

"To manifest divine might while concealing one's true name—most fitting!"

Hagoromo looked at the excited expressions of the crowd, yet a trace of hesitation flickered in his heart.

He had not obtained his mentor's consent; was it inappropriate to decide on such a title without permission?

But then he reconsidered: his mentor had lived in seclusion for many years, his tracks impossible to find. Now that the Ninja Sect had just been established, it was in dire need of a title that could unite the hearts of the people. If his mentor were dissatisfied in the future, they could simply change it then.

"Everyone, listen closely!"

Hagoromo raised his hand to quell the clamor, his tone solemn.

"From this day forth, the name of Sage Manji is forbidden to be spoken directly!

In this world, he shall only be addressed as the 'Sage of Six Paths'. This is the title of our Founding Master; those who violate this shall be punished for disrespect!"

Hagoromo paused, his gaze sweeping over the elder who had made the suggestion.

"You are to immediately dispatch men to all the temples of Manji across the lands. Replace every plaque and title, and inform all living beings under heaven that the prestige of our Founding Master, the Sage of Six Paths, must be revered by all."

"As you command!"

The elder bowed to accept the order and retreated quickly.

Hagoromo turned back to the portrait in the center of the great hall, straightened his robes, and slowly bowed in prostration.

Seeing this, over a thousand followers knelt in unison, kowtowing respectfully while chanting in one voice: "Greetings to the Sage of Six Paths!"

The sound pierced through the great hall, crossed the wilderness, and spread throughout the world.

From this moment on, Sage Manji was officially renamed the Sage of Six Paths!

Another hundred years passed.

For these hundred years, Manji had been governing Mount Myōboku.

He established a council of elders, stripping away the cumbersome and pedantic interests of Mount Myōboku, while emphasizing that the core of Mount Myōboku was not merely power.

It was spirit.

Manji transplanted many profound principles and philosophies from his past life for the toads to study.

The greatest undertaking Manji had accomplished in these hundred years was the compilation of books!

In the past, when Manji watched Naruto, he always felt that the history of the ninja world was too trivial, lacking any proper records.

Thus, Manji decided to use the status of Mount Myōboku to help the world establish a world history!

It would be sufficiently impartial and recorded in absolute detail.

Without any biased rhetoric or taking sides.

It would be a completely neutral and objective perspective!

Of course, with the exception of Kaguya's history...

Inside the Sage's Hall.

Manji sat upright on the high platform.

"Next, I speak, you record."

Manji looked at the respectful little toad below and spoke slowly.

"Great Sage, please wait a moment. In historical records, we dare not speak your name directly. May I ask how we should refer to you?"

The little toad asked respectfully.

Manji pondered slightly; in the history of his past life, court historians always had to avoid the names of the reigning emperors.

"Just call me the Great Sage."

"We shall start from the very beginning: two extraterrestrials descended from the sky. Those two extraterrestrials wanted to control the world, but the Great Sage heroically resisted. Although the first attempt failed, the Great Sage, through diligent cultivation, finally succeeded in defeating..."

Manji edited out a portion, framing his own deeds as those of a local hero resisting foreign invaders.

At the same time, he deleted the part where he and Kaguya colluded to seize the Chakra Fruit, erasing the darker side of the events.

He also simplified the complex nature of the Otsutsuki God Tree fruit, framing it as a simple desire to rule the Earth.

Furthermore, Manji wiped away his own mysterious origins; the world history began with the arrival of Kaguya and Isshiki.

He continued writing history up to the present day.

Only then did Manji let out a long sigh.

"Sigh..."

"As for the rest, I do not know. I have not been to the human world for many years."

"Order the intelligence department of Mount Myōboku to go to the human world and investigate. Remember, verify from multiple sources, remain objective, and bring it to me for inspection once it is finished."

Manji waved his hand slightly, signaling that it could leave.

The little toad bowed and retreated.

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