Illusions

The Three-Legged Crow ceased its strange cackling, its scarlet pupils darkening as it fixed its gaze upon Sage Manji, who was now enveloped in ripples of illusion.

This Yatagarasu Illusion of its was inherently unconventional—amorphous and uncontrollable—to the point that even the crow itself could not peer into the consciousness of the one trapped within.

It would only spontaneously manifest the most bone-chilling imagery, drawn from the deepest fears buried in the victim's heart.

Sigh, it's a pity I can't see the sights within the illusion. I truly wish to know what a being as invincible as the Sage of Six Paths hides in the depths of his heart...

Yatagarasu murmured lowly, its voice laced with a mix of curiosity and trepidation, its wings flapping with a sluggish rhythm.

Within the ocean of illusion.

"Doesn't look like much, honestly."

No sooner had Sage Manji finished speaking than the surrounding scenery shifted in an instant!

!!!!!!

When Sage Manji opened his eyes again, he found himself back in the bamboo forest where he had once joined forces with Ōtsutsuki Kaguya to defeat Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.

A bone-chilling sensation of constriction tightened around his neck.

The cold sneer of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki echoed in his ear, those sinister eyes mere inches from his own.

"Hehehe, pathetic human. You fell for the illusion of the Ōtsutsuki clan, and you didn't even notice."

Sage Manji cast a peripheral glance and saw Ōtsutsuki Kaguya pinned to the ground by a Black Receiver.

White Ape King lay on the earth, devoid of all breath.

Even the Phantom Sound Toads had all perished.

"An illusion!? When did I fall for it!?"

Sage Manji's pupils constricted, a sudden storm of shock rising in his heart.

Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's grip tightened further, his sneer growing more pronounced.

Sage Manji's mind reeled, a terrifying thought suddenly darting into his brain—

Could it be that these hundreds of years of wandering the mortal realm, the companionship with White Ape King, the mastery of senjutsu, and even the various teachings imparted to Hagoromo and Hamura were all nothing more than a Kyōka Suigetsu illusion?

Could it be that the real him had been trapped in an illusion since that life-or-death battle with Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, never having truly awakened?

The moment the thought arose, Sage Manji suppressed it instantly.

The corners of his mouth curled upward, a flash of realization crossing his eyes as he whispered to himself: "An illusion? This is actually quite interesting."

The next instant, the surrounding scene shattered with a roar!

As the world spun!

Sage Manji felt a sharp, searing pain in his back; a pale-gray All-Killing Ash Bones had pierced straight through his chest!

The familiar sensation of pain struck him, as real as it had been back then.

Sage Manji was slightly stunned.

When he looked up, he was suspended high in the sky, the shattered earth beneath his feet.

Before him was a familiar battlefield—the very fight where he had joined forces with Hagoromo and Hamura to suppress Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.

"Teacher! Why didn't you dodge!?"

Hagoromo's voice was filled with urgency and panic as he lunged toward him.

"Sage Manji, why did you not evade?"

Hamura also furrowed his brows, his eyes full of confusion.

Not far away, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya stood in the void, her red lips curling into a cold smile, her gaze full of mockery as she watched him.

Sage Manji lowered his eyes.

"It changed again..."

Looking at the All-Killing Ash Bones in his chest, he raised his hand and slowly pulled it out. The bone was stained with faint droplets of blood, yet he paid it no mind, instead tossing it backhand toward Hagoromo!

The scene twisted once more, the layers of illusion shifting.

This time.

Sage Manji's perspective suddenly shifted to the third person.

He saw himself bound like a mummy, caught in the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya floated in the air, her gaze indifferent, carrying a trace of an indescribable melancholy: "Manji, this is the Infinite Tsukuyomi I grant you. In this illusion, you will have a happy ending."

These words struck Sage Manji's heart like a thunderbolt.

Could it be that all of this was fake?

That there was no resurrection after death, no slaying of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, no sealing of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, no taking Hagoromo and Hamura as disciples, and no title of Sage of Six Paths?

That the real him had been trapped the moment the Infinite Tsukuyomi descended, and the past hundreds of years were merely a beautiful dream woven by an illusion?

Is it possible?

It is, in fact, entirely possible!

Life has been going too smoothly; it is as beautiful as the Infinite Tsukuyomi!

The ripples in his heart had barely formed before they were smoothed away by the composure settled over hundreds of years.

Everything is false; only a century-tempered state of mind is real!

Illusory scenes can never withstand a true state of mind.

Almost simultaneously, layers of illusions shattered like broken glass, dissipating into fragments.

Within the barrier of the Withered Wood Forest, the Land of the Yatagarasu stared fixedly at Manji, its scarlet pupils surging with massive shock!

It could clearly perceive that the fluctuations of the illusion were still enveloping Manji, yet his expression remained steady, his aura calm and waveless, without a hint of madness or a trace of wavering!!!

If it were anyone else, the moment they touched this Yatagarasu Illusion, they would be swallowed by the fear in their hearts, becoming crazed and losing their footing.

There had been a human who stumbled in previously; after being caught in the technique, he only repeated "It's done, it's done," until he completely lost his sanity.

Yet the Sage of Six Paths before it remained unmoved!

Perspective returns to Manji's consciousness.

At this moment, he seemed to be standing on a cliffside overlooking the sea.

Behind him was a steep rock wall, and before him, surging, monstrous waves. A wild wind whipped the seawater toward him, and the splashing spray hit his body, carrying a biting chill.

But Manji's expression remained unchanged.

He had seen too many great storms in his time...

These layers of illusions were merely trying to disturb his state of mind and prevent him from cultivating the Yatagarasu Sage Art.

Moreover, his killing intent perception had not stirred even once from beginning to end.

Back when Kaguya backstabbed him, that bone-chilling killing intent had caused his perception to max out instantly, but at this moment, the world was peaceful, devoid of any true murderous intent.

That was enough.

Manji closed his eyes, ignoring the raging waves around him.

He began to actively draw in the sage energy of the Land of the Yatagarasu. Wisps of black sage chakra flowed into his meridians like swimming dragons; he was actually using the tempering of this illusion to begin cultivating the Yatagarasu Sage Art on the spot!

The next instant, the raging waves on the cliffside suddenly vanished, replaced by the dense ranks of the Allied Shinobi Forces, covering the sky and earth.

Countless All-Killing Ash Bones were fired like a volley of ten thousand arrows!

Innumerable Tailed Beast Bombs condensed into shape, crashing down with the power to destroy the world!

Various ninjutsu wove into a net, and dense, lethal strikes assaulted Manji!

Yet Manji remained sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, his expression calm.

He knew that all of this was false.

Sure enough, the moment those seemingly fatal attacks landed on him, they transformed into petals fluttering across the sky. Pink cherry blossoms drifted down, landing on his shoulders.

At this moment, the Yatagarasu on the sidelines was in a complete panic!

It could clearly perceive a thick surge of Yatagarasu Sage Art chakra rising slowly from Manji's body!

Even on Manji's face, the sage markings of the Yatagarasu Sage Art were slowly emerging—black lines spread from the corners of his eyes, outlining crow-feather patterns along his cheeks, exuding a sense of pressure.

This power was even purer than its own!

The Sage of Six Paths was actually mastering the Yatagarasu Sage Art!

"This Sage of Six Paths, he is actually this strong!?"

The Yatagarasu's voice trembled, its scarlet pupils filled with disbelief.

"This is impossible! How could it be so fast? Even with heaven-defying talent, it is absolutely impossible to master the Yatagarasu Sage Art in just one hour!"

Little did it know that Manji had lived for hundreds of years and had long since learned the sage arts of the three great sage lands: Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest. He had even mastered the sage arts of the Monkey Demon Clan. For him, the cultivation of sage arts was already second nature; by drawing parallels, even though the Yatagarasu Sage Art was unique, it could not escape the fundamental principles of sage cultivation. To him, it was merely pushing a boat along with the current.

Furthermore!

Manji was never afraid of practicing sage arts!

Bring on another one!

I am never afraid of practicing sage arts!

Intense unwillingness instantly swept through the Yatagarasu's heart as it watched Manji sitting cross-legged, the sage aura around him growing increasingly dense.

A thought, bold to the point of madness, suddenly darted into its mind: Why not take advantage of his cultivation to strike unexpectedly and kill him!

If it could slay the Sage of Six Paths, it would be the most powerful existence in this world!

Thought turned to action; a flash of ruthlessness crossed the Yatagarasu's eyes!

With a violent flap of its wings, a long sword with a black-red sheen and a gourd-shaped hilt suddenly appeared in its claws—it was the Totsuka Blade!

It suppressed all its aura and, with a light beat of its wings, flew toward Manji!

The Totsuka Blade pointed directly at the center of Manji's brow!

And at this very moment, Manji slowly opened his eyes!

Their gazes met!

"What are you doing?"

Manji asked, his brows slightly furrowed.

The Yatagarasu thought to himself, It's over, this is bad!

But his brain raced at top speed, and he dropped to his knees!

He then slid across the floor on his knees until he reached Manji!

"Sage of Six Paths! I congratulate you on mastering the immortal arts!"

"I am but a lowly man, yet I wish to offer the two great treasures of the Land of the Yatagarasu, the Totsuka Blade and the Yata Mirror, to you, Sage!"

"I came here to offer you the blade! Sage!"