Goodnight, White Ape King.

"Goodnight, White Ape King. When the time is ripe, I will naturally tell you."

Manji took a sip of clear tea and said indifferently.

Seeing this, Hagoromo did not continue to press the issue; having lived for so many years, his emotional intelligence was certainly not lacking.

Moreover, Manji was his teacher.

He could hardly chase after his teacher and ask, "Teacher, why aren't you dead yet?"

That would be too presumptuous.

"I am leaving."

Manji stood up to take his leave.

Hagoromo immediately bowed slightly: "Farewell, Master."

Manji nodded, then concealed his figure, and accompanied by a burst of mist, he used the Mist Body Flicker to depart.

After Manji left, Hagoromo's eyes grew deep.

"Sigh, Master is truly unfathomable..."

Hagoromo rubbed his chin and muttered to himself.

On the other side, "Indra and Asura have both been born, so I fear Hagoromo will suffer a precipitous decline in health from here on out; he doesn't have many years left to live."

Manji pondered indifferently.

According to the original story, by the time Indra and Asura were about thirty or forty years old, Hagoromo was already failing.

Of course, it wasn't just about knowing the plot.

Manji could also sense from Hagoromo that the feeling Hagoromo gave him was not at all what it used to be.

"Hagoromo's Rinnegan..."

Manji frowned slightly.

"Although Hagoromo and I share the bond of master and disciple, if Hagoromo dies and the Rinnegan goes to waste, that would be a great pity."

"In the original story, Hagoromo's body was burned by Asura, and the Rinnegan was consumed by the flames as well; that was truly a waste of heaven's gifts."

"Rather than letting it be burned and wasted, it would be better to take it..."

After some thought, Manji made up his mind.

Once Hagoromo died, he would immediately go to claim the Rinnegan.

"Chee chee..."

Suddenly, a small monkey appeared.

"It's the White Ape King's messenger monkey again."

Manji took the letter, opened it, and his expression changed.

"I am nearing my end."

The few short words left Manji momentarily dazed.

Immediately, Manji hurriedly turned his direction and headed toward the Monkey Demon Clan.

Arriving at the White Ape Cave, he saw the White Ape King on the stone bed at a glance; Manji's heart sank, and he stepped forward with complex eyes.

A friend of the past was now on the verge of death.

"Manji, you've come..."

The White Ape King looked at Manji with his familiar smile.

"How is your condition? I might be able to use some methods to extend your life; extending it by ten years would be no problem."

Manji said softly.

"No need, I have lived for several hundred years, which is already enough; I have lived enough."

The White Ape King laughed.

Manji sighed slightly, knowing that the White Ape King had an open mind and was not a monkey who craved immortality.

"Has the successor of the Monkey Demon Clan been decided?"

Manji asked.

"It has been decided, his name is Black Ape King. Although he does not possess the Indestructible Diamond Body like I do, nor does he know sage arts, he is still passable," the White Ape King said with a bitter smile.

There was no help for it; his descendants were not up to the task, and neither the sage arts nor the Indestructible Diamond Body had been inherited.

Manji nodded.

The next time a monkey possessing the Indestructible Diamond Body appears, it will likely be Sarutobi Hiruzen's Monkey Demon Clan summon.

Suddenly, the White Ape King's pupils dilated, and he opened his mouth.

Manji was startled; it seemed the White Ape King had something to say to him.

"Speak. Whatever else you have to say, say it quickly, and I will do my best to see it done."

Manji spoke softly.

"Man... Manji..."

The White Ape King gasped for air, gripping Manji's hand tightly.

"Ape..." The White Ape King took a heavy breath.

"What about the apes?" Manji pressed urgently, frowning slightly, assuming it concerned the Monkey Demon Clan.

"Ape... Ori... Origin God is awesome!"

After saying this, the White Ape King closed his eyes and ceased breathing.

"You!"

Manji's eyes widened, his pupils trembling violently!

You motherfucker, this is what you say to me at the very end!?

"White Ape King, you are truly something else!"

Manji couldn't hold it together; his face was a mix of laughter and tears. Damn it, this guy was still memeing even at the moment of death—why on earth did he teach him so many memes in the first place!

"White Ape King, in your next life, please stop playing with memes, okay?"

"Especially in serious situations like this, I really can't keep a straight face..."

Manji looked at the White Ape King's corpse, feeling both sorrowful in his heart and a desire to laugh on his face.

Before he could even react, the White Ape King suddenly opened his eyes: "You've been triggered to tears!"

The White Ape King kicked his legs out, and this time, he was truly dead.

Manji: "..."

The White Ape King was gone.

Manji remained silent, saying nothing.

After a long while, a voice emerged from behind him.

"Sage, Lord White Ape King has passed on..."

A voice reminded him.

Manji turned his head slightly to see a medium-sized monkey covered in black fur standing respectfully behind him.

"You are the successor of the Monkey Demon Clan?"

Manji asked.

The Black Ape King lowered his head even further: "In reply to the Sage of Six Paths, that is correct. Lord White Ape King designated me as his successor. I grew up listening to the stories of the Sage of Six Paths; if the Sage needs me, I can sign a contract with you!"

The Black Ape King's attitude was humble and respectful.

"Sigh, there is no need; I have no use for it..."

Manji sighed slightly and shook his head. With his current strength, he had no need for summoning beasts, and he could tell at a glance that the Black Ape King's strength was not significant.

"Give him a proper burial. His Indestructible Diamond Body has faded; cremate him."

Manji pointed to the White Ape King's corpse and said.

After the White Ape King died, his Indestructible Diamond Body vanished along with him.

Hearing this, the Black Ape King nodded.

Manji did not linger, only sighing in his heart.

"Another old friend has departed."

"The White-Browed Toad and the White Ape King, who helped me back then, are both gone."

"Perhaps this is the drawback of immortality..."

Manji lamented for a moment before taking his leave.

Speaking of someone who could live as long as Manji, there was indeed one person.

That person was Black Zetsu!

Mount Myōboku, Toad Mausoleum.

Many deceased toads were buried here; it was the great mausoleum of Mount Myōboku.

Manji arrived here and saw Black Zetsu sweeping the graveyard.

Black Zetsu saw Manji arrive and hurried to greet him.

"Sage, you've finally come. I've been guarding this grave for hundreds of years. I'm not asking you to let me out, but could you at least transfer me to a different post?"

Black Zetsu said, on the verge of tears.

Manji raised an eyebrow slightly.

Ever since he had captured Black Zetsu, Manji had chosen to dump him at Mount Myōboku.

Because Mount Myōboku had a barrier, it was impossible for Black Zetsu to escape, so he had arranged for him to work there.

At the same time, Manji had placed a seal on Black Zetsu.

Black Zetsu carried Manji's chakra; the moment Manji activated it, Black Zetsu would be instantly immobilized and imprisoned.

Looking at Black Zetsu, who had completely lost the will to live, Manji smiled faintly.

"Black Zetsu, how have these years been? I never forbade your freedom. Although you are responsible for guarding the grave, you can still talk to the toads and enjoy the scenery along the way!"

Manji said with a gentle smile.

Black Zetsu found it even harder to endure.

"Sage, please stop teasing me..."

Black Zetsu said helplessly, holding a broom.

Manji chuckled. In truth, Black Zetsu didn't really have that much of an impact on him.

He was an immortal, and he possessed the strength to back it up.

As long as he wanted, it was impossible for Black Zetsu to resurrect Kaguya.

"Do you miss Mother?"

Manji beckoned slightly, signaling for Black Zetsu to sit nearby.

Black Zetsu sat down obediently.

"No," Black Zetsu replied insincerely.

"Nonsense, you definitely miss Mother!" Manji said with a look of certainty.

"..."

Black Zetsu was speechless.

"Sigh, it's fine to say you miss her; it's only human nature."

Manji stroked the Six Paths Sword and said slowly while looking at Black Zetsu.

Black Zetsu looked at Manji with a strained expression. The person before him was practically omniscient; he knew that he was the will of Kaguya, and he knew that he didn't need to eat and had no power.

In his hands, he was completely countered.

"Black Zetsu, do you still dare to do anything? Are you even capable of anything?"

Manji looked at Black Zetsu meaningfully.

Upon hearing this, Black Zetsu immediately stood up and knelt on the ground: "Reporting to the Sage!"

"I dare not do anything! I am not capable of anything! I will never resurrect Mother again."

Black Zetsu promised.

Manji nodded slightly: "Your mother being sealed is the great trend of history. The wheels of history cannot be stopped, so do not harbor delusions of turning them back."

Black Zetsu nodded repeatedly.