In front of the Ninja Sect's main hall, the crowd was packed shoulder to shoulder.
All the disciples gathered in a circle, their eyes fixed intently on Indra at the center.
Hagoromo stood at the front of the crowd with his hands behind his back, while Asura clung to the shoulders of the disciples in the front row, his little face full of curiosity.
In the middle of the crowd, Indra stood tall. After taking a deep breath, his fingers suddenly began to fly.
The gestures were intricate yet fluid. In barely an instant, he completed a smooth sequence of Hand Seals.
"Whoosh—"
A blazing flame sprang up in his palm. Its orange-red light illuminated the boy's face, and the whole area fell silent.
The next moment, cries of astonishment erupted.
"F-fire?! He made fire out of thin air?"
"How is that possible?! Other than Lord Hagoromo, who else could control power like that?"
"What were those gestures just now? They were dazzling to watch, but somehow they seemed so precise!"
The Ninja Sect disciples' eyes widened. Some drew in sharp breaths, while others leaned forward but dared not approach. Voices rose in a babble of discussion, and their eyes brimmed with disbelief and shock.
Hagoromo's pupils suddenly contracted, and a storm surged through his heart.
He recognized it, of course. This was a "technique," released by drawing on the Chakra within one's body and channeling it in a specific way.
But his bloodline was special; he could draw on his power without using such complicated gestures. He had never imagined that anyone could combine Chakra with Hand Seals and devise a method like this.
"Big brother! Big brother!"
"What did you do? Where did that fire come from?"
Asura could no longer hold back. He pushed through the crowd and ran over, grabbing Indra by the wrist. He leaned his little head toward the flame in Indra's palm, gazing at it with a mix of fear and curiosity.
Indra gently raised his hand, and the flame obediently went out. Seeing the excitement in his younger brother's eyes, he patiently explained, "I discovered that Chakra inside the body can be guided through different hand signs. As long as you form the right Hand Seals, you can release different kinds of power. This flame is one of them."
Then he turned and bowed slightly to Hagoromo. "Father, this is what I've been studying lately."
Hagoromo looked at his son, who wasn't even ten yet, and his astonishment grew.
He had noticed Indra going to the Bamboo Forest day after day. He had secretly sensed the area, but hadn't detected anyone else there.
He had assumed Indra was simply seeking a quiet place to train. Only now did he realize that he had been researching such an astonishing method.
"I see."
Hagoromo nodded, all his doubts fading away. In their place came a deep admiration for his son's talent.
"Big brother, you're amazing!"
"I want to learn too. Will you teach me?"
Asura shook Indra's hand, his eyes sparkling as he made his excited request.
The Ninja Sect disciples around them also turned eager eyes his way. One by one, they craned their necks, their gazes filled with longing for power.
But Indra furrowed his brow slightly and looked helplessly at Hagoromo.
He knew that every decision concerning the Ninja Sect was made by his father. Even though he had created this method himself, whether he could teach it to everyone was still for his father to decide.
Unless the Grandmaster in the Bamboo Forest gave the word, no one could overrule his father's decision.
Hagoromo's gaze swept over the eager faces, and he fell into thought.
Making power widely available would inevitably spark conflict. But now that nations were beginning to form across the human world and strife was on the rise, how could the Ninja Sect protect its followers if it refused to change?
History rolled on like a great wheel. Humanity's journey from tribes to city-states had brought wars, but it was progress all the same, and no one could stop it. He couldn't let the Ninja Sect remain stuck in place forever just because he feared conflict.
Just like the nations and tribes of the human world.
Could he really keep everyone in the age of tribes simply because he feared wars and power struggles?
He turned his head toward a boy standing beside him.
The boy had a composed expression. He was the child Manji had recommended all those years ago, whom Hagoromo had named "Sarutobi." He had studied and trained diligently in the Ninja Sect over the years, and his character and insight far surpassed those of his peers.
"Sarutobi, what do you think?"
Hagoromo asked.
Sarutobi stepped forward, bowed, and replied in a steady, firm voice, "Lord Hagoromo, this disciple believes the method is worth adopting.
"First, learning these techniques will give the disciples the power to protect themselves, keeping them safe from wild beasts in the mountains and bandits in these troubled times.
"Second, Chakra can be used for farming and construction, which will improve the Ninja Sect's productivity.
"Third, with power, we can better protect innocent people and uphold the Ninja Sect's original purpose."
Hagoromo heard him out and slowly nodded. Sarutobi's words aligned with what he had been thinking.
Though it might lead to disaster,
the benefits outweighed the drawbacks overall.
Besides, he would be there to take responsibility if anything went wrong.
Hagoromo raised his eyes to the crowd and announced in a clear, carrying voice, "Starting today, everyone in the Ninja Sect must learn the art of Hand Seals and study how to use Chakra!"
The moment he finished speaking, thunderous cheers erupted around them.
The disciples waved their arms, their faces alight with excitement and fervor. Power—power they had never possessed before. Even those who prided themselves on being detached from worldly desires couldn't help but be captivated by a force that let them control themselves and change the world around them.
Hagoromo took in the disciples' expressions, and the smile on his lips slowly faded. He sighed inwardly.
Was it right or wrong to give everyone this power?
Would it lead the Ninja Sect to prosperity, or plant the seeds of conflict?
He couldn't know for sure. All he could do was let the tide of history carry the Ninja Sect—and himself—forward, step by step.
Perhaps history would prove him right, but... he couldn't prove that now. All he could do was follow the current.
If he tried to stop them, what would the people of the Ninja Sect think of him?
Would they think he wanted to monopolize power?
Would they think Hagoromo was greedy for power and didn't want them to have any?
That would only create divisions and scatter their hearts.
Indra looked at his father, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
He had known all along that his father would choose this.
Bamboo cast cool shade as the wind swept through the treetops, and the rustling leaves carried a sense of quiet solitude.
Manji leaned against a massive gray-green rock, idly fiddling with the Six Paths Sword between his fingers. His brows lifted slightly as he grumbled to himself.
"Could that kid Indra have fallen for me? He really does come every single day."
At the time, he had only casually told Indra to come to the Bamboo Forest every so often so he could find time to give him some pointers. He hadn't expected the boy to take him so literally. Out of the more than 360 days in a year, Indra came to the Bamboo Forest every single one, rain or shine.
Every time he came, his eyes shone like they were sprinkled with stars as he stared straight at Manji, full of admiration and eagerness.
When he left, he would look back again and again, so reluctant that Manji could barely keep from laughing.
"Come to think of it, Indra still hasn't awakened his Sharingan. Maybe I should give him a scare and see how he reacts."
A playful look flickered in Manji's eyes.
Normally, Black Zetsu would have sent a Great Wild Boar to attack him, and the shock would have awakened Indra's eyes.
At a thought, a faint ripple of Chakra rose around Manji. His genjutsu spread like an invisible net, instantly covering the entire Bamboo Forest.
Before you continue