Hagoromo looked at Asura's awkward expression, then at Indra's confident bearing, and sighed softly to himself.
"The Ninja Sect's legacy requires more than strength and wisdom. It also requires an understanding of people's hearts.
"Both of you have your strengths and weaknesses. This trial will test your abilities as well as temper your character. Go and do your best."
Hagoromo spoke slowly.
At his words, Asura's lips moved a few times. In the end, he nodded and gripped the scroll in his hands.
His father's decision wouldn't change, so he could only steel himself and accept the trial.
Indra watched all this and shook his head inwardly.
How could someone so timid shoulder the responsibility of leading the Ninja Sect?
Perhaps his father was only trying to spare Asura some embarrassment.
Indra lowered his head, opened the scroll, and quickly read through its contents. His confidence only grew.
--He was sure to win this trial.
Then the two of them set off in different directions.
"The battle between Indra and Asura is about to begin. The road ahead is long. I've lived this long, and I've only just made it to their battle."
"According to the original story, Hashirama and Madara won't be born for another thousand years or so, and Naruto's birth is even further off..."
Manji shook his head.
Perhaps if Manji had transmigrated to the time when Konoha was first founded, he would have had plenty of room to grow.
Of course, transmigrating to the ancient era had its own advantages.
The biggest change Manji had made so far was to forcibly make himself the object of worship in the Naruto world.
Back at Mount Myōboku,
Manji summoned Black Zetsu, Fukasaku, and a group of Historian Toads.
"Great Sage!"
Black Zetsu and the toads bowed slightly in greeting.
Manji sat in the hall and spoke slowly.
"I've called you here today to decide what we'll record next."
"From now on, I'd like to divide the historical records into periods."
"Black Zetsu, take this down. I'm dividing them as follows."
Manji glanced at Black Zetsu.
"Understood."
At his words, Black Zetsu hurriedly took out a pen and began to write.
"The period from Kaguya's arrival to Hagoromo's founding of the Ninja Sect will be called the Ancient Era."
"The period from Hagoromo's founding of the Ninja Sect to the present will be called the Ninja Sect Era."
Manji divided the history up to the present.
It was divided into the Ancient Era, the Ninja Sect Era...
"Great Sage, does the Ninja Sect Era end at the present? But..."
Black Zetsu trailed off.
He had keenly noticed that the Ancient Era basically lasted from Kaguya's arrival until her sealing and departure.
But the Ninja Sect Era was still ongoing.
Manji shook his head slightly. "Just record it that way."
Black Zetsu nodded and immediately began writing.
After he finished, Manji looked at Fukasaku and the Historian Toads.
"Fukasaku, have you finished recording the history of the ordinary people?"
Manji asked.
The world's history wasn't made up of powerful figures alone.
Countless ordinary people and commoners were often the easiest to overlook, but they were also an indispensable part of history.
"Great Sage, too many nations have been established among the ordinary people, and their relationships are far too complicated. Political powers change frequently. We'll have to wait for the Intelligence Department to report back before we can confirm things."
Fukasaku replied.
"All right. Send a few more intelligence toads to infiltrate the nations of the ordinary people and keep tabs on what's happening in the human world."
Manji gave the order.
Black Zetsu was already sweating profusely. He was astonished by Mount Myōboku's arrangements.
He had never imagined that such a powerful sage faction existed deep within the world.
Like Mount Myōboku, they kept a low profile, coldly recording history and merely observing it.
Only after he began working at Mount Myōboku did he realize just how unfathomable it was.
Such a powerful organization had never tried to conquer the world. Instead, it had chosen to remain hidden from it.
Manji slowly closed his eyes and rested.
Several days later, the morning mist had yet to clear from the entrance to the Ninja Sect.
A tall, imposing figure landed in the courtyard of the Ninja Sect's main hall.
It was Indra.
His hair fluttered in the breeze. His handsome features radiated confidence, and he walked into the hall with steady strides.
"Father, I'm back."
Indra bowed to Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, who sat in the seat of honor. His voice was clear and confident. "Father, I've completed the task you gave me. The journey went smoothly, and I encountered no obstacles."
Indra raised his gaze, his eyes shining.
He was already certain of it in his heart.
--In speed, strength, and efficiency, no one in the entire Ninja Sect could match him. The position of successor to the Ninja Sect was surely his.
"I know."
But Hagoromo only lowered his gaze and brushed a hand over the fabric resting on his knees. His expression was calm as he replied in an even voice:
"The trial I set was never about speed or the ability to act alone. Wait patiently. Once Asura returns, I'll make my final decision."
"Oh?"
Indra paused, a flicker of confusion and doubt passing through his dark eyes. He had assumed completing the task would settle the matter, but his father had evidently considered other factors.
Still, he respected Hagoromo. After a brief pause,
Indra nodded slightly and replied in a firm voice, "I understand, Father."
Yet his certainty that victory was his remained undiminished.
He even began imagining the rules and policies he would put in place as the Ninja Sect's leader.
More than ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
A commotion of footsteps came from the mountain pass leading to the Ninja Sect.
Unlike the solitary, sharp-edged return of Indra,
these footsteps were lively and warm, accompanied by hearty laughter as they drew closer.
"I'm back!"
A spirited voice rang out.
Asura appeared before them, dusty from the journey. His clothes were speckled with dirt, but his smile remained radiant, his eyes crinkled with warmth.
Behind him followed dozens of ordinary people in simple clothes: white-haired elders, children, and adults. They supported one another, their faces full of trust and warmth as they laughed and chatted with Asura like one big family.
"Huh? What's this...?"
Sarutobi, who was waiting at the mountain pass, stared in surprise. He had expected Asura to return alone, but hadn't imagined he would bring so many ordinary villagers. It was quite unexpected.
"Asura, you're finally back. Lord Hagoromo has been waiting for you in the hall."
Sarutobi hid his surprise and stepped forward with a smile to greet him.
Asura stopped, his smile fading a little as he instinctively asked, "Father... hasn't decided on my brother's position as successor yet?"
He had been delayed along the way and assumed his brother had already secured the position of Ninja Sect leader through his outstanding abilities.
Sarutobi shook his head helplessly and sighed. "He hasn't. Lord Hagoromo said he'd wait for you to return before making his decision."
At that, Asura knitted his brows. A trace of unease crossed his honest face, and a vague sense of foreboding rose within him. He tightened his grip on his travel pack.
Just then, a cool, composed figure walked over.
Indra stood in the middle of the courtyard. Looking at his younger brother, who had arrived so late, he put on a warm smile and stepped forward. "Asura, you're back."
Before you continue