The Real Veteran Had Arrived

Manji suddenly realized that Indra might die!

In the original story, the brothers had only injured each other, after which they went their separate ways and lived without interfering with one another. Eventually, they both died and were reincarnated.

But now, Asura had gathered the power of bonds shared by the entire Ninja Sect. The Thousand-Handed Buddha's strikes carried billions of Chakra, and this had long since gone beyond a simple contest of strength.

Hagoromo's expression was calm, yet he showed no intention of intervening. The Ninja Sect members had unleashed all their power—they meant to erase Indra completely, leaving him no chance to reincarnate!

"AAAHHHHH!!!!"

A scream of unbearable agony pierced the clouds!

Indra's Susanoo shattered completely into fragments of Chakra. The tremendous force crushed his body, breaking bones and tearing muscles. Half his body sank into the cracked earth, and blood gushed from his mouth, soaking the robe across his chest.

Those eyes, usually so arrogant and brimming with resentment and fury, now held nothing but the fading, unfocused look of a dying man. He could only stare fixedly at the blurry figure in the sky.

With the last of his strength, he murmured:

"Grandmaster... save me..."

His voice was as faint as a candle flickering in the wind, yet it struck the softest place in Manji's heart.

He had lived for nearly a thousand years, witnessed countless farewells and reunions and the rise and fall of dynasties. He had long since buried his emotions deep within himself, priding himself on being detached and without desire, merely an observer of the world.

But Indra was the first disciple he had personally taught.

Though he had countless disciples,

some of them were toads and animals. Indra was practically the only one who was human.

From a child, to a boy gripping a Kunai and diligently practicing Hand Seals, to a powerful warrior who awakened the Sharingan and looked down upon the world, Manji had guided him at every step.

"Alas, Indra can't die yet..."

"I'll just have to step in and save him..."

Manji murmured.

Both for his own feelings and for his own interests.

"Fukasaku, go back. When I return, I'll dictate this part of history, and you can write it down."

Manji glanced calmly at the toad Fukasaku.

"Understood." Fukasaku immediately formed Hand Seals and vanished.

"Vmmm—!!!"

The space around Manji abruptly twisted. An invisible pressure crashed down like the sky itself collapsing, instantly enveloping the entire battlefield!

"BOOM—!!!"

An unprecedentedly powerful Senjutsu descended upon the battlefield!

It was as if a god from the heavens had personally intervened in the affairs of the mortal world!

Hagoromo, who was below, suddenly looked up. His eyes widened as he stared at the sky in disbelief.

This Senjutsu Chakra belonged to that lord!!!

Asura, who was urging the Thousand-Handed Buddha to launch its fierce assault, watched his pupils contract. He felt the Chakra throughout his body abruptly seize up, as if an invisible hand had clamped down on it. He couldn't move at all.

The towering Thousand-Handed Buddha's countless palm strikes halted midair, like a painting frozen in place.

The next instant—

"Crack—!!"

A crisp sound of shattering rang out. Every palm strike crumbled and vanished, dissolving into Chakra that dispersed into the air.

Hagoromo's Rinnegan trembled. He looked up at the figure slowly emerging in the sky, and for the first time, his aged face showed profound gravity.

"That one has intervened... but... why?"

Hagoromo's pupils shook with shock, but he couldn't understand.

That lord had intervened... but why?!

Why had he stepped in?

He had never interfered in the affairs of the Ninja Sect!

In fact, he hadn't appeared in public once since the Ninja Sect was established.

Why now?

"Father! What is that?!"

Asura asked in shock.

Hagoromo's face was grave.

For the first time, Asura had seen such a serious expression on his father's face.

"That one has arrived... but I don't know why he has appeared..."

Hagoromo spoke gravely to Asura.

"Who is he? What's his name?"

Asura pressed, confused.

"That name must not be spoken. It cannot be said. You must not call him by name..."

Hagoromo spoke slowly.

Asura was shaken. Looking at his father's expression, he thought he had guessed who that person was...

"Does he really exist... Why... why would he appear at a time like this?"

Asura said, unable to believe it.

"Perhaps only heaven knows..."

Hagoromo clenched his fists, just as baffled.

Hagoromo knew little about Manji. Manji was far too good at hiding himself; Hagoromo might not see him even once in a hundred years. He knew nothing of Manji's origins or background.

And he knew even less about his motives and intentions.

"Oh my goodness!"

The Ninja Sect members stared in wide-eyed shock. What was this sudden turn of events?!

Such world-shaking power was truly an eye-opener for them.

To them, the battle between Indra and Asura had already been like a fight between gods.

That Thousand-Handed Buddha, bigger than a mountain, had just been obliterated with a casual flick of the finger. How terrifying!

Now another unexpected turn of events had occurred. They truly felt as if they were gazing up at the bright moon!

Sarutobi watched that figure of light, his heart trembling.

It was that lord!

When Sarutobi was still a child, that lord had personally brought him here.

If the immortal hadn't personally selected him back then, Sarutobi would still be herding cattle in the countryside.

Of course, there was nothing wrong with herding cattle.

But the world of ninjutsu had opened up boundless possibilities for him!

Sarutobi then began to kneel slowly, without drawing attention to himself.

"That lord has arrived..."

Sarutobi's face was full of reverence. He didn't dare call him by name.

When the Ninja Sect disciples saw their eldest senior, Sarutobi, actually kneel, they were immediately bewildered.

Whoa! The Ninja Sect's senior disciple had just dropped to his knees!

"Senior Brother Sarutobi? You..."

One disciple was completely confused.

Sarutobi pressed his palms together. "The true god has arrived..."

"What does Senior Brother mean by that?"

Someone was still confused.

Sarutobi was speechless. Hadn't they seen Hagoromo's expression? The only person who could make Hagoromo look so grave was probably the Sage of Six Paths.

"The real veteran has arrived..."

Sarutobi's face was full of devotion.

Manji hovered in midair, his white robes billowing and Senjutsu swirling around him. The entire world fell silent in his presence.

Manji lowered his eyes to Indra, who lay dying on the ground. A flicker of complicated emotion crossed his gaze before it turned into cold indifference.

"Indra, your master is here to help you..."

He flicked a finger. A pale golden stream of Toad Immortal Talisman Chakra shot out and coiled around Indra, lifting him up to hover at his side.

The gentle yet domineering power swiftly mended Indra's shattered bones and muscles and stopped the gushing blood. In an instant, he was restored as good as new.

Indra burst into tears!

"Grandmaster! You're my real father!!!"

Hagoromo, his biological father, had stood by and watched him get killed. His Grandmaster had come to his rescue instead. That was what a real father did.

"Grand... Grandmaster..."

Indra spoke weakly. Tears mixed with blood as they slid down his face. For the first time, his proud head bowed, his face full of hurt and tears.