Netherworld Soul Pursuit, Youtan Poluo!

Whoosh! Ubiji took a step, and as a glimmer of dust scattered, he appeared before Yu and Madara!

Madara frowned. "Did you see how he moved?"

Yu shook his head. "No... But I'm certain there was no chakra reaction. So it wasn't a technique..."

Madara looked baffled. "If it wasn't a technique, what was it?"

Yu sighed. "Something we can't understand at our current level, I suppose. I've only vaguely sensed anything like it from the three great sages..."

He couldn't help recalling a famous line from Laozi's Tao Te Ching: "It blends its light with the dust; deep and still, it seems to endure!"

Yu stepped forward. Madara moved to stop him, but Yu raised a hand to show it was all right. He took three steps closer, bowed, and said, "I am Uchiha Riu, your junior. It's an honor to meet you, senior. Thank you for looking after me all this time..."

Ubiji placed both hands on Yu's shoulders and said gently, "No need for ceremony. We share the same ideals. Our meeting was meant to be..."

He looked past Yu to Madara and greeted him. "I'm pleased to meet you, the previous reincarnation of Indra..."

"Hm?" Madara raised an eyebrow. "You know about me?"

Ubiji said matter-of-factly, "You and the previous Asura were both among my candidates."

"!" Madara jolted in surprise.

"Please, come to my humble home. Someone else is waiting for you there..."

Ubiji smiled faintly, turned, and led the way.

They walked through the fragrant grass for who knew how long and crossed a mountain. Near the place closest to the setting sun, a house came into view.

From the outside, it looked like an old country cottage with a thatched roof. Spider lilies bloomed across its unwalled yard, and mist rose from a