The Sage of Six Paths!
Why is it always the Sage of Six Paths?!
Black Zetsu was boiling with rage!
The moment Uchiha Sasuke appeared with his Susanoo, and Naruto Uzumaki, bathed in golden light, stood beside him, it confirmed everything Shigen had predicted.
Because…
These two sixteen-year-olds clearly possessed power on the level of the Six Paths!
Whether it was Sasuke's Rinnegan or Naruto's overflowing life force—both were undeniable proof.
They had inherited power from the Sage of Six Paths!
Black Zetsu had long learned from Shigen that the Sage's chakra still lingered. He knew that the old god would intervene in Kaguya's resurrection.
And now…
Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha—
Were the Sage's chosen pieces to stop them!
"We need to stop Uchiha Madara!"
Naruto's eyes locked on Madara rising into the sky.
"Amenotejikara…"
Sasuke's Rinnegan flickered. With a single thought, he swapped places with Madara. One moment Madara was flying toward the moon—
The next, he was standing where Sasuke had been, stunned by the sudden switch.
"What's going on?"
Madara frowned, bringing his staff forward just in time to block Naruto's charging attack.
This kid…
Wasn't he supposed to be dead after having the Nine-Tails ripped out?
"Careful, Madara!"
Black Zetsu quickly warned.
"They've received the Sage's blessing—they're on your level now!"
"Understood."
Madara narrowed his eyes, not flustered in the slightest. In fact, he grinned with battle lust.
"Perfect timing. I wanted to test this power anyway."
This was exactly what he'd hoped for.
He'd only backed off because of Shigen's urging.
But now these two brats with Six Paths power? They were perfect test subjects.
"Shigen…"
Black Zetsu turned pleading eyes to the man beside him, hoping he'd stop Naruto and Sasuke.
"Leave it to me."
Shigen nodded calmly, already understanding what Black Zetsu wanted.
"Don't worry. I won't let them interfere with Madara casting Infinite Tsukuyomi…"
But before that—
He had to deal with the Ninja Alliance converging on them.
"Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld."
Shigen slammed his hand into the ground!
In an instant, the battlefield turned into a vast swamp.
The Alliance was devastated. Countless ninja were swallowed before they could even react!
This level of Earth Jutsu—
It was impossible to avoid or escape.
Even those who reacted quickly had nowhere to leap. Countless ninja were dragged into the swamp, surrounded by endless mud—there was no escape in sight.
"Send the others forward!"
The Fourth Raikage, half-buried in muck, roared.
"Use us as stepping stones if you must!"
"Thanks!"
Might Guy kicked off the Raikage's head, leaping from shoulder to shoulder toward Shigen like a blur.
"Damn you!"
The Raikage cursed but bellowed louder:
"Hurry! Stop them no matter what!"
Compared to the trapped ninja…
Tobirama Senju and Minato Namikaze reacted instantly, teleporting toward Shigen using Flying Thunder God.
Onoki floated high above, unaffected by the swamp, with Gaara beside him controlling sand to rescue survivors.
Even Hashirama burst from the earth with Wood Release, creating safe passage with vines for the others to grab onto.
But…
Those able to act were few.
Tens of thousands of alliance forces struggled in the mire—Shigen had nearly neutralized them alone.
Or rather…
He was one step from wiping them all out.
"Shigen…"
Black Zetsu whispered, trying to appeal to his mercy:
"We need all that chakra to revive Mother. You've never been one to kill unnecessarily…"
It sounded strange—like Black Zetsu was the voice of restraint in this war.
But it was true—he was the war's true mastermind.
Shigen remained silent. He could sense the tens of thousands trapped. Finally, he withdrew his hand…
Because someone had attacked!
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
Might Guy came flying in with a kick!
Shigen blocked the first strike, smashing his elbow into Guy's shin, breaking the follow-up.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
Guy twisted mid-air, using his waist to power another spinning kick!
Shigen deflected again, noting the immense weight behind each kick.
"Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"
Even after two failed attacks, Guy kept going—borrowing momentum from each blocked strike and spinning into a barrage of leg sweeps!
He's using every ounce of force?
Shigen was slightly surprised. He leapt into the air, then kicked Guy in the chest—sending him flying.
"Storm Style: Lightning Cutter!"
Arcs of light sliced toward Shigen.
He conjured a Truth-Seeking Orb, forming a black shield to block Kakashi Hatake's attack.
But then—
Kakashi's eye flashed.
Kamui activated.
He warped part of Shigen's shield away—opening a path for the attack!
Even Shigen—caught off-guard—was briefly stunned.
Kakashi always seemed to land a hit, no matter who the opponent was.
Just as Shigen scattered the lingering dust—
Two kunai landed at his side.
Minato and Tobirama teleported in!
Having witnessed Naruto and Sasuke return from the brink of death, they knew—
Shigen was more dangerous than Madara.
Before Naruto and Sasuke defeated Madara, someone had to stall Shigen—
Even at the cost of their lives!
This was for the entire ninja world.
Shigen raised his hand—
A bolt of silver lightning disintegrated the two Hokage's reanimated bodies into ash.
"Madara's side…"
Black Zetsu emerged from the ground, reminding Shigen not to get too caught up here.
But…
That wasn't up to Shigen anymore.
"Gate of Shock: Open!"
Might Guy's chakra blazed like a flame—he launched another assault, slamming an air cannon forward—
"Daytime Tiger!"
A massive white tiger roared toward Shigen!
But Shigen soared into the sky, raised a hand, and compressed the air into a giant palm that crushed the tiger mid-charge!
"What…"
Guy was shocked. His perfected technique—so easily dispelled?
Yet—
He didn't falter.
Even as Shigen swept Kakashi and the others away—
Guy alone still stood.
Red steam burst from his body—
"Gate of Death: Open!"
That steam—his burning blood.
"Youth…"
"Is meant to burn in moments like this!"
He became a red dragon, charging like lightning!
Shigen caught the rushing air pressure in his palm.
He could feel space distorting.
Everyone on the battlefield stared—
Even Madara paused.
"That man…"
"Red steam from the Eight Gates…"
Madara flung a black rod at Naruto, glaring at Guy below.
"To think a mere mortal could reach this level…"
He even doubted whether his full Susanoo could survive a kick from that red dragon.
Just a mortal…
Just a taijutsu ninja…
And yet—he had pinned the strongest man on the field.
"Night Guy!"
Guy became a streak of red lightning, kicking toward Shigen.
No one in the world could block that blow.
Kakashi rose, his eye locked on Shigen, ready to clear the path with Kamui.
"Shigen…"
Even Black Zetsu trembled.
It didn't think Shigen would lose—
But nothing in the world felt solid enough to survive that kick.
"Don't worry."
"Nothing unexpected will happen."
Shigen's arm moved slowly. Chakra gathered—white mist rising from him.
No…
Not mist—
Solidified chakra.
"The Eight Gates…"
"When the final Gate of Death opens, the user burns their blood, unlocks every chakra point, and unleashes power dozens, even hundreds of times stronger than a Kage. That force can destroy everything…"
But as the red dragon roared forward—
Shigen's chakra mist surged like divine clouds—
He stood like a Buddha in the storm, utterly unmoved.
"However…"
He didn't back away—
He charged forward.
This man—
Was charging into Night Guy!
In that instant—
Anyone else would be suicidal.
Shigen's hand shot out, grabbed Guy by the throat mid-charge—
And slammed the red dragon into the ground like a god subduing a beast.
The earth shattered. The land shook.
"A shame."
"My chakra…"
"Is now ten thousand times that of the Five Kage."