Chapter 209: The Sage of Six Paths
Masahiko searched for a long time for Sara, the girl suspected to be his daughter, but ultimately failed to find her.
"Did the future me really take her back to his era?"
"Probably not. Never mind that for now; I can proceed with my great time-travel undertaking." Seeing that Minato and his group had already gone far to return to Konoha and report the mission, Masahiko smiled and stepped in front of the sealing formula.
"Guide this and the Dragon Vein's power into the body together?" Masahiko muttered, forming hand seals, ready to commence the "operation."
"Want to go back to the past?"
The voice right next to him made Masahiko's hand tremble, causing him to weave the wrong seal.
"Why haven't you left yet?!"
The speaker was none other than the Masahiko from the future. His figure emerged from behind Masahiko, his body flickering between a white phantom and a solid entity.
"After possessing the Power of the Six Paths, one can resist the pull of space-time travel," Future Masahiko said with a smile.
"Is that so? I was wondering where that Queen went; she's still in your dimension, right? Do you have something else you want to tell me?"
A slightly mischievous smile appeared on Future Masahiko's face. Masahiko's heart skipped a beat; he was all too familiar with that expression...
"Nothing much really..." Future Masahiko had just spoken when his expression darkened slightly. "Can't you be a bit more vigilant? You're being watched by a White Zetsu."
Masahiko paused, expanded his perception to the maximum, and instantly detected the presence of a White Zetsu two li (approx. 1 km) away.
"Where did this White Zetsu come from? Is Akatsuki controlling it?" Since dealing with Black Zetsu, Masahiko hadn't really paid attention to the White Zetsus. He thought they would remain dormant forever; he didn't expect the current Akatsuki leader could utilize them.
Future Masahiko didn't answer; he simply raised his hand and flung out a Tailed Beast Ball.
Something neither of them expected happened. The White Zetsu opposite them raised a hand and actually deflected the Tailed Beast Ball into the sky.
"What the hell is that thing..." Masahiko's eyes almost popped out of his head.
"This guy..." Future Masahiko's expression also turned grave as he instantly appeared beside that White Zetsu.
He extended his right hand, and a bone shot out from his palm.
"All-Killing Ash Bones?" Masahiko muttered. "As expected, by that time, I already possess a Kekkei Mora."
With the All-Killing Ash Bones deployed, Masahiko relaxed. Even if that White Zetsu was a bit odd, it couldn't possibly block this attack.
What happened next caused Masahiko's expression to change drastically. The White Zetsu raised a hand, and a Shakujō (Buddhist staff) appeared, deflecting the bone attack. At the same time, the White Zetsu spoke.
"You do not belong to this era."
Future Masahiko was stunned, then smiled. "I didn't expect our first meeting to be in a place like this. Truth-Seeking Ball Shakujō... Sage of Six Paths. Occupying a White Zetsu's body, do you think you can stop me?"
The White Zetsu's body slowly transformed, taking on the appearance of the Sage of Six Paths, holding the Six Paths Shakujō and wearing the Six Paths cloak.
The Sage of Six Paths' expression was extremely solemn. "Do not resist the corrective force of space-time. This era does not belong to you!"
In the distance, Masahiko watched the changes dumbfounded. The sudden appearance of the Sage of Six Paths had caught him off guard.
"Thank goodness the future me is here so I don't have to deal with it. I probably couldn't handle it right now..." Masahiko breathed a sigh of relief.
"Even with the corrective force of space-time, you cannot stop me." Future Masahiko shouted, a white bone instantly appearing in his hand as he slashed at the Sage of Six Paths.
The Sage of Six Paths furrowed his brow and swung the Six Paths Shakujō upwards.
Powers that shouldn't exist in the current world collided with a boom. The ground beneath them suffered terrifying pressure and collapsed, the destruction spreading in all directions.
The kingdom of Roran was instantly shattered; tall buildings and towers alike vanished in an instant.
Far away, Minato's group, who had already left Roran by dozens of li, was hit by the massive shockwave. Choza had to use the Super Multi-Size Technique to protect the other three.
In front of the Dragon Vein altar, Masahiko's veins bulged. Sage Mode was activated. He braced his hands outward, and a transparent barrier appeared, barely protecting the altar behind him. As for the other civilians of Roran, he could only leave them to their own fate.
"Damn it, they're actually this strong? The aftershocks of a battle two li away are forcing me to use all my strength except the Eight Gates."
He hadn't realized that the first strike was merely a probe. The two collided for a second strike.
"Fifth Gate: Gate of Limit, Open!" Masahiko was shocked and hurriedly increased his power.
After this blow, the entire Roran was wiped off the map, leaving only the Dragon Vein altar behind him.
Choza, with his enlarged body, could no longer maintain his balance. Clutching the other three in his hands, he was sent tumbling away.
Of course, that wasn't all. Hundreds of li away, a massive sandstorm whipped up in the Sand Village, and their sensory alarms rang non-stop.
Aside from the Sand Village, which was affected the most due to proximity, the other Great Nations also sensed something. Although the physical shockwaves of their clash didn't reach the entire ninja world, the tangible sense of oppression solidly permeated throughout the lands.
"Heh, the future me is really strong." Although Masahiko had opened the Fifth Gate and was still struggling to resist, he felt joy in his heart. From these two exchanges, he could see that by the time the main plot arrived, he would at least have the ability to fight against Six Paths level characters.
Although the current Sage of Six Paths was merely possessing a White Zetsu, Future Masahiko wasn't in peak condition either; he had to constantly resist the reparative force of space-time.
"Do you still want to stop me?" Future Masahiko smiled faintly, looking at the Sage of Six Paths opposite him. "If we increase the power any further, the Ninja World might shatter."
The Sage of Six Paths shook his head. "I haven't been watching you for just a day or two. You say that because this is all the power you can call upon right now, isn't it?"
In the distance, Masahiko's expression stiffened. What did he mean by "not watching me for just a day or two"?
"Is that so? Then let's try again!" Future Masahiko shouted, and the battle continued.
Although Masahiko was struggling a bit to block the shockwaves, he felt great inside. "Hit him, hit him! Future me, teach the Sage of Six Paths a good lesson. That old guy, who knows how long he's been staring at me."
Indeed, Future Masahiko was truly suppressing the White Zetsu version of the Sage of Six Paths.
Rabbit Hair Needle, Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack, All-Killing Ash Bones—Future Masahiko used them in rotation with perfect transitions. The Sage of Six Paths, however, could only use a Truth-Seeking Ball Shakujō. After possessing the White Zetsu, his Rinnegan abilities couldn't be fully utilized, putting him at a disadvantage.
"Getting a preview of my future combat style isn't bad," Masahiko muttered.
"But here comes the question: why does the future me want to stay in the present, even to the point of fighting the Sage of Six Paths?" Masahiko felt that his future self would also be a person who disliked trouble. To fight the Sage of Six Paths, there must be a compelling reason...
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