"How could it be like this?"
Nagato's eyes were somewhat unfocused. He had always longed to retrace the Six Paths, he had always longed to save this world like the Sage of Six Paths.
How could it turn out that the world that had caused him such hardship was actually created by the Sage of Six Paths?
"How could this be..."
Obito was stunned. He looked blankly at the information on the 'bookmark', his entire life seemingly having lost its purpose.
What about the promised peaceful world?
What about the promised way to restore peace to the world?
How could it turn out that the true source of suffering was all created by the Sage of Six Paths?
What exactly is going on?
"The Sage of Six Paths... Is all this from this Sage?"
All the Edo Tensei were also bewildered. They, like the Allied Shinobi Forces, were collectively numb. The information they had received this time was too terrifying.
"But, none of this can be blamed on the Sage of Six Paths."
Just as all living beings were bewildered and began to doubt life itself, Madara spoke again.
"The Sage of Six Paths's actions also puzzled his brother. Even his brother felt that he was perhaps too extreme. However, the answer he gave was very clear."
These words brought everyone back to reality.
Madara looked deeply at Hashirama and Tobirama, then sighed and continued, "According to the Sage of Six Paths's original words: Only by experiencing such cruelty will the myriad beings of the Ninja World develop strong wills and powerful abilities."
"Even if countless lives are lost, to protect this world, even if it takes a thousand or ten thousand years of fighting, even if blood stains the earth and corpses pile up, it will be worth it."
"Because, compared to all living beings in the entire world being destroyed by the Ōtsutsuki, the continuation of life in this world is more important."
Ōtsutsuki.
At this moment, everyone seemed to understand somewhat.
The Ōtsutsuki Kaguya of the past, and the Ōtsutsuki Takeshiki of the present, these were all god-like existences.
The ninjas who had witnessed the power of the Ōtsutsuki became silent at this moment.
The way they casually summoned meteors, their casual attacks making the sky collapse and the earth sink, those figures floating in the air.
All of this, they found unforgettable.
Moreover, the destruction they caused was beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
If there was no power, then...
"Will this world simply perish?"
Upon thinking of this outcome, everyone broke out in a cold sweat, and Madara also sighed at this moment.
"So, the Sage of Six Paths laid out a plan, even if he didn't know how long the war would last, how many lives would be buried, or how much hatred would accumulate, even if the descendants of Indra and Asura could ultimately reconcile, he still chose to do so without hesitation."
"I seem to understand him somewhat now. After all, life can continue, but lives without power simply cannot resist those Ōtsutsuki."
"The Sage of Six Paths, truly a cold-blooded and cruel person, yet one with far-reaching plans and a heart for all living beings."
Madara's words made everyone even more silent.
Upon careful thought, the Ninja World truly seemed to need constant tempering to continuously progress.
And the Sage of Six Paths indeed deeply loved this world, but for the future of this world, he could only coldly abandon some people.
"So the Sage of Six Paths was the biggest mastermind behind the Ninja World."
"He was someone who founded Ninshū, yet also put righteousness before family."
"He planned a millennium of bloody war in the Ninja World, was utterly ruthless, yet was also someone who worked for the future of this world."
"Is this, then, the true Sage of Six Paths?"
At this moment, the entire Ninja World fell into silence.
In an unknown space, a roar erupted.
"I didn't! That's not me!"
"..."
Hagoromo couldn't hold it together anymore. He had never felt such deep malice from the entire world towards him.
Did he do this?
No, he didn't!
Admittedly, he had wondered if he had harbored similar intentions when he did what he did back then. But after much thought, he felt he had been misled, he clearly wasn't like that.
Originally, he thought it didn't matter if only a few people thought that way, it wasn't a big deal. But now, Indra's reincarnation had gone crazy, saying such things in front of almost the entire Ninja World's fighting force.
Who could possibly accept that?
"Damn it, it wasn't me! I didn't do it!"
He roared, his hysterical appearance making Hamura, who was standing beside him, twitch his eyelids, the corners of his lips twitching.
He was also struggling a bit, he hadn't expected his elder brother to become like this.
But, precisely...
"Alright, big brother, what they're saying seems to be well-founded, doesn't it?"
Hamura displayed his 'professionalism,' trying hard to maintain a calm demeanor.
"After all, judging by everything that's currently happening, it seems like all of this…"
Before he could finish, Hamura dared not continue, because he saw Hagoromo's icy eyes glaring at him.
"All of this is very unreasonable!"
"Yes, yes, yes…"
Hamura gave an awkward laugh, then looked outside.
"So, what do we do now?"
What to do?
This question stumped Hagoromo for a moment, but before he could think further, another change occurred outside.
"It seems all my conjectures are correct."
Just as everyone was silent, seemingly still immersed in this sudden and terrifying news, Tobirama's voice suddenly rang out. His voice instantly made everyone look at him, and he spoke calmly with his arms crossed.
"Although it seems cruel, making reasonable trade-offs for the sake of the entire world doesn't seem like something difficult to accept."
"…"
Hagoromo gasped, "Again?"
The people of the Ninja World looked at each other.
Tobirama continued, "After all, he faced the life and death of the entire world. Even we Kage sometimes have to make difficult choices for our village."
"Tch, as much as I dislike you, you're not wrong."
The Second Mizukage had already arrived at the battlefield. He pursed his lips disdainfully, then looked at the Second Tsuchikage beside him.
"Zombie, back when we fought, it was all for the better development of our village, wasn't it?"
"Hmph, you're right."
The Second Tsuchikage glanced at the man with whom he had died in a mutual kill. Even though he was annoyed, he nodded.
"When a village's development reaches a certain limit, it must find ways to break through. Expansion and plunder become inevitable, and war is a means, even if people die."
"Exactly, even if there's only a sliver of hope, even if the probability of losing is extremely high, I would still choose this."
Hanzo also spoke up at this point, but after seeing Nagato, he added another sentence.
"Moreover, to achieve greater stability and benefits for the village, sometimes even sacrificing some people is worth it."
Nagato's fists clenched a bit. He knew exactly what that bastard Hanzo was talking about. But he was exceptionally troubled right now.
He felt that the Sage of Six Paths's actions were right, but this seemed to go against his dream of peace?
"How could this be…"
Obito was full of confusion, because he realized that all his tragedies seemed to have been created by the Sage of Six Paths himself?
And he was still pursuing the path of peace created by the Sage of Six Paths, constantly striving?
"Furthermore, I suspect that even the Pure Land was created by the Sage of Six Paths."
Just then, Tobirama suddenly spoke again.
"Perhaps he felt indebted for the thousand years of war he caused, so he created the Pure Land for all beings to rest after death. Of course, there might be another reason."
Hagoromo: "…"
Takemi: "…"
"To continue fighting after death?"
Madara instantly understood what Tobirama meant. Although he still looked at Tobirama with disdain, he surprisingly agreed for once.
"Indeed, souls are preserved after death. Besides resting, they can be made to fight when necessary. Truly worthy of the Sage of Six Paths."
Hagoromo: "…"
Is that me too?
And the Edo Tensei individuals were also stunned. Thinking about it, it didn't seem impossible?
After all, when they were resurrected, they retained their combat will and skills from back then.