"This is…!!!!!!"
Senju Shuichi's face turned deathly pale. The monstrous strength of the Senju in his body froze completely, unable to be mobilized at all.
In the void, a figure slowly stepped out.
At first, it was still the calm and composed appearance of that old man, his expression peaceful. It was exactly the mysterious elder the two of them regarded as a thorn in their side.
"It's him! Shuichi."
Izumichi's eyes widened as he saw the old man again.
The moment Senju Shuichi saw this presence and this power, he immediately thought to himself, "It's over. What kind of hidden monster in the ninja world did Izumichi provoke?"
"Th-this… Izumichi! You set me up!"
Senju Shuichi gritted his teeth and resisted with all his strength.
Even though that old man showed no intention of making a move, he still had the feeling that he and Izumichi could be killed in an instant.
Just as both their pupils suddenly shrank...
Arisu's body suddenly blossomed with countless streams of sage techniques, flowing light reversing time itself.
His full head of white hair visibly turned black and thick again. The wrinkles on his face completely smoothed out and disappeared.
His figure grew straighter and more handsome.
In only a moment, the old man's appearance completely settled into that of a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old youth.
His face was like polished jade, his eyes bright like stars, his appearance peerless.
That face...
That figure...
Uchiha Izumichi and Senju Shuichi's minds exploded with a roar, as if struck by lightning. The blood in their bodies instantly froze.
Just earlier they had bowed and knelt in the Six Paths Temple, hands clasped in prayer...
The portrait of the Sage of Six Paths Arisu was exactly the same as the youth standing before them.
Not even the slightest difference.
Exactly the same...
"S-Sage of Six Paths…?!"
A broken, hoarse sound came from Uchiha Izumichi's throat, and the hand holding his blade lost all strength.
With a loud clang, the tachi crashed heavily onto the ground. His whole body staggered backward, and even his crimson Sharingan lost focus from extreme fear.
This was not a transformation technique. It was not an illusion.
This was a real god.
They had prayed in the Six Paths Temple for the Sage of Six Paths to bless them in dealing with this old man.
They had joined forces to ambush a tailed beast in order to force this old man to appear.
The person they had kept talking about taking revenge on and beating up was actually the very Sage of Six Paths himself... the ancestor of the ninja world whom they worshipped.
Senju Shuichi couldn't hold it together either. A man who normally disliked swearing couldn't help blurting out a curse.
"Damn it! Izumichi, you bastard, you trapped me! This password is the Sage of Six Paths!"
Senju Shuichi felt completely numb. How was he supposed to explain this to the ancestors after he died?
———
Senju ancestors: Why did you come down here so young?
Senju Shuichi: I got into a fight with the Sage of Six Paths...
Senju ancestors: Stop bragging!
———
Uchiha Izumichi's pupils trembled violently.
Both of them felt like complete fools, clowns jumping straight toward their own deaths.
Matatabi lay within the chains and lifted her gaze toward her teacher's youthful true form. Her vertical pupils were filled with pride and satisfaction as she let out a soft snort.
"So now, do you still dare to touch me?"
Arisu stood in the air. In his youthful form, immortal light flowed around him as his calm gaze fell on the two kneeling figures below.
He spoke lightly, "What business do you have with me?"
Uchiha Izumichi and Senju Shuichi's faces turned ugly.
They exchanged a glance, their legs suddenly going weak.
With two thuds, they both dropped to their knees on the cold rocky ground, not even daring to raise their heads.
Matatabi lay nearby, watching the two who had been arrogant and domineering earlier now look miserable and defeated. Even the tip of her tail couldn't help but curl up slightly as she secretly felt delighted.
'So you two aren't pretending anymore, huh? Then it's my turn!'
The next second, Matatabi instantly put away her pride. Her eyes reddened as she staggered toward Arisu with wounds all over her body. Her voice choked with grievance as she spoke tearfully.
"Teacher… you finally came… I never imagined the person they were looking for was you… If I had known earlier, even if I were crushed to pieces I would never have revealed even the slightest trace of your whereabouts…"
Arisu lowered his eyes and looked at the wounds crisscrossing Matatabi's body. A shadow instantly passed through the calm depths of his gaze.
"Matatabi, you've suffered. This is your teacher's fault."
Arisu said in a low voice.
As soon as he finished speaking, Arisu gently raised his hand. Warm and brilliant sage chakra flowed from his fingertips and wrapped around Matatabi's body.
"Sage Art: Mystical Palm Technique!"
In just an instant, all the wounds on her body healed completely. Her messy fur returned to being smooth, and her weak aura became full and vigorous again, completely returning to its peak condition.
After healing Matatabi, Arisu slowly raised his eyes and locked his gaze directly onto Uchiha Izumichi.
"Uchiha Izumichi, back then I spared you and did not pursue the matter. I never expected that not only would you fail to restrain yourself, you would go even further."
"Now you've even incited the Senju clan to oppose me. Aren't you taking me a little too lightly?"
Arisu spoke calmly, his tone indifferent but carrying overwhelming pressure.
Hearing this, Uchiha Izumichi's entire body trembled violently. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back, his clothes clinging to his spine as he didn't even dare breathe loudly.
Before Izumichi could speak, Senju Shuichi had already slammed his head heavily onto the ground.
"Immortal! Izumichi was foolish, and I was even more foolish! We were blind and failed to recognize the Immortal's true appearance, committing a monstrous mistake. We accept whatever punishment the Immortal gives!"
"I only beg the Immortal to show mercy and not punish the Uchiha and Senju clans. Izumichi and I are willing to bear all responsibility ourselves!"
Senju Shuichi directly chose to take responsibility.
Deep down, he knew he had no chance of surviving. His only hope was that the ancestor of the ninja world would spare their respective clans.
Arisu glanced at Senju Shuichi indifferently.
Inwardly, he nodded. As expected of Ashura's reincarnation, he knew how to speak.
In contrast, Uchiha Izumichi beside him had the rebellious arrogance of Indra's reincarnation carved into his bones.
If Arisu were not the Sage of Six Paths at this moment, with this kid's personality he would probably have already attacked without hesitation.
No... Uchiha Izumichi very likely wants to attack right now.
Uchiha Izumichi is currently considering whether to make a move.
The Uchiha clan had always believed their fate was in their own hands, not controlled by heaven. Who cares if you're some Immortal? Just fight.
That was the base code of Indra.
Arisu looked again at Uchiha Izumichi.
He saw Izumichi grit his teeth, step forward, and kneel heavily as well. His voice trembled slightly.
"Please show mercy, Immortal. Do not punish the members of our clans. The two of us are willing to accept any punishment. Kill us or torture us as you wish!"
Uchiha Izumichi said in a deep voice.
The two of them knelt one after the other, bowing their heads in confession with extreme sincerity, only hoping to preserve their clans even if it meant accepting death.
Arisu looked at the scene before him. At first he was stunned, and then he almost laughed from anger.
Originally he had planned to step in and severely teach these two ignorant brats a lesson. He had even imagined that they might stubbornly resist, giving him the perfect chance to punish them properly.
But he never expected that after seeing the true form of the Sage of Six Paths, the two of them would immediately kneel and beg for mercy with such sincere attitudes that he suddenly had no way to act.
All the anger in his chest felt like it had been thrown onto cotton.
In the end, he had still underestimated his own overwhelming influence in the ninja world as the Sage of Six Paths.