Even the mighty Sage of Six Paths could not help but blanch in shock at this moment.

Standing before him, Uchiha Chiyu seemed nothing short of invincible.

This shinobi world was supposed to be the creation—and the legend—of Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki himself. Yet now that legend had been completely upended by Chiyu.

From this instant onward, Chiyu alone was the true myth, the true legend.

In Hagoromo's eyes, although Chiyu had defeated his mother Kaguya, Chiyu should have been helpless against an undying existence like himself, backed by the boundless army of souls from the Pure Land of the Underworld.

Unfortunately for Hagoromo, that calculation failed utterly.

Chiyu remained the same as ever:

If gods bar the way, he slays gods;

if Buddhas bar the way, he slays Buddhas.

Hagoromo's soul was annihilated once more.

Though he quickly possessed another soul and revived, he keenly sensed looming danger.

"It seems I still need greater power…."

His gaze shifted instantly to the Chūnin‑Exam arena—

—to the nine tailed beasts.

"Shukaku, Matatabi, Isobu, Son Gokū, Kokuō, Saiken, Chōmei, Gyūki, Kurama!

I need your power now!"

For a heartbeat, every beast present—and their jinchūriki, Gaara, Fū, and Uzumaki Naruto—looked at one another in silent astonishment.

Kurama took control of Naruto's body for the reply.

"Old Man of Six Paths, you may have created us, but now we cannot stand on the same side as you…."

Hagoromo's brow tightened.

"Kurama, are you betraying me as well?"

"No," Kurama said. "It isn't betrayal. It's our own choice. You split the Ten‑Tails' chakra with Yin–Yang Release and gave us life. That favor is immense. But after that you abandoned us. For a thousand years we suffered—feared, hated, called calamities—caught in endless wars and conflict….

True freedom and the right to choose have been given to us by today's Lord of the Shinobi World.

So I obey him, not you. Sorry, old man."

Hagoromo's expression darkened.

"Kurama, you—"

"Not just Kurama—all of us," Matatabi added. "From what you said, you could have acted many times over these millennia, yet you did nothing—for us or for the shinobi world.

Now that peace and freedom are finally within reach, you appear and demand a revolution we cannot accept."

The other beasts nodded silently.

Son Gokū rumbled:

"We are finally free. I have a home where I can rest; I can walk the whole world without fearing attacks from ninja. We coexist in peace—just look at us here."

Special seats had been set aside in the stands for the tailed beasts to watch together with human shinobi, distinction erased.

Seeing all this, Hagoromo finally realized his creations had utterly forsaken him.

Shukaku screeched, "Give it up, old man! You're in the wrong!"

But Hagoromo shook his head.

"You only coexist 'peacefully' for now.

Without true understanding your conflicts will flare again—believe me. Only when your minds are linked by chakra can hate and war be eradicated forever."

Kokuō replied solemnly:

"No, you misunderstand. You tried that once—your grand Ninshū dream—and it failed because you never grasped human nature.

People prefer to gain greater strength for themselves. It's harsh, but it's the truth. We may only have temporary peace, but at least we're trying, not just fantasizing."

Hagoromo fell silent. He knew the tailed beasts' power was now beyond his reach; like children grown, they had wills of their own.

His thoughts drifted to Asura and Indra—his own sons whose feud had spanned centuries. Had he failed them too?

"Asura… Indra… Have I truly been wrong all along?"

Behind him hovered the souls of his sons.

Indra spoke gravely:

"Father, you were wrong. Ninshū was but a mirage. Peace can only be won through absolute power. Were my soul not shackled, I would already stand with Uchiha Chiyu."

Asura whispered after a long pause:

"Father, I don't know the answer—perhaps there is none…."

One son sided with Chiyu, the other was lost in doubt. The nine beasts had chosen Chiyu as well. Indeed—Hagoromo had failed.

"Enough, Uchiha Chiyu," he said at last.

"Realize your own defeat?" Chiyu replied coolly.

Hagoromo sighed.

"Perhaps I am wrong… but that does not make you right."

Chiyu laughed coldly.

"A man who lacks even conviction in his own will has no right to debate right and wrong—no right even to be wrong."

Hagoromo's face stiffened.

"No right… to be wrong?

Perhaps I have been too indecisive….

Chiyu, I will return to the Pure Land and reflect on the world's future—"

Chiyu burst out laughing.

"What a joke! You think the shinobi world is some inn you can visit or leave at whim?

You commandeered countless souls, possessed bodies at will, and now you want to walk away with a single 'I'm done'?

Delusional!"

"Must things end in death?" Hagoromo asked.

"You are already dead," Chiyu answered.

Chiyu would not let the Sage escape; Hagoromo in spirit form could invade the living again. Evil must be eradicated—that was Chiyu's creed.

"You cannot kill me," Hagoromo warned. "Not unless you annihilate every soul in the Pure Land!"

"That is hardly difficult," Chiyu replied calmly. "Unlike you, I know exactly who deserves death."

"I am leaving," Hagoromo said, his soul flaring with radiant white light, ready to ascend.

In that instant, Chiyu spoke three quiet words:

"Takamagahara."

Whum—

The divine realm erupted anew, stronger than ever—Chiyu's power had grown through the very souls he had destroyed.

So this is…. Hagoromo realized why Chiyu was eternally unbeatable: each soul slain in battle replenished and magnified his power. Kill to grow, grow to kill—an endless loop. Given time, he could slaughter through the entire Pure Land itself.

Yet Chiyu desired only one death: Hagoromo's.

"Behold true power, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo.

Time Freeze."

Inside Takamagahara, billions of souls instantly lost all temporal flow; even Hagoromo could not move, frozen like a statue.

Chiyu's calm voice echoed:

"Possession drains your power—you have nowhere left to flee."

Hagoromo's expression finally changed.

"You—surely you won't…."

Chiyu ignored him.

"Die.

Time Erasure!"

Within the frozen realm, Hagoromo's soul underwent a strange fate: not shattering into nothingness, but reversing through time—adult, youth, child, infant—until his very existence across all eras was erased. His soul vanished forever.

[System prompt: You have granted rest to the Sage of Six Paths after a thousand‑year ordeal. Boundless merit gained! Merit +500 000.

[System prompt: Congratulations! You have obtained all the Sage's abilities!]

With Hagoromo's power, Chiyu became the new Lord of the Pure Land. A simple gesture unfroze time; the souls revived.

Thus Chiyu stood as absolute ruler of both the living world and the underworld. He could summon the dead without sacrifice, traverse life and death at will—yet unlike the Sage, he still lived. His power now surpassed even the reaper god.

Chiyu, however, resolved never to abuse these laws save in utmost necessity.

Hagoromo's soul was gone, freed to true nothingness. The countless other souls were released from his bondage—but they sensed that Chiyu now presided.

Indra's spirit spoke:

"Lord of the Shinobi World, you have granted Father release. I bear you no grudge; I said before I support your path. Should you need my strength, summon me anytime."

Chiyu nodded.

Asura sighed:

"I still don't know the true answer….

But I will keep waiting."

He looked toward Naruto and Sasuke.

"Indra, those two over there… our chakra still lives in them. Let's hope they don't repeat our fate."

"Hmph," Indra said. "With the Lord of the Shinobi World here, all karma can be severed."

Asura finally nodded.

"Then may they find a better ending than we did…."

The brothers' souls ascended and vanished into the Pure Land. Most other souls followed—but many first reunited with loved ones:

Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki embraced their weeping son Naruto.

Sakumo Hatake spoke at last with Kakashi.

Might Guy reunited with his father Dai.

Iruka met his parents again, tears flowing….

The Chūnin Exams became a vast reunion.

Chiyu did not interfere, though every soul was now under his command.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzō Shimura, Koharu Utatané, and Homura Mitokado approached.

"You've won, Chiyu," Hiruzen said bitterly. "Erase our souls—we'd rather vanish than watch you flaunt your power!"

"You were insignificant long ago," Chiyu replied. "But if you think that spares you, you're as foolish as ever."

He snapped his fingers; the four elders' souls turned to ash, gone for good.

Elsewhere, Itachi Uchiha's soul appeared before Sasuke.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke… for all the pain…."

Sasuke ignored him, looking only to Chiyu.

"My lord, please erase his soul entirely."

Itachi paled, but Chiyu inclined his head; with a thought Itachi vanished, leaving Sasuke free of his brother's shadow.

Fugaku and Mikoto felt complicated yet relieved to see Sasuke regain control of his life.

Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha both sighed.

"Hashirama, we were both wrong—accomplished nothing," Madara murmured.

"Perhaps," Hashirama said, "but we can leave the future to those living now. Chiyu may be right—at least he has a will and follows it."

Tobirama stayed silent—agreeing hurt more than death, for Chiyu was a Uchiha. Soon their souls, too, faded away.

Chiyu watched as destinies were resolved, reunions completed. When all was settled, he lifted the Summoning of Pure Souls; every spirit returned to the underworld.

Yet among them Chiyu sensed one soul strangely different: Hagoromo's younger brother—

Ōtsutsuki Hamura.

Hamura's spirit resisted Chiyu's pull and sped toward its original home—

—the Moon.

A glimmer crossed Chiyu's eyes. That place was…

~~~

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