Naruto: Did i Just Get Reincarnated as Gojo?-Chapter 266: True Successor to the Shinobi Creed!

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Adhering to the principles of the Shinobi Creed, the Sage didn't pass the Ten-Tails within him to Asura, to serve as a shield for the Shinobi World. Instead, he extracted the Ten-Tails from his body, used Yin-Yang Release to create the nine Tailed Beasts, and gave them names.

He himself, weakened by the extraction, chose Asura as the leader of the Shinobi Creed before his death.

Finally, he passed away, trusting in the wisdom and understanding of future generations.

And the wisdom of future generations was...

Indra, consumed by rage, manipulated by Black Zetsu, severed his ties with the Shinobi Creed. He created ninjutsu—techniques designed for killing and conflict. The concept of ninjutsu spread—undermining the very foundation of the Shinobi Creed.

Humans, having mastered ninjutsu, driven by desire, clashed. Conflict led to killing, killing led to hatred.

Thus began millennia of strife.

The ideals of the Shinobi Creed were gradually lost to time, replaced by the pursuit of ninjutsu.

Even in death, Indra could confidently declare to his father, "Father, I won again!"

Kindness required sacrifice; evil demanded tribute.

The instinct for self-preservation drove people towards evil rather than good. Chakra became a tool for ninjutsu, a means to satisfy desires.

And what had Gojo Kaigetsu been doing?

He was—upholding the spirit of the Shinobi Creed! Soothing the Sage of Six Paths' wounded heart!

Though he secretly believed that consolidating all power under one individual would have ended the Shinobi World's conflicts long ago, preventing countless grievances, he still pretended to fully embrace the Shinobi Creed spirit.

Yes, I'm pretending! But what if I pretend for my entire life?

Ninjutsu, under Gojo Kaigetsu's guidance, was once again transforming into a tool for production.

The experimental fields along the Konoha-Suna trade route, the massive construction projects in Otogakure and the New Konoha Village—all of these initiatives were freeing ninjutsu from its definition as a killing art, repurposing it as a tool to reshape nature.

The "New Era Will of Fire with Gojo Characteristics" was essentially Gojo Kaigetsu's revised Shinobi Creed spirit.

Using ninjutsu to improve the environment—create better living conditions; releasing desires, encouraging people to use their ninjutsu to create, not steal; eliminating the need for unnecessary suffering and the "understanding of pain." People's lives were improving; there was no need to endure hardship or comprehend suffering...

The definition of suffering—belonged in textbooks!

People didn't need to connect with each other. Money, shared interests—these were far more effective bonds than empty platitudes about mutual understanding!

And now, Gojo Kaigetsu had boldly proclaimed this revised Shinobi Creed spirit to the entire Shinobi World—

Believe in the power of comrades, believe in the power of the human heart! Save the intelligent, save the foolish! The Will of Fire saves everyone!

Hearts were connecting through the Will of Fire. Konoha Shinobi, imbued with this spirit, had become—this...

Wasn't this the purest form of the Shinobi Creed spirit?

Aside from not sharing his bloodline, was there any reason he couldn't be the third successor to the Shinobi Creed?!

"Sigh..." Gojo Kaigetsu sighed softly.

The Sage of Six Paths—was too stingy.

As the founder of the Shinobi Creed, he should have understood the meaning of selflessness. He'd already shared chakra with the common people; couldn't he be a little more generous and bestow the Yin and Yang powers upon him?

The Founder of the Shinobi Creed—had betrayed the Shinobi Creed!

Expelled from the Shinobi Creed sequence!

Minato Namikaze, noticing Gojo Kaigetsu's sigh, leaned over. "Kaigetsu-kun—the results are in. Our village had the highest pass rate in the first round, and the audience reaction was positive. Why do you still seem unhappy?"

"Minato, you wouldn't understand." Gojo Kaigetsu shook his head mournfully. "Seeing a shortcut to unifying the Shinobi World, yet being blocked by an insurmountable invisible wall—That is the source of my frustration, Minato."

"...I don't understand, but I respect it."

Gojo Kaigetsu stretched, letting out a yawn. "Well then, it's almost my turn."

Below, the Land of Sound's princess continued her speech, announcing the end of the first exam. "Now, let us welcome the proctor for the second exam, Gojo Kaigetsu, to describe the next stage!"

Gojo Kaigetsu, clad in his black combat attire, moved swiftly, landing gracefully on the stage. He took the microphone and began his introduction.

"The second round of the Chunin Exams tests the average skill level of each village's Shinobi. The specific events include:"

"Shuriken throwing, a 4x10 kilometer Shinobi relay race, a 100-meter Body Flicker Technique sprint, trap-setting competition—Each event will award gold, silver, and bronze medals..."

"Finally, the top twelve villages based on total points will advance to the third round—one-on-one Shinobi duels!"

——

Night fell.

Moonlight bathed Otogakure. Gojo Kaigetsu, feeling an unusual weariness, lay down on his tatami mat and quickly drifted off to sleep.

A drop of water fell onto a still surface, creating ripples.

Gojo Kaigetsu's eyes snapped open.

Plip

The moment the water droplet touched the surface, Gojo Kaigetsu's eyes snapped open.

Where the hell am I?!!

He instinctively sat up, scanning his surroundings.

An old man sat cross-legged, floating in mid-air.

He had two horns, brown hair, and wore a white robe with a red spiral emblem on the back, below which were nine magatama arranged in a grid.

His identity was unmistakable—

The Sage of Six Paths.

Gojo Kaigetsu feigned surprise. "Where is this? A genjutsu? Or—am I dead?!"

"Why do you assume such? Your perception of death differs greatly from that of my era. To speak so casually of one's own demise—you possess considerable spirit, newcomer."

"Who are you?" Gojo Kaigetsu asked.

The old man slowly turned, revealing the V-shaped neckline of his robe, adorned with six black magatama patterns, and those iconic Rinnegan eyes.

"It is natural to have questions in this place. But I worry whether the name you know, the deeds you've heard from the pioneers, align with reality—I am the guardian of peace and order, my name is Hagoromo!"

The Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, rested his hands on his knees, his solemn purple Rinnegan studying Gojo Kaigetsu.

Observing his "stunned" expression, he continued, "However, I anticipated you would react thus."

Gojo Kaigetsu, playing the part of an oblivious newcomer, scratched his head. "Sorry—old man, I really—Wait! Those eyes—are they..."

"The legendary Rinnegan?!" Gojo Kaigetsu exclaimed, his exaggerated tone and gestures perfectly mimicking the reaction of someone seeing the Rinnegan for the first time.

"It seems you possess a discerning eye. I hope you can now grasp your situation. You are not dead. This is your spiritual realm. I understand your confusion, your anxiety..."

"Um..." Gojo Kaigetsu raised his palm. "Elder Hagoromo, could you perhaps speak—normally? Is it really that difficult to use plain language?"

Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki paused, his gaze towards Gojo Kaigetsu shifting. He saw a resemblance, a shadow of his somewhat clueless younger son.

Hagoromo's expression softened slightly.

"It is I who misunderstood the changing times. Cultural traditions, concepts, even ethics and morality, have undergone immense transformation. Each time I cross the ages to meet a successor like this, I sense a vast chasm between us. Though I can relearn the new culture, the language, the emphasis on form..."

"Wait!" Gojo Kaigetsu interrupted again. "I don't have time for your ramblings, Elder Hagoromo. But you said—I'm a successor?"

"You are the first non-reincarnate I have communicated with—Seeking only new language, the entirety of knowledge remains unclear. If definitions hinder communication, perhaps I must combine the current metaphysical and materialistic methodologies to express myself simply..."

"Elder Hagoromo, are you an alien or something?"

"You speak too boldly, young one! And what is this 'alien'?"

A wave of dizziness washed over Gojo Kaigetsu. Though mentally prepared, the Sage of Six Paths' abrupt shift in demeanor was still jarring.

"...Is communication truly impossible? I didn't expect conversing with someone from the future to be so difficult."

"No, no, that was fine just now. It was just—such a sudden change, I wasn't prepared."

"Ah—really? Then I shall continue thus. Please bear with me."

Gojo Kaigetsu spoke first. "So—Elder Hagoromo, who exactly are you? Why do you possess those eyes? And what is the purpose of bringing me into this spiritual space?"

"I am a relic of a bygone era, long deceased. I linger in this world merely as a remnant of chakra, a lingering regret, witnessing the end of the Shinobi Creed. I am its guardian."

"My name is Hagoromo, founder of the Shinobi Creed—The Shinobi Creed has faded into history; the concept may be entirely foreign to you, a person of the future."

"But my full name is Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, known to later generations as—"

"The Sage of Six Paths!"

As the title was spoken, Gojo Kaigetsu felt its immense weight.

The Sage of Six Paths—setting aside Kaguya, the true progenitor of chakra.

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The source of modern ninjutsu, his power evolving from Sharingan to Rinnegan, his Susanoo rivaling the Ten-Tails in size, the largest of all Susanoo.

Though his Shinobi Creed ideals were perhaps naive, and had sown the seeds of millennia of conflict, he was undeniably a great pioneer.

The Shinobi Creed's ideals represented the pinnacle of human consciousness. But being human meant inherent flaws, preventing the attainment of that perfect state.

"You are the Sage of Six Paths!" Gojo Kaigetsu couldn't help but exclaim.

To feign ignorance now would be absurd.

As an observer of the Shinobi World, the Sage of Six Paths must have noticed him using his name to deceive scientists and spread propaganda.

Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki's tone held a hint of amusement. "Oh~ So you do know~"

"How could I not? You invented ninjutsu! And I—have used your name to—deceive others."

At the mention of "ninjutsu," Hagoromo's demeanor shifted. He grasped his nearby Khakkhara staff and struck the water's surface.

Clearly, Indra's parting words—that ninjutsu would destroy the Shinobi Creed—still resonated with the old Sage.

Seeing his life's work forgotten, replaced by the very ninjutsu that opposed his ideals, stirred resentment even in death.

"My Shinobi Creed was created to foster hope! It is Ninshū, not ninjutsu! Do not confuse it with the war-mongering ninjutsu!"

"You may not understand Ninshū, but what you are striving to achieve now—using chakra nature transformation—that is the essence of the Shinobi Creed!" Hearing this, Hagoromo's gaze towards Gojo Kaigetsu softened once more.

The Shinobi Creed—has a successor!

The Sage of Six Paths' heart had died with his physical body. But seeing his life's work overturned by his disobedient elder son...

Still, death was final. He had no right to interfere in the world of the living. Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki had resigned himself to observing, to watching the Shinobi World for millennia, witnessing the decline of the Shinobi Creed he had created.

He saw his younger son, Asura, die, the great Ancestral Country crumble, the Shinobi World descend into a thousand years of chaos and conflict—The first defeat of the Shinobi Creed.

Until, a millennium later, the Shinobi World entered the Warring States Period.

The reincarnation of Asura's chakra, the savior of the Senju clan—Hashirama Senju—was born.

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