The first time Sasuke saw the emperor of the empire, he felt... underwhelmed. He had expected a figure radiating overwhelming power, yet before him stood a man who appeared utterly ordinary.
At first glance, Ōtsutsuki Tenma didn't exude the aura of a strong warrior. He seemed like any regular person. The only thing that stood out was his appearance, which aligned with the aesthetics of the Uchiha clan. But apart from that, Sasuke couldn't sense anything extraordinary.
"Your Majesty, Uchiha Sasuke from the No. 1 Ninja World has arrived," Senju Tobirama announced, gesturing toward Sasuke.
"Understood," Ōtsutsuki Tenma nodded calmly before turning his gaze toward Sasuke.
It had been over thirty years since he had arrived in this world. More than twenty years ago, he had completely reshaped the fate of the ninja world. He had once thought it impossible to see Uchiha Sasuke again—the Sasuke from the original timeline.
Yet, fate had its surprises.
This Sasuke, who stood before him now, was likely the closest to the one from the original timeline.
An Overwhelming Presence
Sasuke felt his heart race as Ōtsutsuki Tenma looked at him. His mind went blank for a moment, unsure of how to react.
Should he kneel?
One knee or both?
What was the proper way to address an emperor of this magnitude?
"Don't be nervous," Ōtsutsuki Tenma said with a small smile. "I already know your situation. You wish to train in this world to grow stronger, and in return, I will provide you with the necessary resources."
Sasuke was stunned. "Th-thank you, Your Majesty..." he responded hesitantly.
Why?
Why was the emperor of this empire offering to help him?
Ōtsutsuki Tenma could see Sasuke's confusion. "They probably didn't explain why you were invited here, did they?"
With a nod toward Senju Tobirama, he said, "Tobirama, explain it to him."
"Yes," Tobirama acknowledged before turning to Sasuke.
"I'll make this simple for you to understand. In your world, the legendary founder of the ninja sect, the Sage of Six Paths, had two sons: Indra and Ashura. Due to conflicts over succession, their fates became eternally entangled, and their chakra has been reincarnating within their descendants ever since.
"This cycle of reincarnation ensures that the individuals who inherit their chakra will inevitably clash throughout their lives."
Tobirama paused, then added, "For example, my brother, Senju Hashirama, and his greatest rival, Uchiha Madara."
Sasuke listened carefully, processing the information.
Chakra reincarnates through bloodlines...
Suddenly, a thought struck him.
"Wait!" Sasuke frowned as he looked at himself. "If one of those two was an Uchiha, then in my world... wouldn't the ones inheriting their chakra be me and Uchiha Itachi?"
After all, there were only two Uchiha left in his world.
"You're quick to catch on," Tobirama acknowledged. "Indra was the ancestor of the Uchiha clan, and in your generation, you are his reincarnation."
He then went on to explain that, to prevent interference from the Sage of Six Paths, Sasuke needed to be taken out of his world.
Fate and Free Will
"That's one reason," Ōtsutsuki Tenma said with a slight chuckle. "But beyond that, I want to help you because I sympathize with your fate.
"If you wish to take control of your destiny, I am willing to assist you."
Sasuke felt an unexpected warmth spread through him. Since the night of the Uchiha massacre five years ago, he had been alone. No one truly understood him.
And yet, the one who finally did was not even from his world.
"Hey."
Tobirama folded his arms, eyeing Sasuke with a smirk. "Are you about to cry?"
"...!"
Sasuke's emotional state crumbled instantly.
Embarrassment flooded his face. He wished the ground would swallow him whole.
"Really, Tobirama?" Ōtsutsuki Tenma sighed, shaking his head. "You have a way with words, don't you?"
That only made Sasuke's embarrassment worse.
Ignoring Tobirama, Ōtsutsuki Tenma took a step closer. "Now, let's remove Indra's will from your chakra. I assume you don't want to be influenced by someone else's will, do you?"
Sasuke hesitated. "What kind of effect does Indra's will have on me?"
Ōtsutsuki Tenma considered this for a moment.
"Well... to put it simply, it binds you to the reincarnation of Ashura's chakra," he explained. "It forces you into a destined entanglement with Naruto."
Sasuke's expression darkened.
The way he phrased it sounded... weird.
A bit too weird.
"I'd like to remove it. Immediately," Sasuke said, keeping his tone polite.
"Very well."
Ōtsutsuki Tenma raised his hand and gently touched Sasuke's forehead.
And then he stepped back.
"...?"
Sasuke blinked in confusion. "That's it?"
Ōtsutsuki Tenma smiled. "No need to make a fuss. Indra was strong, yes, but he never fully reached the Six Paths level. At most, he only touched the threshold. Stripping away his influence isn't difficult."
Sasuke was stunned.
Was it really that simple?
According to what Tobirama had just explained, even powerful figures like Hashirama and Madara had spent their entire lives locked in this cycle, unable to break free.
But Ōtsutsuki Tenma had done it effortlessly.
Was this what it meant to reach the pinnacle of power?
Even though Ōtsutsuki Tenma showed no visible aura, it was clear now—his strength had reached an unimaginable level.
A Small Gift
"I didn't remove Indra's will completely," Ōtsutsuki Tenma admitted.
Sasuke tensed. "What do you mean?"
"I sealed a portion of it within your body, infused with my chakra," Ōtsutsuki Tenma explained. "Think of it as something similar to how the tailed beasts reside within Jinchūriki."
Sasuke frowned. "Why would you do that?"
"You are alone in this world," Ōtsutsuki Tenma said simply.
"In the future, I believe you may need someone to talk to."
Sasuke fell silent.
For the first time in years, he felt something unfamiliar—something warm.
Was this what it felt like to have someone watching over him?
End of Chapter 27
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