Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 179: Hagoromo Gengetsu: Infinite Tsukuyomi is Quite Interesting

Naka Shrine.

Once a secret gathering place for the Uchiha clan, it is now overgrown with weeds.

Passing through the collapsed red torii gate, Hagoromo Gengetsu arrives at the main hall of the shrine, finding it empty.

The Uchiha ninjas who came with him are busy cleaning the long-neglected Uchiha cemetery, pouring out their emotions in front of their family graves.

Meanwhile, another significant figure, Uchiha Itachi, is on his way.

Hagoromo Gengetsu is not in a hurry.

Entering the hall, his eyes sweep to the right side.

Starting from the far right, under the seventh tatami mat.

Hagoromo Gengetsu reaches out and pushes, revealing a downward passage.

This basement is the true secret gathering place of Naka Shrine.

Inside, the stone tablet written by the Sage of Six Paths is stored.

Hagoromo Gengetsu enters the basement and stands before the Uchiha stone tablet, which had once been examined by Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama.

The inscriptions on the stone tablet are cryptic and obscure.

A mysterious force seems to block comprehension, requiring the Sharingan to unveil the true contents.

Hagoromo Gengetsu tries to comprehend the tablet but fails, then forms a hand seal.

With a "poof," a clone appears beside him in a burst of white smoke, dressed in Uchiha's blue kimono and wearing a white spiral mask.

Without needing any instructions, the clone activates its Mangekyō Sharingan, its black blades spinning in the blood-red pupils, and gazes at the Uchiha stone tablet.

Initially, the Sage of Six Paths left this stone tablet to guide future Indra reincarnations, hoping they would avoid the old paths and believe in love.

However, Black Zetsu discovered the stone tablet and altered much of its content.

What Hagoromo Gengetsu sees now is the modified content.

From ordinary Sharingan to Mangekyō Sharingan, and then to Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, the extent to which the tablet can be deciphered depends on the strength of the eyes.

Originally, the Mangekyō Sharingan of Shisui could only decipher the level seen by Uchiha Itachi.

Contents such as the origin of Uchiha's Sharingan power, how to awaken it, how to evolve it to Mangekyō, and even how to achieve the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

But this time, Hagoromo Gengetsu unexpectedly finds himself able to decipher all the content on the tablet, equivalent to what Uchiha Madara once saw.

"Senju and Uchiha, two opposite forces interacting, achieve Rinnegan."

The so-called Rinnegan refers to the ultimate dojutsu.

'Madara was led down a completely different path after seeing this. Now, it's trying to deceive me too?'

Hagoromo Gengetsu looks serious on the surface, but internally, he is mocking.

The fact that he can see this content is not because Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan has the same power as the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

Just as Black Zetsu altered the stone tablet, he has now lowered the requirements for deciphering it.

'So, Black Zetsu sees me as a potential candidate for the plan to rescue his mother? Is it because of the battle with Uchiha Itachi, where not only Uchiha Obito arrived, but Black Zetsu also witnessed and got interested?'

Indeed, with Hagoromo Gengetsu's current strength, the success rate of executing the Moon's Eye Plan would be higher than with Uchiha Obito.

After seeing Hagoromo Gengetsu's demonstrated strength a year ago, Black Zetsu didn't switch candidates but did some minor adjustments behind the scenes.

'Seems like Black Zetsu anticipated my visit here. I wonder if he's here in person now.'

Hagoromo Gengetsu subtly scans the surroundings, finds nothing suspicious, and continues deciphering the remaining content on the tablet, which details the final step of the plan.

The Infinite Tsukuyomi!

The altered stone tablet by Black Zetsu details the steps to perform the Infinite Tsukuyomi: collect the nine Tailed Beasts, become the Jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails, and cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi upon the moon.

Once completed, everyone in the world will fall into a dream, perpetually living in their own ideal, happy dreams.

The ninja world will be free from wars, killings, pain, and despair.

True peace will arrive!

'This is how Madara got misguided.'

Hagoromo Gengetsu chuckles inwardly.

But on the surface, he shows great interest, his tone filled with surprise and excitement:

"Interesting."

Since his progress in cultivating the Bloodline Limit has stalled due to chakra limitations, Hagoromo Gengetsu has realized there's only one solution.

Although this planet is large, the amount of chakra it can hold is limited.

After absorbing the Divine Tree's power completely, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki reached the pinnacle of the Bloodline Encompassing.

Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, inheriting Kaguya's chakra, sealed his mother and separated the Divine Tree, becoming the Jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails and achieving the Bloodline Encompassing.

Technically, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki enhanced his own power by taking Kaguya's, reaching the peak of the Six Paths' power.

Thus, the combined chakra of this planet can only sustain one or two individuals at the level of the Bloodline Encompassing.

Despite Hagoromo Gengetsu's efforts to find other ways to increase his chakra, it's ultimately futile.

Instead, it would be more efficient to directly seize the chakra of the nine Tailed Beasts and become the Ten-Tails.

Of course, he has no intention of becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki or releasing Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.

Hagoromo Gengetsu's goal is clear.

Gather enough chakra to achieve the Bloodline Encompassing!

The Ten-Tails, or even the chakra collected under Infinite Tsukuyomi, is what he needs.

Therefore, Hagoromo Gengetsu doesn't mind putting on a show for now.

After all, critical items like the Rinnegan and the Gedo Statue are not in his possession.

If he wants to take the prize, he must leave a good impression first.

At this moment, after deciphering the entire stone tablet, Hagoromo Gengetsu doesn't leave immediately but stares at the interpretation of "Infinite Tsukuyomi" for a long time.

"A world where everyone is dreaming, and I alone am awake, the ninja world achieves peace, and no one disturbs my cultivation. Honestly, it sounds pretty good."

After a while, Hagoromo Gengetsu finally speaks, half-true and half-false.

At this moment.

A pitch-black figure slowly emerges from a dark corner of the basement.

As a creation of the Sage of Six Paths, separated from White Zetsu, Black Zetsu is nearly impossible to detect unless by a Six Paths-level being.

Noticing Hagoromo Gengetsu standing before the stone tablet for so long, Black Zetsu smiles.

Another prey has taken the bait.