Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 212: A Way to Meet the Sage of Six Paths

Shigen wasn't wrong.

Because the Sage of Six Paths could indeed appear at any moment.

After Minato took Naruto away, he transferred the Nine-Tails from his own body into Naruto's and anxiously waited for his son to wake up.

But...

There was still no response.

When Sasuke arrived and saw Naruto on the brink of death, he stood beside Minato and asked quietly:

"Is it not working?"

Sasuke's expression grew darker by the second.

"..."

Minato slowly lowered his head.

There is nothing more painful for a father than being unable to save his son—than watching his child die before his very eyes.

But...

Minato was truly powerless.

"Actually..."

Tobirama's voice appeared beside them, sounding unusually hopeful in that moment: "There is still one way to save this boy..."

"What is it?!"

Minato and Sasuke turned at the same time.

"Cross the boundary between life and death—and beg the Sage of Six Paths to intervene..."

Tobirama's eyes locked onto Naruto's unconscious face as he calmly spoke of the knowledge he had once learned from Shigen: "Whether to save this child or the world, our only hope lies with that legendary god..."

This, too, was why Tobirama had left the battlefield.

Because he, more than anyone, understood the truth—there was no way the Ninja Alliance could defeat Madara.

Especially with someone like Shigen standing behind him...

A man like a god.

Only a true god—only the Sage of Six Paths—could resolve the crisis now threatening the ninja world.

"Back then..."

"Shigen once shared a method to heal my elder brother—by placing a soul on the edge of life and death..."

"If the soul reaches the boundary between the living world and the underworld, it can encounter the legendary Sage of Six Paths..."

"..."

Tobirama slowly told the tale—explaining how the Sage of Six Paths still existed in the world, and how his brother had truly once met that ancient god.

"The Sage of Six Paths, huh..."

Sasuke furrowed his brows.

"One must be unafraid of death..."

Tobirama explained the conditions needed to reach that place between life and death: "And must carry an overwhelming obsession at the moment of death..."

This act...

Was essentially encouraging suicide.

And the chance of success felt infinitesimally small.

From Tobirama's description, the whole thing sounded like mere superstition—praying to a god in times of desperation.

Something people did for comfort.

Yet at that moment, Tobirama described it not as folklore but as an ancient, buried truth.

"Then I'll go ask the Sage of Six Paths..."

Minato joined his hands together.

"You've already died once, Fourth."

Tobirama shook his head slightly, sounding a little regretful: "Based on my analysis, after we were released from Reanimation last time, your soul would've returned to the underworld—you likely can't enter that boundary anymore..."

"Because..."

"I tried it once myself."

Tobirama admitted he had tested this during his previous Reanimation: "But my soul didn't stop at the border. It went straight to the underworld..."

Then his gaze fell on Sasuke.

The only living person among them.

Only the living...

Might still have a chance to meet the Sage of Six Paths.

"..."

Sasuke twitched at the corner of his mouth.

Sure, life and death didn't feel that different to him anymore—but being straight-up encouraged to off himself? That was a surprise.

Honestly...

Kind of unexpected.

Still, if this truly could bring Naruto back...

Maybe it was worth the risk—even if it meant actually dying.

After all...

Back in Team 7—

Sasuke remembered that he was once willing to die to protect Naruto during missions.

That guy...

Would've done the same for him.

Even back then, when Sasuke hadn't yet avenged his clan, he was willing.

Now?

Now that his revenge was done, now that he knew the truth about Itachi—there wasn't much point in staying alive anymore, was there?

"I'll do it."

Lightning flickered at Sasuke's fingertips. He looked at Naruto one last time, then glanced back at Tobirama. "I hope what you're saying is true..."

"Sasuke!"

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Minato stepped forward to stop him!

He wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice himself for his son—but he couldn't let his son's friend do the same!

"It's fine."

Sasuke smiled faintly, as if he'd come to terms with everything. "If the roles were reversed, that guy would definitely do the same."

Yes. Without question.

Sasuke knew Naruto too well.

Even if this whole thing sounded absurd—Naruto had never cared about his own life. He always gave it his all, no matter what.

"Don't go into this with that mindset..."

Tobirama's voice turned stern, warning Sasuke: "If you face death with no regrets, your soul will simply pass on. It won't stay on the edge of life and death..."

"Before you die..."

"You must have a powerful obsession."

"Only that obsession will keep your soul from drifting into the underworld."

"..."

Sasuke's eye twitched.

Wait...

So he couldn't even die in peace?

Was this second Hokage for real?

Sasuke couldn't help thinking about Tobirama's reputation.

After all, most of the disasters in the ninja world could be traced back to him. If he hadn't invented Reanimation... if he hadn't used it to bring back Shigen in the first place... none of this mess might've happened.

"An obsession, huh..."

Sasuke closed his eyes and combed through his memories.

Then, with a surge of lightning, he drove his hand through his own heart.

"..."

Minato immediately caught his collapsing body, gently laying the boy—who was willing to die for his son—on the ground.

Now...

All they could do was wait.

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