Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 257: I Have Surpassed My Ancestor

The wind and sand came quickly and left just as fast.

A few breaths later, Hagoromo Gengetsu looked at the Great Toad Sage once more, its full form now clearly visible.

Sizzling sounds echoed as the lava from his Lava Release still clung to the Great Toad Sage's body.

With a casual shake, the lava quickly fell off the Great Toad Sage.

It was clear that the places where the lava had fallen off left no injuries on the Great Toad Sage's skin, apart from a slight reddening.

Hagoromo Gengetsu glanced at the ground, where the lava had melted deep holes, then back at the Great Toad Sage, whose skin was only slightly reddened.

At this moment, he deeply understood the formidable strength of a body nurtured by Senjutsu for a thousand years.

Not only could the Lava Release, empowered by Senjutsu Chakra, barely scorch its skin, but the wound he had inflicted earlier had also completely healed.

"No wonder it existed alongside the Sage of Six Paths."

Hagoromo Gengetsu dusted off his clothes, sighing.

The formidable physique with extremely high magical and physical resistance; an enormous amount of Senjutsu Chakra surpassing even the tailed beasts; mastery over Chakra nature and form transformations; and formidable Ninjutsu and illusions – the Great Toad Sage had no weaknesses.

It could be considered the strongest being below the Six Paths level.

Indeed, even an ancient being like the Great Toad Sage could not be underestimated.

Especially as it had been the Senjutsu teacher of Otsutsuki Hagoromo and had lived for a thousand years.

During the Battle of the Valley of the Gods, the Great Toad Sage would have undoubtedly defeated him.

At that time, his combat style relied on Ninjutsu, and even with Senjutsu-empowered Kekkei Genkai, he couldn't break the Great Toad Sage's defenses, let alone with normal Kekkei Genkai.

The Great Toad Sage was a perfect counter to him.

As for the other two individuals from that era:

Eternal Madara would undoubtedly lose to the Great Toad Sage, but it was hard to say about the complete Rinnegan Madara.

Senju Hashirama, with his Wood Release and Senjutsu, might have a chance against such a large opponent.

However, the final deciding factor in a fight against the Great Toad Sage would be whether Hashirama's True Several Thousand Hands: Top Transformed Buddha could subdue it.

If the battle dragged on, Hashirama wouldn't be able to outlast the Great Toad Sage.

Of course, this refers to the Great Toad Sage in its prime.

Regardless of the era, the Great Toad Sage was already in its old age.

Hagoromo Gengetsu could see that the Great Toad Sage had used some secret technique to return to its peak state for a limited time.

If he could endure for a while or simply flee and wait for the Great Toad Sage's secret technique to wear off, the battle would be much easier.

But that was just an ideal scenario.

With the Great Toad Sage's vast experience, it wouldn't let him endure so easily. Instead, it would likely turn the battle in its favor, leaving him with no time to realize the situation.

Moreover, he had no intention of avoiding the fight.

He was not the same person he was during the Battle of the Valley of the Gods.

And more importantly, Naruto was now on the Great Toad Sage's neck.

To avoid any unnecessary accidents,

"I must go all out."

Hagoromo Gengetsu's expression turned serious, and the three crescent markings on his forehead spread across his entire forehead.

"Yin Seal: Release!"

A massive surge of Chakra erupted.

Hagoromo Gengetsu's aura increased dramatically.

Simultaneously, he looked at his left shoulder, which had been shattered by the Great Toad Sage's earlier attack.

Crackling sounds echoed as bones quickly healed and flesh regenerated.

In an instant, everything returned to normal. Fully healed and revitalized, Hagoromo Gengetsu waved at the Great Toad Sage:

"Let's go again!"

Seeing Hagoromo Gengetsu's strength rise again, the Great Toad Sage didn't rush to attack but rather sighed with a touch of nostalgia:

"Indeed, you are a descendant of Hagoromo. You are very close to what he once was."

The "he" in the Great Toad Sage's words naturally referred to Otsutsuki Hagoromo.

Specifically, before he sealed his mother and became the Sage of Six Paths.

This was already a very high evaluation.

The Great Toad Sage indeed saw the shadow of Otsutsuki Hagoromo in Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Hagoromo Gengetsu quickly understood the meaning behind the Great Toad Sage's words.

To be compared with his ancestor, especially by someone from his ancestor's era, should have made him feel proud and excited.

However, Hagoromo Gengetsu remained indifferent.

"I'd rather you say 'I have surpassed my ancestor'," he replied calmly.

The Great Toad Sage sighed again:

"Your ambition is too great!"

"Too great? No, this is just a normal pursuit in life. Who says descendants cannot surpass their predecessors?"

Hagoromo Gengetsu replied earnestly.

Since he began his training, he had admired the scenery along the way and dealt with things he found distasteful.

But there was one thing he would never change, regardless of external factors.

That was the path he walked, the path to mastering the Bloodline Encompassing, achieving the Six Paths level, and realizing the ultimate evolution of life with infinite possibilities.

Hagoromo Gengetsu understood that he wasn't one of those pioneering greats in history. Everything he did was simply because he could.

But these were insignificant compared to his obsession.

No one should obstruct his progress.

Especially after he had already stopped and patiently tried to persuade them.

Like he had warned Kakashi back in Konoha.

Everyone has something or some goal in life that they will pursue at any cost.

Since he first encountered Chakra after transmigrating from a world without magic, his greatest obsession had taken root.

Even after dying and resurrecting, this obsession had only grown stronger.

So, no matter who it was, what power it was, or what reason it was for, if they continued to obstruct him,

Hagoromo Gengetsu wouldn't hesitate to go against his usual conduct.

Just as he had with Mount Myoboku before, and now with the Great Toad Sage.

"Great Toad Sage, have you ever thought about how you would die?" Hagoromo Gengetsu asked finally.

The Great Toad Sage sighed again, shaking its head: "I only saw space and time shatter, countless disasters descend, and the world bathed in blood. All of this stems from your ambition, Hagoromo Gengetsu. Stop while you still can."

Hagoromo Gengetsu's expression remained calm.

"Disasters, blood, pain, war... Once I achieve my goal, I can end all of these with a flip of my hand. Besides, the future you saw is just one of countless possibilities and cannot be taken as truth."

"Moreover! The thing I hate most is those who ignore others' efforts and constantly talk about fate and prophecies!!"

Therefore,

Go to hell!