Multiversal Wanderer: Starting in Naruto

Chapter 70 - 70: First Meeting with the Ancient One

"So theoretically, I might be able to obtain the Rinnegan?" Madara responded quickly, eyes gleaming with ambition.

"Under normal circumstances, no. Even though awakening the Rinnegan requires the Sharingan as a prerequisite, you should understand how hard it is to even reach the Eternal Mangekyō stage. Out of a hundred Uchiha, maybe one could awaken the Mangekyō on their own—and even fewer can evolve it into the Eternal Mangekyō."

"Even if someone manages to obtain the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, they still need to fuse yin and yang and unite all things into one before having a chance to awaken the Rinnegan. But Madara, I've got good news for you. Originally, you had no shot at awakening the Rinnegan Eye. But now that you've eaten the Chakra Fruit and completed your Uchiha bloodline, you really do have a shot."

Madara, Izuna, and Uzumaki Mito all widened their eyes at that. Only now did they fully understand just how valuable the Chakra Fruit was—it wasn't just a power-up, but a key piece in completing one's Rinnegan.

In the original timeline, Madara had to steal Hashirama's cells just to awaken the eye, and even then, the strange facial pattern on his chest proved how unstable that method was. But now? Now he was truly complete—and had a genuine chance to awaken the Rinnegan on his own.

"Alright, let's keep things simple for now," Su Xiuyu said, trying to refocus. "What's the situation? How long was I out?"

"You were unconscious for just one night," Madara replied. "It happened so suddenly, we didn't want to take chances. Apart from those of us who stayed behind to guard you, the rest were patrolling and scouting for any threats. We still don't know this world well."

"Got it. Everyone can relax now. I think... we've got a visitor." Su Xiuyu's expression sharpened. He felt spatial fluctuations stir around them. Yeah—someone big had just arrived.

Sure enough, about ten meters away, flames bloomed in midair, forming a circular portal. From within stepped a wizard in yellow robes. Maybe the others didn't recognize her—but Su Xiuyu did immediately. This was the big boss who protected Earth: the Ancient One.

"Greetings, honored visitor from afar. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am the Ancient One," she said politely, bowing slightly.

"Hello, Master Ancient One. I've heard of you—the Supreme Sorcerer of Kamar-Taj," Su Xiuyu replied just as respectfully.

"So, you know my name," the Ancient One said, a trace of curiosity in her tone. "Might I know yours?"

"I'm Su Xiuyu. You can also call me Uchiha Xiuyu. These people here are my family and clansmen. I won't go through all the introductions. May I ask what brings you here?"

Su Xiuyu had a strong hunch—she didn't come here to fight or kick him out.

"I came to see who had entered this universe without permission. Now that I've met you, I'd like to... communicate. You see, Mr. Su, your existence is quite confusing. You're clearly not from this universe."

What needed to come, had come. There was no hiding from her. The Ancient One had guarded Earth for centuries, spilled the blood of many invaders, and earned a reputation feared even across the stars. It made sense she could sense that Su Xiuyu and his group didn't belong here.

"This world's still too fragile, Master Ancient One," Su Xiuyu said calmly. "Let's talk somewhere safer—say, in a virtual space—so we don't accidentally tear the real world apart."

He could tell the Ancient One wasn't looking for a fight, but she was definitely curious. And curiosity could lead to conflict.

"Madara," Su Xiuyu said, turning to his companion. "Wait for me. I'll be back soon."

As he finished, he clenched his right fist. A black staff appeared in his hand, his long black hair turned white, and his robe changed to match. He'd activated his Six Paths Mode.

"Don't worry. This won't take long."

The Ancient One could feel it—his life level had just jumped dramatically, breaking into a whole new realm.

"Please," she said.

Su Xiuyu stepped through the fiery portal, which sealed behind him with a flash.

The others were left behind. Uzumaki Mito and Uchiha Chisato looked visibly worried, but Madara reassured them.

"Relax. Xiuyu never does anything unless he's sure of it. And right now, Xiuyu's on par with the Sage of Six Paths. There's nothing to worry about."

On the other side of the portal was a vast, empty space—a virtual world created by the Ancient One using space magic. Su Xiuyu glanced around, quietly impressed.

Even at the Six Paths level, he couldn't take space magic lightly. This kind of reality manipulation was abnormal, even to him.

The Ancient One hovered midair, eyeing him cautiously.

Can he fly? she wondered. And that staff... and the black sphere floating behind him—dangerous. Is it some kind of racial trait? But his soul... it's human.

Yes. In essence, his soul was human—though far more powerful. That much she could tell. But its core traits were still similar.

"Mr. Su," she said finally, "shall we begin?"

With that, the Ancient One summoned a whip of golden energy and lashed it toward him.

Su Xiuyu didn't flinch. With a hand seal, he raised a stone wall from the ground to block the blow.

It can create matter out of thin air? What kind of sorcery is that? the Ancient One thought, narrowing her eyes. She could feel the energy, but it wasn't any kind of magic she recognized. It felt... foreign. Unquantifiable.

She launched a barrage of magical attacks, but Su Xiuyu calmly blocked each one with the Earth Release technique.

He didn't want to reveal too much. So far, the Ancient One didn't seem hostile—more curious than anything—but there was no reason to show all his cards.

And besides, basic Earth Release was enough to deflect most of her attacks.

Frustrated, the Ancient One slammed her hand onto the ground. The entire virtual world rippled. Waves of energy surged through the terrain, rushing toward Su Xiuyu.

Now his earth defense was useless—the space itself was reacting.

This is the Supreme Sorcerer's domain, Su Xiuyu thought. Time to get serious.

He pulled out a shuriken engraved with runes and flung it at her, instantly teleporting in front of her.

"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"

This was the first time Su Xiuyu unleashed the Fire Style technique with all his strength—boosted by Six Paths-level chakra. A tidal wave of flames surged toward the Ancient One, hot enough to burn the heavens.

In his vision, it looked like half the virtual world had been engulfed.

Of course, that was just an illusion. The Ancient One's virtual space could easily fit an entire planet. Even if his flames stretched for miles, they couldn't consume it.

Not that Su Xiuyu couldn't destroy a planet—he probably could—but the Great Fire Annihilation had its limits.

Still, this was more than enough to show the Ancient One that he wasn't someone to test lightly.

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"Breathing fire, huh? This scale and temperature... seems like Mr. Su has more than a few tricks up his sleeve."

Facing Su Xiuyu's fire attack, the Ancient One casually absorbed it into the mirror dimension. With her mastery of spatial magic, defending herself was almost effortless.

She had already noticed Su Xiuyu's spatial manipulation. There was no need to point it out—his earlier move, especially with that shuriken, carried a spatial coordinate signature that was obvious to a master like her.

"You're being too modest, Supreme Sorcerer. My skills in space magic are hardly worth bragging about in your presence."

"Still, you should stay sharp, Mr. Su. I might have a little surprise for you."

"Scarlet Chain!"

With a sudden motion, a vivid crimson magical chain burst from the Ancient One's palm, wrapping tightly around one of Su Xiuyu's arms.

"The Crimson Bands of Cyttorak, huh?" Su Xiuyu muttered. "Didn't expect the Sorcerer Supreme to pull out that kind of move."

At first, he'd assumed it was something Doctor Strange had invented later on, but clearly, the Ancient One had already mastered such techniques. She had more up her sleeve than she let on.

"You seem to know a fair bit about my student Stephen. I would even believe you possess the Eye of Agamotto yourself."

The Ancient One's interest in Su Xiuyu was growing. The power system he displayed wasn't just unique—it might even surpass the one Kamar-Taj had built over centuries.

"Now that you're tied up, Mr. Su, what should I do next?"

Su Xiuyu chuckled. "Master Ancient One, are you sure it's me you've bound?"

As the words left his mouth, the figure trapped by the chains began to shift—cracks ran across it like fractured glass, until it revealed itself to be a stone statue, perfectly lifelike.

The Ancient One narrowed her eyes. "Your techniques are... unexpected. You never cease to amaze."

Her words were genuine, but Su Xiuyu knew better than to take her praise at face value. Underestimating the Ancient One, even slightly, could get someone killed.

"I appreciate the compliment, but I know you've still got plenty of cards left to play. That quick match didn't do much for me either. How about we call it a day?"

Truth be told, Su Xiuyu had no real desire to fight her seriously. Yao's space magic was ridiculously powerful, and since there wasn't any real grudge between them, there was no point in escalating things further.

"You're not interested in taking over as the Sorcerer Supreme?"

"...Huh?"

Su Xiuyu froze. Had he heard her right? Did she just offer him the title of Sorcerer Supreme? On their first damn meeting?

Before he could say anything, he found himself seated with his crew at Kamar-Taj, sipping tea and soaking in the distinct architectural style of the monastery. But her words echoed in his mind.

"Mr. Su, would you be willing to succeed me as the Sorcerer Supreme?"

"That's... a pretty random thing to ask. I mean, I'm a wizard, sure, but I don't know every form of magic."

Su Xiuyu was still reeling. Even if the Ancient One wanted to find a new successor, she had options. There were multiverse variants—Tony Stark's Sorcerer Supreme, for example—that made more logical sense than him, a complete outsider.

So why him?

"If there's magic you don't know, I can teach you."

"Wait, hold on. Isn't Kamar-Taj's magic restricted? Like, only passed down to disciples?"

She met his skeptical look with a calm smile.

"Some of it, yes. But many of our core spells were created by the Sorcerer Supreme. And I am the Sorcerer Supreme. So if I wish to pass on my knowledge, there are no restrictions."

Her tone was direct—open, even inviting—as though she expected more questions and was ready to answer them all.

Su Xiuyu sighed. He had to admit—she wasn't being stingy or cryptic. Still, he didn't give her an answer right away. The whole proposal was just too sudden.

The Ancient One didn't push him either. Instead, she shifted the conversation and invited him and his group to explore Kamar-Taj further.

A little while later, Madara strolled up, sipping his tea like a noble.

"So, how'd the fight go, Xiu Yu? That monk in the yellow robes give you a hard time?"

"Ancient One monk, yeah. This universe has monks. But Kamar-Taj's mages are like a cross between wizards and ninja. They protect regular people from dimensional threats—demons, invaders, all that."

Madara raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Also, the Ancient One is pretty much the boss of this entire planet. Easily the strongest person here. So maybe try not to pick a fight."

"How strong are we talking? Stronger than you?"

Madara's fighting spirit lit up immediately.

"Let me put it this way: in raw destructive power? Probably not. But in technique and variety? She's got me beat. She can mess with space and time, Madara. That's not a fight you wanna pick."

Hearing that cooled Madara's enthusiasm in an instant. He wasn't stupid. When someone had the power to warp space and time, charging at them head-on was just suicide.

"When the hell did you learn space ninjutsu anyway? And why'd you keep it from me?"

Su Xiuyu rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I, uh, secretly learned it from Tobirama. What can I say? I'm just built different."

"You bastard!" Madara laughed and gave him a friendly punch on the arm.

Just then, a Kamar-Taj mage approached.

"Welcome, honored guests. Our conditions here are modest, but we hope you'll find them acceptable."

A simple dinner was laid out—not grand, but respectful. Kamar-Taj wasn't some billionaire's mansion. Hidden high in the Himalayas, self-sufficiency was a struggle. Most of their meals were humble.

Su Xiuyu had a sneaking suspicion that Wong probably opened a portal to New York to grab groceries when needed.

Still, Su Xiuyu and the others weren't picky. They'd eaten worse in the ninja world. Hell, emergency rations like soldier pills were downright nasty, and they didn't restore chakra nearly as well as advertised.

"Master Ancient One, you're too kind. It's understandable that the conditions here are a little rough—it's not exactly five-star, but the hospitality's real."

He stood up and gave her a respectful bow.

For someone who had defended Earth for centuries, the Ancient One had earned it.

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