The Sage of Six Paths is a legendary figure in the Naruto universe who founded the ninja way and brought peace to the world. He was the first jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails and is revered as a god-like entity for his power and wisdom. Determining who the original Sage of Six Paths was is tricky, as there have been multiple individuals who have held this title over the centuries. In this article, we will explore the history and lineage of the Sage, the abilities they possessed, and attempt to unravel who the very first Sage was.
The Legend of the Sage of Six Paths
According to legend, the Sage of Six Paths was a monk who appeared long ago in an age of endless war. He possessed the Rinnegan, the most exalted eye power which gave him control over ninjutsu. He defeated the most powerful demon known as the Ten-Tails and sealed it within himself, becoming its jinchuriki.
The Sage traveled across the land, spreading his religion, Ninshū, which promoted peace and understanding between people. He used his powers to create ninjutsu and taught others how to use chakra, establishing the beginning of the ninja way.
Before his death, the Sage separated the Ten-Tails into nine tailed beasts to ensure it could never be revived. He selected his youngest son Ashura as his successor to carry on his dream of peace and harmony.
Abilities of the Sage
The Sage of Six Paths was revered for his extraordinarily powerful abilities:
- Rinnegan – Possessed the original doujutsu with control over all elemental chakra natures
- Truth-Seeking Balls – Indestructible black orbs that could disintegrate anything they touched
- Creation of All Things – Ability to breathe life into form
- Six Paths Senjutsu – Sage transformation that granted massive chakra and sensory abilities
- Six Paths Yin and Yang Seal – Control over tailed beasts
These god-like powers established the Sage as the pinnacle of shinobi might.
Lineage of the Sage
While initially there was only one Sage of Six Paths, over the centuries there have been others who inherited the Sage’s chakra and abilities. This has made it difficult to determine the identity of the very first Sage.
Hagoromo Otsutsuki
Hagoromo Otsutsuki, sometimes referred to as the Rikudo Sennin (Sage of Six Paths), was the son of Princess Kaguya Otsutsuki. Kaguya consumed the fruit of the God Tree and became the first wielder of chakra on Earth. She later merged with the God Tree and gave birth to Hagoromo and his brother Hamura.
When Kaguya turned hostile and sought to reclaim the chakra she once spread across the land, Hagoromo and Hamura partnered to defeat her. Hagoromo sealed Kaguya’s body within himself, becoming the jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails.
Many consider Hagoromo to be the original Sage due to his Rinnegan and status as the first jinchuriki. However, it was his mother Kaguya who truly first wielded chakra.
Asura and Indra Otsutsuki
Hagoromo had two sons, Asura and Indra, who inherited portions of his chakra. The older son Indra received the Sage’s “eyes” granting him powerful ocular powers and spiritual energy. The younger Asura inherited the Sage’s “body” or physical energy.
Hagoromo selected Asura as his successor due to his belief in love and camaraderie over Indra’s pursuit of power alone. Their ideological clash led to centuries of conflict between their reincarnated bloodlines – the Senju and Uchiha clans.
Both Asura and Indra could be considered Sages due to their Six Paths chakra. But they received these abilities from Hagoromo rather than developing them naturally.
Shin Uchiha
Shin Uchiha was a genetic experiment created by Orochimaru using the cells of Indra’s bloodline. Shin possessed a unique Mangekyo Sharingan that allowed him to control other Sharingan users. He also awakened the Rinnegan later in life.
Orochimaru believed Shin had the potential to master Six Paths chakra and dubbed him the “True Sage of Six Paths”. However, Shin did not inherit his abilities naturally but rather through scientific engineering.
Conclusion
Based on the lineage and accounts of the Sage of Six Paths’ history, the very first individual who wielded this power was likely Kaguya Otsutsuki. She was the mother of Hagoromo Otsutsuki and the first wielder of chakra itself.
While Hagoromo is often regarded as the original Sage, it was the chakra fruit that Kaguya consumed that granted her these initial abilities. She later passed fragments of this power down to her sons Asura and Indra.
So while many carried on the mantle over the centuries, Kaguya stands as the progenitor who made this legacy possible. Her encounter with the God Tree bore the first example of the Sage’s mythical power which shaped the shinobi world forever after.
Summary Timeline of the Sage
| Name | Abilities | Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Kaguya Otsutsuki | First wielded chakra after eating fruit of the God Tree | Mother of Hagoromo, progenitor of chakra abilities, defeated and sealed by her sons |
| Hagoromo Otsutsuki | Rinnegan, ninshu, defeated Ten-Tails | First jinchuriki, split Ten-Tails into nine tailed beasts, fathered Indra and Asura |
| Asura Otsutsuki | Inherited Hagoromo’s body, physical energy | Ancestor of Senju clan, Ninja Creed |
| Indra Otsutsuki | Inherited Hagoromo’s eyes, spiritual energy | Ancestor of Uchiha clan |
| Shin Uchiha | Engineered to have Sharingan and Rinnegan | Artificially created “Sage” by Orochimaru |
This covers the key figures tied to the Sage of Six Paths lineage and their notable abilities that shaped shinobi history. Understanding the generations and connections between them sheds light on the very first wielder of this revered power – Kaguya Otsutsuki.