Ashrua and Indra
the two brothers grow and study and play together with indra the older brother proving a studious student reading many volumes while ashura proves less capable but more impulsive.
one day while fishing ashura dives into the water to help indra oull in his fish. ashura gets bite on his line as well but it turns out to be driftwood. Indra then uses a replacement technique to swap the wood with a fish. Ashura asks how he did it.
hagoromo explains to the kage that ninshu didn't have a practical application for fighting yet he intended it to be a spiritual bond but indras innovations changed the course of it drastically.
Indra shows this off to hagoromo and his followers saying that the shape of the fingers can help focus chakra and give it form and shape. he calls the shape of the fingers signs and the results jutsu.
hagoromo is surprised at this because he does not have to use signs to do jutsu but indra was capable of doing thing even he couldn't. and hagoromo thinks hes one who could be called a genius of ninshu.
the introduction of ninja techniques changes peoples lives as anyone who trains hard can use them. but hagoromo doesn't see the dark power of zetsu closing on indra.
hagoromo and indra watch disciples train and hagoromo compliments him on his innovations but indra says he doesn't know if its a good thing. hagoromo asks him why? he explains that the training used to be spiritual but now seems focused on mastering the jutus instead. he fears that eventually the jutsu can be used as a weapon and cause chaos in the world Hagoromo thinks his insight is frightening and correct. however hagoromo says that evne if he hadn't invented signs someone most likely would have eventually. this means that they must train the soul all the harder to control the chakra better.
while training alone Indra hears a voice--black zetsu-- call out to him and say he Indra inherited mothers powers and that he'll always be with indra
later on indra creates multiple clones easily while Ashura struggles to create even one. during a spar indra easily knocks Ashura down winning the match. a bell rings training over and Ashura runs off to play while indra says he wants to train more.
futami comments on how indra seems strong and would make a fine successor. hagoromo asks why and futami explains that its customary for the elder son to to take over and with indra being so strong and skilled he makes the natural choice. hagoromo though is not so sure.
Ashura meets his friends and they find boar tracks of an boar that's been destroying fields lately. the kids want to hunt it down but Ashura thinks its dangerous. but the kids think with ashuras powers they should be fine. Ashura however is not convinced.
Indra trains only to sense black zetsu who reveals himself. zetsu says that indra ahs great power but even greater power locked inside him but there is a special way to unlock that power. indra asks who he is but zetsu doesn't answer merely saying that if he unlocks his true power zetsu wish will come true while looking at the moon.
zetus ask him if he wants to know how to unlock his powers then he explains that in order to do so he must lose love. like watching a loved one die. before zetsu vanishes. Indra thinks he means Ashura and rushes off to find him.
Ashura and the kids follow the tracks but the boar finds them first and charges. Ashura thinks to use a large rock to get out of its way as it follows him but the boars destroys the rock easily as Ashura takes to the trees. the boar pursues him uprooting and breaking trees in the process making ahsura think this is no ordinary boar.
his friends cornerd in a tree call out to Ashura who tries to use ninshu but is unable to wield the signs properly. the boar charges him but shiro the brothers dog gets in the way and is run over before the boar knocks Ashura backwards. the boar glows briefly an odd glow of energy.
Indra appears as the boar starts to charge and uses a lightning jutsu to slay the boar.
he asks shura if ehs ok and he says he is but shiros dead. indra says he sacrifice dhismelf for you so give him a proper burial Ashura nods and then notices indras eyes. Indra uses a kunai to see his eyes in the reflection are now the sharingan indra sees zetsu in the distance and chases him.
he demands zetsu tell him what he did but zetsu merely says he unlocked his powers and now hell use those eyes to see the truth before leaving.
again in training indra excels especialy with the sharingan but hagoromo notices him becoming harsher and stricter.
Ashura overhears others talking about how powerful indras become. but how hes become much stricter and harsher and how they don't think they could follow him if he became leader. they do say that though Ashura isn't skilled hes much easier to approach.
Ashura confronts indra asking if hes training in the mountains again he says he is and Ashura asks to join him but idnra says he wants to train alone. Ashura understands saying theyre too far apart in skill. but he does ask indra to ease up on the others in training indra says hell think about it and leaves.
in the mountians indra sense zetsu and calls him out. zetsu says he should be frateful to him for unlocking his eyes. but indra scoffs. zetsu askes in indra has seen his future with his new eyes? he says indra has the power to change the future of ninshu now. he says Ashura cant hold a candle to him and that soon he will surpass his father hagoromo then he vanishes again.
once more during sparring practice indra defeats his peers harshly and demands the enxt person face him but no one will as they now fear him. he calls them cowards and leaves. Ashura confronts him asking why he hasn't ease dup. But indra says he doesn't have the sharingan so Ashura wont understand., he says power rules the world and keeps order, and he will use his to take over ninshu and make his dream come true.
on a tree nearby zetus watches this unfold and is happy his plans are working.
next episode the tumultuous journey hagoromo chooses his successor.