With the additional information of this recent chapter I think an interesting point comes up. Is it possible the Sage couldn't use ninjutsu?
I got the sense that all chakra on Earth originated from the Juubi and has since trickled down to everyone else. Of course, the Sage is known as the father of ninjutsu, but it seems to me that while he may have created all ninjutsu, the Juubi provided the necassary tool, chakra. If all chakra originated from the Juubi how could the Sage have had ninjutsu before they fought? There were no ninjas until the sage's son because there was no chakra for ninjutsu. That is why it was not until after the Sage takes down the Juubi, does the thought of being a ninja surface.
So if the Sage couldn't use ninjutsu how could he beat the Juubi? Well two ways...
1. The ninja tools. We have seen these extraordinary tools passed down through generartions that were known to be the Sages. I have always wondered, if the Sage was so powerful, why have these and where did they come from? Well my explanation would be that with the absence of ninjutsu the sage must have turned to these weapons. The only thing I dont get is that they all seem to require a pretty heafty amount of chakra to use, so how could he use them with no chakra? That segways nicely to my next point.
2. The Sage could use chakra, but only natural chakra. He is known as the SAGE for a reason, he must have had the ability to tap into nature like we have seen the current sages (naruto, jiraya, kabuto, etc.) Well if he could only use natural chakra then he could use his weapons as he pleased.
To summarize: Before the Sage defeated the Juubi people werent just born with chakra flowing through them, that is why ninjutsu wasnt used before this event. After his victory, he sealed the Juubi in himself and from then on as we make our way to present time, people are born with chakra instead of having to gather it from nature.
Just an idea...
I got the sense that all chakra on Earth originated from the Juubi and has since trickled down to everyone else. Of course, the Sage is known as the father of ninjutsu, but it seems to me that while he may have created all ninjutsu, the Juubi provided the necassary tool, chakra. If all chakra originated from the Juubi how could the Sage have had ninjutsu before they fought? There were no ninjas until the sage's son because there was no chakra for ninjutsu. That is why it was not until after the Sage takes down the Juubi, does the thought of being a ninja surface.
So if the Sage couldn't use ninjutsu how could he beat the Juubi? Well two ways...
1. The ninja tools. We have seen these extraordinary tools passed down through generartions that were known to be the Sages. I have always wondered, if the Sage was so powerful, why have these and where did they come from? Well my explanation would be that with the absence of ninjutsu the sage must have turned to these weapons. The only thing I dont get is that they all seem to require a pretty heafty amount of chakra to use, so how could he use them with no chakra? That segways nicely to my next point.
2. The Sage could use chakra, but only natural chakra. He is known as the SAGE for a reason, he must have had the ability to tap into nature like we have seen the current sages (naruto, jiraya, kabuto, etc.) Well if he could only use natural chakra then he could use his weapons as he pleased.
To summarize: Before the Sage defeated the Juubi people werent just born with chakra flowing through them, that is why ninjutsu wasnt used before this event. After his victory, he sealed the Juubi in himself and from then on as we make our way to present time, people are born with chakra instead of having to gather it from nature.
Just an idea...