Chapter 0116: Preparing to Land on a Life-Bearing Planet

…

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed. Earth advanced at full speed and had now reached the stellar region where the life-bearing planet lay. There was no longer any need for the Reincarnation Eye; even ordinary detection methods could now reveal the planet.

It was a silent, dead world covered in black, withered vegetation. The only thing that remained lush and verdant was the Divine Tree.

Orochimaru and Uchiha Madara stood atop the War Castle. Even with their naked eyes, they could see the life-bearing planet.

Gazing toward it, Uchiha Madara exclaimed, “I never imagined that, once fully grown, the Divine Tree would drain the vitality from an entire planet. What a surprise.”

Indeed, aside from the verdant Divine Tree, everything else on the life-bearing planet had withered and died. The planet itself was dying.

Orochimaru, too, stared at the tree. “It’s far larger than the one that once appeared on Earth.”

This Divine Tree was vastly taller than its predecessor on Earth. It had long since exceeded the point of merely blocking out the sun and sky; it had grown from the planet all the way into outer space.

Its roots had already burrowed deep into the planet’s core.

Uchiha Madara fell silent. He thought of how Black Zetsu had once manipulated him into trying to grow a Divine Tree on Earth, and a lingering fear seized him. He had devoted his entire life to striving for peace, yet he had nearly become the culprit behind the destruction of the world.

After a moment of silence, he asked Orochimaru, “What do you intend to do?”

With the life-bearing planet right before them, they had to put their plans for dealing with it into action.

Orochimaru chuckled softly. “Naturally, we’ll shatter it.”

The essence of the life-bearing planet was concentrated within the Divine Tree. They would break the planet apart, fuse its fragments into Earth, and capture the Divine Tree at the same time.

That would strengthen Earth, increase its natural energy, and enhance the humans and other living creatures upon it.

The stronger Earth became, the stronger its inhabitants would become. And as the creator of the cultivation methods, Orochimaru would grow stronger as well.

“What about the inhabitants of that planet?” Uchiha Madara asked.

Although the life-bearing planet was dead and silent, some creatures still clung to life. Such was the tenacity of life.

“Them?” Orochimaru shrugged. “As long as they take the cultivation potions they’re required to take, you may deal with the rest however you please.”

So long as they obediently took the cultivation potions and did not interfere with his plans, he did not care what became of them.

…

Earth entered the stellar region where the life-bearing planet was located. The two Otsutsuki beneath the Divine Tree could now see Earth with their own eyes as well.

The tall, thin Otsutsuki looked toward the heavens. “They really are coming for us. What a bunch of fools who don’t value their lives.”

The short, fat Otsutsuki said, “I’ll report this to the clan immediately.”

“Wait.” The tall, thin Otsutsuki shook his head and stopped him. “It’s only a minor matter. There’s no need to report it. If we alarm those above us, things may become troublesome. We might even leave a bad impression. We’ll handle it ourselves.”

The short, fat Otsutsuki considered this and decided that it made sense. He promptly put the matter of reporting it out of his mind.

Now, all they had to do was wait for Earth to approach.

…

On the life-bearing planet, more than seventy surviving Shengang clansmen who still possessed combat strength had gathered together. The name “Shengang” had been inherited by the deceased chieftain’s son, who now led them.

At that moment, the new chieftain, Shengang, stood atop a black boulder and looked down at his people.

“Reinforcements have arrived. Just as the human who rode the giant toad told us back then, our Shengang clan will not be wiped out.”

They called that human, the one who rode the giant toad, their benefactor.

The new chieftain Shengang continued, “But our benefactor also told us that if we want to rebuild our homeland, we must make an equal exchange with the reinforcements. At present, all we possess is the Shengang Force.

“Then let us offer up the Shengang Force in exchange for a future. If any of you have other ideas, speak now.”

The Shengang clansmen below glanced at one another. One of the ape-like beings raised a question.

“What if we offer up the Shengang Force and the reinforcements abandon us? After all, they are the Otsutsuki clan.”

Indeed, the Otsutsuki clan was known as the most powerful race in the stars. Unless absolutely necessary, ordinary people would never provoke them lightly.

After a period of silence, the new chieftain Shengang said, “I cannot answer that question either. We can only take the gamble. This is the last hope we have.”

Whether the reinforcements truly intended to help them or not, this was still their final hope. Once the Divine Tree’s fruit fully ripened, their planet, Salada, would inevitably be destroyed.

The reinforcements were their only hope.

Moreover, their benefactor had instructed them to deliver a message to the reinforcements. Perhaps those words would have some effect.

Though they did not understand the deeper meaning behind the statement, “Orochimaru, I can see your future,” its literal interpretation sounded like encouragement and friendly competition between comrades.

Shaking his head, Shengang knew that they had no choice but to gamble.

They began preparing the Shengang Force.

The Shengang Force was not a resource naturally found on the planet. Rather, it was created when the more than seventy surviving Shengang clansmen with combat strength joined forces and forced the energy within their bodies outward, producing a small mass of golden power.

That golden power was indestructible and could transform into all manner of objects. It was one of the mightiest forces in the stars. Weapons forged from it were powerful enough to rank among the finest in the cosmos.

It was said that the eye known within the Otsutsuki clan as the “Strongest Reincarnation Eye” had the Shengang Force fused into it.

Several more days passed, and Earth finally drew close to the planet Salada.

Within the War Castle, the Monkey King had awakened long ago. Through the mediation of the Third Hokage, he joined the team that would descend onto the life-bearing planet.

The team was led by Yakushi Kabuto. Its members included Kimimaro, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Shikamaru, and several other powerful individuals or accomplished researchers. Including the Monkey King, there were sixteen people in total.

The Third Hokage saw the Monkey King off.

“Old friend, although those creatures may very well be your kin, you must still proceed with caution.”

The Monkey King nodded to show that he understood.

After making their brief preparations, the other team members also gathered atop the War Castle. Yakushi Kabuto controlled the specially crafted red carpet beneath their feet, sending it flying toward the life-bearing planet.

On the planet, the two Otsutsuki saw Earth come to a stop nearby. They smiled coldly.

“Come on. Let’s see who has the audacity to covet what belongs to our Otsutsuki clan.”

The short, fat Otsutsuki said, “I happen to have another Divine Tree seed here. This is the perfect opportunity to plant it.”

The tall, thin Otsutsuki raised his brows in surprise. “You were hiding a Divine Tree seed?”

He glanced around and lowered his voice. “Your own?”

The short, fat Otsutsuki grinned. “Yes, it’s mine. I obtained it by accident from among those discarded, useless Divine Tree seeds.”

The tall, thin Otsutsuki burst into laughter and patted his companion on the shoulder.

“Excellent! This is wonderful! Won’t we soon have a Divine Tree fruit that belongs solely to us?”

Regardless of whether Earth had come as a friend or an enemy, they could hardly wait to plant the Divine Tree seed on it.

As for the consequences of planting a Divine Tree on a life-bearing planet without orders, they were not worried.

When the time came, they would merely accuse Earth of “stealing the Divine Tree fruit of the Otsutsuki clan,” and the matter would be swept aside.

After all, Earth had come to them of its own accord.

They rose and flew toward Earth.

In outer space, Yakushi Kabuto was leading the team toward the life-bearing planet when he suddenly turned to the others.

“We are about to face two Otsutsuki. Kimimaro and I will deal with them. The rest of you will continue aboard the flying carpet and proceed to the life-bearing planet. We’ll regroup there.”

The specially crafted red carpet would carry the others onto the life-bearing planet, while Yakushi Kabuto and Kimimaro would each deal with one of the two Otsutsuki.