Chapter 118: The Concerns of the Divine Steel Clan Patriarch

The young patriarch of the Shingan Clan wore a mournful expression, fear flickering in his eyes as he said, “This time, it won’t just be us. Even you are finished!”

Their planet had clearly been occupied by members of the Otsutsuki Clan, who had planted a Divine Tree there and brought the danger of extinction upon them. Yet at a time like this, they were still speaking on behalf of the Otsutsuki.

In truth, they were not defending the Otsutsuki. They were defending themselves.

An elderly member of the Shingan Clan said, “It isn’t that we’re cowards. If it came down to a fight to the death, we would certainly be at the very front. But for the sake of our race’s survival, for the sake of allowing more of our people to live, what does it matter if we endure a little humiliation? No matter what happens, we’ll swallow it all!”

That included the hatred born from the destruction of their planet.

The Shingan Clan had no way to resist the Otsutsuki. Now that they had a hope of preserving their race, they had even less reason to provoke them, no matter how much despair the Otsutsuki had brought them.

The Otsutsuki’s reputation had taken deep root in their hearts.

Kabuto Yakushi and Kimimaro remained expressionless. Shikamaru looked as though he had heard nothing at all. He spat, sending the toothpick from his mouth flying, and said, “The air here really stinks.”

The Ape King said, “New-generation Shingan, don’t worry. We’ll deal with the Otsutsuki. For now, organize your people and have them board my planet.”

At that moment, Kabuto Yakushi was already excitedly searching through the corpses of the two Otsutsuki in the pit. When he found a damaged seed, his lenses suddenly flashed.

He thought, “Lord Orochimaru will certainly be delighted!”

All nine Tailed Beasts could already be cloned, and even the Ten-Tails’ husk could be replicated. But transforming them back into a Divine Tree was extremely difficult, and there had been no major breakthrough.

This Divine Tree seed had come at exactly the right time.

Kabuto thought, “The gains this time are enormous: two Otsutsuki corpses, a Divine Tree seed, and a planet.”

He looked toward the despairing Shingan Clan and continued thinking, “The Shingan may also know a great deal about the Otsutsuki and the universe. We may be able to obtain plenty of useful information from them.”

Afterward, Kabuto flew away with Kimimaro, taking the Otsutsuki corpses with him. The two of them returned to Earth.

Shikamaru stayed behind to take command.

The Ape King said, “New-generation Shingan, don’t worry. Hurry and organize your people so they can settle on Earth. Leave everything else to us.”

There were still many ordinary members of the clan on Sarada. Those people had no power whatsoever, and several hundred thousand of them remained. Relocating them was a massive undertaking.

The new-generation Shingan, wearing a mournful expression, issued one order after another and organized the migration of his race. Before long, seven days had passed.

Throughout those seven days, he remained utterly despairing and listless.

Shikamaru found it increasingly irritating and said, “Ape King, that should be enough. Take him to Earth first. He knows a great deal of information, so he may prove useful.”

The Ape King nodded. Although he could not fly, the red carpets made it possible to travel back and forth. He had been helping the ordinary Shingan migrate, and he and the new-generation Shingan would return to Earth on the next trip.

…

On Earth, Orochimaru eagerly began researching the Divine Tree seed.

Kabuto Yakushi turned the two Otsutsuki corpses into tools and submerged them in two of the Ten Suns. The genjutsu network grew even stronger.

The new-generation Shingan arrived on Earth. Some time later, he was finally summoned by Kabuto.

Kabuto sat at the head of the conference table, holding a document containing the information reported by the new-generation Shingan.

It included information about the Shingan Clan, the Otsutsuki Clan, and the various races of the universe.

Kabuto flipped through the document and said, “The Otsutsuki occupy a region at the center of the universe known as the Samsara Starfield. They rule the universe and plant Divine Trees on planets that violate their rules. Is that correct?”

The new-generation Shingan nodded. This was the information he and his people had compiled and submitted.

He asked anxiously, “We suggested developing asteroids so that some of our people could escape first. That might ensure our race does not become extinct. Has that proposal been carried out?”

Kabuto ignored him and continued turning the pages.

“The Otsutsuki operate in pairs, with two stationed in each starfield. In this way, they control the entire universe. They also have patrol units known as the Guard Corps, with ten members in each unit.”

After a pause, Kabuto continued, “We killed two Otsutsuki in the Shingan Starfield. Once some time has passed, this will certainly be exposed. Then we will have to face the Otsutsuki in the neighboring starfields, as well as the Guard Corps. Correct?”

The new-generation Shingan nodded frantically. “Yes, yes! You finally understand how serious this is! We’ll have to face at least ten Otsutsuki at the same time! And they’re all Otsutsuki who specialize in combat!”

Kabuto remained expressionless, as though he had not heard a word. “If we destroy the Guard Corps, the Otsutsuki military will issue a wanted order for us. We are currently within a starfield controlled by the Otsutsuki. When that happens, armies from every direction will attack us.”

He turned to the next page. His expression grew slightly solemn as he changed the subject.

“You also helped deliver a message from a man standing upon a giant toad. The message was, ‘Orochimaru, I can see your future.’ You also submitted a portion of the Shingan Power in exchange for the continuation of your race. None of that is a problem, correct?”

The new-generation Shingan nodded repeatedly. None of those things were a problem. The real problem was preserving a spark of life for his people. Compared with that, everything else was minor.

Yet after checking all the information, Kabuto left without ever mentioning the proposal to develop asteroids.

The new-generation Shingan returned to the base with a troubled heart. For some time afterward, he locked himself in his room, meeting only with members of his clan who lived in the same building as they studied ways to avoid extinction.

One of his clansmen even suggested abandoning Earth, stealing a red carpet, and fleeing to a neighboring starfield. But he rejected the idea.

The Shingan Clan could not repay kindness with betrayal.

Halfway there, he happened to encounter the Ape King. The Ape King looked to be in excellent spirits, having recently spent all his time arranging the merger of the Shingan Clan with the Ape Clan.

Unless some major accident occurred, all the Shingan would live in Ape Mountain and change their name to the Ape Clan.

The Ape King was delighted to see the new-generation Shingan as well.

“Are you busy with anything else? Come have a drink with me.”

The new-generation Shingan had not wanted to agree, but after thinking it over, he realized that this was an opportunity to persuade the Ape King and make him understand the consequences of offending the Otsutsuki. Thus, he agreed.

The two walked side by side out of the building. The sunlight was warm, and the new-generation Shingan narrowed his eyes slightly. He had not left his room in a very long time.

The Ape King laughed. “How long has it been since you last came outside? Don’t worry. Cheer up. It’s all over now.”

The new-generation Shingan was deeply troubled. How could it possibly be over? He was just about to argue and try to persuade the Ape King when two children approached them and greeted the Ape King.

A Rinnegan was set in each child’s forehead.

That was the unmistakable symbol of the Otsutsuki!

The Ape King laughed. “What’s wrong? They’re only Rinnegan. You’ve been here for so long, and you’re still surprised by that?”

The new-generation Shingan was even more stunned.

They’re only Rinnegan?

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw all kinds of passersby. Some possessed Rinnegan, others had Sharingan, while still others possessed blue Tenseigan formed through the purification of Byakugan.

Suddenly, the new-generation Shingan stared into the distance, utterly lost in thought.

Following his gaze, the Ape King saw a neat row of enormous beasts standing in formation. They obeyed every command, while a human directed them.

Every one of those beasts had ten tails.

The Ape King laughed. “Those are Ten-Tails cloned by Lord Orochimaru. They’re very obedient. Unfortunately, there are only ten of them for now.”

The new-generation Shingan’s scalp tingled.

Those were Ten-Tails transformed from Divine Trees!

They were among the most terrifying beasts in existence!

Even one of them was incredibly powerful, yet the Ape King had just described them as “only ten”?

At that moment, the Ape King pointed toward a small group of young people gathered together and playing around.

“See those people? They’re all jinchuriki with Rinnegan, and several of them even possess Sage Mode. Heh-heh, don’t be fooled by how powerful that sounds. Those are outdated abilities now. People currently favor developing their own powers. Don’t imitate them.”

The new-generation Shingan could not keep up with the conversation.

Jinchuriki and Rinnegan were outdated?

And what was Sage Mode?

Why did everything sound so confusing?