Chapter 158: Thrice Inviting Itachi

Despite his initial verbal reservations, Shikamaru honesty accepted the communication qi-bubble, carefully verifying the authenticity of the message. If the information was true and Orochimaru had indeed reappeared, the implications would be monumental, rendering all their current plans obsolete.

"Say no more, we are heading to the Uchiha homeworld!"

Shikamaru confirmed that the transmission was genuine, yet this was a matter that demanded in-person verification.

Days later, they arrived at the Uchiha homeworld. After a period of covert observation, they finally confirmed it was no trap. Yakushi Kabuto and Shikamaru revealed themselves, entering the towering edifice of Uchiha Itachi.

The building guards readily let them through, as they were well acquainted with Kabuto and Shikamaru, whose posts frequently surfaced across the genjutsu network. Since Itachi had already slain Kurosawa Saosho, firmly cementing his alignment with the remnants of Earth, wasn't it entirely natural for Kabuto and Shikamaru to visit?

After granting them passage, the guard felt a lingering sense of emotion. Unwittingly, he too had become entangled with the remnants of Earth.

Did that make him a "Six Paths Traitor"?

What a peculiar title.

It seemed his future goal should be to integrate himself completely with the Earth survivors.

*Keep it up!* he encouraged himself.

***

Kabuto and Shikamaru finally stood before Orochimaru. While Shikamaru remained relatively composed, Kabuto was overcome with emotion.

When Orochimaru had seemingly perished, Kabuto suffered the deepest grief; now, seeing Orochimaru alive before him, his joy was boundless.

With tears still wet upon his cheeks, Kabuto smiled and said, "I knew you wouldn't die!"

When the two of them learned of Orochimaru's origins and true purpose, their elation grew even greater.

"In other words, we no longer need to confront the Sage of Six Paths or the patriarch of the Otsutsuki clan. We only need to master the space-time jutsu, breach the barriers of the multiverse, allow the countless versions of Lord Orochimaru to converge into one, and then return to the past to rewrite the ultimate outcome!"

This was their new objective.

Shikamaru voiced a lingering doubt: "But even if we choose not to confront the Sage of Six Paths and the Otsutsuki patriarch, they may not leave us alone. They will surely make a move against us."

This was inevitable, especially once they learned Orochimaru was still alive.

The two powers had divided the universe between them, locked in stalemate for centuries—how much more so with the emergence of another Orochimaru?

The most probable scenario was that the Sage of Six Paths and the Otsutsuki patriarch would unite to eliminate Orochimaru.

Orochimaru smiled and shook his head, looking toward Shikamaru. "Have you forgotten the Earth cultivation method?"

The Earth cultivation method possessed a massive hidden backdoor—one far more profound than the secondary backdoor Orochimaru used to study the jutsu of various clans. It was the extraction of power!

Orochimaru could extract the strength of everyone—man or beast—who practiced the Earth cultivation method and integrate it entirely into his own being.

With nearly every clan now practicing the Earth cultivation method, should Orochimaru activate this backdoor, it would be equivalent to superimposing the power of the entire universe upon himself.

With such might, would he truly be inferior to the Sage of Six Paths and the Otsutsuki patriarch?

At the very least, they would be evenly matched.

"There is another reason," Orochimaru chuckled. "To this day, the Sage of Six Paths has not sought me out, even though he must have known of my arrival long ago."

While the Sage of Six Paths' future-prophecy jutsu might have failed, he could still perceive the presence of Orochimaru across countless alternate futures.

Thus, knowing of Orochimaru's arrival was hardly surprising.

Yet despite this, so much time had passed without the slightest reaction from the Sage. He attended meetings as usual, carried on with his affairs, and lived life precisely as before.

There was not the slightest sign of him preparing to move against Orochimaru.

The Sage of Six Paths undoubtedly had his reasons.

Orochimaru continued, "Whatever his reasons for ignoring me might be, the result stands. And since I am merely a fleeting visitor to this universe, once I secure the opportunity I seek, I shall depart. There is no need to waste energy on useless conflicts."

Orochimaru's stance was clear: should they come to attack him, he would not yield, but would gladly entertain them with the compounded power of the entire universe.

Should they leave him be, he would likewise mind his own business, taking what he desired and leaving without disturbing anyone.

Kabuto and Shikamaru understood. Their primary task now was to assist Orochimaru in deciphering the space-time jutsu capable of shattering the dimensional barrier.

That was the key.

Life gradually grew peaceful. Uchiha Itachi's crimson stellar region had transformed into a veritable sanctuary for the survivors of Earth.

Those sympathetic to the Earth survivors arrived in a steady stream, while those ill-disposed drifted far away.

The populace of this stellar region underwent a thorough transformation.

Meanwhile, across the genjutsu network, two major events captured universal attention.

First was the rebellion of Uchiha Itachi.

Rumors of Itachi's betrayal had circulated long ago, supported by various signs, and the latest intelligence only served to corroborate them.

Events such as Itachi slaying Kurosawa Saosho served as irrefutable proof.

Another instance was the reconciliation between Uchiha Sasuke and Itachi, suggesting their previous rift had been nothing more than an elaborate act.

While some netizens defended Itachi on the genjutsu network, others hurled fierce abuses. For instance, a user with the ID "Ultimate Contrarian" posted venomous remarks under every piece of news concerning Itachi, openly expressing contempt and hurling insults.

This inevitably sparked fiery flame wars with Itachi's devoted fanbase.

The second major event was the voting process for the competition format following the summit.

Without the backstage manipulation of Kabuto and Shikamaru, the final voting results were entirely authentic.

Ultimately, the chosen tournament format was named "The Greatest Under Heaven!"

Every being in the universe was eligible to participate, with only two exceptions: the Sage of Six Paths and the patriarch of the Otsutsuki clan. Had they participated, no one else could ever claim the crown.

Thus, the contest was open to everyone save for those two.

Whichever faction produced the victor would secure greater political leverage in the aftermath.

Everyone awaited the Sage of Six Paths to deal with Uchiha Itachi before the commencement of the "Greatest Under Heaven" tournament.

Yet as the days slipped by, no disciplinary action befell Itachi. Instead, the tournament itself began.

The event was open to all across the cosmos, and spectators from every corner were formally invited to attend.

The venue was set in the intersecting stellar region between the Six Paths universe and the Otsutsuki universe, a territory known as the "Liu-Tong" sector.

The scale of the event was unprecedented; even primitive civilizations that had yet to achieve interstellar travel were well aware of it.

Just as all eyes were fixed upon the tournament, nearly forgetting the scandal of Itachi's treason, the Sage of Six Paths issued a public invitation for Uchiha Itachi to participate!

This caused a massive uproar. What was happening? The Sage of Six Paths was actually inviting Itachi?

It was as though the two stood on entirely equal footing.

Even more incredible was Itachi's explicit refusal—he turned down the Sage of Six Paths.

Before the public could recover from the shock and speculate on the hidden implications, the Sage extended a second invitation, and Itachi refused once more.

After this sequence repeated three times, Itachi finally relented and accepted.

The affair soon became legendary as the "Three Requests for Itachi."

***

In a quiet chamber, a bewildered Itachi asked, "Lord Orochimaru, why must I attend? Shouldn't we be minimizing complications at a time like this?"

Orochimaru fiddled with a sphere of space-time energy in his palm and replied, "I've suddenly changed my mind. I wish to discover what the Sage of Six Paths is truly plotting."

What manner of secrets, exactly, did the Sage of Six Paths conceal within himself?