Chapter 121: The Six Paths Immortals Strike

The arrival of the Otsutsuki clan’s space guard squadron left only Orochimaru completely unperturbed. He remained focused on his research into the conversion of the God Tree and the Ten-Tails, a process involving a vast array of variables.

In the depths of space, Uchiha Madara had shattered the planet Sarada. Hyuga Hiashi piloted Earth toward the debris, the planet’s gravitational pull drawing in every fragment of the ruined world. The God Tree, reduced to base matter, reverted into natural energy and was absorbed by Earth. The planet was growing stronger.

Yakushi Kabuto was busy drafting his "Voyage Plan," a strategy aimed at overthrowing the Otsutsuki clan. Toppling such a force could not be done blindly; it required concrete plans and countermeasures. Feeling his preparations were sufficient, Kabuto approached Orochimaru to present his findings.

In a chamber, the walls displayed a projection of the starry sky—a map compiled from the start of Earth’s journey, supplemented by charts provided by the Shingou clan. If one were to view the galaxy as a spiderweb, the Otsutsuki domain lay at its center, while Earth’s current location sat midway between the edge and the core.

"We are relatively close to the Otsutsuki territory," Kabuto said, gesturing to the map. "At full speed, we could reach it in about a hundred years, but we will not be traveling in a straight line."

Orochimaru nodded. He had already instructed Kabuto that their current strength was insufficient to face the entire Otsutsuki clan head-on; they needed to grow, and growth required time.

Kabuto traced a line in the air, starting from their current position. He mapped a path that spiraled inward along the web’s strands, circling the center like a vortex, gradually closing the distance before making a final direct strike. It resembled the emblem of the Uzumaki clan.

"Every time we eliminate an Otsutsuki guard squadron, they send stronger forces. By circling the Otsutsuki domain and fighting to sustain our growth, we can stall for about fifty years before they realize we are a major threat. That is our window for self-improvement. Once those fifty years are up..." Kabuto drew a straight line to the center of the web—the heart of the Otsutsuki domain—and added, "that will be the moment of the final showdown."

Orochimaru nodded, his tongue flicking across his lips. Toppling the Otsutsuki was a challenge worthy of his interest. Even now, the elite of the Otsutsuki clan were surely stronger than him, not weaker. He, too, needed time to evolve.

***

In space, ten Otsutsuki warriors sped toward Earth. As the space guard, they had come to investigate after the clan members on Sarada failed to report in. Their suspicions were confirmed: a living planet was parked right where Sarada had been, having consumed it entirely. This violated the cosmic rules established by the Otsutsuki.

"Stop!"
"Damn it!"

Watching the destruction of a God Tree was infuriating. Cultivating one took decades, and those capable of sustaining a planet required even longer—often centuries. The tree on Sarada, having grown for at least three hundred years, could have created a formidable powerhouse for the clan.

Among the ten, one individual wore an expression of anger and regret identical to his comrades, but his eyes held a hidden agenda. He remained silent, standing apart from the others. In truth, his mind was enslaved by a genjutsu.

*Orochimaru, you need time to grow, but how could I ever grant you that?* thought the Sage of Six Paths.

It was the Sage himself controlling the Otsutsuki warrior, arriving to sabotage Orochimaru’s plans. In the futures he had witnessed, Orochimaru utilized a strategy of constant growth through combat, eventually becoming the strongest being in the universe and annihilating the Otsutsuki clan—and the Sage himself. He was determined to alter that future. The only way to break the cycle was to strike before Orochimaru gained the power to crush everything in his path.

As the ten Otsutsuki approached, Earth’s defenders launched themselves into space to meet them: Kimimaro, Jiraiya, Jugo, and Guren. Kimimaro was more than capable of handling two adult Otsutsuki alone, as was Jiraiya. Jugo and Guren, Orochimaru’s latest protégés, had grown immensely; Jugo’s cursed seal transformation had reached terrifying levels through Orochimaru’s serums, and Guren’s Crystal Release had attained new heights. They also took on two opponents each. Uchiha Madara handled the final two, while maintaining a defensive perimeter to protect the others and the planet.

The battle raged, but suddenly, one Otsutsuki warrior broke away and bolted straight toward Earth. The move left Guren and the other nine Otsutsuki stunned. Uchiha Madara tore through space, using the Rinnegan’s spatial techniques to open a portal to intercept the intruder, but the warrior employed a bizarre technique to evade him.

Madara sent a brief message to Orochimaru and turned back to finish off the remaining nine.

The Sage of Six Paths landed on Earth, viewing the planet through the eyes of the controlled Otsutsuki. He first entered a mobile city, where people bustled through the streets, most possessing various abilities—the most common being the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and the growth of miniature God Trees upon their heads. Unlike the war fortress where Orochimaru resided, only the wealthy or powerful in these outer cities possessed the Rinnegan or the strength of a Jinchuriki, as the cultivation serums were expensive.

The Sage observed this before moving on to Orochimaru’s war castle. Here, the sight was chilling: even the casual passersby had a high probability of possessing the Rinnegan, often in combination with Jinchuriki status. He also saw several Ten-Tails being trained in perfect synchronization.

The Sage was satisfied with what he saw. Suddenly, Orochimaru appeared beside him, his long hair draped over his shoulders, purple markings accentuating his eyes. The Sage did not turn his head, merely smiling. "You’re late, Orochimaru. I’ve seen everything you’ve changed."

Orochimaru looked at the orderly Ten-Tails and spoke calmly, "Am I?"

"The Otsutsuki warrior I’m controlling has already uploaded everything he’s seen of your revolution to the clan," the Sage replied. "Hehehe, your home is terrifying—a collection of Rinnegan-wielding Jinchuriki and Sage Mode users. Given time, you would indeed become a force capable of rivaling the Otsutsuki. By alerting them now, they will surely prioritize your destruction and send heavy hitters to wipe you out. Orochimaru, you have run out of time!"

It was true; Orochimaru needed time, and Earth needed development. A direct collision with the Otsutsuki offered no chance of victory, and the Sage had just stripped that time away.

Even so, Orochimaru’s expression remained indifferent. "Sage of Six Paths, in the futures you’ve seen, did you witness my defeat?"

The Sage’s lips curled into a grin as he finally turned to face Orochimaru. "I did. I saw Earth besieged by the Otsutsuki from every direction. I saw you battle their high command, only to be overwhelmed. You lost!"