The atmosphere on the marshy ground was a little silent.
Even though he had been forcibly brought here, Otsutsuki Isshiki didn't immediately attack. Instead, he looked at Orochimaru with a very puzzled expression.
Genes are information!
They exist in various forms, whether it's a polypeptide chain, all the nucleotide sequences required for RNA, or even stored in the mind in a special way.
But no matter what form it takes, it is extremely important, directly or indirectly controlling the entire process of a life's conception, growth, and decay... In short, a creature's potential is determined from birth.
This point is especially evident in the Otsutsuki clan.
From the moment they are born, they contain all the information of a 'god'. If they can grow safely in the future, they will eventually become 'gods'.
In fact, it doesn't matter what body is used as a 'vessel'. The amount of genetic information in mortals is not on the same level as that of 'gods'. Their deliberate selection of suitable 'vessels' is only to grow faster and reduce losses during the growth process.
The reason for abandoning the 'vessel' named 'Jigen' now is simply because the resources available in the ninja world are insufficient for him to grow into his original form.
Genes determine the destiny of a creature. This was Otsutsuki Isshiki's ingrained belief, but it was now being challenged.
He had heard of Orochimaru's reputation many times. He had originally guessed that it was just another descendant of Kaguya showing ancestral traits, but upon actually meeting him, he realized it was completely different.
Orochimaru was merely a low-level creature corrupted by Kaguya's chakra. The genetic information he carried was even less than that of that red-haired brat behind him.
But, how is this possible?
If he's not a descendant of Kaguya, how could he possess such strength? Is there another creature in the ninja world, besides the Otsutsuki, that is on an entirely equal level of existence?
"Nothing is impossible. I just managed to accept the legacy the Otsutsuki clan left behind in the ninja world."
Orochimaru licked his lips and smiled again, "I invited you here this time only to clear up any doubts in this process."
Jigen felt a deep malice from the small face in front of him, and his expression turned cold. "Are you so confident you can take me down?"
For thousands of years, he had indeed chosen to yield due to his injuries and rarely took action in the ninja world. But after so much time, his injuries had largely healed. At least for a short period, he could exhibit his peak strength in this body, Jigen.
Even Otsutsuki Kaguya, if resurrected, wouldn't dare claim she could defeat him and force him to divulge the knowledge in his mind.
"Don't be so tense. I don't want to fight you. It's not a good choice for either of us."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, his mouth pulled to the sides in a smile, "I want to make a deal with you."
"A deal..."
Jigen chewed on the word, and a clear mockery appeared on his cold expression.
"Arrogance only narrows your vision and prevents you from seeing the current situation clearly."
The smile on Orochimaru's face remained, but his tone carried a hint of pride, "In just a few decades, you've crossed such a vast evolutionary gap. Don't I have the right to make a deal with you? Compared to the Otsutsuki clan, I'm not inferior."
Upon hearing this, Jigen could not refute it. A strange look appeared in his eyes.
Frankly speaking, for a native of a planet, achieving this level cannot simply be described as a 'miracle'. It's incredible, and the other party truly deserves pride.
Even in his prime, he might have been willing to give an opportunity to such a native genius, to become his subordinate.
Of course, it would only be as a subordinate.
Not inferior to the Otsutsuki clan?
A hint of mockery flashed in the depths of Jigen's eyes. Natives are still natives. They can't possibly imagine how great the Otsutsuki clan, who are divine from birth, truly are.
"I know your goal is to plant the Divine Tree and collect the chakra energy from this planet..."
Just as Jigen thought, this native, who had only just reached the level of an ordinary Otsutsuki, was already displaying arrogance.
"But this is the planet that nurtured me, and with my strength, I am capable of protecting it."
"Oh, and what do you propose?" A hint of interest appeared on Jigen's originally cold face.
"I can join the Otsutsuki clan, and even use my technology to help you overcome your weakened state..."
Orochimaru said decisively, "But this planet should belong to me."
"..."
Jigen was somewhat surprised to hear this. Anyone who could survive in such a world and advance to the level of an Otsutsuki must have experienced numerous battles and absorbed vast amounts of chakra or terrestrial energy.
Such individuals are invariably selfish.
He had expected the other party to have a top-tier perspective among natives, using this planet as leverage to obtain valuable information, but instead, he was so foolish.
Of course, with Orochimaru's strength, not only could he possess one planet, but even a thousand or a hundred would be natural. However, this logic of strength and weakness overlooked one thing.
In the universe, there are many predators, but never enough prey.
Let alone worlds rich in terrestrial energy like the ninja world, which are extremely rare. Even Otsutsuki Kaguya was tempted and betrayed for it. Even if it were a barren little planet, what reason would there be to give it to Orochimaru?
He was indeed not weak. His strength seemed to be higher than that of an ordinary intermediate warrior, but compared to the entire Otsutsuki clan, he was pathetically weak.
Within the Otsutsuki clan, there was not enough chakra for their own kind, so why would they share it with outsiders?
However, even with all that said, Jigen was certainly not foolish enough to say it directly.
After all, at this moment, he did not have an advantage in terms of combat power. Moreover, he was indeed very curious about the techniques and methods by which the other party had reached this level.
After a brief moment of thought, Jigen spoke, "I can promise to agree to your request, but in return, you must show sincerity."
"Haven't I already shown sincerity by not attacking you directly while you're weak... isn't that sincerity?"
Orochimaru's face held a playful smile. He could naturally see that Otsutsuki Isshiki was in some kind of semi-sealed state. Perhaps his strength would greatly increase after being unsealed, but it wouldn't last forever.
"This can indeed be considered sincerity."
Jigen nodded slightly, then changed the subject, "But this is not enough. I need you to help me gather the nine Tailed Beasts and replant the Divine Tree."
"As I said before, this planet belongs to me, including its chakra."
Orochimaru still had a smile on his face, but his eyes turned a bit colder, with a hint of anger, "Don't think I don't know the use of the Divine Tree."
"Then you should also know that the Divine Tree's chakra already belongs to that traitor Kaguya."
Jigen's expression remained unchanged, and he said coldly, "The Chakra Fruit must be brought back to the clan. Otherwise, why do you think I've been wasting away in the ninja world for a thousand years?"
Even if he intended to deceive Orochimaru, he didn't intend to hide this purpose. Instead, he used it to threaten the other party into helping him achieve it.
Orochimaru's reluctance was within his expectations.
"This matter isn't even something I can decide. It's the will of the clan."
Jigen, deviating from his usual reticent nature, could even be described as persuasive, "If you want to join the Otsutsuki, this should be your initial contribution. You don't need to worry about affecting the ninja world. The destruction that was to occur has already been completed a thousand years ago; this is just the final step."
"You should think clearly. These are not losses. On the contrary, if the clan sends new members because of your resistance, their methods might not be very gentle."
"..." Orochimaru did not reply, but he had fallen into thought. His shifting expression indicated that he was weighing the options.
Jigen believed that whether the other party would submit was only a matter of time.
With that in mind, he took out a metal ring from his sleeve and tossed it to the other party, "If you make up your mind, you can use this to contact me."
Seeing that the other party intended to leave, Orochimaru called out to him, "You should know I am Orochimaru. What is your name?"
Jigen was silent for a moment, then replied, "You may call me Jigen for now."
With that, a black and red circular portal suddenly opened behind him. After a burst of intense light, the man vanished from his spot.
Jigen didn't even ask about Kimimaro. The lives of ants, and even the mistakes they made, were not worth his attention.
"..."
The marshy ground, after Otsutsuki Isshiki's disappearance, became slightly silent.
A moment later, Nagato, who had been silent all along, asked, "Are you going to collect the Tailed Beasts and replant the Divine Tree as he requested?"
"The only Otsutsuki currently in the ninja world is the one who just left..."
Orochimaru glanced meaningfully in the direction Jigen had disappeared, and said slowly, "But the Otsutsuki clan in the starry sky is not just him. If those people break through, how will you resist? Or, even if you can defeat them, can you still protect the ninja world?"
"Don't forget the great battle a thousand years ago and the immense destruction it caused to the ninja world."
"..." Nagato's face showed unwillingness, and he fell silent.
The western sun set, leaving only the last ray of light on the horizon.
In the long silence, Orochimaru's serious expression suddenly relaxed, and he laughed, "You don't need to pretend anymore. He's already gone. How did you feel during your first encounter with the Otsutsuki clan?"
Otsutsuki Isshiki's skill in concealing himself was indeed superb. He was able to shrink himself to an extremely small degree using ninjutsu, to the point that even he could not detect him.
However, this level of concealment technique was completely ineffective against the Genie Lamp, like a bonfire in the dark, instantly visible.
This was his first formal meeting with Otsutsuki Isshiki, and in order to gain an advantage in future negotiations, he had to conceal his thoughts and engage in deception and trickery... to gradually extract the other party's value.
Upon hearing that Jigen had left, Nagato's expression did not improve; instead, it became even more somber. "He's truly as arrogant as the rumors say."
That condescending attitude, treating everyone as insignificant, was not even concealed.
Nagato even felt that, besides Orochimaru, the other party didn't even see other ninjas as people, but rather as certain objects or food.
"In the starry sky, the law of the jungle is even more blatant. There's nothing strange about that."
Orochimaru chuckled, but his expression was cold and cruel. "The contact between two civilizations will ultimately end with the disappearance of one civilization, whether that process is fusion or consumption."
"Unfortunately for us, the Otsutsuki clan we've encountered are carnivores."
"We were fortunate to escape annihilation once a thousand years ago, but such accidental events won't happen every time."
If a sufficient number of Otsutsuki arrived, they would not hesitate to destroy the entire ninja world as a price to reclaim the chakra of all living beings, including himself.
According to the scenes observed in the Outer Path Statue, the desire for 'evolution' and the longing to become a complete 'god' were etched into the very bones of every Otsutsuki.
How could such a clan avoid combat?
"..." Nagato nodded wordlessly.
Before today, he had doubted Orochimaru's intentions. But now, there was no need to question them.
Whether it was the 'Body Strengthening Surgery' or the 'First Hokage Cell Transplantation Surgery', this person had been creating ways for his clan to become stronger in his own way.
Their perspectives were not on the same level. While he was entangled in wars between nations, the other person had already set his sights beyond the heavens, contemplating how to ensure their civilization's survival under the onslaught of dangerous hunters.
"What do we do now?"
Nagato asked the question again with a confused expression, "Do we really need to continue collecting Tailed Beasts?"
Otsutsuki Kaguya, as well as Uchiha Madara and his group who were still planning dangerous schemes, were also a huge threat.
The seven Tailed Beasts currently stored in the Outer Path Statue already made Nagato very uneasy.
"Just put on a show, and stay put. You, continue to focus your energy on Uchiha Madara."
Orochimaru licked his lips and smiled, "As for how to deceive that Otsutsuki, I have my ways."
Saying this, he turned his gaze to Kimimaro on the stone bed and raised an eyebrow slightly, "Today, you seem to have overheard quite a few secrets. Revealing any one of them would cost you your life."
"As long as you promise to help me rescue Haku, I can die right now," Kimimaro said solemnly.
During the recent conversations where they spoke without any restraint, he had already come to terms with this possibility.
"In the ninja world, death is not the end, and I have no reason to take your life."
Orochimaru placed one hand on Kimimaro's shoulder and smiled,
"The chakra that person left inside you has been cleared by me. I have used Sage Chakra to set up a sealing technique on your bones, which not only prevents the Kekkei Genkai from activating but also protects you."
"As long as you don't court death, there won't be any threat."
"..." Kimimaro fell silent upon hearing this.
Although he had just escaped one tiger's den only to fall into a wolf's den, this feeling was not pleasant.
But he was quite satisfied, as the other party had not chosen the simplest and most secure method to eliminate him as a threat.