MTLNOVEL Chapter 176: Diverging Paths
You carefully compared the words of Jashin with the full account from Black Zetsu.
While there were some differences between the two, the key events—their processes and outcomes—were remarkably consistent. No major contradictions.
Through this, you confirmed one thing: the path to reaching the Sage of Six Paths level through the Rinnegan had indeed been sealed off by Hagoromo, using the reincarnations of Asura and Indra as the lock.
But this time, it was your well-timed intervention that disrupted the cycle—leaving the Rinnegan stuck in Nagato's hands.
...
On the other hand, the knowledge Black Zetsu possessed about the Ōtsutsuki clan and Kaguya's legacy proved immensely valuable to you.
He revealed how to fuse the Nine Tailed Beasts with the Gedo Statue to recreate the Ten Tails and become its jinchūriki—gaining the power of the Sage of Six Paths.
He even explained the essence and use of Infinite Tsukuyomi.
And further, the method of using the chakra of the Nine Beasts, the divine tree's branches, and Ōtsutsuki power as a medium to cultivate a new divine tree!
That meant the tailed beast chakra you had painstakingly gathered… finally had a purpose!
But now that Black Zetsu had shared so much intel, he was nearly worthles.
Still, out of a final desperate hope—and his eternal, unshakable devotion— Black Zetsu pleaded for Kaguya's resurrection.
He swore that Infinite Tsukuyomi would have no effect on demigods or those protected by divine power or governing rules. Meaning, you and Nagato could shield those you wished to protect.
He promised that, once his mother was revived, he would persuade her to abandon mercy and join you in opposing Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo!
...
Unfortunately for him, Nagato had no interest in Infinite Tsukuyomi.
He wasn't the kind of man who would sacrifice everyone else just to achieve his own goals. The power he pursued had always been for one thing:
Peace in the shinobi world.
And now, peace was closer than ever. To him, that path meant becoming the Ten Tails' jinchūriki and using overwhelming force to unify the shinobi world.
Beyond that, Nagato had no intention of interfering with anything else—unless someone tried to block his path.
As for you, while you found Black Zetsu a bit pitiful...
You believed more in your own power than in releasing Kaguya.
Only power you could fully control was worth having. You weren't the kind of guy to create chaos for yourself just because of some fleeting whim.
Besides, you knew Kaguya's personality—soft and indecisive.
In the original story, she'd foolishly given up the perfect chance to kill Naruto and Sasuke on their first meeting, hesitating in nostalgia while awkwardly battling under Black Zetsu's constant instructions.
With a temperament like that, you couldn't be sure that she wouldn't change her mind again once she saw Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo.
And more importantly—
The current Kaguya had long been separated from the Ten Tails and had lost most of her strength.
Whereas the current Sage of Six Paths had become a true god—master of the Pure Land and wielder of divine authority. He was no longer the same man who had barely learned Sage techniques and needed to fight alongside Hamura to seal Kaguya.
Now, the scales had completely shifted.
The modern Sage of Six Paths could easily seal Kaguya again just by bestowing power to others.
Back then, it took a brutal struggle with both brothers working together. Now, it's just lending a bit of power and letting the reincarnations of his sons handle it.
The gap in strength is simply immense.
...
Besides, according to Jashin—or rather, by the shinobi world's own way of measuring power—
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya possessed a vast amount of rule-based power but hadn't condensed divine authority, nor did she fully control those rules.
At best, she was a demigod. No matter how many rules she had, she couldn't compare to a true god.
Her combat style was crude and simplistic, relying on brute force and chaotic power—understandable, given her low status within the Ōtsutsuki clan.
...
Taking all that into account, you decisively rejected Black Zetsu's request.
But you weren't heartless. Something about his loyal spirit stirred a flicker of compassion in you.
So you chose to spare his life.
Together with Nagato, you sealed Black Zetsu using a Chibaku Tensei infused with rule-based power.
Under your protection, Nagato also successfully sealed the Gedo Statue within himself, and independently completed the fusion of the Nine Tailed Beasts with the statue—
Thus forming the Ten Tails inside his own body, becoming its jinchūriki and acquiring the associated power of the Sage of Six Paths.
...
He now wielded both the Faith Power and the Truth-Seeking Orbs—two manifestations of divine might.
Yet even with such power, Nagato's first goal in unifying the world wasn't conquest by force—
It was diplomacy.
This time, he planned to speak to the entire shinobi world, sharing his vision of peace.
To win over those who shared his ideals, and build a world where people could understand and accept one another.
...
At the same time, you dispatched a Wood Clone and entrusted the Mask organization to Nagato's control.
At present, the organization had gained full influence over all coastal cities in the southern part of the shinobi world, along with most of the Land of Water's leadership, and had stakes in the Land of Wind as well.
And that was only the shadow-side of the ninja organization.
In terms of commercial empire, the entire shinobi world was already in your grasp.
With that kind of power behind him, Nagato's path to unification would undoubtedly accelerate.
...
With everything in the present world entrusted to Nagato, you decided it was time to move on.
Paths that differ cannot be walked together.
You and Nagato had once worked together for a common goal.
But now, your dreams diverged, and each of you would walk a new path.
One man, committed to his ideals, striving to bring peace to the world.
And the other, seeking ultimate power above all else.
Perhaps it was time to begin the next journey...
After taking a sprouting bud of the Ten Tails—meant for transplanting—from Nagato, you returned to the floating island and cleaned up everything left behind.
Then, you headed to Orochimaru's research base.
According to both Black Zetsu and the Shinigami, the only way to block the Sage of Six Paths from using the Pure Land to spy on you—
Was either to enter the divine realm of another true god, or head to one of the three great sacred lands and rely on the immense power of their dragon veins.
However, divine realms were severely lacking in rule-based power. Without followers, staying there for long would hinder your own growth in understanding rules and authority.
...
That was why you sought out Orochimaru—your goal was to gain entry to Ryūchi Cave for training.
But summoning a small snake to deliver the request to the White Snake Sage and await a decision would take time.
In the meantime, you handed over the Byakugan and Mangekyō Sharingan to Orochimaru for free research.
In exchange, you made your own condition clear: you wanted to study alongside Orochimaru, learning his research philosophy and ideas.
After all, it was this forward-thinking mindset that made Orochimaru truly fascinating!
...
At the same time, you mentally prepared yourself to be rejected by the White Snake Sage.
After all, standing against the Sage of Six Paths was a step that, if taken wrong, would lead to utter destruction.
If that came to pass...
You would have no choice but to travel to the ruins of the ancient city of Rōran in the Land of Wind—
To search for an unclaimed dragon vein, and risk being torn apart by its chaotic power in order to comprehend Sage Techniques on your own...
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo