On the Ōtsutsuki Planet, far from the Shinobi World, the wind sweeps through the branches and leaves of the giant trees, carrying the sweet scent of resin for miles.
A slender figure crouched on the eaves of the wooden house, watching as vines thicker than mountains in the Shinobi World slowly coiled around the aerial roots of the God Tree —these were " Earth-Binding Vine." Every day, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the gaps in the God Tree's canopy, they would begin to move, compacting the loose soil around the God Tree. Not far away, several " Cloud-Devouring Beast," their heads larger than houses, grazed on the Chakra energy condensed in the clouds. With each chew, they exhaled fluorescent white vapor from their nostrils, which, when it landed on the ground, could cause grass sprouts to grow to half a person's height overnight.
This is the home planet of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, a super planet that they didn't even bother to give a name to. The elders say that even riding the fastest Tailed Beast, it would take a full ten years to fly from one end of the planet to the other. And on such a planet, there is a Life God Tree every thousand miles. The 430,520,223rd God Tree City is just one of the most ordinary among the countless God Tree tribes.
The houses in the God Tree City are all built with secondary wood from the God Tree, not felled timber, but rather houses that "grow" from the God Tree itself. Every spring, the clan's "woodworkers" use Chakra to draw the outline of the houses on the side branches of the God Tree. Within half a month, the branches grow and intertwine along the outline, eventually forming walls and roofs with natural wood grain. Even the windows are diamond-shaped grids formed by the interlacing branches. Ōtsutsuki Agin's house is next to the thirty-seventh burl in the middle layer of the God Tree. Opening the window, one can touch the aerial roots hanging down from the God Tree, and at night, one can hear the "humming" sound of Chakra flowing under the bark, like a mother's heartbeat.
The city's roads were paved with "slippery wood," soft and yielding underfoot, so even a fall from a height wouldn't hurt. Most of the tribespeople on the road had long, silvery-white hair, the ends occasionally stained with God Tree tree. Pale bluish-white horns protruded from their foreheads or temples—the purer the bloodline, the lighter the horn's color; for example, the pure bloodline of Ōshiki Shi was so pure that the horn was almost transparent. Some Ōtsutsuki Clan carried various tools to tend to the God Tree Fruit, while others held wooden slips recording the God Tree's growth data. Their steps were hurried but orderly; everyone understood their responsibilities.
" Agin! What are you daydreaming about? It's time to go water the God Tree with energy water!"
A voice called from beneath the tree. She was Agin 'Ayu guardian partner, born fifty years earlier than Agin -Agin, with a thicker horn on her forehead and her Byakugan already at the Tenseigan stage. Agin flew down from the eaves, landing steadily on the alabaster path, the wood beneath her feet gently sinking and bouncing back. The two's wooden houses were not far apart, and their daily task was to be responsible for the "nourishment work" within three miles to the west of the God Tree —not carrying water to irrigate the tree, but feeding the God Tree with their own Chakra.
The two approached a root of the God Tree, thicker than the village's watchtower, its surface covered by a damp film. Ayu stretched out her hand first, placing her palm on the root. Pale blue Chakra flowed from her fingertips into it, and the root immediately glowed. Agin followed suit, and as the Chakra flowed away, she could clearly feel the God Tree's "response"—a warm energy pushed back from her palm, flowing down her arm into her dantian—this was the God Tree's "feedback."
"Have you heard? Yesterday, the administrative center received a signal that some of our clansmen are trapped on an unnamed wild star millions of light-years away." Ayu while channeling Chakra, her Byakugan gleaming slightly. "It's said that there are super-strong individuals at the Star Level Third Stage on that wild star. The administrative center has suggested sending three squadrons there."
Agin was stunned for a moment, her Chakra almost stopping. "Three squadrons? That's eighty-one people... Are they some important figures who are trapped?"
Both of them had heard of the strength of Star Level Third Stage expert—at full power, they could shatter an asteroid with their bare hands, and their Chakra reserves were enough to obliterate an ordinary planet. Ordinary members of their clan would have no chance against an enemy of this level. Ayu's Byakugan darted around, seemingly sensing the activity at the distant administrative center. "I don't know, but the Mission Department has already issued a mission, saying to destroy Wild Star and rescue the members of Ōtsutsuki Ōshiki Squad."
" Ōshiki?!"
Agin nearly jumped up in fright. Ōtsutsuki Ōshiki was a veteran powerhouse of his clan, said to have lived for nearly five thousand years. His Karma seal allowed him to reincarnate three times, and his Chakra reserves were enough to revive a dead star. How could such a powerful figure be trapped on some nameless, wild star? Ayu quickly pulled her back, signaling not to disturb the God Tree: "Keep your voice down! The whole city is talking about it; many teams have gone to accept missions."
Before the words were finished, a rapid horn blast suddenly rang out in the distance—the signal for an emergency assembly, sounded by a "Sound-Sounding Wood," capable of carrying throughout the entire God Tree City. Ayu immediately withdrew her hand and pulled Agin towards the city's central square. "Let's go! Let's see! Maybe our team will be selected!"
The central square of the God Tree City (430520223) was transformed from the thickest main root of the God Tree. In the middle of the square stand three huge wooden tablets, inscribed with the words " Administration Department," " Mission Department," and " Military Department," respectively. These are the core institutions of the God Tree City and a microcosm of the Ōtsutsuki Clan's social system.
When the two arrived at the plaza, many clansmen had already gathered. On the "Stargazing Trees" surrounding the plaza sat several people dressed in dark robes. They were Administration Department officials, their horns gleaming with a pure blue light. They held wooden slips for recording and were talking in hushed tones. On the west side of the plaza, a group of clansmen carrying long swords stood in neat rows. They were soldiers from the Military Department. Each of them had Chakra was so condensed that it seemed almost tangible. Just standing there, even the surrounding air vibrated slightly.
"Quiet down!"
An aged voice came from behind the wooden monument. It was Elder Ōtsutsuki Gen, the Administration Department. His hair was graying, and his horns were cracked, but his Chakra was more abundant than that of the Military Department soldiers. Elder Gen held a scroll made of animal hide in his hand. When unfurled, the text on the scroll glowed with golden light, clearly reflected in everyone's eyes:
"A nameless wild star millions of light-years away has detected a distress signal from its inhabitants, confirming the trapped individuals to be members of the Ōtsutsuki Ōshiki Squad. This planet harbors Star Level Third Stage powerhouse. The government center has approved the mission and recommends dispatching three squadrons: destroy the wild star, retrieve the God Tree, and rescue the Ōshiki Squad members. The Mission Department is now issuing an S-rank mission, accepting squad applications. Assemble and depart in ten minutes."
The moment the words were spoken, the square erupted in chaos.
"They're sending three squadrons? I can go with our platoon, we're signing up!"
"Our team is going too! Our Ōshiki Squad will definitely be fine!"
Agin tugged at Ayu's sleeve and whispered, "Can our team handle this? We've only been official members for a short time..."
Their team was called the " Blue Horn Squad." Besides Agin and Ayu, there was a boy Atsu who was born thirty years earlier than them and had already mastered the basic Rinnegan abilities. The three-person team belonged to the Third Squad. Above them were two more squads that formed a small company. Three small companies made up a company. According to the rules, three companies made up a large company with a total of eighty-one people.
Ayu rolled her Byakugan at the crowd in the square, then suddenly her eyes lit up. "Look! Atsu's over there!"
Following the direction she pointed, Agin Atsu Che standing in the corner of the plaza, holding a black wedge-shaped container and examining the Chakra fluctuations inside. As the two ran over, he turned around, his silver-white hair fluttering in the wind. "You're here? I just told the captain that our team has signed up for the mission."
"Really?" Agin was both surprised and delighted. "The captain agreed? Can we do it?"