The outer perimeter of the vast region on the Ōtsutsuki Planet, known as the " Deathly Silence Seal."
A massive, transparent barrier, composed of countless chains of golden runes, resembled an inverted bowl, enveloping dozens of cities. Inside the barrier, life was utterly extinguished, with only shadowy, zombie-like figures slowly wandering about. Outside the barrier, a Ōtsutsuki patrol maintained a safe distance, constantly monitoring the energy fluctuations within the barrier, never daring to relax their vigilance.
Ten years have passed. For the long-lived Ōtsutsuki Clan, ten years is not a long time. But this bizarre "zombie disaster" and the subsequent great seal cast a Yin Shadow over the entire Ōtsutsuki civilization. The higher-ups classified it as top secret and strictly forbade its dissemination to avoid causing panic and attracting outside covetousness. Internally, a special " Purification Committee " was established to try to find a way to completely eliminate these undead creatures, but progress was slow.
A female peak domain lord named Ōtsutsuki Arashi was currently looking at the latest monitoring report with a furrowed brow.
"The energy readings have fluctuated abnormally again... right in the core area, near Genshō City." She pointed to the curve on the report. "These periodic, regular peaks are definitely not something an unconscious zombie could produce. It's more like... some kind of active energy absorption, or... a communication attempt?"
The adjutant beside him cautiously asked, "Sir, could it be that the energy ripples are caused by the instability of the seal itself?"
"Impossible." Ōtsutsuki Arashi denied it decisively. " The Saint's seal structure is extremely stable, with ample energy supply. This fluctuation... bears clear signs of will. I suspect that the 'source' that triggered this disaster is not only still alive, but... may be trying to communicate with the outside world, or performing some kind of ritual unknown to us."
This conjecture sent a chill down the spines of all the Ōtsutsuki Clan present. A mysterious and powerful being, possessing intelligence and capable of creating and controlling such a massive Immortal Corps, sealed within their own territory—it was practically a ticking time bomb.
"Increase the level of surveillance on Genshō City. Deploy three 'Domain'-class reconnaissance ships to conduct in-depth scans close to the barrier. I need to know exactly what happened inside!" Ōtsutsuki Arashi ordered.
"But sir, wouldn't getting too close to the scanner alert them? What if it attracts the attention of those inside, and they hide again..." the adjutant said worriedly.
"Execute the order!" Ōtsutsuki Arashi's tone left no room for argument. "We must find out the truth behind the source of the zombie outbreak within the barrier. Otherwise, if new complications arise, the consequences will be unimaginable."
Meanwhile, within the sealed area, in Genshō City, the ruins of a once-prosperous city of the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
The air here was thick with the stench of death, like a black fog, and the ruins of buildings were covered with a thick, flesh-like carpet of fungi. In the center of the city, the tower that was once the God Tree of worship had been transformed into a huge zombie lair.
Orochimaru Zombie Monarch, sat enthroned on the throne of his lair—a terrifying chair formed from the fused remains of countless powerful Ōtsutsuki zombies and their still-writhing flesh. His appearance was even more bizarre than it had been ten years ago. His skin was pale, almost transparent, with dark gold patterns resembling the Ōtsutsuki Clan's "Karma" seal, but far more complex and malevolent. One of his eyes was a cold, serpentine vertical pupil, while the other had transformed into a wavy shape similar to the Rinnegan, yet tinged with a deathly gray-white.
At his feet lay a dozen zombies with exceptionally powerful auras, their bodies still bearing the Dao patterns of Peak Domain Level Ōtsutsuki Clan experts. These were his carefully nurtured "corpse generals," retaining a considerable degree of their combat wisdom and some of their memories from their previous lives.
" Saint Level... a realm surpassing the Immortal King, touching upon the fundamental laws of the universe..." Orochimaru extended his long tongue, licking his lips as if savoring the sweetness of the term. "So that's it. The Ōtsutsuki Clan's tireless devouring of planetary life and cultivation of the God Tree is not merely for immortality and power; their ultimate goal... is to nurture that slim chance of stepping into the Saint Level."
He pieced together this astonishing information from fragments of memory belonging to a zombie at the Peak Domain Level beneath his feet. The legend of the God of Ōtsutsuki, his ambition to pursue eternity and become the embodiment of rules, made Orochimaru's already cold heart pound violently.
"Immortality... I have already obtained it in another form. But this ' Saint Level ' mystery, this ultimate truth of the universe... is the 'forbidden fruit' I truly crave." Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with a mad and greedy light.
He sensed the increased surveillance outside the barrier, and a mocking sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.
"It seems the owner's dog has a pretty keen sense of smell. But... it's too late to realize it now."
He slowly raised his hand, his fingertips swirling with gray-black corpse energy and a faint, strange fluctuation that seemed to come from a higher dimension—a fragmented understanding of " Saint Level Vitality " that he had accidentally come across after devouring Ōtsutsuki Genshō and many other powerful beings. Although it was completely different from the orthodox Saint Level Vitality that Tsubasa had comprehended, and was filled with deathly stillness and distortion, it was of an extremely high level.
"This seal cannot hold me back. Once I have fully digested these gains and mastered this wisp of ' Annihilation Saint Intent '... that will be the time when my tens of thousands of zombie army turn the tables. The life essence accumulated by the Ōtsutsuki Clan over countless eras and the secrets about the Saint Level... will all become stepping stones for me to reach the ultimate!"
He opened his arms as if to embrace the entire desolate world. Below, countless zombies seemed to receive an invisible command, simultaneously letting out silent roars. The corpse energy surged like a tsunami, crashing against the invisible barrier and causing the external monitoring instruments to emit piercing alarms.
A storm is quietly brewing beneath the seal. The Shinobi World, however, remains oblivious, continuing its relentless march towards peace and development. The fates of the two worlds are once again intricately and strangely intertwined because of the madness of a "deserter."
Peaceful times always seem to pass by too quickly. Ten years is enough for a new generation to grow up, for old wounds to heal, and for some memories to gradually settle.
Yan Nation, Immortal Venerable Academy.
"Hey! Tenshō! You cheated again with Senjutsu! We agreed to only spar with Taijutsu!" A red-haired boy shouted breathlessly, pointing at the black-haired boy opposite him who had a smug look on his face.
"Hehe, Boruto Namikaze, how can this be called cheating? This is called making good use of your own advantages! My grandfather said that fighting is about being unconventional!" Tenshō, the grandson of Tenpi, has now grown into a handsome and upright young man. He has inherited his grandfather's talent and his father's eccentric personality. He is a well-known "problem child" and super genius in the academy.
"Stop bringing up the Immortal King Tsubasa! Take this!" Boruto Namikaze, Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata's eldest son, was not to be outdone. He Hand Seals, and his azure Chakra erupted instantly, faintly carrying the aura of the Tenseigan.
The two boys immediately engaged in a fierce battle on the training field, drawing gasps of surprise from the surrounding classmates.
On the rooftop of the academy, Sarada Uchiha pushed up her glasses, looked down at the two fooling around, and sighed helplessly, "These two idiots..." Beside her sat a quiet girl with white eyes and a cool temperament— Himawari Hyuga, Hinata and Naruto's second daughter.
"They're really amazing," Himawari said softly. "I heard that Brother Tenshō has already broken through the threshold of Immortal Venerable."
"Hmph, still a long way off." Sarada retorted, but a hint of approval flashed in her eyes. They were the Shinichi carrying the hopes for the Mirai of the Shinobi World, growing up in a relatively peaceful environment, with better conditions and a higher starting point than their parents. The story of the Immortal King Tsubasa was, for them, an epic of heroism in textbooks, a role model to inspire them, but it lacked the weight of personal suffering.