"Do you think the old man of the Six Paths still won't act—and will just give Nagato a dream instead?"
Hearing the lamp spirit's words, a slight smile crept across Orochimaru's face.
That would indeed be the easiest and most efficient method. If the Sage of Six Paths appeared in Nagato's dream and confirmed his identity, Nagato would naturally believe the living legend over someone like Obito.
But that wasn't without complications. Orochimaru had suffered enough to know better. Nagato, after all, wasn't like him—his nature was still weak, and he wasn't the kind to seize fate by the throat. If he learned that the Sage of Six Paths truly existed, he might instinctively hope the Sage would take on the burden of saving the world. And if they truly communicated... the Sage might not walk away so easily.
Could Nagato influence the Sage of Six Paths…?
The thought passed through Orochimaru's mind just as an urgent voice called from outside:
"Orochimaru! Orochimaru!"
The door shook with heavy knocking. Orochimaru opened it, raising a hand to stop Jiraiya's incoming fist.
"What happened?"
Jiraiya's expression was tense, more serious than Orochimaru had seen in a long time.
"We've found the source of the threat. Come see for yourself. If we can't confirm a solution, we'll need to evacuate Mount Myōboku—immediately."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly. Jiraiya wasn't one to overreact. He'd been a passive observer during the Rain Village battle and had seen firsthand that Orochimaru hadn't used his full strength. For even Jiraiya to suggest retreat…
That alone made the situation suspicious.
He nodded. "Understood."
Together, they rushed to the eastern edge of Mount Myōboku.
---
Beyond the twisting dunes and sandstone mazes lay a vast yellow desert—typically the only route by which ninjas traveled to reach Mount Myōboku.
Today, however, the desert brought with it something else.
Fukasaku, Shima, Gamabunta, Gamaken… nearly every major toad of the holy land had gathered. In the distance, they could already feel the earth trembling, a low rumble growing louder by the second.
And then they saw it—a faint yellow line stretching for miles across the eastern horizon, slowly thickening and expanding like a tide, as if a colossal wave was surging across the desert toward them.
Though the thing itself remained hidden behind layers of sand, its overwhelming presence was unmistakable. It didn't just cross the land—it erased it.
If this thing reached Mount Myōboku, it would flatten everything.
"What the hell is that…?" Fukasaku muttered, dread heavy in his voice.
Even for a sage deeply attuned to nature energy, this was the kind of overwhelming force that reduced all beings—no matter how strong—to helpless ants.
"Old man, wake the Great Elder. Let's pack up and leave," Shima said, her voice sharp with urgency. "Whatever that thing is, we can come back once it passes. There's no point dying for a few trees and buildings."
Her words echoed among the toads. Many shared her opinion.
But Shima hesitated. If it were that simple… why had the Great Elder made a deal with Orochimaru? The prophecy had said it was a survival crisis, not just a storm to weather. Normally she might write off the old toad's cryptic warnings—but not this time.
While she hesitated, Orochimaru descended from above.
"If you run, you might survive. But if you do… Mount Myōboku will never be the same again," he said.
Fukasaku's face lit up with relief—but also confusion. "What do you mean?"
Orochimaru frowned. "I went to see it. That Snake—it's not just flattening the land. It's devouring the earth's leylines. If Mount Myōboku is trampled by it, the natural energy here will wither and die completely."
The toads were stunned.
"Did you say… a snake?" Fukasaku blinked. "That long line—that's a snake's body?"
"Not flat," Orochimaru corrected. "What you see is its body. It's just… walking sideways."
Even he hadn't expected this. It wasn't the creature's size that shocked him—it was its identity.
"I never imagined the remnants of something I crushed to pieces would grow into that."
The lamp spirit had compressed itself into a thin strand of light, gazing at the "little yellow snake" in the distance.
"Look at it… still using the 'Breath of the Sun' to absorb solar energy... Wait—could that be it?"
"Could it be heading toward Mount Myōboku just to chase the sun?"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. It sounded ridiculous, but…
In the ninja world, plants like kikyō flowers turned to follow the sun. If they had legs, they'd probably walk west as the sun moved.
"If it reaches the ocean... what happens then?" Orochimaru mused. "Will it stop, or will it find a way to keep going?"
If it was the latter, then Mount Myōboku wasn't the only thing at risk—this might be a preview of an even greater future disaster.
"Tch… what a pain," Orochimaru muttered, though his eyes gleamed with interest.
He had spent so long looking for something that overflowed with natural energy. And now it had come to him.
Too convenient.
Which meant: dangerous.
---
"Besides confirming it's a 'Serpentis,' did you see anything else?" Orochimaru asked the lamp spirit.
"Its body's made almost entirely of sand bacteria," it replied. "It looks fragile, but it's not. It's like a colony—scattered body, unified mind. It can split apart and reassemble at will."
"So physical defense might be weak," Orochimaru reasoned, "but splitting it up would also weaken its attack."
"You want to test that?" the lamp spirit asked, amused.
"A few experiments wouldn't hurt. Let's see how good its regeneration really is."
Orochimaru turned to the toads.
"Well? What are you all still standing here for? You waiting for it to reach your front door?"
After a long pause, Fukasaku finally said, "…Orochimaru-sama, we're willing to protect our home—but not to throw our lives away."
Migration was painful—but death, final.
"I'm not sending you to die. That thing—it's more like a plant than a predator."
Orochimaru licked his lips, smiling. "And besides, I'll help you fight."
He clapped his hands together, and chakra surged through his body.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A cloud of white smoke exploded outward—and in its center, a towering white snake emerged. Its golden eyes gleamed with primal hunger.
All the toads instinctively backed away. A chill ran through them. The aura she exuded was ancient—deadly.
"Orochimaru," hissed the White Snake Sage, "you summoned me without permission…"
Then she looked at the toads.
"…But for the sake of these desserts, I'll let it slide."
The toads had absorbed rich natural energy for generations. She could taste it in the air.
"Relax," Orochimaru said. "You're not here to eat them."
He pointed east. "That is your meal. If you're up for it."
The White Snake turned and gazed at the massive yellow shape in the distance.
Even with all her knowledge, she had never seen anything like it.
"…Not flesh. Not chakra. It's like… the roots of the God Tree. And yes—maybe edible."
Saliva began to pool in her mouth.
Her body was still recovering from past losses and recent restrictions. But this… this could restore her.
Without hesitation, she lunged forward, shaking the ground with her departure.
---
"What are you all staring at?" Orochimaru barked. "Follow my lead—I'll break it down, you take your parts."
The toads jolted awake and rushed after the White Snake. Orochimaru stayed behind—coordinator and commander.
The White Snake was fast. In seconds, she reached the front of the Serpentis.
With one mighty swing, she slammed her tail down like a battle axe.
A wave of sand surged up to shield the creature, but the White Snake sneered.
With a pulse of her chakra, she stripped control from the enemy—scattering the shield.
"Earth-style? Against me?"
The impact dented the snake's massive body. For the first time, it paused.
She prepared to strike again—but then stopped.
The flesh she had crushed was already dissolving—being absorbed and regenerated from within.
Her eyes narrowed.
"What… kind of monster is this?"
---
Orochimaru, watching from afar, pieced together the truth.
"Even without your attacks, it's constantly dying," he said.
The 'Breath of the Sun' technique was powerful—but left terrible aftereffects. The Serpentis had made its own decision: consume parts of itself and regenerate anew.
It was adapting. Evolving.
"Fascinating creature," the White Snake muttered. "But not entirely unique. Even humans live and die at the cellular level. They just don't regenerate like this."
"So… how do we kill it?" she asked Orochimaru.
If he didn't have an answer, she'd walk away.
_____________________
The story is Finished on patreon (394 Chapters)
Join my patreon
patreon.com/Silver757
Or Tip me on
coff.ee/silver7959
http://buymeacoffee.com/silver7959