Shimoku made his way alone toward Old Lord Mo's mansion.
Its location was easy to identify—it lay at the deepest point of this Secret Realm, with a giant Stone Panda statue standing at its entrance.
The very Stone Panda he had summoned last time during the battle against Pain's Animal Path.
At that time, Mooncake had immediately recognized it.
And even now, one could still see the scars left by Uncle Copperluo's "Spiked Club" on the back of the statue...
Shimoku walked past the statue and stepped into the mansion carved into the rock behind it.
Soon enough, he stood before the patriarch of the panda clan—Old Lord Mo.
The old lord sat cross-legged upon a bamboo-matted cushion, his back facing Shimoku, seemingly reading something.
He wasn't very large in size—only about twice Shimoku's height—with a crystal-clear Tora tooth pendant hanging from his chest...
In terms of appearance, he bore a strong resemblance to Mooncake.
Both had round faces and dark eye rings.
Except for body size, Shimoku couldn't easily tell them apart.
It was like how some people struggle to tell others apart when their appearances are broadly similar...
Yet clearly, there was an immense difference in strength.
Even while sitting still, the old lord merged effortlessly with his surroundings, as if he'd become one with natural energy itself.
The vast ocean of Sage Chakra within him was truly awe-inspiring, not to be underestimated.
Though not quite on par with ancient beasts like the Great Toad Sage, White Snake Sage, or Sage Katsuyu—beings who had lived for over a thousand years...
An age of more than six hundred years placed him already among the highest ranks of Summoning Beasts.
...
Shimoku nodded respectfully and greeted:
"Old Lord!"
"Oh! It's little Shimoku!"
Old Lord Mo narrowed his eyes and quickly slipped the colorful magazine he held underneath his cushion, hiding it away.
Only then did he turn around.
Looking at Shimoku with a kind and cheerful expression.
But the next moment,
Old Lord Mo fixed his gaze on Shimoku, eyes suddenly blazing with sharp brilliance as his mighty panda form trembled slightly.
He exclaimed with obvious astonishment:
"This... Such immense Chakra!"
"It's only been a year since we last met, and yet you've grown so much?"
Shimoku humbly replied:
"Luck, mostly. And thanks to the guidance from people like Uncle Copperluo."
Sighing softly, the Old Lord said:
"It takes more than just luck to reach this level!"
"With your current strength, you must rank among the top figures in the Ninja World."
"Who would've thought! That little Mooncake possesses such fortune, forming a blood contract with you."
"Could this be fate guiding us?"
"It seems our clan has truly struck gold through this bond!"
At his cultivation stage and age, combined with the fact that Sage Chakra originated from natural energy itself, the old lord had developed some understanding regarding fate.
Just like how the Great Toad Sage could glimpse into the future, that too was a powerful manifestation of natural energy.
Indeed, even the famed Three Sacred Lands, along with countless other Summoning Beasts,
He had always hoped to rely on the power and fortune of ninja to prolong the survival of his ninja clan.
This was the era...
It was the age of ninja, the age of humanity!
Certainly not the age for those summoning beasts barely surviving...
Otherwise, would [Great Toad Sage], [White Snake Sage], and others
have nothing better to do?
Would they have accepted ninjas and taught them sage arts otherwise?
Moreover, throughout history, every ninja who achieved such power was someone blessed with extraordinary fortune.
Forming a good relationship with these powerful figures would naturally bring countless benefits and no harm.
...
"Since you've already gained an advantage, I won't let you suffer too much loss either."
"Speak now. What business do you have seeking out this old man?"
"You brat certainly don't look like someone coming just for a stroll."
Old Lord Mo asked bluntly with a smile.
Obviously, he had already seen through Shimoku's purpose.
Shimoku smiled lightly and without hesitation, stating his purpose outright.
His visit to Old Lord Mo was to learn more about what happened a thousand years ago.
After all, although he roughly knew about Kaguya and the God Tree,
he knew very little about the specific details.
These long-established summoning beasts likely understood things far better.
Regarding this, Old Lord Mo didn't hide anything either.
He calmly explained everything he knew to Shimoku.
...
The Earth was vast.
A thousand years ago, this fertile planet had areas suitable for life thriving—dozens of times larger than today's Ninja World!
At that time, ruling over the entire planet were numerous and diverse spirit beasts.
By absorbing the planet's rich natural energy, they developed various sage techniques, reaching their peak.
While back then, humans were merely a minor force—
having only recently learned to use tools, having just established primitive nations, possessing absolutely no supernatural power.
Later on,
the alien clan members, Kaguya Otsutsuki and Isshiki Otsutsuki,
planted the Ten-Tails—a young form of the God Tree—onto this planet.
Gradually, as the Ten-Tails grew into the God Tree, it became increasingly powerful. Its massive and thick roots spread to every corner of the planet,
constantly absorbing the planet's rich natural energy and life force.
Eventually, the entire planet's energy was drained by the God Tree, except for the small area known as the Ninja World.
Most other regions became barren wastelands.
This was also one reason why the environment in the [Land of Wind] was so harsh.
Further west beyond the Land of Wind stretched uninhabitable dead zones where few humans could survive!
Such violent consumption by the God Tree dealt a devastating blow to Earth's ecosystem.
In merely a thousand years, recovery remained impossible.
Therefore, apart from the region of the Ninja World,
the rest had already become incapable of sustaining life...
Meanwhile,
the sudden environmental changes and lack of natural energy left all summoning beasts on Earth clinging to survival.
The Toad Clan, Earth Snake Clan, Sage Katsuyu, Dream Devouring Beast Clan, Panda Clan, and others each took action to protect themselves.
They used Sage Arts, Secret Arts, and other methods to form semi-closed barriers around their habitats.
With this, they could possibly evade the God Tree's rampant consumption.
Thus, over time,
This led to the summoning beasts' secret realm system led by the Three Sacred Lands.
This was also why the natural energy within these secret realms was much denser than in the present-day Ninja World.
Because these semi-closed secret realms had inherited the levels before the God Tree began devouring everything.
Back then, the natural power of Earth was far more abundant than it is now...
Upon hearing this, Shimoku gradually understood.
In simple terms, that God Tree was actually a parasite brought by the alien Otsutsuki Clan.
A creation specifically designed to consume Earth's energy.
Assuming it required 100,000 units of energy, plus sacrificing an Otsutsuki clansman, to produce one basic [God Tree Fruit],
Then perhaps the total energy of the entire Earth was about 120,000 units?
Hence, after absorbing 100,000 units, the God Tree bore fruit.
Originally, it could have kept drawing out the remaining energy.
But Kaguya was suddenly betrayed by the [Land of Ancestors], prematurely plucking and consuming the [God Tree Fruit]
And becoming the immortal [Mao Goddess].
As a result, a small amount of natural energy remained on Earth.
A portion of the remaining natural energy
Was captured by various Summoning Beast Clans. Through barrier formations, they preserved it within each clan's habitat.
The rest just barely maintained the current scale and ecological balance of the Ninja World.
Otherwise, the land of the Ninja World
Would probably have turned into a wasteland like other regions.
Of course, all of this was only Shimoku's hypothesis.
That 120,000-unit estimate was just a rough analogy.
Still, this deduction probably hits the mark nine times out of ten.
If that were true,
It explained why the Ninja World only occupies a tiny area of the entire Earth.
And why life could still exist on Earth even though the God Tree already bore its fruit.
Honestly, Shimoku didn't believe for a second
That the Otsutsuki Clan, who traveled light-years across space to plunder Earth's energy, would not completely drain the planet,
But instead generously leave some resources behind...
"No wonder the Great Toad Sage once aided Otsutsuki Hagoromo in his battle against Kaguya!"
"After all, all the Summoning Beasts are Earth's true creatures; they're the guardians protecting the planet's natural energy."
"If Kaguya had been allowed to continue recklessly creating White Zetsu and draining every last drop of Earth's energy..."
"Those Summoning Beasts whose very existence depended on Earth itself would have no choice but to vanish from existence..."
Shimoku mused silently in his heart.
Now at last, he finally understood
Why those Summoning Beasts chose to side with the ninja.
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