Unplugging the power source was no easy task. The switch was buried under a dense web of circuits, making it nearly impossible to locate.
Aoba couldn't find it on his own. That's why he needed the guidance of the native deities of the Shinobi World. These beings, who once controlled the power source, would naturally know how to access the final switch.
However, as the Shinigami had pointed out, nearly all of these deities were in a state of death. If they revealed this method to Aoba, they would essentially be handing over all control to him alone.
From that moment on, their very existence would be in Aoba's hands. That was not something they could easily accept.
But Aoba had already identified their greatest weakness, they had no choice.
In the entire Shinobi World, aside from the newly emerged Jashin, only the Shinigami retained a trace of consciousness and divine power.
And even then, that was barely the case. The Pure Land had already fallen under the control of the Sage of Six Paths, and what little authority the Shinigami had left was dwindling.
It wouldn't last much longer. If Aoba hadn't appeared, in just a few more years, the Shinigami would have likely faded into oblivion as well.
"All authority over natural energy was divided up long ago, in ancient times. That is why the foreign beings needed to transform natural energy into chakra." The Shinigami's words immediately made Aoba understand its implication.
"So, in order to control natural energy, I need the authority that was once held by you native deities?" Aoba realised.
"That's right."
"But the other deities are already dead. They don't even—"
"The most fundamental trait of a god is immortality. As long as natural energy still exists in this world, they will never truly die. Of course, if the Sage of Six Paths ultimately succeeds in taking complete control over chakra, then given the current balance between chakra and natural energy, he will easily be able to devour all natural energy, erasing every last trace of the native deities of the Shinobi World."
"In other words, there's still a chance?"
"Yes. Your task is to absorb and devour all the divine authority that remains among the native gods, and then merge them.
And to do that, you need to conduct a bloodline tracing on that child."
"Sasuke Uchiha."
"Exactly. He is the last remaining direct descendant of Indra with the purest bloodline. If you can trace his bloodline deep enough, you will uncover all the remnants of Indra's legacy."
Aoba nodded, signaling his understanding.
Indra had actually been on the right path. But his origins were flawed.
As a direct descendant of the Sage of Six Paths, he was born as the inheritor of Six Paths Yin Power, the embodiment of high-level chakra authority.
So even though he had devoured many native gods, he had never been able to fully assimilate their true power.
In reality, the Sage of Six Paths had designed it this way. No one in the entire Shinobi World was ever meant to complete this process.
Every living being had chakra. Every soul had passed through the Pure Land and had been altered.
This meant that the entire path to using natural energy, both physically and spiritually, had been completely sealed off.
No one was supposed to break through it.
Until Aoba appeared.
As a transmigrated soul, he was born with a partial exemption from these restrictions.
That was the only reason this conversation was even possible.
Their discussion was suddenly interrupted.
Someone had intruded upon Aoba's consciousness.
When he unlocked his seal, he saw one of the research facility's guards standing before him.
"Sir, something has happened."
If you would like to read more...
The novel has be completed (Chp. 362) on the patreon -> SaintXI