Why was Kaguya able to take over Madara's body?
Just because of Zetsu?
Could that really be possible?
Zetsu, no matter how cunning he was, didn't have the strength to face Madara. His power wasn't even a ten-thousandth of Madara's. Even if Zetsu had managed to use the Rinnegan's power to immobilize Madara, it wouldn't have been enough.
The real reason Kaguya took Madara's body lies in the very nature of her existence.
There were significant differences between the Naruto manga and anime.
In the anime, Kaguya seemed to be a Jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails, while in the manga, she was the embodiment of the Shinju, the God Tree, the true form of the Ten-Tails.
Though her consciousness was sealed, when Madara absorbed the Ten-Tails, he essentially absorbed Kaguya within himself. By releasing the Infinite Tsukuyomi, Kaguya's consciousness awakened inside his body.
Kuro, on the other hand, possesses the Kurama Ring, allowing him to use the Kyūbi's chakra. In the future, he plans to create rings for each of the Bijū and gather the complete chakra of the Ten-Tails.
That level of power is not something to take lightly.
But what would happen if he implanted the power of the God Tree in his body now?
Wouldn't he be indirectly helping Kaguya forge a new vessel?
If Madara were to use the Infinite Tsukuyomi in the future, would Kaguya choose Madara's body or his?
After all, Kuro was anything but ordinary. He possessed the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, a Perfect Sage Body, Six Paths chakra, and the potential to awaken the Rinnegan.
Compared to Madara, both in strength and physical integrity, Kuro would be a far more suitable option for Kaguya.
This would be a disaster.
Even though it was just a possibility, he couldn't take the risk. Implanting the God Tree's power in his body would be like planting the seeds of his own destruction.
As if the system had read his thoughts, a voice echoed in his mind.
[Friendly Reminder: Items forged by the system extract characteristics from the original materials used in forging.
Any similarity between the forged items and the original materials is purely coincidental and not directly related to the originals.]
Kuro was stunned for a moment and mentally asked, "In other words, this 'Weak God Tree Crystal' only has a power similar to Kaguya's but isn't related to her?"
[Correct. Furthermore, the host is reminded that the power of the God Tree is not exclusive to this world. In the vast universe, the Ōtsutsuki Clan has cultivated thousands of other God Trees scattered across countless locations.]
This seemed to have been mentioned in the manga.
With this confirmation, he felt relieved and, without further hesitation, swallowed the crystal.
Upon entering his body, the crystal dissolved into a corrosive energy, weak but dominant.
This energy quickly circulated throughout his body, integrating seamlessly. Kuro felt his genetic chain emit a faint green glow, a subtle yet significant change.
His chakra now had a vibrant vitality.
To test it, he began manipulating the Earth and Water chakra natures, concentrating one in each hand. By bringing his hands together, he fused the two chakras.
"Wood Release: Sprout."
Before him, a bud began to form on the tatami mat. With the infusion of chakra, the bud quickly grew into a small tree two meters tall.
He stopped the chakra infusion just in time. Otherwise, the tree would have pierced through the ceiling in seconds.
After using Mokuton, he felt a slight increase in his vital energy. It was an almost imperceptible change but noticeable for someone with his level of perception.
"My vitality is nourishing the power of the God Tree…" he murmured. "The Perfect Sage Body and the power of the God Tree are extremely compatible. My Mokuton will grow stronger over time. I might even surpass Hashirama in the future."
However, he didn't seem excited.
Though Mokuton was incredibly powerful, it wasn't the only tool in his arsenal. He now had too many powerful abilities.
What truly intrigued him was awakening his eyes: the Rinnegan.
After calming himself, he focused on the small model cabin in his hands.
It was a representation of a luxurious, ancient Japanese-style courtyard, with crystal-clear pools, carefully placed rock gardens, blossoming cherry trees, and décor reflecting the elegance of traditional Japanese architecture.
[Special Item: "Portable Cabin":
A transportable courtyard that can expand or shrink at will. It features automatic cleaning and repair functions, offering convenience and practicality. Ideal for domestic use and travel.]
"This is perfect."
Over time, he planned to leave Konoha after executing his collapse plan to search for materials that would allow him to forge more items. This cabin would be invaluable for his travels.
After admiring it for a moment, he stored it in the system space and moved on to the next item.
[Special Item: "Super Golden Garbage":
A special fertilizer that accelerates plant growth. One bag is enough to sustain plant growth for 100 years. The bag has an auto-regeneration function: after use, the fertilizer fully regenerates in a year.]
Reading the description, he became thoughtful.
At first glance, it seemed like an impractical item, probably influenced by Yamato's love for ecology. However, upon further reflection, an idea crossed his mind.
What if this were used on the God Tree?
With enough time, this fertilizer could accelerate its growth and allow the production of God Tree fruits in just a decade.
"This... is too powerful."
A chill ran down his spine at the thought of the Ōtsutsuki Clan discovering the existence of this bag. They wouldn't hesitate to use all their resources to take it from him.
Determined to keep it a secret, he stored the fertilizer in the system space and moved on to the next item.
[Special Item: "Master Builder":
By injecting chakra into the doll, it will grow to the size of an adult man and acquire superhuman construction abilities.
Features: Can repair a two-story house in one minute if enough materials are available. To build or repair another house, chakra must be injected again.]
[Special Item: "Tool Man":
By injecting chakra into the doll, it will grow to the size of an adult man and obey its master's orders without question or hesitation.
Features: Its performance is equivalent to that of an average adult man.
Note: If tasked with duties beyond its capabilities, the doll may sustain permanent damage.]
Kuro smiled wryly.
"It doesn't take much to guess who inspired this... Yamato was definitely the inspiration for the 'Master Builder.'"
As for the "Tool Man," he couldn't help but imagine Kakashi exploiting Yamato's talents to do tasks no one else wanted to do.
...
Hokage's Office
Hiruzen was organizing papers on his desk while speaking with Yamato about Kuro.
"Well?" he asked, lighting his pipe. "What do you think of Kuro after your first day with him?"
Yamato crossed his arms, thinking carefully before responding.
"He's very strong. But I don't just mean his physical power; it's his experience. Although he's received real combat training from a jōnin, there's a difference between training and real combat. However, his behavior… it's as if he's lived through countless years of battle experience."
Hiruzen paused, setting aside the papers, and took a long puff from his pipe.
"Anyone who's survived hundreds of mortal wounds during real combat training would end up acting like him," he said with a smile.
________
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