Boom boom boom!
Her thunderous heartbeat merged into one continuous roar. It sounded as if a colossal waterfall had been built inside the chamber, or as if two great rivers were crashing together, their colliding waves exploding in deafening bursts.
Crack!
Konome Taketori drove her long, slender fingers into the edge of the lightning pool. With a casual squeeze, she crushed the hardened thunder crystals as easily as tofu.
Bracing herself against the edge, she sat up from the plasma. Her pale skin had turned the color of red jade, and the region around her heart pulsed wildly. Every moment, the amount of chakra being consumed was an astronomical figure even Kakashi would not dare imagine.
Since awakening her Sage Body, this was the first time she had released power so frantically.
Her heart was pumping like mad, forcing her blood through her body so fast that the pressure in her vessels soared. Her head felt swollen, and her blood pressure was probably already in the thousands.
Adrenaline was flooding her system at breakneck speed, sending every nerve in her body into overdrive. At the same time, the massive loss of chakra brought with it an intense feeling of weakness.
Her soul and flesh were both undergoing metamorphosis. Her eyes burned unbearably hot. Illusory afterimages had already begun appearing within her irises. The deathly, decaying power in her bones was still selecting her cells and forcing her body to grow stronger.
Only her chakra seed was laboring desperately, absorbing life force and converting it into the energy needed to sustain everything.
This won't do!
Watching the chakra seed struggle to convert energy, only for that energy to be snatched away by her three bloodline limits before it could even travel through her pathways, Konome instantly realized where the problem lay.
The chakra of a third-stage Sage Body should absolutely be enough to bear this level of expenditure. But right now, her cells needed constant repair, her Ash Bones were conducting their death-based selection, and her Byakugan was also evolving and resisting at the same time.
She had too many threads running at once.
The speed at which chakra was being converted could not keep up with the speed at which it was being spent. If this continued, it would likely affect the advancement of her abilities.
Life force and chakra were not the issue. The tens of thousands of square kilometers of primeval forest outside Konoha were more than enough for her to squander. But this chance for bloodline evolution would only come once. If she let her dōjutsu end up malnourished here, there was no telling if she would ever be able to make up for it later.
After weighing the pros and cons, Konome hardened her heart and forcibly separated out a thread of chakra, transmitting it through the countless chains in the void.
At the same time...
On the second underground level, inside Root's training ground.
Gray stone walls were stained with blood that could never be fully washed away. Kunai were buried deep in the wooden posts. The shadows twisted beneath the dancing firelight, stretching toward an even deeper darkness. The air was stagnant, filled with the smell of rust and dust.
This was the largest training ground in Root. Pankuma and the other members of the training division had tactfully withdrawn, leaving the area to Konome and her shadow clones to study forbidden techniques.
At this moment...
Yang Release Konome was discussing the principles of the Flying Thunder God Technique with countless shadow clones.
"Nearly every space-nature ninjutsu in the shinobi world is, at its core, a variation of the Summoning Technique.
"The principle of the Flying Thunder God is to seal your own chakra into a formula. By sensing that chakra, the user can lock onto a set of spatial coordinates. After that, all they need to do is perform a reverse summoning to transfer themselves to that location.
"Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder, which was developed on top of that, is a little more complicated. It uses barrier techniques to form a spatial passageway. In other words, instead of transferring yourself, you transfer objects. But in essence, it is still the same framework."
She had thoroughly read the jutsu scrolls of both Konoha and Root. Her fundamentals in ninjutsu were deep and solid, and with her knowledge of the original story, she was able to grasp the Flying Thunder God from a lofty vantage point. A technique others found incomprehensible, she could understand after seeing it once.
As long as she did not encounter something like Hidan, which involved local systems such as Jashin or natural energy, she was the unquestioned authority on chakra and ninjutsu.
Of course, she had not forgotten that she stood on the shoulders of the Second Hokage, Orochimaru, and others. Though she may already have surpassed Tobirama in some areas, she still held the creator of so many forbidden techniques in the highest respect.
"The theory behind the Flying Thunder God is not difficult. The real problem is how to construct a Flying Thunder God formula that belongs to yourself."
One shadow clone pressed a hand against the floor, the corners of her soft lips turned cold.
"Once chakra leaves the body, it becomes very difficult to sense. So the Flying Thunder God formula must also serve to link that chakra back to the original body.
"The scroll in the Book of Seals says that everyone's chakra has a different frequency, so their method of connection differs as well. You have to find the formula that links your chakra to your original body, and then build your personal Flying Thunder God formula based on that.
"Using the chakra chain between the main body and shadow clones, I have already found the connection method. What I am still stuck on is how to fix that connection into place through a sealing formula."
"That's not the only problem."
Another clone sat cross-legged, hands together.
"If you want to use chakra to determine spatial location, you must form a spatial structure in your brain. Only then can you control the exact destination of your reverse summoning.
"The structure cannot be vague. If it is vague, then the Flying Thunder God will turn into random teleportation. It would be unusable in combat, and it would be lethally dangerous."
"Manually constructing it is too troublesome. I think we can..." Yet another clone joined the discussion and offered her own ideas.
At this point, Yang Release Konome, who had started the conversation, could no longer get a word in.
That was normal.
All her shadow clones had the same intelligence and knowledge base. There was no such thing as Yang Release Konome being smarter than the others. To maximize the efficiency of learning ninjutsu, they had split the technique into separate sections, with each clone specializing in a different part.
Yang Release Konome only handled the study of principles and the theoretical framework. The clone who spoke first was responsible for the construction of the Flying Thunder God formula. The others each had their own assignments. What looked like a discussion was really just a rapid synchronization of granularity without relying on the main body.
Just as the group was absorbed in their "Flying Thunder God research seminar," countless chains suddenly appeared from the void, pouring massive amounts of information into the minds of every shadow clone.
"If we can't first stabilize the spatial..." The clone studying the Flying Thunder God formula stopped mid-sentence, interrupted by the flood of memories. The others shut their eyes and began sorting through the fragments.
Two seconds later, without the need for any verbal communication, every one of them looked up at the same time and silently left the training ground.
Moments later...
"Konome, what happened..." Inside the hive-like laboratory, the cold air was running at full blast. Chihaya Tōru was still wrapped in his coat, studying his Hashirama cells and Sharingan, when the mass arrival of so many Konome clones made him freeze.
"Open the underground chamber. I need the power of that tree."
With no time to explain, Yang Release Konome led dozens of shadow clones straight to him.
The long-awaited evolution of a bloodline was at hand. It had been ages since the clones had felt this excited.
"Yes!"
Realizing the urgency, Chihaya Tōru set down his work and hurried to pull open the old iron door to the underground chamber. The chakra signatures in the pale red barrier were matched and released, and the mass of shadow clones surged inside.
The chamber below had been completely cleared of clutter.
The luxuriant giant tree was still growing within its glass cylinder. At the bottom, its root system emerged from a wax-like base of flesh, soaking in nutrient solution.
A woman with heavy bags under her eyes was leaning against the glass, fast asleep.
Seeing that, Yang Release Konome raised a brow. She had been spending so much time training and researching ninjutsu underground in Root that she did not even know what time it was anymore. It definitely was not night, though. Chihaya and the others had not gone off duty yet.
"椿姬."
As soon as Tsubaki Hime barely opened her eyes, confusion spilling from her dark pupils, Yang Release Konome waved her hand. The shadow clones behind her, their palms filled with transparent Wind Release chakra, instantly sliced open the massive, sturdy glass cylinder.
A disgusting, sour, rotten smell mixed with the damp heat unique to plants flooded the underground chamber.
"You..." Tsubaki Hime's half-awake mind snapped alert. At last, her face, usually stiff as a puppet's, showed a trace of humanity.
"I'm sorry, Tsubaki Hime. Right now, I really need the power of this tree."
The main body lacked energy for her advancement, and time was short. Yang Release Konome had no way to give Tsubaki Hime time to mentally prepare, nor could she possibly abandon devouring the Thousand Hands Tree because of the woman's wishes.
That was right.
The order she had given the clones was to devour the Thousand Hands Tree.
This giant tree was, first of all, the transformed body of Senju Hashirama. It had also fused the life force of the entire Senju clan, among them at least several hundred powerful ninja who possessed Sage Bodies. On top of that, Danzo had fed it for decades with countless experimental bodies and nutrient materials.
The amount of chakra and life energy contained within it was incalculable. She suspected that even Kurama himself might not compare.
Over the years she had already absorbed quite a bit of the Thousand Hands Tree's power. Otherwise, the mere life force from the Forest of Death would never have been enough to push her Sage Body to the third stage.
Now that she lacked chakra again, the first thing she thought of was naturally this tree overflowing with power.
"I..."
Tsubaki Hime wanted to say something more, but she could already see the iron resolve in Konome's face. After years of living with her, she knew the girl's temperament too well. There was no changing her mind.
Turning to look at the flourishing giant tree behind her, its flesh-covered pale base quivering slightly, Tsubaki Hime's eyes filled with deep reluctance.
Splash...
The yellow nutrient solution, thick with sour rot, streamed across the floor with a fizzing hiss.
The many shadow clones stood against the walls like human banners, both palms already aimed at the Thousand Hands Tree in the center of the chamber.
"Goodbye... everyone..."
Tsubaki Hime spoke softly, tears already filling her eyes.
Yang Release Konome reached out as if to pat her shoulder, then suddenly remembered Dazuna's miserable fate and forcibly stopped herself. She took a step forward, blocking Tsubaki Hime's view with her own body, and raised both hands toward the Thousand Hands Tree.
"Begin."
Countless thick tree trunks burst from the earth and surged toward the Thousand Hands Tree like a tidal wave, wrapping around it until it was completely enclosed, like a giant green clove of garlic.
"W... Wood Release!"
Tsubaki Hime rubbed at her tearful eyes and stared at the figure manipulating the trees in front of her, as though she were seeing once more the invincible silhouette that had swept across the Four Nations.
Back in the lightning pool chamber.
Konome Taketori lay in the plasma, her whole body flushed red to the point of purple, though she was leaner than before. Yet her eyes were brighter than ever, like two great gray lamps.
Inside her body...
All seven gates had opened completely. Viscous life force flowed from within them, while her heart frantically converted life into chakra to replenish her emptied flesh.
The screening process of the Ash Bones had already reached its initial conclusion. Every cell in her body had been replaced dozens of times over. These new cells, born from death itself, were terrifyingly strong.
Perhaps it was a special ability awakened by the third stage of the Sage Body. Perhaps it was the result of resonance between the Dead Bone Pulse and the Sage Body evolving at the same time. Or perhaps her incomplete dōjutsu was involved as well.
In any case, her cells were gradually leaving behind purely biological properties and beginning to display traits of inorganic matter.
Neither living nor dead, neither human nor immortal, neither stone nor jade...
Death and life coexisted within her cells, and the boundary between living flesh and cold inorganic substance was no longer clear.
This was immortality.
In a sudden flash of understanding, she grasped the essence of that power.
When Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was sealed into the moon by Hagoromo and Hamura, it was not because the brothers were unwilling to kill her out of family affection. It was because, as the progenitor of the Ōtsutsuki, she possessed a form of absolute immortality.
She could not be killed by any method and would never grow old.
Even when her energy, flesh, and soul were separated, she still continued to exist. After being sealed into the moon for a thousand years, she returned in full strength with Black Zetsu's help.
The nine tailed beasts, who were all chakra split off from Kaguya, likewise could be killed and yet revive with ease. After becoming the Ten-Tails jinchūriki, Madara Uchiha had also displayed this kind of immortality, meeting Eight Gates Guy head-on and recovering even after half his body had been blown away.
People had once joked that maybe Guy should have aimed for the head instead, but if even losing the heart that housed the chakra core was survivable, then the head probably was not fatal either.
She had not yet gained the Six Paths power of all creation, yet her body had already begun to show the same characteristic.
In that instant, Konome suddenly understood the source of Kaguya's immortality.
The deathly markings of the All-Killing Ash Bones coexisted with the life source of the highest level Sage Body.
Neither life nor death.
Only by existing in an intermediate state between the two could one achieve a true immortal body.
Crack!
Inside her eyes came the sound of eggshells breaking.
Konome Taketori's vision went black. She had lost the ability to see.
Her Byakugan was undergoing its most critical transformation. With all seven gates open, the gestation period had reached its final stage. Her ultimate dōjutsu was being brewed within.
The violet chains in the void refused to be outdone and linked to her one after another. Surging chakra and life force wrapped around Konome like ambrosia.
Even though all of her bloodlines were evolving at once, the countless shadow clones could absorb energy at the same time as well. Not only did they fill the missing power, but the life energy was even starting to overflow.
Light glowing with life seeped from her pores and mixed with the plasma into a liquid state. That lightning-laced fluid completely enveloped Konome.
The chains in the void rained down like spring showers. The white plasma below became a foundation, gradually forming into a giant chakra seed.
The life-infused nectar above and the blazing white plasma below resembled mental energy and physical energy, now combining into chakra that carried the power of all creation.
Thump!
Thump!
The sound of her heartbeat gradually became distinct again, no longer blurred together. As time passed, each beat became clearer and slower, like the pounding of a great drum.
Thirty beats a second. Five beats a second. One beat every ten seconds. One beat every hundred seconds.
Time flew.
The dense glow of life gradually thinned until it became clear and transparent. Within it sat a blurred figure cross-legged, silver hair sweeping through the air, just like back when she had been developing Rabbit Hair Needles in that inn in Kirigakure.
Thump!
Another violent beat.
Then the stone chamber fell into a suffocating stillness.
Even the ghostlike rush of air at the door vanished, as though Konome had died in the midst of her evolution.
After a long, long time...
Flash!
It was like a blade splitting the sky. Two dazzling gray lights tore through the cocoon of life, illuminating the dim stone chamber in full. Endless gray radiance flooded the space, and only the figure sitting cross-legged remained apart from the world.
"Dōjutsu: Takamagahara!"
Boom!
The light surged out of the chamber, through the shadowed corridor, the Root base, the assembly hall, the experimental wing...
It burst from the earth itself and spread across all of Konoha.
In the end, even the sky, filled with the vivid colors of evening glow, was dyed into a miraculous shade of gray.
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