Information.
That was the next step.
Power without understanding was inefficient.
And I refused to be inefficient.
Even with everything I possessed—Indra's talent, countless reincarnations, the Rinnegan, Kurama—
There were still things beyond easy reach.
Techniques that stood at the very peak of existence itself.
One of them—
The Creation of All Things Technique.
I remembered it.
Not fully.
Not perfectly.
But enough.
A single moment.
A distant memory.
My father—
Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki.
The Sage of Six Paths.
I had seen him once… long ago.
Calm.
Absolute.
He raised his hand—
And from nothing—
He created.
Life.
Form.
Existence itself shaped from Yin and Yang.
"…If I can master that…"
The implications were endless.
Creation.
Control.
Absolute authority over form and function.
But more importantly—
A solution.
Black Zetsu.
A being created from pure Yin-Yang Release.
Loyal.
Functional.
Useful.
Information gathering.
Espionage.
Execution.
A perfect tool.
"I can make my own."
The thought settled instantly.
Not as ambition.
But as inevitability.
There was only one problem.
"…This technique is absurd."
Even with my current advantages—
This wasn't something meant for a child.
Or even most shinobi.
This was divine territory.
God-level.
But—
I wasn't normal.
I closed my eyes.
Slowing my breathing.
Focusing inward.
Deep.
Past the surface.
Past the mind.
Straight to the source.
Kurama.
A vast presence stirred.
Ancient.
Immense.
Aware.
You're thinking something dangerous, his voice rumbled.
Not warning.
Not disapproval.
Just observation.
"I need more than just power," I replied internally.
"I need information. Precision. Control."
A pause.
Then—
"I'm going to attempt Creation of All Things."
Silence.
For a brief moment.
Then—
A low, amused chuckle.
You really don't do things halfway, do you?
"No."
Another pause.
Then—
His chakra surged.
Not violently.
Not uncontrollably.
But willingly.
Fine, Kurama said.
If you're going to do this… I'll help.
Warmth flooded through me.
Red.
Gold.
Immense.
Kurama's chakra wrapped around my own, stabilizing it, amplifying it.
Yin.
Yang.
Perfect balance.
"…Good."
My eyes opened.
And instantly—
They changed.
The Rinnegan.
Even in this incomplete body—
Even with my limitations—
It activated.
Naturally.
Effortlessly.
Power surged.
Far beyond what I should've been capable of.
But still—
Not enough.
Not for this.
I raised my hand.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Every movement deliberate.
Every thought precise.
"Yin-Yang Release…"
The chakra gathered.
Dense.
Unstable.
Reality itself seemed to distort slightly around it.
This wasn't ninjutsu.
Not really.
This was something else.
Something deeper.
Creation.
I focused.
Not on power—
But on form.
On concept.
On existence.
A shape.
Small.
Simple.
Humanoid.
A purpose.
Absolute loyalty.
Information gathering.
Stealth.
A will.
Mine.
"Exist."
The chakra surged violently.
For a moment—
Everything went white.
Then—
Darkness condensed.
Twisted.
Compressed.
And in front of me—
Something formed.
A small, black figure.
Featureless.
Yet defined.
Its form wavered slightly, like liquid shadow trying to stabilize.
It existed.
For a moment—
Silence filled the cave.
Then—
It moved.
Its head tilted slightly.
And slowly—
It looked at me.
Recognition.
Instant.
Absolute.
"…Success."
My voice came out weak.
Barely above a whisper.
The figure stepped forward.
Unsteady at first.
Then smoother.
More stable.
"My… creator…"
Its voice was faint.
Rough.
Like it was learning how to speak.
A small smile formed on my face.
"…You're mine."
And then—
Everything hit at once.
The cost.
The strain.
The sheer, overwhelming drain of chakra.
Even with Kurama's help—
Even with everything I had—
This technique was too much.
Far too much for an eight-year-old body.
My vision blurred.
My legs gave out.
"…Tch."
I collapsed.
The last thing I saw—
Was the small black figure standing over me.
Watching.
Silent.
Waiting.
Then—
Darkness.
Deep within—
Kurama's voice echoed faintly.
You actually did it…
A pause.
Then—
A low, impressed rumble.
You're insane.
And everything faded.