Chapter 241: Speculations on the Sage Body, An Unknown, Terrifying Enemy
The Sage Body was a power unique to the Sage of Six Paths. By transplanting Hashirama cells, a user could, in a way, steal a portion of this power, which was why the Sage Body was also known as the "Six Paths Sage Body."
But obtaining this power was no easy feat. The countless failed test subjects in the original story were a testament to this. And even for those who survived the transplant, the effects of the Sage Body varied greatly from person to person.
Yamato was a prime example. While he couldn't wield the same level of power as the First Hokage, the Hashirama cells in his body did not reject him. He was a perfect fusion.
Others, like Danzo and Obito, could borrow the power of the Sage Body to a certain extent, but if the chakra they used to suppress the cells was depleted, the cells would run rampant.
Kyosuke's current situation was similar to theirs. He was relying on his own chakra to suppress the cells and maintain the legendary Sage Body. But he had an advantage they did not: the system. As long as he had enough experience points, he could level up the "Sage Body" skill to its maximum level of 25.
Of course, even if he had the experience, he wouldn't do it. A body with the strength of an elite Jonin could not possibly handle the power of a max-level Six Paths Sage Body. Even Naruto, in the original story, had needed the power of the nine Tailed Beasts and a direct power-up from the Sage of Six Paths himself to reach that level.
Based on his analysis of the original story and his own experimental data, Kyosuke had divided the Sage Body into several stages.
The initial stage, which he was currently in, offered only a small boost to life force and chakra. It didn't even grant the ability to use Wood Release. If the host's physical condition were to falter, the Hashirama cells would immediately turn on them. Danzo was in this stage.
The first stage offered a much higher fusion rate. The increase in life force was still minimal, but the user's chakra would be significantly enhanced, and they would be able to use some low-level Wood Release ninjutsu. Obito was in this stage.
The second stage completely eliminated the risk of cellular rejection. The increase in life force and chakra was not much greater than the first stage, but it unlocked the ability to use powerful Wood Release ninjutsu, and the power of the Wood Release itself was greatly enhanced. Kyosuke's own student, Yamato, was the prime example of this stage.
The third stage was the penultimate stage. A user at this level would experience a terrifying increase in their life force and chakra reserves. Wounds would heal automatically, and they would even be able to passively absorb natural energy from the air, allowing them to enter Sage Mode instantly. Hashirama Senju was at the peak of this stage, and Dark Owl was at its threshold.
The final stage was the true "Six Paths Sage Body." The user's appearance would change drastically, with white hair, white clothes, and nine tomoe appearing on their collar, making them resemble a member of the Otsutsuki clan. They would also manifest the Truth-Seeking Orbs and the Six Paths Sage Staff, and gain the ability to fly. This was a true "Six Paths" level master.
In the original story, aside from the Otsutsuki clan, everyone else who had reached this level had done so through some kind of shortcut. Even if their combat power was comparable, they were still lacking in certain aspects. Naruto and Sasuke were obvious examples. Even Six Paths Madara had only reached this state by becoming the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki. The moment the Ten-Tails was removed from his body, he was reduced to his original form. Otherwise, he would not have been so easily defeated by Black Zetsu's sneak attack.
Kyosuke's goal was to reach the "Six Paths" level through his own power, to obtain the complete range of abilities, and perhaps even reach the theoretical "Kaguya" level beyond it.
But there was one thing he couldn't understand. In the original story, the power gap between Naruto and Sasuke and Kaguya Otsutsuki had been immense. If not for the sealing jutsu, Kaguya could have just stood there and let them attack her, and they still wouldn't have been able to kill her. This proved that there was a level of power beyond the Six Paths.
Kaguya was the final boss, the true form of the Ten-Tails, the creator goddess of the shinobi world, the progenitor of chakra, a wielder of both the Byakugan and the Rinne Sharingan. Even the Sage of Six Paths had said of her, "Kaguya is stronger than anyone. She cannot be killed, only sealed."
And yet, this unbelievably powerful being had been afraid of her mysterious "pursuers."
Kaguya had been sealed twice, and in both instances, she had never shown any fear. She knew that her enemies could not kill her.
This led Kyosuke to a daring hypothesis: what if, on the planet where Kaguya came from, there was something that could kill her? It was the only explanation for her fear.
Lying on the operating table, Kyosuke was so startled by his own thought that he sat up, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
He ignored the assistants' concerned questions, his mind racing. The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. On a distant planet, there was a being, or beings, powerful enough to kill Kaguya Otsutsuki. And it was possible that one day, they would come to the shinobi world.
And when they did, he would be the one to face them.
The thought of facing one or more Kaguya-level beings, each with immense combat experience and an inability to be killed, sent a chill down his spine. Could he, alone, stand against them?
This grim possibility completely overshadowed the joy he had felt at obtaining the Sage Body.
And it was in that moment that the idea of artificially creating his own "Six Paths" level shinobi became more than just a passing thought. It became a necessity.
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