Chapter 13: Chapter 13
Naruto stood silently, his arms crossed as Tsunade regarded him with suspicion. She had been hesitant about Orochimaru's request to use Naruto's blood as a sample for research, but Naruto's nonchalant demeanor surprised her.
"You can give him my blood," Naruto said casually. "There's nothing special about it beyond what it was before. My powers don't come from my blood." He glanced at Tsunade and the others, noticing their skeptical expressions. It was clear they misunderstood something fundamental. His Sage of Six Paths power wasn't tied to his physical body—it transcended such limitations.
Tsunade frowned. "How can you be so sure? Have you even checked if there's a difference or not? Your body went through significant changes when you housed the Kyuubi, and now you've gained these new powers. Your body must have adapted to accommodate them. It's obvious if we look at what happened to Obito and Madara."
Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. "Really? I didn't know that. How about giving me a checkup?" Science and anatomy weren't exactly his areas of expertise, and he had never stopped to think about how his powers might have altered him on a deeper level.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow but nodded. "I was planning to do it later, but now works too. Follow me." She gestured for him to accompany her to a side room within the Hokage's office, a space she used for emergency medical procedures and practice.
Naruto followed without hesitation, stripping off his jacket and shirt before lying down on the examination table under a bright overhead light. Tsunade's critical gaze swept over him, and her hands glowed with chakra as she prepared for a thorough evaluation.
"Activate your new power," she commanded, focusing her chakra scalpel in her hand. She observed him as his body glowed faintly with a golden aura, the transformation filling the room with a pressure that was almost suffocating.
Tsunade attempted to test his resistance, starting with the chakra scalpel. Normally, it would slice cleanly through skin or bypass it entirely to sever nerves. However, as she applied it to his body, it didn't even leave a mark.
Her frown deepened as she canceled the scalpel and switched to a basic wind blade. Even that failed to scratch his skin. Using her enhanced medical vision, she observed him on a microscopic level as she experimented with other elemental chakra blades, each time increasing the intensity. Nothing worked.
Finally, Tsunade leaned back and sighed. "Just like Obito and Madara, you're immune to most forms of ninjutsu. More accurately, you're immune to normal chakra-based attacks. Based on what I've seen so far, the only things that could harm you are natural phenomena, physical attacks, and Senjutsu. This is just our initial observation, of course. We may discover more as we learn."
Naruto nodded, his mind drifting back to the battles with Obito, Madara, and Kaguya. "That makes sense. I had to use Senjutsu or Six Paths power to fight them. Nothing else seemed to work."
Tsunade's hands rested on her hips as she gave him an expectant look. "Walk me through the changes you've experienced since gaining these powers. Explain everything in detail."
Naruto hesitated. He had never spoken about the full extent of his transformation before. But as Tsunade waited patiently, he took a deep breath and began.
"Getting the power was definitely a day I won't forget. I met the Sage of Six Paths, and he awakened this power within me. He said it was because I was the reincarnation of his son, combined with the chakra of all the tailed beasts. The power boost was insane—I could feel the world itself becoming a part of me. It was similar to Sage Mode, but way more intense, like it was multiplied by ten or even a hundred."
He paused, searching for the right words. "The Senjutsu chakra I'd used before made normal chakra look weak, but this new chakra? It made even Senjutsu feel mediocre. Unlike Sage Mode, I can absorb natural energy effortlessly, without any risk of turning to stone. And the range—it's massive. It feels like I've become one with the entire world."
Naruto's expression grew more serious. "And I don't just mean this planet. I can sense other worlds—ones beyond our reality. I can feel the world of the dead, the world of darkness, and places I can't even describe. I can't move to those worlds yet, but I know they're there."
Tsunade's eyes widened, but she stayed silent, letting him continue.
"I can also see a few seconds into the future, and that ability has gotten sharper. And my control over chakra… it's like a dream. I can shape it, manipulate it, make it do whatever I want without effort. For example, I copied your chakra scalpel just now—without ever seeing how it's done."
He glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers. "With the eyes, the new chakra was further enhanced and with the addition of the other part of Kurama. I also seemed to have absorbed a part of the Juubi's remnant chakra. All of those mixed together and changed my chakra even more."
Naruto looked up, his gaze unwavering. "In this form, I feel like I could do anything. I don't know if there's a limit to how much power I can absorb. And honestly, it scares me. If I tried to push those limits, I don't know what would happen. Maybe I'd explode. Maybe I'd keep getting stronger forever. I don't know."
Hearing Naruto's detailed explanation of his abilities, Tsunade couldn't help but let her mind wander to the sheer magnitude of the power he held. It was almost incomprehensible. The young man in front of her could, without a doubt, become the ruler of the world if he so desired. His strength was beyond anything she had ever witnessed—almost godlike in scope. Yet, despite his casual demeanor, Naruto seemed aware of the potential danger his power represented.
Suppressing her thoughts on Naruto's mention of other realms, Tsunade focused on the task at hand. His ability to sense other dimensions, while fascinating, was a rabbit hole she didn't have the time to explore. Right now, understanding the changes in his body was her priority.
"Describe the changes in your body," she said, her tone sharp and focused. "Do you think this energy is affecting you in ways you haven't realized? Is your body adapting to these enhancements?"
Tsunade understood the physiology of shinobi deeply. Under normal circumstances, chakra enhancement caused the body to adapt over time, making it stronger even when the enhancement wasn't active. This was the key to a shinobi's growth: their base form improved over time, allowing for even greater boosts when they tapped into their chakra. But Naruto was far from ordinary, and his rapid evolution was far beyond the usual process.
Naruto tilted his head, thinking for a moment, then grinned. "I think I can show you what I see."
With that, he created two shadow clones. One clone activated his Rinne-Sharingan, gazing at Naruto's own body, while the other clone used a technique to project the clone's perspective onto the wall. Tsunade leaned in closer, her sharp eyes scanning the projection with a mixture of awe and fascination.
The image displayed the interior of Naruto's body, and for the first time, Tsunade saw the true nature of his new chakra. It was a swirling mix of purple and gold, radiating an otherworldly intensity. Unlike regular chakra, which behaved more like a vapor flowing through the body, Naruto's chakra was impossibly dense—it looked like solid matter. The difference was staggering, as if comparing a fragile breeze to an impenetrable fortress.
"This isn't normal," Tsunade muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
The chakra didn't simply flow through Naruto's pathways. It saturated every cell, every muscle fiber, every bone. It was as if his entire body had become a living vessel of energy. Even more astonishing, natural energy flowed into him continuously, as though he were a black hole that could never be filled. There were no barriers, no signs of resistance. His body accepted the energy effortlessly.
As Tsunade studied further, she noticed his muscular structure, skeletal system, and even his cellular makeup were undergoing dramatic transformations. The tissues appeared to be breaking down under the immense pressure of his chakra's density, but they were also regenerating just as quickly, adapting to survive the strain. His body was in a constant state of destruction and rebirth, an endless cycle of evolution.
"You haven't noticed this?" Tsunade asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
Naruto shrugged. "Didn't feel any pain, so I didn't think much of it."
Tsunade frowned. This wasn't something that could be ignored. "It's not just your power that's changing, Naruto. Your entire body is adapting to it. I suspect the addition of the Rinnegan tipped the scales and triggered a whole new level of transformation. Your body isn't just enhancing itself—it's rewriting its very nature to handle the new power."
She then asked, "Can you turn it off?"
Naruto deactivated his Sage of Six Paths power, the golden glow around him fading. Tsunade immediately observed that while the visible transformation was gone, his body continued its adaptation process. The changes weren't limited to his active form. The unused power was leaking into his body, merging with his very existence.
Deciding to confirm her findings, Tsunade took a blood sample and compared it with a sample she had taken just a week earlier. Her eyes widened as the results came in. The two samples didn't match—Naruto's blood had fundamentally changed in a matter of days.
'Is he becoming like the Sage of Six Paths?' Tsunade wondered. She clenched her fists as she studied the data. The similarities between Naruto's current state and the legendary figure of shinobi lore were undeniable. Still, the information she had was far from conclusive.
Her thoughts churned as she reviewed the situation. Naruto's powers were growing at an unprecedented rate, and his body was struggling to keep up with the transformation. If this process continued, where would it lead? Would he eventually surpass even the Sage of Six Paths? Or was he walking a dangerous path toward losing his humanity altogether?
For now, she had no answers—only questions and a growing unease about the young man's limitless potential.
As Naruto sat up and pulled on his clothes, he turned to Tsunade with a hopeful expression. "How is it?" he asked, his tone carrying a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Tsunade crossed her arms, her brow furrowing slightly. "Everything looks perfect," she said, her voice steady. "Your body is continuously enhancing itself, adapting to the power you've gained. If left to progress naturally, you'll likely reach an entirely new level of strength within a year or two. If you focus on accelerating the process, it could happen in six months or so."
Naruto nodded thoughtfully, but he didn't seem particularly rushed. "I'm not in a hurry," he admitted. Then, his tone shifted, more resolute. "But I do want access to the jutsu scroll with all of Konoha's jutsu. My limited arsenal has caused me too much trouble in the past."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow as she listened. Naruto continued, his voice laced with regret. "If I had learned more jutsu earlier, maybe I could've saved Sasuke and a lot of others. I was so focused on mastering the big, powerful techniques that I neglected the basics. That's a mistake I don't want to repeat."
Tsunade nodded slowly, understanding his reasoning. "I'll arrange for it," she said. Then, with a slight smirk, she added, "I'll also teach you my secret art."
Naruto's face brightened with determination. "I was planning to learn it anyway," he said with a grin. "I'm also thinking about asking the other Kages for their jutsu. If I can get a full lineup, it'll make a big difference."
Tsunade's expression turned skeptical. "Naruto, I don't think they'll agree to that. You're asking for their state secrets. It's not something they'll just hand over."
Naruto shook his head, disagreeing. "They should consider the situation we're in," he argued. "If things weren't as they are, I wouldn't even think about it. But we fought side by side on the same battlefield. We survived together, and we made promises to build a better world. This is about strengthening that unity."
Tsunade sighed, recognizing his idealism but still unconvinced. "I'll communicate with them," she offered, though her tone carried doubt.
"No," Naruto said firmly, shaking his head again. "I'll go meet them myself. I want to see the other villages. And besides, I've been meaning to catch up with Killer Bee."
Tsunade gave a resigned nod. "Fine. But don't get your hopes up too much. You know how stubborn they can be when it comes to their secrets."
"I know," Naruto replied, his gaze shifting toward the window. The setting sun bathed the room in warm light as he added, "But we have to start thinking as one. It's time we stop letting walls divide us."
The weight of his words hung in the air before he turned back to Tsunade. "I should get going now," he said. "When should we meet again?"
"I'll send someone to inform you," Tsunade replied. "Unless, of course, you plan to leave the village immediately."
Naruto shook his head. "Not yet. I'm going to check up on Sakura and Hinata first."
Tsunade smirked at his words, her tone turning playful. "Two at the same time, huh? Way to go, hero."
Naruto rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile as he turned to leave the room. He walked out, heading in Sakura's direction to see how she was doing. The day might have been winding down, but for Naruto, there was always more to do.