"Chakra originates from the wooden stake. Or rather, it is the core component of chakra."
Kagetsu stated his conclusion bluntly.
"Are you saying that a tree is the source of chakra?" Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. He didn't immediately refute Kagetsu's conclusion but pointed out, "That contradicts the legend of how chakra originated in the shinobi world."
"The ancestor of all shinobi, the first source of chakra, the Sage of Six Paths? Compared to that legend, this conclusion is indeed hard to believe." Kagetsu understood what Orochimaru was implying.
"It was the Sage of Six Paths who defeated the demon and established Ninshū, spreading chakra, right?" Tsunade interjected.
"We can discuss such speculations later, or perhaps ask the White Snake Sage when we visit Ryūchi Cave in the future. For now, I want to see Kagetsu's research records and data on the wooden stake."
Orochimaru had no interest in debating the origins of chakra with Tsunade. Whether it came from the Sage of Six Paths or some ancient demon a thousand years ago, it wasn't a priority at the moment.
Right now, he was eager to know what Kagetsu had discovered about the wooden stake—specific, detailed information that could help answer his questions.
"Of course, but only those with the Rinnegan can perceive more." As Kagetsu led Orochimaru and Tsunade back to the lab, he continued explaining.
"The Rinnegan has a deep and intricate connection with the wooden stake. In a way, these eyes hold a certain degree of control over it.
Similarly, the Rinnegan grants an unparalleled authority over chakra. If someone were to fully harness its power, then under the influence of its ocular abilities, all ninjutsu would become meaningless."
"Meaningless?"
"Like a more advanced form of Dark Release," Kagetsu compared.
"Dark Release?"
Orochimaru and Tsunade both pondered the term.
Ninjutsu that didn't fall under the seven chakra nature transformations—Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Lightning, Yin, and Yang—was usually a Kekkei Genkai. Techniques like Ice Release, Storm Release, Transparency Release, Scorch Release, and Wood Release were all examples.
Dark Release was a unique ability that could absorb ninjutsu and either reflect it back or devour the opponent's jutsu, breaking it down into chakra to replenish itself.
It sounded powerful, but it had its limits. It was a relatively rare Kekkei Genkai.
"Speaking of which, that wooden stake also had the power to absorb chakra. It felt like it was feeding on chakra," Tsunade recalled how her chakra had been drained when she touched the wooden stake in the Shikkotsu Forest, linking the two together.
"It might also have something to do with the Tailed Beasts," Kagetsu said, dropping a bombshell.
"Tailed Beasts?"
Orochimaru and Tsunade, both surprised, turned their eyes to Kagetsu, waiting for his explanation.
The history of the Tailed Beasts spanned the entire history of the ninja world. From ancient times, when they were seen as natural disasters and demonic creatures, to their modern classification as chakra entities, the Tailed Beasts had always been shrouded in mystery.
At least, that was the case a few decades ago.
Before the establishment of ninja villages, when shinobi still operated in clans and mercenary groups, no one cared to understand the Tailed Beasts.
To most shinobi, the Tailed Beasts were nothing but monsters of destruction—sources of calamity wielding immense power.
Killing a Tailed Beast never truly solved the problem. Because over time, a slain Tailed Beast would always be reborn somewhere in the ninja world.
And now, there was a connection between the Tailed Beasts and that wooden stake?
"Two-Tails told me," Kagetsu said as he led Orochimaru and Tsunade to the wooden stake. While flipping through his experiment records and spreading them out before Orochimaru, he added, "The moment it saw this stake, it bristled like an enraged cat."
"Wait! The Two-Tails?"
Tsunade's eyes widened as she looked at the calm-faced Kagetsu and Orochimaru. Her throat felt a little dry.
"If I remember correctly, the Two-Tails is the Tailed Beast of Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning, right? Don't tell me you two stole it!"
"Don't be so tense. The Two-Tails is still staying in Kumogakure just fine."
Orochimaru patted Tsunade's shoulder. Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, he added another blow:
"But considering Kagetsu as the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki... well, that wouldn't be wrong either."
Tsunade felt like her head was about to explode. She knew exactly what Tailed Beasts meant to the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
If nothing else, just losing the Nine-Tails would be enough to throw Konoha into complete chaos.
The brutes in the Land of Lightning wouldn't hold back. Right now, they might be too busy dealing with the loss of their Raikage due to the war, but strictly speaking, Kumogakure's elite forces hadn't suffered a major decline thanks to the Third Raikage's sacrifice.
If they lost the Two-Tails on top of that, once they selected a new Raikage and stabilized internally, they would definitely come knocking—no matter what.
"It's just a split fragment. Less than one-tenth of the Two-Tails' original form."
Kagetsu explained, "Back then, I kept it for research purposes.
Of course, after multiple modifications, it has now evolved into a completely independent entity separate from the Two-Tails—one with its own thoughts and true consciousness.
According to its own words, the original body of this wooden stake is the common mortal enemy of all Tailed Beasts."
"How did you get the Two-Tails to listen to you?"
From Kagetsu's words, Tsunade picked up on a sense of mutual understanding between the two, which surprised her.
In her memory, Tailed Beasts were intelligent, but they were also extremely temperamental and violent, making normal communication with them nearly impossible.
Even her great-grandmother, Uzumaki Mito, the previous Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, had never truly bonded with the Nine-Tails. It was more about using her own strength to forcibly subdue and control its power.
"Honest communication is important," Kagetsu replied.
"As long as you don't demand their power, but instead allow them freedom, enjoyment, and growth in strength under agreed conditions, the relationship naturally won't be too conflicted."
Perhaps less than one-tenth of Matatabi understood that, with its power, whether its fur bristled or not wouldn't affect Kagetsu.
"Is this a ninja tool you forged?" Orochimaru didn't check Kagetsu's experiment records and data first. Instead, he picked up a human-sized, gourd-like wooden fan from the corner.
"That is…?" Tsunade, seeing the fan exposed under the light in Orochimaru's hand, felt it looked familiar.
"Gunbai, a weapon passed down through generations of the Uchiha clan. According to Uchiha clan history, this fan can use Wind Release to control Fire Release and reflect other ninjutsu.
The last known wielder was Uchiha Madara. After the Battle of the Valley of the End, the fan suddenly disappeared.
I recreated it based on the Uchiha's records of the Gunbai and made a few modifications." Kagetsu wasn't entirely satisfied with this replica, his first attempt at forging the legendary weapon.
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