"Crap, the horns are really growing."
The moment Kitagawa Gen felt something sprouting on his head, he instantly realized this was a big problem!
Though he had long been mentally prepared—after all, for the Ōtsutsuki, the stronger one's power and the purer one's bloodline, the more inevitable it was for horns to emerge.
His constant development of his own bloodline had made reaching this step unavoidable. Still, the fact that they had actually appeared gave him a bit of a headache.
As the violent surging chakra gradually calmed, he quickly raised one hand. In an instant, a mirror of water condensed in the air before him.
"So it's true."
Looking at his reflection in the water mirror, Kitagawa Gen fell silent for a moment. He could clearly see a pair of horns sprouting from his head.
Perhaps because they had just grown, they weren't that large yet, and unlike Obito's, they hadn't formed on his forehead.
"Instead, they're more like those of the traditional Ōtsutsuki—set further back.
Seeing those horns left Kitagawa Gen with mixed feelings.
He was genuinely happy—after all, it meant he had taken yet another big step forward.
In this moment, he could feel his control and mastery over chakra reaching a whole new peak!
Not only that, his body had grown significantly stronger, and his perception was climbing rapidly.
Even the "planetary chakra" he had been yearning for was becoming ever clearer.
Most importantly, his bones' ability to absorb chakra had intensified further.
"Maybe it won't be long before I can complete the Killing Ash Bones technique!"
On top of that, he could truly sense the chakra gathering more and more powerfully at the center of his brow.
It was hard to say what might eventually manifest there.
This flood of good news had him elated, yet alongside the excitement, he also felt somewhat troubled.
Of course, he knew that growing horns in the shinobi world wasn't anything strange—after all, even the Gold and Silver Brothers had them.
And what true Ōtsutsuki didn't?
Even Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Obito, after absorbing the Ten-Tails and undergoing their own form of "Ōtsutsuki transformation," had both grown horns!
But still—
"I'm just not used to it."
Reaching up, he felt his horns. The texture wasn't bad, just a bit hard.
He had the distinct impression that, with a little force, he could snap them off just like Uchiha Madara once did.
But after thinking it over, he held back—for he had discovered something interesting.
"Looks like I can exert some basic control over them."
As the thought crossed his mind, a faint ripple of chakra pulsed, and the horns on his head instantly vanished into nothingness!
"So it really works."
Seeing his usual reflection in the water mirror again, Kitagawa Gen finally let out a long breath of relief.
Though his aura had completely changed, that might actually be for the better.
"Still, it kind of feels… like I've slipped into Momoshiki's Jinchūriki Mode."
His expression turned a little strange, and a question crossed his mind.
Could other Ōtsutsuki do the same thing?
But soon he shook his head. Even if they could, there was no way they ever would.
"After all, the Ōtsutsuki are proud. How could they possibly conceal their signature horns?"
As so-called "superior beings," they would never do such a thing.
Kitagawa Gen, however, was different. He had no desire to walk around with a pair of horns on his head every day. But—
"When I take on the form of Ōtsutsuki Genshiki, that pair of horns will be absolutely necessary."
[Name: Kitagawa Gen]
[Bloodline: Ōtsutsuki Clan (Development: 50%)]
[Dōjutsu: Tenseigan (Eye of the New Moon)]
[Special Ability: Source of the Divine Tree (Stage Four)]
[Special Techniques: Ice Release, Magnet Release, Dust Release, Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion, Tenseigan Chakra Mode, Kāma]
The panel had already appeared before his eyes, making the corner of his mouth twitch slightly.
Scanning the information on display, he raised his brows.
"So it really has reached fifty percent. No wonder a pair of horns grew out."
He had long suspected horns were about to sprout, yet they never had.
Only now, with his development reaching this point, had they emerged. That in itself made him curious.
"At fifty percent, I've just managed to gather all the basic traits of the Ōtsutsuki. Then what…"
What would it be like once development reached one hundred percent?
Of course, he had speculated before. The potential of this "blank slate bloodline" was beyond imagination.
But only by walking each step himself had he come to truly grasp just how outrageous it was!
"More importantly, I'm still far from gathering everything I need."
By rough estimate, he was still missing the Four-Tails and Five-Tails from Iwagakure, the Six-Tails from Kirigakure, and the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails from Kumogakure!
On top of that, Indra's and Asura's chakra still weren't in his hands.
And when it came to fusing bloodline limits, he was still short of one: Storm Release.
"But that guy Hiruko once used Storm Release. I've remembered part of it. Maybe, with a bit more effort, I can develop it myself."
Murmuring softly, Kitagawa Gen lifted his gaze to the sky.
"Most important of all, the eye on the moon is still waiting for me. My path really is a long one!"
Long—but for Kitagawa Gen, that wasn't a bad thing.
It all meant more potential!
He was even starting to consider that, once he slowly gathered everything together, perhaps—
"I might really be able to explore that so-called concept of 'transcending dimensions, surpassing life and death.'"
Beyond the changes in his bloodline, his Source of the Divine Tree had also shifted.
Once only at "Stage Three," it had now advanced to "Stage Four." The influx of the One-Tail's chakra had clearly given the Source of the Divine Tree a substantial boost.
But what this upgrade granted Kitagawa Gen… was something that left him half amused, half exasperated.
"Kāma."
The "Kāma" was one of the divine techniques, and its effects were undeniably powerful.
Put another way, it was nothing less than a "compressed backup file of an Ōtsutsuki."
Anyone branded with the "Kāma" would, over a long period of time, undergo changes as the Kāma gradually unfurled and solidified.
When all the data has completely "unfurled," the host's body will be transformed into an Ōtsutsuki, and their entire being will be "overwritten," resurrecting the original Ōtsutsuki.
In other words, this is the Ōtsutsuki clan's guarantee of immortality!
"But it's not without risks…"
Kitagawa Gen suddenly thought of Isshiki, that unfortunate one. Jigen's body had been far too frail, unable to withstand the Ōtsutsuki transformation.
As a result, even though Isshiki was resurrected, he barely had any time left to live.
After being pummeled by Naruto and Kurama's "Baryon Mode," his lifespan was completely consumed, and he truly perished!
"Well, it's still a safeguard of sorts. And aside from this 'Kāma,' there are other unexpected gains."
With the Gedo Statue's integration, not only had the capacity of his "Source of the Divine Tree" expanded, it also allowed him to use even more "Divine: Wood Release."
"All that data on Wood Release will finally come in handy."
This transformation had brought Kitagawa Gen an enormous leap in strength, and the number of abilities under his control continued to grow.
He gently rubbed his eyes; he could feel the rate at which his Tenseigan absorbed chakra increasing again.
Perhaps, once they were filled, another new power would begin to brew within.
"The future really is always on my side."
Just as Kitagawa Gen was marveling at his recent growth—
The massive surge of chakra his transformation had released was spreading outward, spilling across the entire sky!
Deep within the shinobi world, in a nearly deserted place, a monk-like figure suddenly froze.
An expression of disbelief crossed his face, and then his body was wracked with pain.
A moment later, his gaze grew heavy, and the aura surrounding him shifted drastically.
"Whose… chakra is this?"
Meanwhile, in the Land of Rice Fields, as Black Zetsu was investigating Otogakure, his breath suddenly caught.
He looked up toward the sky in disbelief, his body trembling slightly.
"What's wrong, Black one?"
His half-white counterpart noticed the change and spoke with concern. But at that moment, Black Zetsu paid no attention.
His gaze remained fixed on the heavens. Only after a long silence did he grit his teeth and mutter in a low voice: "It's nothing. Just… I sensed something unpleasant. Let's focus on finishing what's in front of us."
With that, Black Zetsu said no more. For now, what mattered most was carrying out the plan he had long prepared.
Sensing that strange chakra in the sky—already beginning to disperse yet still carrying something peculiar—he couldn't help but feel doubt stir in his heart.
'Why has it grown stronger again?'
Unfortunately, no one could give him an answer. All he could do was take a deep breath and set the thought aside.
'Focus on what's in front of us. We will win.'
...
Meanwhile, atop Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya wore a gloomy expression as he looked at the Great Toad Sage before him.
"Great Sage, that's the situation. But could you at least send me back? I'm still a patient here."
In the great battle outside Konohagakure, Jiraiya had truly been the unluckiest.
Because he had gone too deep, he had been caught up in the aftermath. Even with Tsunade's help, after the council ended he still needed to recuperate in the hospital.
Yet before he could even flirt with a single nurse, wrapped head to toe in bandages and with his mind full of Nagato's situation, he found himself transported straight to Mount Myōboku.
"Little Jiraiya, you know the situation is too dangerous. I had no choice but to bring you here."
Gamamaru's tone carried some apology, but to figure things out, he had to do this.
"I get it, I get it. That guy's terrifying after all."
Jiraiya's eyes shifted, and an idea seemed to spark. Nodding, he spoke quickly: "Dealing with him won't be easy. Great Toad Sage, if you could, can you share more intel about him with us?"
"Intel?"
"Yes. And besides that, remember when I told you about Kitagawa Gen? That kid's talent is unbelievable. The village has already decided to cultivate him with everything we've got, so…"
"I see what you're getting at. Too bad he's unwilling to accept a contract. Still, I'll think of something. As for the intel you're asking for…"
The Great Toad Sage gave a helpless smile, but he didn't mind too much. Truthfully, he was growing ever more curious about this Kitagawa Gen.
Yet at the same time, he hesitated—was it really wise to reveal such things to an ordinary person?
But before he could think further, a strange chakra aura suddenly spread across the sky.
That chakra snapped his drooping eyes wide open with clarity. In the next instant, his own chakra burst forth uncontrollably!
"Hm?"
Jiraiya was still waiting for the Great Toad Sage's reply when he felt a surge of vast chakra erupt.
Before he even had time to react, his body was blown backward, crashing heavily into the wall.
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