Chapter 73

Just as Orochimaru had promised, the experimentation had brought about a qualitative transformation.

The infamous scientist had spent years gathering data, piecing together the genetic puzzle that made the Otsutsuki Clan so incomprehensibly powerful. With samples from Kaguya, Juubidara, and even Toneri at his disposal, he had the rare opportunity to analyze their essence, to understand what made an Otsutsuki.

But Orochimaru was not satisfied with mere replication. He had no desire to simply recreate the Otsutsuki bloodline—no, he sought to surpass it. If he had wanted, he could have directly transformed Naruto into an Otsutsuki by rewriting his genetic code, but that would have only made him an inferior version, forever bound to the limitations of what had already been achieved. Instead, he worked meticulously, dissecting the fundamental components of their bloodline and reconstructing them with deliberate precision. He was not building a copy—he was forging a superior evolution.

However, no ordinary mortal could endure such an inhumane procedure. Only Naruto, with his absurdly durable body and unbreakable will, was capable of surviving it. Even then, it took an entire day to complete, despite every researcher involved moving at speeds so fast they defied human perception. The process demanded nothing short of absolute perfection. A single mistake—one minuscule miscalculation—could lead to catastrophic failure.

Naruto remained conscious through it all. He had to. His body was a battlefield, waging war against the invasive changes, and he had to actively suppress his instincts from rejecting them. Every moment was agony. His nerves screamed in protest as his very DNA was unmade and restructured, yet he gritted his teeth, refusing to show weakness.

The Otsutsuki bloodline, as it existed in humanity, was divided into four core components:

The Kaguya bloodline, granting control over bones, derived from Kaguya's lineage.The Uchiha bloodline, with their potent chakra and unparalleled ocular prowess.The Hyuga bloodline, their Byakugan bestowing absolute chakra control and insight.The Senju bloodline, with their vast life force and affinity for Wood Release.

These were merely fragments of the power that made the Otsutsuki Clan immortallike. But it wasn't enough. To truly surpass them, Orochimaru needed to incorporate more—he needed to redefine what power meant.

The final missing component was Six Paths Energy, the divine force inherent to all true Otsutsuki. This was extracted from Toneri, but even with it in his grasp, Orochimaru faced an obstacle. He had no knowledge of how to transplant an external chakra affinity into another individual's genetics. Simply adding it would be pointless—it needed to be woven into Naruto's very being.

And so, he took a different approach.

He sought out the most potent elemental bloodlines in existence. If the Otsutsuki were beings who wielded chakra like immortals, then he would give Naruto access to all forms of chakra, making him something beyond even them.

From the Yuki Clan, he took their Ice Release.From Mei Terumi, he obtained Lava Release.From Gaara, he acquired Earth and Magnet Release.From the Raikage, he extracted Lightning Release.From Hinata, he took her Fire Affinity—a rare mutation within the Hyuga bloodline.From Haku's lineage, he acquired Water Release.From Temari, he harvested the essence of Wind Release.

But even that wasn't enough.

To grant Naruto greater sensory capabilities, he incorporated the Inuzuka Clan's heightened instincts and tracking ability.

From the Chinoike Clan, he took the Ketsuryugan, a Dojutsu capable of manipulating blood itself.

Finally, as the ultimate foundation, he used the genetics of the most terrifying force of nature in existence—immortalzilla, the King of Monsters.

This beast, unlike any other creature, possessed the ability to absorb radiation and convert it into raw power. It could bulldoze through mountains without even utilizing chakra. If its genetic structure could be fused with Naruto's, the result would be a body so incomprehensibly strong that it would redefine the very concept of power.

One by one, each of these bloodlines was introduced into Naruto's system. Orochimaru was methodical, ensuring that each trait seamlessly integrated into the whole. But even that wasn't enough—if left as separate bloodlines, the system would be chaotic, unstable. It would collapse under its own weight.

No, he had to make them one.

The integration process was excruciating beyond words. Naruto's body rejected some elements, forcing Orochimaru to rework the process. Mistakes were made, and every time an error occurred, Naruto had to step in, using his Reality Manipulation to undo the damage. But every use of this power drained him further, pushing him closer to the brink of death.

Yet, he endured. He had no choice.

The pain was unlike anything he had ever experienced. Every cell in his body was being rewritten, his entire existence reshaped into something new, something beyond. The torment was enough to break any man, but Naruto had survived Hades. He had endured torture at the hands of a immortal. Compared to that, this was nothing.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the process came to an end.

Orochimaru stepped back, his normally cold expression betraying a flicker of satisfaction. He had done it. He had created something beyond the Otsutsuki.

"You can stand up now," the scientist said, his voice carrying an edge of anticipation. "We are finished."

Naruto slowly opened his eyes.

A golden glow flickered within them, something deeper than the Rinnegan, something ancient—something that had never existed before.

As he rose to his feet, the very air around him trembled, the space warping as if reality itself was struggling to comprehend his existence. His body felt alien, yet right.

"You can stand up now. We are finished," Orochimaru announced, stepping back as the final traces of the procedure settled.

Naruto's hyper-focused mind processed the words, but his body instinctively remained still for a moment. His enhanced awareness was analyzing every change, every new sensation coursing through his being. Slowly, he sat up, his movements precise and controlled. He could already feel it—something had changed. Something massive.

It had been an agonizing operation, one that had pushed even the most brilliant medical minds to their limits. Tsunade, Sakura, and Shizune had worked tirelessly alongside Orochimaru and Kabuto, balancing on a razor-thin edge between life and death. The procedure had been so delicate that stopping Naruto's chakra production, even for a moment, would have resulted in fatal consequences. Every second, his chakra had surged like an untamed storm, threatening to disrupt the meticulous work being done on a microscopic level.

To counter this, Naruto had ensured that a shadow clone remained on standby, monitoring his vitals and assisting whenever complications arose. It was a safeguard that had saved them multiple times when his body reacted unpredictably to the modifications.

Sakura, her enhanced medical jutsu still active, peered deep beneath his skin, her gaze scrutinizing the very fibers of his existence. "What do you feel? Does it hurt anywhere?" she asked, her voice laced with professional concern.

Naruto flexed his fingers, then clenched his fists. The sensation was unlike anything he had experienced before. It was as if every cell in his body had been reforged, stripped down and reconstructed into something completely new. His muscles, his skeletal structure, even his molecular composition—everything had evolved. He felt… beyond human.

"I feel incredible," he finally responded, his voice carrying an undercurrent of power that made the air tremble around him.

His transformation shouldn't have been this drastic—not with the bloodlines they had acquired. On paper, the additions had been fragments, weaker in comparison to his own monstrous lineage. But the process had unveiled a terrifying truth: the potential of these abilities had been shackled by their previous hosts. In Naruto's body, fueled by his boundless chakra, they had awakened to their true might.

Furthermore, Orochimaru had successfully integrated the immortal blood into his being, merging it at a fundamental level rather than forcing an external graft. The results had exceeded even Naruto's expectations. His power had not just increased—it had doubled. His chakra affinities, already formidable, had ascended to unparalleled levels, further enhanced by his natural Sage Chakra.

He was no longer simply wielding Six Paths power as a mode—it had become his base state.

Yet, this was merely the beginning.

Though Naruto now stood as a full-fledged Otsutsuki—at least, an experimental one—he understood that he was still in the early stages of their evolutionary path. The Otsutsuki had ranks, layers of power that stretched into the depths of the cosmos. He had only now set foot on that journey, unlocking the true potential of Six Paths Senjutsu.

For the first time, he wouldn't need to activate it. It was his natural state.

However, there was an unexpected side effect.

His once symbiotic fusion with Kurama had now diminished in significance. Previously, their union had been a defining pillar of his strength, but now… he didn't need it. At most, merging with Kurama would provide a minor energy boost and a slight reinforcement of his already overwhelming affinities.

Kurama, however, was unbothered. If anything, he was excited.

The ancient fox had been growing alongside Naruto, adapting just as he had. The divine energies of Hades, the Juubi, and the other Bijuu had become a part of him, causing him to evolve into something far beyond his original form. He had already started planning his own ascension.

If Naruto was going to continue reshaping his genetic foundation, then Kurama would not be left behind.

The Juubi, after all, had the ability to consume—natural energy, life force, even the very souls of the dead. While Kurama lacked that precise trait, he now possessed something else: the ability to absorb energy and make it his own.

A single world was too small for him now.

If he wanted to keep up with Naruto's growth, he needed to expand his horizons. He would leave, venturing to distant solar systems to devour planets devoid of life. Individually, they might not offer much power, but if he consumed enough, he would forge himself into something far greater than he had ever been.

A new path lay ahead for both of them.

"How is your chakra? Is it flowing naturally?" Tsunade asked, stepping forward, her sharp gaze assessing him.

Naruto inhaled deeply, letting his energy circulate through his new form. His chakra… it was no longer just chakra. It had fully transformed into Six Paths Senjutsu Chakra, an ethereal force that weighed upon the world itself. His very presence felt heavier, more absolute, like a celestial being descending upon mortal ground.

"It's perfect," he confirmed, his voice carrying the certainty of a man who knew his power. "You guys have really outdone yourselves with this. I didn't expect such a drastic change, but my power has at least doubled from what it was before."

Then, his expression shifted—his sharp blue eyes locking onto Tsunade with intrigue.

"With this… we should soon be able to create other powerful warriors, shouldn't we?"

The question hung in the air, heavy with implication.