Chapter 75

Naruto knew the dangers of what they were about to do. Harnessing the life force of a planet was no small feat. It could tear apart the delicate fabric of existence, disturbing ecosystems and potentially bringing harm to countless lives. That's why he had made the decision to move far from his home before embarking on this venture, seeking a place where his actions wouldn't put Earth or its inhabitants in peril.

He stood alone in the silent void of space, eyes focused inward as his senses expanded outward. A clone remained behind in his house, guarding Ai and monitoring his surroundings for any potential trouble. He had learned long ago not to underestimate the importance of caution. With his senses dialed to their maximum, he would be aware of anything before it had a chance to develop into a problem.

Yet, even with all the precautions, a deep unease gnawed at him. His body had changed, evolving beyond its original limits. He could feel it—this primal hunger, the desire to consume the life force of everything around him. His chakra had always been immense, but now it was something else entirely, a wellspring of power that absorbed the energy of the world itself.

The temptation was there, so strong it almost overwhelmed him. The planet before him, a lifeless rock in the vastness of space, felt… delicious. The very ground beneath him seemed to call out to him, its energy like a feast. It wasn't just the planet. It was the universe itself. He could sense the life force of countless planets, each one a tantalizing offering, waiting to be consumed.

For a fleeting moment, Naruto felt his resolve falter. The Earth itself, a vibrant, living world that he had sworn to protect, now appeared like an irresistibly savory meal. He had to snap out of it before the temptation consumed him.

Focus, he thought firmly. This is not the path I want to walk down.

He understood, at least intellectually, why the Otsutsuki devoured planets the way they did. Unlike him, they didn't have the patience for sustainable growth or the desire to preserve life. They craved the raw energy of living beings, their chakra, knowledge, and skills all wrapped up in a single harvest. It was what made them so powerful, and yet, it was also what made them so dangerous.

Naruto wasn't like them. He knew better than to fall into that kind of thinking. Even if the temptation was overwhelming, he would fight it. He refused to become someone who consumed life for the sake of power. That wasn't who he was. Not now, not ever.

However, there was no denying the power that came with absorbing life force. Even the Otsutsuki had learned to harvest planets with life to gain access to all the knowledge and energy it provided. But since Naruto and Kurama would never partake in such destructive practices, they were forced to rely on planets without life. Even then, the power was immense, but it came at a price: no knowledge, no skills, no inherent benefits other than raw energy.

The planets they consumed without life were bland, tasteless, and ultimately, less rewarding. But it would have to do—for now.

Kurama, too, felt the call of the energy, the hunger that had now been awakened in both of them. The massive tailed beast emerged in his golden energy form, stretching out into the vast emptiness of space. His enormous paws pressed against the surface of the planet, his focus narrowing as he sought to absorb the energy. There was no going back now.

Kurama had never tried anything like this before, so the process was blind, experimental. But he was no stranger to power. With Naruto's connection to him, manipulating energy had become second nature, though this was on a far larger scale than anything he had ever done before. This time, he wouldn't keep the energy separate. This time, it would be integrated with his own chakra, feeding him directly.

As Kurama began the process, instinct kicked in. His massive form, now the size of the largest mountain, began to absorb the planet's energy. Unlike before, the energy didn't stay separate—it merged seamlessly with his own, filling his vast form. The energy wasn't just a boost; it was transformation. As the energy flowed through him, he grew, his size and power expanding as the planet's essence became part of him.

But despite the overwhelming surge of strength, it wasn't enough to make him stronger in the traditional sense. Kurama's reserves grew immensely along with his physical size which made him big as a moon, but his raw power remained relatively unchanged. This process, it seemed, was more about expanding his chakra pool rather than enhancing his immediate combat capabilities. His body would need time to process and integrate the energy, digesting it like a feast that had to be savored and broken down.

Naruto floated silently in the void of space, watching as Kurama began the process of absorbing the energy from the lifeless planet. He had his clone back at home keeping an eye on things, and he was, for the most part, content with that. But as he continued to meditate, the silence of space began to press in on him, and his mind wandered.

Kurama, in the meantime, was fully engrossed in his task, his golden energy form expanding rapidly as he absorbed the planet's life force. His voice boomed in Naruto's mind, a bit of a smirk in his tone.

"So, this is what it feels like, huh? Like a feast that never ends," Kurama commented, his massive form shifting as the energy flowed into him. "I could get used to this. A few more planets like this, and I might just become a god."

Naruto chuckled softly, his eyes still closed in deep meditation. "You sure you want to go down that road? You and I both know what happens when someone gets too greedy. Even I have limits."

Kurama's booming laugh echoed in Naruto's mind. "Limits? I'm a goddamn tailed beast, kid. Greed is a part of me. But don't worry, I'm not about to start gobbling up entire solar systems... not yet, at least."

Naruto's smile faded slightly as he considered Kurama's words. The temptation of limitless power had always been there, lurking just beneath the surface. But he had fought hard to stay true to his ideals, and he wouldn't let the allure of power change him now.

"Well, just remember, Kurama," Naruto said with a more serious tone. "We can't let ourselves fall into the same trap the Otsutsuki did. It's tempting, I know, but consuming life force like this... it's a slippery slope. We might be stronger, but we also need to stay connected to our humanity."

Kurama paused for a moment, then responded in a quieter, more contemplative tone. "I hear you, kid. I do. But sometimes... sometimes I wonder if there's a better way to protect those we care about. You can't protect the world by sitting on the sidelines, can you?"

Naruto nodded, his eyes still closed. "You're right. But power without purpose is just chaos. We need to use it wisely, not for selfish gain."

There was a brief pause, and then Kurama added, "Well, you've got a point there. If we get too focused on power, we might end up as bad as the people we're trying to fight. But I've got to say, I like the idea of having more power. Can't say I'm too upset about my 'growth spurt' here."

Naruto smirked. "Yeah, I can tell. You're looking a bit... larger than usual."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Kurama retorted, clearly pleased with himself. "I'm just making sure I'm ready for whatever comes next. But hey, don't think I've forgotten about you. I know you're out there, meditating and keeping an eye on things. It's just... it's kinda quiet out here, isn't it?"

Naruto's lips twitched into a grin. "Well, space doesn't exactly have a lot of distractions. I've got to admit, it's a nice change of pace from all the chaos back home. But don't get too used to it. We've got work to do."

Kurama grunted. "Work, huh? You really are a workaholic, aren't you? How do you not get bored just sitting there?"

Naruto laughed. "Maybe it's because I've got a lot on my mind. You know, like figuring out how to not end up in a situation where we've absorbed too much and exploded. That sounds like a bad time."

"Exploding doesn't sound fun, I'll give you that," Kurama agreed, his voice lightening again. "But we're both smart enough to avoid that. Right?"

Naruto smirked. "Yeah, yeah. You're right. We'll make sure to pace ourselves. I just don't want to end up as some giant, energy-hungry monster, okay?"

Kurama's voice rumbled, clearly amused. "Kid, I'm already a giant, energy-hungry monster. But you've got a point. Let's take it slow. Besides, I'm in no rush to turn the universe into my personal buffet."

Naruto smiled, his tension easing a bit as he continued to meditate. Despite the serious nature of their task, there was still room for lightheartedness between them.

"Well, at least you're not trying to eat the stars," Naruto teased, relaxing into his meditation posture.

"Not yet," Kurama quipped, "But if I get hungry enough, who knows? I hear the stars are a bit... spicy."

Naruto laughed out loud at that. "Spicy? Yeah, sure. Just make sure you don't bite off more than you can chew, alright?"

"Don't worry," Kurama responded with mock seriousness, "I'm an expert at pacing myself. This isn't my first cosmic feast."

The two shared a brief moment of light banter, their bond of friendship and mutual respect evident in their conversation. Even in the midst of a task that required immense power and focus, Naruto and Kurama knew how to balance their responsibilities with the warmth of camaraderie.

As the silence of space enveloped them once more, Naruto closed his eyes again, letting the serenity of the universe fill him. Kurama, now focused on the task at hand, continued his work of digesting the planet's energy, knowing that both of them were taking the necessary steps to ensure they would be ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

The planet, drained of all its energy, collapsed into dust, its life force consumed entirely. It was no longer a threat, no longer a presence in the universe. Kurama had taken all that it had to offer, but even that wasn't enough. His thoughts, distant as they were in the vastness of space, turned toward the stars. Could he consume them as well? What would happen if he turned his attention to the power contained within distant suns?

But Kurama held back. He wasn't foolish enough to risk it. He knew that doing something so reckless would endanger both him and Naruto. They weren't ready for that kind of power—at least, not yet.

Returning from his wild thoughts, Kurama focused his attention on digesting the energy he had already consumed. It would take time, but once the process was complete, his strength would double. More importantly, it would help close the gap between him and Naruto's chakra reserves, which were already close to large planetary levels.

For now, they had taken their first steps down a dangerous, yet necessary path.