Chapter 158: Flavor of Chakra
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As Horyu absorbed this knowledge, he couldn't help but marvel at the depth of understanding the ancient shinobi must have had regarding the nature of chakra and the soul. Tobirama Senju's creation of Edo Tensei, Orochimaru's body-switching technique—all these were not merely scientific or magical feats but a deeper manipulation of life's fundamental essence.
"Then, feeding on souls... you're essentially harvesting their chakra, their life force," Horyu concluded, his voice a mix of awe and horror at the implications.
The Specter shook his head with a distaste that seemed almost physical "Chakra isn't a single flavor, Master. What humans harness for jutsu is a blend of physical and spiritual energies, but there's more to it," it began.
As Specter was about to delve deeper, Toru, who had been quietly listening until now, finally spoke up, his tone firm and a tad protective, "That's enough out of you, Specter. We don't need to fill his head with more of that darkness." The Specter looked towards the giant owl, a sinister amusement in its voice as it chuckled, "Kekeke. Just sharing knowledge with our Master here."
Horyu glanced at Toru, his expression serious. "I get it, Toru. About Sage Mode and Nature Chakra, I know about them. You're trying to keep me safe by not dumping everything on me. But it's fine. I'm not about to jump into something as intense as that without understanding what I'm getting into," he said, reassuring the giant owl. Toru looked surprised for a moment but then nodded in understanding, accepting Horyu's words.
The Specter, seeming impressed by Horyu's understanding, shifted the conversation back to chakra and its complexities. "Since you're familiar with Nature Energy, let's expand on that. We Specters avoid natural energy; it's poisonous to us. The human world, rich in natural energy, is lethal for our kind over prolonged periods. Without the option of feeding on human souls, it slowly weakens us. In the Plane of Specters even though it's bland and empty, is rich with chakra we can sustain. But at least there, the environment isn't toxic to us like it is here. The Plane of Specters, where we thrive, lacks this energy, allowing us to exist indefinitely."
Horyu nodded, his interest piqued. "And how does this relate to human chakra?"
Horyu then hissed, "Emotions?" The Specter laughed. "You're catching on, master." It gestured towards the land where the Shinigami was bound. "Ever wondered why Shinigami seals souls instead of consuming them? He can keep them forever, until the end of time with their enemies, feeding off the emotions they generate."
Horyu closed his eyes, letting the revelation sink in. Emotions weren't just ephemeral experiences but tangible, potent sources of power. It suddenly made sense why the Shinigami would seal souls with their enemies, creating an endless cycle of hatred, regret, and a myriad of other emotions. This perpetual emotional turmoil was not just a curse but a feast for entities like the Shinigami.
"Incredible," Horyu murmured, his understanding of chakra deepening. He recalled instances from the anime where emotions dramatically amplified a shinobi's power. Anger could bolster strength, the desire for revenge could ignite abilities, and intense grief could sometimes defy the permanence of death itself.
He thought back to the anime, the scene where Kakashi, having died, encountered his father, Sakumo, in the afterlife. Despite Sakumo's death occurring decades prior, their meeting highlighted how emotions, specifically regret, could tether souls to the Pure Land, preventing them from finding peace.
"It's a cycle, then," Horyu deduced, opening his eyes. "Emotions fuel chakra, and chakra, in turn, amplifies emotions. A never-ending loop. That is why you like Shinobis with more potent chakra, like Uzumaki. As their emotions are stronger."
The Specter nodded, a gleam of appreciation in its ghostly eyes. "Exactly, Master. Human wars, conflicts, personal vendettas—they all contribute to this cycle, making your world an endless buffet for entities like me and even more so for the Shinigami."
Horyu's previous theories started to make more sense. What did war fuel? Death? Sure, Specters could kill and feed on souls, but that wasn't their main game. Was the Shinigami weak? Far from it. This was a being capable of bisecting one of the strongest creatures in existence, the Kyubi, and snatching its soul. If it had the power to do that, wiping out a village should be child's play. But it didn't go on a rampage. Why? Because instant death wouldn't breed the same depth of emotion. Instead, it locked souls together, feeding off the endless buffet of feelings they generated. And who could summon this entity? Only the strongest Shinobi, most of the time, Uzumaki. He was laying baits for those poor souls for decades.
This mechanism suggested a specter was stirring up wars in the human realm. Wars bred emotions in a potent mix of pain, hatred, regret, and fear against a backdrop of a will to live and cherish life—creating an endless cycle of emotional energy. "We are just farm animals," Horyu concluded grimly.
This realization hit him as he hovered above the Whirlpool Country with Toru, the island beneath them a silent witness to centuries of such machinations. "So, the cycle of war... It's just food for these entities," Horyu said, almost to himself, his voice carrying a mix of anger and enlightenment.
Toru, who had been listening closely, ruffled its feathers uncomfortably. "So, what now? What do you plan to do with this... knowledge?"
Horyu's gaze was steely as he looked down at the swirling whirlpools below. "First, we break through. Then, I'll figure out a way to use this knowledge. If emotions are the key, then there's got to be a way to starve them, to break the cycle."
Horyu sent the Specter back to its realm with a chuckle, "Oh Naruto. You poor thing. You wanted to break the cycle of hatred to bring peace? Who said specters couldn't feed on other emotions?" He looked down at the wailing, starving slaves of Shinigami and smirked. "First, let's make sure they cannot feed anymore. This will be an educational start for me. With these weakened specters, I can test if I can isolate them and starve them to death." Toru was more than willing. He didn't like specters, to begin with. And with barriers around the island, Horyu couldn't enter just yet. Re-summoning the boat from his inventory, Horyu landed a bit away from the specters and started to study them. Riding Toru all the time wasn't an option; the bird would get tired after all.
"Looks like I'm back to basics, huh?" Horyu mused as he settled into the boat, pulling it closer to the edge of the sea where the specters roamed. From a distance, he observed their movements, their hunger-driven desperation evident even without entering their domain. "Starving an enemy to death... It's a slow, cruel fate," he said, not without a hint of satisfaction.
Toru hovered above, its large eyes scanning the area. "You sure about this?" the owl asked, a note of concern in its voice. Horyu nodded, his gaze never leaving the specters. "It's a test. If I can handle these, it's a step towards handling the bigger fish."
For hours, Horyu watched, taking mental notes on the specters' behavior. Their frantic movements suggested they were on the brink, desperate for any source of nourishment. "They're weak. This might be easier than I thought," Horyu concluded, ready to put his plan into action.
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