Fruits of Evolution

Fuma stared at the [Blissful Gluttony]. The text before him shimmered with an ominous black light, as if it were a deep abyss, exuding a seductive power that stirred a ravenous hunger within him.

In a moment of illusion, Fuma seemed to glimpse a greedy, gigantic maw morphing into a terrifying vortex, roaring as it devoured everything in its path.

Fuma's flesh resonated in response, waves of thirst washing over him, as if celebrating its own metamorphosis.

"This power... seized by violent force and chance, seems far harder to control than I anticipated..."

Sensing the abnormal reaction from his flesh and the abyss-like aura radiating from his body, Fuma sighed deeply, murmuring to himself:

"This feels like a corrupted evolution from Digimon. The old saying holds true—dark forms are always three times stronger..."

[Blissful Gluttony: You have seized the extraordinary traits of the Box of Ultimate Bliss. Your flesh has merged with its vast amount of high-tier negative energy, granting you the power to devour everything like a gluttonous beast]

[Note 1: Your flesh has broken free from its original limits. The inherent structure of the human body is no longer a restriction; you now possess the characteristics of a "demon"]

[Note 2: The upper limit of the energy your flesh can absorb has been greatly increased. Most types of energy can now serve as your sustenance, enhancing the foundation of your body]

[Note 3: Overconsumption of diverse and foreign energies may lead to emotional instability and abnormal mutations in your flesh, potentially dragging you toward an uncontrollable state, with unknown consequences]

Fuma's expression froze for a moment as he mulled over the three annotations attached to the [Blissful Gluttony]. His feelings were mixed—elation intertwined with a sense of weight.

Undoubtedly, the evolved [Blissful Gluttony] was far more powerful than his previous [Earthly Furnace], which had focused solely on self-sustenance. Now, it had shifted toward external plunder.

The mechanism of the [Earthly Furnace] allowed Fuma to generate his own chakra, much like a jutsu that converted chakra into energy to enhance the body.

It was a self-contained system, reliant only on his own efforts, building up strength steadily and methodically. Every bit of power gained was real and solid.

However, the transformation efficiency and rate were less than ideal. After several years of accumulation, Fuma's body had only reached the point where he could withstand standard elemental jutsus. It hadn't yet reached a decisive level of strength.

Moreover, the [Earthly Furnace] had little effect when it came to higher-level energies like the chakra of the Tailed Beasts, which could only be stored in his flesh as a backup resource.

Before Fuma had unlocked the limitations of his body using the chakra of the One-Tailed Shukaku, he had to halt the [Earthly Furnace] in battles against powerful enemies. Only then could he use his chakra to activate his Blood Lightning Armor, enhancing his combat ability.

In other words, the [Earthly Furnace] essentially sealed off part of Fuma's power in exchange for a stronger foundation and greater potential.

The [Blissful Gluttony] however, leaned heavily on violent plunder. It made devouring others' chakra a means of combat, allowing Fuma to absorb and integrate his enemies' chakra into his own martial arts.

Additionally, it had significantly raised the caliber of energy he could consume, resolving the issue he previously faced when trying to absorb the chakra of a Tailed Beast without fully harnessing it.

"In this world of ninjas, aside from the Rinnegan's powers, there probably isn't much I can't absorb anymore..."

"But this power, gained through abnormal evolution, definitely comes with its own set of problems..."

"The unknown side effects from this abnormal evolution are something I'll need to address."

Fuma carefully analyzed the functions of the [Blissful Gluttony] pondering his future combat style and developmental path.

This was the first time a description had come with annotations, explicitly warning him of dangers ahead. This oddity alone was enough to underscore the hidden peril.

Fuma's mind grew serious as he reviewed cases in the ninja world where powers spiraled out of control.

"Obito, as the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, nearly had his mind devoured by the Ten-Tails' will due to his lack of mental fortitude, becoming a mere puppet..."

"Even Madara, who could fully control the Ten-Tails, had no defense against the power of the Divine Tree. He became a sacrificial pawn for Kaguya without any ability to resist."

"The nine Tailed Beasts in the ninja world are all fragments of the Ten-Tails, which means they are essentially parts of Kaguya. If I devour too much of their chakra, I'll have to face her lingering will..."

The last thing Fuma wanted was to realize, after devouring several Tailed Beasts, that an ancient woman's will had appeared inside his body. That would truly be a nightmare.

Fuma turned his attention to [Inseparable Union] the safeguard for his mental and spiritual domains. However, the golden glow that usually surrounded its text now seemed dimmed, as if overshadowed by the black light of the [Blissful Gluttony].

"It seems like improving my soul and mental strength is crucial after evolving my body through the [Blissful Gluttony]..."

Recalling the ninja world's knowledge of spiritual and soul-related entities, Fuma understood that to further evolve [Inseparable Union] it would need to grow strong enough to contend with the [Blissful Gluttony].

"The Evil God in the Land of Hot Water... the Death God in the Reaper Death Seal... these might be the most accessible sources for me, though they lean heavily into Lovecraftian territory..."

"As for the Pure Land of the Sage of Six Paths, that's far beyond my reach for now..."

Fuma's expression became complicated as he realized that most entities related to the soul and spirit in the ninja world had little to do with anything particularly noble.

Fuma sighed. Madara's interference had not only pushed Fuma to the brink of death but had also disrupted his carefully laid plans.

Regarding the Box of Ultimate Bliss, the top-ranked Six Paths tool in the ninja world, Fuma had always approached it with extreme caution. Absorbing all of its negative energy into his body was never his intention.

Even with the assistance of the annotations, Fuma did not wish to recklessly test his limits or challenge the craftsmanship of the Sage of Six Paths with his current strength.

After all, such behavior was not far off from voluntarily descending into madness.

In Fuma's original plan, he intended to channel the unassimilated Shukaku chakra in his body into the Box of Ultimate Bliss, using it to wish for the ability to devour high-tier chakra.

This way, he could control the strength of the demonic entities born from the Box and handle any potential backlash with certainty.

Fuma didn't need the energy inside the Box of Ultimate Bliss to flood into his body. What truly mattered was acquiring its extraordinary qualities. In fact, the vast amount of negative energy within the box might even be a burden in certain situations.

However, Madara's sudden interference, coupled with Fuma's current condition, had completely thrown off his calculations.

The once-formidable ghost of the ninja world had given Fuma a hard lesson, trapping him within the Box of Ultimate Bliss.

Nearly ten years before his death in the original timeline, Madara still displayed unparalleled strength and tactical prowess in the ninja world.

Whether it was the force cage formed by "Shinra Tensei" and "Bansho Ten'in", or the combination of "Limbo: Hengoku" with "Chibaku Tensei", he wielded the Rinnegan's powers to their fullest.

Even with limited chakra, Madara's mastery of his abilities made each technique far more effective than it should have been.

His taijutsu remained formidable. Despite Fuma's immense strength, Madara managed to maintain his state at its peak, minimizing his weaknesses.

Meanwhile, Fuma, sealed within the Box of Ultimate Bliss, found himself in an equally precarious situation.

Thanks to his ability [Inseparable Union] Fuma had not lost consciousness like others drawn into the box. He remained aware and alert.

But within the box's sensory-deprived darkness, even he couldn't be sure how long he could endure—after all, even a creature as ancient as the Nine-Tails had submitted to its terrifying grip.

As powerful as he was, Fuma couldn't dismantle the box by force. He had no choice but to follow its rules, transforming himself into a new "Satori" to escape its confines.

"Unlike the arrogant Madara who faced the Five Kage in his Edo Tensei form, this current version of him fights with careful calculation and foresight."

"It's a testament to how time erodes one's confidence and how the body's limitations shape personality changes..."

"And then there's the Box of Ultimate Bliss. Just a tool created by the Sage of Six Paths, yet it holds such overwhelming power. Her strength must be unfathomable..."

Fuma stood still, quietly reflecting on the lessons learned from this battle.

Yet, he hadn't fully realized that this intimate experience with the Box of Ultimate Bliss had expanded his vision even further, pushing him to turn his attention toward the ultimate figures of the ninja world.

In this world, power gaps are vast. Above the "Kage-level" threshold, there is a lack of upward paths.

Most highly talented shinobi, no matter how refined their chakra control or how vast their reserves, rarely surpass the level of contending with a tailed beast.

Figures like Hanzo, Tobirama Senju, and Onoki, along with prodigies like Minato, could only barely hold their own against Six Paths Obito when equipped with sage mode or the Nine-Tails' chakra.

The Rinnegan, Tenseigan, and even the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan possess such overwhelming power that they suffocate the elite of the ninja world.

Lurking forces like Otsutsuki Isshiki, Kaguya sealed within the starting sphere dimension, the Sage of Six Paths resting in the Pure Land, and the fate of Otsutsuki Hamura—possibly alive or dead—as well as Otsutsuki Toneri, the Hyuga version of Uchiha Itachi, represent the true hidden powerhouses of this world.

Each of these figures, in their own way, subtly influences the ninja world, using shinobi as pawns to test each other's designs, biding their time for the ultimate victory.

And then, there are those beyond the stars—the Otsutsuki clan. Kinshiki, Urashiki, and Momoshiki may be approaching the ninja world through some unknown means...

In his mind, Fuma mapped out a vast web of connections, realizing these tangled and interwoven forces would need his careful attention.

If he continued recklessly stirring the whirlpool in the ninja world, it wouldn't just be an aging Madara he'd face next. It might very well be an enemy who had already reached the pinnacle.

This battle had made Fuma painfully aware of a sobering truth: the future of the ninja world had become murky, and his prior advantage of foreknowledge had nearly vanished.

Compared to the other shinobi, Fuma's edge now rested solely in his fragmentary knowledge of the Otsutsuki clan. Beyond that, there wasn't much left to differentiate him from others.

At least, however, he could ensure that the Uchiha clan wouldn't produce another fool duped by the "Moon's Eye Plan"...

Fuma's gaze turned toward the Box of Ultimate Bliss. Once filled with malevolent energy, the black box now shone pure and white, exuding a hint of sacredness.

As his eyes passed over it, the box seemed to respond, shifting its massive form until it finally transformed into a delicate pendant, flying toward Fuma and wrapping itself neatly around his hand.

"Is this...a sign of submission?"

Fuma examined the small pendant, accepting it without hesitation.

Though he had clashed with the box before, it seemed to have reformed its ways.

"Even though capturing tailed beasts for sealing might no longer be feasible, this is still a valuable asset…"

"Over in Kumogakure, there's the Amber Purifying Pot, the Crimson Gourd, the Seven Star Sword, the Golden Canopy Rope, and the Banana Palm Fan. They won't be easy to deal with…"

"While I have nothing to fear, there are still people in this world I care about…"

"I'll hand this over to Tsunade in the future. If another war breaks out, she can use it to challenge the other Six Paths tools, preventing another ambush like Tobirama's tragic death…"

Fuma glanced at the pendant, satisfied.

He had always been irked by the necklace Hashirama had given Tsunade. In the original timeline, it symbolized her poor fortune—anyone who wore it seemed to meet disaster...

With black wings unfurling, Fuma soared into the sky, reveling in the thrill of flight.

"Tell Uchiha Madara, if he's still capable, I'll be waiting for him in the future."

With that, Fuma spread his wings and flew toward Konoha.

This war had consumed nearly four months of his time, and now he needed to reassert control over Konoha and Kirigakure.

"This works out. In my absence, the hounds circling the Uchiha must be baring their fangs again…"

As Fuma enjoyed the wind rushing past him, he calculated the positions of the various ninja clans within Konoha.

Deep underground, White Zetsu waited until Fuma had flown far away before daring to resurface. He let out a frightened yell:

"This guy, he doesn't even need to release that terrifying bloodlust to sense our presence anymore?"

"The Box of Ultimate Bliss is gone too. Madara is definitely going to lose his temper this time!"

With a heavy sigh, White Zetsu dived back into the earth, speeding toward Madara's hideout.

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