As the conversation settled and everyone sat quietly, reflecting on the implications behind Natural Energy and its connection to the world, Ron turned his gaze toward Katsuya Sage and Kurama.
"Can you tell me more about yourselves," he asked calmly, "and more about chakra and Natural Energy?"
Kurama responded first, his voice steady and ancient. "Natural Energy has always existed in this world. Long before chakra, long before ninjas. All tailed beasts were born from vast concentrations of Natural Energy, each representing certain aspects of nature, including myself."
"One Tail Shukaku embodies arid landscape and shifting dunes, mastered sealing arts and geomagnetic forces, represents resilience and desolation, represents sand and desert winds."
"Two Tail Matatabi symbolizes wildfire of purification and destruction, wielding night fire that can damage the spirit and purify spirits and ghosts."
"Three Tail Isobu, master of clear water and reef, embodies marine life and tranquil water, known as the rhythm of the ocean, can also control tides and current als.o"
"Four-Tails Son Goku represents the wrath of earth, mastered the power of Lava and the destructiveness of volcanoes."
"Five Tail Kokuo, represents valleys and mountains, and power within them. It mastered immense power and mastered the power of steam eruption."
"Six Tail Saiken, who embodies toxic wasteland, decomposition, and renewal of nature's recycling process, mastered the power of acidic mists and swamps."
"Seven Tail Chomei represents workers of nature pollinations and fertility, sustaining ecosystems, who can control various chemicals, toxins, and hormones in addition to insects."
"Eight-Tailed Gyuki, born from Ocean's Fury and the lurking darkness and concealed hunter in the ocean, mastered the power of storms and concealment."
"And me, the Nine Tails, the balance of energy in Nature, Goodness and Evil, master of energy, regeneration and destruction, and emotions."
As Kurama spoke, both Tsunade and Raiya listened intently. Much of what he was saying was entirely unfamiliar, knowledge absent even from the most advanced shinobi teachings.
Katsuya Sage, who had been listening quietly, lifted her head and continued in a gentle, measured tone. "That is correct. Tailed beasts are creatures of chakra, but their origin lies in Natural Energy. To be precise, Natural Energy predates chakra entirely."
"This world has always been filled with Natural Energy. Before chakra existed, beings such as the God of Death, the Evil God, Susanoo, and other deities already walked or existed within it. Creatures born directly from Natural Energy appeared long before ninjas, and other creatures who were able to master natural energy, including myself and the other two sages."
"In those ancient times, summoning beasts already existed, including those now associated with the holy lands. Some humans who lived close to nature were considered gifted. They were intelligent, spiritually inclined, and strong. Through talent, training, and the abundance of natural resources, they cultivated their bodies and spirits. The abundant Natural Energy indirectly also helped them, whether through food or a good environment."
Katsuya's voice remained calm, but the weight of her words was immense. "Eventually, these beings learned to control their physical energy and spiritual energy, and even Natural Energy, forming what you now call Sage Chakra."
"However," she continued, "even the most talented among them, those blessed by nature, only possessed enhanced physical and mental energy at first. Only when their mastery and strength reached a level comparable to what you now call shadow-level ninjas could they attempt to synthesize chakra, or combine it with Natural Energy to form Sage Chakra."
She paused briefly. "Unlike today, when even children can possess chakra naturally."
"In those eras, the world was dominated by ordinary humans and countless other lifeforms, not the extraordinary. Yet due to humanity's worship, belief, and the natural manifestation of concepts within the world, deities and creatures born of Natural Energy emerged. These beings represented aspects of existence itself: death, order, water, war, and countless others."
"Unlike sages or beasts like us, these deities could control parts of Natural Energy as though it were their own body."
"The God of Death and the Pure Land have existed for ages beyond reckoning. I do not know when they first came into being. Such entities functioned more like rules of the world, rarely interfering directly."
"Others, such as Susanoo, emerged through long eras of conflict and bloodshed. Most deities embodied specific natural aspects and were immortal. In terms of strength, weaker deities or Natural Energy beings similar to current tailed beasts and talented humans, and creatures like summoning beasts who mastered chakra and natural energy, were comparable to weaker shadow-level ninjas. Stronger deities like Susanoo exceeded the shadow level entirely."
She looked toward Ron and Tsunade. "Among ninjas, only figures such as Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara could compare to those higher deities or even surpass them."
Tsunade, sitting nearby, was visibly shaken. "So in ancient times," she said slowly, "if someone trained until their physical and spiritual strength reached shadow-level standards, then they could create chakra… and only the most talented could go further, combining Natural Energy to form Sage Chakra?"
Ron nodded. "That's exactly what we concluded as well," he said. "Based on ancient records, comparative research, and my own observations."
Tsunade frowned slightly, still processing everything. "But are Madara and my grandfather truly stronger than shadow-level ninjas? Is that even possible?" she asked. "At my peak, I'm nearly immortal. I can regenerate from fatal injuries and fight on a destructive scale that most people can't even comprehend."
Ron looked at her and smiled faintly. "The realm above shadow level does exist," he said. "Most ninjas simply can't reach it even if they're talented because of inherent flaws and chakra limits."
He paused, then added calmly, "But that problem has already been solved."
After all, his father had crossed that boundary. And beyond it lay an entirely different existence both as a ninja and as a lifeform.
Tsunade sensed there was more behind his words, but she didn't press further. Instead, she asked another question that had been bothering her.
"So tailed beasts are creatures from ancient times," she said. "But I always thought they were beings of Natural Energy, not chakra. And why are there only nine? What happened to the others? Were they not immortal?"
Ron let out a quiet sigh and turned toward Katsuya Sage.
"This should be related to the Moon Goddess," he said. "Right, Katsuya Sage?"