Within the Root base—
Inside a spacious secret chamber.
Akira arrived here carrying Ranmaru's corpse.
"The Divine Tree can devour a planet's energy and produce Chakra Fruits…"
After collecting and sealing away several blood samples—
He stared at Ranmaru's corpse with a deep gaze.
"If I remember correctly, the Ōtsutsuki Clan themselves also possess methods of directly turning fellow clan members into chakra pills, perfectly inheriting their abilities…"
The moment he saw Ranmaru's corpse earlier—
A very bold idea suddenly surfaced in Akira Ren's mind.
Since he himself was already equivalent to a Divine Tree—
Naturally, obtaining other people's Kekkei Genkai and special physiques was effortless for him.
But—
Could he directly imitate the Divine Tree by devouring the corpses and chakra of Kekkei Genkai users, then bearing Chakra Fruits that allowed others to inherit those bloodline abilities and special powers?
Of course—
He did not require these fruits to possess effects as outrageous as true Chakra Fruits, such as granting immortality.
As long as they allowed the consumer to inherit those Kekkei Genkai and special abilities that would normally require generations of genetic inheritance and luck to obtain—
That would be enough.
One could call them downgraded Chakra Fruits.
Or perhaps…
Artificial Devil Fruits?
"If this really succeeds, wouldn't I myself become a 'Devil Fruit Tree'?"
Staring intently at the corpse before him—
Akira muttered to himself.
"Let's use you as a test subject first!"
Within his palm—
A seed radiating strange chakra fluctuations formed.
He inserted it into Ranmaru's body.
Then slammed his hands together.
"Bloom… Demon Tree!"
Immediately—
From atop Ranmaru's corpse—
A tender green sprout burst forth.
Very quickly, it transformed into a half-meter-tall sapling rooted within Ranmaru's body.
And—
It continuously devoured the corpse's nutrients, growing visibly at astonishing speed.
Its roots spread throughout Ranmaru's limbs and organs, extracting all chakra and fleshly nutrients from the corpse…
Eventually—
It transformed into a fruit tree roughly the height of a person.
A brilliantly vivid and strange flower bloomed upon it.
Then—
A fruit shaped like an apple, entirely crimson red, began to form.
Strange spiral patterns covered its surface.
As the flower withered and the fruit matured—
The entire fruit tree glowed faintly.
Once all of its "nutrients" had been transferred into the fruit—
It seemed to complete its purpose.
The tree rapidly withered and decayed—
Turning into ash together with Ranmaru's corpse.
Only a single crimson fruit remained behind.
It resembled an apple covered in mysterious patterns.
As though radiating endless temptation, luring others to consume it.
Perhaps due to the influence of the Forest-Forest Fruit's abilities—
The fruit produced by the Demon Tree really did resemble a Devil Fruit.
"Artificial Devil Fruits, huh?"
Weighing the red fruit in his hand—
Akira Ren's eyes flickered.
"If Red Sister obtained the abilities of the Red Eyes Clan, her strength would undoubtedly rise to another level…"
Red Eyes.
This dōjutsu-type Kekkei Genkai could practically be called the nemesis of the Byakugan.
Not only could it see through objects—
It could also perceive power and sense danger.
It was even capable of using chakra to create images that interfered with the Byakugan.
If combined with genjutsu—
Even the Sharingan likely would not be able to easily see through it.
Furthermore—
It was said to possess observational abilities regarding chakra that surpassed even the Byakugan.
Akira speculated that—
Like the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan, the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan, and the Shikotsumyaku of the Kaguya Clan—
It was probably another branch descended from the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
Most likely a distant relative of either the Hyuga or the Uchiha.
Otherwise—
It was difficult to imagine anyone creating such a dōjutsu out of thin air and engraving it into genetic inheritance so it could pass down through bloodlines generation after generation.
If Kurenai Yuhi could obtain such a Kekkei Genkai—
Her strength would undoubtedly increase dramatically.
In fact—
With chakra perception surpassing the Byakugan combined with her already formidable genjutsu prowess—
Even ordinary Sharingan genjutsu would become ineffective against her.
Akira could not help recalling a joke from twenty-first-century netizens:
"With red eyes, Kurenai Yuhi would only be missing a three-tomoe Sharingan to become a true genjutsu master."
He chuckled softly.
"Perhaps… she wouldn't even need the three tomoe."
Gazing at the apple-like Artificial Devil Fruit—
He speculated that if things proceeded as expected, the consumer's genes would undergo a complete transformation.
Their chakra reserves would likely increase considerably as well.
"However, before that, I still need to properly test the effects and thoroughly verify the risks!"
Thinking this—
Akira Ren's expression grew serious.
Until he could guarantee absolute safety—
He would not recklessly allow Kurenai to consume it.
Unless it was a crude transplant like Danzo's.
Under normal circumstances—
Whether through forbidden techniques or other methods, obtaining another person's Kekkei Genkai always carried enormous risks.
After all—
It essentially meant one's genes would undergo a tremendous metamorphosis.
As for this method—
Using his own abilities to cultivate a Demon Tree that devoured a Kekkei Genkai user's corpse as nutrients to produce fruit—
He still did not know to what extent the risks could be reduced.
"Boom!"
A corpse was taken out from a storage scroll by Akira Ren.
This was one of the corpses of Storm Release users collected by Root.
Judging from the forehead protector and clothing—
It was likely a shinobi from Kumogakure.
There were several more Storm Release corpses like this one.
So he was not worried about wasting them.
"Demon Tree!"
Akira repeated the process.
Planting another Demon Tree cultivated through his own powers into the corpse.
Watching it root itself throughout the Kumogakure Storm Release shinobi's body—
Growing rapidly before his eyes—
Blooming and bearing fruit…
As the entire Demon Tree rapidly withered and decayed—
Turning into ash together with the corpse—
A blue fruit shaped like a pineapple, covered in lightning-like patterns, dropped into Akira Ren's hand.
Weighing the fruit in his palm—
He walked out of the chamber.
"Someone!"
"My lord!"
A Root member standing guard outside immediately appeared before Akira and knelt on one knee.
"Eat this."
Before the astonished gaze of Ryoma Aburame—
Akira tossed the strange blue fruit toward the Root member and ordered him to consume it.
"Yes—"
Hearing Akira Ren's command—
The Root member did not hesitate or resist in the slightest.
Taking the blue fruit—
He removed his mask and bit into it.
"Blegh—"
Watching the Root member's face turn green and purple as he nearly vomited up last night's meal—
Akira Ren's mouth twitched slightly.
"Even the taste is identical to real Devil Fruits?"
Yet—
The Root member still endured the nausea.
Very quickly, he swallowed the entire fruit, peel and all.
"Do you feel any changes inside your body?" Akira asked.
"Crackle… crackle…"
Powerful arcs of electricity burst from the Root member's body.
"This is…"
Ryoma Aburame stood there dumbfounded.
If he remembered correctly—
This person originally possessed neither Lightning Release affinity nor any acquired mastery over Lightning nature transformation through training.
Yet after consuming that fruit—
Such a transformation had occurred.
Just what exactly was that strange fruit?
"Whoosh—"
Akira directly projected his spirit out of his body.
Instantly—
He took control of the Root member's body.
Raising his right hand—
Brilliant lightning erupted within his palm.
"Chidori!"
"Crackle crackle crackle…"
Countless electric arcs flashed violently.
The terrifying electricity continuously intertwined and leapt wildly.
A physical blade of lightning rapidly condensed within the Root member's palm.
Controlling the man's body—
Akira immediately aimed at the nearby Ryoma Aburame, whose hair stood on end as his expression drastically changed.
"Storm Release: Chidori Sharp Spear!"
"Crackle—"
A dazzling bolt of lightning instantly shot forth like a flash.
And—
It actually curved in midair.
Avoiding Ryoma Aburame completely before directly piercing into the wall behind him.
The thick wall was mercilessly penetrated.
"Akira Ren-sama…"
Letting out a long breath—
Ryoma Aburame, who had nearly thought he was about to be killed, was drenched in cold sweat.
Staring at the tangible electric blade crackling with arcs as it curved past his body—
He could not help widening his eyes in disbelief.
"This is… Storm Release?"
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