Two weeks into the Academy, Makima had established perfect control over her immediate environment. Torune was her protective shadow, Hana her dedicated admirer, and even Minato Namikaze, though distant, regarded her with intellectual respect. The chaos of human rivalry had been smoothed into a predictable, deferential order.
Now, her focus shifted to maximizing the efficiency of her vessel. The Uzumaki chakra reserves were immense, but she needed to categorize her natural abilities to choose the most optimal jutsu for public display. The key was to choose powerful, high-tier techniques that could be logically explained by her Uzumaki and Utatane heritage, thereby concealing the existence of the Control Devil's power.
Late one evening, Makima sat alone in her private training room within the Utatane manor. The room was soundproofed and shielded from basic detection spells—a necessary precaution for a clan heiress, but a critical barrier for the Devil.
She pulled out three small, perfectly square pieces of paper. These were the litmus tests of a shinobi's soul—chakra test paper. Depending on the elemental affinity, the paper would react: crinkle (Wind), burn (Fire), become wet (Water), turn to dust (Earth), or wrinkle and shred (Lightning). Discovering a single affinity was normal; two was the sign of a genius.
Makima held the first sheet between her thumb and forefinger. She didn't mold chakra in the conventional way, instead issuing a silent, surgical command to her massive chakra core: "You must stabilize the flow of my core chakra and release a controlled, pure burst into this paper."
The paper reacted instantly.
The first reaction was a rush of heat. The paper didn't merely warm; it shriveled rapidly, turning black at the edges before bursting into a quick, bright orange flame.
Fire, Makima registered internally, the familiar cold satisfaction washing over her. The Uzumaki passion and the Utatane severity perfectly aligned with the aggressive, dominant nature of the Fire release.
She placed the second sheet on the palm of her hand and repeated the command. This time, the reaction was liquid. The paper instantly became saturated, not with water, but with the pure essence of moisture, becoming heavy and translucent, shimmering with condensation before dissolving entirely, leaving only a small, cold pool of dew in her palm.
Water. Excellent. Flexibility and control. The ability to defend and adapt.
The revelation of two affinities—Fire and Water—would have made any shinobi giddy. But Makima had a third sheet. She took it and held it up to the candlelight, her golden eyes glinting with clinical expectation.
She released the third pulse of pure chakra into the paper.
Instead of burning or wetting, the paper violently and instantaneously shredded itself into dozens of razor-thin slivers. The tiny strips scattered upwards, hovering briefly on an invisible current before falling back to the floor. The paper hadn't torn; it had been sliced by the Wind element, manifesting as pure, sharp cutting force.
Makima stared at the three remains: the black ash (Fire), the dew puddle (Water), and the scattered shreds (Wind).
Three elemental affinities. Such a phenomenon was nearly unheard of in Konoha's history, typically reserved only for the most powerful, legendary figures. This was beyond Uzumaki reserves; this was the will of the vessel reacting to the enormous energy of the Control Devil, granting Makima maximal elemental flexibility.
Makima analyzed the result, her sadistic smile remaining hidden beneath her cold poise.
This is a perfect cover, she concluded. The village expects genius from an Utatane/Uzumaki hybrid. They will see my command of Fire, Water, and Wind and rationalize all my successes through this absurd, genetic lottery. My true power—the power to extinguish free will—will remain forever veiled behind the "Miracle of Makima's Chakra."
With these three elemental natures, Makima knew exactly how to proceed in the Academy. She would learn Fire Release—the most aggressive and visible—to earn respect. She would use Water Release to show intelligence and adaptability in non-combat drills. And she would reserve Wind Release for the rarest, most decisive moments, ensuring that she always appeared to be the ultimate, untouchable talent.
She calmly gathered the remnants of the test, disposing of them in the training room's dedicated disposal unit, ensuring no evidence remained. Makima rose, satisfied. Her preparation was complete. She had the perfect mask, the perfect lineage, and now, the perfect lie to support her rise to the top. The subjugation of Konoha was simply a matter of execution.