However, although the Great Tree of Takigakure was a miraculous tree of this world, it was far from being a match for the Ten-Tails' God Tree form.
That was the God Tree, whose roots reached deep into the earth to absorb natural energy.
The Great Tree of Takigakure was not even worth mentioning before the God Tree body of Mother.
Black Zetsu, however, was puzzled by Ryou's ability to make the Great Tree of Takigakure move. What kind of ability was this?
It felt like a special ability that Ryou had been hiding.
Inside the prison of the Great Tree of Takigakure.
As a massive amount of the Seven-Tails' Chakra was being devoured, its speech began to falter.
"...Shisui, don't... don't waste your energy. Quick... quickly leave this place, or you'll die just like me."
"D-Dammit!"
Shisui held his Shinobi Sword in one hand, his eyelids heavy with exhaustion. Even lifting his hand felt like a chore, and his entire being exuded an indescribable weariness.
His Shinobi Sword was already chipped and ruined from hacking, yet he couldn't save the Seven-Tails in the slightest.
If only he still had chakra. If he had chakra, he could activate his Mangekyo and unleash the Third Power.
Right, chakra.
Shisui suddenly looked at the Seven-Tails: "Chomei, can you transfer your chakra to me?"
The Seven-Tails realized what he meant and began transferring its remaining chakra to Shisui.
During the Fourth Great Shinobi War, Naruto was able to transfer Kurama's chakra to those who were not Jinchuriki.
Generally speaking, Tailed Beast chakra cannot be used casually by someone who isn't a Jinchuriki.
Even Jinchuriki cannot properly harness the power of a Tailed Beast, let alone a non-Jinchuriki.
Only certain special individuals can harness Tailed Beast chakra, such as the descendants of the Sage of Six Paths, or Kinkaku and Ginkaku.
They ate the flesh of the Nine-Tails and harnessed its power.
There are also hosts of the Rinnegan; for example, Nagato could use the ability of the Preta Path to absorb Tailed Beast chakra to replenish himself.
These are all extraordinary individuals with extraordinary means.
Ordinary Shinobi who want to utilize Tailed Beast chakra can only do so as they did with the Nine-Tails during the Fourth War—by receiving chakra that is free of negative will.
The Nine-Tails is special, but can other Tailed Beasts distribute their chakra to people other than their Jinchuriki?
They can.
After all, this technique doesn't particularly require high technical skill; it's simply about purging the negative will within the Tailed Beast chakra.
For a Tailed Beast, it's a piece of cake.
But why is it rarely done?
Because Tailed Beasts have always been hostile toward humans.
Take the Nine-Tails's true name—Kurama—for instance. If the Seven-Tails hadn't been controlled by Shisui's Kotoamatsukami and turned into his Summoned Beast, it would never have conversed with humans, let alone informed them of the Nine-Tails's name.
Soon, the Seven-Tails' Chakra flowed into Shisui's body.
Shisui's originally depleted chakra meridians were forced open by the Seven-Tails' Chakra. It was scorching and domineering, but it didn't bring the dizziness or discomfort usually associated with Tailed Beast chakra.
The Seven-Tails had withdrawn the negative will from its chakra; all Shisui could feel was pure power.
A Tailed Beast Cloak condensed from red chakra wrapped around Shisui's body like lava. Shisui's aura surged violently, no longer in that previous state of lethargy.
Shisui felt this power in his body with shock: "Is this the power of a Tailed Beast? No wonder the world views them as natural disasters."
The Uchiha Clan was also a clan with massive chakra. When Shisui activated his Mangekyo, his chakra reached Kage-level standards.
But compared to a Tailed Beast's chakra, it still paled in comparison.
Just the remaining chakra from the Seven-Tails was enough to fill Shisui to the brim.
Tailed Beast chakra possesses healing effects, and the fatigue in Shisui's body was swept away. Although he still felt a slight lack of mental energy, it was enough for him.
Shisui activated his Mangekyo Sharingan. The four-bladed pinwheel-shaped Sharingan spun rapidly, and Shisui instantly summoned the Uchiha's Third Power.
"Susanoo!"
...
"Old geezer, where's the money? Tell me, quick!"
Ryou was currently interrogating Kakuzu about his wealth.
At this moment, Kakuzu was in his Earth Grudge Fear mode, his entire body releasing a type of grayish-black tendrils.
On his left and right shoulders were the Lightning and Water masks, and on his back was a Wind Release mask.
Kakuzu's original body was of the Earth attribute. He used Earth Spear to harden his entire body, gaining extremely high defensive power.
The Wind Release mask at the back vented air, granting Kakuzu ultra-high mobility.
The Lightning and Water masks released a combination Ninjutsu to attack Ryou.
The combination of Lightning and Water has the best reactive properties because they coexist perfectly.
The extensibility of water allows the attack range to expand manifold, while the piercing power of lightning allows the damage to penetrate straight through the flesh, maximizing both range and lethality simultaneously.
The flow of water binds the body while the lightning tears through defenses—one soft and one hard, one for control and one for the kill.
The two attributes complemented each other, forming an attack that was wide-reaching, fast-conducting, armor-breaking, and ruthlessly suppressing.
However, the greatest damage from the Lightning-Water combo was still the lightning damage.
Lightning Release was no longer foreign to Ryou. After being shocked by Madara so many times, the White Zetsu cells in his body had evolved a powerful lightning resistance.
Furthermore, he was currently in his Demon Cat form, making his strike resistance several times higher than before.
"Refreshing! Old geezer, increase the power!"
Ryou was actually feeling a bit of pleasure from the electro-conductive reaction produced by Kakuzu. He hadn't tasted such powerful Lightning Release in a long time.
This was a case of—the tree craves stillness but the wind won't stop; the cat's skin is itchy but Madara isn't here.
Kakuzu's electrical current was merely an appetizer for Ryou.
"Dammit, you brat Ryou, you have no respect for your elders at all!"
Looking at the Demon Cat that was treating his Lightning-Water Ninjutsu as a form of stimulation, Kakuzu was so angry his teeth were chattering.
Even when fighting Hashirama, Kakuzu had never felt this humiliated.
Hashirama was a monster in terms of power stats, but he didn't taunt his opponents.
But Ryou's mouth hadn't stopped since they started. He didn't even call him 'Senior,' disrespectfully calling him 'old geezer' instead.
Young people nowadays have no concept of respecting the elderly and loving the young.
He was seventy-five this year, old enough to be Ryou's grandfather.
In a fit of rage, Kakuzu... stayed enraged. At this point, Ryou's strength was simply not something his Earth Grudge Fear mode could contend with.
If not for the ultra-high movement speed provided by the Wind Release, Kakuzu would have been torn to shreds by Ryou's claws just now.
Jiraiya, you bastard, what are you doing?
Seeing that Kakuzu was unmoved by threats, Ryou decided he was done playing: "Old geezer, after I kill you, I'll search your soul and refine your spirit to find where you've hidden your money."
"I'll steal all your money and spend it all on prostitutes. I'll waste your money as recklessly as I can."
"You brat Ryou..."
Kakuzu's voice was low and raspy, carrying a fury suppressed to the limit. Every word sounded like it was squeezed out from between his teeth.
Kakuzu was angry—truly enraged.
To Kakuzu, the most insulting thing wasn't a lack of manners, but someone wasting his money.
Every cent of that money was earned through Kakuzu's hard work. He was still taking contracts even during the New Year's reunion dinner.
One could imagine how much Kakuzu cherished his money.
It was one thing for Ryou to spend it, but taking it to prostitutes was going too far.
How much could one lay even be worth?