Board Thread:Theories and Speculation/@comment-25093611-20160821131910/@comment-734582-20160827173254

And the server ate my lengthy reply. Oh well, i'll type it again.

Like i said earlier, Power Creep is part of any story and it's not necessarily a problem. I think however that there are two reasons this is the case in Naruto:


 * Kishimoto wanting an end. Between the Pain Assault and Gokage summit Kishimoto likely picked his number (700 to continue his 7=lucky theme) and worked towards it. This isn't a bad thing, in fact i think it's great Kishimoto realized his manga needed an actual end. However, it seems Kishimoto forgot to add sufficient spacing in time, making his power creep seem far, far worse than it would've been with some timeskip or a little more spacing.
 * Kishimoto was aware of his love for symbolism and restrained himself. This prevented the necessary contrast from existing to give characters notable strengths and weaknesses. E.g. logically Hashirama would be very weak against an assassination-style ninja who could cut him down before he could whip out his toys. However, he made his rules as guidelines (just like everything else is guided by themes rather than hard rules and facts). This is great (it clearly resonates with many people) but also has weaknesses (virtually invincible characters like Madara).

I would fix the problem by making the price for power clearer (even Kishimoto did such things, e.g. with Danzo, but seemed to have given up on this possibly to avoid seeming "lame"), making the sources of power clearer, and making the themes and their weaknesses clearer.

Clarity in Sage themes: The basic form of Sages is the ability to use nature energy, which enhances ninjutsu and adds a connection to the surroundings at the cost of greater focus. There would be 4 basic powers, two internal and two external (as observed in Naruto). When internally balanced, Senjutsu becomes more controlled and more powerful, and the transforms of chakra become easier. When out of balance, the flesh becomes easier to mold and form but chakra is harder to control. Externally, when balanced subtle shifts become apparent that lead to great sensing, whereas unbalanced chakra imbues one's will. I would use the three Sage Nations and a fourth "plant" sage mode not aimed at an animal kingdom but rather aimed at the connection nature.

This all leads to four Sage Modes which have different ideas of senjutsu, and each uses different amounts of nature energy. Toads aim at control and balance (ninjutsu/sensing), Snakes aim at power (tranform/ninjutsu). Slugs aim at great understanding (sensing/animation). Plants aim at a strong connection (Animation/transform).

Weakness: Sage Mode is strong, but all four require the user to stand still to gather energy which leaves them vulnerable, take time to learn and open up the user to vulnerabilities (e.g. transforms running out of control)

Biju: Each has a special ability and a kekkei genkai. Biju would act as one possible source of these Kekkei Genkai or related abilities. Biju wouldn't just be nuclear deterrents but also objects of study and vulnerable to having their power and abilities stolen. Biju passively gather nature, absorb and transform nature energy to mass and chakra. They can focus their efforts to increase this. Biju are divided in three groups based upon their form: the first three are elementals. The second are physical beings with elemental (or in Saiken's case, slime) armor. The last three are pure animals that can not coat, transform or encase themselves in the element. Power increases with tails, number of abilities decreases.


 * Gedo "zero tails". Nature elemental. lacks chakra, uses natural energy exclusively to sustain itself.


 * Shukaku: Sand elemental. KKG: Magnet Release. Coats the jinchuriki in sand as they transform
 * Matatabi: Fire elemental. KKG: Scorch. Coats the jinchuriki in flames as they transform
 * Isobu: Coral elemental. KKG: Ice Coats the jinchuriki in ice as they transform
 * Son Goku. KKG: Lava. Special: lava chakra mode. (armor)
 * Kokuo. KKG: Boil. Special: Boil chakra mode (enhanced movement)
 * Saiken. KKG: Blast. Special: Slime, soap bubbles.
 * Chromei: KKG: Wind+Lighting. Special: Scale powder, cocoon webbing, flight
 * Gyuki: KKG: Storm. Special: Ink Release (ink as water release)
 * Kurama: KKG: Fire+ lightning. Special: Emotion sensing.


 * Juubi. The Juubi is made of zetsu-like plant/human hybrid flesh. The Kekkei Genkai are lost when combined into a superior one: Truthseeking orbs. It absorbs and controls raw nature energy.

I'm not a big fan of how the KKG are divided, but changing them would change a whole damn lot and i could write an article on that alone. Judging by what we have, i'd expect Wind+Lightning to be light and Fire + lightning to be plasma.