Kāma

"Let us bear witness to this historical moment together." This article, Kāma (NejiHyuga2), belongs solely to the Yuheng of Liyue Qixing and cannot be utilized without her permission. You will find yourself cut down if you dare to touch this article without her permission. If you wish to use the contents of this article, make a concise request on her message wall.

This article, Kāma (NejiHyuga2), is a part of an alternate universe.

This is the page for the technique as it appears in the Diaries of the Hidden Waterfall series. For the canon rendition, refer to Kāma. For other fanon renditions, refer to Kāma.

editKāma
Kāma White Kāma 1/2
Name
Kanji	楔
Rōmaji	Kāma
Literal English	Linchpin
Viz print media	Karma
Debut
Novel	Diaries of the Hidden Waterfall
Appears in	Novel
Data
Classification	Shinjutsu, Chakra Absorption Techniques, Fūinjutsu
Class	Supplementary
Users Code Jigen Kawaki Marie Kuroi Emiri Uchiha Boruto Uzumaki Renka Utsugi Keika Uzumaki

Kāma (楔, カーマ) is a seal that serves as a compressed backup of an Ōtsutsuki clan member's biological data that they can embed in the body of a compatible recipient known as a vessel (器, utsuwa). Over time, the Kāma will gradually overwrite the vessel's genetic profile until they transform into a perfect Ōtsutsuki. Should the Ōtsutsuki be slain, their soul will migrate to one of their vessels and become anchored to the world of the living, and when the Kāma completes, will reincarnate (転生, tensei) through their body, completely replacing them.

In the interim, the vessel can learn to activate the Kāma and utilise a portion of the Ōtsutsuki's power and abilities, and if reincarnation has not yet been achieved, the soul of the slain Ōtsutsuki can even manifest and temporarily take control over their body.^{[citation needed]} Compatibility with an Ōtsutsuki is exceedingly rare and unpredictable, and if an individual is not a suitable recipient, the ritual will typically result in them suffering a fatal seizure.^{[citation needed]} Occasionally, an unsuitable vessel will survive the ritual, however, producing a unique variant of the seal called the White Kāma (白き楔, Shiroki Kāma). Such individuals are unable to serve as a receptacle for the Ōtsutsuki's soul and thus cannot be used for the process of reincarnation, nor can use its absorption power nor space-time ninjutsu, but retain its other traits, gaining tremendous power and even being able to transform into a completely new Ōtsutsuki.^{[citation needed]} Until then, they are not considered true Celestial Beings, as they are not immune from the effects of Omnipotence.^{[citation needed]}

Additionally, should a compatible Vessel be unable to serve their duty to reincarnate the Ōtsutsuki and the Kāma having completely decompressed, the Kāma will 'degenerate' into a White Kāma as is the case for Emiri Uchiha's Kāma upon Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's revival via Black Zetsu's method.^{[citation needed]}

Appearance

The Kāma before being embedded in a host body.

Though the Kāma superficially resembles a tattooed seal, it is actually a pyramid-shaped barb that is embedded in the vessel's body. Upon activation the visible marking will spread across the vessel's body, at times taking on different patterns depending on the abilities being used. Typically black, these markings may also shimmer and glow with a particular colour when activated; these colours include Kawaki's and Jigen's red,^{[citation needed]} Marie Kuroi's violet,^{[citation needed]} Emiri Uchiha's pink, Renka Utsugi's white, Boruto Uzumaki's blue, and Keika Uzumaki's jade. When viewed up close, the Kāma markings appear to spread in blue patterns resembling microscopic circuitry, although the overall design of the circuitry varies from user to user; these designs are also influenced by where on their body it is embedded into and what abilities are being accessed. As its name implies, the White Kāma is white in colour rather than black, and its markings may also shimmer and glow with a particular colour too when activated—both Code's and Emiri's glow pale blue.^{[citation needed]}

Known Bearers

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki

• Renka Utsugi: Kaguya embedded her Kāma onto Renka Utsugi's forehead, her sister-in-law through her marriage with Tenji of the Land of Ancestors. When activated, it spreads across her face and body, producing a pattern quite similar to Ninja Art Creation Rebirth — Strength of a Hundred Technique, and glows white when power is run through it. Progressing further, she sprouts two horns from her head identical to Kaguya's. This Kāma served its purpose and vanished when Kaguya reincarnated into Renka's body for the purpose of transferring her Kāma to Emiri Uchiha as Renka had unfortunately long outlived her usefulness as Kaguya's Vessel.
• Emiri Uchiha: Reincarnating via Renka's body, Kaguya embedded a new Kāma into Emiri Uchiha's chest—with whom Renka (Kaguya) had previously found to be extremely compatible with her Kāma—before dying immediately; this is due to the fact that Renka's body had already long since passed its limits and could not properly function as a Vessel for Kaguya. When activated, it spreads across her chest and torso, creating designs not dissimilar to how bondage ropes are tied around a woman's body, and glows pink when power is run through it. Progressing further, the marks spread to cover her entire body and she grows a singular horn from her forehead—her right eye morphing into a Byakugan. By the time of Kaguya's revival through Black Zetsu's method, Emiri's Kāma was already completely extracted and as a result, she lost her purpose as Kaguya's Vessel and her Kāma 'degenerated' into a White Kāma, allowing her to retain most of the powers it gave her.^{[citation needed]}

Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki

• Boruto Uzumaki: Momoshiki embedded his Kāma into Boruto's right palm as the boy dealt a fatal blow to him using the Parent and Child Rasengan. Upon receiving notice that Boruto had been marked with a Kāma, Emiri Uchiha instructed him on how to properly use it and it was soon discovered that Boruto had a far greater talent in the use of the Kāma than expected. When activated, it spreads across the right side of his body forming angular and curving geometric patterns, extending up to his right eye, and glows blue when power is run through it. Progressing further, he sprouts a horn similar to Momoshiki's and his right eye morphs into a Byakugan.^{[citation needed]} Upon facing Code, Momoshiki's Kāma in Boruto had reached 90% extracted^{[citation needed]} and following Boruto's attempted suicide, Momoshiki used the remaining 10% to revive Boruto to save his soul, cancelling his resurrection through Boruto.^{[citation needed]}

Isshiki Ōtsutsuki

• Jigen: Isshiki embedded his Kāma into Jigen's chin while parasitically fused with his brain, after being betrayed and nearly killed by Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.^{[citation needed]} When activated, it spreads across his face and body in nearly symmetrical sunburst patterns. Progressing further, he sprouts a long horn identical to Isshiki's.^{[citation needed]} Despite the Kāma being fully decompressed, Jigen could not manifest Isshiki's Kokugan nor Byakugan. This Kāma served its purpose and vanished when Isshiki was forced to reincarnate through Jigen's body.^{[citation needed]}
• Code: Code—alongside Kawaki—was among the children gathered as subjects in the scientific experiments to transfer Jigen's Kāma. Unlike all other failed candidates, Code survived the ritual, resulting in him bearing a White Kāma located on his left palm.^{[citation needed]} As Code is not a Vessel, his Kāma did not vanish upon Isshiki's revival into Jigen's body, and before his soul expired, Isshiki entrusted Code with carrying on the Ōtsutsuki's will. He instructed him to become a complete Ōtsutsuki by sacrificing either Boruto or Kawaki to Ten-Tails and feeding upon the resulting God Tree's chakra fruit. When activated, it spreads gray markings along the left side of his body forming a pattern that almost mirrors Jigen's, extending to his left eye;^{[citation needed]} Code's Kāma markings glow pale blue while exerting power over a certain threshold.^{[citation needed]}
• Kawaki: Upon realizing that Jigen's body would not be able to sustain his chakra, Isshiki transferred his Kāma into Kawaki's left palm through scientific experiments and a ritual conducted with the aid of Amado Sanzu.^{[citation needed]} When activated, it spreads across the left side of his body, forming a pattern that almost perfectly mirrors Boruto's, extending up to his left eye, and glows red if power is run through it.^{[citation needed]} Progressing further, he sprouts a short horn resembling Isshiki's.^{[citation needed]} He lost this Kāma when Isshiki resurrected via Jigen's body but later regained it when it was reapplied by Amado while restoring Kawaki's right arm, for it to function purely as a weapon after Isshiki's soul vanished. Isshiki's Kāma in Kawaki was estimated to be 85% extracted prior to its removal.^{[citation needed]} By the first battle against Code, the Kāma was advanced enough to allow Kawaki access to Isshiki's raw power and various abilities, including his dōjutsu.^{[citation needed]}

Urashiki Ōtsutsuki

• Keika Uzumaki: Urashiki embedded a Kāma onto Keika Uzumaki's chest in a successful attempt to incite Boruto as well as study the ensuing "resonance" phenomenon exhibited by the two siblings' Kāma. When activated, it spreads across her chest and torso, forming similar designs to Emiri Uchiha's activated Kāma, and glows jade when power is run through it. Progressing further, the marks spread to cover her entire body and she grows twin horns from just above her eyes.^{[citation needed]} By the first battle against Code, Keika's Kāma had reached 88% extracted^{[citation needed]} and just like her brother, Keika committed suicide, forcing Urashiki to revive Keika to save her soul using the remaining 12% of the Kāma's data following her attempted suicide, canceling his resurrection through Keika.^{[citation needed]}

Boruto Uzumaki

• Marie Kuroi: In the three years since Boruto defected from Konohagakure, he has been constantly pestered to prepare his own Vessel, much to his extreme loathing, however, upon learning of the existence of Shibai Ōtsutsuki, Boruto begrudgingly took Momoshiki's advice and implanted Kāma into Marie Kuroi's forehead. When activated, it spreads across Marie's body in a pattern mirroring the Ninja Art Creation Rebirth — Strength of a Hundred Technique^{[citation needed]} and glows violet when power is run through it.^{[citation needed]} With further progression, Marie gains a Byakugan but does not grow horns, much to her disapproval.^{[citation needed]}

Abilities

When activated, Kāma significantly enhances the user's physical speed, strength, and jutsu power, and allows them to absorb chakra and chakra-based attacks like ninjutsu. These enhanced combat abilities and power exist for the sake of protecting the Kāma's vessel. Kāma can also be used as a medium for Space-Time Ninjutsu, transforming the mark on their palm into a symbol resembling their horn pattern and opening a rift to any location, including foreign dimensions. This ability seems to be rather advanced as only Emiri and Jigen were able to use it on their own^{[citation needed]} while Boruto and Kawaki needed to cooperate to use it at first, although both independently learned to use it themselves.^{[citation needed]} Keika Uzumaki is a unique exception as she was able to open the rift by herself intuitively with no training, visiting the moon to undo the petrification cast on Toneri Ōtsutsuki and Hinata Hyūga.

If one properly draws on the power of their Kāma, they can overlay the accumulated Ōtsutsuki combat experience (大筒木の戦闘経験, Ōtsutsuki no sentō keiken) contained within with their mind and body, instantly becoming a seasoned fighter. According to Code, this is the true essence of Kāma and grants the user an exponential increase in battle power, well beyond that conferred by the enhanced physical abilities alone.^{[citation needed]} When accessing this level of power from Kāma, ring markings seem to appear around the user's fingers.

With enough experience, the user can progress the Kāma to a more powerful state, gaining access to the Ōtsutsuki's unique powers, including their Shinjutsu. In this state the user will begin to undergo a physical transformation, growing horns and awakening their Dōjutsu, generally limited to a single eye. Emiri is able to consciously access this state through self-discipline but has on one occasion entered this state through being possessed by her associated Ōtsutsuki.^{[citation needed]} According to Kawaki, knowing that he and Isshiki were alike helped him realise that he could do anything Isshiki was capable of, allowing him to quickly intuit how his abilities worked.^{[citation needed]} Both Boruto and Keika are able to access this state on their own at an incredibly accelerated pace, shocking Emiri and later, Amado, with their great compatibility with Kāma;^{[citation needed]} it is only in this form where Keika can enter Tenseigan Chakra Mode,^{[citation needed]} although she can later access it without accessing this level of Kāma.^{[citation needed]}

Resonance

Due to Urashiki Ōtsutsuki's meddling, Keika Uzumaki was given his Kāma which soon began exhibiting a Resonance (共鳴, Kyōmei) phenomenon with Boruto's Kāma. He theorized that Boruto's own extreme compatibility with Kāma led to it becoming a sort of "beacon" to enhance the performance of other Kāma, as Keika's Kāma decompressed at an accelerated pace, something Urashiki ensured Boruto he did not foresee during their second battle in the Land of Wind;^{[citation needed]} this theory is supplemented by Amado and Jigen's own suppositions as Boruto's Kāma exhibited resonance with Kawaki's Kāma as well, despite the fact that Jigen was able to synchronize his own Kāma with Kawaki's to open a space-time rift. He concluded that no such resonance exists between himself and Kawaki as Kawaki did not experience sudden growth until his contact with Boruto.^{[citation needed]} Also, despite having full control over his Kāma by the time he met Kawaki, Boruto's Kāma would often activate involuntarily in response to Kawaki initiating his own;^{[citation needed]} this phenomenon stopped after Kawaki's Kāma was removed and did not restart even after he artificially regained it.^{[citation needed]}

Manifestation

Boruto's and Kawaki's Kāma taking the form of their Ōtsutsuki host.

In certain outstanding circumstances, the soul of a deceased Ōtsutsuki anchored to a vessel can possess the vessel's body, using the Kāma to wield the full extent of their power through the vessel. This seems to only be possible after a great deal of time, and typically only occurs when the vessel's chakra has been depleted to the point that they lose consciousness; Kaguya Ōtsutsuki manifested to control the near-unconscious Emiri Uchiha in the battle against Madara Uchiha during the Fourth Shinobi World War, handily destroying him with great ease before absorbing enough chakra to rouse Emiri awake as the manifestation would unravel should the vessel regain consciousness.^{[citation needed]} Momoshiki has made multiple attempts to manifest in Boruto's body, only managing to succeed once in Team 7's duel against Boro;^{[citation needed]} he briefly made an appearance during Code's assault on Konoha and spoke with him but was almost immediately shoved back into Boruto's mind.^{[citation needed]}

Resurrection

Isshiki revived through Jigen.

Over time, the vessel's own genetic information will be completely overwritten by the Ōtsutsuki biological data accumulated in the Kāma, at which point the Kāma will disappear and the Ōtsutsuki will resurrect, taking over the vessel's body and erasing their personality. This is the true purpose of Kāma, and allows the Ōtsutsuki to transcend death.^{[citation needed]} Even if the vessel's body dies and is severely damaged and/or not fully compatible with the Ōtsutsuki, or the Ōtsutsuki is only partially manifested, so long as it exists and still bears Kāma, it will remain viable for the Ōtsutsuki to resurrect through, in which any damage it has suffered will be healed. Despite being reformed virtually identical to how they were in their previous body, the Ōtsutsuki also retains all the memories, skills and knowledge from the vessel.^{[citation needed]}

With the aid of technology developed by Amado Sanzu, Isshiki was able to transfer his Kāma to other individuals using Jigen as an intermediary, albeit with a low rate of success; of fifteen known test subjects, thirteen are confirmed to have died with Kawaki being the only known successful recipient.^{[citation needed]} Code and Garō are considered "successful failures" as they survived the procedure but did not receive a Kāma with Code instead manifesting a White Kāma while Garō did not as he was the second survivor and was a "less worthy" vessel than Code.^{[citation needed]} As Boruto refuses to use his Chakra Edible Inversion to synthesize a body,^{[citation needed]} Amado wants Kawaki to use a similar method to embed a Kāma containing the biological data of his daughter, Akebi Sanzu, into a clone of her in order to facilitate her resurrection.^{[citation needed]}

Amado noted that there is no known way of removing a Kāma from a vessel, nor to stop its takeover, aside from killing the vessel before the resurrection process completes itself; even the very Ōtsutsuki who placed the seal onto the vessel cannot control the automatic transfer. However, the Kāma's final process of resurrection will not occur so long as the Ōtsutsuki in question is still alive—hence Isshiki was not reborn through Jigen's body despite the Kāma already having extracted all the data into Jigen's body. At the same time, a non-suitable vessel can be used to perform an imperfect resurrection of the Ōtsutsuki. Upon being resurrected, should there be any other Kāma implanted by the same Ōtsutsuki, those additional Kāma will simultaneously be erased. Amado speculates this is a safety feature to prevent duplicate incarnations of the same Ōtsutsuki. However, despite the Kāma's erasure, any Ōtsutsuki data that was already extracted will remain so.^{[citation needed]} Also, White Kāma will not disappear if an Ōtsutsuki resurrects via a complete Kāma.^{[citation needed]} Alternatively, the soul of the Ōtsutsuki can alter the remaining programming of their Kāma to rebuild the vessel's body once, saving their soul but cancelling the resurrection.^{[citation needed]}

Though untested, Kawaki hypothesises that he and Boruto may be able to produce Kāma of their own, as they have each already had in excess of 80% of their body overwritten by Ōtsutsuki genetic data. If proven true this, could potentially allow Boruto to survive Momoshiki's reincarnation by subsequently reincarnating through a vessel of his own. Kawaki also theorises that Code, bearer of a White Kāma, would be an ideal candidate for Boruto to use as a vessel, as Code proved himself compatible by surviving the process while not being anyone's vessel.^{[citation needed]} Sometime during the timeskip, Boruto implants a Kāma into his wife Marie Kuroi and turns her into his vessel.^{[citation needed]} Amado claims to be able to restore Kawaki's Kāma, which would restore his access to the Ōtsutsuki powers in his body without the drawback of being taken over by Isshiki, as his soul has vanished.^{[citation needed]}

Resuscitation

In the case where the Vessel dies before the Kāma completely decompresses, it is possible for the incarnating Ōtsutsuki to resuscitate their host as Kāma serves as the "anchor" for the Ōtsutsuki's soul and a living vessel is required to complete their resurrection. However, as this inevitably uses the remaining data stored in the Kāma to repair the host's damaged cells and tissues, it is not possible for the Ōtsutsuki to resurrect through their Vessel as they were unable to fully overwrite the Vessel's cell data with their own. This occurs on two separate occasions with Boruto Uzumaki being the first to do so, committing suicide through the assistance of his adoptive brother Kawaki after the former deemed that it would be too dangerous for him to keep living when inability to maintain control of himself allows Momoshiki to hijack his conscience.^{[citation needed]} Later upon Ada's use of Omnipotence, Keika Uzumaki used her newfound status as a missing-nin to commit suicide through Sasuke Uchiha's blade, forcing Urashiki Ōtsutsuki to resuscitate her in much the same way as her older brother.^{[citation needed]} Amado believed it remains possible for the Ōtsutsuki to emerge from time to time, however, both Boruto and Keika has since never relinquished control to their respective Ōtsutsuki.^{[citation needed]}

Drawbacks

Trivia

• Though its furigana reading indicates the pronunciation "Kāma" (カーマ), its kanji spelling is given as kusabi (楔), a Japanese tool resembling a wedge or linchpin, and its full appearance when not embedded in a host's body has a similar appearance and function.
• "Kāma" means "wish", "desire", or "longing" in Hindu literature, and in Japanese it is also an uncommon way to write "karma" with the latter being used as an alternate transcription for the technique.

References