The climactic revelations in Naruto regarding Kaguya Otsutsuki and her connection to chakra and the Ten-Tails beast came as a narrative shock to many fans. While divisive, these twists fundamentally recontextualized the shinobi world by introducing an extraterrestrial origin.
Specifically, the tremendously powerful Ten-Tails that threaten Naruto’s world are revealed to contain Kaguya. Through flashbacks, we learn Kaguya was the first being in this world to wield chakra, which she gained by eating the fruit of the God Tree.
Most astonishingly, Kaguya was originally from another world entirely – she was literally an alien.
This overhaul of the lore leading back to aliens was likely driven by narrative necessity regarding the power escalation in the war arc more than creative vision.
Namely, the supremely formidable abilities displayed by Madara Uchiha as the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki may have written Kishimoto into a corner.
Introducing Kaguya as an even greater menace from the stars raises the stakes while sidestepping the need to further inflate Madara’s power to even more unreasonable levels.
The Unexpected Emergence of Kaguya Otsutsuki Was Only Because Madara Was Overpowered
As Naruto raced towards its climax, most fans anticipated Madara or Sasuke would emerge as the ultimate adversary. Instead, Kishimoto stunned audiences by abruptly introducing Kaguya Otsutsuki to overcome Madara and become the series’ endgame villain.
While wholly unexpected, attentive readers may have spotted clues foreshadowing Kaguya’s role. Specifically in chapter 216, Kimimaro of the Sound Ninja Five displays the Shikotsumyaku kekkei genkai enabling bone manipulation – an ability later exhibited by Kaguya herself.
The accompanying chapter text reveals that Kimimaro hails from the “Kaguya clan,” hinting at a deeper connection.
Moreover, the Kaguya clan’s attire and markings closely resemble Kaguya and her Otsutsuki clansmen.
In retrospect, this early naming and power parallel seems indicative of the initial groundwork for Kaguya’s eventual prominence.
However, it remains ambiguous when Kishimoto precisely conceived her character and arc importance. Despite rumors, there is no evidence introduction was forced by writing himself into a corner with Madara’s excessive strength.
More reasonably, Kaguya may have emerged as a convenient common ancestor to perpetuate the battle through Boruto.
The Cosmic Origins of Kaguya Otsutsuki
Kaguya originates from an extraterrestrial clan called the Otsutsuki, who are essentially celestial beings that traverse worlds planting God Trees to harvest chakra as an energy source.
Though born into a low ranking within the clan hierarchy, Kaguya rebelled against her partner and chose to eat the fruit of their planted God Tree herself, granting her incredible power from the dense chakra within.
This transformative event turned Kaguya ruthlessly violent as she seized control of the world.
In time, Kaguya gave birth to two sons, who inherited a portion of her chakra abilities. As she sought to reclaim this dispersed chakra, her sons were forced to band together to battle and seal her away to end her tyranny.
One son named Hagoromo would carry on her chakra lineage, utilizing it to promote peace in the early origins of ninja society.
Though his intentions were good-natured, the ninjutsu arts and culture he introduced became readily weaponized over generations.
We therefore see Kaguya’s once-forbidden action to concentrate the power of the God Tree’s fruit for herself set in motion a cascade of world-altering events.
Her chakra passed through bloodlines fuels change spanning conflicts between herself and her progeny as well as the persistent tensions between ninja clans vying for dominance.
While the injection of an alien mythology backbone may seem utterly absurd in Naruto, there is actually strong sci-fi precedent for this concept.
Comic legend Jack Kirby famously obsessed over ancient astronaut theories which manifest in works like Thor, New Gods and Eternals. However, Naruto’s specific take differs crucially from Kirby’s vision.
Where Kirby’s creations often show advanced extraterrestrials as indifferent and aloof, the Otsutsuki clan are revealed as actively malignant planet harvesters, more akin to Marvel’s world-devourer Galactus.
Despite noble members like Hagoromo and Hamura, the broader clan’s goals are decidedly sinister – draining worlds of chakra to fuel their own power.
So while Kaguya herself was an obviously catastrophic threat as an individual, Boruto has further developed the Otsutsuki as an ongoing menace.
And unlike Kirby’s ancient space gods, they have hostile conquest and extraction of resources firmly in mind. This anchors alien influence as a canonical pillar within the franchise rather than a one-off anomaly.
