Reimagining the Ootsutsuki

Etymology: 大筒木 “Great Bamboo Tree”, in honor of the God Tree

History

The Ōtsutsuki are the descendants of Ragora Shaka, the son of Shidatta Shaka, the man who sacrificed himself to the jubokko that would later become the God Tree. The Shaka ascended the mountain that arose from the earth during this event and Ragora decreed that they change their surname to “Ōtsutsuki” to commemorate his father’s sacrifice.

Generations later, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, a princess of the clan, would violate Ragora’s second decree: that no one eat the fruit that grew from the Tree. In violating this decree, Kaguya unknowingly released into the world energy that would become known as “chakra”. She also awoke the Beast sleeping within the Tree: a ten-headed and ten-tailed Kodama who taught her how to harness the power she had released.

Eventually, Kaguya, absolutely corrupted by her power, slaughtered the rest of her clan. The only Ōtsutsuki to come after her would be the sons she had with the Kodama: Hagoromo and Uimaru.

Physical Characteristics

The most striking characteristic of the Ōtsutsuki clan is their white hair, which they regard as symbolic of their superiority over the rest of the world, as it is a color shared by the God Tree’s flowers and Harafu, the Beast of the God Tree.

Also of note are the horns that Kaguya and her sons bore. It is unknown how or why only Kaguya and her sons possessed these horns, though those who do know of the clan's history consider Kaguya's horns a foreshadowing of what would befall the Ōtsutsuki.

Naming

Befitting their noble status, the Ōtsutsuki are often given names borne by Japanese royalty, i.e. Kaguya is named after the sixth consort of the legendary Emperor Suinin.

The only exceptions to this naming scheme were Ragora's sons, Indra and Asura, named after a Hindu god and demon respectively, and Kaguya’s sons, both of whom were given names meaning “Feathered Robe”.

Behavior

Having lived in relative isolation from the rest of humanity while guarding the God Tree, the Ōtsutsuki viewed themselves as superior to all. This was especially prominent in Princess Kaguya, who was later worshipped as the Rabbit Goddess and who later oppressed humanity before her son Hagoromo sealed her into the Moon.