Naruto is not in sage mode right now. Why is he not using sage mode? Plot? Suspense? Did he forget? The more likely scenario is that sage mode is a little more complicated when they are in fusion mode so they would have to coordinate a bit to use that ability. If that does happen I think Naruto will discover Kurama's hidden ability. Wood Release... It just makes sense that this would be Kurama's element. When Naruto first activated 9t chakra mode the wood release near him reacted to his chakra. Plus I think this ability is necessary for Naruto's survival because wood release and sage chakra are complementary skills. Wood release absorbs the nature chakra and would allow them to have a greater chakra reserve. It also would allow them to passively absorb nature chakra. I think this ability will come into play as a life support mechanic. The life force energy created by combining sage chakra with wood release chakra would be enough to sustain Naruto and Kurama throughout the time skip. Kind of similar to how Madara used the Gedo Mazo to prolong his life. But rather than summoning the Gedo Mazo, they summon the True Several Thousand Hands or a similar version and fuse with it. He then becomes equivalent to the ten tails. The thousand-armed statue would be the body like the gedo mazo, Kurama would be the chakra that animates the vessel, and Naruto would be the host.
These abilities all fall under the Ashura tree of skills. Hashirama had the wood sage/plant body skillset. Naruto has the tailed beast sage/chakra beast fusion skillset. His acquiring of wood release at this time would allow him to combine both skill trees and unlock full Ashura form.
These abilities all fall under the Ashura tree of skills. Hashirama had the wood sage/plant body skillset. Naruto has the tailed beast sage/chakra beast fusion skillset. His acquiring of wood release at this time would allow him to combine both skill trees and unlock full Ashura form.
