71-75
With the Totsuka Blade in one hand and the Yagakigami Sword in the other, Shūichi's blades shone blue-violet, extending into enormous swords.
Blue lotus flames bloomed around him as he flew through the air, striking at Madara's Susanoo with both swords.
Madara's Susanoo wielded dual swords and scabbards, effectively giving it four blades. However, Susanoo's massive size made it less agile compared to Shūichi's Fire Release Chakra Mode.
Each strike shattered Susanoo's armor, but Susanoo's regeneration was astonishing. Even with the enhancement from Shūichi's Bijuu Sealing Mark, his Blue Flame Vacuum Slash still couldn't completely breach Susanoo's full-body defense in a single hit.
"Among ordinary shinobi, this ability would indeed stand out."
Madara's Sharingan spun, tracking Shūichi's swift movements.
Suddenly, with a precise slash, he struck Shūichi dead-on.
Shūichi crossed his swords defensively, but the Blue Flame Vacuum Slash shattered, and he was sent flying by Susanoo's force.
In an instant, a barrage of magatama came hurling at him.
Yasaka Magatama!
With a swift move, Shūichi's Fire Nether Chains materialized, coiling and slapping the magatama out of the way like writhing dragons.
At that moment, Susanoo's twin blades crossed, slashing down as if to tear the sky itself.
Chains spread out like the legs of a spider, forming a circular, purple-blue barrier.
Boom!
Susanoo's twin blades crashed against the barrier in a brilliant burst of light before shattering it, sending Shūichi flying backward from the shockwave.
Madara raised his arm, and Susanoo threw a massive blade, piercing straight through Shūichi's body.
Boom!
Shūichi's form exploded into a wisp of hair, scattering in the wind.
High above, the real Shūichi appeared, slashing down and deflecting Susanoo's massive sword, which crashed into the ocean with a roar.
Immediately, four shadow clones appeared around him, their Fire Nether Chains lashing out.
Susanoo's four arms moved to defend, but the sheer number of chains began to bind it tightly.
Shūichi's hands gathered two Rasenshuriken, each shimmering with different energies.
Magnet Release Rasenshuriken!
Lava Release Rasenshuriken!
He launched the shuriken one after the other.
Inside Susanoo, Madara raised an eyebrow. "No wonder you captured the One-Tail and Four-Tails; your power truly surpasses that of a Kage!"
As the Rasenshuriken approached, Susanoo exerted its strength, yanking on the Fire Nether Chains.
Shūichi's clones immediately released the chains to avoid getting pulled in and blocking the Rasenshuriken themselves.
Now free of the chains, Susanoo raised a blade to block the incoming Magnet Release Rasenshuriken.
Boom!
The shuriken exploded, unleashing a powerful magnetic force that engulfed Susanoo entirely.
"Hm?"
"The Magnet Release of the One-Tail? Not bad."
Madara sensed his control over Susanoo faltering.
Before he could recover, the second Lava Release Rasenshuriken crashed into Susanoo's blade, shattering it. The lava power surged, spinning violently, and even the full-body Susanoo began to disintegrate piece by piece.
"This is turning into a bit of a problem, Madara-sama!" Zetsu's voice chimed in.
"This barely counts as a warm-up…"
Madara leaped backward, slipping out of Susanoo.
Just then, Shūichi appeared directly overhead, sweeping down with a Dragon Flame Breath that cut Madara's body in two.
An instant later, Madara's bisected body dissipated like an illusion.
"So what if you're cheating?"
Seeing Madara unharmed below, Shūichi's eye twitched.
All that effort… for nothing!
Danzo's Izanagi, granted by Hashirama's cells, could negate all damage for sixty seconds with a single Sharingan. Uchiha Obito, with Hashirama cells, could extend this to five minutes.
So what about Uchiha Madara? Surely, his duration wasn't any less than Obito's.
What's the point of fighting him?
Even sealing jutsu isn't effective against him.
…
From below, Madara looked up at Shūichi, floating in the sky. "Though you're far from Hashirama's level, reaching this point at your age is indeed impressive."
"Madara-sama," Zetsu reminded, "time is running out."
Madara ignored Zetsu, locking eyes with Shūichi as his remaining Sharingan spun, casting genjutsu.
It didn't work.
"Seems White Zetsu wasn't exaggerating with his intel!"
Madara smirked, his interest in the young shinobi growing.
"Unfortunately, I'm out of time…" Madara chuckled, "but there will be other chances."
"Maybe you'll even grow to Hashirama's level. That would be worth my full attention."
Madara turned and leapt into the forest, vanishing from sight.
High above, Shūichi watched him go without trying to stop him.
There was no stopping Madara if he wanted to leave.
Madara wasn't an ordinary powerhouse, and he was very familiar with the Flying Thunder God Technique, able to move just as swiftly as Shūichi.
That's why Shūichi hadn't tried to approach Madara using Flying Thunder God—he wasn't about to end up like Tobirama, struck down in an instant.
The black rods created by Yin-Yang Release don't just work on Edo Tensei; they'd immobilize him too, and without backup, that would be dangerous.
"As I am now, I can't defeat Uchiha Madara, even in his aged state with White Zetsu armor."
"Even if I tried to outlast him, I'm not sure I'd win."
"And if I can't seal his soul, outlasting him is meaningless anyway."
Shūichi sighed inwardly.
Edo Tensei? He would never use it!
"Uchiha Madara beneath me?"
Shūichi dispelled his clones, energizing himself. "With the hacks of the Sharingan and Rinnegan, I've still got a long way to go…"
"But I'm not even thirteen yet. Someday, I'll take down Madara!"
Landing, Shūichi glanced in the direction where Obito had disappeared, deep in thought.
Should he intercept Uchiha Obito?
"From what I can tell, Madara manipulated the Mist Village's policy, implanted the Three-Tails into Rin, and orchestrated everything."
"Rin ultimately chose to die by Obito's kunai?"
Shūichi hadn't witnessed it himself but could deduce it from the wound on Rin.
"Someone he loved died by his own hand…"
Shūichi shook his head, doubting he could convince Obito.
Even if he revealed everything he knew, whether Obito would believe it was another matter.
Unless… he could bring Rin back to life.
But…
Shūichi's face darkened.
That guy Madara had no sense of honor. In the end, he made sure Rin's heart completely exploded.
Swoosh!
Deactivating Fire Release Chakra Mode, Shūichi's form vanished.
…
With a quick series of Flying Raijin teleports, Shuichi returned to Konoha in one breath, appearing directly at Konoha Hospital.
Inside, Rin Nohara lay connected to multiple tubes, her blood circulation and breathing barely sustained by the machines. Her heart, however, was entirely gone. Despite the combined efforts of his shadow clone, Yakushi Nono, and the medical Jonin in the hospital, no one had found a way to regrow her heart before her other organs failed.
Shuichi's shadow clone had returned to Konoha with Rin and Kakashi as quickly as possible, but they hadn't teleported directly. They had paused several times along the way to keep her stabilized. The fact that she was still alive was a testament to the speed they managed. Soul Imprisonment Technique had kept Rin's spirit tethered to her body; otherwise, the moment her heart was destroyed, her soul would have departed for the Pure Land.
Assessing the situation, Shuichi furrowed his brow.
"Shuichi, I…" Asuka hesitated, trying to find words.
Shuichi shook his head. "Your chakra isn't enough to heal this kind of injury. This isn't just damaged organs; her heart is entirely gone."
He turned to Yakushi Nono. "Director, how much longer can she hold on?"
Yakushi Nono's forehead glistened with sweat. "No more than five minutes."
Nodding, Shuichi walked out of the room. Outside waited Hiruzen Sarutobi, Kushina Uzumaki, Tsunade, and Shizune. When they saw him, all eyes immediately turned to him.
"Shuichi, what happened? And Obito…?"
Without preamble, Shuichi explained, "Third Hokage, I was a bit too late. Obito was taken away."
Kushina jumped in. "By the Mist Ninja?"
Shuichi shook his head. "No, not by the Mist. Obito killed them all; I think he even saved Kakashi."
Everyone was stunned.
Without elaborating further, Shuichi said, "Third Hokage, Lady Tsunade, there's only one way to save Rin now: we need cells from the First Hokage." He explained, "Rin's heart was cursed to explode just when I was about to heal her."
Hiruzen's expression darkened. "So that's how it happened…"
Tsunade looked troubled. "Our research is nowhere near ready. Even weakened, Grandfather's cells are still too much for an ordinary person to handle."
"She's no ordinary person now. Mist implanted the Three-Tails inside her," Shuichi pointed out. He glanced at Hiruzen. "Third Hokage, I believe Danzo should have a few Sharingan in his possession. We could implant a pair in Rin to help suppress the First Hokage's cells as we transplant them."
Shuichi's plan was Rin's only hope. Heart transplants were impractical under such time constraints, and while Sharingan implants could work almost immediately, the same couldn't be said for hearts.
Hiruzen took a brief moment before nodding. "If that's our only option, then proceed."
"Yes, Lord Third," Shuichi replied, creating a shadow clone. The clone went to Tsunade's lab to retrieve the weakened Hashirama cells she'd cultivated, while Shuichi himself headed to the Hokage's office for the Sharingan Danzo had surrendered. Unfortunately, they were only two-tomoe Sharingan; the three-tomoe were likely reserved for Danzo's own use.
With the Hashirama cells and Sharingan in hand, Shuichi returned to Konoha Hospital and immediately began the surgery. The eye transplants were straightforward, but the Hashirama cell transplant was extremely risky.
As the cells were implanted, Asuka gasped. "It's growing so fast!"
Rin's heart was regenerating at an astonishing pace, something they hadn't been able to achieve with medical ninjutsu alone. But soon, things took a dangerous turn.
"Shuichi, Rin's own cells are being consumed by the First Hokage's cells!" Yakushi Nono warned, her voice tense. "The two-tomoe Sharingan isn't strong enough to control them."
"I see it," Shuichi replied. "Asuka, please use Adamantine Sealing Chains to control the spread of the Hashirama cells."
Asuka nodded. Chains shot out from her back, wrapping around Rin to limit the expansion of the Hashirama cells.
Shuichi pressed his hand on Rin's abdomen, releasing the Three-Tails from its seal.
A flood of crimson chakra burst out, accompanied by a roar as the Three-Tails' head emerged. But Shuichi promptly shoved it back.
Fire Nether Chains!
Eight Trigrams Seal!
The Three-Tails was forced back into a seal, and its chakra was redirected to support Rin, helping her fight against the Hashirama cells. Yet, even weakened Hashirama cells combined with the power of the Two-Tomoe Sharingan and the Three-Tails seemed insufficient to completely suppress the cells.
"Shuichi, we can't hold it all back," Asuka's voice trembled. "The First Hokage's cells are overwhelmingly strong."
Shuichi frowned, understanding that Rin's unconscious state was a significant part of the problem. With her heart restored, he pressed his hand on her collarbone, leaving a Bijuu Sealing Mark on her. Through this curse mark, he directed his chakra to resist the Hashirama cells.
Simultaneously, he cast the genjutsu, Palace of Memories, sending his spiritual body inside her mind to communicate with Rin's soul, urging her to regain control over her body and resist the Hashirama cells with her own will.
To further strengthen her, Shuichi cast Fire Nether Chains, embedding chains into her body to restrain the growth of the Hashirama cells.
After several complex efforts, the rapid spread of the cells finally subsided.
Everyone let out a breath of relief.
Yakushi Nono checked Rin's vitals and reported, "All organs and her circulatory system are stable now."
"Rin likely won't be able to continue as a shinobi," she added. Shuichi nodded.
His Fire Nether Chains had sealed off her ability to use chakra. If she did, the Hashirama cells would have access to that energy as well.
"Hm?" Shuichi's brows furrowed.
Seeing Shuichi's furrowed brow, Asuka quickly asked, "Shuichi, what's wrong?"
Looking at Rin Nohara's face, Shuichi sighed. "Rin says she can't control her body."
Asuka was shocked. "How could that happen? Is it because of your sealing technique?"
Yakushi Nono dismissed this idea. "It's not the seal—it's brain damage!"
Shuichi nodded in agreement. "The Fire Nether Chain doesn't affect her ability to control her own body. The First Hokage's cells only invaded part of her body and didn't spread to her head, so they shouldn't prevent her from waking up."
Asuka nodded thoughtfully. "Which likely means that her brain damage from the previous heart failure wasn't healed by the Hashirama cells."
Shuichi nodded again. Yakushi Nono had finished her preliminary examination of Rin's brain and reported with a serious expression, "It is indeed extensive brain damage, with a large area of dead brain cells."
Although they had done their best to sustain oxygen and blood flow within her body, brain damage was almost unavoidable.
"This is a bit troublesome…" Shuichi sighed.
Dead brain cells aren't easy to treat—not even for someone like Tsunade.
Yakushi Nono offered some comfort. "We've already done an incredible job saving her. For most, it would have been impossible."
Asuka nodded in agreement.
Nono concluded, "For the brain damage, we'll have to proceed very slowly."
"That's all we can do," Shuichi agreed. He used his spiritual clone to inform Rin of the situation and then turned to leave the room.
…
Outside the hospital room, everyone's gaze fell on Shuichi as he exited. Kakashi, now awake, was among those waiting.
Shuichi explained, "Her heart has recovered, but it isn't strong enough to withstand the First Hokage's cells. For now, we've sealed it. However, due to the heart injury, she has sustained brain damage, with a significant area of dead brain cells. At this point, Rin can't wake up or control her body."
Kakashi stood frozen, then anxiously asked, "Shuichi, will she stay like this forever?"
Tsunade responded, "Brain damage was anticipated—it was unavoidable with that level of injury. As for the dead brain cells, it's not untreatable; it's just very challenging. We'll need to slowly replace the damaged cells and allow new ones to grow. It's a delicate process and will take considerable time."
"However, as long as her other organs are stable, her life is not in danger."
"Kakashi, there's no need to worry so much."
"To reach this point is already a miracle," she added.
Shuichi placed a reassuring hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "Don't worry; Rin will wake up. Her consciousness is actually intact."
"When she's moved to a standard ward, you'll be able to connect with her through chakra and communicate."
Kakashi nodded, though he looked as though he had more to say.
Just then, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke up. "Shuichi, Tsunade, come to my office together."
Shuichi nodded but left behind a shadow clone just in case.
...
Hokage's Office
Tsunade stood with her arms crossed, frowning. "Old man, why did you call us here?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Shuichi and said, "Shuichi, it seemed like you left some things unsaid earlier. If Obito wasn't taken by the Mist ninja, then who was it?"
Shuichi pondered for a moment. "I don't know who it is yet, but whoever controlled Rin had immense power."
"The most critical point is that this person possessed a Sharingan with three tomoe."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "A Sharingan? From the Uchiha clan, perhaps?"
"The strongest among them should be the clan head, Fugaku Uchiha. But, he shouldn't be capable of challenging you, right?"
Hiruzen fell into deep thought, worried that the Uchiha clan might have discovered Danzo's actions. But it seemed unlikely.
Shuichi continued, "Although he had a three-tomoe Sharingan, the genjutsu he used was beyond anything I know."
"I even split his body in two, but both halves vanished, and then he reappeared, completely unharmed—as if what I attacked was a mere illusion."
"My genjutsu abilities don't reach that level, though…"
"And as a consequence, he lost sight in one of his three-tomoe Sharingan."
"But that isn't the main point."
"The real issue is another power—one that rivals, or may even surpass, my numerous Rasenshuriken."
Both Hiruzen and Tsunade were taken aback.
Shuichi didn't directly mention the name "Susanoo" but instead described its appearance.
Hiruzen's face immediately changed. "It can't be…"
Tsunade quickly asked, "Old man, do you know what that ability is?"
Hiruzen nodded, his voice grave. "It's the Uchiha clan's most powerful technique! It surpasses the three-tomoe Sharingan. It's a Mangekyo Sharingan ability, called Susanoo!"
"Years ago, Uchiha Madara used this very technique to battle the First Hokage."
Tsunade frowned. "To my knowledge, no Uchiha has had a Mangekyo Sharingan since Madara, right? Where did this person come from?"
"Could it be that some Uchiha are hiding their power? No… that doesn't seem right…"
Hiruzen's gaze grew somber. "There must be more to this. It may have no connection to the Uchiha clan in the village."
Shuichi feigned realization. "Mangekyo… So that means Obito has awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan as well!"
Tsunade was stunned. "How could that be?"
"Last I remember, that kid had just awakened the double-tomoe in the Land of Grass, right?"
Shuichi responded, "Tsunade-sama, don't underestimate Obito. Although he's naturally kind-hearted and has his timid side, he's not without talent."
"And you know the requirements for awakening and advancing the Sharingan."
"Based on my assessment, Rin was captured by the Mist ninja and had the Three-Tails forcibly implanted into her. They intended for her to return to the village with the Three-Tails and unleash it there."
"But it's clear this was all part of a greater plot."
"While Kakashi and Obito rescued Rin, Kakashi stayed behind to cover them. But he couldn't handle so many Mist ninja alone, so Obito and Rin were caught up again."
"Rin's heart was sealed with a curse mark, preventing her from taking her own life. So, to protect the village from the Three-Tails, she chose to die by Obito's kunai."
"From what I observed, Obito had feelings for Rin. To see a cherished friend, and his loved one, die at his own hand—that shock could have triggered his Mangekyo Sharingan, which explains why he was able to take out all the Mist ninja and put Kakashi under hypnosis."
"That's not something achievable with just a three-tomoe Sharingan."
Hiruzen nodded. "So, the one wielding the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan must be targeting Obito."
Shuichi nodded. "From the current information, it seems to be about Obito."
"He likely left willingly, though I suspect his character has changed drastically by now."
Tsunade's face grew grave. "So, there are now two people comparable to Madara?"
Shuichi shook his head. "It's more than that—there's something else I discovered."
"The person who controlled the curse mark… he has the power of the First Hokage's cells!"
"What?" Tsunade and Hiruzen exclaimed simultaneously.
Tsunade's face flushed with fury. "That damn Orochimaru…"
Hiruzen's mind jumped to Danzo, but he quickly dismissed the thought. He knew Danzo well—Danzo wouldn't have taken this approach.
"No, it's not Orochimaru…" Shuichi said. "That person's mastery of the First Hokage's cells exceeds even Orochimaru's."
Tsunade's face darkened. "Then who could it be?"
"Who else in the ninja world understands my grandfather's cells so well?"
"Also, what's his motive?"
"Setting up Obito to awaken his Sharingan yet not taking his eyes immediately… what's the goal?"
Shuichi shook his head as if clueless.
Hiruzen then thought of the Nine-Tails, his tone turning grave. "Shuichi, we may need to accelerate the Tailed Beast plan, ensuring that Kushina fully masters the Nine-Tails' power as soon as possible."
Feigning innocence, Shuichi asked, "Is it because of the Nine-Tails?"
Hiruzen explained, "The Mangekyo Sharingan can control the Nine-Tails. Long ago, Uchiha Madara used his Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails in his battle with the First Hokage."
"With two Mangekyo Sharingan wielders and that resurrection-reversing genjutsu you mentioned, we can't afford to be unprepared."
Tsunade suggested, "Since Rin's alive, perhaps we can still reach Obito."
"If we can, maybe we'll gain some intelligence."
Hiruzen replied, "But we must also prepare for the worst."
"I'll have Minato pulled back from the front lines."
"And Shuichi, you need to be ready. To end the war with the Stone ninja swiftly, we may have to return the Four-Tails."
Shuichi nodded, then hesitated purposefully. "And the Uchiha clan…"
"I suspect that the person I encountered is collecting three-tomoe Sharingan."
Hiruzen pondered this for a moment before saying, "Shuichi, you should be the one to communicate this to them. You're friends with both Shisui and Obito; it may go over better that way."
Tsunade scoffed at this remark. It all came down to trust issues on both sides.
Ignoring Tsunade's expression, Hiruzen asked Shuichi, "When you left a shadow clone behind just now, was it for a specific reason?"
Shuichi nodded. "The enemy's intel-gathering and infiltration abilities are strong. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to manipulate the Mist ninja so easily."
"It reminded me of when I sensed someone watching during our battle with the Sand ninja in the Land of Rivers."
Hiruzen felt a chill. "I'll have the barrier team and sensory ninja conduct a thorough search immediately!"
Shuichi shook his head. "Standard sensory techniques may not suffice; otherwise, Asuka's Kagura Mind's Eye would have detected them."
"Minato-sensei and I aren't lacking in sensory abilities either."
Hiruzen's expression grew even heavier.
Tsunade also wore a serious look.
"For now, let's leave it at that," Hiruzen said, sounding weary.
…
Outside the Hokage's office, Shūichi suddenly turned to Tsunade and said, "Lady Tsunade, it seems we need to speed up our research."
Tsunade frowned. "That's easier said than done."
Shūichi chuckled, then asked seriously, "Lady Tsunade, what do you think of me merging with the First Hokage's cells?"
Tsunade froze, then, after a brief silence, shook her head. "It's too dangerous. And it shouldn't be your risk to take. Above you, there's the old man, there's Danzo and others like Jiraiya and Minato. You don't need to shoulder so much pressure. Right now, you can already take down that mysterious person, and in ten years, he won't stand a chance."
Shūichi laughed heartily at this, then added, "Directly merging with the First Hokage's cells wouldn't suit my style anyway. What we need is to understand the essence of those cells—and take it a step further."
With his system, he was brimming with confidence. "Lady Tsunade, I'll see you tonight at the lab!" he said, disappearing in an instant.
Tsunade stood there a moment, then muttered with a smirk, "Brat, talking big like it's all that easy."
…
In the Uchiha Clan's district, Shūichi sensed Shisui's chakra and instantly used the Flying Thunder God technique to appear next to him. Shisui was feeding some crows and, sensing Shūichi's presence, smiled without turning around. "Shūichi, what brings you here?"
"An important matter," Shūichi replied. "I'm here under orders from the Third Hokage and need you to introduce me to Clan Leader Fugaku."
Shisui turned serious, setting aside his bird feed. "Understood. Wait here; I'll be back shortly."
A moment later, Shisui returned and led Shūichi to Fugaku Uchiha's residence, where they noticed a small figure in the hallway.
"Shūichi, this is the Clan Leader's son, Itachi," Shisui introduced with a smile.
Hearing them, Itachi looked up, beaming. "Brother Shisui!" he called, running over on his little legs.
Shisui knelt and poked Itachi's forehead gently. "I need to speak with your father now, so I'll play with you later, okay? And this is my friend, Shūichi Hoshita. You can call him Brother Shūichi!"
Itachi bowed politely, "Brother Shūichi, I am Itachi Uchiha!"
Shūichi smiled and ruffled Itachi's head. "Nice to meet you, Itachi. I'm Shūichi Hoshita."
At that moment, Mikoto Uchiha appeared, nodding politely to Shūichi. "Itachi, don't bother your father's guest!"
"Yes, Mother!" Itachi said, bowing quickly to Shūichi and Shisui before scurrying off.
After exchanging greetings with Mikoto, Shūichi followed Shisui into the guest room to meet Fugaku Uchiha. Once they were seated, Fugaku asked, "Shūichi, is there a message from the Third Hokage?"
Shūichi replied, "It's not so much a message as a matter involving Obito."
"Obito?" Both Fugaku and Shisui looked surprised, their expressions darkening.
"Shūichi, does this mean… has Obito…?"
"No, Obito should be alright," Shūichi clarified. "But his squad was ambushed by the Mist shinobi on the southern front. Rin Nohara was killed, and Obito is missing. Based on the scene, it seems Rin died by Obito's hand, triggering his Mangekyō Sharingan."
Fugaku and Shisui both froze in shock.
"Does this mean Obito defected?" Fugaku asked, his tone growing grim.
"No," Shūichi shook his head. "Rin had the Three-Tails sealed within her by Mist shinobi to wreak havoc in the village. She chose to die at Obito's hand to protect it. There's more to this, though—when I arrived at the battlefield, I was ambushed by a mysterious person. He had a three-tomoe Sharingan but also used the Mangekyō's Susano'o."
Shisui exclaimed in shock, "What?"
Fugaku, meanwhile, felt a chill run down his back, wondering if Shūichi was testing him. But this matter... could it mean suspicion of an Uchiha traitor?
Shūichi observed Fugaku's wary expression, continuing, "The figure displayed the three-tomoe Sharingan initially. When I cut him down, his body vanished like an illusion, and he reappeared somewhere else, though his eye had gone blind."
Realizing this was important clan knowledge, Fugaku knew he couldn't conceal it. "This sounds like our clan's forbidden technique, Izanagi—a genjutsu that rewrites reality, at the cost of losing an eye's sight permanently."
Shūichi feigned amazement. "Izanagi… I didn't expect such an ultimate illusion to exist! It seems my deduction was right."
"So," Shūichi continued, "I came not only to verify some information but also to warn you, Clan Leader Fugaku. Someone is stealing the three-tomoe Sharingan from the Uchiha Clan. And now they have two pairs of Mangekyō, with Obito willingly joining this person."
Fugaku nodded gravely. "Understood. Thank you, Shūichi."
"No need to thank me, Clan Leader. Besides, I'm friends with Shisui, and the Uchiha are part of our village."
Fugaku spoke with conviction, "The Uchiha will find this mystery person and bring Obito back! Lately, many Sharingan have been lost on the Stone battlefield—now it seems they weren't taken by the Stone but by this mysterious individual. One of our three-tomoe bearers, Uchiha Yu, has also gone missing, and his body hasn't been recovered."
Uchiha Yu? Shūichi's eyes narrowed. "So that explains it… The chakra I sensed back then had felt familiar."
He suspected that White Zetsu had interfered with his sensory abilities, preventing him from identifying Uchiha Yu immediately.
"Then, was it Uchiha Yu who awakened the Mangekyō and defected?"
Fugaku thought carefully, assuming the mystery figure to be Yu. But Shūichi countered, "No, it seems Yu left with Obito. The one who fought me was someone else. His chakra felt entirely unfamiliar—not from anyone in the village."
This statement allowed Fugaku to relax slightly, contemplating aloud, "Could it be an Uchiha remnant from outside the village?"
"No matter who it is, they mean us harm," Shūichi replied. "Clan Leader Fugaku, please stay vigilant!"
"Three pairs of Mangekyō… even just two pairs could cause the top brass of Konoha to howl like dogs."
Leaving the Uchiha district, Shūichi felt a bit speechless.
It seemed that people with selfish perspectives could never truly understand the expansive mindset of those who acted out of a "greater love."
"But it appears the Third Hokage is unaware of Izanagi, while Danzo somehow obtained knowledge of this technique—especially before the Uchiha clan massacre," Shūichi thought, frowning.
Thinking of that old fox Danzo, Shūichi suddenly felt he could understand the Second Hokage and Danzo's attitude toward the Uchiha clan. Each Uchiha was like a ticking time bomb, ready to darken and explode with insane power at any moment. Without a force as overwhelming as Hashirama's, it was hard not to be fearful.
The more he learned about the Uchiha, the deeper that fear ran—enough to make one wish to eliminate them. It was, after all, the safest and simplest solution.
Then, his thoughts drifted to Uchiha Obito.
If there was no way to bring him back…
Two Kamui, plus Hashirama's cells and Susano'o…
Shūichi couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. He surmised that Madara must have used the excuse of implanting Hashirama's cells to place a curse seal on Obito's heart to keep him under control.
Luckily, Rin hadn't died!
"Would Madara send White Zetsu to kill Rin?"
"The more one does, the more mistakes they make…"
In this moment, even Shūichi himself sensed the intense shift of the future. His very existence, his every action, was changing the future he knew.
To be honest, it was a little unnerving.
"Everyone's using cheats, huh?"
"Then let's see whose cheat is stronger, and whose lasts longer!"
Shūichi vanished, reappearing at the Konoha Hospital.
Although it was just a standard ward, there were ANBU guards stationed outside.
Once his shadow clone dispersed, Shūichi saw Kakashi sitting by the bed, head lowered, deep in thought. Shūichi didn't disturb him.
"Kakashi… hopefully, he won't end up single for life," Shūichi thought with a smirk, then turned to leave. A single hair fell from him, drifting onto a flower bed, transforming into a hidden pebble.
Leaving the hospital, Shūichi glanced at the darkening sky and returned home.
Asuka was busy in the kitchen. After a quick wash, Shūichi leaned against the door, watching her quietly, his mind swirling with various thoughts.
Would Asuka die in battle someday?
Would Nonō Yakushi become a target for Black Zetsu or White Zetsu?
Shizune…
A sense of unease washed over him, like a creeping paranoia.
"I need to advance the Bijuu Sealing Mark further…"
Collecting himself, Shūichi focused back on his training.
Sufficient strength was the only guarantee of safety.
And then there was Susano'o to deal with.
Should he create a giant avatar too?
"Lava Release could work… Once I get the 'Medical Master' Tag, my Yang Release skills should be close to the First Hokage's level."
"With the 'Prodigy' Tag, unlocking the mysteries of Hashirama's cells will only be a matter of time."
"And then there's the unique Uzumaki body…"
Shūichi glanced at Asuka's graceful profile. "No, or rather, Asuka's special physique, specifically."
Hashirama Senju's Sage Body had a passive healing ability, requiring no hand signs and able to regenerate from any injury.
In terms of cellular characteristics, Hashirama's cells displayed extreme vitality—self-dividing, rapidly regenerating, but also notoriously difficult to control.
You could even say that Hashirama's cells are overactivated.
This could be viewed as a display of Yang Release's properties.
Meanwhile, Asuka's unique body, like Karin's, also showed extraordinary healing properties, albeit in a different form.
In comparison, Hashirama's Sage Body was more of a passive, self-healing system.
Even for self-healing, Asuka would need someone to bite her to activate it.
Furthermore, Hashirama's healing was exclusive to his own body; it couldn't be transferred, and few could handle his cells after a transplant.
Asuka's special body, however, could heal others and even replenish chakra.
Although he hadn't yet begun a formal study of Asuka's cells, Shūichi already had a good understanding of them.
Asuka's cellular activity also far exceeded the norm, but compared to Hashirama, hers could be seen as more inert.
One was passive; the other, active.
One was overly activated, while the other was highly controlled.
This was why Shūichi believed Hashirama's Sage Body had its limitations.
Combining the best of both—Hashirama's cells and Asuka's body—might result in a truly perfect Sage Body, capable of self-healing, healing others, and complete control.
But all this was still just a theory.
He would need to conduct in-depth research to confirm it, which was also why he'd been working on setting up his own lab.
…
The Mountain Graveyard
Following White Zetsu to the Mountain Graveyard, Obito Uchiha came face to face with the frail, tube-connected, elderly figure of Madara Uchiha.
Turning to White Zetsu, Obito activated his Mangekyō Sharingan. "Are you kidding me?"
"Of course not!" White Zetsu grinned. "This is your ancestor, Madara Uchiha!"
"Madara Uchiha?" Obito looked back at the old man, who seemed barely clinging to life, and frowned. "Madara Uchiha should be long dead by now. He was from the same era as the First Hokage!"
Madara's eyes opened, revealing the three-tomoe Sharingan. He had returned a bit ahead of Obito and had replaced his previously lost eye, now fully restored.
Genjutsu activated!
Obito's consciousness was immediately pulled into a mental realm.
"Even though it's only three-tomoe, his eye power is stronger than mine!" Obito thought, alarmed as he stared at the elderly man with a deep sense of wariness.
At that moment, Madara's aged form morphed into his prime. "Whether or not I am Madara Uchiha hardly matters, does it?"
Obito nodded. "You're right, it doesn't matter who you are. What I want is a way to create a new world."
"As you wish." Madara gestured, shifting the surrounding scenery. "But first, you need to understand the secrets of the Uchiha clan. This knowledge will help you harness your power and solidify your goal."
"Of course, you could learn this from the Sage of Six Paths' tablet in the Uchiha Naka Shrine. But with your current eye power, you won't be able to decipher the full contents."
From Madara's lips poured a long tale—the Sage of Six Paths, the Sharingan, the Mangekyō, the Rinnegan, and… the Infinite Tsukuyomi!
Obito's eyes lit up at the mention of Infinite Tsukuyomi. "So, as long as we gather the nine-tailed beasts and seal them in the Gedo Statue, I can use the Rinnegan to activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi?"
Madara nodded. "Yes, I call it the Eye of the Moon Plan."
Obito remarked, "The First Hokage is dead. With your strength and the Rinnegan, capturing the nine tailed beasts shouldn't be an issue, right?"
Madara replied, "Unlocking the Rinnegan was extremely taxing. You see the state I'm in."
"I need to be revived at my peak to control the power of the Ten Tails fully."
"And don't underestimate the power of the Five Great Nations. If you want to create a new world, you'll have to dismantle their established order."
"You'll be going up against the entire Shinobi World!"
"You may have good eye power, but you've only recently unlocked your Mangekyō. You haven't yet achieved its Eternal state, as I mentioned before, and you must have felt the strain on your eyes."
Obito instinctively touched his eyes, feeling the toll his Mangekyō abilities had taken.
Madara continued, "Therefore, you'll need to transplant Hashirama's cells next. Only then can you eliminate the side effects of using the Mangekyō Sharingan, avoiding blindness."
---
Outside of this mental realm, White Zetsu, controlling the body of Uchiha Yū, received intel from the other White Zetsu outside. Glancing at Obito, who had his eyes closed, he said to Madara, "Lord Madara, I have some bad news."
"That girl, Rin Nohara, isn't dead. Though she's in poor condition, Konoha's medical capabilities will likely restore her eventually."
Madara raised an eyebrow. "Descendant of Hashirama? Impressive resilience."
White Zetsu chuckled. "Actually, you guessed wrong. It was that guy, Shūichi Hoshita, who probably used Hashirama's cells."
"This complicates things!"
"Konoha has already placed that girl under strict protection."
If Rin didn't die, would Obito still pursue the Eye of the Moon Plan?
Madara frowned slightly. That boy, whom he hadn't paid much attention to, was now a flaw in his plan.
Madara suddenly asked, "You must have planted spores on her before, right?"
White Zetsu praised him, "Of course, Lord Madara!"
"Unfortunately, the intel indicates that Shūichi has put powerful seals on Rin. My spores can't activate."
"While I could infiltrate her as a unique artificial being, Shūichi is clever enough to prepare countermeasures, so failure is likely."
Madara responded calmly, "Then give it a try."
"Approach as a Hidden Mist shinobi."
White Zetsu nodded. "Understood!" He then directed Uchiha Yū's body out of the area.
Spiral Zetsu remarked, "Lord Madara, while no one knows your identity, and no one can guess the Eye of the Moon Plan, not dealing with Shūichi is a serious flaw, isn't it?"
"If Shūichi meets Obito and tells him the truth, Obito could slip from our control."
Madara knew this. Shūichi Hoshita's existence, and Madara's failure to eliminate him, had indeed created a flaw in his plan.
The perfect time to eliminate Shūichi would have been when both Minato and Shūichi were unavailable.
But that was unlikely, as Hidden Mist was already reaching its breaking point.
Madara had anticipated Shūichi's arrival, which led to their previous clash.
"I underestimated that boy… but it's no matter." Madara chuckled to himself, then added indifferently, "She isn't crucial. Just a pawn."
"And even Obito, as suited as he is, is still just a useful piece."
"Since he's a piece, he can be replaced at any time."
"If the plan fails, then just inform him of this 'good news.'"
Spiral Zetsu chuckled, knowing Madara's nature well. "Quite unfortunate. It seems we'll need to keep searching for other candidates."
Madara replied, "No need."
To find another with potential like Obito's would likely take another ten years, if not longer.
But he couldn't wait that long.
And besides, Nagato's timing was also almost ripe.
---
After dinner, Shūichi left a shadow clone at home to continue studying the Reanimation Jutsu.
Upon leaving, he sent another shadow clone to the Mist battlefield, where Pakura was, while his real body headed to the experimental base.
First, he would focus on researching Hashirama's cells and then Asuka's cells.
The night passed without event.
The next morning, after early training, Shūichi went to the Konoha Hospital to check on Rin Nohara, where he spotted Kakashi standing in the hallway outside her room.
Walking up beside him, Shūichi asked, "You've completed Chidori—do you have a plan for the next stage of your training?"
Kakashi shook his head, then asked, "Obito… did he defect?"
Shūichi chuckled, "Kakashi, you know him better than I do."
"Not defected, but Rin's situation has dealt him a heavy blow, so he was probably deceived by someone."
"Besides, your recent ambush by Mist shinobi had traces of manipulation, but not by the Mist."
"This was a scheme specifically targeting Obito."
Kakashi, shaken, said, "Shūichi, I remember you…"
Shūichi raised his hand to interrupt, "The key is not just finding Obito but changing his mindset."
"Don't worry. The village won't give up on him."
At that moment, Minato Namikaze appeared in the hallway, and both greeted him respectfully, "Minato Sensei!"
Minato quickly approached them. "How is Rin doing?"
Shūichi replied, "Her condition has stabilized, and with smooth follow-up treatment, she should fully recover."
With that, the three entered Rin's hospital room.
The room was divided into an outer section, guarded by two Anbu shinobi, and an inner section where Rin was, watched over by a kunoichi.
By Rin's bedside, Shūichi and Kakashi recounted the events to Minato, who sighed after listening, then reassured Kakashi, "Don't worry, Kakashi. The village will bring Obito back."
"Shūichi, who do you think the mysterious person you fought was?"
Shūichi's expression darkened, "Madara Uchiha!"
Kakashi was stunned. "How is that possible? He should have died long ago."
Shūichi responded, "It's certainly an astonishing guess because Madara is from such a distant past."
"But anyone who can unlock the Mangekyō and still use the Uchiha clan's forbidden techniques must have complete knowledge of the Uchiha legacy."
"It would be nearly impossible for an outsider with diluted Uchiha blood, and since they're not part of the Uchiha in the village, the likelihood that it's Madara is high."
Minato added, "Is it because of that ultimate genjutsu?"
"It's possible he could have used it to deceive the First Hokage in the Battle of the Valley of the End. And acquiring the First Hokage's cells from that battle wouldn't be surprising."
"But regardless, we must be extremely cautious. The Mangekyō Sharingan isn't something ordinary shinobi can contend with."
Shūichi nodded, then said, "I'm actually quite worried about Obito's current state."
Minato immediately picked up on it. "Is it because Rin is still alive?"
Shūichi nodded. "It's not just about Rin's life or death; my intervention has also disrupted the mysterious man's plan."
"The enemy didn't take Obito's eye, indicating they intended to manipulate him using Rin's death."
"So, I plan to have Rin 'die' again!"
Minato frowned, "That'll be difficult to conceal from the enemy, given their extensive intelligence-gathering abilities and stealth."
Shūichi smiled, "I'm fairly confident about this."
He stepped forward, plucking a strand of hair from Rin's head with the follicle still attached. As it hit the ground, it transformed into a duplicate of Rin.
Minato's eyes widened in surprise. "It even has the same chakra signature!"
Shūichi nodded, "Because it uses Rin's own cells."
Minato nodded in agreement, "If that's the case, then it should work."
"Now, let's see if the enemy will show up."
Shūichi felt reasonably confident about this.
To Madara Uchiha, Obito was an incredibly valuable pawn.
In fact, there was likely no other suitable candidate within the current Uchiha clan.
Even ten years down the line, they wouldn't find someone like him.
While Itachi Uchiha was ruthless enough to annihilate his entire clan, he wouldn't be as easily manipulated as Obito.
With the plan in motion, Shūichi used his clone to replace Rin Nohara in the hospital bed.
Meanwhile, the real Rin was transported by Shūichi to a secured lab via Flying Thunder God, where the defenses were far more reliable than any group of Anbu. Shūichi had set up numerous seals and barriers, making it impossible for White Zetsu or Black Zetsu to infiltrate unnoticed.
Watching Shūichi disguised as Rin lying in the hospital bed, Kakashi asked eagerly, "Minato-sensei, Shūichi, what can I do to help?"
Shūichi replied with a smile, "Of course, Kakashi. You need to come here every day until you're called away on a mission."
With a mischievous glint in his eye, Shūichi nodded, and Kakashi earnestly agreed, "Understood."
For the next three days, all was calm.
Meanwhile, in the southern Fire Country battlefield, the presence of Shūichi's clone turned the tide, and the Mist Ninjas, unable to hold out any longer, withdrew from the peninsula, retreating across the sea. The Konoha-Mist battle had reached a temporary ceasefire.
On the fourth day after setting the plan, Kakashi received orders to join Guy and the others in reinforcing the Land of Grass.
On the sixth day, a medical ninja entered Rin's room to replenish her nutrients, and the Anbu guarding the room went through the routine of checking the medication and verifying the ninja's identity through the mask.
But as they locked eyes, a Sharingan appeared, and the Anbu instantly froze.
"Hey, what's going on?"
The other Anbu stationed outside frowned.
White Zetsu turned his gaze, catching the other Anbu in his Sharingan trap, subduing him in an instant.
The female ninja on guard inside noticed immediately. "Who's there?"
Just as she was about to draw her blade, spores that had been planted on her the previous day swiftly absorbed her chakra, growing rapidly and binding her arms, mouth, and nose.
Clang!
Her blade fell to the floor.
White Zetsu walked over to Rin's bed, sighing, "Poor thing…"
He picked up her blade, swung it, and cut through "Rin's" body in one swift motion, splattering blood across the room.
"You're dead meat!"
Shūichi's voice boomed, and with a crash, the disguised White Zetsu was sent flying, bleeding from his eyes as he was thrown through the hospital wall. Before he could hit the ground, Shūichi was already upon him, gripping his throat and slamming him to the floor.
Crack!
The ground split open and sank under the impact.
White Zetsu gave a wry smile. "As expected of someone so fast… I didn't even have time to activate Izanagi."
Luckily, he'd planned for this.
In the next instant, White Zetsu vanished and reappeared outside the Konoha Hospital, now disguised as a Mist Ninja.
But as he leapt forward, Shūichi appeared beside him, swung his blade, and cut his body in two.
"Quite impressive! Looks like this time's the end for me!" White Zetsu's expression was exaggeratedly desperate as he realized that even Izanagi wouldn't remove the Flying Thunder God mark Shūichi had left on him.
Over and over, White Zetsu was slain by Shūichi's shadow clones lying in wait around the hospital, only to revive and try to escape further outside the village.
The commotion quickly drew the attention of Anbu led by Chihiro, who, stunned by the sight, could only follow closely.
Konoha's police force arrived as well, similarly astounded as they joined the chase.
Uchiha Fugaku and Shisui arrived shortly afterward, watching as the Mist Ninja, over and over, was killed and revived.
Shisui leaned in, asking, "Clan Leader, is that…?"
Fugaku's face darkened, "Izanagi!"
"This Mist Ninja not only obtained a Three-Tomoe Sharingan but also knows one of our clan's forbidden techniques."
Fugaku was at a loss. How had the forbidden Izanagi technique, known only to a select few within the clan, spread outside? Even among those with Three-Tomoe, not everyone was privy to such secrets, specifically to avoid infighting within the clan as in the past.
...
The battle quickly moved outside Konoha.
"Seems like shaking them off won't be easy!"
Upon his next revival, White Zetsu still maintained his casual tone, though this time, after being critically injured by Shūichi, he didn't regenerate fully, and his Mist Ninja form died on the spot.
But unfortunately for him, Shūichi had been watching closely.
Picking up the "Mist Ninja's" body, Shūichi handed it over to Chihiro, who had caught up. "Seal this corpse, Chihiro."
"Understood!"
Chihiro took the body and immediately set about sealing it, then had her subordinates secure it in a sealing scroll.
With a poof, Shūichi dispelled his clone. His true self, at the lab, teleported to Shisui's side via Flying Thunder God.
Infusing chakra into the ground, Shūichi expanded his perception across the land, quickly pinpointing his target.
With a smirk, he said, "Found you!"
"Shisui, head back!"
The moment he spoke, Shūichi took to the skies, activating his Fire Release Chakra Mode. Blue lotuses bloomed across his body as he shot forward, creating shockwaves as he sped through the air.
"Incredible speed!" Fugaku gasped.
It was his first time witnessing Shūichi in this state, flying at astonishing speed. Other Anbu and Uchiha ninjas around couldn't hide their amazement either. Flying at such speeds—he truly was the "Blue Flash of Konoha!"
...
Deep in the forest, White Zetsu, controlling Uchiha Yu, was dashing westward when he sensed an extraordinary speed approaching.
With a rush of wind and a crash, Shūichi landed from above, sending a fierce gust through the area.
White Zetsu, prepared to escape, released Uchiha Yu, vanishing underground.
But chains soon tore through the earth, missing by mere seconds.
Shūichi frowned.
White Zetsu's swift retreat made capturing him with his Fire Nether Chains a challenge. He turned to examine Uchiha Yu, who lay on the ground, frail and lifeless.
"All chakra's been drained… only one eye left, and it's blinded."
Shūichi sighed.
The previous White Zetsu had a single Three-Tomoe Sharingan, likely transplanted, while the other White Zetsu, who'd possessed Uchiha Yu, had used a Transfer Seal to place Izanagi within the transplanted eye, activating it when necessary.
Though it cost a Sharingan, they'd gained intelligence on the Flying Thunder God.
"I wonder if White Zetsu knows I left a Flying Thunder God mark on Obito…"
Pondering this, Shūichi deactivated his Fire Release Chakra Mode and teleported back to Shisui's side, bringing Uchiha Yu's body with him.
"Clan Leader Fugaku, the one controlling Yu has drained his chakra."
Shūichi laid Uchiha Yu's body before Fugaku.
Seeing Yu's blinded and empty eye sockets, Fugaku's mix of rage and sorrow was tempered by relief.
Yu hadn't defected or betrayed them—he was a victim.
Fugaku bowed deeply to Shūichi. "Thank you, Shūichi. The Uchiha Clan is in your debt."
"No need for thanks, Clan Leader Fugaku," Shūichi replied humbly.
With a nod to Shisui, Shūichi said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
With that, he disappeared.
...
Hokage's Office
When Shūichi arrived, both Chihiro and his teacher, Minato Namikaze, were already there.
After giving a quick rundown of the situation, Shūichi turned to Chihiro.
Without delay, Chihiro unlocked a sealing scroll and retrieved the corpse from earlier.
Shūichi stepped forward, raised his right hand, and a fiery chain shot from his palm, piercing through the corpse on the ground.
In an instant, the corpse reverted to its original form—a White Zetsu, bearing a single, blind Sharingan.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze sharpened. "Is this its true form?"
Shūichi nodded gravely. "It's almost entirely composed of cells from the First Hokage."
"What?"
"How is that even possible?"
Both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze were shocked.
Shūichi knew well that it was Madara Uchiha who, using the Rinnegan and the Gedo Statue, had cultivated this clone using Hashirama's cells. These White Zetsu were distinct from those who had been sacrificed to the God Tree by Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
Still, Shūichi feigned ignorance and shook his head. "I'm not sure how it was created, but it's an invaluable research asset for us."
Hiruzen made a swift decision. "Then I'll leave it to you and Tsunade."
Shūichi nodded, promptly taking the corpse back to the lab.
After all, a fresh specimen was best!
---
Laboratory
In the lab, Tsunade examined the bloodless corpse as she dissected it. She frowned. "This doesn't seem human at all."
Shūichi agreed. "Indeed, it resembles a plant more than anything else."
"But without a doubt, it represents a direction for cultivating the First Hokage's cells."
"These plant-like cells are remarkably stable, and most importantly, they can fuse with human bodies."
Shūichi continued dissecting with efficient precision, slicing various samples and handing them to Tsunade. "See if we can culture it. If successful, we might be able to use it to grow limbs and organs for transplant."
"Additionally, its regenerative abilities are incredible."
Tsunade nodded, diving into her work.
Shūichi deployed several shadow clones to assist her.
He had long wanted to capture a White Zetsu for study, perhaps even use one as a sacrificial catalyst to summon the spirits of Hashirama and Tobirama to assist them.
However, catching a White Zetsu in these circumstances was no small feat.
---
Mountain Graveyard
White Zetsu returned to the hideout as fast as possible.
"Lord Madara, although we completed the mission, we lost a comrade and a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan."
White Zetsu reported, "That Shūichi's Flying Thunder God is insanely fast; there was no chance of escape."
"However, this may ultimately be of limited use."
"Shūichi managed to secure one of our bodies, so he'll likely uncover some secrets. Disguising ourselves as Mist shinobi doesn't seem effective anymore."
"It appears we're leaking more information than we're gaining!"
Madara Uchiha's expression remained unchanged. "If that's the case, then you haven't truly succeeded in your mission."
"Konoha had prepared for this. It seems that the person we killed was a decoy."
White Zetsu was taken aback. "Is that possible?"
"They even managed to fool us?"
Madara offered no confirmation, his gaze fixed instead on Uchiha Obito, lying on a bed nearby.
At the moment, Obito was connected to tubes, with a White Zetsu covering his body. The Zetsu's cells were gradually integrating with Obito's.
"If that's how it is, then let's give him some good news," Madara ordered.
White Zetsu shrugged. "This could get a bit tricky."
Madara Uchiha was confident, though; even if Obito hesitated, he had contingencies in place, albeit not as ideal.
---
Through the connection with the Gedo Statue, Madara Uchiha appeared in Obito's mindscape. "I have some surprising news: that girl, Rin, is still alive."
"What?"
Obito's face lit up, a mix of shock and joy.
Madara continued, "You still have a choice to make."
"You can return to Konoha, back to your previous life."
"Or you can choose to stay here and help me achieve the Eye of the Moon Plan."
"Right now, you're like I once was. Do you stay with Konoha, or sever ties with the past to create a new world, a world without war and suffering?"
As he saw Obito's conflicted expression, Madara pushed further. "So, what will you choose?"
"Will you return to a cycle of endless war, watching friends die and suffer, or will you choose a different path?"
Obito's forehead beaded with sweat.
To sever ties with his past, to become like Madara Uchiha meant betraying Konoha, fighting against his former comrades, and saying a final farewell to Rin.
But if he returned to Konoha, what would Madara do to him?
Obito wasn't naïve.
Seeing through Obito's thoughts, Madara remarked, "It seems you lack the resolve to create a new world."
"When the transplant is complete, you're free to leave."
"However, remember, as long as this ninja war endures, that girl, Rin, will inevitably die in it."
"When I was young, I couldn't protect my brother. And right now, you don't have the power to protect the ones you care about: not Rin, nor any of your friends."
Obito's mind was wracked with inner turmoil, and once again, the image of Rin lying lifeless in a pool of blood rose in his mind.
The sensation of driving his kunai into Rin's heart seized him, gripping every nerve.
In this mindscape, Obito's hand began to tremble.
The suffocating pain of taking Rin's life with his own hands engulfed him once more.
But in his heart, Rin's gentle smile, the faces of Kakashi, Minato, Kushina, Shūichi, and others flickered one by one.
In that moment, Obito's inner being and mind seemed to be torn by an overwhelming force.
Yet, a voice deep within him continued to cry out: Go back, find Rin!
Go back, find Rin!
Go back, find Rin!
…
Amid Obito's mental shouts, he suddenly looked up at Madara Uchiha. "I want to go back!"
"Back to Rin's side, to protect her!"
Madara nodded slightly. "Very well."
With that, Madara's form vanished.
Realizing something was wrong, Obito tried to wake up and regain control of his body immediately.
---
"It seems I chose the right person after all," Madara remarked, satisfied. He then called, "White Zetsu!"
The White Zetsu covering Obito's body responded, "Understood!"
The Spiral Zetsu responsible for transplanting Hashirama's cells swiftly enveloped Obito's entire body, leaving only his right eye exposed.
Obito opened his eyes at this point but found he couldn't control his body, nor could he activate his Mangekyo Sharingan.
Not only was he restrained by White Zetsu, but the Gedo Statue's influence was also holding him, which was the real issue.
"Madara, what are you planning?" Obito demanded.
"Fulfilling my promise—to send you back to Konoha," Madara replied calmly. "Of course, in a new form and with a different identity."
Release Obito?
Impossible.
Obito's Mangekyo Sharingan alone was a rare asset—there was no way Madara would allow it to aid an enemy.
Obito's body lifted against his will and floated to Madara's side.
Madara stood up, placing his hand on Obito's right shoulder. Instantly, a black substance spread over the right half of Obito's body.
Madara said, "This Black Zetsu represents my will. It will join White Zetsu in controlling Obito to collect the Tailed Beasts according to my plan until my resurrection."
The Spiral Zetsu on Obito's body voiced some hesitation, "Lord Madara, isn't this a bit risky? We aren't exactly combat specialists."
"Still, I must say you chose well; controlling Uchiha Obito isn't easy."
Knowing he'd need to work alone later, Black Zetsu chimed in, "Indeed."
Madara responded, "I've already taught him the Six Paths and Yin-Yang Release techniques, which you'll be able to use in controlling him. Nagato will handle the Tailed Beasts' collection."
"However, to ensure everything goes smoothly, I'll place a genjutsu on him and separate his Mangekyo Sharingan."
"You…you're all monsters!" Obito gasped, finally realizing he had fallen into the hands of ruthless foes.
As Madara reached toward him, Obito tried with all his might to use Kamui, but it was futile.
Black and White Zetsu suppressed him entirely, leaving him helpless as Madara pried out his left eye, and he let out an agonized scream.
Soon, the implanted Hashirama cells in Obito's body began healing the wound, dulling the pain.
He watched as Madara embedded his left eye into a one-eyed White Zetsu, gritting his teeth in frustration. "Curse you… I won't let you win."
Obito attempted to end his own life, only to discover his body was completely paralyzed.
Not only were his Sharingan abilities inaccessible, but he couldn't even bite his tongue.
The seal Madara had placed on him was identical to the one he'd put on Rin's heart while Obito was unconscious from the cell transplants.
"Don't even think about resisting. Your power is nothing to me."
Madara stared into Obito's remaining Sharingan and activated a genjutsu.
Obito's consciousness grew hazy and was swiftly subdued by Black and White Zetsu, who now had full control of his body.
In that moment, Obito became entirely a puppet for Black and White Zetsu.
Although the two Mangekyo Sharingan were separated, White Zetsu's unique ability allowed him to merge, meaning that the one-eyed White Zetsu could attach to Obito anytime, enabling him to wield both Mangekyo powers to their fullest.
Having completed his preparations, Madara resumed his seat and instructed Black and White Zetsu, "Proceed as planned. Bring Nagato into the fold. I'll wait here."
He wanted to ensure Nagato's allegiance before moving forward.
While White Zetsu could be scatterbrained, Madara trusted Black Zetsu, as it was the embodiment of his will.
This was the final contingency Madara had created for his resurrection.
"Understood, Lord Madara. Don't worry; we are proud creations. We won't disappoint you."
White Zetsu replied with a carefree tone.
Konoha, December of the 45th Year.
Inside the Fire Daimyo's mansion, within a secret experimental facility.
As Shūichi packed up his equipment, he looked over at Pakura, who had taken off her mask, her smooth, bare back exposed. He asked, "Are you really not coming back to Konoha to celebrate the New Year with me?"
Pakura shook her head. "Someone has to stay here to keep things secure. Besides, the daimyo already selected the necessary personnel."
As a former Suna ninja, going to Konoha would be awkward—especially now that Konoha and Sunagakure had formed an alliance.
Seeing her reluctance, Shūichi didn't push further, nodding, "You could also start scouting for some new talent to train."
Pakura nodded. "Yes, Lord Shūichi!"
After putting everything away, Shūichi stepped forward and embraced her, gently stroking her smooth back. He whispered softly in her ear, "Wait patiently until I grow up, alright?"
A jolt ran through Pakura's body, but she instinctively replied, "Yes, Lord Shūichi!"
In the next moment, her cheeks turned bright red, and she froze in place.
Shūichi chuckled and then disappeared.
As Pakura snapped out of it, she couldn't help but grit her teeth. "That shameless little brat…"
She cursed him under her breath, yet couldn't shake a strange, unsettling feeling rising within her, filling her with embarrassment.
---
Back in Konoha, Shūichi returned home with a serious air.
After admiring Asuka's busy figure in the kitchen, he made his way to the study, focusing his attention on his "Tag Tree."
The [Space-Time Envoy] tag was finally ready to be activated.
With a flash, the tag's effect was triggered:
Space-Time Talent increased by 100%, Physical Attributes increased by 100% (after all, one needs a robust physique to endure long-distance space-time travel).
A warm sensation spread through his body, and Shūichi felt his physical capabilities surge once again.
But his gaze lingered on the Tag Tree.
A new grayish-white tag leaf had appeared.
Tag: Lord of Space-Time
Condition to Obtain: Develop at least one S-rank space-time ninjutsu.
Tag Effect: Space-Time Talent +100%, Mental Strength +100%, Nerve Reaction Speed +100%, Physical Attributes +100%; as the Lord of Space-Time, traversing space and time is second nature to you.
Another space-time tag, and it looked incredibly powerful!
But an S-rank space-time jutsu...
Shūichi scratched his head.
Forget it. For now, he'd check out the other long-awaited tag: [Prodigy]!
Since he had just activated [Envoy of Space-Time], he could finally light up this heavyweight tag too.
With eager anticipation, Shūichi chose to activate it.
Tag Effect: Thought Processing Speed x10, Comprehension +100%, Physical Attributes +100%; in the realm of knowledge, you are a god. And as a god, there is nothing you can't master! Whatever appears before you, you will understand!
A wave of warmth flowed through him, and Shūichi had become accustomed to the tingling sensation that came with physical enhancement. He opened his eyes and retrieved the Edo Tensei scroll.
"Hm?"
"Seems pretty simple!"
"And I could even incorporate my Fire Nether Chains to enhance the binding power, which would eliminate the need for Hashirama cells."
Shūichi felt his mental clarity soar, not only with Edo Tensei but across all areas.
The Prodigy tag may have focused on mastery, but the comprehension boost was tangible and undeniable.
Comprehension wasn't limited to knowledge alone.
Studying was also a foundation for innovation. With a solid foundation, it was possible to build a skyscraper.
This was why Shūichi always prepared thoroughly before using his "Flash of Insight" ability.
Innovation couldn't be built on thin air!
"Magnet Release from the One-Tail isn't too difficult either."
"Hmm, manipulating electric currents to create an electric field and then resonating with a magnetic field... It seems electromagnetic power isn't that hard to understand."
Thoughts whirred through Shūichi's mind at lightning speed. Without the Hundred Healings Jutsu's chakra protection, his brain might've started to smoke from the strain.
A moment later, he reined in his thoughts and slowed his processing speed. "My foundation still isn't deep enough, nor is my knowledge broad enough."
"The Scroll of Seals..."
Shūichi looked toward the Hokage's building.
Once his teacher, Minato, became Hokage, he planned to go through the Scroll of Seals.
"And as for the clans… I wonder if there's a way to negotiate for access to their secret techniques. Though, it might be challenging since they're fundamental to each clan's survival."
Shūichi's ambitions were growing.
He wasn't interested in the clans that used insects or dogs, but the Yamanaka's Mind Transfer, the Nara's Shadow Techniques, and the Akimichi's Yang Release were of high research value, promising potential in Yin and Yang Release.
"Of course, it's not like I need to trade. As long as I understand the basic principles, learning them wouldn't be hard… especially since I already have a Shadow Technique."
Shūichi pondered.
Meanwhile, inside their seals, Shukaku lifted his head, "Hey, monkey! Did you feel that?"
Son Goku raised his head with a grim look. "This guy... His seal's power just increased!"
Shukaku replied, "His strength suddenly surged. He might be close to matching me now."
"Is this guy even human?"
"He's a complete freak—an absolute monster!"
Due to the double-sealing, they couldn't sense everything outside clearly, but they could still feel some of Shūichi's presence.
This recent spike in power and the enhanced seal were impossible to ignore.
---
As the New Year approached, even the war had slowed down.
But Shūichi was busier than ever, only attending one gathering with Kakashi and Guy.
Thanks to the Prodigy tag, his research on White Zetsu and Hashirama's cells was progressing rapidly. Apart from his regular physical training, he spent most of his time in the lab.
---
In the Land of Rain.
Danzo stared in shock at the massive figure that appeared before him. "That's..."
As the colossal figure vanished, he instantly used the Body Flicker Technique to approach, only to see a red-haired youth with peculiar ripple-patterned eyes.
"Those eyes… could they be..."
Danzo's pupils shrank. "The legendary Rinnegan?"
At that moment, Nagato, tasked with holding the rear, fended off the Root ninja disguised as Iwa shinobi, then retreated swiftly.
Danzo raised his hand, signaling his team to halt.
The towering statue had given him an overwhelming sense of dread.
"This Akatsuki organization..."
Danzo narrowed his eyes. "Is that why Jiraiya took them as his disciples? Because of the Rinnegan?"
He couldn't deny that the Rinnegan felt far more powerful than the Three Tomoe Sharingan.
"This matter requires careful planning!"
Thoughts raced through Danzo's mind, and then he commanded, "Return to Konoha!"
...
On a bare, desolate mountain peak, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu watched the clash between the Akatsuki and Konoha shinobis.
"Just as expected from a descendant of the Uzumaki and Senju clans. He even managed to summon the Gedo Statue!"
White Zetsu chuckled, "With this, I'm feeling much more confident about collecting the Tailed Beasts."
"But, it seems like Nagato doesn't completely trust us," he continued, "And, for this Akatsuki group, that Yahiko guy is actually the central figure."
With a dark expression, Black Zetsu said, "Then we'll just have to make him the next Rin Nohara."
"This Danzo is ambitious; he's even gone as far as to transplant Hashirama's cells and a Sharingan. Now that he's seen the Rinnegan, he might be useful to us."
Nearby, White Zetsu, now calling himself "Tobi" and possessing Uchiha Obito's left eye, added, "Then we'll need to pick the perfect timing. This time, we can't let Shūichi interfere."
White Zetsu grinned, "Shūichi probably isn't focusing on us right now, right?"
Black Zetsu replied, "Not necessarily."
"According to the information you gathered, Shūichi and Danzo have their own conflict."
"He'd probably love to take him down, wouldn't he?"
"And don't forget, Shūichi has looked into Akatsuki before. The Rinnegan might not be completely hidden from him."
Tobi laughed, "Then I'll just have to keep him occupied when the time comes!"
"He does have quite a few people he cares about!"
"But I can't be careless. That guy's reactions are incredibly fast; a single eye alone is too slow."
Black Zetsu thought for a moment and, erring on the side of caution, said, "When the time comes, the two of you should combine forces."
"In this case, it's not like we'll need to fight."
In his mind, a plan was already forming.
---
Meanwhile, in Konoha's experimental lab.
Shūichi sneezed unexpectedly. "Could it be that Pakura's thinking of me?"
Just then, a hand pressed against his forehead. "Are you catching a cold, Shūichi?" Shizune asked with a look of concern.
Shūichi thought it over seriously. "Maybe it's because you were secretly thinking about me, Shizune?"
Shizune's cheeks flushed instantly.
Tsunade, watching this, was visibly annoyed.
These two brats, showing off their affection right in front of her—how irritating!
"Shizune, go fetch that culture solution!" Tsunade ordered, putting Shizune immediately to work.
Shūichi quickly created a shadow clone to help and smiled at Tsunade, "Lady Tsunade, are you…jealous?"
Tsunade scoffed, "Brat!"
"Stay away from that pervert Jiraiya. If I ever catch you peeping at the hot springs with him, I'll kill you!"
Recently, Jiraiya had returned to the village, and of course, he hadn't given up his old habits; just last time, she'd caught him peeping at the hot springs.
Shūichi replied earnestly, "You know me, Tsunade—I'm not that kind of guy."
"Besides, none of those girls out there can compare to you, Lady Tsunade. They're all plain and ordinary."
Tsunade, though secretly pleased, still kept a cold expression. She glanced at Shizune, busy in the lab, and snorted, "You little pervert, you're no better either!"
"Don't think I'm unaware of your twisted thoughts. If you dare mess with Shizune, hmph…"
Her threat lacked real conviction.
With a face of mock sadness, Shūichi said, "Tsunade, I just want to protect you all so we can always be together."
"Don't be so cheesy!" Tsunade replied, expressionless. "That won't work on me."
"And besides, you should call me Lady Tsunade!"
Shūichi protested confidently, "But I'm a jonin now, Tsunade!"
Without even looking at him, Tsunade retorted, "You're still just a brat!"
"But Tsunade, I'm taller than you!"
She shot him a side glance, "And you're still just a kid!"
Shūichi grinned, "But Tsunade, I'm going to grow up, you know!"
All just big talk! Hmph, she was only teasing him now because he was still young. But in the future... heh!
As they bantered and worked, life in the lab didn't feel so dull.
---
Before they knew it, it was already nearing New Year's—December 29th of Konoha Year 45.
In his study.
Shūichi began organizing the challenges he planned to tackle.
First, he had prepared extensively for his sealing jutsu studies.
Next was Yang Release, or more specifically, his research on Hashirama cells.
After that, there was Magnet Release. Shūichi figured he wouldn't need to waste any "Flash of Insight" time on it; he could learn it quickly from the One-Tail.
Then there was the Bijuu Sealing Mark—a project he'd been researching for some time.
Currently, the Bijuu Sealing Mark was limited to enhancing Fire Release only.
But what Shūichi aimed for was a comprehensive enhancement, even reaching a Tailed Beast-like state, where he could use natural energy to replenish his stamina, much like a Tailed Beast does.
However, he had no leads on that yet. He needed further research on Tailed Beast cells and would likely have to try transforming into a Tailed Beast to feel his way through that state and learn from it.
With the Prodigy tag active, there was nothing he couldn't learn, as long as he could uncover its secrets. The only challenge was the time needed to extract those secrets.
...
After carefully going over his plans, Shūichi activated his heightened mental processing and focus, then initiated his "Flash of Insight."
At that moment, he transcended.
All previous issues he'd encountered in advancing the Fire Nether Chains were now trivial. His knowledge of the Spiritualization Technique, Soul Binding, Edo Tensei, Reaper Death Seal, the curse mark on Shukaku, along with his insights into the nature of chakra, mental power, and spiritual will—everything now served as foundational resources, blending and evolving into something new.
Before he knew it, five minutes had passed.
With a swift motion, Shūichi clapped his hands together, and from his back erupted thick chains—distinct from his previous Fire Nether Chains.
Now, they glowed purple with blue flames spiraling around them.
After refining the Fire Nether Chains further, Shūichi didn't immediately test them on the Four-Tails or Shukaku sealed within him. Instead, he focused on his next objective.
With his heightened mental processing, ten minutes felt long.
But for Shūichi, it was never long enough—there were still too many problems left to solve.
When his "Flash of Insight" finally ended, Shūichi opened his eyes, exhaling deeply.
He touched his warm forehead, feeling the mental exhaustion setting in.
While high-speed thinking and intense focus increased the efficiency of "Flash of Insight," it also took a toll on his mind and body. Fortunately, with his physique nearly on par with the One-Tail, and his mental resilience bolstered by the Hundred Healings Technique, which circulated chakra through each brain cell, he only felt slightly overheated—nothing serious.
After splashing some water on his face, Shūichi returned to his study and pulled out a blank scroll.
First up was documenting the new, improved Fire Nether Chains.
However, before writing, he paused and smirked to himself, "Better test the results first—though I doubt there'll be any issues."
With that thought, he lowered his gaze.
Simultaneously, within the Eight Trigrams Seal, the Fire Nether Chains binding the Four-Tails and Shukaku vanished.
"What's going on?"
The two Tailed Beasts looked at each other, startled. But unlike before, they didn't seize the chance to unleash their power against the seal, as they'd come to respect Shūichi's strength.
"Could this mean something's wrong with him?"
The Four-Tails tried to gauge Shūichi's condition by sensing its power leaking outward.
Just then, chains shot up from the ground, binding them once more.
"Hm?"
"Something's different—the seal has strengthened again, and…"
The Four-Tails looked shocked. "My mental consciousness is fully restrained. This guy…"
With a clearer understanding of the seal, Shukaku muttered, "It's specifically targeting mental, or rather, spiritual energies."
"That brat's up to no good!"
As he finished, two chains pierced into Shukaku and the Four-Tails.
The next moment, the chains pulled tight. The Four-Tails roared, "Damn it, he's trying to separate us!"
Shukaku bellowed, "Kid, what exactly are you doing?"
Shūichi appeared outside the iron cages with a smile. "Obviously, I'm here to save you."
"If the nine Tailed Beasts combine, you'll form the Ten-Tails, right?"
What?!
Both Shukaku and the Four-Tails were stunned, momentarily forgetting to struggle.
"You...how do you know about the Ten-Tails?"
"Who...who are you really?"
Shukaku and the Four-Tails were clearly shaken.
And in the next moment, Shūichi used the Fire Nether Chains to draw their souls from their bodies.
Unlike humans, Tailed Beasts are pure chakra entities; their mental consciousness and chakra are inseparable. Extracting their souls was essentially splitting their power in half.
But for now, this was just a trial. Shūichi quickly released them, allowing them to fuse back together.
"Hey, how do you know about the Ten-Tails?" the Four-Tails demanded.
Dispersing the Fire Nether Chains from the Tailed Beasts, Shūichi replied calmly, "The Sage of Six Paths left quite a lot behind. It's not so hard to find out."
"And here's another bit of news—the legendary Rinnegan of the Sage has reappeared in the shinobi world."
"That's why I need to separate your powers. Otherwise, for me, it'd be completely pointless."
Shukaku and the Four-Tails fell silent, though Shūichi didn't expect a few words would make them willingly become his allies.
"I plan to return half of you to Iwagakure and Sunagakure. If you don't want to be captured by the Rinnegan's wielder, it'd be wise to get along with your new jinchuriki."
Shūichi added with a wry smile, "Though honestly, that probably won't stop you from eventually getting captured."
Hearing this, Shukaku snorted, "Hey, don't underestimate us!"
Shūichi shook his head, "Shukaku, don't bluff. Even at your full strength, you're no match for me, let alone the Rinnegan."
"Of course, you're free to ignore what I'm saying."
"But time will prove it."
With that, Shūichi's figure faded from sight.
After a moment's silence, the Four-Tails asked, "Shukaku, do you believe him?"
Shukaku slumped to the ground. "If he knows about the Ten-Tails and says the Rinnegan has reappeared, he's probably right."
"Hey, Monkey, you haven't forgotten what the old Sage told us, have you?"
The Four-Tails huffed, "Of course not. It seems that prophecy was about the Ten-Tails, wasn't it?"
"That could spell trouble…so, should we help him?"
After a thoughtful pause, Shukaku sighed, "This guy doesn't even need our consent to use our power. It makes no difference."
"We'll wait and see. We still have time."