Chapter 478: Fugaku's Mangekyō Ability

The night sky, cloaked in thick clouds, concealed the moonlight, casting an oppressive darkness over the scene. The temperature dropped further, and the winds began to pick up, signaling the likelihood of rain.

Across Konoha, ninja stirred, roused by the distant sounds of explosions and a growing sense of unease. Among them was Kushina, one of the fastest to react. As she approached the Uchiha compound, her sensory abilities detected a familiar and powerful chakra signature.

"Ye Zi…!" Her face tightened, her usually vibrant eyes trembling briefly before settling into a determined glare.

She didn't know why Ye Zi had infiltrated the Uchiha district, but she resolved that the events of a year ago could not be allowed to repeat.

.....

Uchiha Compound

Facing Fugaku Uchiha, the clan head, Ye Zi narrowed his eyes. Of course, he recognized him.

Gazing at Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan, shaped like a three-bladed windmill with black dots near each blade, Ye Zi's plans shifted.

The peculiar design caught his attention. Unlike other Mangekyō Sharingan he had seen, including his own, Fugaku's eyes seemed unique. The extra black dots lent it an air of mystery.

Ye Zi could feel the intense pressure from Fugaku's gaze. Despite his own defenses, the sensation was like needles pricking his right eye. It was a sign of the sheer strength behind Fugaku's ocular powers.

Initially, Ye Zi's goal had been simple: eliminate Itachi and claim his three-tomoe Sharingan. But Fugaku's swift arrival and the sight of his Mangekyō changed everything.

Stretching his sensory perception to its fullest, Ye Zi noted the rapid approach of Konoha ninja, particularly those from the Uchiha clan who were already closing in. Time was running out.

"Father," Itachi whispered softly, his voice laden with guilt and frustration.

"Step back, Itachi," Fugaku commanded, his cold gaze locked on Ye Zi.

Obediently, Itachi retreated, understanding his limitations. No matter how much he had improved over the past year, he knew this battle was far beyond his capabilities.

Once Itachi was safely out of the way, Fugaku's eyes glinted with icy resolve. "To infiltrate Konoha alone… You're either confident or reckless."

Earlier, Fugaku had deployed the ocular technique stored in his right eye. While it had forced Ye Zi to retreat, it failed to drag him into the full effects of the genjutsu.

He recalled the reports from a year ago, particularly Shisui's claim that Ye Zi's right Mangekyō Sharingan rendered him immune to genjutsu.

Fugaku, however, disagreed with that assessment. He believed no one was truly immune to genjutsu. At best, one could resist it through sheer force of will or skill. Shisui's failure, in his view, stemmed from the relative weakness of his technique compared to Ye Zi's defenses.

The brief exchange had confirmed his suspicion: Ye Zi's resistance wasn't absolute. Fugaku now intended to use the combined power of both his Mangekyō abilities to test Ye Zi's limits.

"You're confident in your eyes," Ye Zi said, a dangerous smile spreading across his face. "But I'll be taking them for myself."

Fugaku's expression darkened, and a surge of killing intent filled the air. Without hesitation, he activated both Mangekyō techniques simultaneously.

The world around Ye Zi shifted abruptly. A searing heat radiated from his right eye, warning of the immense spiritual energy bearing down on him.

"Impressive…" Ye Zi muttered, his voice steady despite the mounting pressure.

The next moment, he found himself standing in a crimson-hued world. The sky was a blood-red expanse dominated by a dark crimson moon. The barren ground stretched endlessly, littered with corpses. Broken blades and shattered kunai lay scattered among the dead, while streams of blood formed rivulets across the landscape.

Above, black vultures circled ominously, their sharp beaks tearing into the flesh of the fallen. Some snatched eyeballs from their sockets, flying off with their grotesque prizes.

"This is the genjutsu realm… Despite Tenjin I still got dragged in. Fugaku's ocular technique isn't to be underestimated."

Even as he acknowledged the technique's potency, Ye Zi remained calm. His right eye continued to burn, the strain of resisting the genjutsu evident. Yet he could feel the unique ability of his Mangekyō at work. Tenjin was steadily siphoning the vast reservoir of spiritual energy fueling the illusion.

"This is… interesting," Ye Zi murmured, a faint smile curling his lips.

Though his right eye burned, the pain was secondary to the realization that Fugaku's technique provided an unforeseen boon. It was exactly the kind of powerful genjutsu energy Tenjin needed to reach full saturation.

The longer Fugaku's technique persisted, the more Ye Zi felt his own power growing.

In the distance, a raindrop fell onto the ground, rippling against the crimson pools of blood. For Ye Zi, this wasn't just a battle... It was an opportunity.

Not only was a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan delivered right in front of him, but they also managed to bypass Ye Zi's Tenjin and forcibly drag him into a genjutsu space, providing an environment where Tenjin could continuously absorb genjutsu energy.

Far from Ye Zi, hundreds of meters away, the space distorted. Wrapped in a crimson aura, Fugaku suddenly appeared, arms still crossed and an expression of icy resolve on his face.

"In this space, everything is under my control. The moment you entered here, your defeat was sealed," Fugaku declared coldly.

Using both ocular techniques simultaneously, the side effects on his eyes quickly began to manifest as a faint stinging pain, which would only intensify over time. For now, the discomfort was manageable, and he paid it no mind.

Executing both Mangekyō techniques at maximum strength came with limitations. Fugaku knew he could only perform this feat four or five times before the side effects reached their peak. When that moment came, he would have to face the consequences, but he had mentally prepared himself for this eventuality. At the very least, when the time came to use his abilities, he would not hold back.

Like now, if he could eliminate the powerful threat that was Ye Zi, it would be well worth the cost.

"Are you sure about that?" Ye Zi asked, a smile playing on his lips.

Fugaku responded with a cold chuckle. In this space, created by the Tsukuyomi technique housed within his right eye, he was the absolute god.

Moreover, he still had the ability of his left eye at his disposal. With these tools, he carried an unshakable confidence.

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