The Price of Vision

Combined with Saigoji Youmu's deep knowledge of the Sharingan, Orochimaru speculated that there must be other secrets hidden within its evolution.

"Opening the Sharingan and evolving it initially only requires a sufficient reservoir of 'pupil power'—that is, raw potential," Youmu explained. "To enhance that power, aside from talent and rigorous practice, the most crucial factor is emotional stimulation."

He continued, "From awakening the eyes to evolving into the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, only a modest amount of 'pupil power' is necessary. It's relatively common—almost anyone with talent can reach that stage. But if one desires to evolve further, a tremendous surge of power is needed."

"You can't simply accumulate more power through practice alone," Youmu went on. "Only by witnessing the death of a loved one or a close friend—a violent, soul-shattering experience—can one trigger the intense emotional surge that drives the evolution from the Three-Tomoe Sharingan to the Mangekyō Sharingan."

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "And after reaching Mangekyō, if you want to go even further, mere loss is not enough. Only by transplanting the Mangekyō of one's biological brother—merging two sets of unique pupil power—can one achieve what is known as the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."

(Please note: These are my personal interpretations of the lore. I welcome discussion—just be merciful with your critiques!)

A heavy silence fell over Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya.

After a long moment, Orochimaru broke the silence. "Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan—how powerful is it, really?"

Orochimaru's voice took on an edge of dark fascination. "Imagine this: the Five Kage or even the Nine-Tailed Beasts uniting against the force of an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. There would be only one outcome—a complete fiasco."

The gravity of his words caused Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya to tremble slightly; their eyes filled with a mix of horror and disbelief. They knew well the formidable might of the Five Kage and the Tailed Beasts, and the thought that one person could crush such alliances was nearly inconceivable. Yet, deep down, they all silently acknowledged that Saigoji Youmu might indeed be telling the truth.

"Then," Jiraiya asked hesitantly, "has anyone from the Uchiha clan ever reached the realm of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?"

"Yes," Youmu answered, his tone matter-of-fact. "Uchiha Madara did. With the Eternal Mangekyō, he could stand toe-to-toe with the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama—the very god of ninjas."

"Huh, Youmu," Tsunade murmured, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "You really have shared some astonishing things. For the Uchiha clan, this might be invaluable information."

"For me, it's just another conversation over drinks," Youmu replied lightly, brushing off the weight of the revelation with a chuckle.

"Ha, ha, yes—drink," Jiraiya laughed dryly, steering the conversation away from the grim topic. Gradually, the atmosphere relaxed, and the others tacitly dropped the subject of Sharingan.

…

At nightfall, outside the tavern, Jiraiya called out to Saigoji Youmu as he waved farewell. "Youmu boy, Tsunade is on you," he teased before turning away with a wink. Orochimaru joined Jiraiya with a knowing laugh, and the two departed.

"Really…" Youmu muttered, shaking his head in helpless amusement. He then hoisted a tipsy Tsunade onto his back and walked away slowly.

Not long after the four left, a dark figure emerged from a secluded corner outside the tavern—a half-human, half-shadowed entity clad in black and white. The figure glared in the direction Youmu had gone and growled, "Saigoji Youmu, who the hell are you?"

If Youmu were to see him, he would immediately recognize the schemer—the deepest manipulator hidden within Konoha, the one who had covertly influenced ninja history for millennia: Jue.

Neither Youmu nor Tsunade had expected that their conversation in the tavern had been overheard. Yet Jue's heart had been struck more profoundly by Youmu's words than by anything Tsunade or the others had said. For what they didn't know was that the Sharingan was not merely a hereditary bloodline trait—it was intertwined with one of the most mysterious secrets of the ninja world. At the time of Youmu's youth, when Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama were still legends yet to be born, it was inconceivable how he could possess knowledge of this long-buried secret.

"Forget it—let Madara know first," Jue murmured. "Let's see what he thinks."

Without a trace, using his elusive Mayfly Technique, Zetsu slipped away from Konoha.

…

In a hidden corner of the ninja world, an ancient stone platform sheltered a white-haired old man. He sat quietly, listening to Jue's report. Though his years had worn him down, he still exuded a cold, imperious arrogance that refused to be hidden.