Tobirama gazed at the artificial body before him.
First, he used Hiruko's cell-fusion technique to make his cells and Izuna's cells merge more tightly.
Then he used Earth Grudge Fear to clear the original Chakra Pathways nodes…
He also made use of the "Konoha New Techniques Compendium" that Hiruzen had brought, selecting a technique called "Face Erasure" from it and improving it slightly, using it to fine-tune the appearance.
It looked very much like Uchiha Izuna, yet it also carried a trace of his own bearing.
Tobirama looked at the artificial body in front of him, his mood somewhat complicated.
In his entire career of researching forbidden techniques, this counted as one of the boldest and most frenzied studies…
Not only did it reverse life and death...
It was also built upon the combination of his cells and Izuna's cells as the foundation!
Back then, Tobirama had conceived many astonishing ideas—such as absorbing negative emotions to create artificial Tailed Beasts, using Impure World Reincarnation to revive the dead, the mutually multiplying explosive tags, and so on…
But he had truly never imagined that he would revive in the body of an Uchiha…
"This is actually a misunderstanding…" Tobirama stared at the artificial body.
When he had studied Izuna's cells back then and step by step cultivated the prototype of this body, it had in truth been a story about obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and had not involved anything else.
But Hiruzen's micro-expression at the time—
It had been as if he had long harbored such intentions, only dying on the battlefield before he could carry them out!
Tobirama had in fact wanted to explain.
But Hiruzen's "I understand everything" expression had left Tobirama somewhat speechless.
It felt as though saying anything would be pointless…
There was no clearing it up!
Tobirama sensed the state of his Impure World body and did not rush to perform the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique.
Although his soul had gradually begun to feel cold, it seemed to make his thoughts even sharper.
Or perhaps, he was preparing himself mentally.
Becoming "Uchiha Tobirama" meant that he would begin life anew under an entirely new identity.
A person is the sum of all social relations.
Conversely, social relations also determine a person.
Aside from Hiruzen, in the eyes of others he would no longer be Senju Tobirama and the Second Hokage, but a mysterious descendant of the Uchiha.
Rather than calling it a revival, Tobirama's situation was better described as "living once more."
"For the sake of the Will of Fire, my identity truly cannot be exposed…"
"What Hiruzen said is indeed interesting."
"Not infiltration or going undercover, but laying down the burden of the Second Hokage and, carrying my memories, beginning life again as an Uchiha?"
Tobirama felt deeply moved.
He had studied the Uchiha clan for most of his life, yet had never expected that he would have to become an Uchiha himself!
A person's standpoint determines how they view many things…
If he had been a member of the Uchiha clan back then, his view of the Uchiha would naturally have been different.
Even detailed research findings and conclusions can be interpreted from another angle.
For example, the claim that "the Sharingan will make a person fall into demonic madness"—could also be framed as "the love in one's heart runs too deep and needs to be cared for, yet it holds tremendous potential"…
Tobirama let out a soundless laugh.
It was only now—on the verge of becoming an Uchiha—that he realized that even he, who prided himself on being rational and objective, seemed unable to remain absolutely neutral.
"A genius of the Uchiha clan…"
"From childhood, my chakra and Uchiha Izuna's chakra have been entangling him, leaving him with a condition similar to a bloodline illness."
This corresponded to the fact that this body might develop somewhat unstable conditions.
It could be used, yes—but the technique was still far too advanced, and there might be aspects that still needed refinement.
"Because Konoha rescued me from Kusagakure, I naturally hold goodwill toward the village."
"But I also have a sense of identification with the Uchiha bloodline—only then can I serve as a bridge."
"I need to display Uchiha Izuna's style from back then, while also appropriately bringing out my own elements, gradually getting these Uchiha clansmen to fully accept my situation."
"Due to bodily issues, I have an innate interest in biology and all kinds of ninjutsu—so as to treat the illness."
After all, he still had to participate in Konoha's research; he could not simply leave his talent unused.
In that regard, Tobirama could not sit idle…
"And I must carry a faint trace of youthful spirit as well—someone who grows rapidly, a quick-rising genius, not mature in everything…"
Tobirama closed his eyes, sketching out the persona he would assume in the future.
This was an extremely important step. If the body was the framework, then these were the soul.
They complemented each other, and neither could be missing.
"In dealing with the Uchiha, I must be warm, yet also maintain the strictness of a strong person."
"I must treat equally those Uchiha whose talent seems shallow or non-traditional, while also having the sharp edge not to back down before the stubborn older generation—once I decide on something, I must carry it through to the end…"
"In terms of combat composition, if Water Release has no reasonable source, I'll set it aside for now and prioritize demonstrating talent in close-quarters fighting…"
"That guy Uchiha Izuna was very skilled with the blade."
"If I can awaken them, then the Sharingan is naturally the top priority. It's the mark of the Uchiha… That part isn't a problem. I know the Sharingan very well."
Tobirama continued refining his plans, when his brows suddenly knit.
He realized there was a blind spot.
It seemed that once identity was set aside, his and Izuna's patterns of behavior were, astonishingly, quite similar!
There was no need to disguise himself too deliberately…
Could it be that this showed the two of them were actually the same kind of person, only becoming enemies because of differing identities?
That thought flashed through Tobirama's mind, and he immediately shook his head in disgust.
Impossible—absolutely impossible!
"What an interesting experiment…" After calming down, Tobirama could not help but smile again.
"Although that mon—Hiruzen's ideas are somewhat naïve, more like my elder brother's Will of Fire, though less idealized. He does possess a certain degree of tact."
"That's not a bad thing. After all, he has me as his sensei to help fill in the gaps."
"Assisting my own disciple?" Tobirama smiled, suddenly feeling that he might be a little biased.
Lately, he had been pondering Hiruzen alone every day, and had rather forgotten about how Danzō and the others were doing…
Had they inherited his will? Was Danzō still competing with Hiruzen?
Had their conduct grown more mature? They should all be fulfilling their duties well, right?
After all, Hiruzen was someone Tobirama was relatively satisfied with—so the others should not be too bad either.
More than twenty years of time had blurred once-familiar people and things. Yet precisely because of that, it stirred within Tobirama an even stronger desire to find out.
It was a peculiar feeling, as though wearing a mask and veil while traversing through time and space.
"Hoo…"
Tobirama let out a long breath and slowly unsealed the artificial body.
No matter how much he thought, he still had to take this first step properly.
What followed would change in an instant; it was impossible to consider everything at once. Adjustments would certainly have to be made along the way.
Tobirama suddenly erupted with chakra, extracting his own soul using the structure of Living Corpse Reincarnation.
Soul Solidification Technique!
Without a living body as a foundation, he would be subject to the powerful pull of the Pure Land.
But such problems were all solvable for Tobirama.
Like a blue phantom, Tobirama's soul entered the artificial body.
The laboratory fell silent.
No one knew how much time passed.
Suddenly, the artificial body convulsed violently once; its heart began to beat more powerfully, and its body temperature rose.
Tobirama guided the body and slowly sat up, gazing at his now somewhat fair hands.
It succeeded!
He had shed the Impure World body and transformed into an Uchiha…
An inexplicable joy surged within Tobirama's heart.
Naturally, this body's chakra was far inferior to his original body at its peak—but this was still a youthful body!
Compared horizontally to his original self at the same age, it could even be said to be somewhat stronger…
That point, too, was beyond Tobirama's expectations.
Izuna's cells and his own seemed to have fused relatively perfectly, without the various defects he had anticipated.
"Is it that that bastard and I happen to have an unexpected compatibility, or is this a universal phenomenon?" Tobirama pondered the question.
But he did not think for long, instead immersing himself in the exhilaration brought by this newly reborn body.
It was completely different from the Impure World body…
Every breath, every sensation of the world's temperature and air, felt like a kind of enjoyment.
Rebirth represents boundless possibilities…
"Back then, relying on the Flying Thunder God, I defeated you once."
"Now, relying on my disciple, I have defeated you a second time."
"In the future, relying on this body, I will completely defeat the Uchiha clan!"
Tobirama laughed in a low voice, and then his laughter grew louder and louder.
Defeating his archrival again and again—even the possibility of completely conquering the Uchiha—made it difficult even for Tobirama to suppress the excitement surging within him; he wanted to release it through laughter.
It was only because this place was absolutely secret.
If someone were to take a glance at him now, Senju Tobirama would be almost indistinguishable from a traditional Uchiha…
In the Warring States era, after killing a powerful enemy, the Uchiha would basically have such a fixed segment.
It was as if it were a preset program in their genes.
And the tremendous emotion surging in his heart caused his eyes to fill with blood-red color.
The red gathered, condensing into two dark tomoe in each of his eyes.
Tobirama had awakened his eyes.
And they were Double-Tomoe Sharingan!
"This…" Tobirama was momentarily stunned. It was not that he thought he would fail to awaken them.
But had it come so quickly?
He clearly had not done anything yet…
And in the next moment, Tobirama eagerly used the Sharingan to observe everything…
That superb dynamic vision, the ability to perceive chakra, the genjutsu that could be released without hand seals using ocular power…
Observation, hypnosis, copying!
Before Tobirama had obtained the Sharingan, he had heavily criticized it, believing it to be the root of evil.
But after using it himself…
He openly admitted in his heart that the Sharingan indeed had its unique strengths.
It truly had to be experienced…
"After awakening the eyes, there is indeed stimulation to the emotions, but it is manageable…"
"There will only be brief impulses; as long as one's thoughts and will are firm, it will not affect the overall situation."
"Hiruzen's idea is indeed feasible. The concept of instilling the Will of Fire deep into the minds of the Uchiha clan members can suppress the personality fluctuations brought about by awakening the eyes."
"Although there is also the reason that I, as an Uchiha, am somewhat special…"
Even when speaking in his heart, Tobirama had already placed his identity within the Uchiha.
The best way to deceive others—and to make them believe without doubt—is to first hypnotize oneself…
"Then, it's time to get to work."
Tobirama's gaze sharpened as he thoroughly destroyed all sensitive data and materials in the laboratory.
He slowly lifted the barrier and seals.
The prologue had been completed well, and the main act that followed could not fall short.
Tobirama headed straight for Kusagakure, just as he had agreed with Hiruzen.
His first mission had to be completed in a perfect manner!
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