After Tomie left—
Itachi took several deep breaths, slowly clenching his little fists.
That had been terrifying!
'When I grow up, I must never become an emotionally unstable Uchiha like Tomie-nee...'
'I have to remain calm at all times. How could she treat a fellow clan member that way? That was too much!'
'I refuse to become like her!' The young Itachi waved his fists, feeling deeply indignant.
...
Three days later.
Konoha Research Department.
After being revived twice through Izanagi, Fugaku had successfully received a Magnet Release transplant.
Nearby, after carefully weighing his options and undergoing a medical analysis, Sakumo ultimately chose Storm Release for his transplant.
Thanks to Hizashi's precedent, the process had not been nearly as difficult as Fugaku's, and the transplant proceeded relatively smoothly.
That was also due to their powerful physiques and abundant chakra.
The Chimera Technique was not something just anyone could withstand.
However, thanks to Hizashi and the two of them volunteering, the progress of transplant procedures for Konoha shinobi with somewhat weaker constitutions had accelerated considerably...
This was the power of technological iteration.
After leaving the operating room, Fugaku and Sakumo lay on the hospital beds reserved for observation and chatted with each other.
"Sakumo, how are you planning to develop your Storm Release? The same way Hizashi did?"
After undergoing a potentially fatal kekkei genkai transplant together, Fugaku and Sakumo had quickly grown closer.
In private, they could now address each other by name like friends without it seeming presumptuous.
"No..."
"Hizashi is a very fortunate man. He also successfully received a Cursed Seal. Only by combining the precise chakra control he has honed since childhood with the physical transformations caused by the Cursed Seal was he able to master that kind of beyond-visual-range Storm Release attack."
"As for me, I'll probably try to develop a Storm Release Chakra Mode to increase my speed. Then I'll coat my blade with Storm Release so my slashes can reach targets at medium range while becoming even sharper."
Sakumo spoke thoughtfully.
The same kekkei genkai could develop in entirely different directions depending on the person wielding it.
"That sounds quite good..."
Fugaku nodded. If Sakumo improved another level across the board, he truly would be able to 'cut men down as easily as grass.'
"What about you, Fugaku? Do you have any ideas for your Magnet Release?" Sakumo asked with a smile.
"I haven't decided yet... My Magnet Release isn't particularly sensitive to metal. I've tested it over the past two days, and I doubt I'll ever reach the Third Kazekage's level in that regard."
"But it seems to have some effect on strengthening the body. I plan to ask Committee Member Orochimaru about it. If he believes it's viable, I'll develop it in that direction."
"I've heard that Lord Hokage has considerable expertise in physical conditioning. I plan to consult him as well. It would be even better if my Magnet Release could prove useful to Lord Hokage..."
Fugaku spoke with some uncertainty.
"That would be good too..."
Sakumo sighed with emotion.
"This kekkei genkai will give us plenty to work through for some time... Still, I can't help envying Hizashi for that Cursed Seal. Natural energy and Sage Transformation are truly frightening."
"It's fine. Didn't Committee Member Orochimaru say that Mount Myōboku and Jiraiya are now fully cooperating with the Research Department? Perhaps one day they'll find the right direction and achieve another breakthrough..."
Fugaku laughed optimistically. "When that day comes, Sakumo, would you care to try it with me?"
"That is exactly what I had in mind."
Sakumo extended his fist, and the two men bumped fists while lying in their hospital beds.
A strange bond seemed to form between them at that moment...
"Speaking of which, once my younger son is born, how about having Kakashi become his sensei someday?" Fugaku said cheerfully, already making arrangements for his unborn son.
Clan Head Isshin had actually forbidden him from raising his own children!
Fine, then he would hand them over to Konoha's fine young men to raise instead!
Fugaku decided to take a hands-off approach with Sasuke and Itachi, devote himself to figuring out magnetic-field body conditioning, and become a pure fighter...
Perhaps this method would even allow him to become Lord Hokage's exclusive sparring partner!
If that happened, his future prospects would be wide open...
"Sure..." Sakumo agreed with a smile.
What Fugaku did not know was that Sakumo also favored hands-off parenting and had already dumped full responsibility for Kakashi onto Minato...
Two months later.
An outrageously unreasonable young Uchiha woman arrived at the Konoha Research Department.
Her name was Uchiha Tomie.
It would be unfair to say that this esteemed lady possessed absolutely no theoretical foundation, but the difference was negligible...
And yet, she had already become the Research Department's most treasured asset!
The reason was simple. Repeated experience had proven that whenever a research project reached a standstill and no one knew which experiment might solve the problem next...
They could never go wrong by trusting this woman's dōjutsu!
It was quite literally the perfect union of mysticism and science.
Orochimaru had gone from doubting her at first to singing her praises. He now strictly forbade minor projects from bothering Tomie...
Her ocular power had to be reserved for the research that mattered most!
Even though Tomie herself did not particularly care...
Despite that, Tomie had already identified several directions for the development of Konoha's scientific research...
The most important included:
Several specific measures for further reducing the aggressiveness of Hashirama's cells and making their transplantation broadly compatible.
Improving and expanding the Cursed Seal.
Replenishing the ocular power of the Sharingan and Mangekyō Sharingan.
That was simply how absurdly unfair Mangekyō dōjutsu could be.
When the right ability found the platform best suited to it, the projects began advancing at rocket speed...
Konoha Research Department.
"I've chosen the direction for you. I don't owe you anything anymore."
With her Mangekyō glaring, Tomie handed Tobirama a document with a haughty air.
It contained a proposal for extracting the negative emotions within the Box of Ultimate Bliss, rendering them harmless to a certain extent, and converting them into clean energy to power Konoha...
To solve this problem for Tobirama, Tomie had expended a considerable amount of ocular power. She had carefully examined the various options, relying on her intuition to find the one that felt the most correct...
"Much appreciated, much appreciated!" Tobirama accepted the document and nodded repeatedly. "Thank you for your hard work!"
Putting aside how much convenience this would bring to Konoha's aerial fortress and ninja-tool manufacturing, Tobirama himself was also extremely interested in the technology involved.
Moreover, Tomie had indeed consumed a considerable amount of Mangekyō ocular power. She had made a very real sacrifice.
Seeing Tobirama's reaction, Tomie rolled her eyes. "Hmph...?"
Shamelessly pretending not to hear her, Tobirama began reading the document right where he stood.
"This plan is good..."
"But it still has a drawback. There are currently too many negative emotions inside the Box of Ultimate Bliss. If we extract only a portion, the monster within—Satori—won't notice. But once too much has been drained, I'm afraid it may awaken..."
Besides being filled with negative emotions, the Box of Ultimate Bliss contained a demonic creature formed from them, known as Satori.
"There shouldn't be any problems for the next year or two."
"When the time comes, I'll find a way to seal it inside you and turn you into Satori's jinchūriki. That would also allow us to realize our other proposal: helping our clansmen absorb the excessive negative emotions produced by their Sharingan..."
Izuna spoke softly.
"You'll help me? How...?" Tobirama asked with a frown.
"By giving it everything I have. The imprint of Yata no Mitama may be consumed very slowly, but it isn't infinite. You no longer need my help in your daily life either."
"Now that you have the Flying Thunder God Technique, I no longer need to worry about your safety on the battlefield. All good things must eventually come to an end. Rather than letting my power slowly waste away like this, I might as well use it all at once to raise the upper limit of your strength."
Izuna smiled.
"In any case, that won't happen until later. When the time comes, if you miss me, hurry up and perfect a method for replenishing the ocular-power imprint. Then you might even be able to call me back from the Pure Land..."
Tobirama snorted irritably. "Who would ever miss a bastard like you?"
However, after suddenly hearing that Izuna had decided to exhaust all his ocular power to help him and that the two of them would soon part ways...
Tobirama unexpectedly felt somewhat reluctant to let him go.
Having a companion who could advise him anytime and anywhere, possessed remarkably keen judgment, and understood personal boundaries was indeed exceedingly rare in the shinobi world.
However, Izuna had overlooked one issue.
He might not remain in the Pure Land for very long.
Madara had suddenly noticed a blind spot in his reasoning.
The Uchiha were doing extremely well now!
His reputation had even been vindicated by Hiruzen. When the brothers met again, Madara could confidently say that he had not broken his promise to Izuna. At worst, Izuna would scold him a little for allowing Hashirama to deceive him yet again...
But putting everything else aside, weren't the shinobi of the Uchiha clan far stronger now than they had been during the Warring States Period?
Madara felt that he held the advantage in this upcoming debate with his younger brother!
Izuna would surely understand the trials he had imposed upon both the Uchiha and Konoha...
Furthermore, by combining the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path with White Zetsu, reviving Izuna was not beyond the realm of possibility.
He merely needed to work out the precise method.
Madara had no intention of giving his brother an ordinary resurrection. After all, Izuna deserved to enjoy the benefits Madara had accumulated over all these years...
Tomie quietly activated her Mangekyō and used Kuebiko to examine Tobirama's status panel.
The levels of strength displayed on the panel used Tomie's own attributes as the baseline.
...
Name: Uchiha Seisui.
Bloodline: Senju-Uchiha hybrid.
Vitality: Strong.
Physical Strength: Strong.
Soul Strength: Extremely Strong; suspected dual-soul constitution.
Chakra Natures: Mastery of all seven natures; particularly skilled in Water Release and Fire Release chakra.
Talents: Gentle spatial affinity; ocular-power affinity.
...
This was only a relatively simple panel, the initial form of her dōjutsu.
For further analysis, Tobirama would need to begin moving so that the various indicators of his body became dynamic.
If Tobirama used a technique, Tomie could also convert the jutsu into a panel for analysis, eliminating the information disparity in battle and obtaining crucial intelligence.
However, that would require considerably more ocular power.
'Nothing particularly impressive...'
'Even if he's somewhat stronger than me, as long as his abilities can be reduced to data that I can see, it means I have a chance of catching up...' Tomie chuckled, entirely undiscouraged.
After all, who among them wasn't a genius?
At that moment, a wave of excited greetings came from outside.
Hiruzen had arrived for a routine inspection.
"Thank you for your hard work, everyone..."
Smiling warmly, Hiruzen inspected one department after another. "Speak up if you need anything!"
When he reached Tobirama and Tomie's department, Hiruzen entered as usual.
Tomie's interest was suddenly stirred. She became intensely curious about what kind of status panel Hokage-sama would possess.
"Hokage-sama, hello. Would you allow me to test my dōjutsu on you?" Tomie gathered her courage and addressed Hiruzen as he entered.
Hiruzen blinked. He had yet to personally experience the power of a Mangekyō dōjutsu...
For the past two months, Hiruzen had been in deep seclusion, completely engrossed in studying the fragmentary Six Paths Kekkei Mōra method that Black Zetsu had delivered to him.
Previously, the only two threads within his body had been those of Boil Release and Ice Release.
However, the method provided by Black Zetsu had shown Hiruzen a new path.
He did not need to first condense a complete kekkei genkai. By achieving a stable combination of two chakra natures at the level of a compound ninjutsu, he could use his special 'sealing' constitution to create similar threads.
Although they were not as strong as threads formed from complete kekkei genkai, the most important thing with this bodily framework was to first establish a basic structure.
After all, quantitative change eventually led to qualitative change, and the first requirement was sufficient quantity.
Later, there would still be plenty of time to either trigger that qualitative transformation or further refine the strength of those threads.
Hiruzen could feel that every time another 'compound chakra thread' formed within his body, some subtle, indescribable change occurred within him.
It felt somewhat like he was growing alongside the village, his innate talent gradually rising to an even higher level.
"Go ahead..."
"There is no need to hold back. I have also long heard of the renowned power of the Uchiha clan's Mangekyō Sharingan." Hiruzen nodded and spoke in a warm tone.
He knew about Tomie. This girl had caused quite a stir recently.
The Research Department's most capable up-and-coming research shinobi!
She deserved a certain degree of respect...
'Just one glance. I'll only take one glance. Anything more would be too presumptuous—this is Hokage-sama, after all...'
Tomie took a deep breath, looked directly at Hiruzen, and activated Kuebiko.
At that moment, as Tomie stared at the panel within her mindscape, her eyes widened involuntarily and her expression filled with shock.
The composure she had shown when examining Tobirama was nowhere to be seen. She looked as though she had just seen a ghost.
Had her Mangekyō dōjutsu stopped working?
But she still had plenty of ocular power left...
"H-How is that possible?!"
"Why is everything nothing but question marks?!"
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