"Keeping one's word is also a form of ninja way." Natsuhiko wholeheartedly agreed with this sentiment.
Even if he knew that for him, this phrase might turn into "I'll kill your whole family if I say I will"—that was fine with him. He was ANBU after all.
Exterminating entire families wasn't something they did often—that was Root's job. But that didn't mean they couldn't. In fact, if they wanted to, they could make it look even more like an accident than Root ever could.
Natsuhiko looked calmly at Uchiha Tatsumi before him, his entire body wreathed in azure chakra, looking like a celestial being.
This Jōgan Chakra Mode was fundamentally different from his other forms.
When using the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, one's identity remained unmistakable—the face, the features, everything stayed clear and recognizable.
But this form was different.
Strangely so.
Even as Natsuhiko looked forward, he could somehow perceive himself at the same time. His figure appeared hazy, almost illusory, wrapped in a dense, radiant energy that obscured his features entirely.
The overall impression was eerily similar to the figure he remembered—Ōtsutsuki Toneri.
And within this enveloping power, Natsuhiko realized something else.
Something he had long sought.
Yin Release.
Even though he had never truly mastered Yin Release himself, this power—so different from Yang Release, so deeply tied to spiritual energy—made itself known to him instantly.
Yet what puzzled him was this—
He could sense it.
He could even control it.
And yet… it didn't feel like it truly belonged to him.
It obeyed him, yes—but it was as though it remained something external, something borrowed.
Do I need to truly possess this power before I can fully claim it?
The thought lingered in his mind, though he paid little attention to the Uchiha before him.
Because he could already feel it—
Even in this initial stage, the power of the Jōgan Chakra Mode was no weaker than the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
And just how terrifying the Nine-Tails' power was… one only had to look at the devastation left in Kirigakure to understand.
More importantly, this new form possessed an incredibly unique trait.
A kind of overwhelming compatibility—so profound that even Natsuhiko found it difficult to fully describe.
In this state… I can use Nine-Tails chakra and Sage chakra simultaneously, without conflict or backlash?
That realization alone made this ability perfectly suited to him.
After all, his current limitations weren't due to lack of power, but rather his age. Despite his immense chakra reserves, the system still categorized him merely as "Semi-Kage."
Though, truth be told, Natsuhiko strongly suspected that the system's definition of "Kage-level" might require reaching the heights of legends like Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha.
His chakra reserves had grown several times over compared to a year ago, yet he had only advanced from chūnin to Semi-Kage—and then stagnated.
If that standard were true, then across the entire shinobi world, very few could truly qualify as "Kage-level" based on chakra alone.
To bridge that gap, Natsuhiko had focused on acquiring and developing amplification-type abilities.
And now—
If all those powers could be combined seamlessly, the resulting boost would be unimaginable.
There was only one question left.
…So why can't I fly yet?
After briefly testing the sensation of his new power, Natsuhiko suddenly found his thoughts drifting to another question—
Flight.
From what he remembered, both the Rinnegan and the Tenseigan granted their users the ability to fly.
Yet his Jōgan… seemed to lack that capability.
That realization left him slightly annoyed.
Still, it didn't take long for him to piece something together. The flight associated with those dōjutsu wasn't some arbitrary ability—it stemmed from the control of repulsive forces.
Natsuhiko could vaguely sense it within himself.
He could manipulate that force… but his control was far too weak. Nowhere near enough to lift himself off the ground, let alone achieve true flight.
"…Looks like I'll have to take it step by step."
Murmuring to himself, he had already closed the distance to within five meters of Uchiha Tatsumi.
Tatsumi stood rigid, his entire body tense with caution. There was no thought of launching a sneak attack.
Because right now, facing Natsuhiko felt like standing before something utterly terrifying.
Not just fear—
Something deeper.
It felt instinctive. Primal.
Like a lower lifeform trembling before a higher one.
He couldn't understand it, couldn't explain it—but the sensation clung to him relentlessly, tightening around his chest, making it hard to breathe.
"…Just who are you?" he finally asked, his voice low and strained. "Aren't you from the Senju clan? Then why—"
"What does that have to do with you?"
Natsuhiko cut him off without the slightest hesitation, his tone flat and indifferent.
"The dead should act like the dead. There's no need for me to explain anything to you. Perhaps the gods of the Pure Land will answer your questions."
The moment his words fell—
He moved.
The five-meter gap vanished as if it had never existed.
No warning. No buildup.
He was already there.
Natsuhiko's fist shot forward, wrapped in the power of the Jōgan, tearing through the air with a violent howl as it drove straight toward his opponent's chest.
Tatsumi reacted instantly. The moment his Sharingan caught even the faintest trace of movement, he raised his blade to defend and counter.
But inside—
Shock exploded through him.
Because even with his Sharingan—three tomoe fully awakened—he could only perceive a blurred afterimage.
This was the Sharingan.
And yet, it could barely track him?
Just how fast was this man?!
But that realization was only the beginning.
In the next instant, what awaited him was not shock—
But despair, cold and absolute.
Natsuhiko's fist collided with the blade.
There was no flourish, no wasted motion—just a simple, almost casual strike.
And yet, the moment it connected, an overwhelming force surged through the weapon, crashing directly into his body.
His blade shattered instantly, breaking apart into countless fragments.
Not just fast… but this strong too?
His mind reeled, but his body reacted on instinct. As a seasoned shinobi who had survived countless battles, he adjusted midair even as he was sent flying.
Just before hitting the ground, he forced his body into a controlled twist, flipping and redirecting his momentum before landing solidly on his feet.
But the moment he touched down—
Natsuhiko was already there.
Another punch followed, just as effortless, just as terrifying.
It was just as fast—so fast it suffocated.
This time, Tatsumi didn't even try to block.
Because he knew—
Trying to take that punch head-on would only lead to destruction.
So instead, he chose another way.
With the aid of his Sharingan, Tatsumi barely managed to catch a glimpse of the strange trajectory behind Natsuhiko's movements.
It was a testament to both the power of the three-tomoe Sharingan and his own exceptional skill that he could even perceive that much.
And so, in that split second, he made a choice.
A risky one—but a practical one.
Instead of trying to block the incoming force, he attempted to redirect it.
He knew full well that taking the blow head-on would be fatal. If he wanted even the slightest chance to counterattack, he had to deflect it first.
Gritting his teeth, he shot his hand forward, enduring the terrifying impact as he guided the force outward. In that same instant, he drew a kunai and thrust it toward Natsuhiko without hesitation.
Even Natsuhiko was momentarily surprised.
To think that, under such extreme pressure, his opponent could still find an opportunity to strike back—
But unfortunately for him, such an attack meant nothing.
The boost granted by the Jōgan Chakra Mode was beyond anything Tatsumi could comprehend. In this state—one that rivaled the first stage of the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode—Natsuhiko truly resembled a god walking among men.
Facing the incoming strike, he didn't even bother to dodge.
With a casual flick of his arm, he knocked the kunai aside as if it were nothing.
Then, without pause, he threw another punch.
This time, even though Tatsumi could still see it coming—
He couldn't keep up.
BAM!
The blow landed squarely in his abdomen.
In an instant, it felt as though his insides had been turned upside down, everything within him twisting violently as unbearable pain surged through his body.
But Natsuhiko's assault didn't stop there.
He reached out, seizing his opponent's wrist, and with a simple outward twist—
Crack!
The sound of bone snapping rang out sharply.
Tatsumi's wrist went limp immediately, hanging uselessly at an unnatural angle.
And yet—
He didn't cry out.
Not a single sound escaped him.
Instead, his other hand lashed out without hesitation, striking back at Natsuhiko.
That alone earned a flicker of respect.
Natsuhiko had seen many people suffer broken bones before—he knew exactly how excruciating that pain was.
And yet this man endured it in silence, even managing to counterattack instantly.
His willpower was undeniable.
But admiration didn't mean mercy.
Natsuhiko raised his right hand slightly, effortlessly deflecting the incoming strike with a simple motion, nullifying it completely.
In the next moment, he shifted his body just a fraction—
And his leg snapped out like a whip.
Thud!
The kick struck Tatsumi squarely in the stomach.
"Ugh..."
This time, he couldn't hold it in.
A muffled groan escaped his lips as his body was sent flying once more.
And yet—even as he was hurled through the air, his mind hadn't stopped moving.
He was still thinking.
Still searching for a way to fight back.
Through the clarity granted by the Jōgan, Natsuhiko saw it all clearly—his opponent, mid-flight, forming hand seals with his one uninjured hand.
A blazing orange chakra rapidly swelled within him, unmistakably the prelude to a Fire Release technique.
"How tenacious," Natsuhiko murmured, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Not only was this man resilient, but Natsuhiko also realized something else.
In this state, he didn't even need to rely on hand seals to predict techniques. Simply by observing the color and flow of chakra within his opponent, he could identify the nature of the jutsu being prepared.
It was… remarkably convenient.
The Uchiha were known for their ability to read ahead, to predict attacks and exploit weaknesses with terrifying precision.
Natsuhiko's perception wasn't quite the same—it followed a different path.
But its effectiveness was undeniable.
"Under normal circumstances," he said slowly, his voice calm, "I'd play along. Use Water Release, counter your flames, and break you down bit by bit… crush your will piece by piece."
He paused, a faint hint of indifference in his tone.
"Unfortunately…"
Unfortunately, Natsuhiko had no intention of continuing to play with him.
More importantly, he had already noticed that the chakra building up inside Tatsumi was becoming increasingly dense and unstable. It was obvious—he was preparing a large-scale jutsu.
Within the Uchiha compound, even with the ANBU and the Military Police Force jointly sealing off the area, a technique of that scale would still be enough to expose everything.
Leaving aside whether the surge of chakra could be sensed, the sheer blaze of firelight alone would inevitably attract attention.
That was exactly the kind of situation Natsuhiko wanted to avoid.
Not that he feared it—but unnecessary trouble was still unnecessary trouble. If it could be prevented, it was better to eliminate it early.
With that thought, chakra within his body began to ripple violently. In an instant, countless Wood Release seeds engraved with sealing formulas surged up from beneath the ground.
Ever since he had consumed the intermediate sealing-type fruit, his ability to inscribe seals had reached an absurd level of efficiency.
At this point, he could essentially imprint sealing formulas onto his Wood Release seeds the moment they were formed.
Meanwhile, chakra within Uchiha Tatsumi's body continued to swell uncontrollably. Facing this member of the Senju clan, he had already abandoned any thought of victory.
It was terrifying.
He could clearly tell that the opponent still wasn't being serious—neither the Flying Thunder God Technique nor Wood Release had been used yet.
And even then, he had no way to fight back.
This wasn't even a battle on the same level.
If I can't handle him alone… then I'll make sure everyone notices him!
That was the thought forming in his mind—
But the next moment, he froze.
Because the Senju boy had already moved—like a ghost.
Silent, without warning, suffocating in its suddenness. In the middle of Tatsumi's mid-air trajectory, the boy appeared right beside him.
Then he seized Tatsumi's fingers mid-hand seal and twisted hard.
Crack!
Another sharp snap of bone echoed out, followed immediately by a wave of agony that surged through Tatsumi's nervous system like a tidal wave.
Worst of all, he had already completed half of his hand seals, and his chakra had already been gathered and stabilized.
Now that his formation was forcibly interrupted, the chakra inside him went completely out of control.
Like a herd of wild beasts suddenly losing their reins, it began crashing violently through his body. It churned, twisted, and raged through his meridians without direction or restraint. He could feel his internal pathways already beginning to rupture under the strain.
At this rate, he wouldn't even need an enemy to finish him off—he would destroy himself.
That was Flying Thunder God… wasn't it?
The thought flashed through Tatsumi's mind just as his body slammed heavily into a wall.
His vision blurred. He knew he was nearing his limit.
And then he saw him.
That figure, wrapped in deep azure chakra, his form faintly distorted and unreal, had already appeared beside him once again.
He still couldn't understand it.
How had he activated Flying Thunder God?
And what exactly was that blue light?
Why… did those eyes—those strange azure eyes—make his three-tomoe Sharingan feel so utterly powerless?
—
Meanwhile, in the forest behind the Uchiha compound, Natsuhiko and Kakashi walked forward at an unhurried pace.
The situation within the Uchiha clan had already been resolved. After Natsuhiko defeated Uchiha Tatsumi, the Jōgan Chakra Mode naturally dissipated.
It had to be said—the ability was impressive.
The destructive power it could unleash was genuinely formidable.
But its weakness was just as obvious.
Its duration was shorter than he had expected.
It wasn't that the chakra inside the eyes was insufficient. In fact, the energy within them was vast, and even capable of self-recovery over time.
The problem lay elsewhere.
The strength of the eyes themselves placed a burden on his body.
And more importantly, the so-called Jōgan chakra—this destructive, almost annihilating force—was itself something his physical vessel struggled to bear.
He knew very well that his strength wasn't yet sufficient—or more precisely, it was his eyes that still weren't strong enough.
Currently, he couldn't fully control this power. He couldn't prevent the strain it placed on his eyes, nor could he completely eliminate the damage it inflicted on his body.
So stopping here was the best choice.
Besides, there was no need for him to worry about the rest anymore.
The most troublesome opponent had already been dealt with by Natsuhiko. If Uchiha Shin and the others still couldn't handle what remained, then they truly had no right to continue working alongside him.
With that in mind, Natsuhiko directly left the area with Kakashi.
He had made a promise, and there were things he intended to explain to Kakashi. More importantly, he was genuinely curious about Kakashi's eye.
In his memory, Kakashi only "activated the correct WiFi password"—so to speak—more than a decade later. Yet now, signs of something similar were already beginning to show.
How could he not be curious?
Could it be that this guy has already, in some subtle way, begun to awaken the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan—without even realizing it himself?
After some thought, Natsuhiko concluded that this was the only explanation that made sense.
After all, Kakashi's Mangekyō had awakened alongside Obito's. It wouldn't be strange at all if he had already begun to unconsciously tap into that power.
With that thought in mind, Natsuhiko suddenly stopped walking. Kakashi, who had been following closely behind, also came to a halt.
Right now, Kakashi was full of doubts.
He had been trying to make sense of everything that had happened tonight.
But he wasn't foolish. Having spent so long in the ANBU—and with Natsuhiko even appointing him as acting division commander—his analytical abilities had improved tremendously.
He had gained access to information he never could have seen before, and come into contact with things that were previously out of reach.
Because of that, he understood now.
The situation within the Uchiha clan was not as simple as it appeared.
He also realized that the people in the ANBU, as well as Shisui who had been by his side for some time, all belonged to a certain faction.
And tonight, the people he had fought against… were likely from another faction entirely.
A faction that did not stand with Natsuhiko—or even with Konoha itself.
Still, Kakashi was someone who remembered the kindness the Uchiha had once shown him. Even after understanding all this, all he could do was let out a helpless sigh.
In the end, Natsuhiko had never told him in advance what exactly he was supposed to do.
And on top of that, his Sharingan had started acting strangely tonight—almost as if it were warning him not to get involved at all.
"…Alright. I know what you're thinking," Natsuhiko said as he turned back to look at Kakashi, shaking his head slightly in mild exasperation.
"You've probably already guessed part of the reason you were sent there tonight."
"It's simple. You should have seen the reports. Within the Uchiha clan, there are two voices."
"One of them advocates aligning with Konoha again—reintegrating into the village and repairing relations."
"That faction, in our terms, would be the moderates. They don't want the clan and the village to continue drifting apart. They see further ahead than most."
"If this continues, it will bring nothing but disaster for the Uchiha."
"Uchiha Shin is the representative of that faction. Shisui was placed under him as a bridge between the clan and Konoha… though unfortunately, the Hokage was away at Mount Myōboku."
Natsuhiko's tone was unhurried, even a little relaxed. There was a faint laziness in his voice as he spoke.
Still, when he mentioned Minato Namikaze, there was a subtle flicker in his expression.
After all, Minato had been personally sent to Mount Myōboku by him.
Kakashi listened quietly the entire time, not interrupting.
He had already read all of this in the intelligence reports.
However, since Natsuhiko was willing to lay everything out more clearly, Kakashi was naturally willing to listen carefully. The more he understood, the better he would be able to judge what he himself needed to do.
"As for the other faction, their intentions are far from simple."
Natsuhiko casually found a tree to lean against and sat down before continuing with a faint smile.
"We refer to them as the hawks—hardliners, or you could even call them the coup faction."
He paused slightly, noticing a subtle shift in Kakashi's expression.
But he had no intention of letting Kakashi interrupt, so he raised a hand in a gesture for silence.
Kakashi immediately fell quiet, though his gaze grew noticeably sharper.
"Don't be surprised. I can tell you for certain that ANBU has no concrete evidence, but think about it for a moment."
"Imagine your clan's relationship with the village has deteriorated to the point where both sides are drifting further and further apart, almost becoming strangers."
"Yet you have no intention of leaving the village, because this place was built by your ancestors with their blood and lives."
"But as time goes on, you find yourself with no real rights of your own. Instead, you're increasingly excluded by the village, even cut off from it entirely."
"If that were you… how would you feel?"
"The current situation is this: the Third Hokage and others are dissatisfied with the Uchiha's attitude toward the village."
"They even turned the Police Force into something private—what was once a public institution of the village has become the clan's own department."
"And on top of that, the actions they've taken have made the villagers dislike them, making it extremely difficult to maintain unity within the village."
"Meanwhile, the Uchiha are dissatisfied with their current treatment. As one of the most powerful clans in the village, they don't even have a voice in the decision-making of the higher-ups."
"This contradiction between status and identity, between clan and village—if no one mediates it…"
"Then the result is—"
"An explosion." Kakashi spoke with some difficulty, but through Natsuhiko's brief explanation and the intelligence reports he had already seen, he could state it with certainty.
If things truly reached that point, the outcome would be a full-scale war between the village and the clan.
From Natsuhiko's words alone, it was clear he did not favor the Uchiha. Otherwise, he would not have used the word "coup."
And when he thought about it, it made sense. A war between Konoha and the Uchiha… would almost certainly end with the clan's complete annihilation.
At that thought, Kakashi had already fully confirmed his conclusion.
Compared to letting the Uchiha fade into history along with Obito's family line, it might indeed be better to eliminate only the extremists—leaving behind those willing to talk and negotiate with the village, and building a better future together.
"Only…" Kakashi sighed helplessly. "Why me? You know my situation, I—"
"Because of Obito, you don't want to fight the Uchiha?" Natsuhiko interrupted bluntly, shaking his head in disdain. "And the strange behavior of your Sharingan tonight—do you think that was Obito punishing you?"
As he spoke, Natsuhiko stood up and walked over to Kakashi.
He still wore a gentle, almost warm smile, but for some reason Kakashi felt an overwhelming pressure from him.
Even though no chakra was being released, just standing there calmly was enough to make Kakashi feel slightly overwhelmed.
"Don't be ridiculous. Rather than punishment, I think it was a gift from him."
Natsuhiko's voice was calm yet firm, carrying an almost persuasive weight.
It was the kind of statement that made one instinctively want to believe it.
But Kakashi's expression remained blank with confusion.
A gift…? How could something like that be called a gift?
Before Kakashi could think further, Natsuhiko continued speaking.
"The secrets of the Sharingan are far beyond your imagination. That eye is like a priceless treasure—something that can stir desire in anyone who lays eyes on it."
Natsuhiko paused mid-sentence, momentarily falling into thought as he considered how to properly guide Kakashi's Mangekyō Sharingan into awakening.
Based on Kakashi's description, it seemed that the change had occurred suddenly during his battle with Uchiha Chen. That raised a possibility—was it some kind of mutual resonance between eyes?
If that was the case, things became a little troublesome. After all, he didn't possess a Sharingan himself.
But very quickly, Natsuhiko decided that it wasn't necessarily impossible to try. Even without a Sharingan, he still had the "Jōgan."
Even if this so-called Jōgan was an imitation, it was still, in essence, a power derived from the Ōtsutsuki.
"Look into my eyes—especially that Sharingan of yours."
Natsuhiko slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, a brilliant azure glow bloomed within his gaze.
The flowing luminescence was dazzling—beautiful, mysterious… and undeniably dangerous.
Without hesitation, he immediately began circulating his own aura, particularly the chakra infused with Yang Release, the power inherited from the Senju.
If even a three-tomoe Sharingan could react to Kakashi's eye, then the combination of his own ocular power—originating from the Byakugan lineage—and the Senju chakra should be more than enough.
He refused to believe it wouldn't trigger something deep within the Sharingan's "DNA."
However, what he never expected—what he could not have imagined even in his wildest assumptions—was that before he could even fully release his power, Kakashi's Sharingan reacted on its own.
It began to rotate slowly… then faster… and faster still, as if the three tomoe were on the verge of merging into one.
At the same time, Kakashi frowned deeply. His head felt increasingly heavy, as though it were sinking into a haze.
Then, suddenly, Natsuhiko noticed something was wrong.
In the space directly in front of him, a barely perceptible distortion had appeared.
It was subtle—so subtle that it didn't even feel like something existing in physical reality. In fact, it was the kind of phenomenon that ordinary perception couldn't detect at all.
And most dangerously of all, that distortion was locking onto his head.
"…Kamui?"
Natsuhiko's expression sharpened instantly.
His chakra condensed in an instant, and seeds of Wood Release quietly manifested beneath the ground around him.
He had no intention of having his head twisted off by Kamui. That would be far too much of a loss.
If the ability of 'super-perception' can even see distortions in space… then—
For some reason, the first names that surfaced in his mind were Obito Uchiha and Minato Namikaze.
Both were masters of spatial techniques. But Minato was an ally, and his methods were already familiar to him.
As for Obito…
If this eye truly could perceive everything as he suspected, then the man's existence would be laid bare before him—whether his body was inside the real world or hidden within Kamui's dimension, everything would likely become clear at a glance.
Time slowly passed.
Natsuhiko remained on high alert, guarding against the activation of Kamui at any moment. Meanwhile, Kakashi felt the pressure on his eyes intensify further and further.
It no longer felt like he was carrying an eye in his socket.
It felt like a mountain had been embedded in his eye—an enormous mass that continuously devoured his chakra.
The pressure was suffocating. The weight was unbearable.
Just as Kakashi felt he was about to lose consciousness, the pressure suddenly lessened… while the rate at which his chakra was being drained increased dramatically.
"…Did it stabilize?"
Natsuhiko finally let out a slight breath of relief.
The distorted space in front of him had vanished. That meant Kakashi had likely succeeded.
Looking at Kakashi—still standing there with his eyes tightly shut, motionless—Natsuhiko understood that he was likely still undergoing some kind of internal transformation.
Without hesitation, Natsuhiko took out a kunai.
And when Kakashi finally opened his eyes, Natsuhiko simply handed it to him.
"Take a good look," Natsuhiko said softly.
Kakashi silently accepted the kunai.
Under the moonlight, the blade reflected a faint, blurred sheen, but it did nothing to hinder his vision. In that moment, his perception felt unnaturally sharp—as if everything in the world had become clearer than ever before.
Even the reflection on the kunai showed his own figure, unchanged… except for his left eye.
It had completely transformed.
"…This is…" Kakashi murmured, barely able to recognize what he was seeing.
"You don't recognize it?" Natsuhiko said calmly, resting a hand on his shoulder. "This is the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"The power the Uchiha have always dreamed of obtaining. An eye that stands above the Three-Tomoe Sharingan… and also the power Obito left behind for you."
"Obito's… gift to me?" Kakashi's eyes slowly reddened. "The Mangekyō Sharingan…"
"Yes," Natsuhiko replied with a faint smile, his tone steady and gentle. "You were completely unchanged all this time, but today, something within you finally reacted."
"It means Obito was helping you. Someone as gentle as him likely wouldn't want the village to fall into chaos, nor would he want his clan to walk toward destruction."
"So he quietly entrusted this power to you. Perhaps… he wanted you to help him. To help settle the clan's future in his place."
"…Is that so…" Kakashi lowered his head and murmured softly.
After a long silence, he finally looked up toward the night sky. His gaze had become sharper than ever before.
"I understand now. I won't be confused anymore."
"Thank you, Natsuhiko… and thank you, Obito."