Shinji already had a plan in mind for how to conquer thirty Konohagakure villagers.
After months of exploration, he had long figured out the pattern: if he didn't target those powerful, renowned individuals who were already wary of him, the conquest process would be much smoother.
If he were to try conquering Shimura Danzo, even ten years might yield no progress whatsoever.
Danzo was not only unfathomably powerful but also harbored deep hatred for the Uchiha Clan. As an Uchiha himself, gaining Danzo's approval was practically impossible.
On the other hand, targeting ordinary members of the Uchiha Clan or common villagers in Konohagakure would be entirely different.
He already had accumulated sufficient reputation and strength in their minds. Just showing a bit of friendliness could easily break through the first stage of affection.
The only trouble was that conquering thirty people would inevitably consume a lot of his time.
Moreover, the points he could gain from these ordinary people would likely be pitifully small.
The affection from common villagers would probably yield only dozens or hundreds of points at most, completely incomparable to conquering Nohara Rin or Kurenai Yuhi.
Their first stages contributed thousands of points, and the second stage directly exceeded two hundred thousand.
Shinji's previous strategy had always prioritized high-value targets.
But this side quest refreshed by the System forced him to reconsider his future approach.
"I'm not in the village right now. I'll arrange things slowly after I return."
Shinji silently made this decision in his heart.
Then, he shifted his gaze to the personal information on the left side of the System Panel, finally stopping at the points column.
[Points: 523400]
Over five hundred twenty thousand points.
Enough to upgrade his Sharingan directly to the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Once the Mangekyo was awakened, each eye would gain a unique ability, and he could summon Susanoo. Especially the Complete Body Susanoo, whose size rivaled that of Tailed Beasts, was considered the ultimate weapon combining offense and defense.
His overall strength would also experience a terrifying surge, and various Dōjutsu abilities would multiply.
Thinking of this, Shinji's breathing unconsciously quickened, his heart pounding wildly.
He glanced discreetly at Asuma, who was still sulking beside him, and thought inwardly:
"I must find a moment alone before awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan."
...
Midnight.
In the dark room, Shinji slowly opened his eyes. He hunched his body, moving without a sound, afraid to disturb Asuma beside him.
Confirming that Asuma was snoring with drool at his mouth, clearly in deep sleep, Shinji quietly dressed and pushed open the guest room door.
As he closed the door, he peered through the gap to confirm Asuma remained unaware, then slightly relaxed.
Shinji quickly performed Hand Seals, a faint glow enveloping his body, and the next moment, his form vanished directly.
Transparent Escape: Invisibility.
He silently left Matsukaze Inn, heading toward the capital's gates, deftly avoiding several guards and scaling the wall.
He traveled about two kilometers through the night, finally stopping in a quiet, deserted dense forest.
Shinji took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turbulent emotions in his heart.
The pale blue System Panel clearly appeared in his vision.
Without hesitation, he invested all four hundred thousand points into the evolution of the Sharingan.
The System Panel instantly refreshed, and the information in the talent column abruptly updated.
[Congratulations, you have obtained: Mangekyo Sharingan]
[Type: Talent, upgradable]
[Description: The strongest eye obtained through extreme pain, also the cursed eye leading to blindness.]
[Effects: Lower Lord・Sokotsu-no-Mikoto, Heavenly Lord・Amatsu-no-Mikoto]
[Negative Effects: Each use consumes ocular power, vision gradually declines, ultimately leading to complete blindness]
[Next stage upgrade requirement: 800,000 points (Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan)]
Severe pain exploded from the deepest part of his eyes.
The originally calm Three Tomoe twisted violently, rotated, and fused within his pupils.
Shinji clenched his teeth, biting his lower lip until it split, blood dripping down his chin.
Veins bulged on his forehead, sweat droplets heavily hitting the ground.
His chest heaved violently, his body uncontrollably hunched, as if gripped by an invisible hand.
"Ah—!"
A suppressed groan squeezed from deep within his throat, even his vocal cords trembling.
Hot blood tears slowly seeped from Shinji's eyes, sliding down his cheeks, his vision wildly distorting, folding, collapsing.
In the crimson pupils, the previously separated Tomoe completely disappeared, replaced by three layers of swirling patterns stacked, extending outward into three sharp angles, like terrifying marks left after space was torn and forcibly folded.
"Awakening the Mangekyo is this painful?"
Shinji knelt on the ground, palms firmly supporting the earth, panting heavily, chest violently rising and falling.
He couldn't help suspecting if something was wrong with his method of awakening the Sharingan.
Shinji remembered Sasuke awakening his Mangekyo only after learning the truth about Itachi, not suffering like this.
He glanced at the System's description of the Sharingan.
The strongest eye obtained through extreme pain!
Could it be... because he had never experienced that heart-wrenching pain?
Shinji recalled the entire process of his Sharingan awakening.
From start to finish, it was forcibly achieved through points.
And the essence of the Mangekyo Sharingan was precisely the emergence of pure Yin Release Chakra within the body after losing the most important person, stimulating the Sharingan's metamorphosis, generating Mangekyo ocular power.
Moreover, this ocular power was fixed upon awakening.
Each use of the Mangekyo consumed ocular power.
Without external replenishment, using it diminished it, and when ocular power was completely exhausted, the Mangekyo would lead to blindness.
To compensate for this loss, there were only two paths: either transplant a blood relative's Mangekyo to evolve into the Eternal Mangekyo, or transplant Senju Hashirama's cells, using Yang Release Chakra to greatly slow ocular power consumption.
Sasuke and Obito were the most typical examples.
Sasuke transplanted Itachi's eyes, achieving the Eternal Mangekyo, never blinding again, with nearly infinite ocular power.
Obito contained Hashirama cells, using Kamui Intangibility freely, never blinding even at the end.
"Because I never experienced extreme pain before?"
"So this Mangekyo awakening compensated for all the pain at once?"
Shinji silently complained inwardly.
He supported himself on the ground, slowly stood up, wiped the blood from his face, and pulled out a small mirror prepared beforehand from his pocket.
Approaching the moonlight, he carefully gazed at his eyes in the mirror.
Within those pupils, three layers of swirling patterns flowed.
"This is my Mangekyo Sharingan?"
The Chakra surging from within his body was turbulent and powerful, almost ten times stronger than before.
Shinji clenched his fist, feeling the unprecedented power, and couldn't help sighing softly:
"So strong!"
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