After using the sensory barrier to observe the battle between the two for a while, Zenji withdrew his attention.
Toji Fushiguro's strongest chakra absorption points were concentrated in his hands, feet, and mouth. The rest of his body referenced the Hyuga clan's special physiology, but absorbed chakra at far lower efficiency.
Still, combined with his powerful physique, ordinary attacks would find it nearly impossible to harm him.
Without mastery of Sage Mode, without the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, with only the basic Rasengan at his disposal—Minato Namikaze had no means to quickly defeat Toji Fushiguro.
However, Minato's observation and reaction skills exceeded even Toji's. Combined with the Flying Thunder God Technique...
He could truly fight when he wished and leave when he wished.
Toji Fushiguro without the Eight Inner Gates activated can't reach Kage-level, Zenji mused. Unless he acquires suitable, powerful weapons.
As for the Eight Inner Gates Formation—after several modifications and the restrictions imposed by Heavenly Restriction—activation was no longer simple.
Using Cursed Energy-infused chakra to establish mental-level restrictions was essentially Yin Release. Its ability to create something from nothing allowed him to set rules upon himself—similar in principle to Izanagi and Izanami.
Then Yang Release chakra filled those rules, making them truly take effect on the physical body.
At the cost of possessing no chakra, the body gained drastically enhanced strength and growth potential. A portion of absorbed chakra was stored in the Eight Gates; the remainder was absorbed directly by the flesh.
This final modified version made Toji's body stronger and his physical growth ceiling higher.
But activating the Eight Inner Gates Formation would break those established rules—sacrificing both the physical amplification and growth enhancement.
Reshaping self-imposed rules required massive amounts of time. The technique couldn't be used lightly.
Zenji's gaze fell on the experimental table before him. Barrier spheres enveloped one embryo after another.
Among them: an embryo with snow-white hair and eyes shining bright blue-white like jewels. A grotesque form with four eyes and four arms. Several normal-looking specimens.
And in the center—his new body.
"I'm only missing Tailed Beast chakra. The timing is actually perfect."
He looked toward the distance.
The Three-Tails was present on this battlefield. Though weak among the Tailed Beasts, what Zenji wanted were the characteristics of a chakra lifeform.
Not its raw power.
He waved casually. The barrier enveloped him instantly, and his entire form vanished without a trace.
Elsewhere. A battlefield.
Blood pooled everywhere. Countless Hidden Mist corpses littered the ground.
A figure completely encased in white substance stood before the body of a young girl.
He reached out to touch her palm—only for his hand to pass right through.
His shoulders trembled. Tears fell unbidden.
"Rin... Rin!" The trembling voice gradually hardened into resolve. "I will create a world where you exist."
"Careful! Someone's here!" White Zetsu's voice rang through his mind.
The single exposed Sharingan transformed instantly. A hand appearing suddenly behind him passed straight through his head.
"Impressive reactions." Zenji's aged voice echoed across the field.
The white figure moved rapidly, retreating to the battlefield's edge in an instant.
Zenji revealed himself, standing atop the blood-soaked water, regarding Obito's single visible eye.
Obito stared back, tension coiling through every muscle. His voice emerged hoarse.
"Who are you? When did you appear?"
"Obito, I can't sense him." White Zetsu's voice filled his mind. "That Barrier Technique is shielding him from perception."
Looking at Zenji's aged figure, White Zetsu immediately recalled who this was.
"Don't let him touch you. He's a mysterious powerhouse native to the Land of Bears. Physical contact causes instant paralysis, and he wields a peculiar Barrier Technique."
Zenji ignored the question entirely. His gaze dropped to Rin Nohara's body at his feet.
This corpse contained massive amounts of Tailed Beast chakra—but it was dissipating rapidly. The beast itself was already dead.
When a Jinchuriki was killed, the Tailed Beast died with them.
In reality, only the Tailed Beast's will dispersed. Given time, that will would recover, condense chakra, and resurrect at a location fitting its nature.
In the original timeline, within a few years, the Fourth Mizukage would capture the Three-Tails again and seal it within himself.
Then Obito would come knocking and take control directly.
Zenji aimed his palm at Rin's abdomen. A circular barrier sphere formed in his hand as his other hand wove seals.
Chakra Absorption Technique—activate.
Her abdomen bulged slightly. Massive amounts of gray chakra flowed out, streaming into the barrier sphere.
"What are you doing?" Anger crept into Obito's hoarse voice. His Sharingan fixed on Zenji with murderous intensity.
If White Zetsu hadn't kept warning him how dangerous this opponent was, he would have charged already.
"You seem to care a great deal about this girl." Zenji turned his head, speaking casually.
Obito fell silent. He couldn't reveal his identity now—and had no idea how to respond.
Still, relief flickered through him. Based on this, the stranger had only just arrived. He hadn't heard Obito's earlier words.
Zenji studied the silent figure, his gaze focusing on that Mangekyo-level Sharingan. A twinge of regret stirred.
If he'd arrived a little earlier, he could have personally witnessed the Mangekyo's formation process.
He was confident he could force a qualified Sharingan to rapidly awaken that level.
Unfortunately, he'd been late.
The last traces of chakra flowed from Rin's abdomen into the barrier sphere.
He grasped it and held it before his eyes. A massive quantity of specialized Tailed Beast chakra had been condensed.
Though it lacked will and couldn't regenerate itself, the sheer volume was sufficient for practical research.
"Obito, we should retreat." White Zetsu's voice echoed in his mind. "He didn't see your true face, and Konoha reinforcements are almost here."
Obito stared coldly at Zenji. He took one final look at Rin, then turned and vanished.
The Eye that Reflects the Heart. Zenji watched him go. Truly unreasonable—possessing such profound space-time abilities the moment it awakens.
Kamui could even pierce Kaguya's alternate dimensions. The depth of its space-time manipulation was staggering.
He approached Kakashi's unconscious form and placed a hand on his head, sensing the flesh-and-chakra structure of the Mangekyo-level Sharingan.
Unfortunately, Kakashi wasn't Uchiha. He lacked that peculiar brain architecture—and couldn't reveal what changes occurred at the Mangekyo level.
Ultimately, Zenji obtained only a useful single-eye template. The profound mystery of Mangekyo awakening remained beyond his reach.
After leaving a small something within Kakashi's mind, arc light flickered around Zenji like a transparent sphere.
He vanished.
Dozens of seconds later, Konoha's reinforcement troops arrived.
They found not a single living enemy.
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