Amaru opened the sealed scroll left to her by Shinnou, but since she couldn’t control chakra, she couldn’t undo the seal on the scroll.
So she turned to Naruto Uzumaki, “Naruto, can you help me unseal this scroll?”
“Uh… well…”
Naruto looked embarrassed. He had used scrolls before; despite that fact, those were textbooks or training materials, not sealing scrolls.
Seeing Naruto’s awkwardness, Amaru turned to Sora, “Master Monk?”
Sora shook her head. “I don’t have that ability.”
She looked at Sasuke Uchiha, “Please, help us unseal it.”
Sasuke’s eye twitched. ‘You won’t let me take what I need, but now you want me to unseal it for you? What am I—free labor?’ Sasuke thought, then—
‘…Wait, maybe this could be a bargaining chip.’
Sasuke said, “You seem to know a lot about the Sharingan.”
This female shinobi monk must have used her foresight ability to learn about the Sharingan and how to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.
It made sense.
Through the conversation inside the Seal space, Sasuke now knew his future enemies weren’t limited to Itachi—there was also the masked man who caused the Nine-Tails incident sixteen years ago.
Therefore, the Mangekyo Sharingan was essential.
Sora said, “I know a little.”
She wasn’t being modest. Her understanding was limited to the anime setting, but the real world differed slightly.
The anime was merely a simplified model of the real situation.
Sasuke said, “Tell me how to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan. If you answer, I’ll not only unseal the scroll, but anything else you want.”
Sora thought briefly and said, “In that case, I’ll tell you. It starts with how the Sharingan is awakened—and by the way, the theoretical explanation comes from the Second Hokage.”
Sasuke was stunned… Why did the theory about the Sharingan come from a non-Uchiha, the Second Hokage?
Sora began explaining: “The Uchiha are a clan of deep emotion, very sensitive when it comes to feelings.”
‘Sensitive?’
Naruto glanced sideways at Sasuke.
Sasuke simply furrowed his brows and listened.
“The Uchiha’s love runs deeper than any other clan. But because of this deep love, they are easily hurt in relationships. Add to that a clan culture obsessed with strength, where being sentimental is mocked…”
Sasuke’s heart tensed, eagerly listening.
Sora paused, deciding to add a little extra:
“Thus, the Uchiha became a dark clan—anyone who showed emotions would face ‘mockery’ attacks. Proud Uchiha would feel ashamed and hide their emotions.”
‘…Is that so?’ Sasuke thought back to when the Uchiha clan still existed. He was young then and didn’t understand much. But looking back now, he did feel a strange, repressive atmosphere.
Was it because everyone was hiding their emotions?
And Itachi?
Sasuke’s brows furrowed tightly.
Meanwhile, Naruto, listening, suddenly understood—he treated Sasuke as a friend, but Sasuke must have been hiding his feelings.
Sora continued: “When such a Uchiha finally understands love and releases their suppressed emotions, their power awakens.
“However, intense love can easily turn into intense hatred. Once they lose the object of their love, hatred replaces it, and they undergo a drastic change…”
At this, Sora suddenly thought how similar this was to the emotional triggers for awakening Super Saiyan—Kishimoto truly was a Dragon Ball fan.
Sasuke listened intently. When Sora paused, he almost felt suffocated.
‘And then? Come on, say it!’
Sasuke was anxious yet didn’t dare yell, just staring at her intensely.
Sora came back to herself and resumed: “After losing love, a special chakra wells up inside the Uchiha’s brain. It causes a change in their eyes—this change is the visual manifestation of the soul: the Sharingan!”
‘So that’s how it was…’
It was Sasuke’s first time hearing a systematic explanation of the Sharingan. The fact that it originated from the Second Hokage made it even more strange.
“The Sharingan synchronizes with mental strength, enabling rapid growth. However, since it stems from hatred born of lost love, it often drives the Uchiha into darkness. The deeper the darkness, the stronger the eye’s power.”
That concluded the Second Hokage’s Sharingan theory.
The final part also hinted at how to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.
“Hatred… The deeper the darkness, the stronger…”
Sasuke recalled Itachi’s words: “Your hatred isn’t strong enough.”
…Now it all made sense.
Sora’s explanation was real!
Sasuke suddenly had a thought. He turned to look at Amaru, “Dark Chakra is born from human darkness. If I obtain that power, can I awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan?”
In the past, he might have sought to deepen his inner darkness by other means.
But now, knowing the origin of Dark Chakra—If he could acquire it, perhaps he could rapidly boost his Dōjutsu and awaken the Mangekyo!
Sora’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that’s an interesting idea! But whether it will work, I can’t guarantee.”
Sasuke thought, ‘So her foresight ability has limits.’
Sora pondered and said, “I’m curious too. Why not try it?”
Sasuke was delighted. It fit perfectly with his goal!
Whether it succeeded or not, he would lose nothing. If it failed, no big deal. If it succeeded, he would gain the Mangekyo!
“…” Naruto faltered, wanting to object.
…Something about this felt wrong, even though he couldn’t stop it.
At that moment, a mocking voice sounded inside him:
“If Sasuke awakens the Mangekyo Sharingan, he’ll leave you far behind.”
It was Kurama.
Though the reinforced seal lessened Kurama’s influence, it could still sow verbal seeds of doubt. As long as Naruto generated negative emotions, Kurama could erode the seal faster.
There was no one left to reinforce it now.
‘So—be jealous, Naruto!’
“…”
Naruto felt no jealousy… only finding the Nine-Tails noisy.
He scolded it in the seal space, then silently followed everyone to the Sky Fortress’s energy core, where the Zero-Tails was bound.
The Zero-Tails was wrapped in a yellow, semi-transparent substance like a cocoon, immobilized.
Sora asked curiously, “Zero-Tails, will you become a butterfly?”
Of course not. That cocoon was both the Zero-Tails’ own power and its prison.
Zero-Tails ignored her and looked at Sasuke, tempting him, “Boy with eyes of darkness, release me. I can grant you the power of Dark Chakra.”
Sasuke didn’t respond, instead looking at Sora.
Seeing this, Zero-Tails realized who held the authority here.
“Release me, and I’ll give you Dark Chakra…”
Sora waved it off. “Come on, can you at least be original?”
Zero-Tails was speechless.
Sora wasn’t harsh. She extended her hand. “Give me some Dark Chakra.”
“Free me first,” Zero-Tails said.
It all meant nothing—once free, it planned to flee.
Did she think she could command the great Zero-Tails? Dream on!
Sora said, “The deep sea is uninhabited. I could banish you there. You won’t absorb any human darkness there.”
A threat.
Sora already planned—Better for it to comply, or she’d resort to force, or maybe, even the Tightening Ring.
“!” Sasuke, Naruto, Kurama, and Amaru were all stunned.
Threatening a monster?
Was this woman really a monk? Where was the mercy?
Would Zero-Tails yield?
Kurama thought bitterly, “Zero-Tails, don’t embarrass us!”
For Tailed Beasts, location was a matter of comfort, not survival. But for Zero-Tails, who needed emotional darkness to survive, it was different since physical darkness in the deep sea was useless—fish had no hearts for it to absorb from.
So, if it sank to the ocean floor, it would die.
“Here is your Dark Chakra,” Zero-Tails surrendered, spitting out a black mist.
Kurama scowled in contempt.
‘Pathetic!’
Sora caught the Dark Chakra using the Rooster Talisman and moved it before Sasuke.
“Before you absorb it, one more thing.”
Sasuke paused, hand raised. “What?”
Sora said, “When you awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, it generates one or two ocular powers—abilities tied to your inner heart.”
Sasuke understood. “My soul’s desires will manifest as powers?”
Sora smiled. “Exactly. If you seek control, you may get Tsukuyomi. If you seek destruction, Amaterasu. If you wish to escape the world, Kamui. If you desire change, Kotoamatsukami.”
Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi—those were Itachi’s powers.
Sasuke knew them. But… Kamui, Kotoamatsukami?
New names—perhaps he’d encounter those abilities later.
Naruto thought, ‘Kamui… isn’t that Kakashi-sensei’s move?’
Still, he kept silent. Information was important.
Sora asked, “Sasuke, what power do you think you’ll awaken?”
Sasuke thought briefly and said, “Amaterasu.”
As an avenger, that destructive ability suited him.
“As expected…”
Sora had anticipated it.
“In my opinion, awakening the Mangekyo is like a mini wish opportunity. I suggest you think again.”
Sasuke frowned, thinking.
In the short term, Amaterasu was strong… that said, he could eventually achieve that level through training.
Using his one chance on it now seemed wasteful.
Even so—this was about revenge!
Was it about practicality or necessity?
He was about to insist he didn’t need to reconsider—then he was reminded of Sora’s earlier comment—”as expected.”
…Was Amaterasu a trap?
He asked, “What are you trying to say?”
Sora smiled.
“Some non-attack abilities are more useful.”
Like, even Tsukuyomi had a better overall value than Amaterasu.
“…”
Sasuke recalled how, when his soul left his body earlier, he was vulnerable.
‘A non-attack ability might be better.’ He thought of Sora’s soul projection ability.
Then he remembered Naruto and Minato embracing.
‘Father, mother—I wish I could see you again…’
‘No!’ He stiffened.
As an avenger, he shouldn’t show weakness.
Then again, according to the Second Hokage’s theory—releasing emotions made the Uchiha stronger.
What he truly wanted was…
Sasuke reflected on everything that had happened.
And realized—
Soul!
Understanding this, his mind cleared. He laughed aloud, his shoulders shaking.
“Sasuke, are you okay?” Naruto asked worriedly.
Sasuke smiled brightly—his Sharingan now gleaming red.
A red glow in his eyes, matched with his uncharacteristic smile, made him look wildly sinister.
“I’m better than ever, Naruto!”
Naruto thought—when someone who never smiles smiles like that, it can’t be good.
Inside the Seal Space, Kurama grew serious.
“This Uchiha kid’s eye power is skyrocketing. He’s about to awaken a terrifying ocular ability.”
Kurama didn’t fully understand the Sharingan’s principles, regardless, knew instinctively—
This was bad.
Before, Mangekyo awakenings were triggered irrationally… but Sasuke had reasoned it out.
A rational awakening would create a far more terrifying Mangekyo.
A monster…
A monster among the Uchiha was about to be born!
“!”
Sasuke, having made his decision, lunged forward and grabbed the Dark Chakra.
It flowed into his brain, resonating with his inner darkness.
Chakra surged in his mind.
His eye power burst!
Sasuke closed his eyes, feeling the immense surge.
He shouted inwardly, ‘Return, spirits of the Uchiha!’
He sought to awaken the power of summoning souls!
Rationally, the vengeful spirits slain by Itachi were more suited to revenge—though emotionally, he yearned to see his parents again.
And he knew of the Edo Tensei forbidden technique—summoning souls wasn’t impossible.
If Orochimaru could do it—so could he!
Clang!
Sasuke opened his eyes—like unsheathing a blade.
The three tomoe had merged into a six-pointed star.
Mangekyo—awakened!
— The end of the Chapter–
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