So Strange! Take Another Look

Daren Yi gently ran a hand through his hair, brushing it back from his forehead. In the next instant, every strand of long hair first fell obediently, gathering strength along with his closed eyes before springing upward.

When he opened his eyes again, his pupils had turned rainbow-colored. Black eyeshadow spread outward from his eyes, covering his entire face in an elaborate pattern—but that was far from the most eye-catching part.

At that moment, Daren Yi's hair was the most conspicuous thing about him. Not only did every strand stand straight up, but every one had changed color.

It was as though each strand had been dyed a different color. Every hair was distinct; even those generally red were subdivided into countless shades from light to dark. All those colors piled together, making him look utterly gaudy. He was Shamate to the extreme!

Izumi Uchiha stood dumbfounded, feeling like her eyes were about to go blind!

So ugly—no, that wasn't right. It was so strange!

So strange. Take another look!

Could she still keep a Brother Yi like this? Maybe she should just throw him away?

Only after a long while did the teardrop mole girl finally snap out of it. She leaned in closer to examine him carefully.

"Every strand of hair seems to have been passively imbued with Nature Chakra?

"The red hair seems inclined toward Fire Release? Yellow corresponds to Earth Release, green to Wind Release? White is Lightning Release, azure is Water Release? The bluer shades seem to be Ice Release? Gold is Yang Release, black is Yin Release... what nature is the even blacker color?"

"I don't know. I stumbled into activating this mode by accident, and I don't understand much about it either. I can only make guesses. I think it's a special state similar to Sage Mode, but I still haven't figured out what special functions the hair has.

"The Uchiha Clan's archives should have records about Sage Mode, right? Have you read them?"

After changing his "style," Daren Yi seemed to have undergone a slight change in personality as well. He reached out and domineeringly pulled the girl, who had leaned so close her chin was nearly resting on his forehead, into his arms. He appeared especially proactive.

He lowered his head and kissed her directly. The teardrop mole girl had not expected it at all, and her eyes widened in surprise. Yet there was only shock and shyness in them—she did not resist.

After a long while, Daren Yi finally released her lips. Once he calmed down, he began to panic a little.

He immediately defended himself. "Sorry! This is a side effect of Ancestor of Shamate Mode. It amplifies the emotions and desires within a person's heart.

"If most people are ordinarily in a sage-like state governed by reason, then entering Ancestor of Shamate Mode puts them in a state where emotions and desires take over their brain!"

The blush on Izumi Uchiha's face refused to fade. Her right foot rested atop Daren Yi's and lightly ground against it. She seemed both angry and shy, her voice soft as well. "Why are you apologizing? I'm not angry."

If you're not angry, why are you stepping on my foot? Daren Yi could not quite understand.

Under his gaze, the girl's cheeks were so crystalline and translucent that even the rosy glow staining them seemed to possess distinct layers.

They were just like the sunset clouds they had watched together beneath the eaves as children.

Her two lively black-and-white eyes were also like the moon from that night, as though they were about to imprint themselves directly upon the depths of his heart.

Daren Yi hurriedly turned away, changing the subject to interrupt his chaotic thoughts, which were once again nearing the point of slipping out of control. He explained:

"Sage Mode is a special mode in which the mind enters a wondrous spiritual state. It allows one to sense the Nature Energy outside, absorb it into the body, and balance it with one's own Chakra. That grants control over Nature Energy, which can then be used to strengthen oneself.

"The Sage Modes circulating through the Shinobi World were basically learned from the Three Great Summoning Beast Sacred Lands. Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest each have a Sage Mode with distinct characteristics.

"Ancestor of Shamate Mode was activated after an accidental stirring of my heart during the process of communicating with countless people.

"It should also be related to my explorations of the mind and emotions through genjutsu research. Unlike the animal Sage Modes of the three sacred lands, this is a special Sage Mode belonging to humans.

"The collisions and exchanges between the hearts of the Shamate Group, the emotional resonance that comes from the heart... it's very special.

"The feeling is like suddenly transcending the mortal world with a clear heart after tasting every bitterness and sweetness, every one of the seven emotions and six desires.

"You can feel, resonate with, and respond to every kind of emotion, yet you won't wallow in them or be troubled by them. You reach another kind of spiritual peace."

At that, Daren Yi raised his clenched right fist. Looking seriously at Izumi Uchiha, he asked expectantly, "Want to experience what I feel?"

"Obviously, of course!"

The teardrop mole girl paused slightly, then a smile bloomed across her face. She raised her own right fist, and their two fists—one large and one small—met. Chakra served as a bond and bridge, connecting their Mind Worlds.

The moment Izumi Uchiha entered Daren Yi's inner world, she understood how he felt. If an ordinary person's inner world was like an island or a cave, a fixed area—

Then Daren Yi's inner world was a massive aircraft carrier advancing through a vast ocean amid raging winds, torrential rain, and surging waves.

Endless seawater poured down from the sky, like hollow passages linking countless deep-sea worlds.

"Those seawaters seem to be manifestations of all kinds of emotions?"

As a member of the Uchiha Clan and someone equally skilled in Yin Release, the girl carefully distinguished them.

"That's right. These endless emotions, piled up into a vast ocean, all come from the Shamate Group across the entire Shinobi World who recognize me as the Ancestor of Shamate. Do you know Jashin of the Land of Hot Water? Before the age of ninja and Chakra arrived—

"The gods born from the trust and worship of countless people were the true masters of the Shinobi World. Even now, there are many monsters in the Shinobi World that draw power from emotions and desires. This ocean formed from emotions and desires is both a burden and a source of strength.

"If normal Sage Mode involves controlling and weakening one's emotional fluctuations in order to merge with Nature Energy—

"Then Ancestor of Shamate Mode involves emotions and desires rising to their peak, with positive and negative canceling one another out, and active and passive canceling one another out. That instead creates another dynamic balance, fulfilling the conditions for entering Sage Mode and granting the privilege of wielding Nature Energy.

"The power of emotions is inexhaustible. As long as I want to, I can keep Ancestor of Shamate Mode active until the end of time!"

Daren Yi proudly introduced his research results to the girl he liked—or rather, he was showing off.

"It must be tiring, right? Traveling alone across this vast ocean..."

Izumi Uchiha suddenly asked, taking his hand.

Daren Yi fell silent, not knowing what to say next.

The teardrop mole girl smiled and did not wait for his answer. Her Mangekyō Sharingan spun, and the three flags within her pupils connected together.

In the next moment, an island burst into this world. It crumbled apart in midair and merged into the enormous vessel they stood upon.

Daren Yi could clearly see that the island formed from the girl's Mind World was filled with memories of himself and her as children.