Test

"How are you feeling now? Have you noticed any aftereffects?" Fugaku was somewhat disappointed, but he did not pay it much mind. If the Mangekyo were truly so easy to awaken, the Uchiha Clan's records would not treat it with such secrecy.

"No." Ming Huo carefully sensed his physical condition, then shook his head.

"Then it seems this Pill isn't as effective as that Nara Brat claimed. Clan Head, are we really going to keep investing in this?" The Guiding Uchiha Jonin felt indignant.

Though the Uchiha family possessed great wealth and could be considered one of the village's elite clans in terms of assets, the recent investments had directly affected every aspect of the clan.

Without question, Uchiha Fugaku, as Clan Head and the driving force behind this plan, would face a great deal of criticism and lose much of his prestige.

For Uchiha Fugaku, who had only been Clan Head for a few years, this would be a devastating blow.

He found this outcome difficult to accept.

"No, it's still effective." The one who spoke was Ming Huo, lying on the bed. His Sharingan was activated, its ocular power pushed to the limit.

"My eyes may not have evolved into the Mangekyo, but I can feel it. My ocular power is far stronger than it was before I took the Pill. Perhaps my current ocular power is already close to the Clan Head's."

"Is your body holding up?" Fugaku's eyes lit up.

"It is. My eyes feel swollen and sore because of the newly increased ocular power." Ming Huo maintained his Sharingan, venting its ocular power.

"Come." Fugaku brought Ming Huo and the other two to the Training Ground in the courtyard, where he taught Itachi. Standing face-to-face with Ming Huo, he formed the Seal of Confrontation.

Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu x2!

The two immediately opened with the Uchiha Clan's signature Fire Release ninjutsu.

Two fireballs radiating terrifying heat crashed together, collided, merged, and exploded against the ground, blasting out a deep crater. The two figures darted and crossed through the confined field, while the dense clanging of Kunai colliding rang out without pause, like rain battering banana leaves.

The two Jonin watching had unconsciously activated their Sharingan, their eyes fixed unblinking on the battling figures.

Yet even with their Three Tomoe's incredible dynamic vision, they could only vaguely make out the two figures fighting on the field. Instinctively, they imagined themselves in the place of either combatant. What would happen if one of them were there instead?

The conclusion was that if either of them faced either fighter on the field, they would quickly fall into a disadvantage and only be able to protect themselves as best they could.

They could understand the Clan Head's strength, but Ming Huo?

They sparred often and had grown up together. Who did not know everyone else's strength? Ming Huo's strength had previously been roughly equal to theirs, yet now he could keep up with the Clan Head's movements and attacks.

This was clearly something only an explosive increase in the Sharingan's ocular power could achieve!

Without enhanced insight and precognition, one would be utterly crushed in a battle where the gap in ocular power was too great.

The Uchiha were obsessed with their eyes because an increase in ocular power was equivalent to a tremendous increase in one's own strength.

If Ming Huo could do it, then could they as well?

Both Jonin thought at the same time of the two Pills they had taken home. Their previous resentment instantly vanished.

How could something like money compare to powerful strength and the evolution of ocular power?

They had even begun imagining that, after taking the Pills, they too could grow to Fugaku and Ming Huo's level.

While the two Jonin were lost in thought, the sparring match on the field had also been decided. In the end, Uchiha Fugaku, who had greater control over both his eyes and body and was stronger overall, gained the upper hand and claimed victory.

Ming Huo, forced to surrender with a Kunai at his throat, showed no dejection. Even in defeat, his face bore an unconcealable delight.

Though he occasionally sparred with the Clan Head, this was the first time he had managed to exchange attacks with Fugaku on nearly equal footing for so long.

He could even feel that the sudden surge in ocular power had greatly increased the strain on his body, often leaving him with an awkward sense that his body could not keep up with his eyes during the spar.

As long as he became more familiar with his increased ocular power and brought his body up to speed, his combat strength should improve further.

That Pill really could enhance ocular power! The only consequence he had borne was gaining a jumble of Genjutsu memories in his mind.

But once one broke free from the Illusory World, the impact those memories had on one's psyche and emotions would instantly plummet. If someone remained unable to free themselves from those false memories after waking, they could use Sealing Technique to seal away and forget that portion of their memories.

"Excellent." Fugaku and Ming Huo formed the Seal of Reconciliation after their spar. His emotions were equally difficult to contain, and the corners of his lips unconsciously lifted on his ever-serious face.

Ming Huo's increase in strength was equivalent to an increase in Fugaku's influence within the clan. If the other two Trusted Jonin could also greatly increase their strength after taking the Pills, he would no longer need to care too much about the pressure and remarks from certain clan Elders.

The rumors within the clan would naturally die down as well.

"Your physical condition is excellent. As for the fluctuations in your ocular power, that's perfectly normal." Kagetsu conducted a physical examination on Ming Huo, who had come in for a follow-up, and made his assessment based on the bodily data detected by the Instruments.

"Will the ocular power recover?" Fugaku, who had accompanied him for the follow-up, hurriedly asked. The day after their spar, Ming Huo had told him that his ocular power had begun to decline. Thinking something had gone wrong, he had rushed over with Ming Huo for an examination.

Hearing his Clan Head's question, Ming Huo, lying on the Experiment Bed, hurriedly turned to look at Kagetsu standing beside him. Before experiencing the wonder of surging ocular power and explosive growth in strength, he could have endured it. But after experiencing it, even the slightest decline was torture to him.

"It will. That sudden surge was merely an aftershock left behind after awakening from the Illusory World. It may only surge again when your emotions fluctuate intensely.

"To stabilize it, you need to adjust and temper your body and eyes properly. After some time, it will return and become your normal state."

Kagetsu's answer made both Fugaku and Ming Huo, who had been on edge, breathe sighs of relief.

"If you need it, I can prescribe you a bottle of medicine. Apply it to your eyes while resting, and it can quickly ease the strain your eyes place on your body while helping it adapt faster." As Kagetsu spoke, he looked questioningly at Fugaku and Ming Huo.

"I need it!" Ming Huo said without hesitation. Two days ago, he might still have called Kagetsu a brat from the Nara Clan. But now, he could respectfully address him as sir.