Why His Sharingan Wouldn't Awaken

"A mental problem?" Yusuke furrowed his brow.

Of course, he didn't think Uchiha Fugaku was calling him crazy. He must have meant that something was wrong with his mental energy.

In the Naruto world, mental energy was a fairly common concept. Those with a deeper understanding of power called it Yin Release.

"That's right. I'm afraid I'll have to verify this myself." Uchiha Fugaku's expression turned serious as he continued, "Do you know that the Uchiha Clan's power isn't limited to the Sharingan? There's an even more powerful ability beyond it!"

Yusuke raised an eyebrow. He knew Fugaku was talking about the Mangekyō Sharingan. He also knew that Fugaku had awakened it, though he had never revealed it, and no one knew what ability his Mangekyō Sharingan possessed.

"You must mean the Mangekyō Sharingan, Clan Head," Yusuke said.

Uchiha Fugaku nodded. He wasn't surprised that Yusuke knew about the Mangekyō Sharingan. He figured Yusuke had probably discovered information about it in some of the clan's records.

"That's right. The Mangekyō Sharingan. Its abilities are incredibly powerful, far surpassing those of an ordinary Sharingan. And every Uchiha who awakens the Mangekyō Sharingan gains different abilities," Uchiha Fugaku explained.

"Therefore, fighting with the Mangekyō Sharingan and fighting without it are entirely different things. And I've already awakened mine!" As he spoke, a hint of pride crept into Uchiha Fugaku's otherwise serious expression.

Yusuke kept his expression neutral, but he couldn't help smiling inwardly.

He knew the clan head still resented losing a sleeve to him during their last spar. Fugaku was clearly hinting that he hadn't used his full strength back then.

"However, no one else in the clan knows that I possess the Mangekyō Sharingan, so you must keep this secret. You can't tell anyone," Uchiha Fugaku continued.

"I understand. How do you plan to verify the problem in my Mental World, Clan Head?" Yusuke asked.

Suddenly, Uchiha Fugaku's pupils shifted. A blood-red pattern appeared in his eyes—not the usual three-tomoe pattern of the Sharingan. Clearly, he had activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.

"I'll use the unique ability of my Mangekyō Sharingan to observe your Mental World and find the real reason you still haven't awakened your Sharingan," Uchiha Fugaku said slowly.

Hearing him, Yusuke hesitated. Everyone had their own secrets, and Yusuke didn't know how much information Fugaku's ability might reveal when he observed his Mental World.

Seeing Yusuke's troubled expression, Uchiha Fugaku guessed what he was thinking and continued, "Don't worry. You'll be able to sense the entire process. I won't deliberately investigate the secrets in your Mental World."

Yusuke thought it over for a moment, then decided to take the risk. It wasn't that he completely trusted Uchiha Fugaku. Rather, he believed that if anything went wrong, Ryujin Jakka, hidden in his Mental World, could help him drive Fugaku's ability out.

Still, the Sharingan was known as the Eye Reflecting the Heart. Perhaps Fugaku had awakened this ability because he had been constantly suppressed in his struggles against the Konoha High Command, and deep down, he wanted the power to see into people's hearts.

"I'll agree to this, but you should be careful, Clan Head. There's something hidden in my Mental World that can destroy any genjutsu that threatens me," Yusuke warned.

He was warning Fugaku to be careful around the Zanpakuto in his Mental World, while also hinting that he shouldn't do anything to harm him.

"Something?" Uchiha Fugaku looked puzzled, unsure what Yusuke meant.

Yusuke smiled. "You'll understand once you enter my Mental World and see it. It's also where my title, 'Flame Tachi,' comes from."

Since he was allowing Uchiha Fugaku to peer into his Mental World and help him uncover why his Sharingan wouldn't awaken, Yusuke couldn't hide the fact that a Zanpakuto was concealed within it.

However, he wasn't going to tell Fugaku about the Zanpakuto's abilities or anything else.

Uchiha Fugaku nodded. "Then let's begin. I'll use my dojutsu to enter your Mental World. Don't resist."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yusuke saw the Mangekyō pattern in Uchiha Fugaku's eyes spin rapidly. His vision blurred, and he suddenly found himself looking down from above.

At the center of an endless expanse of land shrouded in mist stood a massive sword, wreathed in blazing flames. It was so enormous that it stretched from earth to sky, its tip buried in the ground and its hilt hidden among the clouds high above.

Countless dreamlike bubbles floated over the land. Yusuke could sense that his thoughts, memories, and knowledge were hidden within them.

Is this my Mental World? What a strange feeling. That huge sword must be my Zanpakuto, Ryujin Jakka, Yusuke thought.

Uchiha Fugaku's figure appeared on the land. He stared in shock at the Zanpakuto embedded in the earth, seemingly connecting heaven and earth. He had never imagined that such a divine weapon was hidden in Yusuke's Mental World.

With Uchiha Fugaku there for comparison, Yusuke could now see just how enormous the Zanpakuto was.

Uchiha Fugaku stood before it like a tiny figure in front of a skyscraper hundreds of stories tall.

"What is this sword?" Uchiha Fugaku asked, his throat dry as he swallowed.

"This sword has dwelled in my mind for as long as I can remember. Its name is Ryujin Jakka." Yusuke's voice echoed across the land.

"No wonder you broke through my genjutsu so easily. I never imagined your Mental World concealed such a divine weapon. You truly are blessed beyond measure!" Uchiha Fugaku sighed. He was also certain that Yusuke had the potential to surpass their ancestor, Uchiha Madara.

Staring at the massive sword wreathed in blazing flames, Uchiha Fugaku said slowly, "The reason your Sharingan hasn't awakened is this sword, Ryujin Jakka!"

Yusuke wasn't surprised by Fugaku's words. His voice echoed through the Mental World. "I suspected that before, but I never felt Ryujin Jakka negatively affecting my mental energy, so I ruled it out."

"That's because it's been part of your Mental World since birth. You simply can't feel its influence, just as a healthy person can't feel the blood circulating through their body," Uchiha Fugaku explained.

"Besides, this sword hasn't harmed your Mental World at all. It's only protecting it!"

"Because this sword guards it, your Mental World is too stable. It can hardly fluctuate at all."

"And awakening the Sharingan requires intense emotional stimulation!"

Uchiha Fugaku felt that he had learned something extraordinary that day. He'd just shown off his Mangekyō to Yusuke, only for Yusuke to show him a divine weapon unlike anything he'd ever seen.

Could Yusuke be the reincarnation of the fire god Kagutsuchi? Otherwise, why would such a divine blade, wreathed in blazing flames, be hidden in his Mental World? Uchiha Fugaku couldn't help wondering.

The Uchiha Clan also had an unusually strong reverence for fire. The red portion of their fan-shaped clan crest represented flames, and the Uchiha had once been known as the "Clan of Fire."

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's explanation, Yusuke began thinking it over.

"Do you mean that if a powerful mental force were injected into my Mental World and managed to overcome Ryujin Jakka's suppression, it could stimulate my Sharingan to awaken?" Yusuke asked.

"That's right. That's how I understand it, but I don't know how to obtain such a powerful mental force or inject it into your Mental World." Uchiha Fugaku shook his head with a sigh.

In his view, Yusuke had almost no chance of awakening his Sharingan. But then Uchiha Fugaku let go of the thought. With a divine weapon like this, Yusuke's power might not be inferior to the Mangekyō Sharingan—and might even surpass it.

Having figured out the reason, Uchiha Fugaku didn't linger in Yusuke's Mental World. He immediately ended his Mangekyō Sharingan's ability, and their vision snapped back to reality. Everything that had happened in Yusuke's Mental World had lasted no more than an instant.

Looking at Uchiha Fugaku, whose left eye was bloodshot and still oozing blood, Yusuke felt deeply grateful. Fugaku had truly gone out of his way to help him.

"Clan Head, are you all right?" Yusuke asked. He already knew it was a side effect of using the Mangekyō Sharingan, but still wanted to show his concern.

Uchiha Fugaku waved a hand. "I'm fine. I've just overused my ocular power. I need to rest. If there's nothing else, you can head back."

After awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, Uchiha Fugaku had been able to read more of the information on the stone tablet at the Uchiha Clan Compound. He knew about the Mangekyō Sharingan's side effects and some of the information concerning the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.

"Thank you, Clan Head. I'll take my leave."

After leaving Uchiha Fugaku's residence, Yusuke could barely contain his excitement.

He had not only thought of a solution to his Sharingan's failure to awaken, but had also formed a theory about why his Zanpakuto, Ryujin Jakka, couldn't unleash the same level of power it had in Bleach!

"Spiritual power, mental energy, Yin Release Chakra. Looks like I'll have to talk to Orochimaru."

"Although he hasn't finished developing his forbidden jutsu, Living Corpse Reincarnation, he should have already discovered some of its weaknesses. If I suggest that we work together to develop a jutsu that strengthens spiritual power, Orochimaru won't refuse!"

Hokage Office, Third Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi, sat in his chair, while Shisui knelt respectfully before him.

The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe and asked slowly, "Well? What was his answer?"

The protagonist would grow stronger at just the right time, in just the right place, during just the right plot, and through just the right events!