In Yakushi Kabuto's laboratory, there were more than a dozen pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan belonging to Houka, all of them clones. Most were soaking in various colored solutions; only three pairs remained uncontaminated.
After transplanting a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan into Uchiha Sasuke, Yakushi Kabuto watched him expectantly.
After Uchiha Sasuke briefly adjusted to the new Mangekyō Sharingan, he slowly opened his eyes.
Traces of blood seeped from the corners of his eyes. This had spilled out when the Mangekyō connected with his ocular meridians; it was not a sign of rejection.
Yet Uchiha Sasuke vaguely had a premonition that this pair of Mangekyō Sharingan had not completely fused with him.
In other words, Houka's Mangekyō Sharingan could not evolve into an Eternal Mangekyou within him.
But that was only a feeling, so he said nothing.
Afterward, Uchiha Sasuke stayed at the orphanage.
He trusted Houka, but that did not mean he trusted anyone else. Especially after learning the truth about Itachi, he had become deeply disgusted with those so-called higher-ups. If anyone among Konoha's upper ranks tried to seize his Eternal Mangekyou, staying here would allow Uchiha Sasuke to make a decision at once!
Two days later, Uchiha Sasuke could already use Houka's Mangekyō Sharingan proficiently. He could even barely perform the two ocular techniques contained within it. But just as he had anticipated, this pair of Mangekyō Sharingan did not evolve into an Eternal Mangekyou.
Yakushi Kabuto decisively replaced them with Obito's and Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan.
Yet several days passed without any change.
Yakushi Kabuto sighed, greatly disappointed.
At the same time.
At the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass.
Orochimaru, who had taken over Hiruko's body, finally completed the Soft Physique Modification of this body and fully adapted to the two Kekkei