Akaseki had never had anyone to confide in. Now that he was with the clan leader and Clan Elder, he could finally get it off his chest—Senju Old Ghost, could your Genjutsu really work silently and unnoticed even on the strongest Uchiha?
"I encountered some kind of Genjutsu that seemed to be called [Immersive Short Drama Experience Platform]..."
The moment Akaseki said it, he felt his senses begin to drift away. The stimuli around him grew hazy. The feeling was awfully familiar... just like at the graduation ceremony!
[Welcome back to the "Immersive Short Drama Experience Platform." You are not a member yet. Please watch for free after GG...]
Akaseki: ???
Akaseki suddenly realized that as soon as he said the name, his consciousness had started to blur again. Could someone really use Genjutsu on me right in front of the clan leader and Clan Elder?
Remembering what had happened before, Akaseki couldn't help shuddering.
Just then...
[Pengfei Electric Shock Therapy Device—backed by science and technology! Professional electric shock therapy, safer and more reassuring. Office workers, don't tough it out! Give yourself a zap when you get home and send fatigue packing for a refreshingly comfortable feeling...]
Akaseki had no idea what it was babbling about, but the good news was that, unlike before, it didn't take control of his "emotions."
Until...
[Product trial in progress...]
Bzzzzzt—bzzzzzzzt—
Akaseki suddenly felt as if his whole body was being shocked!
Are they attacking me directly with Lightning Style this time?
As a member of the Uchiha Clan, Akaseki knew that some Genjutsu could include real attacks!
Just as Akaseki was getting nervous, he suddenly realized...
This actually feels pretty good?
Whether it felt pleasant or painful, the sensation didn't last long. From Akaseki's perspective, only about ten minutes passed before his consciousness gradually returned...
[Trial complete... Lightning Style chakra nature transformation awakened...]
Akaseki caught the faintest hint of something.
At that moment, Akaseki was lying on the ground looking rather disheveled. Clan Leader Jiancheng and Clan Elder Lanyu stood on either side of him, one in front and the other behind. Both had activated their Sharingan and were forming Hand Seals.
Seeing Akaseki come to, Clan Leader Jiancheng immediately asked, "Akaseki! What happened to you?"
"That feeling... came back just now. I... got shocked this time..." Akaseki didn't dare mention the full name again.
Jiancheng and Lanyu exchanged a glance, both of them looking puzzled.
"Your consciousness really was completely obscured just now, but..." Though Jiancheng didn't want to admit it, even he and Lanyu, two of the three people with the strongest Sharingan Dojutsu Power in the world today, couldn't figure out what had caused it. So Jiancheng concluded, "It probably wasn't Genjutsu!"
If someone outside the Uchiha Clan had a greater mastery of Genjutsu than they did, Jiancheng and Lanyu would be "a little unconvinced."
And if someone could use Genjutsu on a young Uchiha right under their noses without them noticing, even after such careful observation... they "wouldn't believe it for a second"!
Even Kagami couldn't do that...
Besides, although Kagami had some differences with them over their ideals, he would never attack a young member of the Uchiha Clan!
Therefore...
"Not Genjutsu? Then... could it be some secret technique from a certain white-haired old ghost?" Akaseki figured he must have been mistaken about what kind of technique had been used on him.
But Jiancheng shook his head and explained, "Unlikely. It's more probable that..." As he spoke, he exchanged a glance with Lanyu.
Then the two seemed to reach a decision and continued, "Akaseki, you know where our Uchiha Clan came from, right?"
Akaseki immediately straightened up. "We're direct descendants of the second son of the Sage of Six Paths!"
That was a key part of the Uchiha Clan's official line.
As for why the Sage of Six Paths' second son wasn't the Second of Ninshu... don't worry about it!
"Exactly. The Sage of Six Paths, the progenitor of shinobi, once walked across a barren land and destroyed many Demon Gods who threatened the world. His power was far beyond that of any shinobi today... no 'Kage' could compare to him. They were entirely different kinds of power..." Jiancheng began singing the Sage of Six Paths' praises.
Anyone who didn't know better would think the "second son" of the Uchiha family's ancestor had been the Sage's heir...
Akaseki still didn't understand why the clan leader had started talking about this, but he listened attentively.
Then Jiancheng got to the point. "There are two more likely explanations for what happened to you. First, many Demon Gods once existed in this world, and they weren't part of the Ninshu chakra system. Second, beings as great as the Sage of Six Paths can have their chakra 'reincarnate' even after their lives come to an end..."
Akaseki understood now. "So... the power that dragged me into the Genjutsu might be something outside of ninjutsu, or it could be the reincarnated chakra of some great being?"
As expected of the clan leader. He came up with two possibilities I'd never even heard of, Akaseki thought.
"Exactly. Did you receive any guidance while you were in the Genjutsu?" Jiancheng asked expectantly.
Akaseki immediately shook his head vigorously. "I just saw a bizarre world. The people there... had really strange ways of thinking, and they could even mess with my emotions."
Jiancheng sounded a little disappointed. "Since there don't seem to be any... overly negative effects for now, just keep an eye on things."
Lanyu added, "Actually, it's also possible that 'that guy' left behind some kind of secret technique. You must be careful, and report anything unusual right away!"
Clearly, Lanyu also suspected the evil Senju Old Ghost...
They didn't want to admit that someone could pull a trick right under their noses without them noticing, but... after all, the Second was best known for developing all kinds of secret techniques!
"All right. Don't put too much pressure on yourself... and don't go telling people about this," Jiancheng interrupted.
It wasn't that Jiancheng had any fondness for the Second. He was worried that Akaseki was still young and that his excessive hatred of the Second might be noticed by others... especially since one of his teammates was the Second's granddaughter!
"Yes," Akaseki replied at once.
"Now... let's test your Sharingan. You should be able to activate it, right?" Jiancheng asked.
Akaseki was already twelve. That was relatively young to awaken the Sharingan, but he wasn't seven or eight—an age when the body and chakra couldn't handle it at all.
Normally, once someone had activated it, they could easily do so again afterward, even if they couldn't maintain it for long. It wouldn't just shut down.
"Yes..." Akaseki had never tried, because he really didn't have enough chakra to keep his Sharingan active for long. But his chakra had recovered by now, so he gave it a try.
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