Half a year passed in the quiet shrine and grueling training.
Under Uchiha Obito's guidance, Uchiha Shuoyue—who had completely abandoned his "Hatake" disguise—adapted to and mastered the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, "Eighty Gods Mirror," at an astonishing rate. His strength surged forward, reaching an entirely new and terrifying level. Yet his hunger for power was endless. He knew that Konoha housed the Book of Sealing, which contained countless forbidden techniques and secrets. There had to be something inside he needed, whether greater power or deeper knowledge about the true nature of this world.
On a moonless, windy night.
A figure slipped into Konoha's barrier as silently as a ghost. He wore an inconspicuous dark outfit beneath a loose black cloak, and the mask on his face was unmistakably the white, spiral-shaped one Obito had once worn, exposing only the right eye. His half-length black hair stirred gently in the night breeze, adding to his air of mystery and chill. He was Uchiha Shuoyue.
With some intelligence provided by Obito and the Eight Gods Mirror's unparalleled insight into the flow of chakra through the barrier, he became a shadow blending into the night, precisely evading every patrol and sentry post. His target was the forbidden area in the mountains behind the village—the hidden chamber where the Book of Sealing was kept.
The operation did not go smoothly. The defenses around the forbidden area were far more formidable than he had imagined. Complex Sealing Jutsu formations, physical traps, and elite Anbu who could appear at any moment all posed tremendous challenges.
A silent battle of infiltration and decryption unfolded in the darkness.
Shuoyue's Eight Gods Mirror proved crucial. His eyes glowed faintly behind the mask as the intricate patterns slowly shifted. No matter how intricate the Sealing Jutsu formation, his eyes quickly analyzed it, exposed its weaknesses, and found the least conspicuous, most efficient way to break or bypass it. The triggers and blind spots of the deadly physical traps were equally transparent to him.
He even encountered two Anbu teams patrolling across each other's routes. Just as he was about to be discovered, the pattern in his eyes shifted. It was a technique he had analyzed and copied from a powerful genjutsu user through the Eight Gods Mirror. An exceptionally powerful genjutsu, precisely controlled in range, silently enveloped the area. The Anbu members' eyes glazed over at once, and they continued their patrol as if sleepwalking, completely unaware of the intruder passing right beside them.
At last, he overcame every obstacle and entered the heavily guarded chamber. The enormous scroll—the Book of Sealing—lay quietly on the altar at its center.
Without hesitation, Shuoyue hurried forward, formed Hand Seals, and began breaking the final protective seal on the Book of Sealing. It would take time and extremely precise chakra control.
Every second ticked by. Outside the chamber, the Anbu affected by his genjutsu were about to awaken.
At last! "Release!" The final Sealing Jutsu formation was broken! Shuoyue snatched up the enormous scroll, sealed it inside a specially made scroll case, and turned to retreat without a moment's hesitation!
But just as he rushed out of the chamber and plunged into the woods, thinking he had made it—
"Stop! Intruder!" a clear, sharp cry rang out from the left. "You in front! Stop immediately and submit to an inspection!" another voice called from the right, a boy's voice edged with anger and shock.
It was Nadeshiko Haku and Hatake Lian, who had been patrolling the area!
Their team had been assigned to patrol the mountain behind the village that night! The faint chakra disturbance caused by Shuoyue as he broke the final seal had still caught their attention!
The two figures instantly blocked Shuoyue's path. Haku had already readied Senbon in her hands, while Lian's Three-Tomoe Sharingan was active and fixed on the mysterious intruder in the strange mask and cloak.
Shuoyue stopped short, his brows knitting beneath the mask. The last thing he wanted had happened.
"Who are you? Why did you sneak into the forbidden area?" Haku's icy blue eyes were full of wariness. The cold, powerful aura emanating from him made her feel that she was in extreme danger. Lian's Sharingan spun rapidly as well. There was something strangely familiar about this figure, especially the hairstyle and build partly concealed beneath the cloak...
Shuoyue didn't answer. He knew that if he spoke, his identity might be exposed. He only wanted to get away as quickly as possible.
He darted forward, trying to charge straight between them at full speed!
"Not so fast!" Haku cried. Senbon poured out like a torrential rain, blocking every route forward! At the same time, she surged toward him, her Nadeshiko Style Gentle Fist aimed straight at his vital points, her palm strikes fierce!
On the other side, Lian's Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun wildly, predicting Shuoyue's movements, as a Kunai stabbed toward his ribs with a sharp whistle! The brothers' unspoken understanding became a fierce assault!
Shuoyue sighed inwardly. He had no choice but to fight!
His figure swayed like a ghost, weaving through the rain of Senbon and precisely dodging every one. The Eight Gods Mirror turned silently, rapidly analyzing and understanding Haku's Nadeshiko Style techniques and Senbon skills.
He didn't even use a single ninjutsu. Relying only on Taijutsu and the Sharingan's predictions, he deflected Haku's Gentle Fist with the smallest movements, then used her momentum to force her back several steps!
At the same time, he struck backward with an elbow, hitting the side of Lian's incoming Kunai with perfect precision. The immense force numbed Lian's arm, and the Kunai nearly slipped from his grasp!
So strong! Haku and Lian were both horrified. The intruder's strength was unfathomable, and his movements were so simple and efficient they were terrifying. It was as if he had completely seen through every one of their attack patterns!
"We can't let him get away!" Haku gritted her teeth and formed Hand Seals. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" A roaring water dragon surged toward Shuoyue! Almost simultaneously, Lian finished his Hand Seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" The fireball and water dragon intertwined, forming a more powerful combined attack that blasted toward Shuoyue!
Facing their perfectly coordinated attack, Shuoyue finally moved.
He stood still and didn't even form Hand Seals. The Eight Gods Mirror glowed faintly beneath his mask.
The next moment, Haku and Lian watched in stunned disbelief as something unbelievable happened!
Shuoyue raised one hand. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" A water dragon appeared from nowhere, identical in size, form, and even detail, and rushed to meet Haku's! At the same time, he casually swept his other hand. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" An equally scorching fireball flew out and slammed into Lian's!
BOOM!!! A violent explosion erupted in the air, filling it with water vapor!
"How is that possible?! He used two different chakra natures at once—and completely copied our techniques?!" Lian cried, disbelief filling his Sharingan!
Haku was equally stunned! She had never heard of such an ability!
The moment their movements faltered from shock, Shuoyue seized his chance! He didn't want to keep fighting!
He lunged forward, aiming for Lian, who was slightly weaker. He intended to create an opening and break through!
"Don't you dare hurt Lian!" Thinking he was about to kill Lian, Haku panicked and poured all her chakra into her Senbon. "Nadeshiko Style Secret Technique: Senbon Rain—Scattering Blossoms!" Countless Senbon wrapped in powerful chakra bloomed like icy lotuses, covering every space where Shuoyue could dodge!
The attack carried all of Haku's resolve and fear for Lian. It was immensely powerful!
Shuoyue's gaze sharpened. He didn't want to take the attack head-on, and he didn't want to hurt Haku.
In the blink of an eye, he made his choice. He turned slightly to reduce the area exposed to the attack as much as possible, while channeling chakra to protect his vital points. He would endure the blow and force his way through!
But as he turned, a Senbon came at an extremely tricky angle. Perhaps it was a coincidence, or perhaps Haku had exceeded her limits in the grip of her emotions. Somehow, it slipped past most of his defenses and struck the left edge of his mask with perfect precision!
Crack!
A sharp sound of breaking rang out!
About a quarter of the white spiral mask, around the left eye, shattered and fell away in fragments!
Beneath the mask, one eye was exposed.
The eye was a deep black. But now, deep within its dark iris, a complex, uncanny Mangekyō Sharingan pattern glowed with a cold red light as it slowly turned!
And the shape of that eye... the corner of it...
Time seemed to stop.
Haku and Lian froze in place! Their eyes were fixed on the newly exposed eye, the one bearing the Mangekyō Sharingan!
Though only one eye was visible, though his hairstyle had changed and his presence had turned cold and unfamiliar... the shape of that familiar eye socket, the traces deep within that no amount of change could completely erase—the traces of "him"...
A name they had thought belonged to someone who had long since defected, someone who might even be... burst into their minds like a clap of thunder!
"Shu...oyue...?" Haku's voice trembled, barely forming the words. Her icy blue eyes were filled with shock, bewilderment, and disbelief. "B-Big brother?!!" Lian was struck as if by lightning. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan shook violently, on the verge of collapse! Part of the face he had dreamed of night after night, but had been told had turned away from them, had appeared before him in this cruel way!
It was that instant of shock and paralysis!
Shuoyue's heart sank. He had been exposed!
Without hesitation, and without even looking at the shattered expressions on their faces, he spun around!
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Submersion Technique!"
His body sank into the ground and vanished without a trace! All that remained was the dust hanging in the air, fragments of the broken mask, and two people standing frozen in place, their hearts tossed by a storm of anguish—people he had once cherished beyond measure.
The night wind swept past, carrying a bone-deep chill.
The Senbon slipped from Haku's hand and fell to the ground. Lian still held his attack stance, but his body trembled violently. The Three Tomoe in his eyes slowly faded, leaving only a vast emptiness and pain he couldn't accept.
They had found the intruder. And yet... they had lost him again.
In an even crueler, more heartbreaking way.
Not far away, Shuoyue spotted the Anbu rushing toward him. His right eye swirled, and he slipped into the Kamui Dimension, leaving.
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