Two-Tomoe Sharingan

Watching Nohara Shin's expression gradually go blank, Uchiha Matsuri was overcome with intense anger and grief. In an instant, he felt as though a blazing fire inside him was slowly consuming his frail body.

"Rasa of the Sand Waterfall, I'll kill you!"

Uchiha Matsuri gritted his teeth as he shouted.

Suddenly, an excruciating pain shot through Uchiha Matsuri's eyes, and his normally black irises turned a terrifying shade of red. His eyeballs felt swollen, making him wonder if all the blood in his body had rushed into them.

"Ah! My eyes!" Uchiha Matsuri cried out in pain, clutching his eyes.

Just then, Uchiha Matsuri's

eyes felt as though dozens of tiny needles were stabbing them. The intense pain made him cry out.

"Matsuri, are you all right?" Kushina Uzumaki had already been startled by Uchiha Matsuri's behavior. Only when he began to calm down did she timidly ask him.

"I'm fine. I'm all right." After a long while, Uchiha Matsuri finally settled down and spoke calmly.

As he slowly opened his eyes, Kushina Uzumaki was astonished to see that the Tomoe in Uchiha Matsuri's blood-red eyes had changed from one to two.

"Your eyes..." Unable to contain her surprise, Kushina Uzumaki cried out.

"Is it the Two-Tomoe Sharingan?" Uchiha Matsuri replied dismissively. "Heh. So it really does take the death of someone dear to you for the Sharingan to evolve."

Changing the subject, Uchiha Matsuri looked at Nohara Shin's lifeless body beside him. He clenched his fists and declared, "Rasa of the Sand Waterfall, Sunagakure—I'll repay this grudge twofold someday!"

The empty valley had long since fallen silent, the clamor of battle finally over. The morning sun peeked over the horizon, gradually dispersing the gloom that lingered over the ground. On the battlefield, only Kushina Uzumaki remained, weeping quietly, while Uchiha Matsuri held Nohara Shin's body—already cold—clenched his fists, and refused to let go.

An hour later, Minato Namikaze returned to where Uchiha Matsuri was, bringing Dan Katō with him, covered in wounds.

Seeing Kushina Uzumaki weeping, Uchiha Matsuri looking grief-stricken, and Nohara Shin lying motionless in Uchiha Matsuri's arms, the two understood at once.

Without saying a word, Minato Namikaze silently walked over to Kushina Uzumaki. She merely raised her swollen, reddened eyes and glanced at him.

"My condolences," Dan Katō said, stumbling over to Uchiha Matsuri and offering comfort to his grieving comrade.

The year Uchiha Matsuri spent on the same team as Nohara Shin had been the happiest of his life. He had always regarded the cheerful, optimistic Nohara Shin as his best friend. But fate had other plans. Nohara Shin's untimely death had instantly torn apart their once united, driven team. The Sixth Team, once filled with laughter and joy, was no more.

On the way back, everyone remained silent. Seeing how despondent the three members of the Sixth Team were, Minato Namikaze chose to keep quiet as well.

A few days later.

The three members of the Sixth Team and the four members of the Fifth Team carried Nohara Shin's body back to Konoha. When Nohara Shin's mother heard the news and rushed over, she threw herself over his body and wailed, fainting several times.

Naturally, Uchiha Matsuri and the others felt awful as they witnessed the scene.

Uchiha Matsuri already felt guilty about Nohara Shin's death. If he had noticed Rasa's sneak attack in time, perhaps Nohara Shin wouldn't have died to Rasa's Shuriken.

And though Uchiha Matsuri was a shinobi who knew Medical Ninjutsu, he had only been able to watch his comrade die, powerless to do anything. Only those who had experienced it firsthand could understand the pain it caused.

Before long, Lady Tsunade hurried over from Konoha Hospital. When she saw Dan Katō being supported by Uchiha Matsuri, she quickly ran toward him.

Looking at Tsunade's haggard face and dark circles, Uchiha Matsuri could almost imagine how she had spent the past few days: unable to eat or sleep, anxiously waiting after learning Dan Katō was in mortal danger.

"Dan, are you all right?" Seeing Dan Katō covered in wounds and needing help just to walk, Tsunade asked anxiously, her voice full of concern.

"I'm fine! I'm doing great! I fought more than a dozen Sand shinobi all by myself!" Dan Katō smiled and spoke smugly, as if it were nothing.

Anyone could see that despite his claims, Dan Katō was only acting composed so Tsunade wouldn't worry.

"You idiot! If you couldn't win, you should've run! How did you get so badly hurt?" Tsunade said with concern, not believing a word he said.

"Hahaha, I'm fine! I made it back alive, didn't I? Besides, I'm Dan Katō. I've got luck on my side—how could a bunch of lowly Sand shinobi kill me?" Dan Katō wiped a tear from the corner of Tsunade's eye.

"I was worried about you! Promise me you won't be so foolish again!" Tsunade looked at Dan Katō earnestly, waiting for his answer.

"Fine, fine. I'll listen to you. I won't do it again. But you've changed so much in just a few days—you look so haggard. You should get some rest..."

"I never imagined the Tsunade in the original story, so domineering and cold, could be so gentle and tender when she was young."

Watching the two of them openly "feeding everyone dog food," Uchiha Matsuri couldn't help grumbling inwardly.

Seeing them still fussing over each other, Uchiha Matsuri cleared his throat twice. "Lady Tsunade, Dan's seriously injured. We should get him to the hospital right away."

"Oh, right. Dan, come with me to the hospital so we can treat your wounds," Tsunade said gently.

"All right."

After carrying Dan Katō to Konoha Hospital, Uchiha Matsuri left. He naturally had no desire to be a third wheel.

Since Dan Katō's injuries were relatively severe, Uchiha Matsuri was tasked with reporting on the mission. After hearing his report, the Third Hokage offered him perfunctory words of comfort and lavishly praised Nohara Shin and the Sixth Team for their "sacrificial" spirit in giving their lives to complete the mission.

Having heard officials make this sort of hollow speech countless times in his previous life, Uchiha Matsuri showed no sign of distaste. Instead, he played along with the "performance." Only after leaving the Hokage Office did his expression return to normal.

Nohara Shin's body was laid to rest in Konoha's cemetery for fallen shinobi, and his name was carved into the Memorial Stone, where the final honor of the departed was recorded.