Izanami Set a Trap (5K)

Konoha Year 16.

Toji still looked young, but some lives had already reached their end.

The first to pass away was Uchiha Bing, who had been imprisoned beneath the Zenin compound.

Toji observed that he had reached the point where his oil had run dry and his lamp was about to go out.

To demonstrate his "magnanimity," he gave Uchiha Bing and Uchiha Yan an opportunity to meet privately for a "confidential talk."

Only when fate was held in one's own hands did it have meaning.

At first, Uchiha Yan proudly declared, "I don't care what happens to that man. I only want the Mangekyō Sharingan." But after Toji told her, "This is your last chance," she still came.

After leaving the room to the two of them, Toji departed. In truth, he used the Earth Grudge Fear lodged within Uchiha Yan's body to eavesdrop on their conversation. Nothing improper was said; it was merely a moving display of deep sibling affection.

In the end, at Uchiha Bing's insistence, the experiment proceeded as scheduled.

Ultimately, he could not withstand the repeated Artificial Mangekyō Sharingan experiments.

At death's door.

He trembled as he raised his hand, pressing his joined index and middle fingers against Uchiha Yan's forehead. With regret, he murmured, "I still failed to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan—sorry, Yan. This is the last time."

At the very last moment before his life came to an end.

As though returning briefly to life, the three tomoe in his pupils began to dissolve and reform, gradually sketching out the pattern of a Mangekyō Sharingan.

Yet just as it was about to take shape, his vitality ran out. His eye pattern remained forever frozen at the instant before its transformation.

The laboratory fell completely silent.

Even Toji did not know what to say.