Unlocking the Mangekyo

[Strong emotional fluctuations detected]

Target: Uchiha Shisui

Triggered Regret Bitter Fruit type: Regret Bitter Fruit

Content: Failed to heed the warnings of his clansmen, leading to their deaths, resulting in self-reproach and a sense of powerlessness.

Harvesting in progress...

[Harvest successful!]

[Extractable entry reward: Ultimate Yin Release Chakra (can be used to awaken Mangekyo)]

There was only one reward, but Hayato was delighted.

This was the opportunity he needed to awaken his Mangekyo, and unlike ordinary Uchiha clansmen, he did not need to be subjected to intense stimulation to trigger it.

Mangekyo...

Hayato whispered inwardly, then immediately chose to extract it.

The next moment, a cold, extreme chakra appeared in Hayato's brain and conducted itself to the nerves in his eyes.

Hayato let out a muffled groan and gritted his teeth.

With a burning, stinging pain that reached deep into his marrow, Hayato felt as if his brain were being stirred by an external force. Even with his eyes closed, the darkness before him was permeated by a blood-red hue.

At this moment, a violent surge of ocular power rippled around him.

After a long while, the fluctuations finally ceased.

Only then did Hayato dare to open his eyes. The original Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes gradually connected and deformed until a unique pattern appeared upon them.

Hayato raised his hand to release a small stream of water onto the ground and glanced down at his reflection.

A crimson sight met his eyes, containing three hook-shaped blades distributed around a central point. It was similar to the future Mangekyo of Uchiha Itachi, the only difference being the comma-like tails of the tomoe.

As shown.

Is this my Mangekyo?

The corners of Hayato's mouth curled up. The moment the Mangekyo opened, he grasped the two ocular techniques unique to his eyes.

They were very interesting and very powerful; at the very least, he would have more confidence regarding his future plans.

"Hayato!"

Shisui's voice reached him. Hayato closed his eyes, maintaining his previous posture.

Shisui, who had rushed over from afar, saw Hayato in this state upon landing and couldn't help but soften his expression. "Hayato, are you alright?"

"Mm, I'm fine."

Hayato's voice carried a hint of exhaustion; he was indeed drained.

Whether it was evading Orochimaru's killing intent or the process of enduring the pain to awaken his eyes, both had left him exceptionally weary.

Hayato then slowly opened his eyes, looked at Shisui before him, and feigned confusion. "What's wrong, Shisui? Didn't you go to find that Anbu?"

Seeing Hayato in this state, Shisui couldn't help but set aside his lingering suspicions; after all, Hayato's condition was clearly poor.

How could I be such a jerk? Hayato is already in this state.

Thinking of this, Shisui wore a look of guilt. "He's dead. He must have been unable to avoid the aftermath of the battle earlier."

This was a fact. Whether it was the Fire Style he and Hayato had combined, or the combination ninjutsu Hayato had used alone later, the power had been immense.

Moreover, even Orochimaru's summoning beast had been brought out.

Upon hearing this, Hayato looked sorrowful. "I'm sorry, I didn't manage to take him away in time."

"It's not your fault. It was my own failure to listen to advice at the start." Seeing Hayato like this, Shisui panicked instinctively.

Hayato remained silent for a long while. Just as Shisui was inwardly blaming himself, Hayato let out a long sigh. "Very well. When I return, I will explain it to the Clan Head and have him relay it to the Third Hokage."

"At the very least, he deserves the proper honors."

"Yes!" Shisui nodded solemnly. Indeed, if this man hadn't blocked Orochimaru earlier, they might not have survived at all.

Hayato's arrangement also led Shisui to believe that the Hayato before him was simply struggling to process certain things, and if he put in some effort later, he might be able to walk the same path as himself.

Thinking of this, Shisui recalled Hayato saying earlier not to disclose the abilities of his Mangekyo to the village.

He couldn't help but ask in confusion, "By the way, Hayato, why did you say earlier that I shouldn't let the village know about my ocular techniques, not even the Third Hokage?"

Facing Shisui's question, Hayato was not surprised. Even if Shisui hadn't brought it up, he would have emphasized it again.

"Shisui, you must understand that the current relationship between the clan and the village high-ups is like a pile of dry wood soaked in oil."

"Your Kotoamatsukami can control others without them realizing it... If such power were to spread, to some ears, it would sound too much like the ability to enslave the Hokage at any time."

Shisui's heart jolted violently upon hearing this.

"Although the Third Hokage is benevolent and worthy of respect, once this matter reaches his ears, he must handle it in his capacity as Hokage."

"For the sake of the village's stability, he might even subject you to necessary surveillance. It's not that the Third wouldn't trust you, but because as Hokage, he has to consider the worst-case scenario."

"And you know the situation within the clan. If you make a single mistake, even if it's not something the Third would want to see, would the clansmen really care?"

"They will only see that a genius of the clan, under pressure from the village's top brass, was placed under surveillance and even had his eyes stolen."

"That won't happen!" Shisui wore an expression of disbelief.

Yet, Hayato's words made perfect sense and were backed by sound reasoning.

"Shisui, there is a matter right before us that both you and I are very clear about." Hayato stared into Shisui's eyes and spoke slowly.

Right before us...

"Orochimaru...?" Shisui asked uncertainly.

"Yes, that man was once one of the Sannin. In his pursuit of forbidden jutsu and power, he treated living people as mere consumables. But look at how the Third Hokage handled it."

Shisui fell silent, for the best solution would have been for the Hokage to execute Orochimaru himself. However, if he were to do so, the scandal would spread throughout the Ninja World, and the village's prestige would collapse.

This was the very reason he had insisted on capturing Orochimaru himself.

Handling it in the shadows was the only effective path Konoha could take right now.

And he, Uchiha Shisui, could use this incident to speak with the Third Hokage, thereby easing the tensions with his clan.

"I am actually very clear on your intentions, but—Shisui, I must make it clear that we cannot, and must not, bring Orochimaru back."

Hayato's tone was very calm, so calm that it seemed as if these words hadn't come from him at all.

"Right now, the village's top brass is sensitive to the extreme regarding the legacy Orochimaru left behind. If we were the ones to bring him back, our abilities would be exposed as a result."

"Think about it: your ability to manipulate the will of others is already equated by some to Orochimaru's inhumane experiments."

Shisui stood frozen in place, Hayato's words echoing incessantly in his mind.

It was heavy, yet undeniably true.

After a long while, Shisui finally nodded. "...You are right. This matter must be buried and forgotten."