The Uses of the Six Eyes

Forcibly driving the nascent form of Susanoo to crush Round Deer in a single blow had brought more than just chakra depletion. The Mangekyō Sharingan sent him intense, needle-pricking and fire-searing pain, along with a crushing burden. These were signs that his ocular power had been overdrawn, possibly even damaging its foundation.

Uchiha Shaoyu staggered forward, the pain from his left eye blurring his vision.

He knew that overusing the Mangekyō, especially forcibly activating a forbidden technique-level ability like Susanoo, came at an enormous cost. At best, it would impair his vision; at worst, it could cause blindness or even death.

The experiences of Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke in the original story were cautionary examples.

Yet, at the edge of agony and weakness, when even his consciousness was beginning to scatter, the strange band of light in his left eye—

The part enhanced by the Six Eyes' traits—suddenly began to circulate on its own at an unprecedented speed.

It was not something he had activated deliberately. Rather, as though it had sensed the Sharingan's crisis and overload, the strange band of light began operating frantically like the most precise regulator and buffer.

In Shaoyu's perception, the light band seemed to disperse most of the violent backlash energy and ocular-power drain caused by activating Susanoo in a manner he could not comprehend.

Part of the backlash was absorbed and neutralized by the light band itself. Part was redirected to other, more resilient areas of his body. And an extremely small portion seemed to be channeled into...

The Ten Shadows Technique space where his newly subdued shikigami resided? The shikigami phantoms trembled faintly, seemingly sharing an insignificant fraction of the burden.

The effect was immediate.

The excruciating pain and burning sensation in his left eye, which had nearly swallowed him whole, rapidly subsided like a receding tide.

It still hurt. It still felt sore, and his vision remained blurry. But at least it was no longer that despairing sensation that his eyeball was about to burst or that he would go permanently blind.

The burden of the Mangekyō Sharingan had been drastically reduced. The consumption still remained, but the potential damage to his eyes had been lowered to an astonishing degree.

Holy shit, the Six Eyes are this useful?

Uchiha Shaoyu was both shocked and delighted. This unexpected discovery might have been no less valuable than the new shikigami he had obtained.

This meant that when using the Mangekyō, especially a trump card like Susanoo, his margin for error and endurance would far exceed those of ordinary Mangekyō users. Though he did not know the exact principle or its limits, it was undoubtedly an enormous advantage.

He did not dare waste time. Taking advantage of the reduced strain on his eyes and his clear mind, he pushed his speed to the limit and ran for his life toward the ambush point in the hollow.

Meanwhile, on the rugged mountain road at the border of the Land of Frost.

Nine ghostlike figures abruptly stopped before a fork in the road where footprints and chakra traces crisscrossed in slight disarray. They were Shimura Danzō and the eight Root jōnin under his command.

A Root jōnin skilled in tracking crouched down and carefully examined the ground and the surrounding vegetation.

"Lord Danzō," he reported coldly.

"The traces become complicated here. The main trail leads southwest toward a gentle valley, consistent with the escape route we predicted. The traces are fresh as expected. They should be nearby. We ought to catch up with them soon."

Leaning on his cane, Danzō's single eye glinted with cold malice behind his mask.

"Little rats of the Uchiha clan, where do you think you're going? Judging by this route, you're headed for the Land of Lightning. Are you planning to defect to Kumogakure?"

At that thought, Danzō angrily slammed his fist into a nearby tree.

"Evil Uchiha brats, you actually want to defect to those Kumogakure savages. I will never let you have your way."

"Pursue them!"

Danzō gave the order decisively.

"The valley is open ground, suitable for us to spread out and surround them. Send two men to conduct a quick search in the ravine. If you find anything, signal immediately. The main force can change direction then. The rest of you, move at full speed. They have burdens with them—they cannot have gone far!"

"Yes!"

The eight Root jōnin moved at once. Two darted toward the ravine, while the other six followed Danzō, sweeping toward the southwestern valley like a gray wind of death.

In their minds, they could already see the defecting Uchiha surrounded and slaughtered in the open, their Sharingan gouged out.

Murderous intent and greed burned in Danzō's heart like poisonous fire. Uchiha Shaoyu... your eyes will be mine!

The ambush point in the hollow.

Uchiha Shaoyu finally dragged his nearly exhausted body back through the narrow crevice, stumbling as he emerged.

His appearance immediately drew the attention of the highly alert clan members.

"Lord Shaoyu!" "Lord Shaoyu!" "Brother!"

Lianhuo, Mihuo, Tiehuo, and the others immediately gathered around him. Seeing his pale face, exhausted expression, and the lingering scarlet in his eyes along with a faint strange band of light, they were all startled.

"I'm fine. I just used up a little too much."

Shaoyu waved his hand, signaling that Rei did not need to examine him, then quickly asked.

"How is the situation? Any movement from the pursuers?"

"They have not entered this area yet," Uchiha Renhuo reported swiftly.

"I need some time to recover."

Shaoyu spoke in a low voice, turning his gaze toward Uchiha Rei.

"Rei, leave the watch and command to Lianhuo and Mihuo for now. Shuihuo, Qianying, keep an eye on the perimeter. If there is any movement whatsoever, warn us immediately."

"Yes!" everyone answered.

Shaoyu said no more. He went to the innermost corner of the hollow, the spot most thoroughly shielded by rocks, and sat down cross-legged. He was not planning to rely solely on his own recovery. That would be far too slow.

He closed his eyes and sank his consciousness into the Ten Shadows Technique space. The newly subdued shikigami phantoms all appeared somewhat listless, especially Round Deer, which had been forcibly subdued by Susanoo. Its glow was the dimmest of all.

But that powerful healing energy still circulated slowly within its core.

Let's give it a try... With a thought, Shaoyu attempted to communicate with Round Deer and guide its healing power.

Because it had been subdued through overwhelming violence, and because Round Deer itself was injured, the process was not smooth.

Shaoyu had to expend additional mental energy and chakra to clear the way and issue commands.

An extremely thin strand of soft white light, tiny yet incomparably pure and gentle in essence, separated itself from Round Deer's phantom with difficulty. Following the connection Shaoyu had established, it slowly flowed into his body.

The instant this healing power entered him, Shaoyu felt an indescribable sense of comfort.

Like rain after a long drought, the fatigue in his cells caused by overexertion, the faint pain in his chakra pathways, and even the soreness in his eyes from using the Mangekyō were gradually soothed and nourished by that gentle yet resilient power.

The effect was remarkable!

More importantly, the healing power seemed to possess some kind of activating and replenishing quality. It could actually help him absorb the effects of soldier pills and recovery medicine more efficiently, even drawing wisps of faint energy from the surrounding natural environment.

This feels amazing!

Time passed in silence. Within the hollow, Lianhuo and the others maintained the highest alert, even keeping their breaths as light as possible. In the distance, the cold wind still howled.

A barely visible layer of soft white light flickered around Uchiha Shaoyu.

Color visibly returned to his face. His breathing became steady and deep, while the chakra fluctuations radiating from his body gradually changed from withered weakness into fullness and solidity.

Uchiha Shaoyu slowly opened his eyes.

The exhaustion and scarlet in his left eye had faded, restoring its clarity and depth. The strange band of light flowed quietly within it, appearing tame yet brimming with power.

He lightly clenched his fist, feeling the surging chakra in his body and his restored mental state.

Not only had he completely recovered, but after being cleansed by Round Deer's healing power, coupled with his previous extreme depletion and replenishment, he was in even better condition than before! He could barely feel the burden of the Mangekyō Sharingan anymore.

He rose to his feet and loosened his muscles. Soft crackling sounds came from within his body.

"Lord Shaoyu, have you recovered?"

Uchiha Renhuo, who had been watching him closely, asked in a lowered voice, surprise in his eyes.

"Yes." Shaoyu nodded, his gaze as sharp as ever. "Completely. What is the situation outside?"

Just then!

Uchiha Mei, who had been keeping watch from high atop a pile of boulders, slipped down soundlessly like a nimble wildcat. Her little face was taut, and she kept her voice extremely low.

"Lord Shaoyu! Brother Lianhuo! Something's happening! Shadows spotted southwest, roughly three li away! They're moving fast and heading straight toward us! Their numbers... around five. No, possibly more. Their presence is extremely well concealed, but very powerful!"

"Everyone, attention!" Uchiha Shaoyu's voice instantly reached every ear, clear and calm.

"The targets have appeared. Southwest direction. Prepare for contact!"

The atmosphere in the hollow instantly tightened to the extreme. Everyone silently moved into their assigned combat positions, concealing themselves behind rocks and within shadows. Kunai and shuriken were clutched in their hands. Sharingan opened soundlessly, their scarlet glows faintly flickering in the dim light.

Uchiha Shaoyu lowered himself as well, hiding behind a massive boulder that overlooked most of the hollow's entrance. The Mangekyō in his left eye slowly turned, instantly magnifying and sharpening his vision. It pierced through darkness and distance, locking firmly onto the few blurred figures rapidly approaching.

He could even vaguely make out the hunched silhouette of the leader leaning on a cane.

Shimura Danzō!

Pot King, so it really is you.

A cold curve formed at the corner of Shaoyu's lips, killing intent blazing in his eyes. He slowly raised his right hand, then forcefully swung it downward!

The signal to prepare for action!

Every Uchiha ninja in the ambush held their breath. Chakra surged through their bodies like venomous snakes poised to strike, waiting only for their prey to step fully into the trap's lethal range before baring their sharpest fangs.