Uchiha Makoto took a deep breath, his crimson Four-Tomoe Sharingan slowly spinning.
First, he forcibly woke the unconscious Pakura, then placed her under a powerful hypnotic genjutsu, implanting the most basic underlying directives: "Be loyal to Uchiha Makoto" and "Obey all orders."
Then he took out a helmet-shaped Silver-Gray Device connected to countless fine tubes and carefully fitted it onto Pakura's head.
The device activated with a low hum, and an eerie blue light shone at the ends of the tubes.
Finally, he performed a delicate surgical procedure, implanting a rice-grain-sized Black Chip covered in intricate runes at the crucial junction between the spinal cord and brain at the back of Pakura's neck.
Only after completing all of this did Uchiha Makoto truly breathe a sigh of relief.
He looked at the woman sleeping quietly on the operating table, her skin a cool, pale white.
She was no longer Pakura, Sunagakure's Scorch Release ninja.
She was...
"Test Subject Three," Uchiha Makoto said softly, a satisfied smile curling his lips.
A monster who had successfully integrated 30% asura cells, whose body had undergone an unknown transformation, whose chakra reserves and quality had reached staggering levels, and whose combat strength was at least Kage level.
And she was a monster entirely under his control.
Although her precise combat strength and the changes to her abilities would have to be tested after she woke, there was no doubt that he now held another crucial trump card.
"An ace..." Uchiha Makoto stroked his chin. "Looks like this gamble was worth it."
The shadow of war grew ever darker, while the power he kept hidden in the shadows quietly grew as well.
Test Subject Three was only the beginning.
Time slipped away like sand between his fingers. Amid the clamor of war and Uchiha Makoto's