Of course, you still had to understand the principles first. Figuring it out step by step yourself was pretty tough~ Uzumaki Gamu thought. His Storm Release, for example, had taken multiple attempts before he finally pulled it off!
Combining chakra natures into a new release was rather like mixing oil paints. You blended two chakra natures in different proportions, repeatedly experimenting until you found the optimal ratio. After that, you still had to work out how to use the resulting chakra!
For the Storm Release: Beam Saber technique Uzumaki Gamu was using, he first created Storm Release chakra, then turned it into a laser and focused it in his hand to form a beam sword!
It was a ninjutsu he had forced into existence through sheer control, not a conventional Storm Release technique!
Of course, if someone demonstrated a conventional Storm Release technique in front of him, Uzumaki Gamu's eyes could precisely discern its entire activation process and underlying principles. It would be like reading an instruction manual, allowing him to use the technique with ease. That was even more incredible than the Sharingan! (The Sharingan copied techniques directly, leaving you to figure out the principles yourself. Uzumaki Gamu saw through the entire process, then reproduced it perfectly with his tremendous control... perhaps these eyes should be called the Yiwu Eye?)
After hearing Uzumaki Gamu explain the technique in his hand, Mito asked curiously, "If you just want a chakra blade you can hold, doesn't this seem unnecessarily complicated? Couldn't Lightning Release alone do that?"
Like the Chidori Sharp Spear Sasuke developed from Chidori, Lightning Release could produce a chakra blade for simple slashing. Why go through all that needless trouble using Storm Release?
"Because this isn't just a slashing technique, of course." The Beam Saber in Uzumaki Gamu's hand suddenly extended and changed shape, becoming soft... like a whip!
Uzumaki Gamu flicked the Beam Whip twice. "See? It can do this too."
Mito nodded in understanding. "So it can change shape however you want, Second Brother?"
"Exactly. Compared with ordinary Lightning Release, Storm Release's greatest feature is its malleability! Lightning Release disperses too readily. Unless you put serious effort into containing it, it easily scatters on its own! Put simply, Storm Release uses easily shaped Water Release as a framework, then fills that framework with lightning for destructive power! In theory, with enough control, you can turn this technique into all kinds of shapes. For instance..."
Under Uzumaki Gamu's control, the Beam Whip in his hand began transforming: a question mark, an exclamation mark, a dash! He could even turn it directly into written characters. Finally, it became two little figures that fought in midair like shadow puppets!
Mito stared, dumbfounded. "Isn't this... just because you're incredible, Second Brother?"
"True. Even someone with the Storm Release kekkei genkai probably couldn't reach my level without my atomic-level chakra control... The control these eyes grant is just too powerful!" Uzumaki Gamu couldn't help marveling at how high the Six Eyes had raised his potential!
With these eyes, Uzumaki Gamu could completely master elemental releases... no, the entire chakra system! He could use chakra perfectly, just like the Sage of Six Paths once had!
I am the second Six Paths, and the only one who exists today! Uzumaki Gamu had the feeling that, in the not-too-distant future, he could call himself the Sage of Six Paths!
Well, unlike good old Obito, who still needed hand seals after becoming Six Paths, Uzumaki Gamu really could use ninjutsu without seals, just like the Sage of Six Paths. (Hagoromo was Otsutsuki Kaguya's eldest son. He inherited his mother Kaguya's power at birth and could use techniques without hand seals.)
Well, Obito's line is a little embarrassing. Better forget it! Uzumaki Gamu thought. Boasting like that in front of a crowd, the way Obito did, felt pretty stupid to him. He would pass!
Just then, Mito asked, "By the way, Second Brother, can your eyes be inherited?"
"Well... probably not?" Uzumaki Gamu thought for a moment before answering, "This is an ability I was granted. It'll probably disappear after I die. I can't pass it on to the next generation."
Rather than a hereditary family trait, the Six Eyes were more like something the world's will bestowed upon a chosen individual-a power meant to balance the world!
After all, only one pair of these eyes appeared in any given era!
Uzumaki Gamu had been granted them in the same way, so... expecting them to be hereditary was unrealistic. No point overthinking it!
After that... there wasn't much else to say. Uzumaki Gamu continued training, while Mito, with nothing else to do, watched from beside him!
Two days passed like that, and the Uzumaki clansmen returned victorious!
Uzumaki Gamu also saw his father and eldest brother for the first time in ages. Both looked as though they had seen a ghost~ Of course, that reaction only lasted a few seconds. They had already learned he was back before returning! (Mito had sent someone to inform them in advance!) So their ghost-struck expressions lasted only a few seconds before giving way to pure joy!
The family happily gathered together!
Then came explanation time!
After hearing Uzumaki Gamu explain what had happened to him (heavily revised, since there were things he couldn't tell them), Ashina sighed. "Honestly... your story sounds like a lie. You discovered a new inheritance site called the Dragon Palace, passed its trial, and gained new power. Then... time flowed differently there, so only a few months passed for you while six years passed for us... It sounds like a legend." That was the story Uzumaki Gamu had fabricated.
Uzumaki Gamu had adapted it from the legend of Urashima Taro. After all, their situations were pretty similar, except Uzumaki Gamu himself hadn't aged.
Daigu said, "But what happened to my little brother matches his story... Especially those eyes, with powers resembling the Byakugan and Sharingan... Could they actually be the legendary Rinnegan?" Legends of the Rinnegan had always existed, so mysterious eyes naturally made people think of them!
Uzumaki Gamu denied it. "These aren't the Rinnegan... I saw what the Rinnegan looked like at the Dragon Palace. They're eyes with rings~" Now he had an excuse to casually reveal anything he knew from the original story. He could simply claim he had learned it at the Dragon Palace!
Hearing this, the two men realized, "So it really is an inheritance site... Amazing!" See? He had successfully fooled them!
Meanwhile, Uzumaki Gamu thought, But the Rinnegan hasn't appeared all this time. Why has its legend kept spreading? Could it be... Black Zetsu has been spreading word of it?
That fellow had always longed for the Rinnegan to appear, so it made sense that he would keep spreading the story...
To bring your mother back, Haki Zetsu, you really... had been working hard~
After hearing Uzumaki Gamu's experiences, Ashina and Daigu were not only astonished but happy for him.
Apparently, Mito alone had any additional concerns~ A woman's thoughts were a little more delicate than a man's!
Well, after getting the full picture, the two men also explained what had happened with the Kaguya Clan. They had actually plotted a rebellion!
The Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki hadn't suddenly joined forces merely because they had recovered from their condition six years ago. More importantly, all three had received word that the Kaguya Clan intended to replace the daimyo and rule the Land of Fire themselves!
Six years of unrivaled dominance had inflated the Kaguya Clan's arrogance considerably. They had long resented the daimyo nominally standing above them, so they secretly contacted ninja from the neighboring Land of Water, intending to overthrow his rule!
Well, they had little choice but to contact ninja from the Land of Water. After betraying the Uchiha last time, their reputation was completely ruined! Nobody in the Land of Fire dared ally with them! That left them no choice but to seek outsiders!
This intelligence had been intercepted by the daimyo's personal ninja unit, the Twelve Guardian Ninja. (Daimyo: Money well spent hiring them~) Upon learning of it, the daimyo immediately contacted the Senju, Uzumaki, Uchiha, and other smaller ninja clans. After secret deliberations, everyone unanimously agreed to pool their forces and wipe out the Kaguya Clan!
So this operation hadn't involved only the three great clans. In fact, every faction in the Land of Fire had joined forces against the Kaguya Clan. It couldn't be helped: anyone trying to take everyone else's share became everyone's enemy!
The final results were spectacular. Never expecting to become everyone's target, the Kaguya Clan was caught completely off guard. Despite their home-ground advantage, their clansmen suffered devastating casualties. To preserve their clan, they were ultimately forced to flee the Land of Fire and seek refuge with their former allies, the Hozuki Clan... It seemed the Kaguya Clan would only be active in the Land of Water from now on!
However, according to the original story, the Kaguya Clan wouldn't behave themselves in the Land of Water either. They would attack Kirigakure's leadership in another attempted coup, then be exterminated until Kimimaro was the only survivor...
After learning all this, Uzumaki Gamu sighed. Character really did determine destiny! This ninja clan would have a hard time surviving long-term!
With the Kaguya Clan fallen, things would return to everyday life, right?
As if!
Without a common enemy, would the Uchiha and Senju... start fighting again?
He would have to find Hashirama and Madara to learn the answer!
So, after Ashina and Daigu returned to the clan homeland, Uzumaki Gamu told Mito he was heading out, then left!
Before he went, Mito asked, "Huh? Where are you going?"
"Well, to see Hashirama and the others... I should be back tonight~" With that, Uzumaki Gamu vanished using the Body Flicker Technique!
Mito said, speechless, "...He looks so excited... Is he going out to show off?"
Indeed, he was in such a hurry because he wanted to show his two best friends his newly acquired Maybach-the Six Eyes~
Could anyone really gain that sort of power and resist going out to show off?
Uzumaki Gamu arrived at the river where they had first met. After he waited a while, Hashirama and Madara indeed showed up!
Well, they had been with the Uzumaki clansmen earlier, so they should have known Uzumaki Gamu was back. Given the understanding between the three of them, they ought to come here for a reunion. And sure enough, they were on the same wavelength!
Upon seeing Uzumaki Gamu, Hashirama immediately greeted him warmly. "Long time no see, Gamu!"
Madara also said, "Long... Why do you look exactly the same as six years ago?" Madara was still the more observant one, immediately noticing that Uzumaki Gamu had barely changed~
At Madara's prompting, Hashirama noticed too. Uzumaki Gamu's build hadn't changed much.
"Well, let me explain~" Uzumaki Gamu repeated his story about the Dragon Palace trial and returning to find that time had jumped ahead!
"...Seriously? A place like that exists?" Madara asked incredulously.
"Hahaha! The world's big, after all. There are plenty of places most people have never visited!" Hashirama laughed. "In that case, Gamu, you're still a kid~ We're already adults~"
"Indeed~ Look at you two. You've finished growing!" Uzumaki Gamu quipped. Both already looked like their adult selves... though their skin was still youthful, without the middle-aged look they would have in the future!
Madara replied, "Hmph. Of course. Time treats everyone equally!"
Uzumaki Gamu asked, "So~~ How does being grown-up feel? And how does being clan leader feel?"
Madara's expression stiffened at that, then he sighed. "...Complicated, I suppose! There are more responsibilities to bear, and more things I don't want to do but have to!"
Hashirama agreed. "Yeah... We aren't kids anymore. We can't just do whatever we want."
"Rather than saying you aren't kids anymore, it's more that you're carrying greater responsibilities~ Well, that can't be helped." Uzumaki Gamu spoke helplessly. Those were the growing pains of adulthood!
Madara shook his head. "Enough of that... Those changed eyes of yours were the reward for completing the trial, right? They look rather impressive~"
"Right? These eyes are freaking amazing... Want to try them out?" Uzumaki Gamu beckoned, taking a fighting stance!
"Oh~~ You actually want to challenge me?" Madara teased. "You may have new powers, but don't forget there's an age gap between us now. The resulting difference in strength isn't something one extra ability can bridge~"
"Well... We won't know until we fight~~" Uzumaki Gamu was already warming up!
Madara's lips curled upward. "Fine. Let's try it. I'm curious about this new power of yours anyway!"
Hashirama asked from beside them, "Do I have to just stand here and watch?"
Madara waved him off, then grinned excitedly. "Wait until next time, Hashirama!" With that, Uzumaki Gamu and Madara vanished simultaneously. Their arms collided, then rebounded. The fight had officially begun!
Disappointed, Hashirama flickered onto a tree behind them and sat down, watching his two friends begin their spar!
Once the spar began, Madara moved first. "Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer..."
Before he could finish, a Water Dragon Bullet was already flying toward him!
"So fast!" Madara was shocked. Though he had completed his seals, there was no time to breathe fire. He could only abandon the ninjutsu and leap away!
At the same time, doubt arose in his mind. His Sharingan had been fixed on Uzumaki Gamu the whole time, yet the ninjutsu had activated without any hand seals... What was going on?
Uzumaki Gamu smiled faintly. "The real surprises are still coming~" With that, he breathed fire.
He used the very Majestic Destroyer Flame that Madara hadn't managed to unleash!
"You're actually using my technique against me?" Madara rolled his eyes, speechless. As an old friend, he knew Uzumaki Gamu was trying to irritate him. It was one of Uzumaki Gamu's usual tactics: deliberately infuriate his opponent until they lost their cool, then defeat them easily with all sorts of tricks!
Knowing this, Madara didn't get angry. Instead, he began responding calmly... Calmly, my ass! When the hell had a dozen more ninjutsu appeared?
While breathing out Majestic Destroyer Flame, Uzumaki Gamu had created several clones, which relentlessly hurled techniques at Madara as though skills cost nothing!
Now Madara felt as though he were fighting dozens of ninja at once! Worse still, their skills had no windup!
In the distance, Hashirama analyzed inwardly, No hand seals whatsoever. Every ninjutsu activates instantly... Is this Gamu's new power?
Uzumaki Gamu was like someone who had activated Ultra Rapid Fire mode. His skills had no startup or recovery, becoming zero-frame pressure moves that gave Madara no opportunity to counterattack. He could only jump about, dodging Uzumaki Gamu's attacks.
Watching those monkey-like leaps, Uzumaki Gamu couldn't resist saying, "Do you want to dance too?" Excellent. Not only had he plagiarized Madara's ninjutsu, he had pirated his famous line!
Those words sent Madara's temper flaring. As his Sharingan transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan, he roared, "You bastard! I've had enough... Susanoo!" The blue plastic bag appeared!
Susanoo was the third power unlocked only after awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, known as the power of god. It symbolized destruction, and people said that anyone who witnessed it even once was doomed to die.
This ultimate power residing within the Mangekyō Sharingan materialized enormous quantities of chakra into a towering warrior god. It was the ultimate ocular technique, combining offense and defense, and developed through four stages as the user's ocular power grew. A matching pair of Mangekyō Sharingan was required to use it. Of course, once unlocked, it remained usable even if the user later lost one eye (Shisui) or both eyes (Madara after Rinne Rebirth).
What Madara activated now was the initial form, not even the first stage. It manifested only arms and ribs, which could attack, defend, protect, restrain, and more. Susanoo didn't fully envelop his body, leaving sizable gaps, but its defenses were already enough to withstand most attacks.
After its blue skeletal arm batted away the incoming attacks, Madara accelerated into a leap toward Uzumaki Gamu, then grabbed him with that skeletal arm. There it was: living Madara's basic-attack grab!
"Gotcha! ...You've lost!" Madara declared arrogantly, his mouth curling like the crooked-smiling Dragon King.
"Not necessarily~" The captured Uzumaki Gamu also smiled faintly, then suddenly vanished in a puff of smoke.
Apparently, Uzumaki Gamu had switched his real body with a clone without Madara noticing!
"A Shadow Clone? Tch!" Madara immediately realized he had been fooled yet again. Even the Mangekyō Sharingan couldn't distinguish Shadow Clones... well, at least Madara's current ocular power couldn't.
Madara began searching everywhere for Uzumaki Gamu, but... he couldn't find him!
He knows Earth Release. If I can't find him, he's probably underground! Madara immediately jumped, but... he was still too late!
"As expected of Madara. Fast reactions, but... one step too late! Uzumaki Ultimate Taijutsu Secret Technique: Thousand Years of Death!" This had already been introduced earlier, so there was no need to elaborate!
Seeing this, Hashirama burst out laughing. "Hahahaha! Madara, now you know how it feels!" Remembering how Uzumaki Gamu had once jabbed him in the backside always embarrassed Hashirama and made him lash out in shame. But now... Madara had been jabbed too, so he could finally laugh it off... That was what being terrible friends meant!
"Aaaah!" Madara let out a piercing scream, then vanished into thin air... Was that a Shadow Clone too?
Madara suddenly flickered behind Uzumaki Gamu and snapped, "You think you're the only one who knows that technique? That was a fake!" Sensing danger earlier, Madara had immediately used a Shadow Clone-a one-seal technique, so it was quick-then flickered away using the Substitution Technique, leaving his clone to take the hit.
Uzumaki Gamu turned and blocked Madara's fist, answering with a smile, "But a Shadow Clone's memories return to the original, so you still felt yourself getting jabbed, right?"
A Shadow Clone's experiences and memories returned to the original. So even if Madara himself hadn't been jabbed, he still had the memory of his backside being violated!
"...You brat! You're asking for a beating!" Madara truly lost his temper this time. Just as Uzumaki Gamu had said, the Shadow Clone's memories returned, causing phantom pain in Madara's backside... He hadn't actually been jabbed, but he could definitely feel it. It was driving him mad!
The initial Susanoo instantly grew larger. Its first stage took shape!
This Susanoo had a skeletal appearance, with chakra completely enclosing the body and further increasing its defenses. However, gaps remained beneath its feet, and sufficiently powerful attacks could still break through. At this stage, Susanoo could wield simple weapons, such as ordinary swords, and attacked through conventional physical strikes.
Madara shouted, "Come on! Let me show you the power of god!"
"Whoa... It was just one poke in the backside. Why get so worked up? What if you go blind using Susanoo like this?" Uzumaki Gamu quipped. Despite saying that, he still wanted to test Susanoo's defenses, so he hurled a ninjutsu he had dreamed up in a flash of inspiration at Madara's Susanoo!
"Storm Release: Spiral Light Bomb!" It compressed Storm Release light into a ball like a Rasengan, then hurled it directly outward. Upon reaching the designated area, the ball exploded, sending compressed lasers raining down on the enemy!
Under the laser rain, Madara's Susanoo shell became riddled with dents!
Madara exclaimed in shock, "Storm Release? A kekkei genkai? You have this kind of ninjutsu too?"
"Well, I developed it recently... All right, let's stop here. If we keep fighting, your eyes won't take it!" Uzumaki Gamu proposed.
Seeing Storm Release had distracted Madara from his anger! Deactivating his Mangekyō Sharingan, he walked over and asked, "What's going on with that kekkei genkai ninjutsu?"
Uzumaki Gamu pointed at his Maybach-no, his Six Eyes-and said, "It's these eyes' ability. They give me atomic-level chakra control, letting me manipulate chakra however I please. Combining basic elemental releases and creating new ones is easy! And because my control improved so much, I don't need hand seals anymore. I can release ninjutsu directly."
"...Atomic-level?" Hashirama asked blankly. That concept didn't exist in this era yet!
Madara said, "...I don't understand, but it must mean incredibly strong control! Those eyes are amazing!" Both used elemental releases, so they naturally understood just how outrageous Uzumaki Gamu's no-windup ninjutsu was!
Wasn't part of Hashirama's strength precisely that his ninjutsu barely had any windup? Of course, the greater part came from his overwhelmingly high stats!
After thinking for a while, Hashirama asked, "Following that logic... could you use my Wood Release too?"
"Probably?" Uzumaki Gamu hadn't tried using Wood Release yet. Should he try now?
With that thought, Uzumaki Gamu asked, "Hey, Hashirama, demonstrate it for me~"
"Sure!" Without another word, Hashirama clapped his hands together and produced a towering tree!
Madara remarked beside them, "It looks ridiculous every time!" A tree that thick should have taken decades to grow, yet Hashirama produced it with one clap. It really was frightening.
After observing Wood Release's activation, Uzumaki Gamu nodded. "Mm, mm, mm... So that's how it works!" Having a ready-made model to reference was certainly better than blindly messing around on his own!
Uzumaki Gamu now understood how Wood Release worked. He should be able to use it!
So Uzumaki Gamu clapped his hands together, imitating Hashirama to unleash Wood Release... the Little Sapling Technique!
The three looked at the sapling in front of Uzumaki Gamu, then collectively turned to look at Hashirama's towering tree... Nothing hurt quite like a comparison!
Madara and Hashirama immediately clutched their stomachs and roared with laughter. Madara laughed, "Hahaha! What's that supposed to be? Underage Wood Release?" Both had been pranked by Uzumaki Gamu before, so naturally, they were delighted to have a chance to laugh at him!
Uzumaki Gamu scratched his head awkwardly. "Uh, looks like it didn't quite work..."
After these two terrible friends finished laughing, Hashirama and Madara calmed down and began helping Uzumaki Gamu analyze the problem!
Looking at Uzumaki Gamu's sapling, Hashirama said, "The technique seems to have activated properly. Is the huge difference mostly down to proficiency... or insufficient chakra?"
With his Sharingan active, Madara said, "No. Gamu has plenty of chakra, and he put plenty into this Wood Release. There's another reason!"
Uzumaki Gamu thought for a moment. "...The Sage Body?"
Hashirama said, "Oh~ That thing you mentioned before... Does it affect techniques that much?"
"Well... I'm not sure, but judging by this, the effect is enormous!" Uzumaki Gamu studied Hashirama's body. "A Sage Body gives you excessive amounts of yang release chakra. Although that chakra isn't a key component of Wood Release, it acts like fertilizer, making an already vibrant Wood Release flourish even more!" Perhaps that was why more Hashirama cells meant stronger Wood Release!
And as someone composed of one hundred percent Hashirama cells, Hashirama naturally had the strongest Wood Release!
"A Sage Body?" This was Madara's first time hearing Uzumaki Gamu use the term, so he stared at Hashirama. "So that legend is true!"
Hashirama asked curiously, "Do the Uchiha have similar records?"
"...Yes!" Madara nodded hesitantly. There was something he wanted to say but couldn't quite disclose.
"...Is it that stone tablet passed down in your clan?" Uzumaki Gamu asked.
Madara exclaimed in surprise, "...You know about it?"
"Yeah... I learned quite a few secrets about the shinobi world at the Dragon Palace. I wanted to discuss them with you two when I got back!" Uzumaki Gamu replied. At the end of the previous chapter, he had already thought of Black Zetsu's efforts to revive his mother. Under those circumstances, it would make no sense not to start making plans against him!
To protect their friendship, Uzumaki Gamu decided to gradually reveal the shinobi world's true history. This time, he wouldn't let Izuna die, nor would he let Black Zetsu deceive Madara. He refused to believe Madara could still pursue some Eye of the Moon Plan under those circumstances!
Hashirama asked curiously, "What did you learn? Tell us~"
Uzumaki Gamu began explaining, "What I know so far is... the Senju, Uzumaki, and Uchiha were originally the same ninja clan!"
"...Huh?!" Hashirama looked rather dumbfounded, while Madara seemed to have realized something!
Seeing Madara's expression of realization, Hashirama asked curiously, "Madara, did you already know about this?"
"...Not exactly!" Madara thought for a moment before answering, "Since Gamu has already brought it up, there's no need for me to keep hiding it... That stone tablet is a treasure passed down through our Uchiha Clan. You need the Sharingan to decipher some of its contents, and it contains information about the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
"...That's hardly news, is it?" Hashirama asked in confusion-the Uchiha had awakened so many Mangekyō Sharingan during the Warring States Period that they were practically popping up like dumplings dropped into a pot. Even people outside the Uchiha knew that sufficiently intense emotional stimulation could awaken an Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan! (With a relative dying every other day, it was only natural that the awakening rate was high. This also led to the Uchiha having a particularly large number of lunatics back then-as was clear from the flashbacks involving the technique Izanami.)
Madara said disdainfully, "Of course there's more to it than that... After awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, you can use it to decipher further content... Combining the powers of the Senju and the Uchiha grants the power of all-creation! After reading that, I wondered whether the Uchiha and the Senju had been one ninja clan in ancient times, only to split apart later!"
"Good thinking. That's exactly what happened!" Uzumaki Gamu said approvingly. "Our ancestors were... the Ōtsutsuki Clan!! In other words, the so-called Sage of Six Paths!"
"The Sage of Six Paths' ninja clan?" Hashirama exclaimed in surprise-they had all heard stories about the Sage of Six Paths as bedtime tales when they were children. Finding out now that he had actually existed... was pretty startling!
"...The Sage of Six Paths? Tell us everything you know, from the beginning!" Madara's curiosity had been piqued, and he desperately wanted the full story!
"No problem!"-Next came Naruto's time-honored tradition of squeezing several episodes of flashbacks into the middle of a battle!
Was everyone ready?
Just kidding. Outside of animation, there was no way a flashback could go on for several episodes~
Before you continue