Konoha Ninja Village, the Uchiha Clan Compound.
Early morning.
Konan had recovered somewhat. As she got up, her gaze fell on Uchiha Kazama.
Blood was already streaming from Uchiha Kazama's eyes.
His complexion had become deathly pale.
He... hadn't been maintaining that Mangekyō Sharingan Dōjutsu all the way from last night until now, had he?!
This man really was insane!
If he kept this up, perhaps his own...
Just as Konan reeled in shock, Uchiha Kazama's pupillary power rose again.
At the same time, Kazama turned to look at Konan.
[Ding! Konan thinks your behavior is insane. Pupillary power +1,000, physique +200]
Indeed, Konan's thoughts had just given Uchiha Kazama a boost.
That was a full thousand points of pupillary power!
It immediately gave Uchiha Kazama some breathing room.
"You're awake?!"
"Go get something to eat. I'll be leaving the village this afternoon."
With that, Uchiha Kazama focused his attention back on Liunian and the other three.
They were close to awakening their Mangekyō Sharingan now. He had no time to spare for Konan.
Watching Uchiha Kazama's movements and the serious look on his face, Konan hesitated.
This madman seemed to be...
Then those sensual images resurfaced in her mind. Blushing, Konan hurried out of the courtyard.
Half an hour later.
Uchiha Ryunen slowly opened his eyes.
A tremendous surge of pupillary power spread outward.
The original tomoe transformed into scythe shapes. Just opening his eyes was enough to radiate a powerful sense of danger.
"Have you awakened it?!"
"What are your Dōjutsu?"
Uchiha Kazama looked at Uchiha Ryunen.
"Patriarch?!"
"You... this..."
The murderous aura surrounding Uchiha Ryunen abruptly dissipated.
He stared at Uchiha Kazama, utterly bewildered.
In Liunian's illusion, Uchiha Kazama had died protecting him.
How...
"Was that a Genjutsu just now?"
Uchiha Ryunen quickly caught on.
He also remembered that Uchiha Kazama had summoned him here to awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Patriarch..."
"My left eye has a spatial ability, Vast Void Song!"
"It can cut down enemies drawn into my Genjutsu, ignoring their defenses."
"My right eye's ability is Enhancement: Power of Myōjin. Depending on how much pupillary power I expend, it can strengthen any of my ninjutsu, or even my Taijutsu."
Uchiha Ryunen explained earnestly.
After awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan, his pupillary power had increased tremendously.
It was fair to say that an ordinary Jōnin facing Uchiha Ryunen now would meet only one fate-instant death!
Anyone unable to withstand the onslaught of his Genjutsu had no chance of surviving.
On top of that, his enhancement-type Power of Myōjin could convert pupillary power into strength for his Taijutsu and ninjutsu.
That was an excellent ability as well.
With further training, his eventual potential would grow even greater!
"Very good."
"Deactivate your Mangekyō Sharingan and go get some rest."
"Your eyes won't be able to take it if you keep it active."
Uchiha Kazama nodded in satisfaction.
Now, one of the four had awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan.
As far as Uchiha Kazama's experiment was concerned, that already counted as a success.
In the future, he could use this method to turn every genius in the Uchiha Clan into a Mangekyō Sharingan wielder.
With training to supplement that, he could send an entire army of Gundams onto the battlefield.
Virtually no one in the shinobi world would pose a threat anymore.
After awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, they could even put up something of a fight against Otsutsuki.
This was unquestionably an effective source of power.
Uchiha Ryunen deactivated his Mangekyō Sharingan and left.
By the time Konan returned after eating, only Uchiha Kazama remained.
"This..."
"Thank you."
Uchiha Kazama reached out and took the ramen Konan had brought back.
After expending so much energy, he needed to replenish some of it.
He finished the ramen.
"Ichiraku Ramen is delicious, isn't it?"
"What do you think? Would you consider settling here in Konoha?"
"The Land of Rain... really isn't a suitable place to live."
After finishing his meal, Uchiha Kazama stood and looked at Konan, who was lost in thought.
By now, Konan was rather puzzled.
In Konoha... she could freely investigate everything about the Uchiha.
She could even learn a great deal about Uchiha Kazama himself.
It was as though they did not care at all whether any of this information leaked.
As for what Konan had learned about Uchiha Kazama...
Indeed, many people considered him a madman!
Yet after Uchiha Kazama became Hokage, his actions had earned their wholehearted trust.
Even the shinobi clans could find no fault with Uchiha Kazama's arrangements.
The Ninja Academy had already replaced its teaching materials.
The new materials covered the true nature of the shinobi world, along with certain notable battles...
All of it had been included.
There was no glorification of the Hokage, nor any blind praise of the village.
The village Uchiha Kazama wanted to build was one full of people as bloodthirsty as wolves.
Not one that promoted and spread individual hero worship...
No other village could accomplish this.
In every village, the Kage held absolute authority, and everything revolved around them.
But under the policies Uchiha Kazama had established, authority was delegated outright.
"I need to go back first and tell Nagato all this."
"And about that Madara Uchiha you mentioned, I..."
"In that case, you probably won't be able to return to the Land of Rain for now."
Before Konan could finish, Uchiha Kazama interrupted her.
"Why?"
Konan raised her head and looked into Uchiha Kazama's eyes, which had already returned to normal.
"Because he's very likely already gone to Kumogakure or Iwagakure."
"Your Akatsuki was responsible for killing those shinobi in the Land of Fire, wasn't it?"
"So you should know that the other villages are preparing to attack Konoha."
"That means the Tailed Beast capture plan you previously devised will most likely take place during this window."
Uchiha Kazama spoke with a smile.
He had singled out those two villages because Sunagakure was too weak.
As for Kirigakure, Obito had already all but ruined it...
"How much more do you know?!"
Konan was stunned.
Where had Uchiha Kazama learned about a plan they had not even put into action yet?!
Orochimaru?
No, even the members didn't know about this mission!
"That doesn't matter."
"Let's go."
With that, Uchiha Kazama strode outside.
He left a Shadow Clone to inform Tsunade of what he intended to do, then departed the village with Konan.
They set off toward Kumogakure...
Meanwhile, Kumogakure's shinobi were already rapidly approaching Konoha.