Crossing from a mortal to a demigod was just a small step in the future for Uchiha Sogetsu.
Draped in a black robe, he moved through the crowd like a breeze, unnoticed by anyone. Even the rain from the sky was kept at a distance, unable to touch him within a few feet.
From this moment on, the world looked entirely different in his eyes.
Standing at a higher-dimensional level, overlooking all beings, he could see everyone's joys, sorrows, and fleeting thoughts, all vividly clear in his vision.
Every bit of consciousness from living beings converged at the deepest level of their minds, forming a collective sea of the subconscious.
"Sequence 4: Manipulator."
Uchiha Sogetsu muttered to himself, experiencing the knowledge and insights gained from the subconscious sea through the potion.
As he clenched his fist tightly, fine dragon scales spread across his skin, layering together like a solid armor, emitting a faint grayish sheen.
Mysterious symbols faintly emerged on the surface, intricate and three-dimensional, as if embedded within his flesh and extending into the surrounding void.
Firstly, his strength and defense were greatly enhanced.
In terms of strength, he could easily crush a block of steel, and at full speed, he could even break through to several times the speed of sound. His defense was enough to withstand some lethal attacks.
Of course, in the high-attack, low-defense world of ninjas, this level of defense was nothing remarkable—just a little added protection.
What truly mattered to Uchiha Sogetsu was that upon advancing to Sequence 4, Beyonders would officially step into the "demigod" sequence, and from this moment on, they would be completely distinguished from mortals.
The most significant characteristic was that a sequence strong enough to reach the demigod level could display an incomplete "mythical creature" form.
The "mythical creature" form of the Spectator pathway was a gray-white dragon, which was one of the abilities he had just experienced: Dragonification!
However, using the mythical creature form often carried the risk of losing control. Even for the Spectator pathway, known for its stability, it was necessary to constantly reinforce proper psychological cues and strictly limit the duration of each "Dragonification." Otherwise, it would lead to madness and chaos, causing complete loss of control.
"Though I'm eager to try out Dragonification..."
Uchiha Sogetsu suppressed his excitement, forcing himself to calm down. "I should wait until I've fully adapted to the potion. Besides, if I reveal the mythical creature form here, the entire village of Konoha would be mentally distorted and driven into madness and chaos."
This was not just boasting, nor an exaggeration of the effects.
One must understand that the essence of the mythical creature form is a manifestation of "rules," the form of a god at the pinnacle of the pathway.
For a mortal to gaze directly upon a god would inevitably lead to severe backlash.
At best, it would result in mental chaos, madness, and insanity. At worst, it would cause physical distortion, corruption, and degeneration.
As it stood, probably only the Otsutsuki clan in the Naruto world could have the qualifications to gaze directly at the mythical creature form.
Clearing away these unnecessary thoughts, Uchiha Sogetsu began to examine the remaining abilities.
Consciousness Stroll: This ability allows one's consciousness and spirit to freely roam in the sea of the subconscious, even hiding there for a while. However, the drawback is that it cannot bring the physical body along.
Mental Deprivation: An enhanced version of "Awe," this transformed "Dragon Might" can destroy the target's consciousness and spirit, or cause them to sink into it, turning them into followers of a dragon.
Mind Storm: This technique turns a specific thought into a mental storm that sweeps through the surroundings, affecting the collective subconscious like a violent hurricane. It can destroy the enemy's mental islands and also interfere with or destroy defenses at the spiritual or mental level.
Mental Plague: This ability plants the seed of "infectious madness" in the target's mental island, spreading like a plague. It's an insidious erosion of the mental world that is extremely subtle and hard to detect, making it a necessary skill for behind-the-scenes manipulation.
Mind Dragon Breath: This attack condenses spirit into a "breath" that has a wide area of effect, allowing the target to feel as if struck by lightning, tearing apart their spirit and consciousness.
Virtual Persona: This creates multiple personalities corresponding to the Body of Heart and Mind. On one hand, it can resist the influence of the Sea of Collective Subconscious, while on the other, it can silently invade the target's Mind island.
When paired with the core ability of Sequence Four, "Manipulation," it can allow the virtual persona to alter the target's subconscious and read their thoughts, effectively using the target as a "proxy" to make them perform various tasks.
As the residual influence of the potion faded, Uchiha Sogetsu's eyes returned to normal.
What came into view was the Uchiha clan's residence.
"I didn't expect to return here again without realizing it."
Looking at the Uchiha residence, filled with white mourning attire, he thought for a moment and then chuckled lightly, "I almost forgot; there's still something I need to do before I officially leave."
Late at Night.
Mikoto sat in the boy's old room, her eyes red and sunken, looking haggard.
She gazed at the new Hokage ceremonial robe, neatly folded beside her, and couldn't help but slowly lift it up.
Then, she buried her face deep into it and took a deep breath.
This robe had only been worn once, and it still seemed to carry that familiar scent.
"Sogetsu... Sogetsu, Sogetsu..."
Mikoto softly cried out, calling the boy's name again and again.
In the empty room, with no one else around, she finally didn't have to hold back anymore. She could let out all the sadness in her heart without worrying about what others thought.
"What if we had met a little earlier? Wouldn't that be great?"
Mikoto held tightly onto the ceremonial Hokage robe, as if embracing the young man. Her long eyelashes, glistening with tears, trembled slightly.
"I like you. It's even hard for me to believe it. From the first moment I saw you, I fell deeply in love with you. It's strange, isn't it?"
"I know this is a wrong feeling, and I shouldn't feel this way."
"But I can't help but think of you. Just seeing you every day makes me happy."
"I never expected to be with you. I just hope you can stay safe. When I saw you become Hokage, I was so happy, so very happy."
"But why…? Wuu wuu wuu…"
Mikoto bit her lip, her eyes reddening, her voice trembling. "It's so cruel. You're only sixteen, so young, with such a long future ahead."
The death of Uchiha Sogetsu pierced her heart like a sharp thorn.
Every time she thought about the boy, cruelly blinded and nailed to the wall, an uncontrollable anger and hatred surged within her.
"Don't worry, Sogetsu."
Mikoto gently stroked the brand-new Hokage robe, her eyes filled with love and tenderness. "This matter will not end easily."
"I will never let go of those who harmed you."
As her emotions surged, three black tomoe spun rapidly in her eyes. "Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, Mitokado Homura, Koharu, Hyuga, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, and the Uchiha—none of them will be spared!"
The three spinning tomoe suddenly connected, forming a star pattern.
"Do you see it? Sogetsu?"
Mikoto showed a sickly smile, holding the robe, a chilling grin forming on her lips. "I finally have eyes just like yours."
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