The two slipped out of the house, their footsteps silent on the cold ground as they made their way through the village streets. The moonlight cast long shadows across the buildings, and the chill of mid-December nipped at their skin, but neither of them paid it any mind.
Their destination was the Naka Shrine, a place shrouded in Uchiha history and mystery. As they approached, Kenshin could feel the weight of their legacy pressing down on him. This was where countless Uchiha before them had gathered to learn the clan's secrets. Tonight, it was their turn.
Once they reached the shrine, Akane led him toward the secret passage that only those with the Sharingan could access. Activating her Eternal Mangekyo, the stone door slid open, revealing a hidden stairway leading deep underground.
Kenshin followed her down into the darkness, the air growing colder and more still as they descended.
When they reached the bottom, they entered a chamber lit by faint, flickering candlelight. In the center of the room lay a tablet—the one that was left behind by the sage of six paths himself.
"This is it," Akane whispered, her voice reverberating softly against the stone walls. "Dad told me about this place when I was a kid, but I never fully understood what it was for. The tablet contains our clan's greatest secrets—things only those with visual prowess can read."
Kenshin stepped forward, activating his own Eternal Mangekyo. As he did, the ancient writing on the tablet shifted, becoming legible to his enhanced vision. His eyes scanned the text, trying to absorb the information, but much of it was fragmented and difficult to understand.
"It talks about the origin of the Uchiha and the power of the Mangekyo," Kenshin murmured, reading aloud as Akane stood beside him, her gaze fixed on the tablet. "It also mentions the Susanoo… and the dangers of overusing the eyes."
Akane nodded. "I read about that part before. The Mangekyo is powerful, but it comes at a cost. The Eternal Mangekyo was the solution—no blindness, but the power is still dangerous."
They spent several more minutes reading the tablet, but it was clear that some of its secrets were locked away, only accessible to those with more powerful eyes.
"I guess we're not ready to understand everything yet," Kenshin said, stepping back. "But this… this is enough for now."
Akane gave a small smile. "It's a start. But we've got more to do tonight."
With that, they left the shrine and headed toward the nearby training grounds. The night air was crisp, their breath visible in the cold as they prepared to test the full extent of their Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
Once they reached the clearing, Akane turned to Kenshin. "Alright, let's see what you've got. Try summoning your Susanoo."
Kenshin closed his eyes for a moment, focusing his chakra as he remembered the sensation from earlier. When he opened them again, the dark red aura of his Susanoo began to form around him, manifesting as a ribcage.
Akane watched for a moment, her own bluish-white Susanoo forming effortlessly around her, complete with a head and skeletal arms. Her figure towered over Kenshin's ribcage form, the sheer size difference stark.
She couldn't resist a playful smirk. "Looks like you've got a long way to go, lil bro. A brat who never got proper Uchiha training can't expect to keep up with me."
Kenshin felt a surge of frustration but also pride. He admired Akane's strength, but he had always sworn to protect his family. How could he do that if he couldn't even manifest a proper Susanoo? He clenched his fists, the weight of his promise to protect them pressing on his mind.
'I need to get stronger,' Kenshin thought, watching as Akane's Susanoo moved with grace and power. 'I swore I'd protect them, but how can I if I'm not strong enough? I have to at least finish my chakra mode before Naruto comes back.'
Akane glanced at him, her teasing smile fading slightly as she sensed the tension in him. "Don't push yourself too hard, Kenshin. You'll get there. You've already come a long way."
Kenshin gave a small nod, though his thoughts remained heavy. He had much more to learn, but for now, he could take comfort in knowing that his family was safe, even if his own power wasn't yet where he wanted it to be.
As Kenshin took a deep breath, he heard Akane's voice cut through the cold night air.
"Why don't you give that Chakra Mode of yours a try?" she suggested, her voice thoughtful. "With the Eternal Mangekyo, your chakra control should be better now."
Kenshin blinked, then gave a slow nod. He had been struggling with the technique for years, never quite able to gather enough chakra to lift his body off the ground. But now, with the new power coursing through him, there was a chance he could finally push beyond his limits.
"Alright. Here goes nothing," Kenshin muttered, focusing his chakra.
He closed his eyes, feeling the wind around him shift slightly as he concentrated, pulling the energy deep from within. He envisioned the flow of wind chakra swirling around his body, forming a protective barrier while enhancing his speed and defense.
This time, something felt different. The chakra gathered more easily than before, swirling more naturally around him. Kenshin could feel the wind lift his body ever so slightly off the ground, just for a moment.
His eyes snapped open, and to his surprise, a thin layer of wind chakra enveloped his form, shimmering faintly in the moonlight.
Akane's eyes widened as she watched him. "You're doing it!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement. "The wind chakra… it's all over you!"
Kenshin's heart pounded as he glanced down at himself, feeling the wind chakra coursing smoothly over his body. It was stronger—more focused than it had ever been.
"I'm starting to get it," Kenshin said, his voice full of renewed determination. "But there's still a lot of work left if I want to make it do all I'm planning to."
"One step at a time," Akane responded, her EMS still activated as she observed the chakra swirling around him. Then, something caught her attention. "Wait… the chakra—it's glowing."
Kenshin frowned. "Glowing?"
A/N: I just realized that I didn't add the part where Kenshin removed Shisui's eye but he did that the day he returned to the leaf, at night after everyone was asleep. And with his right eye's restoration, it was impossible to notice afterwards.
----------------------------
Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. And as always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.