[500PS REACHED!! Next Goal: 1000PS!]
Gensou extended his right hand, palm facing upward.
Under the power of Yin-Yang Release, a small pitch-black sphere, about the size of a ping-pong ball, appeared in his hand, different from the black rods he had created before.
The first step, using Yin-Yang Release to create the form, was complete.
The second step was to infuse the black sphere with the high-density chakra of the seven attributes: Yin, Yang, Fire, Earth, Wind, Water, and Lightning.
With a thought, Gensou directed the chakras of all seven attributes into the sphere created by the Yin-Yang Release.
This was no easy task.
It required an incredibly deep understanding and mastery of the nature transformations of all seven chakra attributes, to bring them together peacefully without triggering the inherent instability caused by their conflicting natures.
Even for an expert like Gensou, this step took considerable time and intense focus. He dared not be distracted for even a moment.
Despite his efforts, only a few seconds after completing the second step, the black sphere, now infused with the seven chakra attributes, became highly unstable.
After a brief tremor, the sphere suddenly exploded.
A deafening roar echoed through the room.
The seemingly small black sphere unleashed power equivalent to an S-rank jutsu in that instant.
Prepared for this outcome, Gensou pressed his hand down, using Dark Release to absorb the entire force of the explosion.
Afterward, aside from the papers on the desk being blown around by the residual shockwave, everything in the laboratory remained untouched.
"Still not working, huh?" Gensou sighed softly.
What he had just attempted was the creation of a special jutsu known as the "Truth-Seeking Ball."
The Truth-Seeking Balls were the black, floating orbs that automatically hovered behind those who had reached the level of the Sage of Six Paths.
They could take the form of black spheres or freely change into various weapons for the user's use.
Because they contained the full power of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, the Truth-Seeking Balls could easily surpass the power of both Kekkei Genkai and Kekkei Tōta.
It's important to note that Truth-Seeking Balls were not part of the Kekkei Mōra, but were instead categorized as "ninjutsu" in the Book of Formations.
While those who ascended to the Sage of Six Paths level would naturally generate Truth-Seeking Balls, it was also theoretically possible to create them through the mastery of all seven chakra attributes.
For example, the young Hagoromo and Hamura were able to create Truth-Seeking Balls.
But in the entire shinobi world, only these two had ever been able to create them.
Up until the conclusion of Shippuden, no one else had even touched upon this domain.
Gensou's recent attempt had ended in failure as well.
However, compared to others in the shinobi world who hadn't even come close, Gensou, who had mastered Yin-Yang Release and had deep knowledge of the seven chakra attributes, was the closest to succeeding.
"The fusion of the seven chakra attributes is still somewhat unrefined. My understanding of the Yin and Yang attributes is also lacking. Fortunately, these are flaws that I can identify and address," Gensou reflected.
With more time and experiments, he was confident he would eventually become the only person in the current shinobi world to master the Truth-Seeking Balls.
When that time came, his power would reach new heights.
"Right, the black sphere structure used in the storage phase of the Wrathful Heaven Forbidden Technique, which balances chakra and natural energy, might offer some insights. I should see if it can be applied to the Truth-Seeking Balls."
"The Mangekyō Sharingan has been very effective in studying the nature transformation of Yin chakra, so I need to continue that work. I shouldn't neglect Yang Release either. Perhaps I should consider researching Hashirama's cells..."
"After my journey to the Land of Fire, I've gained many new insights into senjutsu. It's time to make some real progress on that front."
Time!
What Gensou needed most now was time—plenty of it.
When the Warring States period ended and the ninja villages were first established, if the Five Kage hadn't acted so quickly and given him more time to grow, the outcome at the Valley of the End would have been different.
In a true sense, Gensou was only twenty-five years old, in the prime of a ninja's career, not even at his full peak yet.
Having learned from the defeat at the Valley of the End, Gensou, now living his second life, understood one crucial thing.
Power struggles, ideals, and revenge were not his most urgent concerns.
What he truly needed was time.
Unlike other ninjas, whose progress would eventually plateau, his own potential had no limits. As long as he continued to methodically complete his training, everything would eventually fall under his control without him needing to deal with other distractions.
So, after a brief excursion to secure certain items and divert the attention of Konoha and the shinobi world away from the Land of Keys to avoid unnecessary trouble, Gensou entrusted the matters of Jōmae Village and the Hagoromo Clan to the elders and other subordinates, focusing entirely on his own training.
However, this peace and progress didn't last long.
In the middle of his latest attempt to create a Truth-Seeking Ball, Gensou suddenly stopped. His gaze shifted to the Mangekyō Sharingan soaking in a container nearby.
In that instant, he had sharply sensed an unusual fluctuation from the Mangekyō Sharingan.
With his vast knowledge, Gensou was certain there was no trick left within the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Unless...
A thought occurred to him, and his expression changed.
He gestured, and a fully recovered clone appeared before him.
Following Gensou's instructions, the clone removed the white spiral mask from its face, took the Mangekyō Sharingan from the container, and inserted it into its right eye socket. The black, blade-shaped Mangekyō Sharingan quickly spun to life.
"I've found the source of the fluctuation," the clone said, its gaze piercing through walls and obstacles, focusing on a specific direction.
It could sense the presence of someone closely related to the Mangekyō Sharingan in its right eye, who was rapidly approaching.
"So, that's the other Mangekyō Sharingan of Shisui?" Gensou quickly deduced.
Although he hadn't anticipated the strong connection between the two Mangekyō Sharingan, he wasn't entirely surprised. After all, when Uchiha Obito's Sharingan evolved into the Mangekyō, Kakashi's Sharingan had evolved in tandem.
"Interesting," Gensou remarked calmly, not about the Mangekyō Sharingan itself, but about the person wielding it.
Judging by their pace, they were clearly tracking him.
This was unexpected.
In that case, it was worth meeting them.
Gensou glanced at the clone, which had reinserted the Mangekyō Sharingan.
The clone then moved, disappearing from the laboratory in an instant.
(End of Chapter)