After the transplant was complete, Akira took a brief moment to sense the new eye. Then, he controlled his left eye, changing the scarlet Sharingan back to a regular black pupil. Now wasn't the time to explore the powers of this Mangekyo Sharingan, though he could already feel the subtle changes that came with it.
As an Uchiha, he could control the transplanted eye with ease. Unlike Kakashi, who couldn't deactivate his Sharingan, Akira could turn it on and off effortlessly.
Instead of leaving the battlefield right away, Akira began examining the area. All traces of Wood Release were gone—likely erased by Obito to hide his abilities. Furthermore, Akira found no sign of Rin's body, suggesting that Obito had taken her away.
"What's this?" Akira's gaze sharpened as he noticed a strange, white, viscous substance at the forest's edge. He recalled a scene from the story, a moment when Obito, witnessing Rin impale herself on Kakashi's Raikiri, unlocked his Mangekyo and lost control. Back then, white matter had burst from his body.
"Could this be… cells from Hashirama Senju?" he wondered. Akira immediately pulled out a clear container and collected some of the white substance splattered on the ground and tree trunks.
After gathering enough, he left the scene. A few minutes' delay, and Konoha's reinforcements would soon arrive.
That night, Akira returned to Konoha's camp and went directly to Uchiha Fugaku, who seemed surprised at his quick return.
"Back so soon?" Fugaku asked seriously, his gaze fixed on Akira. "Did you find anything?"
Akira nodded solemnly. "Kirigakure's entire pursuit squad—over a hundred shinobi—were all killed, and in a brutal fashion."
"What?" Fugaku's composed expression broke, his disbelief evident as he pressed for more details. "Over a hundred Kirigakure shinobi, at least Chunin-level, dead? Could Kakashi possibly be strong enough to do this, even at his age?"
"No, it wasn't him," Akira replied, shaking his head. "When I arrived, Kakashi was already unconscious. Someone else killed those Anbu."
Fugaku's expression darkened as he murmured, "Few have the power to accomplish something like that. This is enough to shift the tide of an entire war." After a moment's thought, he looked back at Akira. "Does Kakashi still have his Sharingan?"
"Yes, he does," Akira confirmed.
"Then, who could it be? There shouldn't be an unknown master of this level…" Fugaku sank into deep thought.
At that moment, Akira hesitated before saying, "Clan Leader, I also found something else, though I can't be entirely certain."
Fugaku's gaze sharpened. "What did you find?"
"I think they're cells from the First Hokage, Lord Hashirama." As he spoke, Akira held up a bottle containing the white substance.
Without a word, Fugaku's Sharingan activated, and he stared intensely at the bottle. His eyes widened with shock as he muttered,
"It really does look like Lord Hashirama's cells. This chakra is so rich in life force—it's unmistakable."
Akira had already suspected this on the way back, which was why he'd brought the sample. Researching Hashirama's cells required far more resources than a single person could provide. But with the vast wealth and connections of the Uchiha clan, they had the means to make progress.
"So… it might have been a powerful shinobi with Wood Release who slaughtered the Kirigakure Anbu," Fugaku muttered, his expression darkening. "And Kakashi was left unharmed. Could this Wood Release user be a hidden asset of Konoha?"
Akira held back a smirk. Fugaku, after considering all possibilities, finally laid the blame on Konoha's higher-ups. This might actually work in his favor, as Fugaku's suspicion would make it easier to push his plans forward.
"Unbelievable," Fugaku sighed. "The higher-ups have secretly reintroduced Hashirama's bloodline limit…"
The weight of the situation seemed to press down on him, making his shoulders sag slightly.
After a moment, Akira spoke up, "Clan Leader, maybe it's time the Uchiha made some changes. Even with the power of the Nine-Tails, Madara Uchiha couldn't defeat the First Hokage. Perhaps we need to consider other ways to gain comparable strength."
Fugaku was silent for a long time before he replied, "Akira, mastering the First Hokage's power is no small feat. Konoha conducted experiments long ago, but none succeeded. Those experiments hastened the downfall of the Senju clan."
The Senju were now virtually extinct, and much of that decline could be attributed to the failed Wood Release experiments of the past.
"But now, Konoha has succeeded, haven't they?" Akira's tone was resolute. "Even with the Mangekyo Sharingan, it's hard to counter Wood Release. Madara proved that long ago. We need a power equal to theirs if we want to hold our own."
Fugaku took a deep breath, looking intently at Akira. "Akira, this matter requires careful consideration. Keep those cells safe, and we'll discuss this after the war."
"I understand," Akira nodded. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
"Wait." Fugaku raised a hand. "Be ready to move out at any time."
"Has something happened?" Akira asked, puzzled.
Fugaku allowed a small smile. "The Hyuga Main House has reported that one of their members went missing during a patrol. Traces of Kirigakure shinobi were found, and one of the Hyuga's Byakugan has been taken."
Ever since the Senju's decline, the only real rivalry left in Konoha was between the Hyuga and Uchiha clans. Seeing his rivals suffering a setback put Fugaku in a rather good mood.
"A lost Byakugan?" Akira was taken aback, recalling an event from the Third Shinobi World War when the Hyuga clan did, in fact, lose a Byakugan to Kirigakure's Jonin, Ao.
"Stay prepared for your mission." Fugaku's voice was firm.
"I understand," Akira nodded.
In the deep, silent woods, Akira held a polished kunai, its smooth surface reflecting the unique Sharingan in his eyes. His right eye had the standard three-tomoe pattern, while the left eye was markedly different, with three curved blades linked together in a distinct Mangekyo pattern.
As a member of the Uchiha, Akira felt no strain in using the transplanted eye.
"No problem at all," he murmured, feeling the difference. "My chakra is more refined, and my perception has greatly improved. The Mangekyo's vision surpasses that of my right eye even in its normal state."
Satisfied with the new power, Akira gave a slow nod.
Fugaku's concerns proved justified. Only an hour after Akira returned to camp, he received a mission: eliminate the Kirigakure shinobi who had infiltrated the Land of Fire to steal the Byakugan, and prevent it from falling into enemy hands.
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