Just as Uchiha Mikoto stepped inside, Hyuga Mirai had finished putting away Uchiha Fugaku's body. He had almost fully deciphered the secrets of the Uchiha clan's Mangekyō Sharingan. The only thing left was understanding the ability specific to Fugaku's pair.
The so-called "Eye Reflecting the Heart" is a power that manifests in the eyes as a reflection of the chakra derived from the divine tree genes passed down in the Uchiha lineage, activated under emotional stress. This Yin-based chakra has the trait of "shaping all forms," and as the clan members evolve their eyes into Mangekyō, the power they most yearn for deep within awakens as their personal dōjutsu.
"Lady Mikoto, that's how it works. Transplanting Fugaku-san's eyes is one way, but I hope you'll consider another. According to my hypothesis, we might awaken your own Mangekyō through surgery. The success rate should be fairly high."
Hyuga Mirai explained the origin of the Mangekyō Sharingan in simple terms. The brain's emotional chemicals aren't impossible to replicate.
Theoretically, if an Uchiha's divine tree genes meet the threshold for awakening Mangekyō, and those genes are activated, anyone from the clan could unlock it.
Mikoto only understood part of it. She showed a hesitant expression. "Hyuga-kun, what if your method doesn't work...?"
"Then I'll return Fugaku-san's eyes to you ahead of time. The Mangekyō is powerful, but it's not irreplaceable. Besides, someone else's Mangekyō is never as compatible as your own."
With that, Hyuga Mirai took out Fugaku's eyes and placed them in front of Mikoto.
Gazing at the Mangekyō, Mikoto hesitated for a moment before making her decision.
"Please take care of it, Hyuga-kun."
Hyuga Mirai smiled lightly. "It's no trouble. Actually, I have a favor to ask you later too—but we'll talk after the surgery. Lie down here first; I'll get ready."
The surgical bed was already prepared. Mikoto's heart tensed—she hadn't expected the procedure to begin so soon. Still, since she had asked for it, she had no reason to complain.
As she lay down, her elegant eyes flickered. Her voice trembled slightly. "Hyuga-kun… why are you doing this?"
Her hands and feet had been locked into the restraints.
"This is necessary. During the operation, you'll experience an illusion-like sensation. If you move, things could go very wrong."
Hyuga Mirai explained calmly. He then took out the material sent by No. 18 to induce Mangekyō awakening. The emotion-triggering compound had been easy to extract, and within a day of discovering it, No. 18 had delivered three milligrams to him.
Enough to awaken ten Mangekyō Sharingan from three-tomoe eyes.
"Alright, let's begin, Lady Mikoto."
With those words, Hyuga Mirai pressed gently against Mikoto's neck. Before she could react, she fell unconscious.
Even though he had thoroughly studied Fugaku's body, twins aren't exactly alike—let alone a woman like Mikoto. Hyuga Mirai re-examined her brain and extracted her gene segments. After careful comparison, he determined the correct dosage.
This process took three hours. Once the compound was injected into Mikoto's brain to stimulate her divine tree genes, he used medical ninjutsu to slowly wake her.
"She'll wake in about three minutes. That's about how long the gene activation takes too. Then just a little external stimulus should do the trick."
He checked the clock. Though confident, he knew people varied greatly. If Mikoto was just innately untalented, there wasn't much he could do.
Minute by minute passed.
"Mmm..."
Mikoto murmured softly as she began to stir. Hyuga Mirai immediately cast a genjutsu.
"Technique of Naraku Vision."
The illusion succeeded. Mikoto slowly opened her eyes—now clearly showing the three-tomoe Sharingan. The tomoe spun rapidly, already beginning to connect into a pattern.
Suddenly, Mikoto noticed something was off. The scene around her was unfamiliar—and her son, Itachi, who should be dead, stood before her.
"Itachi? How can you…"
With a calm expression, Itachi said, "Mother, why didn't you save me? If it weren't for you and Father's incompetence, I wouldn't have died."
"No, your father..."
Mikoto began to speak, but Itachi interrupted coldly, "It's all his fault the Uchiha fell this far."
"I won't let Sasuke stay with such weak parents. I'm taking him with me."
As he spoke, Itachi grabbed Sasuke by the neck and lifted him off the ground. Sasuke gasped, struggling to breathe, as Itachi began to walk away.
"Wait! Itachi! Give Sasuke back!"
At that moment, the tomoe in Mikoto's eyes spun wildly and quickly formed a unique pattern.
The Mangekyō Sharingan awakened. With it, she immediately dispelled the Naraku Vision. The illusions of Itachi and Sasuke vanished, and the world shifted back to the scene right before she lost consciousness—Hyuga Mirai standing by her side.
Her brain had been overwhelmed with emotion, so the three-tomoe couldn't pierce the illusion. But once the Mangekyō awakened, Hyuga Mirai promptly ended the genjutsu.
"Calm down, Lady Mikoto. That was a genjutsu. The surgery was a success."
Hyuga Mirai reassured her gently. He narrowed his eyes, observing Mikoto's Mangekyō pattern—it was entirely different from Fugaku's. He wasn't yet sure what its abilities were.
"I have the Mangekyō Sharingan now\...?"
Mikoto murmured. She couldn't see her eyes, but she could feel the overwhelming clarity and power in them. Two new dōjutsu had awakened within her.
Ōyamatsumi.
Tamayorihime.
Upon unlocking her Mangekyō, Mikoto instinctively knew the names and functions of her new powers.
"It really is the Mangekyō... Thank you, Hyuga-kun."
"Please, call me Mirai. And you'll be helping me more from now on—let's get you off the table. It's not the best place for gratitude."
He released the restraints.
Mikoto blushed slightly. She had sweated a lot during the procedure, and now felt uneasy being so disheveled before a young man like Hyuga Mirai.
As a traditional Yamato Nadeshiko, Mikoto still struggled with dignity—even more so after awakening such powerful eyes.
Once she was composed again, Mirai said, "Lady Mikoto, let's go test your abilities outside."
She nodded softly. "Yes, Mirai-kun."
When Ayaka Uzumaki and Kushina Uzumaki heard Mikoto was going to test her Mangekyō, they curiously followed along. The group arrived at a quiet location outside the Federation for testing.
The results surprised even Hyuga Mirai.
The Eye Reflecting the Heart was truly monstrous. Mikoto's two dōjutsu were immensely powerful. Her left eye's "Tamayorihime" could create a formidable barrier wherever she looked. Even Ayaka's strongest Adamantine Sealing Chains couldn't break it in one strike—it took three before Mikoto's eye began bleeding.
Her right eye's "Ōyamatsumi" could forcibly teleport anything within her line of sight to her immediate front.
A pseudo version of Amenotejikara. If an enemy tried to flee, as long as they stayed in her field of vision, she could drag them right back.
According to Mikoto, the vision of Sasuke being taken from her sparked the desire to bring him back immediately—thus awakening this ability.
She also had access to Susanoo, but since it consumed too much chakra, Mirai didn't let her test it yet.
"Amazing. With these two dōjutsu, Lady Mikoto will be an irreplaceable asset to the Sand Federation. If you continue supporting the Uchiha, even the clan's attitude toward you and Sasuke will change."
Hearing this, Mikoto's heart swelled with joy. She bowed deeply. "It's all thanks to you, Mirai-kun. Without your help, I couldn't have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Mirai smiled. "We both benefit. Besides, I may need your help later."
The stronger the Uchiha became, the more useful they were to him. Unlike that fool Hiruzen Sarutobi, who drove such a promising clan into rebellion.
If Mikoto and Uchiha Tekka joined forces, even Ayaka Uzumaki would have trouble keeping up—unless Mirai used his most devastating Rinnegan techniques.
He had already stored the divine tree genes from both Mikoto and Fugaku. With enough cultivation and research, he could likely produce more Mangekyō.
Thinking that, Hyuga Mirai couldn't help but marvel—
The Uchiha truly are a treasure trove of genetics.
One more chapter coming before midnight!
(End of Chapter)