Tobirama and Izuna.
Obito and Shisui, along with Yashiro, who had recently joined the new Root...
A total of five Uchiha had served as the Hokage's loyal sparring partners over the past several months.
To solve the problem of Spirit Release's limited range, Hiruzen had devoted himself to studying alongside the Uchiha.
Among all the invisible, instant-cast ninjutsu in the shinobi world, the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan genjutsu was the most famous.
Whether through direct eye contact or by injecting dōjutsu chakra into the target's body, it could take effect without hand seals, and its effective range was nearly identical to the user's line of sight.
That method of releasing dōjutsu...
Was exactly the effect Hiruzen wanted.
So the Hokage intended to imitate the "line-of-sight focusing" method of ocular powers, condensing chakra through the air to destroy the "core" of an enemy's technique and create a unique ocular technique of his own...
That way, he would no longer need to wait until close range before using manifested chakra to break apart an opponent's jutsu.
And naturally, the best way to learn...
Was to experience it firsthand.
So, after several months of improving his talent in Fūinjutsu and Water Release—
Once the Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration Seal had been fitted with the Fire Sealing Formula, and he had also completed the initial stage of tempering his body with the Water Sealing Formula...
The next module Hiruzen chose to install was...
The Evil Sealing Formula!
The Evil Sealing Formula specialized in dealing with spiritual energy, including Yin Release chakra.
"What an exquisite genjutsu..."
"Yashiro's Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique combines Yin Release chakra with dōjutsu power, making the victim feel as though countless massive iron spikes have been driven through their body. It's an incredibly powerful technique!"
Hiruzen spared no praise as he lavishly complimented Yashiro.
Obito and Shisui's eyebrows twitched repeatedly.
Through their Sharingan, the two boys were witnessing an extremely bizarre scene...
Under the influence of Yashiro's ocular power, several enormous triangular iron stakes had been firmly driven into Hiruzen's body...
Yet in the very next instant, those rough, bloodstained, rust-covered instruments of torture melted away as though they had sunk into the sea.
The melted substance became a creamy, foamy paste that flowed directly into Hiruzen's body.
"Hokage-sama... are you serious?"
Yashiro finally couldn't hold it in anymore.
"I just can't shake the feeling that you... you don't seem to be affected at all..."
"People have to keep improving."
Hiruzen chuckled.
"I've spent so much time training with all of you. I may be slow, but I've still managed to make some progress through our sparring."
"I've also come to appreciate just how remarkable and superior the Sharingan truly is."
Yashiro took a deep breath.
Yet after sparring with Hiruzen over these past few months...
His conclusion was the exact opposite of what Hiruzen had just said.
He had realized that, while the Sharingan was undeniably powerful, a mere three-tomoe Sharingan was simply another strong technique when facing the top-tier shinobi of the world.
It wasn't decisive.
Especially not against the Hokage.
Yashiro could clearly feel that every time they sparred, Hiruzen's resistance to genjutsu visibly improved.
"Hokage-sama... you're incredible!"
Obito looked at Hiruzen with sparkling eyes like an adoring fan.
"I want to become someone as strong as you someday! I'll keep training and use my strength to protect the village!"
The reason Obito and Shisui had been allowed to participate was because of Tobirama.
Hiruzen's real objective had been to consult with Tobirama.
His former teacher was no longer just the Senju Clan's greatest inventor of ninjutsu. From being the person who understood the Uchiha better than anyone else, he had now become someone who actually possessed a Sharingan of his own.
If anyone was best suited to dissect the operating principles behind dōjutsu power...
It was Senju Tobirama.
However, Tobirama's current body had yet to mature, while Izuna, despite possessing the Mangekyō Sharingan, was still limited by the condition of that body.
So Obito and Shisui had been brought in as well.
The two of them were now Tobirama's younger brothers.
Both admired Hiruzen with almost fanatical devotion, and both possessed excellent talent.
Shisui was also descended from Uchiha Kagami, so training alongside Hiruzen served as the Hokage's official recognition of him—a form of special favor.
That was one of the greatest advantages of being Hokage...
Even though they were simply helping Hiruzen train, being allowed to participate had itself become an honor.
After all, whenever Obito and Shisui returned to the Ninja Academy and mentioned that they had trained alongside Lord Hokage, all their classmates would immediately crowd around them, chattering excitedly as they begged to hear stories.
Even Kakashi, the normally aloof little prodigy, couldn't help quietly edging closer and pricking up his ears to listen.
"Kid, you're already doing exceptionally well."
"There's no need to rush. I can still shelter all of you for a while longer. But the day will come when you'll have to step forward and protect Konohagakure."
Hiruzen laughed heartily as he ruffled Obito's spiky hair.
He genuinely liked the kid.
After all...
Who wouldn't like an enthusiastic puppy?
Every time Obito saw him, his Sharingan practically turned into starry eyes as he stared at Hiruzen with unrestrained admiration.
There wasn't a trace of pretense in the boy's sincere hero worship.
Standing nearby, Shisui watched Obito enviously.
Maybe he had been too reserved after all.
"You're doing well too, Shisui."
Hiruzen rested a hand on each of their heads.
"You've inherited both the talent and the will of Kagami. Someday, you and Obito will carry the Uchiha Clan on your shoulders. I have great expectations for both of you."
As for Tobirama...
Hiruzen didn't dare pat him on the head.
He was afraid his teacher might lose his temper.
Obito and Shisui both narrowed their eyes in contented smiles, looking completely satisfied.
The corner of Tobirama's mouth twitched ever so slightly.
So this was another way a Hokage could win over the Uchiha?
Using the position of Hokage itself as a genjutsu, huh?
"Seisui, help me refine this simulated ocular technique a little more."
Hiruzen looked toward Tobirama.
Tobirama nodded.
He knew Hiruzen was speaking to Izuna as well, who resided within his body.
However, the fact that Izuna was inside him still wasn't something Obito and Shisui could be allowed to know.
Only Mito, Isshin, and a handful of others were aware of it.
As far as Konohagakure was concerned, both Izuna and Madara still occupied an ambiguous position.
Until some decisive event occurred...
Even Hiruzen had no intention of forcing the issue.
In truth...
This was also a test for the Uchiha.
As long as they sincerely worked for the village, Hiruzen would naturally help restore their reputation.
"Izuna," Tobirama said quietly.
Izuna nodded, projecting the power of his Mangekyō into Tobirama's eyes. Two pairs of Sharingan fixed their gaze on Hiruzen, waiting for his next move.
Hiruzen carefully sensed the chakra flowing within his body.
The Evil Sealing Formula inside him had stored a considerable amount of Uchiha ocular power.
But that reserve was ultimately limited. He couldn't rely on borrowed dōjutsu power every time he wanted to activate long-range Spirit Release.
Otherwise, he would essentially be using the Uchiha Clan as a blood bank, and he would grow dependent on it.
What he wanted...
Was to first imitate the way ocular power was released, then eventually make the method entirely his own.
The dōjutsu power slowly flowed into Hiruzen's eyes.
At that moment, they turned a vivid crimson—an even deeper red than Obito's or Shisui's—though they lacked the black tomoe of the Sharingan.
Obito, Shisui, and Yashiro were dumbfounded.
Wait...
Had Hokage-sama become an Uchiha?
Even Tobirama and Izuna froze in surprise.
That was unmistakably Uchiha ocular power!
"Follow the way ocular power focuses... then gradually replace it with other forms of chakra..."
Drawing upon the ocular power stored within the Evil Sealing Formula, Hiruzen signaled for Yashiro to cooperate.
Yashiro finally snapped out of his daze.
"I'm ready, Hokage-sama!"
The three tomoe in Yashiro's eyes began spinning.
The two streams of ocular power collided!
To Hiruzen's Spirit Release, ocular power was like the training wheels on a bicycle.
Once he learned how to keep his balance...
The training wheels could come off.
Hiruzen slowly activated Spirit Release, carefully replacing the ocular power within it with his own chakra.
Yashiro gradually began to lose ground.
To his astonishment, he realized...
His Sharingan's ocular power couldn't overpower Hiruzen's.
But that was hardly surprising.
Hiruzen hadn't absorbed only Yashiro's ocular power.
He also possessed Obito's, Shisui's, Tobirama's, and Izuna's—a total of four additional sources.
"We're joining in!" Tobirama called out in a deep voice.
"Got it!" Izuna answered solemnly.
As Tobirama's and Izuna's ocular power entered the clash, the pressure on Yashiro eased considerably.
And that was precisely the environment Hiruzen wanted—
A stable equilibrium in which he could gradually replace ocular power altogether.
At that moment...
The crimson faded from Hiruzen's eyes.
In its place appeared a serene blue-white glow.
The blue-white light slowly expanded until it completely filled his eyes, radiating outward from the depths of his pupils to cover his entire irises.
Hiruzen parted his lips slightly.
The same blue-white radiance silently filled his mouth, yet none of it escaped.
It was as though that strange power had gathered throughout his entire body.
Obito and Shisui instinctively exchanged glances.
The two boys stood there completely stunned.
Seeing Hokage-sama produce something resembling Sharingan ocular power had already surpassed everything they thought possible...
So what kind of technique was this now?
Judging by the color alone, it reminded them of the Byakugan.
Yet Hiruzen's presence was cold and ethereal.
There were no bulging veins on his temples like when the Byakugan was activated.
Not even the slightest trace of emotion remained.
Simply looking at him made Obito and Shisui feel as though their own chakra had stagnated.
The crimson in their Sharingan faded on its own, leaving nothing but reverence in their eyes.
'It worked...'
A thought flashed through Hiruzen's mind.
His gaze focused on the point where his power intersected with Yashiro's, Izuna's, and Tobirama's ocular power.
Spirit Release erupted silently, using the same activation principle as an ocular technique!
In that instant...
The "core" supporting the technique formed by Yashiro's and Tobirama's ocular power was pierced apart in a heartbeat, collapsing into wave after wave of attribute-less chakra turbulence!
Only Izuna's Mangekyō ocular power remained standing.
Even so, more than half of it had been dissolved, its quality seemingly reduced from Mangekyō level to that of an ordinary three-tomoe Sharingan.
Hiruzen looked at Tobirama.
His eyes seemed to pierce through Tobirama's body, seeing Izuna within.
He nodded toward Izuna and said softly, "Thank you."
Still overwhelmed with shock, Izuna withdrew his Mangekyō's power and let out a slow breath.
Spirit Release's bizarre properties reminded him of many heaven-defying Mangekyō abilities described in the Uchiha Clan's ancient records.
Its effects were in no way inferior.
In fact...
To Izuna, Hiruzen's Spirit Release was the natural enemy of Mangekyō techniques.
The true strength of Mangekyō abilities lay in the fact that they reflected the hearts of their owners.
Their powers were endlessly varied, making them almost impossible for an enemy to analyze before seeing them multiple times.
That was why they so often achieved a devastating first encounter kill, giving Mangekyō users an overwhelming intelligence advantage and allowing them to seize the initiative with ease.
"But Hiruzen's Spirit Release can dismantle ninjutsu—even ocular techniques. It may not completely nullify them, but it destroys their structure and drastically reduces their power..."
Izuna muttered to himself.
"I never imagined that someone without Uchiha blood..."
"...could forcefully create his own 'Mangekyō Sharingan' through talent alone."
"Truly unbelievable."
"To achieve something like this, it has to be a forbidden technique among forbidden techniques. The strain on the body and the demands placed on the technique itself must be extraordinary."
"As expected of Senju Tobirama's disciple!" Izuna exclaimed in admiration.
The corner of Tobirama's mouth twitched.
So anything involving forbidden techniques automatically got blamed on him?
He had never taught Hiruzen anything remotely like this!
Not only had he never taught it...
He had never even conceived of something like Spirit Release—a technique designed to dismantle every ninjutsu in existence.
Was Hiruzen really that extreme when it came to designing ninjutsu?
And somehow...
He had actually succeeded.
"Thank you all for helping me with my training."
Hiruzen rose with a broad smile.
The advancement of Spirit Release had clearly put him in an excellent mood.
"If you ever run into something you don't understand during your training, don't hesitate to ask me."
"We improve by helping one another."
"And I'm not saying that as the Hokage."
"I'm saying it simply as a slightly older shinobi of Konohagakure."
Obito and Shisui responded with obvious excitement.
"Really, Hokage-sama?!"
"Of course."
Hiruzen smiled and nodded.
He had come to realize something.
Whether it was Tobirama's teaching or simply their natural talent...
Obito and Shisui were both exceptionally gifted.
They learned ninjutsu and combat techniques remarkably quickly.
Obito, in particular, wasn't among the Academy's top students.
But whenever Hiruzen personally taught him something, his enthusiasm took over.
Driven by genuine interest, he would stop at nothing until he had completely mastered it.
Hiruzen's evaluation of Obito was simple:
A shinobi full of surprises...
With tremendous potential.
Even so...
Hiruzen still felt his hands itching a little.
He desperately wanted to find someone he could fight all out against...
Someone he could use to thoroughly test the strengths and weaknesses of Spirit Release.
Unfortunately, none of the Uchiha standing before him were suitable opponents.
Obito and Shisui went without saying—they were still kids. They needed encouragement and protection first and foremost.
Yashiro was old enough, but his strength simply wasn't up to the task.
As for Tobirama...
Hiruzen genuinely wanted to cross hands with his teacher.
But even though "Seisui's" age was unknown and his build looked nearly adult, he was, officially speaking, nothing more than a recent Ninja Academy graduate.
Without a convincing reason, Hiruzen was certain Tobirama would think he was deliberately looking for an excuse to beat him up.
Fortunately...
Hiruzen had already thought of a solution.
Thanks to his status as Danzō's disciple, Tobirama now had access to a fair amount of resources, allowing him to turn his research ability into tangible contributions for Konohagakure.
But it still wasn't enough.
He still had to go through countless approval procedures.
That was the double-edged sword of bureaucracy.
If they truly wanted to unleash Tobirama's research capabilities—and out of basic respect for him—they needed to at least give him the title of a Konoha Council Member.
Isshin had wanted to do exactly that for quite some time.
He had hinted to Hiruzen on multiple occasions that he wished to step down voluntarily.
But they couldn't rush matters.
"Seisui's" promotion speed was already absurd enough.
In just a few months, he had gone from genin to jōnin with virtually every door opened for him.
If he were promoted again without a proper reason, the other shinobi would probably start thinking, "Has Konoha become some kind of daimyo court? Is everything decided through favoritism now?"
So Hiruzen decided to wait for the right opportunity.
He would have Tobirama and Minato—the twin rising stars of the new generation—advance through the path of strength.
As Hokage, he would personally conduct a public examination.
After all...
A position earned through battle was always the most convincing.
And it would also give Hiruzen the chance to experience firsthand the pressure of facing Double Flying Thunder God without having to hold back.
"Hokage-sama, Council Member Jiraiya has returned to the village."
An ANBU silently appeared behind Hiruzen to deliver the report.
Hiruzen's eyes lit up.
"I understand."
Speak of the devil...
His punching bag had just arrived.
This wasn't Hiruzen bullying his disciple.
Jiraiya had been hyping himself up for this and repeatedly asking for it.
...
After Hiruzen left...
Tobirama and Izuna began analyzing Spirit Release.
Several months earlier, both of them had already noticed just how bizarre it was.
After all, judging purely by their outward effects, Madara's Blocking Technique Absorption Seal and Hiruzen's Spirit Release were equally mysterious and difficult to comprehend.
At the time, however, Izuna and Tobirama had been far more interested in debating whether Madara's true identity was actually some mysterious white-haired man.
The two of them had argued for days before finally setting the matter aside.
"Seisui, you've read more historical records than I have. Any ideas?"
Izuna pondered aloud.
"I have this nagging feeling that Hiruzen's original ninjutsu seems familiar..."
"But I just can't remember where I've seen something like it."
Over the past few months, the more Izuna observed Seisui's methods of research, the more convinced he became that the boy had perfectly inherited Tobirama's talent in that field.
He read an enormous number of books, using the authorization slips Danzō approved to absorb knowledge from every kind of ancient text like a sponge.
When it came time to experiment, he possessed incredible drive.
And no matter how many times he failed, he never became discouraged.
He looked every bit like an old-school researcher.
Because of that, whenever it came to developing or analyzing ninjutsu, Izuna no longer regarded Seisui as a junior.
He treated him as an equal.
"I actually had a theory before..."
"But now..."
"I'm basically certain."
"It's most likely the forbidden technique once mentioned in the Uzumaki Clan's archives..."
"The Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration Seal developed by Uzumaki Ashina."
Tobirama spoke slowly.
Even he had never expected that one day...
Hiruzen would actually attempt to master that madman's technique using his own body.
Naturally, Tobirama had read the technique before.
He and Hashirama had even spent a long time trying to persuade Ashina against it.
A technique that existed only as a theoretical fantasy with no realistic chance of success...
Would do nothing except stir up people's greed and invite disaster.
It had been nothing more than wishful thinking.
"Uzumaki Ashina?!"
Izuna's expression darkened.
He had always hated running into that man during the Warring States Era.
Ashina's mastery of the Fire Sealing Formula and the Evil Sealing Formula meant that both Fire Release and the Sharingan became ineffective against him.
Combined with Adamantine Sealing Chains and the Mind's Eye of the Kagura, even close-quarters combat posed almost no threat.
To make matters worse...
The bastard possessed natural regenerative abilities.
They weren't as outrageous as Hashirama's...
But they were more than sufficient.
His only real weakness was a lack of offensive power.
Defensively...
He was practically maxed out.
Together with several other elite Uzumaki, they had formed defensive formations during the Warring States Era that were as impregnable as an iron fortress.
"Hiruzen actually learned his forbidden technique? No..."
"He perfected a failed technique?"
Izuna rubbed his temples.
"As expected."
"Any student raised by Senju Tobirama—even Hiruzen—can't help inheriting some of his obsession with forbidden techniques."
"Fortunately, Hiruzen's talent is extraordinary."
"Otherwise Tobirama would have ruined one of his own students."
"A failed technique like that is far too dangerous. If something went wrong during training, the consequences would be disastrous."
The Uchiha had been fortunate that someone like Hiruzen became Hokage.
If someone like Danzō—a disciple who was practically Tobirama Lite—had taken power instead...
The Uchiha Clan would have suffered immensely.
"If you ask me, it's all Tobirama's fault for not being skilled enough."
"If he hadn't been ambushed by Kumogakure using the Sage of Six Paths' ninja tools, how could Hiruzen possibly have developed such extreme ideas?"
Izuna complained before abruptly changing the subject.
"...No, wait."
"That bastard might not even be dead."
"Maybe this whole thing was part of his plan all along."
"I still think my theory is right."
Tobirama's face darkened.
Are you seriously not done with this yet?
How could that mysterious expert possibly have been him?
"Oh, that's rich coming from you."
"Weren't you the one who got taken down by Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Slash back then?"
"You talk like you spent your whole life being perfectly cautious."
"Just because a few history books praised you as the 'perfect shinobi' doesn't mean it was true."
"And then you even dug out your own Mangekyō and handed it over to the Great Clan Head, insisting on taking the road to certain death."
"If you'd agreed to make peace with the Senju back then, not only would you still be alive, but with you watching over the Great Clan Head, none of what happened afterward would have happened."
Tobirama couldn't resist mocking him.
"Sure, Tobirama had his share of problems..."
"But setting him aside for a second..."
"Were you really any better?"
"Half of the Uchiha Clan's problems are your fault too!"
Just to get in a few good shots at Izuna...
Tobirama ended up dragging himself into the crossfire as well.
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