In an instant, every Hidden Leaf shinobi in the assembly hall was pulled into the crimson world of Takamagahara.
"Has it already begun?"
"Is this really Uchiha Shinji's Takamagahara?!"
"Where are the others?"
Scattered across various stone platforms, the Hidden Leaf shinobi warily surveyed their surroundings, their hearts pounding with trepidation.
At that moment, a phantom of Shinji appeared on each platform, asking what kind of environment and imaginary opponent they desired.
Like the others, Sasuke was drawn into Takamagahara.
But unlike the majority, who were gripped by fear and awe, his emotions were a mix of shock and disbelief!
As someone who also possessed a Mangekyo Sharingan, he thought he could resist Shinji's dojutsu. Yet, to his astonishment, he was pulled into Takamagahara with almost no resistance.
His brows furrowed tightly. "How is this possible?!"
Suddenly, Shinji's phantom appeared before him and said, "Sasuke, here you can choose any environment and imaginary opponent!"
Sasuke temporarily suppressed his doubts. "Any opponent?"
"Yes!"
Shinji nodded lightly.
Sasuke tested the waters. "Then I want to challenge Uchiha Itachi!"
Shinji hesitated for a moment but ultimately agreed. "Alright!"
In an instant, the stone platform transformed into the Uchiha clan grounds on the night of the massacre. Not far from Sasuke, a shadowy figure in ANBU attire appeared.
Sasuke's gaze locked onto it, his heartbeat quickening as the shadow solidified into Uchiha Itachi, clad in ANBU gear.
"I'll kill you!"
As if venting something deep within, Sasuke lunged forward without hesitation!
Karin, too, had entered Takamagahara.
Standing on her stone platform, she felt a flicker of confusion. The platform beneath her feet bore a striking resemblance to the one in the Jikibi Space she had once visited.
However, the Jikibi Space of her leader was gray, adorned with a stone table and chairs, while this place was bathed in crimson, with a massive Sharingan looming in the sky above!
At that moment, Shinji's phantom appeared. "Karin, do you have an imaginary opponent you'd like to face?"
Karin shook her head.
She had no particular obsession with defeating anyone.
Shinji pondered for a moment before saying, "Then I'll assign you an opponent. Also, rest assured, everything here is completely isolated. No one will know what secret techniques you practice here—not even me!"
This wasn't entirely true.
Shinji's goal was to let Karin cut loose in Takamagahara and hone her combat skills. After all, Karin, who had mastered Wood Release, the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, and had once awakened the Rinnegan, often held back in most battles.
Her actual combat experience paled in comparison to her impressive theoretical capabilities—a glaring weakness!
In Takamagahara, Shinji, as the caster, could observe everything. However, with so many shinobi present, he didn't have the energy to monitor every individual, so his words to Karin weren't entirely false.
"I understand!"
Karin let out a quiet sigh of relief. Constantly hiding her strength was no easy task.
Soon, Shinji's phantom vanished, replaced by the figure of an Akatsuki member in a red-cloud cloak and conical hat.
Karin's eyes narrowed. "Hiruko?!"
Undoubtedly, the imaginary opponent Shinji had chosen for her was Hiruko, who possessed five Bloodline Limits. Only an enemy of Hiruko's caliber was worthy of tempering Karin's combat skills. Otherwise, a single Wood Release or Adamantine Sealing Chains would end the fight instantly, rendering the exercise pointless.
Haku gazed around, murmuring, "So this is Takamagahara? I didn't even notice it happening. What an incredible dojutsu!"
As he marveled, he took in his surroundings.
He felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with the stone platform beneath him, though the crimson surroundings made him doubt his instincts.
At that moment, Shinji's phantom appeared. "Haku, what kind of imaginary opponent would you like to face?"
Haku smiled. "I'm not sure."
Shinji thought for a moment before an idea struck him. "Alright, I'll choose one for you!"
With that, his phantom disappeared.
The stone platform transformed into a misty forest, and not far from Haku, a shadowy figure began to take form.
Haku hesitated. "Is that… Ranmaru?!"
Before his eyes, the illusory Ranmaru activated Transparent Release, vanishing from Haku's sight.
"It really is Ranmaru!"
Haku's heart tightened.
Unlike other enemies, Ranmaru not only possessed multiple Bloodline Limits but also wielded the troublesome Transparent Release.
If Haku couldn't see through Ranmaru's Transparent Release, he'd be at a complete disadvantage, taking a one-sided beating.
Even shinobi with dojutsu-based Bloodline Limits might struggle to counter Ranmaru's Transparent Release. So, when Haku realized Shinji had chosen Ranmaru as his opponent, he was caught off guard.
But as someone who had witnessed the destruction of the Demon Slayer world, Haku quickly steadied himself and entered a combat-ready state.
Shinji had his reasons for choosing Ranmaru as Haku's opponent.
Haku had already mastered Ice Release to perfection, but Ice Release, as a Bloodline Limit, had its limits.
For Haku to grow stronger, he needed to explore other paths.
Given Haku's strong compatibility with Breathing Techniques, particularly Water Breathing, there was potential for further development.
Thus, Shinji chose Ranmaru, who wielded Transparent Release, to push Haku toward the ultimate state of Breathing Techniques—Transparent World!
If Haku could reach the Transparent World, Ranmaru's Transparent Release would be powerless against him, the Transparent Swordsman.
Shion sat on her stone platform, propping her chin with her hand, muttering, "What's Shinji thinking, dragging me into this?"
In truth, Shion, pulled into Takamagahara by Shinji, hadn't been entirely defenseless.
As the current priestess of the Land of Demons, she was the only one among the thousand shinobi in the hall capable of resisting Shinji's dojutsu.
But out of curiosity and trust in Shinji, she hadn't resisted fiercely.
At that moment, Shinji's phantom appeared. "You're completely safe here, so you can try facing Moryo directly!"
"What?!"
Shion jumped to her feet in alarm.
Shinji spoke softly. "You'll have to face it eventually. You can't escape it!"
Shion lowered her head, silent.
Shinji smiled. "I won't force you. Whenever you're ready, just call for me. I'll always be here!"