As his own strength grew, Shinji's understanding of Shion's priestess powers deepened and became more comprehensive.
In the shinobi world, chakra was essentially everything.
Shinobi trained tirelessly, day and night, in a process of refining their bodies and mastering their chakra.
However, the level of a shinobi's chakra was almost predetermined at birth.
Unless one practiced certain unique techniques or mastered Sage Mode to absorb natural energy, it was nearly impossible for a shinobi to surpass their innate chakra limits.
This was why being a shinobi was a profession heavily reliant on natural talent.
Those who could defy their fate were always a rare few!
Yet Shion was different from ordinary shinobi. Her priestess heritage destined her chakra to be on the level of a Tailed Beast—stronger, even, than most.
Her extraordinarily high starting point gave her a ceiling far beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Just as the fusion of the nine Tailed Beasts could revive the Ten-Tails, surpassing their individual levels, the fusion of a priestess's light and dark sides could create a formidable entity nearing the Six Paths level.
Thus, Shion didn't need to train in a plethora of miscellaneous ninjutsu. All she needed was to conquer her dark side, the demon Moryo, to ascend to a near-Six Paths level and become a powerhouse capable of influencing the entire shinobi world.
It was precisely because he understood this that Shinji hadn't arranged any special training for Shion in recent days.
As a priestess, what Shion truly needed was the courage to face her dark side, the acceptance of her imperfect self, and the determination to overcome challenges!
…
After assigning imaginary opponents to all the Hidden Leaf shinobi who had entered Takamagahara, Shinji returned to the center of Takamagahara—a stone platform adorned with a stone table and chairs.
Mumei, who had also entered Takamagahara, was present on this platform.
Shinji asked her, "How's the marking going?"
Mumei replied, "Don't worry, I've already marked every Hidden Leaf shinobi who entered Takamagahara!"
Since they were already within the Mangekyo dojutsu, even if the shinobi noticed something when marked with Yachihoko, they would assume it was part of entering Takamagahara and harbor no other suspicions.
Shinji asked further, "How many in total?"
Mumei answered promptly, "Nine hundred twenty-three!"
"Less than a thousand, huh," Shinji murmured.
This was close to his expectations.
As the foremost of the five great shinobi villages, Hidden Leaf could mobilize tens of thousands of shinobi in a full-scale effort. However, during peacetime, many were stationed at key fortresses across the Land of Fire, not concentrated in the village.
Moreover, with the village currently on high alert, patrols were needed on the outskirts, and defenses had to be maintained. It was impossible for the higher-ups to allow all shinobi to enter Takamagahara at once. Gathering over nine hundred was already the limit.
The rest would have to enter Takamagahara for training in rotations.
Snapping back to the moment, Shinji asked Mumei, "Was marking so many targets at once taxing?"
Mumei shook her head. "Not at all. I feel that after awakening the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, my dojutsu power is strong enough to mark tens of thousands of targets!"
Shinji cautioned, "If it starts to feel taxing, let me know immediately!"
"Got it!" Mumei nodded.
Shinji grinned. "Since we're just standing around, want to train against an imaginary opponent too?"
Mumei thought for a moment and said, "Sure!"
Shinji transported her to a new stone platform and snapped his fingers.
Snap
Instantly, a shadowy figure before Mumei solidified into a young man wielding a short blade.
"You are…?" Mumei asked, puzzled, as she didn't recognize him.
The young man formed the Seal of Confrontation toward Mumei and said, "I am Uchiha Shisui. Please, let's spar!"
After arranging an opponent for Mumei, Shinji didn't idle either. He moved to another stone platform and conjured an imaginary opponent—a drunken Rock Lee.
After sparring for a bit, he paused, thinking, Lee's speed and power are still lacking. Why not enhance him with Eight Gates? Let's try opening up to the sixth gate, Gate of View!
In an instant, the drunken Rock Lee before him was imbued with the power of the Eight Gates opened to the sixth Gate of View, his aura shifting dramatically!
Heh, now this is interesting!
Shinji smirked and charged forward.
…
Outside the grand assembly hall.
On the rooftop of a tall building, Darui from Hidden Cloud, Ringo Ameyuri from Hidden Mist, Kurotsuchi from Hidden Rock, and Ryuzetsu and Chino from the Grass shinobi stood in a line, gazing toward the assembly hall.
The Hidden Leaf's sudden public reveal of Shinji's Mangekyo dojutsu, Takamagahara, shocked not only the Hidden Leaf shinobi but also those from other villages!
Darui shook his head. "I never expected Uchiha Shinji to awaken a Mangekyo Sharingan too. The Uchiha clan truly produces talent after talent!"
Counting the Mangekyo Uchiha active in the Akatsuki, the number of Mangekyo Uchiha in the shinobi world was staggering.
Ringo Ameyuri remarked, "I never imagined a Mangekyo Sharingan could awaken a dojutsu like this. It's unbelievable!"
Kurotsuchi sighed regretfully, "If only we could experience Shinji's Takamagahara too!"
Darui shook his head again. "A training tool like this? Unless our villages are willing to pay a steep price, Hidden Leaf won't share it with us!"
Even so, upon learning of Takamagahara, they had all immediately relayed the news to their respective villages, hoping diplomatic efforts might convince Hidden Leaf to open Takamagahara to them as well.
Ryuzetsu and Chino remained silent.
Unlike the others, they knew Shinji's true identity and were certain his actions went far beyond merely rebuilding the Hidden Leaf Police Force.
At that moment, the Hidden Leaf shinobi in the hall, previously frozen under the dojutsu's influence, began to regain consciousness.
Some stumbled a few steps before steadying themselves, while others collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
Training in Takamagahara didn't consume their physical stamina. Their gasping and apparent exhaustion stemmed from the jarring transition from the illusion back to reality, which they hadn't fully adjusted to.
From the distant rooftop, Kurotsuchi remarked, "It's only been a dozen minutes, and it's already over?"
Darui, realizing something, said gravely, "Look at them. They clearly fought for far longer than a dozen minutes. The rumor that Uchiha Shinji's Takamagahara can control the flow of time—it's probably true!"