But that's all a matter for later.
The only known way for the Sharingan to evolve into the Mangekyō is to lose someone dear to you — a powerful external shock that forces the transformation.
Haruto, however, didn't really have anyone he treasured that much. And even if he did, he didn't believe anyone could harm them right in front of him.
With his current power, he could walk across the shinobi world without bowing to anyone.
As for collecting Tailed Beast chakra? Haruto had no intention of hunting them down. He could obtain such chakra simply by signing in at certain locations; there was no need to risk life and limb capturing a beast and sealing it inside himself.
And the Bankai of his Zanpakutō… that would simply have to wait for the right opportunity.
"Ao."
Once the Three-Tails had been dealt with, its jinchūriki, Yagura, had been reduced to ash. It would take a very long time for the Three-Tails to be reborn.
And with Yagura dead, Kirigakure was now in utter ruin — there was no chance of recovery.
Because of the sheer size of the Three-Tails, Haruto's final arrow had shot straight into the sky. The explosion's shockwave had struck Ao.
It had shredded his body, but not quite killed him.
Now, Ao was barely clinging to life. Even if Haruto left him alone, he wouldn't last long.
But Haruto had no intention of letting him die just yet.
He had killed Yagura to make his name echo across the ninja world. If no one knew he was the one who killed the Fourth Mizukage, then what was the point?
Ao wasn't just Yagura's bodyguard; he also served under the Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei. That alone spoke to his high standing in the village.
Letting him return with the news would be far better than some nameless survivor.
With that thought, Haruto collected Senichi's Mangekyō Sharingan, then strode toward Ao.
"You…"
Ao barely got the word out before a wet cough wracked his body, blood spraying from his lips. He glared at Haruto with pure hatred.
Even speaking was a struggle, let alone moving.
As Haruto closed the distance, step by step, Ao slowly shut his eyes, resigned to death.
But instead of finishing him, Haruto did something completely unexpected.
He pushed chakra into Ao's body.
It didn't heal his injuries, but it stabilized his organs and gave him just enough mobility to escape back to the village.
He wouldn't be able to fight, but he could survive the journey home.
"…Why didn't you kill me?"
Ao managed to sit up slightly, staring at Haruto in disbelief.
"Because you're still useful."
Haruto looked down at him. "My name is Senju Haruto, of the Senju clan. Spread my name throughout Kirigakure. Tell your next Mizukage never to even think about challenging me."
Ao's eyes widened as the truth sank in.
The only reason he was still alive… was because Haruto needed a messenger.
A messenger who would carry despair back to Kirigakure.
Which also meant that aside from him, no one else was being allowed to leave.
Otherwise, there'd be no point telling him this at all.
Kirigakure had suffered an absolute catastrophe.
Under Yagura's "first battle is the decisive battle" doctrine, they had thrown everything into this invasion — over a thousand shinobi, the Mizukage himself… and now, all of them were gone.
How could he face going back like this?
Ao gritted his teeth so hard it hurt, hatred boiling in his chest.
"But before you leave," Haruto said, his voice dropping into a low, cold growl, "give me back what doesn't belong to you."
His hands moved with ruthless precision, tearing away Ao's eyepatch and gouging out the stolen Byakugan.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
Ao's screams echoed across the battlefield as he clutched the empty socket, writhing in agony on the ground.
Haruto glanced once at the Byakugan in his hand, then turned and walked away without a word.
"…Time to clean up."
Muttering to himself, he moved back into the battlefield.
Whether they were from Kirigakure or the Uchiha clan of Konoha, Haruto spared no one.
He cut down enemies, harvested Sharingan — swift and methodical.
Before he realized it, he had been in the Fire Temple Forest from dusk until midnight, and then from midnight until sunrise.
Only after a full day did Haruto confirm that there were no surviving Uchiha… and no surviving shinobi from Kirigakure.
"In the end, I never ran into Obito…"
Haruto exhaled slowly. He had planned to strike if he did.
But despite combing the battlefield all night, there was no sign of him.
"Maybe he didn't need that many Sharingan and left early?"
Haruto frowned. He was certain Obito was collecting them too — the eyeless corpses proved it.
Judging by the number of missing eyes, Obito had taken about twelve this time.
"Come to think of it, in the original story, when he helped Itachi slaughter the clan, he didn't keep that many either — most ended up in Danzō's hands. Hmph… Obito really is a calculating one."
With no sign of him, Haruto let it go. Obito was a shadow in the dark, vanishing without a trace, and Haruto wasn't skilled at sensing chakra.
But what Haruto could never have guessed was that Obito's early retreat wasn't because he had enough eyes — it was because he had been terrified by Haruto's overwhelming power.
When morning light finally broke, Haruto turned back toward the Fire Temple.
Dairiku and his warrior monks were already waiting.
The moment they saw him, Dairiku hurried forward to greet him.
"Haruto."
But as he looked past him, Dairiku realized there was no one else returning.
A chill of dread slid down his spine.
He didn't know about the Uchiha coup; to him, they had always been loyal and honorable. In his heart, he had hoped they would all come back alive.
"The others? They're all dead."
Haruto sighed heavily, letting an expression of deep grief settle on his face.
"Kirigakure sent over a thousand shinobi… even the Fourth Mizukage himself took the field. I don't know if you felt it, but last night there was a terrifying surge of chakra…"
Dairiku's breath caught.
Truthfully, he had considered going to the battlefield himself to help — until he felt that overwhelming chakra and heard the thunder rolling across the skies.
It had stopped him in his tracks.
"And… the Mizukage?" Dairiku asked carefully, his throat tight.