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"No… impossible!"
The severely wounded leader of Takigakure, lying on the ground, continuously coughed up blood, yet his eyes remained wide, fixed intently on the young girl before him, as he murmured, "Even the Hero's Water and the Seven-Tails Chomei had no effect..."
"You, who exactly are you?!"
Uchiha Hikari looked down at the man on the ground, watching him desperately try to protect the villagers behind him, and she remained still for a long time.
Finally, she silently threw a Kunai, severing his neck and sending him on his way.
The young girl's steps passed over the corpse on the ground, and she looked at the ruined Village around her, letting out a soft sigh:
"Ninja..."
Currently, she was still the one who hated everything that existed in the Ninja World.
It was the cruelty of the Ninja World and Ninja that forced her to endure such a painful first half of her life.
But what was different was that previously, killing was driven by coercion.
Now, the motive for killing came entirely from her own heart.
"What's wrong?" White Zetsu, who had been lurking under a tree since earlier, seemed to notice her abnormality and playfully glided beside her, asking casually, "Have you already become soft-hearted after killing just a few people?"
"Or are you planning to abandon Lord Madara's plan?"
"If so, you'll be in big trouble."
Uchiha Hikari glanced at him. This humanoid floating underground was like an eye closely following her, constantly monitoring her every move.
The superficial playfulness and eccentricity were merely a false disguise; what kind of true nature was hidden within, Uchiha Hikari still did not know to this day.
However, due to 'that incident' from before, she still maintained a somewhat close attitude towards this guy, as if she truly didn't care, and casually said:
"What do you mean 'soft-hearted'? All Ninja deserve to die!"
"If all Ninja are killed, then the lives of ordinary people will definitely be much better than they are now."
"I just saw a child earlier, that's all."
White Zetsu's smile grew even more pronounced in his voice: "What does it matter? It's just a quick thing anyway."
"I've already told you!" Uchiha Hikari suddenly turned back to him very sternly, "We're not here just to kill people!"
"If we want to achieve that goal, it's not something one or two people can solve, right?"
"Information, logistics, resources, Ninja tools, and most importantly, money!"
Miss Uchiha Hikari grumbled discontentedly, "I'm telling you two idiots, even someone like me who hasn't read much can understand this, so why do you two just blindly push forward?"
White Zetsu's expression stiffened.
He couldn't very well say that before Uchiha Hikari appeared, Uchiha Madara had already laid plans in Hidden Rain Village, waiting for that boy Nagato to bear fruit.
So, he quickly changed the subject:
"Speaking of which, what does pain feel like?"
"You'd better not experience that unpleasant feeling!"
Uchiha Hikari walked forward casually with her hands behind her back, followed by White Zetsu, who was carrying the corpse of the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
This corpse was promised to be brought back to that old man Uchiha Madara, so it couldn't be discarded.
Additionally, Uchiha Hikari also had a few small secrets that she couldn't easily speak of.
She was never a good child.
The young girl looked towards the Takigakure shelter ahead, her gaze gradually deepening.
That old fool Uchiha Madara's plan was impossible to succeed. The result of hypnotizing everyone could only be to kill everyone—because no matter how genjutsu changed, it was essentially just a process running through pre-existing programs. Even the "Infinite Tsukuyomi" that Uchiha Madara had mentioned countless times was actually just content shaped by the scenes desired in the hearts of those being hypnotized.
So, what would happen if their 'desired' lives were all lived out?
Human greed is indeed infinite, but people cannot imagine things they have not experienced.
It's like when someone who hasn't experienced sex has a wet dream, they suddenly get 'ejected' at the crucial step.
Once the "Infinite Tsukuyomi" reached that point, those hypnotized people would return to their original 'logic circle' and continue a repetitive and boring cycle.
During that time, what difference was there between being alive and being dead?
Therefore, the only way to truly save the world was the one she was currently conceiving—"Engraved Tsukuyomi."
By hypnotizing people, setting unbreakable rules, and if anyone violated them, letting them die under the power of "Engraved Tsukuyomi," thereby forming a truly peaceful and stable world.
However, Uchiha Madara would not let her have her way.
Everyone had their own persistence. Whether it was Uchiha Madara or Uchiha Hikari, they were actually the same type of person.
Because of this, Miss Hikari decided to act on her own.
'In the end, what's needed is still power.'
Uchiha Hikari thought, 'If I can use this Takigakure as a base and plant my "Yachihoko" on everyone, I should be able to gain some improvement, right?'
'If it's not enough, I'll have to continue providing them with a stable environment so they can produce more Ninja...'
'At least, I need to raise my strength to a level equal to that scoundrel Uchiha Madara before I have the qualifications to negotiate with him.'
The young girl's emotions grew calmer as she stepped into the shelter ahead.
Konoha, Uchiha Clan Compound.
"Rumble—"
The young girl's tiny figure was submerged in the massive waterfall, becoming a blurry black silhouette, perched motionlessly on a large rock beneath the waterfall, maintaining a deep meditative state.
On the shore was a thin, elderly woman.
She had a head of white hair, leaned on a cane, and looked calmly at the young girl within the waterfall, a benevolent and satisfied smile on her aged face.
After an unknown amount of time, the young girl beneath the waterfall suddenly raised her hand.
Extremely sharp Wind Release Chakra burst forth from her slender arm.
In just an instant, it effortlessly cut through the waterfall above, splitting it in two along her body, creating a vacuum path.
That vacuum path, composed purely of Wind Release, lasted for two or three seconds before rejoining after the Chakra lost its support.
However, even so, a deep mark could already be seen on the waterfall's rock wall.
Uchiha Megumi looked at this scene, seemingly sighing in defeat, and slowly dragged her weary body, stepping through the surging water to the shore.
The young girl was completely drenched, her black undergarment clinging tightly to her fair, smooth skin, and her long, dark hair stuck to her temples and the back of her head, making her look somewhat disheveled.
Only the divine light in her eyes remained resolute.
It was then that she noticed the old woman standing on the shore, her expression freezing for a moment before she bowed respectfully:
"Chiri, why are you here?"
"Of course, I came to see how you're doing."
Uchiha Chiri looked at her youthful and capable appearance, almost subconsciously recalling her own youth, and a slight smile appeared on her face. But a moment later, she straightened her face slightly and said with some displeasure:
"Megumi-chan, this old woman heard from that boy Motoya that you start your training outside the clan compound every morning and don't return until evening."
"This old woman gave you this training method to help you adjust your inner self, not for you to use as a breakthrough point!"
When Uchiha Chiri said this, Uchiha Megumi immediately felt a little guilty, but her expression remained calm and rational, without any hint of her inner thoughts, and she bowed, saying:
"I apologize, Chiri."
Uchiha Megumi seemed to have no intention of refuting this.
Or rather, deep down, she did feel some apology towards Uchiha Chiri.
In the days since she returned from the Land of Wind front line, she had turned down all the missions and arrangements given by the clan, dedicating herself wholeheartedly to the training of Fire Release and Wind Release.
Crimson Blade Jutsu, the ultimate Chakra nature transformation of Fire Release, the nature transformation of Wind Release, Yin Release training, Sharingan ocular jutsu...
However, no matter how she trained, she couldn't break through that talent limit, which was like a thin membrane.
That line was simply drawn there, ordinary and unremarkable, yet she couldn't cross it no matter what.
This made her think of seeking guidance from seniors.
So, guided by a friend, she came to seek advice from Uchiha Chiri, who had been a pillar of the clan since the Sengoku period.
But unfortunately, even Chiri's guidance had not been able to significantly improve her current strength.
This sense of powerlessness arising from a certain pursuit made the frustration in Uchiha Megumi's heart grow stronger.
Almost every night, her mind couldn't stop replaying the image of Sawara Kiri and that woman sticking together on the battlefield that day.
—They could already kiss foreheads after just meeting; if they stayed together longer, she didn't dare to imagine what they would do!
At the same time, this scene also made Miss Megumi even more certain of one thing.
Sawara Kiri liked powerful women.
This little secret was now both Uchiha Megumi's inner turmoil and her greatest driving force.
Although she could already feel that her current strength had increased by more than a notch compared to before the war, if she added the Crimson Blade technique Kiri personally taught her, it could even be said to have doubled.
However, Miss Megumi found that the distance between herself and Kiri was becoming increasingly vast.
This feeling made her very uneasy.
What if one day that woman suddenly descended from the sky and took Kiri away?
Just imagining such a scene, Uchiha Megumi felt the pupils in her eyes burning uncontrollably.
Only Uchiha Chiri, facing her, could see the three tomoe in the girl's eyes spinning rapidly like a windmill, as if they were about to connect into one at any moment.
But the next moment, for some unknown reason, the speed of the tomoe's rotation suddenly decreased, gradually coming to a stop.
It seems she has calmed down?
"…"
However, seeing the girl still so stubborn, Uchiha Chiri was helpless.
But thinking of the Uchiha Clan's natural pursuit of power, she seemed to feel that everything was only natural.
If she hadn't pursued power like this when she was young, would she have been able to achieve such results later?
However, the Megumi in front of her was different.
Despite being so young, she already possessed her current strength, which was quite outstanding even within the entire Uchiha Clan.
After the last mission in the Land of Wind, she was even officially granted the rank of Jonin by Konoha Village.
Deep within those three-tomoe Sharingan, there was an astonishing visual prowess that even she dared not underestimate—this also sufficiently showed that within this child's heart, there was some extremely strong obsession.
Uchiha Chiri could feel this.
Likewise, she also knew very well that merely talking would absolutely not make Megumi-chan give up her extreme pursuit of power.
It's better to guide than to block.
Looking at Megumi's appearance, Uchiha Chiri suddenly asked:
"Megumi-chan, why exactly are you pursuing strength so much?"
To snatch a man!
The thought in Uchiha Megumi's heart was very firm.
However, because she was in front of Chiri, her words brewed in her throat for a moment and then became: "To… protect everyone in the Village."
"So, are you pursuing the power of the Mangekyo because you saw too many deaths on the battlefield?"
Uchiha Chiri's expression gradually became serious, staring directly at the girl.
What does that have to do with me?
Megumi thought this in her heart, but her mouth still spoke righteously: "No, it's just because… I failed to protect the people I should have protected."
Seeing her sigh with a solemn expression, Uchiha Chiri became even more certain.
This was a child who could give everything for the Village.
So, she asked the last question: "Then, Megumi-chan, is there someone you care about very much?"
"…"
Uchiha Megumi's expression froze, thinking that her thoughts had accidentally been seen through by Chiri.
However, upon noticing the other party's kind expression, she realized that it didn't seem to be the case.
The girl hesitated for a few seconds, then still spoke softly:
"Yes."
"Then this old woman will tell you how to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan."
Uchiha Chiri stared directly at her, pausing for a few seconds: "Almost all Uchiha awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan in the same way."
"That is, by seeing the person you care about most die in front of you, or die by your hand."
"At that moment, extreme emotions will burst into the Uchiha Clan's bloodline, forming a special Yin Release Chakra visual prowess, ultimately taking the form of the Mangekyo Sharingan."
The old woman did not pay attention to Uchiha Megumi's gradually changing expression, nor to the rapidly spinning three tomoe, and slowly asked:
"Can you bear this price?"
After hearing this, Miss Megumi's expression first darkened, then darkened further, and then even further.
Finally, all emotions transformed into one sentence.
If it really comes to that, what use would this Mangekyo Sharingan be to me?
"…I see."
Uchiha Megumi suddenly understood a little.
Why almost all seniors who possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan had such a contradictory attitude towards these eyes, both liking and disliking them, and being extremely secretive about them.
Useless.
The girl paused for a few seconds, then suddenly picked up the clothes by the shore, wrung them out forcefully, then simply dried them with Fire Release Chakra nature transformation, and bowed slightly to Chiri.
Uchiha Chiri was startled at this, completely failing to see the complex emotional changes of struggle and longing she had imagined.
Among so many Uchiha Clan members who had learned this method, she had never seen anyone act so decisively.
However, this made her unconsciously start to worry.
If she gave up her beloved so decisively, would their bond truly be enough for Megumi-chan to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan?
"Megumi-chan, you—"
The next moment, Uchiha Megumi said decisively:
"Sorry, Chiri."
"I don't want these useless eyes."
As her words fell, Miss Megumi turned and left.
Indeed, she should just continue to ask Kiri for ideas.
"Eh?"
Uchiha Chiri looked at the girl in front of her in astonishment, unable to recover for a long time.
Kumogakure, Raikage's office.
The Third Raikage sat behind his desk, looking at the intelligence C handed him, his brows still tightly furrowed.
He turned his head and asked his Raikage secretary beside him, puzzled:
"Still no change?"
"Yes."
C nodded calmly: "According to our informants, Sawara Kiri is still recuperating at the Senju Residence, with no intention of moving out."
"What about that old man Sarutobi Hiruzen's news?" The Third Raikage still frowned.
"Absolutely nothing."
C's tone also seemed a bit puzzled: "We once suspected that the Third Hokage might have died after using that technique, but judging by the performance of the Three Ninja, it seems to be a feint."
"Therefore, we are temporarily unable to make a deduction."
"…"
Hearing this, the Third Raikage's brows furrowed even deeper.
Currently, the Hidden Cloud Village's front-line advance in the Land of Hot Water was actually not fast.
The reason was that every time the Third Raikage appeared, he was like a traditional assassin, coming and going without a trace, with no warning whether he was attacking or retreating.
Sometimes, just when they were about to break through Konoha's front-line formation, Lord Raikage would suddenly retreat far away, then immediately attack from another direction.
The entire Hidden Cloud Village command post couldn't understand what Lord Third was up to.
Only a few people in the Third Raikage's office knew the reason.
Last time, the technique that old man Sarutobi Hiruzen revealed when he fought Lord Raikage truly frightened him.
With their discerning eyes, they could naturally tell that it was a special forbidden jutsu developed specifically for the soul, primarily featuring an instant-kill effect.
No one expected Konoha to still hide such a trump card.
According to the Eight-Tails Gyuki's statement at the time, if they were hit by that blade, whether it was him or the Raikage, their souls would probably be taken, leaving behind an empty shell.
If that were the case, wouldn't he, the Third Raikage who simultaneously lost both the Eight-Tails and the Raikage's lives, become the greatest sinner in the history of Hidden Cloud Village?
Therefore, his recent sorties had often been very cautious.
After all, he was reckless, but not stupid.
However, the news now coming from Konoha was becoming increasingly strange.
From the Third Raikage's perspective, since Sarutobi Hiruzen possessed such a technique, he only needed to cooperate with that brat Sawara Kiri.
At that time, by only sacrificing the life of that old man Sarutobi Hiruzen, he could eliminate him, his greatest threat, in one fell swoop.
Wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone for Konoha?
Now, the facts were just the opposite.
Things that are out of the ordinary must be demonic!
The Third Raikage now felt that all the news about Sawara Kiri recuperating and Sarutobi Hiruzen being out of touch were all fake news!
They must be waiting for him in some hidden corner right now!
That's it!
It must be like this.
Last time, he was tricked by that brat Sawara Kiri this way.
If he followed his usual thinking, he should now continuously select smaller scale armies, completing a cycle of defeat, annihilation, and re-defeat, ultimately leading to a large-scale collapse of the entire Konoha front line.
At this very moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Sawara Kiri must be quietly waiting in some part of the plan for him, the biggest fruit, to deliver himself!
At this moment, the Third Raikage felt his clever mind had seen through all of Sarutobi Hiruzen's schemes.
"How insidious and vicious, Sarutobi Hiruzen!"
"I absolutely cannot let you succeed!"
"C! Find me the largest military formation of Konoha on the Land of Hot Water front line!"
"Yes."
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