"It is best to experience extreme mental stimulation before there's even the slightest chance of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"But Uchiha Jin…"
How should one even describe him?
He was the very embodiment of calm and composure — someone whose emotions rarely fluctuated. How could a person like that ever experience the kind of anguish or fury required to trigger the Mangekyō?
So… how did he do it?
They were utterly baffled.
Especially Shisui, who couldn't suppress his curiosity any longer.
"Jin, can you tell me?" he asked earnestly. "According to our clan's records, the Mangekyō can only awaken under extreme emotional trauma. You weren't even close to that kind of state. So… what happened?"
Yes.
Nara Kazama and Hinata Aya were curious too, but they didn't possess the Sharingan. Their surprise was natural but not deeply personal.
Shisui, however, was different.
As a fellow Uchiha, who among them didn't long to open the Mangekyō Sharingan?
And being so close to Jin, of course he wanted to know the truth.
Uchiha Jin chuckled quietly at the question.
"Emotional trauma?" he repeated, smiling faintly. "That's merely a surface phenomenon — a side effect. In essence, the Sharingan is no different from any other ninjutsu."
The others looked confused, but Jin continued calmly.
"Ordinary ninjutsu depends on the five basic chakra natures — Fire, Lightning, Earth, Water, and Wind. However, the Uchiha and Senju clans possess something beyond that. Our bloodlines grant us innate access to two higher energies: Yin Release and Yang Release."
He paused briefly, letting the weight of those words sink in.
"The Senju perfected Yang Release — a power of life and vitality. When combined with Water and Earth Release, it produces the Wood Release of Hashirama Senju. But have you ever wondered why only Hashirama could use it? Even among his clan?"
No one answered.
"It's because mastering Wood Release requires more than talent. You must elevate Yang, Water, and Earth to their limits — and then fuse them. Without perfect balance, it's impossible."
Jin's gaze sharpened slightly.
"As for us Uchiha — our path lies in Yin Release. But no one truly cultivates it. When an Uchiha experiences extreme emotional distress, the brain instinctively generates vast Yin energy, forcibly awakening the Sharingan."
He smiled faintly.
"I, on the other hand, found a simpler way — a method to train Yin Release consciously."
Everyone leaned closer.
"That method," Jin said, "is called visualization."
"Find something familiar — the simpler, the better. Close your eyes, and picture it clearly in your mind. Every line, every color, every detail. The more vivid the image, the stronger the mental focus. Then, repeat it every day."
He looked at them meaningfully.
"That's all there is to it."
…
Of course, Jin knew the truth.
He didn't really know how to cultivate Yin Release — his "training" was simply a convenient cover. After all, the system he relied on handled that for him automatically.
Still, he couldn't tell them that.
If he didn't provide an explanation, how could the Uchiha clan — or Konoha's higher-ups — accept his sudden awakening?
So, he made one up.
And if Shisui failed to achieve anything with it… well, that wasn't his fault, was it?
He'd make it up to him later.
---
To Shisui, however, Jin's words were nothing short of revelation.
"Visualization… Yin Release…" he murmured. His eyes lit up in awe.
"So that's the truth. The Uchiha aren't cursed at all! We're born with Yin Release, but we've simply never learned how to harness it!"
For the first time, he felt like a heavy weight had lifted from his heart.
The "curse of hatred" that haunted their clan — perhaps it wasn't a curse at all.
"Jin," he said firmly, "thank you. I'll begin practicing this method right away. I'll awaken my Mangekyō someday too — through will and clarity, not pain."
Nara Kazama grinned. "You really are a genius, Jin-kun. You uncovered the truth yourself — and even found a way to harness it."
Hinata Aya nodded softly. "It's incredible. You've completely redefined what the Sharingan means."
Jin rubbed the back of his neck, feeling slightly embarrassed.
A genius? Hardly.
If not for the system's intervention, he'd probably be an average jonin at best.
When Itachi wiped out the Uchiha, he'd be just another corpse on the floor.
"Alright," Jin said, waving it off. "Enough about that. Did anything happen while I was unconscious?"
Nara Kazama nodded and quickly summarized the recent developments.
Overall, the situation at the Whirlpool front had stabilized. Kirigakure's forces were either annihilated or captured. Konoha's army had advanced deep into Water Country, establishing a forward camp with over twenty ships.
However, instead of attacking, they opened peace negotiations.
Elder Koharu Utatane was leading the delegation.
Meanwhile, Hokage Sarutobi had issued new promotions:
Kazama and Aya were raised to Chūnin, Shisui to Jōnin, and Uchiha Jin — for killing the Seven Ninja Swordsmen — was promoted directly to Special Jōnin.
Once the talks with Kirigakure concluded, their team would return to Konoha to recuperate.