Chapter 150 – Warning, Stat Points, and Ice Release
Inside a cave concealed by a barrier—
The glow of a small campfire flickered against stone walls.
Taichi, Yōhei, and Saori sat in a tight circle.
All three were serious.
What Taichi was about to explain—
Was a secret of the Uchiha clan.
The kind most outsiders would never hear.
---
"I found this information in the materials Tsunade-sensei left behind," Taichi began carefully, establishing a reasonable source.
After all—
The ones who understand you best are often your enemies.
The Senju and Uchiha had fought since the Warring States Era.
Even after Konoha's founding, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, had remained deeply wary of the Uchiha.
There was no way the Senju hadn't studied the Sharingan extensively.
"The Uchiha Sharingan," Taichi continued, "evolves through intense emotional trauma. Each advancement is often accompanied by the death of someone close."
"When an Uchiha witnesses such tragedy, overwhelming mental stimulation causes the brain to generate a unique form of chakra. That chakra stimulates the optic nerves, triggering qualitative mutation."
"And that is why the Uchiha have long been called a cursed clan."
Yōhei listened quietly.
Taichi let the explanation settle before continuing.
"Most Uchiha stop at the Three-Tomoe stage. That's the ceiling for the majority."
"But among them… there are geniuses."
He looked at Yōhei meaningfully.
He truly hadn't expected Yōhei to possess this level of talent.
If Uchiha Madara had known—
Obito might never have mattered.
"Beyond Three-Tomoe lies the Mangekyō Sharingan. Its pupil power far surpasses the standard Sharingan. And each pair possesses its own unique ocular abilities."
Taichi met Yōhei's gaze.
"You can already feel it, can't you? The technique hidden in your eyes."
Yōhei nodded instinctively—
About to speak—
But Taichi cut him off immediately.
"Don't say it."
His voice was firm.
"Never reveal your Mangekyō abilities to anyone. Some ocular techniques are overwhelmingly destructive. Others are… unpredictable. The fewer people who know, the safer you are."
Yōhei swallowed and nodded again.
Only then did Taichi continue.
"All Mangekyō Sharingan share one ultimate technique."
"They can summon a giant said to wield the power of a god."
"Susanoo."
"It is said to possess the power to shatter heaven and earth. Uchiha Madara once suppressed the other four great villages using it."
Yōhei's eyes lit up.
If not for the seriousness of the moment, Taichi was certain he would have rushed outside immediately to test it.
So Taichi poured cold water over him.
"There is one fatal drawback."
"The more you use the Mangekyō…"
"The more your vision deteriorates."
"Until eventually—you go blind."
---
"What?!" Yōhei shot to his feet.
"How is that possible?! Then what's the point of this power?!"
He stared at Taichi desperately, hoping for a punchline.
Hoping it was a joke.
But Taichi's expression did not waver.
Yōhei slowly sat back down.
The weight hit him hard.
Earlier that day—
He had watched Taichi fight alone against overwhelming odds.
Powerless.
Helpless.
He never wanted to feel that again.
The Mangekyō had changed everything.
Even in less than a day—
He could feel it.
His chakra reserves had nearly doubled.
His mind felt sharper.
His body felt stronger.
And most of all—
The unique technique sleeping behind his eyes.
And now—
It would eventually cost him his sight.
How could that not crush him?
The cave fell silent except for the crackling fire.
Yōhei lowered his head.
For the first time since awakening—
He felt fear.
Not of death.
But of losing the light.
Yōhei's mind worked quickly.
He immediately caught the flaw in Taichi's explanation.
"Wait—Taichi. Then how did Uchiha Madara keep his eyesight? His eyes were always fine, weren't they?"
Taichi's expression darkened.
"That… is another tragedy of the Sharingan."
"If a Mangekyō user wishes to escape blindness, they must evolve further—into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
He paused, voice low and heavy.
"And the condition for that evolution… is to take the Mangekyō of a blood-related sibling—and fuse it into your own."
"Ah!"
This time it was Saori who gasped.
She covered her mouth, eyes wide in horror.
"That's… too cruel…"
Yōhei also went pale.
"There… there isn't any other way?"
"For now? None that I know of," Taichi admitted honestly. "What I've told you comes from records. Whether there are alternative solutions… that requires research."
He gave Yōhei a small, reassuring smile.
"After all… this is the first real Mangekyō I've ever seen."
Yōhei's mood flipped instantly.
"Haha! Then it's fine! I trust you, Taichi! Whatever you need to research—just tell me! I'll cooperate fully!"
His carefree confidence left Taichi momentarily speechless.
Was Yōhei just naturally this optimistic?
Or did he truly trust Taichi that much?
Probably both.
Taichi, however, had no intention of disappointing him.
In canon history, there were methods to avoid blindness—Hashirama cells being one of them. Taichi simply lacked access to such means for now.
Besides—
In Taichi's view, if Yōhei's physical constitution and mental strength became strong enough—
The Mangekyō's side effects would be trivial.
"I won't let you down," Taichi said firmly.
---
Just as Yōhei began fantasizing about freely wielding godlike ocular power—
Taichi cut back in.
"Now that we've covered the Mangekyō… let's talk about why you must not reveal it."
"Why?" Yōhei asked bluntly.
"Because its power is too great."
"With Madara as precedent, the village leadership fears the reappearance of such strength. You've felt it too—many of Konoha's higher-ups harbor prejudice against the Uchiha."
Yōhei nodded instinctively.
He wasn't foolish.
He understood the tension between clan and village.
"Then why can't I tell my clan? Not even my parents?"
"Because the Uchiha have a history of rebellion."
Yōhei froze.
"That incident isn't widely known anymore. But Konoha's leadership—and the Uchiha elders—haven't forgotten."
"Even now, a portion of the clan's higher ranks are radicals. They still dream of seizing power by force."
"That's one reason the village doesn't trust them."
Taichi's gaze sharpened.
"Now tell me. If the clan learns another pair of Mangekyō exists… what do you think they'll do?"
Yōhei imagined it briefly—
And shuddered.
He knew his parents too well.
Telling them would mean telling the clan head.
And once the clan head knew—
So would the elders.
Decision made.
Better silence.
---
"Alright," Yōhei muttered. "Then… can I at least train it? If I don't practice, it'll be useless when I actually need it."
"Moderate practice should be fine," Taichi replied. "Come see me regularly. I'll use medical ninjutsu to nourish your eyes and monitor their condition."
"Control the frequency."
Then he looked at both of them seriously.
"And don't neglect the foundational taijutsu I taught you. A strong body is fundamental."
"When we return to camp, I'll teach you a basic meditation technique to strengthen mental energy."
Yōhei and Saori brightened instantly.
They had already felt the effects of Taichi's foundational training.
Yōhei's rapid evolution wasn't just talent—those exercises played a role.
Now meditation too?
Yōhei was already imagining himself dominating the world.
Taichi snapped them out of it.
"It's late. Go rest. I'll take first watch."
They complied.
Soon, faint snores echoed in the cave.
---
Taichi stepped outside alone.
Today's ambush had been brutal.
If not for his attribute points—
If not for effectively infinite chakra through system manipulation—
He would have died on that island.
Victory had relied on:
Surprise Water Release
Surprise Wind Release
Shameless point allocation
And chakra-fueled flame body endurance
If the Cloud ninja had split forces early—
Yōhei and Saori might not have survived.
The war was escalating.
Assassinations today.
Poisoning or hostage tactics tomorrow.
It was time to reassess his growth strategy.
---
Attribute Points:
Better saved as emergency batteries. Increasing stats directly had terrible cost efficiency.
Skill Points:
Use them aggressively—keep only one in reserve.
Strength needed to grow faster.
He opened his panel.
Today's silver lining—
His profession level increased twice.
Now Lv7.
Reward:
+2 Attribute Points
+2 Skill Points
---
He tested adding one skill point to Fire Nature Transformation.
It didn't jump to Lv13.
Instead—
+1000 EXP.
So beyond Kage-level, each skill point only added 1000 EXP.
Understood.
He shifted strategy.
Advanced Taijutsu → Lv6 (Kage-level)
Advanced Meditation → Lv6
Advanced Kenjutsu → Lv6
Memory flooded his mind.
Mountains. Valleys. Oceans.
Countless years of simulated training.
When he emerged—
His strength hadn't doubled.
But efficiency had.
One unit of force now equaled two.
Training efficiency nearly doubled as well.
---
Next—
Sealing Techniques.
He'd suffered from ignorance before.
+4 Skill Points.
Sealing Techniques → Lv11.
Theory unlocked.
Practical techniques still required learning in Konoha.
---
Finally—
The most important investment.
Ice Release.
Currently:
Ice Nature Transformation Lv0 (15/100)
Fusion progress was painfully slow.
War wouldn't wait.
He added one skill point.
Ice Nature Transformation → Lv1.
Inside him—
Wind and Water chakra manifested naturally.
They intertwined.
Merged.
From an almost divine perspective—
Taichi witnessed every detail of fusion.
The first thread of Ice chakra was born.
Something deeper shifted.
His bones.
His cells.
Even his genetic structure.
Cold mist seeped from his body.
Frost formed around the cave.
Thankfully shielded by barrier.
---
One hour later—
The transformation ended.
Ice-blue light flickered in his eyes.
He checked his panel.
Chakra:
40,000 → 50,740 maximum extraction.
+15,000 base chakra.
Daily limit doubled.
Four times that of a fresh Jōnin.
Ice Nature Transformation:
Lv5 (1/800)
The Wind and Water foundation had boosted it instantly.
He raised his hand.
An Ice Senbon formed.
Not a jutsu.
Just shape and control.
He flicked it.
Thud.
Ten meters away—
It embedded intact into a tree.
Durable.
Precise.
Reusable weapon generation.
As for Ice jutsu—
After witnessing the fusion firsthand—
Inspiration flowed endlessly.
---
He tested Fire Release.
No interference.
Other elements?
Only Wind, Water, Ice gained enhancement.
Others unaffected.
System-assisted Bloodline Limit.
Excellent.
He exhaled slowly.
Satisfied.
If not for the late hour—
He would have tested everything.
The moon was high.
Time to wake Yōhei and Saori.
Yōhei would probably be itching to show off.
A fourteen-year-old Mangekyō.
Only two years behind Itachi.
And with minimal side effects.
Lucky brat.
Taichi smirked faintly.
Tomorrow—
War would continue.
But tonight—
They had survived.