Orochimaru burst into manic laughter.
"Hahaha—HAHAHA! This is it! This is the truth!"
Nagi ceased channeling Yin Release chakra, allowing the eye in his palm to stabilize so Orochimaru could observe it clearly.
Though greed flickered across Orochimaru's face as he stared at the Mangekyō Sharingan, a deeper instinct told him—
This is not the end. Not yet.
After a long silence, he finally withdrew his gaze.
For the first time in years, he felt genuine admiration.
The mystery of the Mangekyō Sharingan… had been unraveled.
Nagi, however, attributed it partly to fortune.
On one hand, he possessed the inexplicable ability to control high-quality Yin–Yang chakra.
On the other, he and Tobirama had conducted extensive analysis on Fugaku Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan.
Perhaps, in the future, the Uchiha Clan would no longer need to rely on tragic loss to evolve their eyes.
Fugaku might even thank them.
Nagi spoke again, shifting Orochimaru's perspective further.
"This eye possesses only Mangekyō-level dōjutsu power.
It does not possess a unique ocular technique."
"…What?"
Orochimaru blinked.
"You mean to say—"
"I have not truly solved the secret of the Mangekyō Sharingan," Nagi said calmly.
"The evolution of the Mangekyō requires intense emotional trauma experienced by the eye's owner.
Such emotion generates a special form of chakra within the brain, which acts upon the optic nerve and transforms the eye.
It is, in essence, the eye that reflects the heart."
Orochimaru's pupils narrowed.
"That special chakra—"
"Is high-quality Yin Release chakra, combined with emotion-induced chakra," Nagi continued.
"The latter alters the nature of the former, producing a unique ocular technique."
Orochimaru followed the logic seamlessly.
"So what you lack is the catalyst—the factor that alters the Yin chakra's nature.
Which means the Mangekyō in your hand has power, but no technique?"
"Correct.
Furthermore, my experiments show that using the Mangekyō Sharingan consumes vast quantities of Yin chakra—or exceptionally high-quality Yin chakra.
Most Uchiha do not naturally possess such reserves.
Thus, their bodies subconsciously compensate using Yang chakra."
He paused.
"And as I mentioned earlier, Yang chakra is intrinsically tied to the physical body.
If excessive Yang chakra is depleted—especially in the eyes—
The result is…"
"…Blindness."
Outside the Screen
[Kakashi Hatake: "What?! Overuse leads to blindness?!"]
He currently wielded a three-tomoe Sharingan and was unaware that his left eye had already awakened the Mangekyō.
[Onoki: "This is critical intelligence."]
[A (Fourth Raikage): "So against a Mangekyō user, you just stall them out?"]
[Onoki: "Wait—Madara didn't appear blind during his era."]
[Izuna Uchiha: "No. My brother and I both suffered from that deterioration."]
Within the Akatsuki—
All eyes subtly turned toward Itachi Uchiha.
He remained expressionless.
Weakness could not be revealed.
Behind his mask, Tobi's single visible eye shifted thoughtfully.
"So that's why Hashirama's cells stabilize me… supplying high-quality Yang chakra to offset Mangekyō strain."
He glanced toward the projection of Nagi.
Too intelligent, he thought.
Admiration was one thing.
Excessive intelligence was dangerous.
Back in the Laboratory
Noticing Orochimaru's subtle disappointment at the Mangekyō being "incomplete," Nagi delivered the decisive strike.
"The Mangekyō Sharingan can evolve further."
"WHAT?!"
Orochimaru's expression froze in utter disbelief.
"If Madara Uchiha had relied solely on the Mangekyō, he could not have fought the First Hokage for so long.
He would have gone blind many times over."
"…That makes sense."
"According to the Second Hokage's records, when Madara's younger brother died, he transplanted Izuna's Mangekyō Sharingan."
Orochimaru's heart pounded.
"That's true?!"
"I previously stated that the First Hokage possessed extreme Yang Release, and Madara possessed extreme Yin Release.
Though their quality was comparable, the quantity differed.
Izuna's high-quality Yin chakra supplemented the deficit.
Thus, Madara's Mangekyō evolved once more."
Orochimaru inhaled sharply.
"The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan…"
"Yes.
But transplantation was not strictly necessary."
"Not necessary?!"
Outside the Screen
[Fugaku Uchiha: "There's another evolutionary path?"]
[Izuna Uchiha: "Hmph. Even without my eyes, my brother would have evolved further."]
[Madara Uchiha: "…He's right."]
(Madara himself was not entirely certain—but he would never contradict Izuna.)
Back in the Laboratory
"As Madara aged, his Yin chakra would have continued to increase.
Quantitative change produces qualitative change.
It was only a matter of time."
Orochimaru nodded slowly.
"For anyone else, I might doubt it.
But this was Madara Uchiha."
"Exactly.
Because it was Madara."
Nagi's next words struck like lightning.
"Perhaps Madara's eyes could evolve yet again."
"…What?"
Orochimaru felt his worldview shake.
"Who told you evolution has an endpoint?" Nagi said softly.
"Natural selection. Survival of the fittest.
That is the law of the shinobi world."
He then placed several books before Orochimaru:
Theory of Biological Evolution
Cell Biology (Shinobi Edition)
Genetics of the Shinobi World
"Your biotechnology will find refinement within these pages."
Orochimaru flipped through them rapidly.
His breathing quickened.
"So that's how cellular structures generate chakra…
Genetic inheritance operates like this…
Incredible."
(The shinobi world already possessed microscopes and cellular theory—Boruto-era science even included paternity testing. Their understanding of microstructures existed, though uneven and inconsistent.)
After skimming the texts, Orochimaru looked up at Nagi.
Understanding dawned.
He laughed.
"Hahaha… So this was your meaning from the start.
Even if Living Corpse Reincarnation remains imperfect—
I can no longer leave your ship, Nagi."
He extended his hand.
"Truly worthy of being Root's new commander."
Nagi rose and grasped it firmly.
"Welcome aboard the vessel called Science, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru's smile widened.
"The pleasure is mine."
Their hands clasped.
The fish had taken the hook.
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