[In a sense, only an Uchiha who has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan is a true Uchiha. Each Mangekyō has its own unique form and characteristics, serving as an individual's distinctive mark.]
Hiruzen's eyes lit up sharply.
"Excellent!"
He walked to the window, searing the image of the sickle-shaped Mangekyō in the sky deeply into his memory.
The next time he saw those eyes, he would be able to identify the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails incident—unless that person never used his Mangekyō again.
Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Just wait. One day, I will find out."
[More importantly, every Uchiha who awakens the Mangekyo Sharingan gains a special Dojutsu unique to themselves. As the "eyes that reflect the heart," they symbolize the power of dreams manifesting into reality—literally meaning that the abilities are obtained based on the innermost true desires of the awakener.]
The Shinobi World was in an uproar, and people from various nations doubted what they had just heard.
"Awakening the Mangekyo grants abilities based on one's innermost desires?"
"Does this thing have any limitations? If there are no limits, doesn't that mean they can get whatever they want?"
"They might as well just wish to become the Six Paths Sage."
[Add to that the Uchiha clan's various hereditary psychological issues—and it's a perfect match!]
Even the Uchiha clan themselves were hearing this for the first time. They were equally surprised.
"So that's what "eyes that reflect the heart" means? But didn't the clan records say the Sharingan was called that because it requires strong emotional stimulation to awaken?"
"However, what is this about 'hereditary psychological issues'?"
"Slander!"
"Why must the Sky Screen slander us!"
"We Uchiha clearly love peace too. In fact, one could say no other clan possesses a love more intense than ours."
---
[Some, deeply tormented and intent on changing the minds of their clansmen, awakened the ultimate Genjutsu, gaining the ability to alter the will of others.]
[Konoha, Year 60]
Danzō, leaning on his cane, was about to step into the Hokage building, when this sentence sounded from the Sky Screen, his footsteps immediately halted.
"Hmm? That must be referring to Shisui, right?"
"What a naive fellow, actually revealing such an ability to others."
"Well, at least I taught him a lesson." Danzō muttered to himself.
It was just a pity that he only obtained one of those precious eyes. The other was still with Itachi.
Even more regrettable was the fact that Kotoamatsukami required a cooldown of over a decade after use—it was simply too precious.
Thinking of that, Danzō's brow furrowed.
He had always been waiting for the right opportunity to use it. That bastard Hiruzen had disbanded his Root and stripped him of his power, even sending him off to teach?
To hell with that—decades of hard work had all been destroyed.
He really wanted to just hit Hiruzen with Kotoamatsukami and be done with it!
In the end, Danzō took a deep breath and suppressed the distracting thoughts in his mind. Leaning on his cane, he continued walking into the Hokage building.
After all, the Sky Screen could be heard everywhere, and there was a projection in Hiruzen's office as well.
As for the Sharingan on his right arm—so what if they were exposed? Root had already been disbanded. It wasn't like Hiruzen would kill him.
---
[Some, living in darkness yet desperately longing for light, awakened a despairing flame that burns away all darkness and an eternal dream that controls everything.]
Akatsuki Hideout.
Itachi's eyes dimmed slightly.
'Is this talking about me?'
'Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi, I suppose. Flames of despair and the eternal dream... how fitting.'
Living in darkness, yet yearning for light.
Slaughtering his own clansmen, yet yearning for peace.
Becoming a rogue shinobi, yet yearning to protect.
This was the reflection of his heart.
---
[Some, loathing the world, closed off their heart and escaped reality, intending to create a new world, and awakened an inter-dimensional ability unique to themselves.]
Obito, who had been watching the spectacle, instantly lost his composure. The face beneath the mask twisting even more.
What did it mean 'closed off their heart and escaped reality'? It was clearly this world that was rotten! Only Infinite Tsukuyomi could achieve true peace!
The so-called peace that existed was nothing but self-deception! War, death, hatred—they were endless. Only by creating an entirely new world could all of this be ended.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, but anger still surged within his chest.
The Sky Screen... what right did it have to say this about him?
Everything he was doing, he was doing for Rin! To ensure that no one else in the world would ever have to suffer the pain he had endured!
This Sky Screen didn't understand anything at all!
Meanwhile, Nagato and Itachi both looked toward Obito simultaneously. Clearly, the two of them had guessed that the Sky Screen was referring to this "Madara Uchiha."
They had both witnessed "Madara" using spatial abilities. Combined with the Moon's Eye Plan he had been scheming, the two of them could be certain that the spatial ability was what the Sky Screen was referring to when it spoke of inter-dimensional ability.
But... was Madara really someone who would escape from reality? Judging from the legends and records they had heard, the "Asura of the Shinobi World" had been a ruthless and decisive figure. How had he ended up becoming someone who fled from reality?
Among the other Akatsuki members, there were plenty of sharp ones as well. They also noticed Pain and Itachi's unconcealed gazes toward Obito. Combined with the Sky Screen's earlier revelation that Tobi was a member of the Uchiha clan.
Well, the situation was quite clear.
Inter-dimensional ability... creating a new world... this was referring to Tobi.
---
[Some, longing to find a new way out, gained a half-baked ability to foresee the future.]
The people of the Shinobi World had gone numb. They realized they had still underestimated just how overpowered the Mangekyō Sharingan truly was.
Altering will. A despairing flame. An eternal dream. An inter-dimensional ability. Foreseeing the future... and these were just the few the Sky Screen had listed.
What about the ones it hadn't listed?
How many more overpowered abilities did the Mangekyō Sharingan have?
What kind of monstrous clan were the Uchiha, really?
And if only they had eyes like that too—then what ability would they awaken?
But soon, they realized another issue. Aside from the talents whose specific effects were unknown, the prerequisite for awakening the Mangekyō was the death of one's closest loved one.
That kind of price was not something just anyone could bear.
---
[Konoha, Year 52, Uchiha Clan Grounds]
The atmosphere was somewhat subtle.
All the Uchiha had fixed their gazes on their own clan head. Now, they suspected that Fugaku was the one who had awakened the ability to alter will.
After all, as the Sky Screen had said, this ability was truly sinister. How else had they been tricked into negotiating with the Hokage last time? It had to be Fugaku's Mangekyō ability at work!
Fugaku himself felt somewhat rattled by the stares; he had long since put down his teacup, his hands clenched into fists.
'Altering will?'
He did indeed have the Mangekyō, but that wasn't his ability at all! He had that half-baked ability to foresee the future!
But could he say that? Even if he did, his clansmen might not believe him. Besides, an ability like foreseeing the future would be equally shocking to reveal.
In the distance, Shisui stood in the shadows, head bowed, saying nothing.
'So this... is why I awakened Kotoamatsukami.'
*****
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