Hiruzen Sarutobi saw only one thing.
Ryujin's left eye—the Mangekyō Sharingan—spinning silently.
Then, exactly like him, Ryujin formed the same hand seals and slammed his palm against the ground.
What happened next was something even Hiruzen, the man known throughout the shinobi world as "The Professor," could hardly believe. As a master of countless ninjutsu, he had seen every variation of Earth Release imaginable, yet he was forced to admit one truth.
This was the most terrifying Earth Dragon he had ever witnessed.
The ground split apart, and the sky trembled. Then, from the shattered earth, a dragon was born.
No—it was more accurate to say that a dragon emerged into existence.
Its enormous body surged upward like a mountain rising from beneath the world. Massive and seemingly endless, it towered over the battlefield. Layer upon layer of perfectly formed scales covered its body, each one detailed beyond imagination.
It possessed horns like a deer, a head resembling a camel, eyes akin to a rabbit's, a serpent-like neck, the belly of a mythical beast, fish-like scales, eagle claws, tiger paws, and ox-like ears. Countless creatures seemed to have contributed to its form, yet the result surpassed them all in majesty.
An ancient pressure radiated from its body, as though a primordial creature had stepped out of the chaos that existed before creation itself.
The moment the dragon rose into the heavens, it began to coil through the sky. Clouds gathered around it, moonlight disappeared, and the entire battlefield was swallowed by its immense shadow.
The sky itself vanished from sight.
"What... is that?"
A trembling voice echoed from below.
No one recognized it.
No one dared to.
Earth Dragon Bullet?
What a joke.
Everyone present knew what that technique looked like. It was supposed to be nothing more than a crude dragon-shaped construct used to launch projectiles. Compared to that, this creation wasn't even in the same category.
Because what Ryujin had created was not the dragon of this world.
It was something else entirely.
A true dragon.
A creature from another existence.
Its colossal body twisted through the heavens like a living storm. Four powerful claws flexed as it moved, each motion carrying enough force to make the spectators' hearts tremble. Yet despite its lifelike appearance, its eyes remained empty.
Because it was not alive.
It was a creation.
A perfect imitation forged through absolute understanding.
Below it, Hiruzen's own Earth Dragon appeared pitiful by comparison. Small. Insignificant.
Like a worm.
That was the difference between them.
This was the power hidden within Ryujin's left eye.
A power that transcended the Sharingan itself.
It did not merely copy techniques—it surpassed them.
Anything he saw, whether it was a jutsu, a skill, or an ability, could be completely understood, broken apart, reconstructed, and reborn in a stronger, faster, and more perfect form.
An ordinary Sharingan could imitate.
Ryujin's eye possessed.
The moment he witnessed a technique, it became his forever.
Its principles, structure, and essence were engraved directly into his being.
However, such power demanded a price.
The burden was immense.
Even though the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan protected his eyesight from fading, it could not shield his mind from the strain. The mental exhaustion was real, which was why he rarely relied on this ability.
Only techniques worthy of copying interested him.
Only opponents worthy of study earned its attention.
And today—
Hiruzen Sarutobi qualified.
The battlefield below had completely frozen.
No one moved.
No one attacked.
Every gaze was fixed on the sky.
Even Sakumo Hatake momentarily forgot about the battle. Nearby, Uchiha Moku lay on the ground, his face twisted in pain from his injuries, yet even he had forgotten his suffering.
"...This..."
"...This is a miracle."
His voice trembled.
Beside him, Sakumo's expression was unusually grave.
"What kind of monster is that?"
It appeared to be Earth Release.
Yet no Earth Release technique should have been capable of reaching such a level.
Not even a Tailed Beast could create something like this.
Across the battlefield, every conflict had come to a halt. Members of the Uchiha Clan, the Senju Clan, and every other clan stood motionless.
Some stared in fear.
Some in disbelief.
Some in awe.
The Uchiha, however, were different.
Their eyes burned with excitement, pride, and near-fanatical devotion.
"This...!"
"Our Clan Leader!"
"He's a god!"
Even the Senju, who were far more composed, could not hide their shock.
Because they now understood something clearly.
They had not merely chosen an alliance.
They had chosen a ruler.
As for everyone else, confusion, fear, and regret filled their hearts.
What exactly are we fighting?
Is this even a human being?
Can we still back out?
Yet deep down, they already knew the answer.
It was too late.
Because above them, a dragon covered the sky.
And below it stood the man who had created it.
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