"Susanoo?" Orochimaru murmured the name, nodding slightly.
"Also, each of my eyes possesses a unique jutsu." Shisui hesitated for a moment, but after glancing at Kagetsu and Anko, he clenched his teeth and decided to explain.
"A unique jutsu tied to your eyes?" Orochimaru's curiosity deepened. "Could you tell me more, Shisui?"
"My left eye holds a genjutsu called Kotoamatsukami. It allows me to infiltrate someone's mind without them noticing, subtly altering their consciousness and turning them into my puppet," Shisui explained, his gaze steady as he studied Orochimaru's reaction.
However, Orochimaru remained composed, showing neither fear nor displeasure at the revelation.
"Are you worried this ability will make others fear or resent you?" Kagetsu, sealing a vial of blood he had just drawn, easily saw through Shisui's concerns and voiced them.
"Shouldn't I be?" Shisui asked, looking at Kagetsu with confusion.
"The Uchiha clan is known for its mastery of genjutsu. The stronger the Sharingan, the more powerful the illusions. Even without Kotoamatsukami, a Mangekyo user would already have a high chance of controlling others through genjutsu," Kagetsu explained calmly.
"What makes Kotoamatsukami special is its subtlety. But once people know what it does and prepare for it in advance, it won't always achieve the results you hope for," he added.
His gaze shifted toward Orochimaru. "And in the end, it still requires chakra to activate, meaning it's just another genjutsu. No jutsu is without weaknesses."
"You don't have to be so wary of me," Orochimaru interjected with a sly smile. "I'm merely interested in your eyes, Shisui. I'm not like the Konoha Council, who might try to exploit or covet their power.
"But as Kagetsu said, every jutsu has a counter. At least here in Konoha, the Hyuga clan's Byakugan could easily detect the traces of any genjutsu. Still, you should keep your abilities—and your eyes—secret," Orochimaru advised, immediately picking up on Kagetsu's concerns.
"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru!" Shisui gave Kagetsu a grateful look and expressed his thanks to Orochimaru as well.
"What about the ability in your other eye?" Orochimaru asked, waving off the thanks.
"The other ability is called Futsunushi-no-Kami. It represents stability and protection. It can safeguard me or provide powerful protection to my allies," Shisui said without hesitation.
Kagetsu looked surprised at this. He had always thought that Shisui's Mangekyo abilities revolved entirely around Kotoamatsukami, with only slight differences in duration between uses.
But now it seemed there was more to his eyes than anyone had officially confirmed.
Was it a memory mistake?
Or has the world itself changed?
After all, the Sharingan is an eye that reflects the heart. Different experiences shape the abilities it unlocks. However, the pursuit of order and stability seemed perfectly aligned with Shisui's deepest desires.
Kagetsu had learned quite a bit about the so-called gods of this world. According to their classifications, Futsunushi-no-Kami could technically be considered one of the five deities associated with the Kotoamatsukami techniques.
Besides symbolizing stability and protection, Futsunushi-no-Kami also represented self-restraint and limitation.
It possessed immense power but chose not to abuse it. Instead, it actively kept its power in check to remain on equal footing with the other gods and faithfully followed Amaterasu's leadership.
This form of self-restraint embodied respect for order and stability. It sought to prevent others from exploiting its strength to create chaos or disrupt governance.
For generations, clans have named their unique techniques to reflect divine abilities, often drawing inspiration from their skills and beliefs.
So, Shisui remained the same—a ninja devoted to order and protection, yet bound by a powerful sense of self-discipline.
A man like that would never use his Mangekyō Sharingan on those close to him, not unless commanded by superiors or if the situation spiraled into absolute chaos.
"Did you lose someone important inside the illusion?" Orochimaru mused, quickly concluding that Shisui might have experienced significant loss within that dream world. His gaze flickered briefly toward Kagetsu and Anko, hinting at unspoken thoughts.
"This is eye ointment—it'll help relieve the strain on your optic nerves. Based on the readings, you just awakened the Mangekyō, and the pressure on your nerves is severe.
Though the Mangekyō is incredibly powerful, the damage it inflicts on both the mind and eyes is irreversible. This ointment can't solve the core problem, but it will ease your symptoms for now.
Be careful not to overuse the Mangekyō. The more you rely on its power, the worse the damage to your optic nerves will become."
Kagetsu glanced at the medical data displayed on the instruments. After reviewing Shisui's condition, he took a small porcelain jar—about the size of a teacup—and pressed it into Shisui's hand.
Shisui accepted the ointment with a slight nod. As a descendant of Uchiha Kagami, he was well aware of the side effects that came with the Sharingan's abilities.
"For now, avoid activating the Mangekyō again," Kagetsu warned as he saw Shisui off. "At least let your body and eyes recover before trying anything."
Shisui nodded quietly in acknowledgment.
As Kagetsu watched Shisui leave, he turned toward the laboratory, only to feel a pair of hands suddenly grip his arm, holding him firmly in place.
Following the line of sight up along the arm, it landed on the face of the arm's owner. Seeing that stubborn and frustrated expression, Kagetsu tried to pull his hand away.
It didn't come loose!
Instead, the grip tightened even more!
"What do you want?" Kagetsu asked, feeling a bit helpless as he looked at Anko.
"We trained under the same teacher, learned the same things, grew up together! So why did you and Shisui suddenly leave me behind?!" Anko cried out in frustration.
In their three-person squad, Shisui was on another level, but Kagetsu? He was supposed to be the support, the medical nin! Yet somehow, now even he was stronger than her, the one who was supposed to be the main fighter after intense training!
If things kept going , she'd become the weakest member of the team!
And that was something she absolutely couldn't accept!
"Is there a way to get stronger? You must have a way to get stronger, right?" Anko's eyes locked onto Kagetsu's, her questions coming one after another.
"You want to get stronger?" Kagetsu asked, looking her in the eye.
"Next time... I don't want to run away!" Tears welled up in Anko's eyes, blurring her vision.
"I don't teach people how to become stronger," Kagetsu said, shaking his head at the pitiful look on her face. As her expression twisted with even more sadness, he spoke again. "But... are you willing to take on some risks, undergo some modifications, and use special equipment?"
Anko's tears flowed even harder. Images of Jūgo flashed through her mind as she clenched her teeth and gave a fierce nod.
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