Deep within the subterranean laboratory beneath Demon Sealing Mountain in the Land of Swamps.
Tatsuya and Jizo were both preoccupied, each standing before an operating table, busy dealing with several clone bodies that had undergone experimentation.
They had already spent over two months secluded in this underground facility. Thanks to the substantial financial backing provided by Yakugakure, Tatsuya and Jizo had been simultaneously accelerating the maturation of clone bodies and conducting experiments using both the Fujinhoin and the Body Activation Technique.
However, their experiments regarding Sharingan activation and evolution remained completely stalled, showing no progress whatsoever.
Poof!
Just as Tatsuya was engrossed in his work, a puff of white smoke suddenly erupted beside him. An orange cat appeared at his feet, a small intelligence scroll held firmly in its mouth.
This was the summoning ninja cat Tatsuya used to communicate with Pakura. As a precaution, he had specifically left the cat at the Miko's Palace before departing the Land of Demons. Shion had also grown quite fond of the adorable ninja cat.
"Meow! Lord Tatsuya, a message from the Land of Demons," the orange cat announced, rubbing affectionately against Tatsuya's leg.
"Oh? Let me see." Surprise flickered across Tatsuya's face. He reached down, took the intelligence scroll, and began to read.
As he absorbed the information contained within, Tatsuya's brow furrowed slightly.
"What is it?" Jizo inquired from the adjacent table.
"I have to return to the Land of Demons immediately," Tatsuya stated gravely, handing the scroll over to Jizo.
Jizo took the scroll and read it, his own expression turning somber.
The Miko was fading fast.
Before the end, she wished for Tatsuya to return to the Miko's Palace one last time.
"I'm leaving now."
Once Jizo finished reading, Tatsuya wasted no time. With a final word, he departed the laboratory, setting off immediately for the Land of Demons.
Left alone in the subterranean lab, a faint sigh echoed in the stillness.
To think the kind, gentle Miko would pass away so soon!
Hearing the news, Tatsuya's heart was heavy with complex emotions. Honestly, if their positions were reversed, Tatsuya doubted he would choose to sacrifice his own life to save others.
He traveled swiftly. The distance between the Land of Swamps and the Land of Demons wasn't vast, and he reached the Miko's Palace in just two days.
"Your Highness."
Entering the Miko's bedchamber, Tatsuya found her lying quietly upon the bed. Her features were still gentle and beautiful, but her complexion was unnervingly pale, almost translucent.
"Tatsuya-kun, you've returned," the Miko murmured, her eyelids fluttering open at the sound of his voice. She offered him a faint, gentle smile.
"Your Highness, let me help you." Seeing her frail state, Tatsuya felt a pang of sorrow. He quickly stepped forward, intending to transfer his life energy to her.
The Miko smiled softly at his words and shook her head. "It's no use." Speaking seemed to require immense effort; her life force was clearly fading fast, like a lamp running out of oil.
Tatsuya ignored her protest, gently taking her hand and beginning the transfer of life energy.
But almost instantly, his expression froze, then shifted to one of resignation. The Miko's body was like a sieve, riddled with holes. The life energy he poured into her leaked out almost as quickly as it entered, utterly useless against her condition.
"Tatsuya-kun, your power is truly wondrous, possessing such abundant vitality!" the Miko said with a peaceful smile, explaining gently. "However, the constitution of a Miko is unique. My wounds are… to my soul. Your power cannot help me."
"Your Highness… is there anything else I can do for you?" Tatsuya retracted his hands, remaining silent for a moment before asking.
"Tatsuya-kun, after I am gone, I wish to ask you to look after Shion, and the Land of Demons," the Miko requested softly.
"Even if you hadn't asked, Your Highness, I would do my utmost," Tatsuya nodded in agreement. The Miko had provided invaluable assistance regarding the laboratory at Demon Sealing Mountain. Whether out of obligation or mutual benefit, Tatsuya would not stand by and allow outside forces to threaten the safety of the Miko's Palace or the Land of Demons.
The Miko shook her head again. "Tatsuya-kun, I believe you misunderstand. What I desire isn't merely your help for Shion and the Land of Demons in times of crisis, but for you to leave a permanent clone body here in the Land of Demons."
As she spoke, her eyes, fixed on Tatsuya, shone with earnest hope.
"Your Highness… I promise you."
Tatsuya paused, taken aback for a second, before nodding firmly once more.
Jizo will be permanently stationed at Demon Sealing Mountain in the Land of Swamps anyway, he reasoned internally. Leaving another clone body at the Miko's Palace isn't a problem. Besides, the Miko wouldn't be able to tell if it was truly a 'permanent' existence or not. And with Jizo nearby to potentially provide energy reinforcement, even an ordinary clone body could persist for a very long time.
"Tatsuya-kun, I knew I wasn't mistaken about you. Shion and the Land of Demons will be in your care now," the Miko smiled, reaching out to gently grasp his right hand.
Then, as if recalling something important, she continued with noticeable effort, "Tatsuya-kun, while I don't know the specifics of what you are trying to achieve… there is something I must remind you."
"Your clone bodies are exceedingly useful and ingenious, but the human soul is a peculiar thing. It does not simply spring into existence from nothing, nor can it be easily divided."
"The independent entities that shinobi create using ninjutsu, leveraging the properties of chakra… fundamentally, their souls are incomplete. They are merely copies of the caster at a specific point in time. If you intend to use them for experiments involving the soul or spiritual energy… it is impossible for them to succeed."
Having imparted these words, the Miko closed her eyes, seemingly exhausted, her spirit and energy utterly spent.
Tatsuya stood frozen in place, stunned.
The Miko's words struck him like a bolt from the blue, instantly shattering the tunnel vision he'd developed during his relentless experiments.
He finally understood what Jizo had meant by "it feels like something is missing"!
The Soul!
A complete, independent soul!
Not a copy of himself!
To awaken and evolve the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan, the primary condition was that the user must be an individual possessing independent, autonomous consciousness. Even a clone body would need to develop its own independent consciousness during its cultivation process.
The clone bodies Tatsuya had created by exploiting the principles of Shadow Clone Jutsu could be controlled to use the Sharingan, but they could never evolve it themselves.
This revelation was a harsh slap of reality, shattering Tatsuya's grand plan to mass-awaken and evolve Sharingan using the demon's malevolent will.
His plan was fundamentally impossible!
Unless… unless Tatsuya dared to risk letting the clone bodies develop their own consciousness, facing the immense danger of them becoming uncontrollable.
That was a risk Tatsuya was absolutely unwilling to take. The potential danger was far too great, and the reward was merely the possibility of successfully obtaining Mangekyō Sharingan.
After a long moment, his expression grim, Tatsuya turned and left the Miko's bedchamber.
Just as he stepped outside, he saw Shion waiting for him.
Tatsuya paused.
"Big Brother… is Mother… is she going to die?" Shion tilted her head up, her eyes already brimming with tears that threatened to spill, her voice choked with sobs.
Tatsuya reached out his right hand and gently pulled the small girl into an embrace.
Sob...
Low whimpers slowly filled the air as Tatsuya felt his robes grow damp where she cried against his waist.
Not far behind Shion, a handsome young boy stood quietly, observing.