Even within the Uchiha clan, awakening the Three Tomoe Sharingan at a young age was rare and remarkable. Those who did were often regarded as elite combat assets. At Fenghuo's current age, achieving this milestone hinted at vast potential.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, received the report, he immediately ordered a media blackout on the incident.
"Could Fenghuo… actually awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
Hiruzen muttered to himself as he puffed on his pipe, his brows furrowed with unease. A shadow passed through his mind—Madara Uchiha.
"Will those cursed eyes return to Konoha once more…?"
He shook his head, more to dispel the thought than answer it.
"No. Fenghuo's a good kid. He would never…"
Puff
He drew sharply from his pipe again, but the tension in his shoulders did not ease.
After three days lying unconscious in a hospital bed, Fenghuo finally opened his eyes.
"Fenghuo, you're awake! Are you alright?" asked Yuhi Kurenai worriedly.
She had come by every day after class to sit by his side. Now, seeing him stir at last, she exhaled in relief.
"Huh…?" Fenghuo's breathing was labored. His thoughts swam sluggishly. "Where am I…?"
"You're in the hospital!" Kurenai jumped to her feet and rushed to the door. "Sister Nonō! Fenghuo's awake!"
A blonde woman with round glasses entered, her calm smile easing the tension in the room.
Nonō Yakushi?
Fenghuo blinked. The sight of her startled him.
"Sister Nonō, I already gave the money I owed you to Lady Tsunade—you can ask her about it. Wait, no, I mean—why are you here?"
Nonō chuckled softly at his flustered expression.
"Shh. Don't speak just yet. Try to remember what happened."
Fenghuo nodded faintly and shut his eyes, inhaling deeply.
In order to evolve his Two Tomoe Sharingan to Three Tomoe, he had subjected himself to layered Genjutsu, using emotional shock as a catalyst. But the illusions had merged in unexpected ways, creating a completely new mental landscape that trapped his consciousness.
Yamanaka… Inoichi?!
He shuddered as a memory surfaced—Inoichi Yamanaka had appeared within the illusion.
The Yamanaka Clan specializes in mind techniques. Was I so deeply trapped that Inoichi was sent in to retrieve me?
But these illusions had drawn from memories of his previous life… Did Inoichi see any of that?
Fenghuo didn't think so. After all, interdimensional reincarnation wasn't something people in this world would even consider.
Still… my Sharingan—did it evolve? Did I succeed?
His final memories before losing consciousness were hazy. If it had failed, all his effort and risk might've been for nothing.
Each time he tampered with his own psyche using Genjutsu, it became increasingly dangerous. Without Inoichi's timely intervention, he might never have escaped.
I can't keep doing this…
But a curious thought flickered in his mind:
Was that illusion… entirely new? Something never seen before?
He had only intended to layer basic Genjutsu and incorporate visions from his past life, but somehow they fused into an entirely original illusion space.
A new technique born from chaos…?
He made a mental note to reconstruct the steps when he was discharged. If it could be replicated, it might be a revolutionary Genjutsu.
Fenghuo's eyes flew open.
"Sister Nonō, how are you? Has Danzō caused you any trouble?"
Nonō's smile turned gentle.
"It's alright now. Lady Tsunade took me in at the Senju compound, and Lord Hokage has worked things out with Danzō. I've officially left Root."
"That's great news," Fenghuo said sincerely.
But her expression turned serious.
"Now it's your turn. What exactly happened? Inoichi told us your Genjutsu was unlike anything in the records. He couldn't even identify it."
Fenghuo managed a calm expression and lied without a pause:
"Honestly… it was an accident. I saw how Kakuzu combined elemental jutsu in battle and wondered if Genjutsu could be layered in a similar way. I tried it, and well—you saw what happened. I nearly trapped myself permanently."
"Layered Genjutsu?" Nonō murmured. "No wonder even Inoichi hadn't seen anything like it…"
"Fenghuo, drink some water!" Kurenai bustled over, pouring tea and peeling fruit with practiced hands.
Nonō gave her a knowing smile.
"You've been taking very good care of him."
Fenghuo groaned and turned his head.
"Hong, don't you have class?"
"I graduated yesterday!" Kurenai beamed, pulling out a brand-new forehead protector. "Look! I'm officially a Genin now!"
"Congrats, Hong! What about Obito and the others?"
"Obito, Rin, and Asuma all graduated too. But I didn't tell them about your condition—Dad said not to."
Fenghuo blinked. Time had passed faster than he expected. Everyone was moving forward.
And with the Third Great Ninja War looming… everything would soon change.
In the Hokage's Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was joined by Hatake Sakumo, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Ino-Shika-Cho, Yuhi Mako, and Minato Namikaze. All listened in silence as Inoichi Yamanaka delivered his report.
"I've reviewed all the records in the archives," Inoichi said grimly. "The Genjutsu used on Fenghuo bears strong resemblance to a forbidden Uchiha technique—Izanami."
Gasps echoed around the room.
"Izanami?" Sarutobi repeated.
"Yes. It's said to be one of the ultimate Genjutsu. Once trapped inside it, the victim experiences an endless time loop. The technique only ends when they accept the truth the caster wishes them to face. It forcibly rewrites the target's will."
A tense silence fell.
If Fenghuo had truly been subjected to Izanami… and had awakened peacefully… did that mean he had been changed?
"Can you confirm this?" Hiruzen asked, voice tight.
Inoichi shook his head. "No, Hokage-sama. I can't be sure. The structure was similar—but not identical."
Minato stepped forward.
"That kind of Genjutsu… can it really exist? Something that changes a person's heart?"
"Yes. But the cost to cast Izanami is enormous—it sacrifices one Sharingan eye," Inoichi added gravely.
Yuhi Mako crossed his arms.
"Then why use it on Fenghuo of all people? If the Uchiha were going to deploy something so devastating, they'd use it on one of us."
Orochimaru's voice was cold.
"Perhaps it's time for Anbu's Interrogation Division to get involved."
The room grew tense.
"Absolutely not!" Minato interjected. "I won't allow that. I trust Fenghuo."
Yuhi Mako nodded. "So do I."
Hiruzen remained silent, pipe clenched between his teeth as smoke curled around his furrowed brow.
The stakes had just risen.
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