The Sharingan, also known as the "Eye that Reflects the Heart," is a visual manifestation of the deep "love" inherent within the Uchiha clan. When an Uchiha experiences the loss of that love, a unique chakra floods their brain, stimulating the optic nerves and triggering a transformation of the eye.
This transformation occurs progressively, with the intensity of "love" directly influencing the eye's power.
And when that love reaches its emotional extreme, it awakens the Mangekyō Sharingan.
This eye, capable of perceiving the Three Realms, holds within it terrifying ocular powers of world-shattering magnitude.
Naturally, awakening the Mangekyō requires an overwhelming emotional experience—extreme "love."
But this love is not uniform—it varies from person to person. Even if two individuals unlock the Mangekyō, the resulting abilities and ocular power will differ depending on the depth and nature of their love.
Without a doubt, Uchiha Fugaku, who had realized his dream of becoming the Fifth Hokage, had a form of love that could never match the twisted, unstable, and delusional obsession harbored by a certain Uchiha Obito.
What's more, Fugaku's eyes were already nearing blindness, his ocular power nearly drained. In contrast, Obito, having incorporated Hashirama cells, maintained a stable and abundant supply of ocular power.
Despite possessing a complete pair of Mangekyō, Fugaku was no match for Obito when it came to a clash of ocular power.
"So… I've lost, huh…"
The searing pain in his eye sockets made Uchiha Fugaku tremble uncontrollably, but even worse than the pain was the collapse of the belief that he was invincible.
Losing to Yuki Yoru—he could accept that. That man was the master of souls, someone even the Rinnegan couldn't best—a true Shinigami.
Losing to Uchiha Shisui—he could accept that too. Shisui was the brightest genius of the Uchiha clan, and combined with the power of a Shinigami, it was no surprise he was unstoppable.
But to lose to this ridiculous experiment of a kekkei genkai, a pretentious fraud…
He was the Hokage! He had awakened the Mangekyō, accomplished something none of his ancestors had! So why…
What the hell did that make him?
"Enough of this pathetic display, Uchiha Fugaku. You're the Hokage, aren't you?"
Uchiha Obito inhaled deeply, suppressing the lingering dread of his previous brush with despair and spoke in a cold tone.
"You, a Hokage who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, defeated after one confrontation with me—and this is how you react?"
"You disappoint me, Uchiha Fugaku."
Fugaku remained silent, fists clenched tightly.
Obito snorted in disdain and continued his performance.
"Actually, I understand what you're feeling. Back then, I carried my brother's eyes, bearing the Uchiha clan's honor, and fought Hashirama in a decisive battle, but ultimately... I lost to Hashirama."
"Compared to that moment, what you're going through is nothing. But never mind that."
"I can help you restore your depleted ocular power. And all I ask is a small favor in return. You won't even need to wag your tail for Yuki Yoru."
The mention of recovering his eyesight stirred something within Fugaku. He slowly raised his head to look at Obito.
He knew Obito was probably full of crap, but if he really could help him recover his eyes, it wouldn't hurt to entertain the conversation.
"I won't make an enemy of Yuki Yoru," Fugaku said in a low voice.
"Of course not. With your strength, you'd barely scratch that guy anyway."
Obito scoffed. "I just need you to make use of your identity as Hokage and your current relationship with Yoru to help me retrieve something."
"Don't worry, it's nothing too important—just a few insignificant brats…"
...
"That surge of power just now… what was that?"
On Shadow Island, Miroku, who had been overseeing the spiritual training of over a thousand people, froze and instinctively looked toward one of Yoru's shadow clones busy crafting some kind of special technique.
Yoru was carefully examining a thin layer of Reishi enveloping his arm. He occasionally struck it using chakra, physical attacks, and even spiritual power.
But all attacks, even reishi-based ones, were blocked by that barrier.
"Looks like it's ready…"
Yoru murmured to himself, then noticed Miroku's gaze and said,
"Don't worry. That was just my power being triggered. You're the first Quincy in this world and the key to distribute my spiritual power, so it makes sense you'd feel it."
"Your power… it's the same as what I've learned?!"
Miroku's eyes widened with curiosity. "Who did you give it to? What's the Schrift?"
"Hmm?"
Yoru raised a brow, and Miroku immediately pouted.
"Sorry, I was just too curious…"
"It's nothing. Just a very talented little girl. If she matures properly, she'll be part of my future Royal Guard."
Miroku's breath caught.
Yuki Yoru saw himself as the source of all Shinigami power, the Emperor above all. Once the Quincy system was fully integrated into Kirigakure and all of Water Country, it would no longer be a land of ninja—but a Quincy empire..
Within that empire, the best of the best would be granted a "Schrift" by the Emperor himself and become members of the Sternritter.
According to Yoru's projections, even the weakest Sternritter would rival a Captain of the Gotei 13.
And the very best—four of them—would be selected to form a "Royal Guard", a personal unit serving the Invisible Empire's Emperor: Yuki Yoru.
Originally, Miroku assumed this guard would only be chosen after the entire empire and Sternritter were established. But Yoru had already selected someone.
That little girl was that gifted?
"No need to look so shocked. Your position outranks the Royal Guard," Yoru said casually, throwing a scroll toward Miroku.
"Oh Please, I'm just a transmission tool…"
Miroku caught it and unrolled it, muttering. But as her eyes scanned the contents, she was utterly stunned.
"This is…"
"A Quincy technique I developed based on a Hollow's Hierro (steel skin)," Yoru explained.
"Unlike Shinigami or Hollows who can completely spiritualize their bodies, Quincies retain human physiology. That makes them extremely fragile. Even minor injuries can be fatal. So I created this technique."
"Blut... Vene? (Stilled Blood Guise)
Miroku swallowed. "Is this really possible?"
"The principle is to inject reishi into the blood vessels, significantly enhancing physical defense. Since Quincies already fuse their internal energy with spiritual power, any Quincy can do this."
"Just follow the steps in the scroll—use reishi to inscribe special defensive markings within your blood vessels, strengthening your body's defenses."
Following Yoru's instructions, Miroku tried it herself. As she infused her blood vessels with spiritual energy, light blue patterns appeared across her skin.
With a flick of his hand, Yoru shot an ice spike at her neck. Miroku flinched instinctively, but the moment it made contact, it was completely deflected.
"Whoa!"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement like a child discovering a new toy, patting and inspecting her own body.
"The strength of the Blut Vene increases with spiritual power. Even its weakest form can block Kido of level 30 or lower or standard Jonin-level ninjutsu."
"And since Quincies are still living humans, this technique is passive—once inscribed, your own spiritual power will maintain it permanently. It becomes part of you, like your own skin."
As Yoru explained, the Quincification continued spreading. The future of Kirigakure—and all of Water Country—was inevitably to become a land of Quincies.
To prevent weaker citizens from being exploited or used in dark experiments, this technique gave them the means to defend themselves.
"This is a genius invention made specifically for Quincies!"
Miroku was ecstatic. As the world's first Quincy and the Imperial Guru, anything that could be universally applied for protection brought her immense joy.
"Yes. There's also the Blut Arterie, which boosts offensive power, but it's still in development," Yoru added.
"Amazing, truly amazing!"
"Heh. It was nothing."
Yoru smiled faintly, a mysterious glint in his eyes.
The Schrift he gave to Hinata was a special one. It would only activate under near-death circumstances, as she hadn't matured yet.
He had also planted monitoring cells in her body.
And in Fugaku's as well.
So Yoru was fully aware of everything happening in the Land of Fire—including Obito's little plan involving Fugaku to snatch a few kids.
"Kaguya Kimimaro… Interesting. So he's targeting that little one?"
Kaguya Kimimaro, the prodigy of the Kaguya clan, was now four and a half—over a year older than Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata.
He was born a genius, awakening the Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse) at birth. The Kaguya clan head even claimed Kimimaro was the greatest prodigy in centuries—possibly a once-in-a-thousand-years monster.
His talent was so overwhelming that even his own clan members feared him, calling him a freak and shunning him.
If not for Yuki Yoru discovering him, Kimimaro might've ended up just like in the original timeline—locked up as a human shield by the war-crazed Kaguya clan.
Now, thanks to Yoru, he was treated as the clan's most precious treasure. Though only four years old, he was already a little tyrant at the Kirigakure preschool.
The only concern was that signs of Kekkei Genkai sickness were beginning to surface—slowed growth, chronic coughing, and so on.
Both Orochimaru and Yukiko were already investigating, but progress was slow. The Kaguya elders were worried, afraid their brightest star might burn out too soon.
After all, even if a soul were chosen as a Shinigami by the Fourth Mizukage after death, no one in Kirigakure had ever become Mizukage posthumously.
Kimimaro's rise had sparked new ambition among the once battle-obsessed Kaguya—political ambitions.
Kirigakure was no longer the devastated, war-torn village left behind by the Third Mizukage. Under the Fourth, it had become the most prosperous and militarily powerful village in the ninja world—and it was only growing stronger.
To inherit such a flourishing nation and become the ruling clan of a golden age—who wouldn't want that?
"Kimimaro's talent is undeniable, but he's not ready to catch Obito's eye just yet. Is it the Kaguya bloodline he's after?"
"Hyūga first, now Kaguya… Interesting. What are you planning, Obito?"
Yoru muttered quietly. He didn't mind Obito stirring up trouble in the shinobi world—at least it added some color before the Ōtsutsuki inevitably arrived.
However—
Kimimaro was one of the Sternritter Yoru had already marked for greatness—possibly even future Royal Guard material.
He wouldn't let Obito ruin such a promising seedling.
Also—
"You've underestimated Fugaku's heart and pride, Obito."
"Anyone capable of awakening the Mangekyō… isn't someone you can manipulate so easily."
Poof!
With a burst of white smoke, a tense, visibly restless figure appeared behind Yoru via Reverse Summoning—
It was Uchiha Fugaku.
"Fourth Mizukage! I have information of utmost importance to report!"