Black Zetsu's yellow eyes flickered as he observed Ash's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
"This kid… his Mangekyō is already eternal. How? Those eyes shouldn't just appear out of nowhere."
Before Ash could refuse again, a distorted space vortex spun open in front of him.
A figure stepped out — a man cloaked in the Akatsuki's red-cloud coat, his face hidden behind an orange spiral mask.
Ash instantly sat up straight, Aura tense.
So he finally shows up — the masked man. The true manipulator behind Akatsuki.
His space-time ninjutsu… Kamui… that's no joke.
"We're still negotiating," White Zetsu replied lazily, turning to the masked man. "But he doesn't seem very eager to join."
The masked man's lone eye fixed onto Ash.
"There's no need for haste. Akatsuki offers great benefits. Consider them carefully. Are you sure you want to refuse?"
Ash stared back sharply.
"And who exactly are you supposed to be? Another Uchiha?"
There was a short silence… then the masked man spoke in a low voice:
"Uchiha… yes. My name is Uchiha Madara."
Ash snorted.
"Don't insult my intelligence. If Madara were still alive, he'd be well over a hundred years old — not walking around with a freshly awakened Mangekyō."
Through his Sharingan, Ash clearly sensed it — the masked man's eyes were ordinary Mangekyō, not eternal.
No matter how well he masked his chakra, Ash wouldn't mistake that.
This guy is definitely not Madara.
The masked man's Sharingan tightened in shock.
He knows the distinction…? The Eternal Mangekyō and its evolution conditions… How? Even most Uchiha never learned the truth.
Ash folded his arms, eyes gleaming with confidence.
"The Mangekyō exists between a normal Sharingan and the Eternal Mangekyō. I evolved mine the same way — transcending the limit."
The masked man's silence confirmed Ash's guess.
He didn't deny it — meaning Ash had hit the mark.
"You know far more than you should," the masked man muttered. "How could someone like you know about the Eternal Mangekyō at all?"
Ash's response was cold:
"Don't underestimate people just because they aren't in your little circle."
From his cloak, he retrieved a scroll and tossed it to the masked man.
The masked man caught it easily, eye narrowing.
"What's this?"
"The method I used," Ash answered. "My personal research into Sharingan evolution."
He kept his tone firm but indifferent — projecting confidence was essential here.
My parents in this world are gone… so I may as well bluff.
The masked man scanned the scroll, brow furrowing.
"…Bloodline Genetic Factor?"
He didn't fully understand, but it clearly intrigued him.
Ash continued smoothly:
"You've investigated me, right? My lineage traces back to the Uchiha clan — diluted across generations. Three or four generations passed without a single Sharingan awakening. Our blood weakened… contaminated by constant marriages outside the clan."
He tapped his chest.
"But in a life-or-death moment, that buried power awakened — both my Mangekyō and the Curse Mark of Immortality."
He said it like pure fact.
The implication was simple:
→ His spiritual power, empowered by the curse seal, pushed his Mangekyō to Eternal evolution.
And the masked man… believed it.
Ash had already asked his system before: there are multiple methods to evolve the Sharingan, but each one is extremely difficult.
Directly evolving from Mangekyō into Eternal Mangekyō requires an overwhelming surge of spiritual energy.
It was possible — just not for ordinary people.
Spiritual power wasn't something that improved with simple training.
If it weren't for the Immortal Curse Mark he possessed, his eyes might never have reached eternity.
"So that's it…"
The masked man's voice deepened thoughtfully.
"The Libra Clan's Immortal Curse Mark. Seems marriages outside the clan do occasionally bear benefits."
He recalled that the Libra clan's Curse Mark dramatically boosted power — at the cost of turning the user into a violent berserker, usually erasing their will entirely.
Naturally, he had a question:
"Once that Curse Mark activates, you should lose control of your mind. Why do you still remain yourself?"
Ash replied calmly, without hesitation:
"No idea. Maybe it's the influence of my Sharingan… or maybe I simply possess better control over chakra — and even chakra's spiritual aspects."
It didn't matter whether his response made sense.
The masked man had no way to verify his evolution method anyway.
Ash folded his arms.
"So, Masked Man — who are you really?"
The figure stood silent for a moment before replying:
"Who I am doesn't matter. Call me Madara… or call me Tobi."
He offered two names — both masks in their own right.
His refusal to answer truthfully made Ash's eyes narrow.
This guy is hiding more secrets than he reveals… typical.
The masked man extended a gloved hand, voice cold yet persuasive:
"Think about it.
Join the Akatsuki.
You understand it better than most — the pain this world's endless wars create."
...
TN:
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