Without a doubt, making Sasuke Uchiha beg for help was a task no less difficult than conquering the entire shinobi world.
Having inherited the chakra of Indra, a spirit of unyielding defiance radiated from his very bones. Ever since the Uchiha clan massacre, he had never once bowed to ask a favor of anyone. Disregarding the power of words and ideology, he preferred to believe in fists and blades, believing that with his Sharingan, he could change everything.
When he saw the Mangekyō Sharingan, the symbol of the Uchiha clan's ultimate power, manifested in the eyes of two canines, Sasuke's initial reaction was rage, an unparalleled fury. He felt as though Allen was intentionally humiliating him, mocking the glory and honor associated with the Uchiha name.
However, he was simultaneously drawn to the Mangekyō's immense power. Combined with the pressure and threat posed by Orochimaru, he finally gritted his teeth and forced a sentence out of his throat: "I... I beg you to help me evolve these eyes into the Mangekyō!"
"Sorry, your voice was too low. I didn't hear you clearly. Could you repeat that?" A playful smile played across Allen's face.
"Damn it! Don't push it too far!" Sasuke roared in humiliated rage.
Unfortunately, Allen cared nothing for such impotent fury. He remained unmoved and insisted, "If you're asking for a favor, show the proper attitude. Do as I say. Repeat it. Louder! Clearer articulation!"
Left with no choice, Sasuke cast aside his frustration and shame, suppressed his irritation, and repeated his request.
Just as he thought the ordeal was over and was about to demand the upgrade, he noticed Allen holding a flat, rectangular device—a smartphone. He had recorded the entire audio and visual exchange and was now replaying it over and over. Allen turned to Karin and Neji, saying quite seriously, "See this? If Sasuke Uchiha ever does anything to betray us in the future, this will serve as irrefutable evidence."
"You bastard! Are you trying to humiliate me?"
Seeing his own awkward expression and voice on the phone's display, Sasuke finally snapped. People with pride as high as his simply couldn't tolerate such embarrassing leverage falling into the hands of others. Without another word, he charged forward with Chidori.
However, that phone was Allen's last remaining piece of modern entertainment technology. Even if it only functioned as a music player now, having it was better than nothing. He wasn't about to let it be destroyed by a Chidori. He met the charge with a direct punch.
BOOM!
Outmatched in reaction, speed, and strength, Sasuke was sent flying. He slammed into the back wall and instantly lost his ability to move.
Allen tucked away the phone and walked over, saying meaningfully, "It was just a joke, no need to get so angry. As promised, I'll help you evolve those Sharingan now."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he extended a finger. With the assistance of the red dragon Vaelastrasz, he injected Yin Release chakra into Sasuke's optic nerves.
Before Sasuke could realize what was happening, an indescribable sensation swept through his brain. The bloody, cruel images of the massacre night replayed before his eyes like a film on loop. Under the dual torture of mental and physical agony, he finally couldn't hold back a piercing scream: "AAAAHHHHH!!!"
Amidst that heart-wrenching cry, the tomoe in his crimson eyes finally connected, shifting into the shape of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
The process lasted a full minute. Only when the intense external stimuli subsided did Sasuke realize what had happened. He reached up to touch the streaks of blood and tears falling from his eyes, asking in disbelief, "My... my eyes are already Mangekyō?"
"Ah! Congratulations! You finally have the power to face elites like Itachi and Orochimaru head-on. However, over the coming period, you'll need a series of training and development sessions until you can use them proficiently. Also, a warning: the ocular power of the Mangekyō is limited. From the moment you awaken them, the more you use them, the faster they diminish. Once they are entirely exhausted, you will go blind," Allen reminded him nonchalantly.
"Then what's the solution? You must know a way, right?" Sasuke pressed, his voice urgent.
Allen nodded with a smile. "Of course! Generally, there are three paths you can choose."
"First: Take Itachi's eyes and transplant them. This upgrades the ordinary Mangekyō to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, and you'll never face that problem again."
"Second: Transplant cells containing Yang Release, specifically the cells of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. Use their immense regenerative capabilities to constantly replenish and repair the eyes."
"Third: Merge Yin and Yang to evolve the Sharingan into the Rinnegan, like the eyes Nagato possesses."
"Personally, I suggest the first option. It is the simplest, most effective, and highest success-rate method with zero risk. After all, Itachi's eyes are already overused; his vision has deteriorated to the point where he can barely see, and he is suffering from a terminal illness with not long left to live. I believe he intends for this to happen himself."
"What? You're saying Itachi is dying?"
Sasuke was clearly hearing about his brother's health for the first time, and he was visibly stunned. In his memory, Itachi had always been a powerful, composed figure, hardly someone who looked like they were terminally ill.
"He probably has about three years of life left. If you want to settle this debt of blood personally, you'd better move fast."
Allen didn't hide anything, giving a clear deadline. Though he certainly had the ability to help terminal cases like Nagato or Itachi, he thought of the innocent people who had died because of them and immediately stifled the thought. Like Obito, the sins these men committed didn't deserve forgiveness or salvation; letting them vanish along with the old era was the best choice.
"Understood. Thank you!"
Upon hearing the news of his brother's impending death, a complex look appeared in Sasuke's eyes, as if he had matured significantly in an instant. Watching him disappear into the end of the sprawling underground tunnels of Otogakure, Allen turned to Karin and Neji.
"Are you ready? Next, we shall uncover the greatest secret of the shinobi world and make the final preparations for killing a god."
"No matter where we go or what enemy we face, I will follow you forever, until death," Karin declared with absolute conviction.
Neji touched his Byakugan and replied with a smile, "Is that even a question? I'm quite looking forward to the evolved form of the Byakugan you mentioned."
"Excellent! In that case, let us begin."
As the final word left his mouth, Allen activated his teleportation ability, immediately bringing his team into the dungeon instance.