The collapse of the Tsukuyomi world resulted in a massive spiritual backlash. While it left Uchiha Itachi unconscious, Uchiha Kaede also suffered extreme side effects.
Fortunately, the existence of the Heavenly Curse of the five Phantoms allowed the agony to be divided equally among the five bodies.
As their Training deepened, the wonders of this technique became increasingly apparent.
Although the four clones possessed varying levels of progress and strength, the constant exchange within their shared mental world allowed them to synchronize their wills perfectly.
To be precise, the Heavenly Curse of the five Phantoms was designed to be practiced alongside this vast, integrated consciousness network.
This ensured that even without matching Rinnegan, the five individuals could maintain identical perspectives and thoughts. Should the day come when the four clones cooperated with Shiraishi in battle, their combat effectiveness would far exceed a simple numerical advantage.
Hozuki Maigetsu held a ruler, a trace of concern in his eyes. "Uchiha Itachi's strength has exceeded our estimates. The existence of the Totsuka Blade and the Yata Mirror is a significant threat."
"Furthermore, he is now aware of the Main Body's existence."
Shiraishi remained unconcerned. "If you were Uchiha Itachi, and you found evidence that your clansmen were colluding with outsiders, what would you do?"
The rift between Itachi and his father, Fugaku, was deep. Without concrete proof, it would be difficult for Itachi to expose Kaede's conspiracy.
Reporting the matter to Konoha's high command would cast suspicion of treason not just on Kaede, but on the entire Uchiha clan.
In fact, even Itachi was likely convinced by now that a secret pact existed between the Uchiha and the Sand.
"I suspect the Night of the Massacre will be moved forward."
Driven by the belief that the Uchiha posed a direct threat to Konoha, Itachi might report to the elders or even take it upon himself to purge the clan prematurely.
"Uchiha bloodshed without significant damage to Konoha's leadership is inefficient," Shiraishi mused. "While it weakens Konoha's overall power, it might inadvertently make them more united."
In the original timeline, the Uchiha massacre occurred two years after Shisui's death. In this era, Itachi had used Obito as a scapegoat to dissolve misunderstandings, but ironically, that had only made the situation more volatile.
After a moment of reflection, Shiraishi made his decision. "Even if the massacre is moved forward, we must maximize the losses on both sides to weaken Konoha to the greatest extent. Have Kaede sound out Fugaku's actual attitude toward cooperating with the Sand."
Uchiha Fugaku was a rare, level-headed member of the clan. Though bound by family interests, he was more mature and pragmatic than the younger generation; such a man was a candidate for recruitment.
However, the Sand still required a large quantity of Sharingan. Beyond Orochimaru's cloning technology, they needed physical samples and cells from various Uchiha to cultivate a complete Sharingan Bead.
"The Sharingan Bead is the key to unlocking the 'Attribute Powers' currently sealed by the System. We must accelerate this progress."
Among the super-tools Shiraishi was crafting, the power of the Sharingan Bead could effectively augment the other four clones.
The attribute powers contained within would help them break through the System's locks and obtain the full legacy of the celestial inheritance.
The "System" seemed to have its own agenda in deliberately sealing these attributes, leaving the power structure incomplete.
"Regarding the 'mother' who has looked after you these past few years... arrange for her to be moved out of the village ahead of time."
Shiraishi knew that while Kaede remained stoic, he valued his surrogate Uchiha mother. To avoid unnecessary friction, Shiraishi intended for Kaede to evacuate her, along with a core faction of Uchiha loyalists—and ideally, Fugaku himself.
While the continent appeared calm on the surface despite the underlying currents, the situation at sea was far more perilous.
To push the "Great Maritime Strategy," the Sand's Navy Department was currently engaged in a fierce struggle with the Cloud and Leaf navies within the territorial waters of the Land of Bears and the Land of Steam.
The friction between major powers had given rise to numerous rogue ninja organizations and mercenary groups fighting tooth and nail across the waves.
In reality, a portion of these "pirates" were actually Sand Marines operating under a different flag.
On a normal day, the Navy Department flew the Sand flag. However, once a warship entered the waters of the Land of Steam or Bears, they would lower the official colors and hoist a Pirate Flag. They would then raid Leaf and Cloud bases, plundering resources and wealth.
This bloody expansion policy was initiated by Morimoto Ryoji under Shiraishi's direction. The current Fleet Admiral, Nagase Bizen, had not only continued this aggressive plunder but had intensified it under the Kazekage's orders.
Months later... off the coast of the Land of Bears, a warship approached slowly. Though it flew a unique flaming skull flag, its hull was clearly a standard-issue Sand Navy vessel.
"I have a grandfather... he always wanted to see me in a Navy uniform," a young man sighed, leaning against the railing. "But if he knew I was switching between Marine and Pirate roles whenever I felt like it, he'd probably punch me into the horizon."
"Lord Ace's grandfather sounds like a very strict man," remarked one of the young women accompanying him.
Several girls in Marine uniforms, swords at their waists, stood nearby. They were the backbone of the Navy's frontline combat units—though young, their lethality was no less than that of the ninjas back in the Sand homeland.
"Strict? He was a nightmare."
Gramps must be so sad right now... Thinking of his grandfather, Ace wondered if Luffy had managed to escape his latest trouble.
Ace constantly wished to return to his original world, but the difficulty of crossing between dimensions was immense. Without the Kazekage's help, it seemed nearly impossible.
Until then, I'll just keep training. Ace felt a phantom pain in his chest, remembering Akainu's final punch. He wasn't strong enough yet; he had to increase his combat power before finding a way back.
"Lord Ace, our target for this mission is the Star Village in the Land of Bears."
Ace was familiar with the Land of Bears; during his time moonlighting as a pirate, he had raided their bases several times for strategic supplies.
He had clashed with Konoha ninjas there and hadn't found the "Number One Village" particularly impressive, having repelled them with ease.
"Do not be careless, Lord Ace," a blue-haired girl corrected his casual attitude with a stern face. "That is the stronghold of the Land of Bears. Besides Konoha ninjas, there are the Star Ninjas."
Konoha had assigned the Hyuga Clan to the Land of Bears. While Ace didn't fully understand them, he had read the intelligence reports.
He had never fought an opponent with such unique ocular powers and was looking forward to the challenge.
The Star Village, with its "Peacock Method," was no ordinary minor village. Shiraishi's goal in sending Ace was to seize their special cultivation meteorite—a core material required for the refinement of the Sharingan Beads.
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