Chapter 435: Grand Research on Izanami
"Who is Uchiha Naori?"
The masked man found both names Konan mentioned completely unfamiliar.
That was only natural.
Information about Uchiha Hikaru didn't exist within the Uchiha clan's recorded history. Instead, it was only preserved in fragments among the families that had sealed her.
As for Uchiha Naori, it was even more obscure, this involved the inheritance of Izanami.
Moreover, Izanami was most likely passed down through successive clan heads, possibly even orally, rather than being stored as a standalone Uchiha secret.
Otherwise, both the masked man and Danzo knew Izanagi, there was no reason they wouldn't also know Izanami.
The fact that the masked man had even heard of Izanami was already thanks to Black Zetsu's "Shinobi World Study Program." Naturally, there was no way he would know about Uchiha Naori, the Warring States-era ninja who developed Izanami.
So he was completely baffled.
Based on Konan's introduction, the two figures before him were essentially an Uchiha "great-grandmother" from the late Warring States period, and an even more ancient "great-great-great-grandmother" from the early Warring States period.
What exactly was Konan trying to do?
Was she trying to suppress him through seniority? Or pull rank based on age?
Did she think something like that could shake his resolve?
Ridiculous.
He was someone who respected the elderly and cared for the young.
Back on the night of the clan massacre, he and Itachi had divided the work, he handled the police force, while Itachi dealt with the clan members within the compound.
Itachi had taken care of most of the elderly and children, but his efficiency hadn't been enough, so when the masked man returned, he had helped finish off quite a few himself.
Whether it was some Uchiha great-grandmother or ancient ancestor, even if his own grandmother appeared before him, nothing would stop him!
At that moment, he suddenly thought of what had happened recently between Kakashi and his own grandmother.
The grandmother he had resurrected through Impure World Reincarnation had already been sealed away somewhere no one would ever find.
From beginning to end, he had never had any desire to reunite with his deceased relatives or reminisce about the past.
"The creator of Izanami. As a member of the Uchiha clan, you don't recognize her?"
"Iza—"
The masked man's expression changed drastically.
Before he could say anything, Uchiha Naori began speaking on her own, calmly explaining Izanami: "Izanami is a forbidden technique I developed specifically to counter Izanagi. Izanagi sacrifices the light of one eye to rewrite fate out of unwillingness, turning reality into illusion."
"Izanami, on the other hand, also sacrifices the light of one eye, but traps the target in an endless loop of illusion. Only by accepting their fate and recognizing their true self can they escape the genjutsu."
"…"
Behind his mask, the masked man's expression was as foul as if he had just swallowed something disgusting.
What was this supposed to be?
Playing dirty now?
When talk-no-jutsu didn't work, they just escalated the situation?
Wasn't this basically forced "redemption"?
"Heh. You're lying to me. She can't be the creator of Izanami. If she were, then why do both of her eyes remain intact Mangekyō Sharingan?"
The masked man suddenly covered his mask and laughed, he had spotted a flaw.
"Oh?"
Senju Tobirama suddenly appeared on the platform using Body Flicker Technique.
His gaze shifted toward Uchiha Naori.
This remarkable woman of the Uchiha clan had actually developed a technique that required sacrificing an eye to cure mental illness. Tobirama felt genuine admiration.
And unlike the other "Uchiha ancestor" nearby, she was clearly an adult, with a much more stable and composed personality.
"I can help demonstrate it."
Tobirama offered his assistance.
"Very well. Go ahead. I also do not wish to see the few remaining Uchiha descendants continue down a misguided path. Izanami is indeed a forbidden technique meant to counter Izanagi. But if possible, I would rather not use it on him."
"Because Izanami is not a technique that 'heals the heart.' It has no healing effect whatsoever. If a person is truly stubborn, they will remain trapped in the illusion for their entire life, until they starve or die of old age."
Uchiha Naori's explanation filled in another gap.
Why she possessed Izanami but hadn't used it directly.
Unlike Tsukuyomi, Izanami did not manipulate the flow of time. The illusion it created progressed at the same rate as reality.
Unless the target was an Impure World Reincarnation body, the time they had to realize the truth was limited.
Even someone like Yakushi Kabuto, with a Sage Body in the original story, would eventually starve to death if they failed to awaken, just like Hidan, whose severed head had ultimately died from lack of sustenance.
Ordinary people would fare even worse.
Unless someone treated the victim like a vegetable, continuously supplying nutrients to sustain their life.
After hearing this, the masked man's heart sank further.
But he said nothing. He wanted to see what they were planning, and what role the Second Hokage would play.
"Excuse me."
For the first time, Senju Tobirama politely gave a warning before attacking an Uchiha.
With a swift motion, he cut off one of Uchiha Naori's arms, sending it flying into the air.
The next moment, the severed arm vanished and reappeared attached to her body.
This wasn't Impure World Reincarnation's automatic regeneration, it was Izanagi, converting the damage into an illusion.
The masked man was completely dumbfounded.
Wasn't this way too wasteful?
Even with a whole wall of Sharingan, he had never used them like this!
An Impure World Reincarnation body already regenerated on its own, yet she still sacrificed an eye just to restore it?
What was the point?!
Sure enough, one of Uchiha Naori's Mangekyō Sharingan had turned white, blind.
"Wait a moment."
After striking, Tobirama crouched down and left a Flying Thunder God mark on the ground. With a brief remark, he disappeared using the technique.
Not long after, the paper covering Uchiha Naori's body scattered, revealing the body of a White Zetsu.
The Impure World Reincarnation had been released.
Had the Second Hokage gone to Orochimaru to undo the Impure World Reincarnation?
What exactly was he planning?
In the next instant, Tobirama reappeared, this time with Shiromo.
Shiromo placed his hand on the dead White Zetsu, reviving it.
"Impure World Reincarnation!"
Without delay, Senju Tobirama formed hand seals again. The freshly revived White Zetsu became a sacrifice once more, and Uchiha Naori was summoned again through Impure World Reincarnation.
That's right, Tobirama had left earlier for two reasons: to have Orochimaru release the Impure World Reincarnation, and to obtain another sacrifice.
But since Shiromo also wanted to come and take a look, there was no need to bring another White Zetsu. Shiromo could simply revive one on the spot.
"Th-this is…?"
The masked man stared at the newly resurrected Uchiha Naori in shock.
Her eyes… had been restored?
He was utterly confused.
Just how far had these people gone in their research of life and death?
They had even discovered a loophole like this?
Did Izanagi and Izanami reset the user's eyesight after death?
If that was the case… then it seemed she really was the creator of Izanami…
(End of this chapter)