Under the cold laboratory lights, Takuno injected the final portion of the chakra energy belonging to the Six-Tails into a specially made container.
As the container's sealing device emitted a light hum, he slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping sequentially across the nine neatly arranged containers before him.
Faint blue, crimson, emerald green... various colors of Tailed Beast chakra slowly circulated within them, radiating energy fluctuations that caused one's heart to palpitate.
"Finally... it is completely gathered."
At this moment, theoretically, he already held the key to opening the Ten-Tails; he only needed to let the sleeping mini Ten-Tails absorb these Tailed Beast chakras, and he would probably be able to take the crucial step toward becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki.
However, there was no fanaticism or urgency within Takuno's eyes.
He gazed intently at that still-appearing-quite-young "mini Ten-Tails" organism inside the incubation tank, a thought of immediate action negated within his heart.
The timing had not arrived.
The mini Ten-Tails at this moment was still too small, the total volume of Tailed Beast chakra it could carry was far too limited; even if he became successful in the end, its chakra volume would merely be around 10% of a normal Ten-Tails.
Even if this 10% placed in the ninja world already stood at the absolute peak—even if it was Takuno's current chakra volume, it was also impossible to be compared with it—but...
Takuno was not comparing against himself, nor was he comparing against the current ninja world, but rather those of the Six Paths tier!
Therefore, it was still not enough!
Not only that, but he himself was also not yet prepared and ready.
It was not a matter of insufficient strength; looking at the performance in the original work, his power basically had already surpassed Obito in the original work before he obtained the power of the Ten-Tails.
The true obstacle lay in the fact that his own lineage fusion relying on the Chimera Technique was still not completely finished.
The Chimera Technique he painstakingly researched, although having successfully pieced several types of powerful lineages into his body and displaying astonishing power, this was ultimately piecing together rather than fusion.
Like exquisite building blocks, appearing as one body, in reality they could still be disassembled.
Just like right now, he was even able to deactivate the technique formula at any time and separate those fusion bodies out once more.
The body under this kind of state possessed a fundamental hidden vulnerability, possessing a risk of being dismantled by external force.
The performance when becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki regarding the original work emerged within Takuno's mind.
That was a transition of life essence, a thorough sublimation akin to shedding one's skin and exchanging one's bones.
Especially the complete transformation process displayed when Obito became the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki made him want to take a gamble.
He wanted to take this opportunity of life sublimation as the final crucible to thoroughly smelt the Chimera Technique!
In the process of becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki and experiencing that leap in life essence, with the help of this majestic power, he would thoroughly fuse the various bloodlines pieced together inside his body into one single entity, eliminating the hidden vulnerability of separation and forging a perfect foundation.
Moreover, in this way, even if he lost the gamble, the price was also not unendurable; it was nothing more than pushing back the time of becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki a bit.
This possessed no fundamental conflict with his established planning; according to the original plan, the mini Ten-Tails originally needed to first absorb that massive energy of the Gelel Vein, and after it grew large and strong, then go to absorb the Tailed Beast chakra.
Calculating along the timeline, the node where he finished the final fusion of the Chimera Technique was very likely to be even before the mini Ten-Tails finished the vein absorption.
And if he won the gamble, then...
He would become the most perfect life in the world of Naruto, without any flaws existing!
However, the core premise of all these conceptions all pointed toward the exact same crucial node: the Mangekyō Sharingan!
Only by opening the Mangekyō could he obtain sufficiently powerful Yin Nature chakra to balance the Yang Release originating from the Hashirama cells within his body.
Only by transplanting the Hashirama cells could he safely utilize the Chimera Technique to fuse that "Shikotsumyaku" Kekkei Genkai which might possess a bloodline disease.
And only after finishing all of this would he have the most secure assurance to step onto the moon to obtain that bloodline needed for the final strand of the Chimera Technique!
The links of the plan locked into each other, every single step already deduced countless times within Takuno's heart.
At this moment, the complete gathering of the nine great Tailed Beast chakras was merely another solid footprint upon this long expedition road.
Everything of the future was all suspended upon that pair of eyes which had not yet awakened.
Takuno took a deep breath, a color of determination revealing itself within his eyes.
"The Mangekyō Sharingan... must be accelerated a bit!"
However, even so, it still needed to wait until after his spirit completely recovered before being able to go use that device; even if this matter was urgent, it could not be allowed to harm his foundation.
...
Takuno sat cross-legged silently, natural energy gathering around his body like a trickling stream; the repair of his spirit was basically also at the final juncture, and he remained working hard for the sake of the normalized Sage Mode.
Precisely at this time, an emergency message originating from the Konoha shadow clone abruptly pierced into his mind, forcing him to interrupt his *Cultiv*.
Shisui had returned, and furthermore, the Uchiha turmoil... had thoroughly erupted!
Inside the Hokage's Office.
Minato obviously adopted Takuno's previous proposal, and had already talked in detail with Shisui.
Toward this plan aimed at healing the rift between the village and the Uchiha, Shisui, who took the peace of the clan as his own responsibility, naturally had no objections whatsoever.
Even if doing so might sacrifice his prestige within the Uchiha clan, it was still the case.
Minato furthermore solemnly enjoined that for this battle, he must exhaust his full strength, and furthermore, the bigger the momentum, the better!
Hearing this statement, a trace of understanding flitted across the deep part of Shisui's eyes; he nodded slightly, his expression solemn.
Indeed, it was needed to display absolute power to dispel the doubts of all clan members; that ability... was precisely the most perfect choice.
Once its shocking power was displayed, no one could question that he did not exert his full strength.
However, precisely as Minato and Shisui were carrying out the final scrutiny regarding the action details, an anomaly suddenly arose!
In the direction of the Uchiha clan grounds, without any warning, violent energy fluctuations and clamor explosively erupted, firelight faintly reflecting the sky red.
The riot had happened!
Minato's handsome brows instantly locked tightly.
The very moment Shisui returned, the turmoil followed closely behind...
How similar was this to the conflict that erupted last time when Shisui left the village to execute a mission!
It was simply like a meticulously arranged script, precisely replicated at the crucial node.
The pusher behind the scenes, who exactly was it?
A figure, wrapped in an ominous swirl mask, appeared from the abyss of memory as if surfacing, appearing inside Minato's mind.
If the one who had all along been lurking in the Uchiha shadows and manipulating this entire chess game was truly that existence claiming to be "Uchiha Madara"...
All the irrationalities, perhaps then all had a rational explanation!
No need for words; at the flash of an instant when their gazes met, Minato and Shisui had already discerned the same answer and heaviness within each other's hearts.
Although the incident happened suddenly, the plan just negotiated could still be used.
"Leave it to me!" Shisui said; before the sound of his voice fell, his figure had already turned into a swift green flash, shooting rapidly toward the Uchiha clan grounds.
Minato also did not hesitate, letting the Anbu waiting for orders around immediately notify everyone to prepare for action; in addition, he also needed to summon the three clan heads of Ino-Shika-Cho to come over and help.
After finishing all of this, he came before the window, his gaze locking tightly onto that area covered by chaos in the Uchiha clan grounds.
There, it was an interwoven turbulent flow of firelight and chakra.
A color of determination revealed itself within Minato's eyes.
No matter what, this continuously fermenting crisis must have a full stop drawn upon it at this moment!
Even if the one behind the scenes was truly that legendary "Uchiha Madara."
He should also not think of blocking Konoha's footsteps in guarding peace and unity!
Precisely after everything was all prepared, when Minato took the Anbu as well as the three clan heads of Ino-Shika-Cho to rush toward the Uchiha clan.
Inside a somewhat ancient courtyard within the village, a figure stood like a piece of dead wood.
Danzō, this once exceptionally powerful leader of Root, now appeared like two different people.
The dark hair that still existed several years ago had long since faded completely, leaving behind only a head full of withered, grass-like paleness.
The eyes that were once sharp like a falcon were now deeply sunken within eye sockets covered with gullies, turbid and dim, his form hunched and thin, as if a slightly larger gust of wind could blow him apart.
The energy and spirit of his entire person was like old tree bark that had its moisture sucked dry, shriveled and fragile; the fire of life seemed to merely beat weakly inside his chest cavity, possible to be thoroughly snuffed out by a gust of chilliness at any time.
However, at this moment, his pair of death-silent eyes locked dead onto that sky far away, reflected bright red by violent ninjutsu and scorching chakra.
That burning orientation, he was all too familiar with; it was precisely the clan grounds where the Uchiha clan lived together!
The location of that family of Kekkei Genkai which he abhorred bitterly and viewed as a core threat.
Gazing at that piece of ominous red light, listening to the faintly traveling energy booming, the muscles upon Danzō's nearly dead face actually twitched violently, ultimately turning into a bout of hoarse and crazed "he-he" laughter.
That laughter was like the struggle of an old, broken bellows, appearing exceptionally ear-piercing and bizarre within the silent courtyard.
He was thoroughly isolated here, like a prisoner, completely ignorant regarding the specific changes of the outside world.
But this sky-soaring firelight and vibration, this intense degree far transcending a common conflict, all announced that the interior of the Uchiha clan was experiencing an unprecedented upheaval!
"Haha... Hahaha!" He laughed so hard he bent forward and backward, "Minato... you naive, yellow-haired brat! Blindly daydreaming... actually daring to go get close to that pack of evil Uchiha? This is your retribution! This is the beginning of your foolish price!"
Deep bone-engraved hatred and malice surged within his heart, turning into the most vicious curse, "Die! It is best to just die in this riot! Use your life... to repay it! Repay the towering blood debt of you destroying this old man's lifelong foundation and disabling everything of this old man!!"
On the other side of the courtyard, Hiruzen similarly silently gazed intently at that battlefield reflecting the sky red.
Different from Danzō's thorough madness, within the eyes of this Third Hokage, who was similarly much older, there was only a deep-not-seeing-the-bottom fatigue and heaviness.
Compared to Danzō who knew nothing, he naturally knew more of the inside information.
The changes of the Uchiha clan recently, those suppressed undercurrents and tentative alterations, he had all seen them in his eyes.
He also understood that this storm, its meaning far transcended a simple rebellion or suppression.
This relationship between the village and the Uchiha clan that had been at a standstill for several decades, whether it would walk toward the spring of hope of reconciliation or slide toward the abyss of thorough destruction in the future, its crucial turning point was perhaps right within the outcome of this conflict.
Right at this time, from the room next door traveled Danzō's hysterical, malice-and-pleasure-filled wild laughter, piercing into Hiruzen's ears.
This crazed laughter also caused Hiruzen to feel a bit of regret.
"Alas... did I truly do wrong?"
He closed his eyes painfully, young figures fighting side by side in the past flashing across his mind, forming a cruel contrast against the old friend whose flesh and bones were currently gaunt and whose spirit had long since been twisted and collapsed.
'Perhaps... letting him permanently stay there in the beginning would instead be a kind of benevolence.'
This thought surfaced uncontrollably; the current Danzō, although his physical body was still drawing its last breaths, the spiritual pillar supporting him had long since collapsed and rotted, leaving behind only towering hatred toward Konoha, toward the Hokage, and toward all matters.
Every single day he lived was a slow execution toward himself, toward the past, as well as toward Hiruzen's inner heart.
At this moment, the wrinkles upon Hiruzen's face seemed to be even deeper, his back spine also hunched even more severely.
Compared to the Third Hokage at this time in the original work, he appeared even more aged.
...
Deep within the clan grounds where the Uchiha clan had lived together for generations, that location which not long ago still served as the confinement place for locking up the involved radical faction members had at this moment thoroughly reduced to a bloody battlefield.
A thick smell of iron rust permeated the air; that was the smell of fresh blood splashed upon the walls.
The restraint when former clansmen slaughtered each other was completely gone; this was a true battlefield.
No one knew what kind of severe change had actually happened upon these radical faction members during these short few days.
But the dove faction also did not need to know; they only knew that these people came up and killed the companions guarding the prison.
These attackers wielding weapons were already no longer compatriots connected by blood, but rather enemies of life and death!
The final strand of concern was thoroughly severed.
A tragic and fierce hand-to-hand fight that discarded all shackles and only sought your death or my life explosively erupted within the ruins and firelight of the clan grounds.
"How could it... be like this..." Fugaku stood at a high place, witnessing this hell-like scene, within those eyes that were always steady and deep, they were at this moment filled to the brim with unbelievable shock and deep pain.
His fists clenched tightly within his sleeves, his knuckles turning white.
He originally thought that even if there was someone leading behind the radical faction, they should also maintain a certain tacit baseline with him, the clan head; the restraint in the previous conflicts was the proof.
However, this warningless slaughter before his eyes thoroughly smashed all his fantasies of "tacit understanding," as if mocking his one-sided willingness.
This was fundamentally a long-premeditated declaration of war!
Not only him, but those prisoners who had just been "liberated" out similarly fell into a massive blunder of error.
They indeed looked forward to the rescue of their associates, yet they never expected it would be in such a bloody and violent manner!
Looking at their formerly gentle guarding companions fallen in pools of blood, looking at themselves forced to be rolled into this fight that had no way of turning back, they also possessed questions within their hearts.
During these few days of isolation in the prison cages, what kind of severe change had actually happened outside to cause the situation to collapse to this extent?
Amidst vacancy and fear, they had no alternative choice; they could only passively pick up weapons and join the radical faction's side, becoming a portion of this crazed vortex.
At the edge of the battlefield, shadows wrapped around a figure.
Obito stood silently, his crimson Sharingan hidden beneath the swirl mask coldly sweeping across this purgatory ignited by his own hands.
The corner of his mouth hooked up a minute-to-the-point-of-undetectable arc.
Although he secretly applied a few hints of triggering cues, this destructive flame was ultimately the outcome of that hatred and desire which had long since piled up like a mountain within the Uchiha interior exploding of its own accord.
Everything he meticulously prepared finally received its expected result.
"Still not enough..." Obito looked at all of this coldly, laughing wildly.
"Let this storm of riot come even more fiercely! Use your blood and fire to pave the road for my plan!"