In the deep sea of consciousness—
Slash!
Wrapped in pure white radiance, Akira's Susanoo tore apart the black, heart-piercing tendrils of the dark Susanoo.
He stared coldly at Jin's sinister-faced double.
"Black is the base color of my Susanoo. White was Jin's."
"The Eternal Mangekyō born from the fusion of our ocular power manifests as a blend of black and white—close to a dark, mithril-like gray."
"So you, fake, stop pretending to be Jin and trying to mess with my head."
Boom!
Driven by fury, Akira's white skeletal fist swept through the consciousness-sea, blasting apart the impostor's dark Susanoo and reducing half his body to black mist.
Half of the impostor's face still bled from hollow eye sockets as he shrieked:
"Big brother, why are you lying to yourself? Why do you insist I'm just your negativity?"
"Shut up!"
The voice was filled with grievance.
"Big brother! I am Jin! The will of Uchiha Jin, dwelling in the eyes you transplanted! Why won't you admit it?!"
"Enough!"
"Just because I was your little angel when I was alive—never blamed you once—does that mean I don't even have the right to complain after I die? Is that fair, big brother?!"
His voice grew more mournful, laced with twisted affection.
Akira reminded himself over and over—
This was nothing but his own negative emotions, just like Naruto's Dark Self at the Waterfall of Truth.
It claimed to be Jin's will.
Born from his deepest doubts.
He must not be fooled.
Once you believed it, you were already trapped.
That was the terror of inner darkness.
The pattern in Akira's left eye trembled.
For a moment, even he began to waver.
Seeing his words take effect, "Jin" pressed on.
"I… I want to help you, big brother. I want to heal you and help you awaken the Rinnegan…"
"But with only this projection, I can't do it!"
"So please… please release the seal of the Sea of Samādhi!"
"Let us be like before… like before, just the two of us! Please!"
Damn it.
Even his manner of speaking had become identical to Jin's.
Whoosh!
Dark mist reformed his shattered body.
The seductive voice returned:
"That's right, big brother. As long as you release the seal, we can be like before…"
Before…
Memories flooded Akira's mind—Jin's smiles, his voice, every moment from childhood onward.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Suddenly, a knocking sound echoed deep within his mind.
It was the psychological trigger he had planted before sealing the Sea of Samādhi—
A final safeguard, meant to awaken his reason if the seal ever weakened.
…
The trembling in his eye stopped.
His single eye became as still as dead water.
He looked at Jin.
A fake brother would never stop him from moving forward.
His voice lost all emotion.
"If you're really Jin's lingering will, then tell me."
"What did you see before you died?"
"Who killed you?"
The warmth on "Jin's" face froze, replaced by malice and rage.
He stared silently.
Akira sneered.
"You can't answer, can you?"
"Of course you can't. Because you're nothing but my own negativity."
"Your perspective and information come from me."
"So how could you possibly know what Jin saw? How could you know who killed him?"
"Heh… interesting…"
The impostor murmured coldly.
"Big brother, how nice it would be if you just released the seal."
"We could live like before. You wouldn't have to suffer like this."
Akira laughed icily.
"Still calling me big brother? You're persistent, I'll give you that."
The other side was fully immersed.
"Since you're so stubborn, I'll have to beat some sense into you."
"I am only a projection, yes. Normally, I wouldn't stand a chance."
"But look at you now—gravely wounded, barely alive, clinging to that left eye."
"How long can you last?"
Dark Susanoo surged again, sinews lashing forward.
But at that moment—
Akira raised his hand.
Crash!
Golden chains erupted from all directions, piercing through the dark Susanoo and wrapping tightly around Jin!
The attacking tendrils disintegrated as their source was restrained.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains?! That's an Uzumaki technique! You can use that?!"
Akira thought calmly:
Back when I worked with Orochimaru, I used Twin Bloom to copy Karin's body.
During that time, I stored her Adamantine Chains in Futsunomitama.
Right before my right eye triggered Izanagi…
I released it.
For the Rinnegan—
I've decided to gamble with my life.
Because my life is too precious.
That's exactly why I must protect it at all costs.
"This sealing strength has nothing to do with my current condition."
"You, as a projection, can't resist it. Give up."
The impostor knew he had lost.
"Heh… worthy of you, big brother."
"Fine. I'll accept defeat this time."
"Deep in the Sea of Samādhi, I'll keep watching you—with love and resentment."
Akira replied coldly:
"Suit yourself."
Crack!
The tightening chains tore the projection apart, shredding it into fragments of black mist that vanished into the dark sea.
"Next…"
Light poured down from above, dispersing the darkness.
Akira knew—
He had won his battle against himself.
When the darkness fully receded, he saw only white.
Yomotsu Time Sector?
No.
It wasn't.
This land was pure and empty, without the familiar grid-like chambers.
"Oh? You're alive."
"See? My descendant is impressive. All on his own."
"Unlike yours—always needing others to prop him up."
"Come on, old brother. It's a new era. Still arguing about 'yours' and 'mine'?"
"Wh—who's there…?"
Akira tried to shout, but no sound came out.
Through the hazy white light, he saw two silhouettes standing on either side of him.
Both wore white robes from the age of Ninshū.
When he finally saw their faces—
Akira's pupils shrank violently.
Impossible…
How could these two appear before me at the same time?!
No way.
Absolutely impossible!
As if answering his thoughts, their conversation continued.
"The entanglement of reincarnations… ended with Naruto and Sasuke's generation…"
Enjoyed these chapters? Access advanced chapters and exclusive content by visiting my Patreon. https://patreon.com/WillOFD129?