Chapter 260: The Ultimate Genjutsu
The space around Uchiha Akira twisted violently, folding in on itself.
Buzz—!
Uchiha Akira, holding a surprised and temporarily subdued Tsunade in his arms, instantly vanished from the Sasori battlefield.
The space reformed several kilometers away, on a secluded, desolate stretch of sand dunes.
The two had appeared in the very place where Uchiha Shunichi and his companions had previously battled Deidara.
At this moment, Deidara lay slumped on the sand like a puddle of mud. His eyes were half-rolled back, saliva drooling from the corners of his mouth. He looked utterly broken, trapped within the absolute Genjutsu Akira had used on him earlier.
Tsunade quickly dismounted from Uchiha Akira's embrace. Seeing Deidara's pathetic, defeated state, she couldn't help but let out a short, cold chuckle.
Then she looked at Uchiha Akira, a question in her fierce gaze.
"What do you plan to do with this guy?"
Given Tsunade's personality and her current state of fury, the best way to deal with an enemy who invaded Konoha and slaughtered her subordinates would be a swift, brutal kill.
But she also knew that since Akira hadn't killed Deidara immediately, he must have some deeper, cold, political plan.
"It would be a pity to kill him." Akira's voice was calm, analytical.
Deidara's Explosive Clay (起爆粘土, Kibaku Nendo) could play a huge, devastating role in future wars.
Especially on large-scale battlefields, his ability to create massive, indiscriminate explosions made him comparable to an entire artillery division, or even a smaller army.
"It would indeed be a shame for such a... talent... to die."
Tsunade nodded, indicating her understanding of the strategic value.
"However, it won't be easy to make him betray Akatsuki and join Konoha, even if you keep him as a prisoner."
"This guy's mind seems severely warped; he kept muttering crazy things about 'art' and 'explosions' earlier. His fanaticism is very strange."
Deidara's utterly deranged appearance during their brief duel had left a deep, disturbing impression on Tsunade. It would be extraordinarily difficult to make such a fanatical madman change his core loyalty.
"I naturally have a way to correct his priorities."
Uchiha Akira smiled faintly, the smile lacking warmth.
Uchiha Akira possessed a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan from the legendary Uchiha Shisui.
[Inorin's Note: Shisui Uchiha was famous as "Shunshin no Shisui" (Shisui of the Body Flicker) and possessed a unique Mangekyō Sharingan Dōjutsu (ocular power).]
These two eyes had vastly different effects, and both were now in Akira's possession.
One of them was pried from Danzō Shimura's decaying body after Akira eliminated the Root leader.
The ability of this eye was to forcefully control the opponent's thoughts and actions for a short period, leaning more towards a high-level genjutsu command. It was the eye Akira had used previously.
The other eye—the true prize—was obtained from Uchiha Itachi.
This eye possessed Uchiha Shisui's true trump card: the ultimate, legendary Genjutsu that made the entire Ninja World wary: Kotoamatsukami (別天神, Distinguished Heavenly Gods)!
[Inorin's Note: Kotoamatsukami is a Genjutsu that allows the user to completely and permanently alter a person's will, implanting false memories and commands without the opponent ever realizing they have been manipulated. It is considered the most powerful Genjutsu in existence.]
However, the price for such a heaven-defying ocular jutsu was an impossibly long natural cooldown period, lasting over a decade.
Years ago, Uchiha Itachi had originally intended to use this eye on Uchiha Akira, attempting to modify Akira's aggressive will.
Although it ultimately failed to achieve its full objective, the Kotoamatsukami had been partially activated, consuming a large amount of the ocular power and thus entering its long cooldown period.
However, that was many years ago.
After several years of recovery, this strongest Genjutsu eye had long since accumulated its full power and completed its cooldown cycle. It was fully operational.
It was perfect for subduing this unruly, talented artist before them.
"Tsunade."
Uchiha Akira looked at Tsunade beside him and slowly spoke.
"Do you know Uchiha Shisui?"
"Of course." Tsunade nodded. "The genius known as 'Shunshin no Shisui,' I've heard of his reputation. A formidable talent, even among the Uchiha."
Uchiha Akira continued:
"Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan possesses a special ability that no other eye in existence can replicate."
"It can permanently modify a person's core will and beliefs without the opponent ever realizing it."
"However, the cooldown time for this jutsu is very, very long. It is a one-shot weapon."
Tsunade was stunned at first. Then her beautiful face filled with open, profound shock.
"What?!"
"Modify… a person's will?! Their core beliefs?!"
"This… how is this possible! Such a terrifying, absolute ability actually exists in the world?!"
Tsunade's heart was in turmoil.
As a Medical Ninja and a former war veteran, she knew better than anyone the absolute importance of a person's "will" and "identity." It was the sum of a person's thoughts, beliefs, memories, and personality! The very essence of self!
And now, Uchiha Akira was telling her that there was an ocular jutsu that could arbitrarily modify such a fundamental thing! It was a terrifying violation of life itself.
Uchiha Akira didn't explain further, stepping forward toward the motionless Deidara.
He focused his gaze on the unconscious artist.
"Release."
With a soft, almost whispered cry, the paralyzing Genjutsu binding Deidara was instantly dispelled.
"Ugh…"
Deidara let out a painful groan. His eyelids twitched violently a few times, and he suddenly opened his eyes, staring blankly at the sky.
His gaze was first blank, then endless terror and anger surged forth as the memories of the fight returned.
"It's you! Uchiha Akira! You bastard!"
Deidara sprang up from the ground with a quick, flexible carp-like flip, quickly putting distance between himself and Uchiha Akira. He tried to activate his chakra—to fight, to flee, to explode—but his will was chaotic.
Akira, however, didn't move. He simply stared.
Deidara was still struggling, confused.
"You despicable guy! What did you do to me?!"
"My body… why can't I move?!" Deidara discovered in horror that although his consciousness was still screaming, his body was locked in place by a simple command from the temporary Genjutsu.
"You want to stop me?! If you're so capable, challenge me to an art duel fair and square! Use bombs, not illusions!"
"Oh, right! Where's Uncle Scorpion?! Where is he, hm?!"
Deidara looked around frantically but didn't find the familiar, ugly puppet. A cold premonition of ill omen immediately rose in his frantic heart.
"Sasori?"
Uchiha Akira, his voice flat, provided the final, cold answer.
"He has already become art. Scattered into pieces by the Sannin."
"What?!"
Deidara's roar abruptly stopped. He stood frozen, his mind reeling from the shock.
"You… what did you say?!"
"You bastard! What did you do to Uncle Scorpion?! He was eternal! He was art!"
Deidara's emotions completely spiraled out of control. His eyes were bloodshot, his body shaking violently, like a man driven fully mad. This was the moment of complete, chaotic mental instability.
Then.
Uchiha Akira, without warning, focused the power. He didn't use the regular Sharingan.
He unleashed the full, recovered power of Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Kotoamatsukami!"
Buzz—!
The visual effect was minimal—a ripple in the air, a flash of chakra.
But Deidara, who was in a chaotic frenzy, immediately stopped moving. His eyes, fixed on Akira, became wide and utterly dumbfounded.
A full minute passed. Deidara stood motionless, staring.
Then, slowly, the empty look in Deidara's eyes was rekindled with a new, bright spirit.
He blinked blankly. His expression began rapidly changing: shock, confusion, dawning recognition, and finally, a hint of deep, familial warmth and respect.
Immediately after, Deidara slapped his forehead with his hand, a gesture of annoyance and sudden realization.
"Akira-dono!" he yelled, using the familiar, affectionate term.
Deidara rushed to Uchiha Akira in a few quick steps, scrutinizing him with a look of concern.
"What happened to me, Akira-dono? My head hurts so much…"
"I think I had a nightmare just now, dreaming that I was fighting you! That's just ridiculous, hm!"
Deidara scratched his head, looking relieved and slightly confused.
"Oh, right, Akira-dono, weren't we chasing the Ichibi Jinchūriki? I had a mission! Where's... where is the old man, Sasori? Why is he gone?"
Deidara's original memories hadn't disappeared. But his loyalty, his core belief system, had been surgically altered. His mind had been forcibly implanted with a new perception and a core command:
That Uchiha Akira before him was his respected elder brother figure—a mentor he met during a shared mission, a man whose judgment and word were more important than his own life, or his own art!
As for the Akatsuki Organization, it was now nothing more than a temporary, tedious workplace he had just decided to quit.
Uchiha Akira looked at Deidara, the utterly transformed artist, and slowly said:
"Sasori is dead. He was killed in battle by the Sannin."
"Dead?!"
Deidara paused for only a moment. He quickly waved a dismissive, angry fist, his face scowling.
"If he's dead, he's dead! Good riddance! That old man argued with me all day about what 'eternal' art is! It was so annoying, hm!"
"Only Akira-dono, you truly understand me! Explosions are the best art! The most instantaneous flash of brilliance!"
"Akira-dono, where do we go next? Should we pull off a big one in the Land of Earth? I just got new artistic inspiration from that explosion!"
Deidara looked at Uchiha Akira with shining, devoted eyes, his loyalty absolute.
Beside them.
Tsunade looked at this miraculous, terrifying scene—the sudden, impossible shift in personality—her entire being completely numb.
One second, a fanatical, dangerous S-rank enemy, shouting for a fight to the death and vowing to explode them all.
The next second, he had become a devoted, loyal subordinate, ready to obey Akira's every command?
The ocular jutsu of the Uchiha Clan… the power of Kotoamatsukami...
Was it truly… terrifying to this extent?
Tsunade felt a cold dread settle deep in her soul. She knew then that Uchiha Akira's ambition was not merely dangerous. It was absolute.
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