Konoha's Tag-System Ninja

Chapter 172: Chapter 172: The Third Pair of Mangekyo!

Seeing Shuichi's furrowed brow, Asuka quickly asked, "Shuichi, what's wrong?"

Looking at Rin Nohara's face, Shuichi sighed. "Rin says she can't control her body."

Asuka was shocked. "How could that happen? Is it because of your sealing technique?"

Yakushi Nono dismissed this idea. "It's not the seal—it's brain damage!"

Shuichi nodded in agreement. "The Fire Nether Chain doesn't affect her ability to control her own body. The First Hokage's cells only invaded part of her body and didn't spread to her head, so they shouldn't prevent her from waking up."

Asuka nodded thoughtfully. "Which likely means that her brain damage from the previous heart failure wasn't healed by the Hashirama cells."

Shuichi nodded again. Yakushi Nono had finished her preliminary examination of Rin's brain and reported with a serious expression, "It is indeed extensive brain damage, with a large area of dead brain cells."

Although they had done their best to sustain oxygen and blood flow within her body, brain damage was almost unavoidable.

"This is a bit troublesome..." Shuichi sighed.

Dead brain cells aren't easy to treat—not even for someone like Tsunade.

Yakushi Nono offered some comfort. "We've already done an incredible job saving her. For most, it would have been impossible."

Asuka nodded in agreement.

Nono concluded, "For the brain damage, we'll have to proceed very slowly."

"That's all we can do," Shuichi agreed. He used his spiritual clone to inform Rin of the situation and then turned to leave the room.

...

Outside the hospital room, everyone's gaze fell on Shuichi as he exited. Kakashi, now awake, was among those waiting.

Shuichi explained, "Her heart has recovered, but it isn't strong enough to withstand the First Hokage's cells. For now, we've sealed it. However, due to the heart injury, she has sustained brain damage, with a significant area of dead brain cells. At this point, Rin can't wake up or control her body."

Kakashi stood frozen, then anxiously asked, "Shuichi, will she stay like this forever?"

Tsunade responded, "Brain damage was anticipated—it was unavoidable with that level of injury. As for the dead brain cells, it's not untreatable; it's just very challenging. We'll need to slowly replace the damaged cells and allow new ones to grow. It's a delicate process and will take considerable time."

"However, as long as her other organs are stable, her life is not in danger."

"Kakashi, there's no need to worry so much."

"To reach this point is already a miracle," she added.

Shuichi placed a reassuring hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "Don't worry; Rin will wake up. Her consciousness is actually intact."

"When she's moved to a standard ward, you'll be able to connect with her through chakra and communicate."

Kakashi nodded, though he looked as though he had more to say.

Just then, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke up. "Shuichi, Tsunade, come to my office together."

Shuichi nodded but left behind a shadow clone just in case.

...

Hokage's Office

Tsunade stood with her arms crossed, frowning. "Old man, why did you call us here?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Shuichi and said, "Shuichi, it seemed like you left some things unsaid earlier. If Obito wasn't taken by the Mist ninja, then who was it?"

Shuichi pondered for a moment. "I don't know who it is yet, but whoever controlled Rin had immense power."

"The most critical point is that this person possessed a Sharingan with three tomoe."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "A Sharingan? From the Uchiha clan, perhaps?"

"The strongest among them should be the clan head, Fugaku Uchiha. But, he shouldn't be capable of challenging you, right?"

Hiruzen fell into deep thought, worried that the Uchiha clan might have discovered Danzo's actions. But it seemed unlikely.

Shuichi continued, "Although he had a three-tomoe Sharingan, the genjutsu he used was beyond anything I know."

"I even split his body in two, but both halves vanished, and then he reappeared, completely unharmed—as if what I attacked was a mere illusion."

"My genjutsu abilities don't reach that level, though..."

"And as a consequence, he lost sight in one of his three-tomoe Sharingan."

"But that isn't the main point."

"The real issue is another power—one that rivals, or may even surpass, my numerous Rasenshuriken."

Both Hiruzen and Tsunade were taken aback.

Shuichi didn't directly mention the name "Susanoo" but instead described its appearance.

Hiruzen's face immediately changed. "It can't be..."

Tsunade quickly asked, "Old man, do you know what that ability is?"

Hiruzen nodded, his voice grave. "It's the Uchiha clan's most powerful technique! It surpasses the three-tomoe Sharingan. It's a Mangekyo Sharingan ability, called Susanoo!"

"Years ago, Uchiha Madara used this very technique to battle the First Hokage."

Tsunade frowned. "To my knowledge, no Uchiha has had a Mangekyo Sharingan since Madara, right? Where did this person come from?"

"Could it be that some Uchiha are hiding their power? No... that doesn't seem right..."

Hiruzen's gaze grew somber. "There must be more to this. It may have no connection to the Uchiha clan in the village."

Shuichi feigned realization. "Mangekyo... So that means Obito has awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan as well!"

Tsunade was stunned. "How could that be?"

"Last I remember, that kid had just awakened the double-tomoe in the Land of Grass, right?"

Shuichi responded, "Tsunade-sama, don't underestimate Obito. Although he's naturally kind-hearted and has his timid side, he's not without talent."

"And you know the requirements for awakening and advancing the Sharingan."

"Based on my assessment, Rin was captured by the Mist ninja and had the Three-Tails forcibly implanted into her. They intended for her to return to the village with the Three-Tails and unleash it there."

"But it's clear this was all part of a greater plot."

"While Kakashi and Obito rescued Rin, Kakashi stayed behind to cover them. But he couldn't handle so many Mist ninja alone, so Obito and Rin were caught up again."

"Rin's heart was sealed with a curse mark, preventing her from taking her own life. So, to protect the village from the Three-Tails, she chose to die by Obito's kunai."

"From what I observed, Obito had feelings for Rin. To see a cherished friend, and his loved one, die at his own hand—that shock could have triggered his Mangekyo Sharingan, which explains why he was able to take out all the Mist ninja and put Kakashi under hypnosis."

"That's not something achievable with just a three-tomoe Sharingan."

Hiruzen nodded. "So, the one wielding the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan must be targeting Obito."

Shuichi nodded. "From the current information, it seems to be about Obito."

"He likely left willingly, though I suspect his character has changed drastically by now."

Tsunade's face grew grave. "So, there are now two people comparable to Madara?"

Shuichi shook his head. "It's more than that—there's something else I discovered."

"The person who controlled the curse mark... he has the power of the First Hokage's cells!"

"What?" Tsunade and Hiruzen exclaimed simultaneously.

Tsunade's face flushed with fury. "That damn Orochimaru..."

Hiruzen's mind jumped to Danzo, but he quickly dismissed the thought. He knew Danzo well—Danzo wouldn't have taken this approach.

"No, it's not Orochimaru..." Shuichi said. "That person's mastery of the First Hokage's cells exceeds even Orochimaru's."

Tsunade's face darkened. "Then who could it be?"

"Who else in the ninja world understands my grandfather's cells so well?"

"Also, what's his motive?"

"Setting up Obito to awaken his Sharingan yet not taking his eyes immediately... what's the goal?"

Shuichi shook his head as if clueless.

Hiruzen then thought of the Nine-Tails, his tone turning grave. "Shuichi, we may need to accelerate the Tailed Beast plan, ensuring that Kushina fully masters the Nine-Tails' power as soon as possible."

Feigning innocence, Shuichi asked, "Is it because of the Nine-Tails?"

Hiruzen explained, "The Mangekyo Sharingan can control the Nine-Tails. Long ago, Uchiha Madara used his Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails in his battle with the First Hokage."

"With two Mangekyo Sharingan wielders and that resurrection-reversing genjutsu you mentioned, we can't afford to be unprepared."

Tsunade suggested, "Since Rin's alive, perhaps we can still reach Obito."

"If we can, maybe we'll gain some intelligence."

Hiruzen replied, "But we must also prepare for the worst."

"I'll have Minato pulled back from the front lines."

"And Shuichi, you need to be ready. To end the war with the Stone ninja swiftly, we may have to return the Four-Tails."

Shuichi nodded, then hesitated purposefully. "And the Uchiha clan..."

"I suspect that the person I encountered is collecting three-tomoe Sharingan."

Hiruzen pondered this for a moment before saying, "Shuichi, you should be the one to communicate this to them. You're friends with both Shisui and Obito; it may go over better that way."

Tsunade scoffed at this remark. It all came down to trust issues on both sides.

Ignoring Tsunade's expression, Hiruzen asked Shuichi, "When you left a shadow clone behind just now, was it for a specific reason?"

Shuichi nodded. "The enemy's intel-gathering and infiltration abilities are strong. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to manipulate the Mist ninja so easily."

"It reminded me of when I sensed someone watching during our battle with the Sand ninja in the Land of Rivers."

Hiruzen felt a chill. "I'll have the barrier team and sensory ninja conduct a thorough search immediately!"

Shuichi shook his head. "Standard sensory techniques may not suffice; otherwise, Asuka's Kagura Mind's Eye would have detected them."

"Minato-sensei and I aren't lacking in sensory abilities either."

Hiruzen's expression grew even heavier.

Tsunade also wore a serious look.

"For now, let's leave it at that," Hiruzen said, sounding weary.

...

Outside the Hokage's office, Shūichi suddenly turned to Tsunade and said, "Lady Tsunade, it seems we need to speed up our research."

Tsunade frowned. "That's easier said than done."

Shūichi chuckled, then asked seriously, "Lady Tsunade, what do you think of me merging with the First Hokage's cells?"

Tsunade froze, then, after a brief silence, shook her head. "It's too dangerous. And it shouldn't be your risk to take. Above you, there's the old man, there's Danzo and others like Jiraiya and Minato. You don't need to shoulder so much pressure. Right now, you can already take down that mysterious person, and in ten years, he won't stand a chance."

Shūichi laughed heartily at this, then added, "Directly merging with the First Hokage's cells wouldn't suit my style anyway. What we need is to understand the essence of those cells—and take it a step further."

With his system, he was brimming with confidence. "Lady Tsunade, I'll see you tonight at the lab!" he said, disappearing in an instant.

Tsunade stood there a moment, then muttered with a smirk, "Brat, talking big like it's all that easy."

...

In the Uchiha Clan's district, Shūichi sensed Shisui's chakra and instantly used the Flying Thunder God technique to appear next to him. Shisui was feeding some crows and, sensing Shūichi's presence, smiled without turning around. "Shūichi, what brings you here?"

"An important matter," Shūichi replied. "I'm here under orders from the Third Hokage and need you to introduce me to Clan Leader Fugaku."

Shisui turned serious, setting aside his bird feed. "Understood. Wait here; I'll be back shortly."

A moment later, Shisui returned and led Shūichi to Fugaku Uchiha's residence, where they noticed a small figure in the hallway.

"Shūichi, this is the Clan Leader's son, Itachi," Shisui introduced with a smile.

Hearing them, Itachi looked up, beaming. "Brother Shisui!" he called, running over on his little legs.

Shisui knelt and poked Itachi's forehead gently. "I need to speak with your father now, so I'll play with you later, okay? And this is my friend, Shūichi Hoshita. You can call him Brother Shūichi!"

Itachi bowed politely, "Brother Shūichi, I am Itachi Uchiha!"

Shūichi smiled and ruffled Itachi's head. "Nice to meet you, Itachi. I'm Shūichi Hoshita."

At that moment, Mikoto Uchiha appeared, nodding politely to Shūichi. "Itachi, don't bother your father's guest!"

"Yes, Mother!" Itachi said, bowing quickly to Shūichi and Shisui before scurrying off.

After exchanging greetings with Mikoto, Shūichi followed Shisui into the guest room to meet Fugaku Uchiha. Once they were seated, Fugaku asked, "Shūichi, is there a message from the Third Hokage?"

Shūichi replied, "It's not so much a message as a matter involving Obito."

"Obito?" Both Fugaku and Shisui looked surprised, their expressions darkening.

"Shūichi, does this mean... has Obito...?"

"No, Obito should be alright," Shūichi clarified. "But his squad was ambushed by the Mist shinobi on the southern front. Rin Nohara was killed, and Obito is missing. Based on the scene, it seems Rin died by Obito's hand, triggering his Mangekyō Sharingan."

Fugaku and Shisui both froze in shock.

"Does this mean Obito defected?" Fugaku asked, his tone growing grim.

"No," Shūichi shook his head. "Rin had the Three-Tails sealed within her by Mist shinobi to wreak havoc in the village. She chose to die at Obito's hand to protect it. There's more to this, though—when I arrived at the battlefield, I was ambushed by a mysterious person. He had a three-tomoe Sharingan but also used the Mangekyō's Susano'o."

Shisui exclaimed in shock, "What?"

Fugaku, meanwhile, felt a chill run down his back, wondering if Shūichi was testing him. But this matter... could it mean suspicion of an Uchiha traitor?

Shūichi observed Fugaku's wary expression, continuing, "The figure displayed the three-tomoe Sharingan initially. When I cut him down, his body vanished like an illusion, and he reappeared somewhere else, though his eye had gone blind."

Realizing this was important clan knowledge, Fugaku knew he couldn't conceal it. "This sounds like our clan's forbidden technique, Izanagi—a genjutsu that rewrites reality, at the cost of losing an eye's sight permanently."

Shūichi feigned amazement. "Izanagi... I didn't expect such an ultimate illusion to exist! It seems my deduction was right."

"So," Shūichi continued, "I came not only to verify some information but also to warn you, Clan Leader Fugaku. Someone is stealing the three-tomoe Sharingan from the Uchiha Clan. And now they have two pairs of Mangekyō, with Obito willingly joining this person."

Fugaku nodded gravely. "Understood. Thank you, Shūichi."

"No need to thank me, Clan Leader. Besides, I'm friends with Shisui, and the Uchiha are part of our village."

Fugaku spoke with conviction, "The Uchiha will find this mystery person and bring Obito back! Lately, many Sharingan have been lost on the Stone battlefield—now it seems they weren't taken by the Stone but by this mysterious individual. One of our three-tomoe bearers, Uchiha Yu, has also gone missing, and his body hasn't been recovered."

Uchiha Yu? Shūichi's eyes narrowed. "So that explains it... The chakra I sensed back then had felt familiar."

He suspected that White Zetsu had interfered with his sensory abilities, preventing him from identifying Uchiha Yu immediately.

"Then, was it Uchiha Yu who awakened the Mangekyō and defected?"

Fugaku thought carefully, assuming the mystery figure to be Yu. But Shūichi countered, "No, it seems Yu left with Obito. The one who fought me was someone else. His chakra felt entirely unfamiliar—not from anyone in the village."

This statement allowed Fugaku to relax slightly, contemplating aloud, "Could it be an Uchiha remnant from outside the village?"

"No matter who it is, they mean us harm," Shūichi replied. "Clan Leader Fugaku, please stay vigilant!"

(End of Chapter)

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