belamy20

516-520

Added 2025-06-04 17:25:05 +0000 UTC

Chapter 516: The Excessively Wild History

Outside the clan’s dungeon,

After a brief exchange, taking advantage of the moment when Uchiha Yusuke and his men were calling for reinforcements,

Uchiha Chiri swiftly pulled Shinji along, using the cover of thick smoke to dash toward the northern side of the ancient Japanese-style castle.

Although regular smoke bombs could obscure vision to some extent, they were hardly effective against the Sharingan-wielding Uchiha clan members, who could still discern the direction in which the three were escaping.

“They’re running!? Quick, surround them!”

Uchiha Yusuke immediately shouted, rallying his men to give chase.

However,

Uchiha Chiri seemed to be far more familiar with the layout of the city than their pursuers. Leading the two others through a maze of intricate alleys, making sharp turns left and right, they quickly lost their pursuers far behind.

Only at this moment did Shinji have a chance to take in the city as he ran.

The city he was in was vast, primarily composed of traditional Eastern-style buildings. It was both ancient and grand, with most structures being two- to three-story wooden buildings. However, unlike normal Japanese castles, there was no division between inner and outer sections, nor was there a towering keep like the one he had seen in Kumomyo Castle in the Land of Lightning.

In other words, this was not a city built to protect nobles.

What stood out the most was the towering 20-meter-high walls that encircled the entire city, complete with watchtowers. Within the city, war machines were being repaired, walls, trenches, and towers were under construction, and signs of militarization were everywhere.

The rising smoke from bonfires, the makeshift shelters squeezed between houses, and the grim expressions of the Uchiha clan members walking along the main roads all confirmed one thing to Shinji—

This was no ordinary castle.

“Where are we?” Shinji asked directly, unfazed by his status as a so-called ‘deserter,’ turning to the now slowing Uchiha Chiri.

By now, the three had entered a narrow alley.

Uchiha Chiri glanced back at him with a somewhat surprised expression but still answered,

“Kikyo Castle.”

“And what is this ‘Qianyi Mountain’ place?” Shinji asked again.

“Hm?” Uchiha Chiri frowned slightly, eyeing him curiously. “You barely escaped from there with your life.”

“Qianyi Mountain is the main battlefield where our clan fights against the entire shinobi world alliance.”

Shinji was stunned.

He thought to himself, ‘I know about Kikyo Castle, sure, but…’

“The Uchiha Clan… fighting against the entire shinobi world?”

What kind of wild historical account was this?

From what he knew, Kikyo Castle was an ancient fortress located at the Fire Nation’s border, positioned between the Land of Rain and what would eventually become Konohagakure. Of course, in this era, Konoha likely didn’t exist yet—the area was still a vast wilderness occupied by both the Uchiha and Senju clans.

“It seems the situation at Qianyi Mountain is truly dire,” Uchiha Chiri sighed, giving Shinji a sympathetic look. “Even the only survivor—you—was so traumatized that you forgot everything.”

“That’s right,” she continued.

“Under the leadership of the former clan head, Uchiha Rai, we defeated the Senju clan, driving them out of the Land of Fire and effectively taking control of the nation. We pushed our front lines northward to Qianyi Mountain and built Kikyo Castle here.”

“The defeated Senju clan then allied with dozens of other great shinobi clans, all of whom felt threatened by our power. Together, they formed the shinobi world alliance to resist us.”

“The battlefield at Qianyi Mountain, just outside Kikyo Castle, is the frontline of this chaotic war.”

Hearing this, Shinji couldn’t help but blink, shocked by the sheer intensity of Uchiha’s military exploits in this era.

“Wait… what did you just say?”

“If we need to defend against the shinobi alliance’s attacks, why aren’t we fighting at Kikyo Castle’s walls? Why are we taking the battle all the way to Qianyi Mountain?”

“Hm?” Uchiha Chiri gave him another strange look before chuckling lightly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Who told you we’re the defenders?”

“The shinobi alliance is the one defending.”

After saying that, her expression turned slightly grim.

“But… if things continue the way they are, this war might… well, let’s talk about that later. First, follow me.”

She exhaled heavily and led the way, guiding Shinji out of the alley and toward a large and imposing mansion.

The mansion’s grand entrance, however, was eerily quiet. It had clearly been abandoned for some time, with cobwebs gathering in the corners.

Uchiha Chiri pushed open the door and led them straight to the main hall inside.

“This was the residence of our former clan head, Uchiha Rai.”

She introduced as they walked.

“After Uchiha Rai was killed by Uchiha Claw, this place was abandoned. Claw built an even grander mansion in the eastern part of the city. But in a twist of fate, this old residence was given to one of the ‘Captains’ who sided with the current clan head in the rebellion. He’s more or less our leader… well, sort of.”

Hearing the term ‘Captain’ again from Uchiha Chiri,

Shinji frowned slightly, gently setting down Uchiha Hikaru, who had woken up in his arms. She blinked in shock, her face flushing red upon realizing she was being carried.

Then, turning to Uchiha Chiri, he asked,

“I’ve been meaning to ask—who exactly is ‘Captain’?”

“If this is the Captain’s residence, that means you serve under him, right?”

“And if you, as well as Uchiha Yusuke and his men, are all under the Captain, then why did you help me escape?”

“Earlier, you said that you and the Captain’s followers were different, but now you say you are his subordinate. It sounds contradictory…”

“So now, can you tell me—”

“Who exactly are you?”

Hearing his question, Uchiha Chiri was momentarily stunned, as if she hadn’t expected him to ask something like that. Even Uchiha Hikaru looked at him in surprise.

“Uh… Shinji…” Hikaru whispered hesitantly.

“‘Captain’ isn’t a single person. It’s a title given to any powerful Uchiha with the Mangekyō Sharingan.”

“I’ve personally seen many Captains.”

Uchiha Chiri nodded in agreement. “That’s right.”

“Currently, there are 19 Captains in the clan.”

“Nineteen…” Shinji was stunned.

Nineteen Captains—meaning nineteen Mangekyō Sharingan users. No, including Uchiha Hikaru, who had been artificially enhanced, that made twenty.

Twenty battle-hardened, near-insane warriors.

‘Holy crap, this history is getting way too wild.’

But that explained why the Uchiha Clan alone could dominate the entire shinobi world and why Uchiha Hikaru, despite her absurd abilities, was still held captive and didn’t dare to resist.

However,

If the Uchiha Clan was this powerful, why had they lost at Qianyi Mountain? Why was he the only ‘deserter’ left?

And why were these Captains so interested in him?

As these thoughts ran through his mind, they arrived at the main hall’s door.

Uchiha Chiri knocked lightly.

“Oh, right,” she suddenly turned to Shinji. “Just to confirm something…”

“If you had an agreement with Uchiha Yusuke’s Captain to hide in the dungeon, why did you choose to escape with Uchiha Hikaru?”

After a moment of contemplation, Shinji’s expression hardened with resolve.

“I made a promise to someone… to find and kill a person.”

“Who?”

“Uchiha Naga.”

Uchiha Chiri’s face immediately darkened.

Just then, the door swung open.

“Hmm? Why aren’t you guys coming in?”

A young man in a black high-collared cloak grinned.

“Oh? My sister pulled off a big one this time—she kidnapped their secret weapon. Hope no other Captains saw—ah, never mind, come in.”

“Wait… you guys don’t recognize me?”

With a bright grin, he pointed at himself.

“I’m—Uchiha Naga.”

Chapter 517: Outbreak! The Uchiha Forbidden Jutsu War!

In front of the grand hall,

The moment Uchiha Naga uttered the words, "I am Uchiha Naga,"

Silence fell—so quiet that one could hear a pin drop!

The expressions of those present changed simultaneously.

Shinji’s initially amused expression instantly turned indifferent.

He narrowed his eyes slightly and gazed at the young man before him, who was grinning foolishly.

Compared to the slacker Uchiha Naga he had encountered on the River of Reversal, this Uchiha Naga was identical in appearance, clothing, and even voice—except for that goofy smile, which seemed out of place.

However, what set them apart was the light in this Uchiha Naga’s eyes—an indescribable brilliance.

Being stared at by such eyes, Shinji felt a strange sense of familiarity.

It was as if, at some point, his own eyes had held the same light,

but now, that light had long since been forgotten.

Shinji had come here in pursuit of that very light.

To reclaim the will he once had, he had to eliminate those who bore the same gaze—whether they were clan members, enemies, benefactors, or even strangers.

This pursuit, this paradoxical desire to reclaim something by destroying another,

suddenly reminded Shinji of something someone had once told him:

"To protect what is important, sacrifices must be made. Whether they are friends, brothers, clan members, or even descendants—whoever threatens that which is important must not be forgiven!"

"This holds true everywhere, except in the world of true dreams."

After a brief silence,

Shinji’s gaze grew cold and sharp.

He didn’t understand why Uchiha Naga wanted to kill his past self,

but if reclaiming his true self required such ruthless methods,

then Shinji wouldn’t hesitate.

Without a second thought, he reached into Uchiha Ko’s arms and drew a long blade.

With a single leap, he soared like a hawk spreading its wings,

his blade tracing an awe-inspiring arc of dazzling white light as he slashed towards Uchiha Naga at the entrance of the grand hall!

On the side,

Uchiha Chi and Uchiha Ko’s faces changed simultaneously.

Uchiha Ko seemed about to warn Shinji of something,

while Uchiha Chi immediately unsheathed his short blade, gripping it with both hands as he stepped between Uchiha Naga and the incoming attack.

He attempted to parry Shinji’s strike while shouting in alarm,

“Naga—watch out!”

However—

At the very moment they were about to collide, Shinji suddenly twisted his body, executing a swift, fluid motion.

With a seamless rotation, he retracted his blade and spun around, bypassing Uchiha Chi’s defense.

Then—

"Squelch!"

The blade pierced straight into Uchiha Naga’s unguarded heart!

A brutal twist and pull!

"Ugh… you…"

Uchiha Naga’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at Shinji,

his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air on land.

Blood gushed from his lips as if he wanted to say something.

"Sorry, but I have a reason why I must kill you… so, die."

Shinji shook his head and pulled out his bloodied blade.

As he watched the young man collapse onto the ground with a dull thud,

a complex emotion flickered in his eyes.

However—

A sudden, unsettling feeling struck Shinji.

The next moment—

A voice rang out from behind him—

the voice of Uchiha Naga, who had just been killed!

"Whoa~ That was some impressive Night Moon Clan swordsmanship!"

"But Shinji, I don’t think we ever had any deep grudges between us, did we?"

The voice’s owner seemed to be reaching out to pat Shinji on the shoulder.

Shinji furrowed his brows,

instinctively bending his knees and leaping to the side, blade at the ready.

When he landed, he turned to see Uchiha Naga standing there once more—

his eyes now glowing crimson,

bearing a unique pattern in his gaze.

Glancing back at the body of Uchiha Naga, which was slowly fading away on the ground, Shinji muttered,

"An illusion? No… this must be Izanagi."

"And those Mangekyō Sharingan eyes… Damn, it’s the Eternal Sky Pupil Technique!?"

Realizing this, Shinji suddenly felt a headache coming on.

The Eternal Sky Pupil and Izanagi overlapped in duration,

creating an infinite cycle—

a technique he had once seen someone use before—

an extremely troublesome and absurd forbidden jutsu known as:

"Infinite Izanagi!"

And unlike the old man who had used it before, whose name Shinji had forgotten,

Uchiha Naga possessed two Mangekyō Sharingan.

If both his eyes held this same ability, then theoretically,

he could endlessly regenerate both his Mangekyō Sharingan and his ocular power—

meaning he had no risk of blindness.

Fighting against someone with this ability…

Even Kaguya Ōtsutsuki herself wouldn’t be able to kill him in a single strike.

The only way to win was to endure—

to drag the fight into a prolonged battle,

forcing the opponent to forget how to use Izanagi,

to lose their memory bit by bit,

until they literally forgot how to stay alive.

Still, since Shinji had now found his target,

he didn’t mind grinding this battle out.

With time on his side, he would only grow stronger.

His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan granted him unending vision,

whereas Uchiha Naga—once he eventually forgot how to activate Izanagi—would inevitably lose his sight forever.

"Hah…"

Exhaling a long breath,

Shinji’s gaze sharpened, turning glacial.

He was fully prepared to take on the seemingly unkillable Uchiha Naga—

as well as the Uchiha clan members who would soon arrive in support,

each bearing their own Mangekyō Sharingan—

all twenty of them.

At that moment,

the others on the battlefield took note of the killing intent radiating from Shinji.

Uchiha Chi’s expression darkened,

his eyes cold as he glared at Shinji.

"So it’s true…" he muttered.

"Your escape from the dungeon was just a ruse, wasn’t it?"

"Your real goal was to help them kill Naga!"

His voice was heavy with accusation.

"Shinji… don’t be deceived by them!"

"If you rise to the position of clan leader by killing your competition through such underhanded means, the clan will never accept you!"

Clearly, Shinji’s attempt on Uchiha Naga’s life,

along with his perceived role in this confrontation,

had led to some major misunderstandings among those present.

But Shinji had no intention of explaining himself.

He merely fixed his gaze on Uchiha Naga,

calculating the time in his mind—

waiting for the perfect moment to strike again.

The activation time of Izanagi and the ocular technique Ten no Tokotachi differs: the former lasts for three minutes (since Naga lacks the power of the Senju), while the latter rewinds the user's state to thirty minutes prior.

As long as he ensures that Uchiha Naga cannot escape his pursuit within those three minutes and then forcibly kills him after Izanagi ends, Uchiha Naga will be forced to use Ten no Tokotachi to rewind time—restoring his blinded Mangekyō Sharingan, his ocular power, and reviving himself to use Izanagi again.

In doing so, Uchiha Naga will inevitably forget parts of his memory.

Repeating this process within the thirty-minute effect window of Ten no Tokotachi, even in a conservative estimate, Shinji is confident that he can kill Uchiha Naga at least nine times. Then, once Ten no Tokotachi takes effect for the final time, there will be a gap—

A moment after the rewind where Naga may or may not be blinded.

If his opponent fails to use Izanagi in time to cover this gap, that will be the perfect moment to land a decisive, fatal blow.

If Naga reacts quickly enough to compensate, then the cycle continues.

The probability of a blind spot appearing will only increase. If Uchiha Naga miscalculates even once, then before the first thirty-minute cycle ends, Shinji could completely eliminate him.

In short—

Shinji is counting down.

Every three minutes, he will strike, forcing Uchiha Naga to rewind, until he is ultimately killed.

It is a crude method, but it is also the most efficient.

With this in mind—

The look in Shinji’s eyes as he gazed at Uchiha Naga grew increasingly dangerous.

At the same time—

Uchiha Naga instantly understood that gaze.

He realized that Shinji had come with absolute intent to kill.

Moreover—

His opponent seemed to have some knowledge of his undisclosed ocular abilities and forbidden techniques. Ji wasn’t making reckless moves but instead waiting for the perfect opportunity.

Such an opponent—Uchiha Naga had never encountered before.

And he was absolutely certain that a person with this level of tactical judgment was no ordinary assassin sent to kill him out of mere manipulation by other "captains" of the clan, as Uchiha Chiri had suggested.

This man had a reason, a determination, and the confidence that he could kill him.

At this realization—

Though Uchiha Naga did not understand where Ji's unwavering confidence came from, his expression turned solemn.

He took two steps forward, raising a hand to stop Uchiha Chiri from trying to persuade Shinji any further.

Taking a deep breath, he spoke:

"Big sister, enough. He is not that kind of person."

"Leave him to me!"

"Naga!" Uchiha Chiri turned to him, biting her lip slightly.

Her grip tightened around the hilt of her short blade, and in her crimson eyes, three black tomoe spun intensely.

She seemed to be considering using Izanami on Shinji—

To force him to realize the reality of the clan and change his intent to kill Uchiha Naga.

However, Uchiha Naga immediately pressed down on her unsheathed blade, stopping her from taking the next step. He spoke calmly:

"That technique won’t work on him."

"This guy is not someone who has lost sight of himself. On the contrary, his self-awareness is terrifyingly clear. His will is so firm that it's frightening!"

"Big sister, step back. You are not his match!"

With that, Uchiha Naga exhaled deeply.

As if coming to a realization, he reached for the short sword at his waist and drew it.

From his heart, a surge of blazing flames erupted, spreading across his entire body before finally condensing into the blade in his hands!

This was none other than the Fire Release: Chakra Mode—a technique Shinji was all too familiar with!

Uchiha Naga gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands, and from his short blade, a six-foot-long fiery blade burst forth!

The searing flames reflected in their eyes, both of them unwavering and determined.

Shinji's gaze turned slightly more serious.

Fire Release: Chakra Mode + Infinite Izanagi… This power was on par with his past self. To execute his plan—

He, too, would have to unleash a strength beyond this era!

At this moment—

The two strongest warriors in the world locked eyes!

A suffocating tension enveloped the entire command center, as if an invisible sword was slicing through the air between them.

However—

Just then—

From the northern section of the command center, the direction of the underground prison where Shinji had come from—

Blinding lights suddenly flared up!

Immediately after—

"—BOOM!!!"

A deafening explosion thundered across the city. The terrifying blast distorted the air, forming a shockwave that swept outward in all directions!

The four people in front of the great hall were startled.

Shinji looked up in confusion—

And saw—

At the center of the city—

Ten colossal Susano'o, each over a hundred meters tall, rose from the ground like a group of Ultraman transforming in unison.

Towering over the countless buildings, they stood in pairs, their glowing, piercing eyes radiating an overwhelming presence!

“…Wait, what the hell is happening???”

Shinji was dumbfounded, staring at the ten Susano’o of various colors, poised for an all-out battle.

“This… is this a goddamn Dance King Tournament??”

Beside him, Uchiha Naga’s expression shifted dramatically.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Chiri’s face turned pale as she trembled, muttering,

“No way… How… How could this forbidden war… How could it have…”

"Already begun?!"

Chapter 518: The Command of Kamuyomi!

“Forbidden Technique War?”

Upon hearing this term from Uchiha Kage, Shinji seemed momentarily stunned. It felt as though he had been inexplicably pulled into another major event, one that appeared quite significant. Moreover, this was a forgotten piece of history in their clan's records.

In fact, the Uchiha clan's records from the Konoha period contain very few details about the twin forbidden techniques, Izanagi and Izanami. They only mention the names of the founders who created these forbidden techniques, along with a brief note:

“The Uchiha clan nearly perished due to the reckless use of Izanagi. In that dire moment, Izanami’s creator, Uchiha Kage, emerged and saved the clan with Izanami.”

As for why Izanagi, which seemed to only require the price of one Sharingan being blinded to save one’s life, was classified as a forbidden technique, the clan records were vague, simply glossing over it.

The scroll containing the technique ended with a harsh warning:

Forbidden techniques must never be misused!

At this moment, facing Shinji's confusion, Uchiha Naga, standing opposite him, explained solemnly, “Yes, a forbidden technique war!”

“This is a conflict born from the forbidden technique Izanagi!”

Shinji furrowed his brows slightly, silently counting the seconds in his head to figure out how long it would take to defeat Uchiha Naga. He asked in confusion, “If I remember correctly, Izanagi was created by you, right?”

“Me?” Uchiha Naga appeared surprised, shaking his head with a wry smile, “How could it be me? Izanagi was created long before I was even a child.”

“And the person who created—or rather, discovered—this technique...” Uchiha Naga clenched his fist slightly and gritted his teeth, “...was the previous clan leader, our father, Uchiha Rai.”

“Uchiha Rai?” Shinji muttered the name, his brow furrowing in even greater confusion.

Since arriving in this world, Shinji had heard the name 'Uchiha Rai' more than once. Whether it was 'Captain,' Uchiha Naga, or the current clan leader Uchiha Katsu, they all seemed to have close ties with this person.

If Uchiha Kage hadn’t lied to him during their journey here, then...

Uchiha Rai was the previous clan leader.

Uchiha Katsu, his trusted confidant, killed Uchiha Rai and became the new clan leader.

The former ‘Captains’ did not submit to Uchiha Katsu. It seemed they wanted to use Shinji’s position as ‘Uchiha Katsu’s confidant’ to counter him. During this time, they had also cultivated Uchiha Hikari as a weapon for war against the Senju clan.

Eventually, Uchiha Naga and his sister seemed to have joined Uchiha Katsu’s side, participating in the rebellion against their father, Uchiha Rai, and helped kill him. As a reward, they were given a mansion. The siblings seemed to have an adversarial relationship with the 'Captains.'

Caught in the middle of these complicated situations, Shinji, who was unaware of the full story, had a sensitive position that both sides valued highly. He was the one who had been betrayed by Uchiha Katsu and managed to survive the near-death battle at the Qianyi Mountain battlefield—he was the ‘trusted confidant!’ This position seemed to make him someone important to both factions.

As he thought about it, Shinji suddenly realized something crucial. His gaze sharpened as he looked at Uchiha Naga and Uchiha Kage, coldly asking:

“What happened at the Qianyi Mountain battlefield?!”

Shinji raised his voice slightly, coldly demanding, “Uchiha Kage, you said before…”

“We were not the defenders, it was the Senju clan and their allied ninja forces!”

“Given that even a low-level force like the Fella can be easily defeated by the Flying Dragon Cavalry, how is it that our clan, with twenty pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan, lost the battle?!”

Since coming to this world, everything seemed chaotic and strange. Every event seemed worth investigating. But the most jarring for Shinji was...

This absurd and humiliating defeat of the Uchiha clan!

What does having twenty pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan mean?

It meant twenty guaranteed S-rank shinobi! (In this era, that would be equivalent to clan leader level.)

For instance, Uchiha Naga, who was facing Shinji now, with his Mangekyō Sharingan + Izanagi + Fire Style: Chakra Mode, had almost reached the threshold of the highest echelon of power.

Ignoring the era of monstrous battles influenced by Ashura and Indra's reincarnations, with such a dazzling array of forces, they could easily conquer the ninja world and bring an end to the chaos, unifying the world.

Yet…

Yet, Shinji saw a clan that resorted to torturing and abusing someone as harmless as Uchiha Hikari, turning her into a war weapon.

And the 'Captains,' who possessed Mangekyō Sharingan, were considered ‘precious beings’ who needed protection?

Now, when they appeared, they turned their weapons inward, targeting their own clan members!

How absurd!

How laughable!

What was the difference between this and Itachi, the filial son who slaughtered his own clan in the future?

The entire era seemed to be twisted!

At this moment, facing Shinji’s questioning, Uchiha Naga and Uchiha Kage both fell silent.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Hikari, standing behind Shinji, stiffened. Her body trembled uncontrollably as she cautiously tugged at his sleeve, speaking timidly in a low voice:

“Ji, let’s go.”

“Let’s leave this clan!”

“They… they’ve all gone mad!”

“We’re no match for them!”

“Not leaving!” Shinji coldly interrupted, his voice firm.

“My ancestors entrusted this clan to me, yet it has become like this. I am heartbroken! My ancestors are guilty to the clan, guilty to the heavens and the earth, guilty to me! I wish I could drag them all out and hang them on the old crooked tree on Qianyi Mountain!”

“If the clan has fallen this low, then everyone, whether they have Mangekyō Sharingan or not, needs to give me an explanation!”

“Listen…”

“If you can’t give me a reasonable explanation—”

Shinji coldly turned his gaze toward Uchiha Naga, his lips curling into a sinister smile.

“Uchiha Naga, not just you, I will wipe out every single one of you useless fools!”

Uchiha Kage and Uchiha Naga exchanged a glance. They couldn't understand what Shinji was rambling about—Flying Dragon Cavalry, A and it’s over, old crooked tree.

However, hearing Shinji’s question about the humiliating defeat at Qianyi Mountain...

The very war that twisted their clan to this point...

Uchiha Naga lowered his head, feeling ashamed.

After a long while, he took a deep breath, looked up, and met Shinji's gaze with determination.

“Shinji,”

“This is exactly why we came to find you. We need your help!”

“And it all starts with a technique that both elevated our clan and led it into chaos…”

“That technique is the Mangekyō Sharingan technique of the previous clan leader, Uchiha Rai—”

Uchiha Naga’s expression grew serious as he spoke in a low, grave tone:

“Kamu-yomi!”

Chapter 519: The Curse of the Divine Peach!

At six o’clock in the evening, the shift changed.

Taking off his patrol uniform,

His wife was cooking porridge,

His children clung to his knees, holding wooden kunai, gazing up at him expectantly.

He donned a kimono emblazoned with the Uchiha clan crest, smiled, and led his children to the courtyard, ready to show them one of the few skills he took pride in as an adult—his shuriken technique.

Stepping out of the house, he looked at the vast sea of golden clouds stretching to the horizon.

Thirty years had passed in a flash, and time had quietly lifted the corners of his lips.

Until, in the heart of Kikyo City—

A food stall collapsed!

Flames erupted into the sky!

With a thunderous explosion,

War broke out suddenly and violently,

Taking everything from him.

All that remained was confusion.

Countless similar scenes coalesced into a tempest raging from the center of Kikyo City,

Slightly lifting the strands of hair on Shinji’s forehead.

He silently counted the seconds in his mind, yet, due to his gradually recovering Kagura Mind’s Eye, he was forced to take in everything before him.

Shinji thought that he might have the power to stop these tragedies from happening,

But now,

His goal in this world had finally appeared.

The one he must kill stood right before him.

The memories he longed to reclaim lay just ahead.

His opponent’s abilities were troublesome—so much so that even he, Shinji, had to go all out despite his current state.

Yet,

For some reason, Shinji felt a heaviness in his heart.

The memories stolen by Ten no Jōritsu were like a scoop of water taken from a pond; when the ripples settled, logic and structure filled the void, forming a seamless reality.

No one knew, not even Shinji himself, what exactly he had lost.

Should he abandon the opponent before him to prevent a tragedy that existed only in the cracks of an illusion—one that, once he left, would return to its original state without any change?

Or,

Should he kill the man before him?

Shinji had no answer. He only tightened his grip on his long sword,

Coldly staring at Uchiha Nahe, intending to listen to his words for the last thirty seconds of his life.

"Kamumagushi no Mikoto?"

"Yes. This ocular jutsu, like the mythical Divine Peach—Opo-Kamumazumi, possesses a flavor so irresistible that even the demons of the underworld cannot help but feast upon it."

"Its effect is singular—it can restore sight to a blinded Mangekyō Sharingan."

Hearing this, Shinji frowned slightly.

If its only function was to restore vision to another blinded Mangekyō Sharingan,

Then this ability was rather underwhelming.

Using ocular jutsu inevitably led the Mangekyō Sharingan to blindness. Even if one eye could restore the vision of the other, the restored eye would continue to degrade with use.

Simply put, compared to the sheer offensive power of Amaterasu, the hypnotic control of Tsukuyomi, and the mind-altering effects of Kotoamatsukami,

This supportive ability

Seemed to merely extend the usability of a single Mangekyō Sharingan at the cost of the other, which would eventually go blind.

How could such a technique possibly throw the Uchiha clan into turmoil?

"Are you mocking me!?" Shinji furrowed his brows coldly, glaring at Uchiha Nahe.

"The real cause of the chaos was Uchiha Rei’s other Mangekyō Sharingan ability, wasn’t it?"

"No." Uchiha Nahe let out a bitter laugh.

"My father’s other Mangekyō Sharingan did not awaken any jutsu. However, with that eye, he saw what should have remained buried in the depths of hell."

"Unlike the Kojiki’s account, where the Divine Peach cast away by Izanagi eventually became Momotarō, who did good deeds and achieved a happy ending—"

"The Divine Peach, taken into the underworld by the Father God, was abandoned by Izanagi and devoured by countless evil spirits, unable to attain Buddhahood. It perished, leaving behind a boundless grudge."

"Thus, it uttered a curse—one upon the gods and the descendants of divine blood."

"‘You shall all meet the same fate as me, devoured by countless demons!’"

"My father, Uchiha Rei, had no ocular jutsu in his right eye. However, with it, he saw a technique that every Uchiha with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan could perform."

At this point, Uchiha Nahe paused, his expression darkening with sorrow.

Shinji’s gaze trembled as he blurted out,

"Is this the origin of Izanagi?"

The Divine Peach witnessed everything—from Izanagi’s flight from the underworld, his fear upon seeing Izanami, his panicked escape, to his final act of sealing the underworld’s entrance with a massive boulder.

It transformed this experience into a technique, allowing Uchiha clan members to replicate Izanagi’s actions using their Three-Tomoe Sharingan—sacrificing their Divine Peach to momentarily embody Izanagi, subconsciously reenacting his legendary escape from the underworld,

Turning death into life.

"But..." Shinji hesitated, wanting to ask another question.

"I know what you want to ask. From your words, I can tell—you are not the Shinji of this era. You wish to ask why Izanagi is only known to resurrect the user, correct?"

Uchiha Nahe shook his head bitterly.

"It seems later generations of the clan omitted this detail to prevent history from repeating itself."

His face darkened as he sighed deeply.

"Any Uchiha with a Three-Tomoe Sharingan can activate Izanagi to resurrect themselves."

"But when the technique is cast using a Mangekyō Sharingan, the greater cost—the more exquisite Divine Peach—cannot possibly yield the same effect as the Three-Tomoe version."

"In truth—"

"A Mangekyō Sharingan does not merely reverse an individual’s fate—it alters the life and death of everyone within its activation period and range!"

Uchiha Nahe’s expression grew solemn as he gritted his teeth and recounted the unbearable past.

"With his ocular jutsu, Kamumagushi no Mikoto, which could endlessly restore his vision, my father, Uchiha Rei, repeatedly used the forbidden jutsu Izanagi, resurrecting countless clan members who should have perished in battle!"

"Through repeated experiences of near-death, our clan members surpassed their limits, breaking through talent, ability, and even ocular restrictions—resulting in today’s situation."

"We now have thirty-seven pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan and nearly a thousand Three-Tomoe Sharingan!"

"Like the cursed Divine Peach, we became the very ‘demons’ of its prophecy!"

"We danced and cheered, exalting our father,

Blindly pushing him to the position of clan leader!

We achieved what no one had before!

The Uchiha clan crushed the Senju!

And then,

Blinded by false victory,

We arrogantly declared our ambition to conquer the world and waged war!"

At this point, Uchiha Nahe let out a bitter laugh.

"And then—"

"We finally tasted the consequences of the forbidden jutsu!"

Chapter 520: The Sinful Fruit of the Immortal Peach, the Ghost Who Seeks Death

"Sinful fruit."

Watching the pained expression on Uchiha Nahe’s face and listening to his deeply remorseful tone, Shinji felt a chilling sensation creep over him.

On the way here, Uchiha Chi had already told him that the owner of this residence—Uchiha Nahe—had participated in the rebellion against his father, the former clan leader, Uchiha Lei.

In other words,

the former clan leader, Uchiha Lei, had died at the hands of Uchiha Claw and Uchiha Nahe.

And he—

"That's right! I am the wretched ghost who coveted the Immortal Peach!" Uchiha Nahe’s voice turned heavy as his scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan flickered coldly. He locked eyes with Shinji, his gaze weighted with the burden of his sins.

"I am the beast who killed the former clan leader—my own father!"

"I am the one responsible for the disastrous defeat at Chii Mountain, the deaths of countless clansmen, and the civil strife that engulfed the Uchiha!"

"Shinji, you have every reason to hate me. As someone I condemned to a battlefield of certain death, you are the one most entitled to judge me!"

"Nahe!"

Behind him, Uchiha Chi couldn’t hold back and shouted in protest.

"This wasn’t your fault!"

"Father foresaw that Uchiha Claw would launch a rebellion. And with his Mangekyō Sharingan approaching blindness, he knew the clan was on the verge of chaos. The reason he didn’t resist—even throwing himself onto your blade—was because—"

"I know!" Uchiha Nahe clenched his teeth tightly, his entire body trembling as he recalled that terrifying moment.

Veins bulged on his forehead and temples as he struggled against the agony that made him quake uncontrollably.

"It was all to save the clan!"

Hearing these words, Shinji remained expressionless, like a cold observer standing outside the world.

He simply counted down silently in his mind—

Then, in the next instant—

His foot tensed, pressing against the ground.

Whoosh!

A spiraling gust surged beneath his feet as he exploded forward with a speed even deadlier than before!

Shinji lunged through the air, his arm slicing through the air in a lethal arc. His blade swung mercilessly toward Uchiha Nahe’s throat.

No one expected Shinji to strike so suddenly.

Uchiha Chi’s heart clenched in shock. Instinctively, she threw herself forward, spreading her arms wide in an attempt to shield Uchiha Nahe.

However—

Shinji had already calculated every possible action from those present. This strike contained dozens of variations.

As his blade cut a pale crescent through the air in front of Uchiha Chi, his entire stance shifted in an instant—

He twisted, swung his arm, and advanced with a direct thrust!

He was about to impale both Uchiha Chi and Uchiha Nahe—driving his sword clean through them!

Uchiha Chi’s pupils constricted sharply.

This was no ordinary strike.

Its precision and movement were beyond any technique she had ever encountered. It seamlessly fused countless sword styles from across the Shinobi world—Yaryū, Tōryū, Unryū, Kiritachi-ryū, Mizugiri-ryū, Bushi-ryū, Arakawa Heron Slayer…

Even the newly developed Uchiha-ryū: Solar Halo Dance, a technique Uchiha Nahe himself had created but never passed down, was woven into this attack.

The fusion of All-Weapon Mastery, Swordsmanship Precognition, and Shinji’s transcendent swordsmanship had created something beyond technique—

A form of pure, instinctual mastery.

Uchiha Chi saw the sword coming.

Yet she could do nothing but watch as its gleaming edge approached her chest.

She despaired—no matter how she moved,

she would never be fast enough.

She would never be able to block it.

But just then—

Uchiha Nahe suddenly pushed her aside!

Schlkk!

The blade pierced straight through Uchiha Nahe’s chest, emerging from the center of the Uchiha crest on his back.

Blood splattered.

Shinji frowned slightly, gazing at Uchiha Nahe in confusion.

It wasn’t that he was surprised the strike hadn’t killed Nahe outright—after all, Nahe possessed Infinite Izanagi. No matter how many times he died, he could always return. It would take at least ten rounds to finish him off completely.

No—what confused Shinji was that Nahe had willingly canceled the Tenshō Standing Heaven illusion he had placed on himself.

"Cough… Cough… Gah!"

Blood dripped from Uchiha Nahe’s lips as he coughed violently. Gritting his teeth, he struggled to lift his trembling hand, gripping the blade impaling his chest. His fingers pressed against the sharp steel, blood flowing freely down the sword and pooling on the ground.

Even as crimson soaked his hands, his face twisted with regret and pain.

Before Shinji,

he slowly fell to his knees.

Half-kneeling, he raised his face and met Shinji’s cold, unforgiving gaze.

With a sorrowful smile, he whispered:

"I deserve to die… by your sword… by all of yours…"

"To save more people by sacrificing a small, ignorant few—I can't judge whether it's right or wrong. But I am fully prepared to bear all the consequences of this choice!"

"As a revenant who has crawled back from hell, Shinji, you are right!"

"You can kill me right here and now!"

"But—"

He gritted his teeth, lifted his face, and locked his crimson eyes—eyes reflecting the war and storm engulfing Kikyo City—onto Shinji.

"I beg you,"

"I beg you to allow me to complete one last duty for my clan before I return to face my death!"

"I won’t run. I will remain just as I am now, offering no resistance!"

"I swear upon the clan emblem!"

The cold edge of the long blade pressed less than an inch away from Uchiha Nahe's heart.

With his palm raised in solemn oath, Uchiha Nahe pledged his word.

Shinji only needed to flick his wrist to complete the mission that had brought him to this world—to report back to the other "Uchiha Nahe," who was currently sprawled lifelessly in the river of time's reverse flow.

But then...

What would become of this world afterward?

Would it all freeze in time the moment he left, falling into silence, fading back into an unnoticed speck of sand within the reverse-flowing river?

Or—

Without Uchiha Nahe, the last one capable of surpassing all other Mangekyō wielders, would the Uchiha clan here descend into chaos, only to be crushed under the combined might of the Senju and other ninja clans, bringing about their ultimate extinction?

Shinji didn’t know.

He only—

Lowered his gaze slightly, looking at the man before him.

Uchiha Nahe, with his head held high in defiance, his face set with unwavering resolve, his eyes filled with the certainty of death.

For a brief moment, Shinji felt disoriented.

Through those eyes brimming with a desperate longing for death, something within him stirred.

Once, long ago, he too had worn that same expression.

But...

Why?

Now, standing amidst this lost chapter of history, the secrets lurking behind it remained an impenetrable fog—one that even Shinji could not see through.

The celestial peach had lured in demons.

And when the demons devoured the peach, only to lose it, they turned upon each other in a desperate bid to fill their empty bellies.

This was the fate written in the curse.

But…

How did things come to this?

From what Shinji had seen along his journey,

All these so-called "demons"—all these Uchihas—had been desperately suppressing their own hunger.

Betrayal, seeking hidden contingencies, ruthlessly cultivating Uchiha Hikaru, forging human weapons in a last-ditch effort to delay the inevitable civil war…

The previous clan leader, Uchiha Rei, had done the same—knowing his days were numbered, he deliberately let himself die at the hands of his own son. He detonated the clan’s internal conflicts ahead of time, pinning all hopes for salvation on Uchiha Nahe, the peach of immortality itself.

And then there was Uchiha Nahe—

Who, after accidentally killing his own father to awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan, bore the weight of it all, yet now knelt before Shinji, willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of the clan.

When the legendary celestial peach cast its most venomous curse upon this clan, a clan bound by "love"—

These so-called demons…

Felt remorse.

Reflected upon their actions.

And each sought their own way to replace the celestial peach.

So then…

Whose fault was it!?

For reasons unknown, a nameless fury ignited within Shinji’s heart.

The flames twisted and roared from deep within his soul, cracking the sky itself!

His gaze turned ice-cold.

In one swift motion, he sheathed his blade, his narrowed eyes flashing with revelation.

"The Uchiha are not demons!"