Jixo

53 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

The elite jōnin of the clan would naturally be the first to use the Elixir, followed eventually by the most gifted of the younger generation. As the son of the Uchiha clan leader, Uchiha Itachi was already recognized for his exceptional talent and had even accompanied Fugaku to the battlefield. His skills placed him far above his peers, not just within the Uchiha but even among the new generation in Konoha. With such talent, it was only fitting that he would be granted access to one of these...

52 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

In a dimly lit cave, Nagato was deep in concentration, using Yin-Yang Release to enhance the Deva Path of Pain.

"Nagato." Obito appeared beside him without a sound.

Nagato glanced at the suddenly materialized Obito and asked, "Madara, is something the matter?"

Obito's gaze bore into him as he spoke in a low voice, "Nagato, moving around must be difficult for you now, isn't it?"

Nagato was silent for a moment before replying, "Madara, when I forcibly summoned the Gedo S...

51 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

Time flowed by, and in a blink, Konoha entered the second month of its 51st year. Through extensive research, Nono Yakushi had finally uncovered the true function of the pseudo-Divine Tree fruit cultivated from the Gedo Statue's tissue.

The fruit's effects were indeed extraordinary, it could break innate limitations on one's body and spirit, raising the upper limit of chakra capacity. However, the improvements were modest per dose, requiring multiple rounds of consumption to yield a sig...

50 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

A messenger hurriedly approached Akira, saying, "Akira, the people over at ShinTen Biotech asked me to inform you—they need you to come over. The director there has something important to discuss."

Akira glanced at Mikoto and said, "Mikoto, I'll head over now."

Mikoto nodded knowingly. She understood what was happening over at ShinTen Biotech and assured him,

"Go ahead. I'll take care of things with Kushina."

Upon arriving at the ShinTen Biotech lab, Akira went strai...

49 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

Akira appeared without wasting time on words. His gaze fell on the red-haired woman, whose face showed fear and shock. Without hesitation, he drew his sword and slashed through the chains holding her.

With a loud clatter, the chains broke apart.

Finally freed, the red-haired woman sprang forward and grabbed a kunai from a Kusagakure ninja's pouch. She plunged the kunai into the neck of the fallen Kusagakure ninja, stabbing repeatedly with a fierce look in her eyes.

"Die, die...

48 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

Of course, he knew it was impossible to determine its origins, this jutsu was ancient, with roots lost to time.

The essence of the Spirit Transformation Jutsu lay in turning the mind into a spiritual form. Once this was achieved, mastering it was simply a matter of practice and refinement. In this sense, it wasn't too different from other jutsu.

"This technique would be perfect for those in the Uchiha clan who have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan," Akira mused after a brief trial...

47 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

After some time spent reading, Akira finally reached the end of the Fūinjutsu section.

Truly forbidden techniques, like the Reanimation Jutsu, weren't documented in this particular scroll. Techniques like the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, despite being labeled "forbidden," were actually recorded here. This indicated that in the Second Hokage's view, the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu didn't qualify as a true forbidden technique.

The scroll was packed with jutsu, igniting a fire of exciteme...

46 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

The events that unfolded in the Amegakure had not spread throughout Konoha, nor had the other great nations learned of the intense battle that took place there. Although Konoha hadn't signed a peace treaty with any of the factions, the scale of conflicts had lessened rather than escalated. Peace had come.

Time passed, and one month later, Konoha's selection for the Fourth Hokage proceeded as scheduled. The process was neither elaborate nor grand. After the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi...

45 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"Judging by his reluctance to show his true face, I don't think he's really Uchiha Madara," Akira said, his face contemplative. "However, he's definitely awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, so he must be connected to Madara in some way—maybe even as his successor."

"What about his abilities?" Hiruzen pressed for more details.

"In our brief encounter, it was clear his Fire Release skills are exceptional, and his reflexes are incredibly sharp—definitely not just an average ninja." ...

44 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"Listen, I..." Jiraiya looked up and caught sight of Hiruzen's furious expression, and instantly froze.

When Hiruzen got angry, he could still be incredibly intimidating.

Hiruzen spoke in a low, steely voice, "You'd better explain everything clearly. The Rinnegan is said to be the Sage of Six Paths' eyes. In some sense, that suggests the legends about the Sage might not be just myths. Who knows what potential lies in someone with these eyes?"

"Hiruzen, the matter of the Rinn...

43 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"You're back already?" Hiruzen looked up in surprise as he saw them enter.

Akira responded gravely, "The situation was unexpected. We felt it was crucial to report this immediately."

"Unexpected?" A serious expression crossed Hiruzen's face, a foreboding feeling settling over him. He glanced over the two, then realized something and asked,

"Yamanaka Juro and Aburame Shiga… have they fallen?"

"Our opponent was formidable. Yamanaka Juro gave his life in battle," Akira ...

42 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"Lightning Release: Shadow Clone…" Shiga managed to force out the words, his voice strained, his body enveloped in sparks of electricity.

In the next instant, a pair of scarlet Sharingan eyes met his gaze, and then his consciousness faded.

"So, you couldn't hold back, could you?" Akira murmured with a cold smile, looking down at the collapsed Aburame. "At last, I've caught Danzo red-handed."

Not far away, Hyūga Kaori's elegant face was filled with shock, this turn of even...

41 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

After searching for a while, Akira stopped moving. He had blasted apart several massive charred logs, each nearly ten meters tall, but he hadn't found any sign of the Statue's body. Everything had been shattered into blackened wood by his Lightning Release.

"How many lightning strikes would it take to create this?" Akira mused, looking at the scattered, burned wood around him.

Then, his expression shifted subtly as he glanced in a certain direction, his face quickly paling, as if ...

40 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"Let's see if your strength matches that big mouth of yours, boy!" Obito sneered, a dark fury rising within him, his tone icy.

"Haha…" Akira laughed mockingly. "If you were truly Madara Uchiha, or had even a fraction of his power, would you really waste time on all this chatter with me?"

"You'll see my power soon enough!" Obito's eyes narrowed as he swiftly formed a series of hand signs.

"Fire Release: Blast Wave Wild Dance!"

With Kamui's space-warping power, Obito's...

39 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"Agh…" From miles away, within a shadowy cave, Nagato let out a low, guttural roar as powerful chakra erupted from his body without restraint.

Within the thunderous landscape of the Lightning, the Deva Path let out a shout, pressing both hands forcefully to the ground:

"Summoning: Demonic Statue of the Outer Path!"

Boom!

With a thunderous burst of smoke, a monstrous figure, as large as a mountain, shattered the ground and emerged in the heart of the Lightnin...

38 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"Shinra Tensei!"

On the battlefield, the Deva Path pressed his palms together, summoning an invisible repulsive barrier that enveloped him.

Countless bolts of lightning descended, crashing against the spot where the Deva Path stood. They struck something unseen, ricocheting away as if repelled by an invisible force. Through the blinding flashes of lightning, a faint ring-shaped barrier could be seen encasing him tightly.

"Let's see how long your Shinra Tensei can hold!" Akir...

37 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"Too slow!"

A faintly disdainful voice echoed as Akira's figure erupted in a burst of lightning, vanishing from sight amidst an invisible gravitational pull.

Unlike Shinra Tensei, Banshō Ten'in has a gradually intensifying effect. When Nagato used it against Kakashi during the attack on Konoha, Kakashi initially resisted but was eventually overpowered as the gravitational pull strengthened, drawing him in.

Akira, however, had anticipated this. Right from the start, he unlea...

36 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"What incredible speed!" A glint of surprise flashed in Pain's eyes.

Though the Rinnegan was indeed more powerful than the Sharingan, it lacked the extraordinary dynamic vision of the latter. The Sharingan's ability to track motion was in a league of its own. Yet, Deva Path wasn't alone on the battlefield, the Naraka Path was there too. Though Naraka Path had distanced himself initially, he still remained within the Rinnegan's shared field of vision.

Together, they barely managed ...

35 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

Elsewhere, Akira led his temporary team through the Land of Rain. For this mission, Hiruzen had provided key areas and directions for their investigation. They were to first cover the designated sites before conducting free reconnaissance.

Boom!

The Land of Rain rarely sees clear skies, and now the heavens were lit by flashes of lightning, thunder rumbling as rain poured down relentlessly. Akira's team had been soaked through since entering the country. After a full day s...

34 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

A day had passed since Akira and his team entered the Land of Rain.

"So it was Konoha's ANBU, disguised as shinobi from other major countries, who committed atrocities here in the Land of Rain!"

Deep within a towering building, Nagato's emaciated form stood ominously, black rods protruding from his back. His purple Rinnegan eyes glowed coldly as he stared down.

At his feet lay a shinobi clad in Konoha's ANBU gear, a cat-face mask obscuring his lifeless face.

"So Konoha...

33 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"This isn't something we can rush. Even if the Third Hokage steps down, Danzo still holds the title of Konoha Council, wielding significant influence. And as long as the Third Hokage remains, we may not be able to bring him down completely," Fugaku said in a low, serious tone.

He looked over at Akira. "If we want to act, we should wait until Minato has full control over Konoha. Otherwise, he'll be restrained and unable to act freely."

"I understand," Akira nodded. "Once Minato tak...

32 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"Shiga Aburame, Tokubetsu Jōnin, expert in the Aburame clan's secret insect jutsu, Hyūga Kaori, Tokubetsu Jōnin from the Hyūga branch family, skilled in Gentle Fist, Yamanaka Juro, Tokubetsu Jōnin with expertise in the Yamanaka clan's Mind Body Switch Technique and strong sensory abilities!"

After introducing Akira's three teammates, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to him and said,

"These three are exceptional ninja, more than capable for this mission."

Akira nodded. Judging by...

31 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

Danzo narrowed his eyes, fixing his gaze on Hiruzen.

"Are you planning to send him alone?"

"According to your information, the Akatsuki is at war with Amegakure. The Land of Rain is incredibly dangerous right now, even a jōnin would face significant risk there. We can't afford to waste the lives of Konoha's shinobi in such peril," Hiruzen replied calmly.

"That's unwise." Danzo's eyes narrowed further. "You don't truly understand Uchiha Akira. Who knows how much loyalty he r...

30 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

Three days later, Danzo quietly returned to Konoha with his Root.

In the Hokage Residence, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat at his desk, head bowed as he worked through a pile of documents. Though close to retirement, Hiruzen found himself busier than ever.

At that moment, a familiar sound of footsteps approached. Recognizing the steps, Hiruzen knew his old friend had returned. As expected, Danzo's shadow appeared in the doorway.

"Why hasn't the peace treaty with Sunagakure been signed ...

29 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

Yahiko looked at Nagato, trembling as he clutched a kunai, a bitter smile on his face. It was only now, in this critical moment, that he realized just how naive his ideals had been.

"Jiraiya-sensei… can peace really be achieved through mutual understanding?" Yahiko's heart was filled with uncertainty and doubt.

He let out a sigh, resignation in his eyes. "It doesn't matter anymore. Right now, nothing is more important than ensuring Nagato and Konan survive…"

With that th...

28 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"Why don't we take this chance to deal with Orochimaru?" A cold glint flashed in Fugaku's eyes.

"I'd like to see how he plans to run for Hokage after being exposed for human experiments."

"Probably not feasible," Akira replied, shaking his head. "Orochimaru's lab is located within the Root."

Root, which operates under Danzo, is essentially an extension of the Hokage's Anbu, with authority surpassing the police force. Under normal circumstances, the Police Force has no right ...

27 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"Cloning…" Nono murmured under her breath, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. Known as the "Wandering Miko" for her expertise in medical ninjutsu, Nono was no stranger to the latest research in the shinobi world. Cloning had been discussed for over a decade, and research in the field had never truly stopped. As the second-most skilled medical ninja in Konoha, just under Tsunade, she knew quite a bit about the technology.

From her perspective, the Uchiha clan's true objective l...

26 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"I'll have someone start working on acquiring the biotech company tomorrow." Fugaku looked over at Akira. "Is there anything else?"

Akira had been about to leave, but something crossed his mind.

"Clan Head, do you know someone called the 'Wandering Miko'?"

He wasn't entirely certain of Yakushi Nonō's scientific prowess. She was undoubtedly skilled in medical ninjutsu, but she'd primarily been trained as a spy. While Nonō was a top-tier operative in the world of espion...

25 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

Akira spoke with pointed emphasis, "Danzo is the Hokage's advisor, and a close friend of the Third Hokage. Plus, we don't have any evidence!"

Fugaku stood there, rigid and unmoving, his chest heaving with suppressed anger. His face shifted between expressions, and his Sharingan gleamed with a chilling light. After standing silently for several minutes, he let out a deep sigh, his frustration palpable.

Looking over at Akira, Fugaku asked, "What's your take on researching Wood Relea...

24 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"Studying the transplantation of cells from the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju?" Mikoto stared at her husband, astonished.

She never imagined he would even consider something so extreme.

As the wife of the Uchiha clan leader, Mikoto herself was no weakling—she was a jonin of Konohagakure. She knew a bit about the lengths the village had gone in the past.

Years ago, Konoha had conducted extensive human experiments to revive the First Hokage's Wood Release. One failure follow...