Chapter 56 : Becoming stronger

"It's Ran Uchiha!"

"Three Tomoe Sharingan, just as I expected."

"But something doesn't add up. How did he make it to the list so quickly?"

"Furthermore, I know that his physical prowess is impressive, but what does it mean by 'stimulated'?"

Throughout the ninja world, no one was surprised to see Ran Uchiha on the list.

Even Sasuke Uchiha, with his One Tomoe Sharingan, was on the list, so it was expected that Ran Uchiha, with his Three Tomoe Sharingan, would make the cut.

In fact, some people felt that his ranking was too low.

The Sharingan was at the pinnacle of bloodline limits, and it should have a higher ranking among equals. It could even be argued that the only thing that could surpass Three Tomoe Sharingan at this level was the fully developed Mangekyō Sharingan.

Ran Uchiha was ranked ninth on the list, which implied that there were eight others ahead of him.

"Ninth place... Something feels off," Ran thought to himself.

Unlike some who believed he was ranked too low, Ran believed that his ranking was higher than expected.

He possessed a deep understanding of the ninja world, and when the list appeared, he had already made educated guesses about all the individuals on it. While there might be minor discrepancies, the closer to the top of the list, the more accurate his predictions should be. Since he hadn't yet unlocked the Mangekyō Sharingan, he had expected to be ranked eleventh or twelfth, or optimistically tenth.

Never had he anticipated that he'd be ranked ninth.

"Have I underestimated the Bloodline Limit Ranking List?" Ran wondered, taking a moment to evaluate the situation. He then shifted his attention to the enigmatic phrase "physique to be stimulated" and couldn't help but smile.

The Gold List's confirmation affirmed that his ongoing experiments had been correct.

"Even without the Gold List and Hashirama's cells, I can attain the level of the Six Paths on my own!" Ran's pride swelled.

Without hesitation, he declared, "I choose the second option."

His decision sent shockwaves throughout the ninja world. People who watched the live broadcast through Gold List saw Ran make a seemingly hasty decision, yet they weren't surprised.

Mangekyō Sharingan, said to have been opened only by the likes of Uchiha Madara, the legendary figure who aimed to dominate the ninja world second only to Hashirama, the God of Shinobi.

In terms of "Option 910," the Mangekyō Sharingan was a match for the top-tier bloodline limit abilities, and even excelled among them. Upon activation, both eyes unlocked unique visual techniques.

And while the Uzumaki's physique was advanced, it remained just that - advanced. Even if bestowed with three abilities, it couldn't compare to the Mangekyō Sharingan.

So why did Ran Uchiha choose the second option?

"Could it be that the Uzumaki's advanced physique can also enhance the Three Tomoe Sharingan?" some wondered aloud. "Double the benefits?"

Many recalled Ran's words when he persuaded Hinata and Hanabi to choose the physique. The women's choices had indeed pushed Byakugan to an advanced level.

There was only one logical conclusion.

Would Ran Uchiha possess both the advanced Uzumaki physique, the three unique abilities, and the Mangekyō Sharingan?

All eyes were on the Gold List live broadcast room, anticipation building. Perhaps they'd witness Ran Uchiha's awakening of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Not so fast!" Uchiha Madara, unlike most who believed they had the answer, frowned. "It's not that simple, or else Uchiha Ran would have chosen the first option."

Uchiha Madara's tone was resolute.

Why?

Because individuals who unlocked the Mangekyō Sharingan acquired unique visual techniques; otherwise, these eyes wouldn't be referred to as the "Eyes That Reflect the Heart." To utilize the Ninjutsu of Susanoo, the eyes were indispensable.

Indeed, Susanoo wasn't so much an ocular technique as it was a form of Ninjutsu.

Once the Mangekyō Sharingan was awakened, Susanoo could be summoned whether the wielder had lost one eye or both, or even when they had evolved it into the Samsara Eye (Rinnegan) or split it to create a Wood Clone.

Thus, Susanoo was less an ocular ability and more a form of Ninjutsu.

Furthermore, upon unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan, members of the Uchiha clan gained access to the third power, known as the "Power of the Gods."

In ordinary circumstances, Susanoo had six stages: the Initial Stage, First Stage, Second Stage, Third Stage, Fourth Stage, and Complete Body.

The Initial Stage merely altered the arms and ribs, while the First Stage gave it a skeletal appearance and the ability to wield simple weapons. The Complete Body, known as the "True Susanoo," was only accessible when both eyes possessed the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. It could fly, use the caster's preferred Ninjutsu, and even open to reveal a massive Weapon.

Though Susanoo was Ninjutsu, its form was determined by the user's proficiency with their eyes, not their physical prowess.

"Blind but able to use ocular techniques!" Uchiha Madara affirmed. "This means Option One offers the exclusive visual technique and the Third Stage of Susanoo. The emphasis is on the Third Stage."

Ran's choice meant that upon unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan, he would immediately possess the visual prowess equivalent to the Fourth Stage of Susanoo.

Alternatively, if he didn't suffer vision loss, his ocular techniques would remain unaffected.

In this state, if Ran's ocular techniques were strong enough, it would be tantamount to a god confronting mortals.

After all, it was standard for Uchiha clan members' ocular strength to increase with time, whereas their vision continued to deteriorate, resulting in only modest increases in ocular technique power.

Moreover, when their ocular strength peaked, they would find it much easier to achieve the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

The outsiders were unaware of these details; they simply believed Option One granted the Mangekyō Sharingan, while Option Two appeared to be a choice of physique. In reality, both choices granted both physique and the Mangekyō Sharingan, creating a win-win scenario.

This misconception only deepened.

However, Uchiha Madara knew the truth, and he was certain that the knowledgeable Ran Uchiha also understood.

Yet Ran chose the second option, which piqued Uchiha Madara's curiosity.

"Why?" Ran Uchiha stared at the Golden List, attempting to discern the answer.

Ultimately, he followed the instructions of the Bloodline Limit Advancement.

The advanced physique of the Senju needed to be "stimulated."

Ran didn't quite understand this yet, but he went along with it.

Was this the answer?

Simultaneously, in the Pure Land...

Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo lamented to Ōtsutsuki Hamura: "Ran Uchiha truly possesses a profound understanding. If only he were Indra's reincarnation.

In that case, his 'son' in this world would be extraordinary."

Hamura Ōtsutsuki, of the same bloodline, nodded in agreement. "Yes, he comprehends our lineage well."

In Gold List's live broadcast room...

As the audience watched, Gold List released a beam of light that enveloped Ran Uchiha's body.

In an instant, the light dissipated.

Ran Uchiha closed his eyes, sensing the transformation. Every cell in his body tingled with excitement, as if brimming with vitality.

This was the power of Yang Release!

But it wasn't the Yang Release he had cultivated; it was the innate Yang Release that came from his physique. Uzumaki's advanced physique had developed into extreme Yang Release.

"The power of Yang Release is incredible. I wonder how formidable the advanced physiques of others at this level are," Ran pondered. "Now, I can extract at least four times more chakra from cells and spirits compared to when Naruto was sixteen, without suppressing the Nine Tails."

"Four hundred Kakashis?"

The Uchiha clan, known for their ocular abilities and chakra control, was often believed to have less chakra. However, compared to most ninjas, it was a misperception. The Uchiha clan possessed an advanced (extreme) physique, which not only increased their chakra capacity but also enhanced their vitality.

It was rumored that the Uzumaki clan's advanced physique was even more impressive. The increased chakra was just one aspect; the vitality it offered was unrivaled. Compared to the normal ninja who often depleted their chakra reserves, it was a stark contrast.

Indeed, the Uzumaki clan's longevity was evident in their unique advanced physique.

Ran felt the warmth coursing through his body, the sense of endless energy.

Moreover, he sensed a wealth of information flooding into his mind.

His eyes, still closed, were now a part of his powerful perception. He could sense abnormal chakra activity within a radius of several dozen kilometers, covering the entire Konoha Village. Even those hidden in strategic locations throughout Konoha, the hidden corners of Sunagakure and Kirigakure, and those gathered around summoning formations to summon massive snakes, were all within his sensory range.

In addition, he recalled the unique chakra signatures of Naruto and others. In the future, he could use this sensory radar to detect those specific chakra signatures and teleport to their locations, similar to how Goku from Dragon Ball could sense ki to move instantaneously.

"With this perception, my Flying Thunder God Technique will be even more formidable. Minato Namikaze's mastery of this technique must have been influenced by his sensory abilities," Ran mused. "Unlike me, who relies on Sharingan to track six separate targets simultaneously."

Ran was also pleased with Kagura Mind's enhancements. Additionally, the physical healing ability augmented his medical ninjutsu. Although it only affected females, Ran didn't mind the limitation.

"If I combine this with Senzu Beans, it would be even more incredible," Ran contemplated, his curiosity piqued by En Oyashiro.

Finally, Ran's third ability, the Adamantine Sealing Chains, stood out. This unique sealing technique was an exclusive technique of the Uzumaki clan. These chains formed from the instant release of chakra and could suppress even the Tailed Beasts. The Uzumaki's proficiency with sealing techniques was evident in this powerful technique.

Feeling the immense power within him, Ran couldn't contain his excitement. The true feast was about to begin.

"All the accumulated Yang Release powers, merge!"

As onlookers watched, Ran opened his eyes, and the seals on his body suddenly vanished, leaving no trace.

But in reality, the Yang Release powers had fused with Ran's body.

The Yang Seal remained, but it contained very little chakra.

"So potent!" Ran marveled at his newfound strength.

Previously, he had achieved a level of power that could be considered Kage-level, thanks to the Flying Thunder God Technique, Three Tomoe Sharingan, Kage level chakra, and a variety of sealing and secret techniques.

But now, it was a different story. His strength had skyrocketed.

He couldn't help but reflect on his previous limitations when facing Uchiha Obito and Uzumaki Nagato. Even with all his skills and techniques, he couldn't contend with them head-on and had to rely on the Flying Thunder God Technique to gain an upper hand.

It was a stark demonstration of the disparities in power.

But now, although he had just awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, he could feel the immense strength of his ocular abilities. He was confident that he could easily access the Third Stage of Susanoo. The Fourth Stage might require more effort, and it could result in significant vision loss.

However, his advanced physique would allow him to heal his vision loss and further enhance his chakra and ocular abilities.

His physical strength had also significantly increased, along with his recovery speed.

With all these advantages, Ran dared to claim that he was now invincible among the Kages.

"The next step is to learn Sage Jutsu and store Sage Chakra in the Yang Seal to nourish my body and eyes," Ran planned. "If I unlock the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan first, I can summon the Ten-Tails."

"But if my physique reaches its peak first, and I obtain a true Sage's body, I can instantly activate Sage Mode. I can also experiment with creating various Bloodline Limits, and even eliminate Bloodline Limits."

"However, for obtaining Bloodline Limits, it's still fastest to consume the Chakra Fruit."

As he felt the intoxicating power within him, Ran remained composed and carefully mapped out his path forward. Then, he began experimenting with his ocular abilities and activated his visual techniques.

The strength he felt in his eyes left him astonished.

"Is this... the power of a late-game cheat?"

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