Chapter 68: Naobi and Fukusū

There was no doubt in Shinji's mind—this pair of Mangekyō belonged to Grandmother Uchiha Jiri.

The sense of familial connection was immediate and profound. When Shinji activated "Susanoo Primordial Light" to take control of these Mangekyō, he felt no resistance, unlike with Fugaku's pair before.

"Found it!" Shinji's voice echoed with excitement throughout the dimly lit chamber.

Not only had he located Grandmother Uchiha Jiri's Mangekyō, but he also discovered they were remarkably well-preserved compared to the previous pairs, reaffirming his belief that lineage and emotional connection played a significant role in Mangekyō stability.

The condition of the Mangekyō itself influenced its decay rate. Previous owners had heavily taxed their pupil powers, whereas Grandmother Uchiha Jiri's had less, resulting in better preservation.

As his initial elation settled, Shinji began to contemplate the next steps.

Opening ten jars had yielded three pairs of Mangekyō. Despite one being too corrupted to use, the harvest exceeded his expectations. However, a new dilemma arose.

The two usable pairs had each lost pupil power permanently due to forbidden techniques, rendering them defective.

Shinji sensed through "Susanoo Primordial Light" that even Grandmother Uchiha Jiri's Mangekyō couldn't be directly fused due to incomplete pupil power.

"How do I restore these two pairs of Mangekyō?" Shinji mused, his hand absentmindedly stroking his chin as he paced around the ancient chamber.

Restoring permanent blindness wasn't impossible; Madara Uchiha in another timeline had achieved it. After faking his death with "Izanagi," he meticulously studied the intricacies of the First Hokage's cells, eventually mastering the Yin-Yang Release to unlock the "Power of All Things" and evolve his Mangekyō into the Rinnegan.

The "Power of All Things" was a coveted key, but obtaining it was a daunting task, involving delicate manipulation of Hashirama Senju's genetic material.

Years later, Danzo and Orochimaru had attempted to replicate Madara's success by conducting forbidden experiments, transplanting Hashirama's cells into dozens of unsuspecting children. The tragic outcome left only Yamato alive, a stark reminder of the risks involved in tampering with such ancient powers.

Shinji dared not tamper with Hashirama's cells, considering the dire consequences. Even Madara, despite his mastery of the Mangekyō and the Rinnegan, had been unable to fully mitigate the unpredictable effects of Hashirama's genetic legacy, leading to the manifestation of the First Hokage's visage on his own body.

Comparatively, White Zetsu cells, cultivated by Madara from the Divine Tree and infused with Hashirama's potent chakra, posed significantly fewer risks. Obito, a living testament to their efficacy, had seamlessly integrated them into his being, leveraging their unique properties to harness the full potential of his Mangekyō powers.

"White Zetsu cells," Shinji reflected, recalling his encounters with Deidara and the enigmatic Akatsuki organization. "If Deidara has joined their ranks, perhaps I could negotiate for access to these rare cells."

Aside from the elusive White Zetsu cells, Shinji contemplated another approach—merging the usable left eye from one Mangekyō with Grandmother Uchiha Jiri's right eye. Using his own Mangekyō to invoke the "Susanoo Primordial Light," he could forcibly initiate a fusion process.

While this method risked lower success rates, it offered a promising avenue towards achieving the coveted Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

The cost? Permanently losing one Mangekyō pair.

Each eye in a Mangekyō pair influenced the other's pupil power. Shinji pondered the intricate bond between Obito and Kakashi, whose interlinked Sharingan had evolved into Mangekyō through a similar fusion process.

Fusing Mangekyō with sufficient pupil power ensured that the remaining eyes retained the potential for future restoration.

After meticulous consideration, Shinji reluctantly abandoned this ambitious approach.

With the Uchiha clan nearly extinct, the Mangekyō were priceless artifacts, each possessing a unique history and power. Shinji was determined to preserve every pair salvaged from the decaying jars. Currently safeguarding four pairs in varying states of decay, he sought a solution to restore even the permanently blind Mangekyō, potentially reviving the decaying pairs for future fusion while retaining at least one intact.

"I still maintain control over Fugaku's Mangekyō, with adequate pupil power," Shinji reasoned, his brow furrowing in concentration. "There's no need for haste in making a decision."

For now, managing two pairs with sufficient pupil power would suffice.

If pupil power dwindled without viable restoration prospects, Shinji resolved to merge the pairs containing sufficient pupil power before they succumbed to irreversible decay.

Relaxing his thoughts, Shinji refocused his attention on Grandmother Uchiha Jiri's Mangekyō.

Her left eye's "Fukusū," now devoid of any pupil power, left its intended effects shrouded in mystery.

Her right eye's "Naobi," a profound heart-connecting technique, enabled Shinji to communicate telepathically with marked spirits within a radius of 100 kilometers—a remotely facilitated meeting akin to the renowned Rinnegan's "Illusion Body Technique."

"Why did Grandmother Uchiha Jiri retain such an auxiliary eye technique?" Shinji pondered aloud, his voice echoing in the ancient chamber.

What purpose did Grandmother Uchiha Jiri's sacrificial "Fukusū" serve?

End of chapter