Chapter 27: The Eye of Reflection
"Teacher!" Akatsurugi cried out, his voice raw.
Danzō looked over sharply, but the medic-nin, his hands still glowing faintly green, could only sigh and shake his head. The light on his hands faded completely. There was no saving him.
Danzō stared at Uchiha Kagami's body, a long, heavy sigh escaping him. "Seal Lord Kagami's remains for transport back to the village."
No matter what, Uchiha Kagami was a hero of Konoha and his former comrade. Danzō would ensure he received the honors he was due.
He then looked down at the two Sharingan eyes resting in his palm. After a moment's contemplation, he spoke. "Akatsurugi. You heard your teacher's final wish. Matsushima is here. Do you wish to undergo the transplant?"
Matsushima was the medic-nin who had just been attempting to heal Kagami.
A part of Danzō coveted both eyes, but Uchiha Kagami's dying words had been witnessed by several shinobi. To withhold the gift would create a poor impression. As for the pressure from the Uchiha clan... Danzō would bear it.
Akatsurugi nodded. It was a Sharingan. A Mangekyō Sharingan. The chakra drain would be significant, but it was a power far beyond his current means. Having it transplanted to him was infinitely better than letting Danzō keep both.
Danzō carefully selected one of the eyes and handed it to Matsushima. "Transplant it for him."
Matsushima bowed his head. "Understood." He turned to Akatsurugi. "Lord Akatsurugi, please follow me."
Akatsurugi acknowledged and followed Matsushima out. Danzō watched them go, then looked at the remaining Sharingan in his hand. He called for a preservation vial, sealed the eye within it, and began drafting a missive to Hiruzen Sarutobi. With Kumo's entry into the conflict, the war was about to escalate dramatically.
Akatsurugi followed Matsushima to a medical tent. "Akatsurugi, please lie down here. Leave the rest to me. Be advised, transplanting another's eyes can cause significant rejection. You will need to endure a period of adjustment. It will improve with time."
Akatsurugi complied, lying back on the cot. Matsushima began the procedure. His skill was evident; Akatsurugi felt little discomfort throughout the process.
Once the transplant was complete, Akatsurugi frowned. He'd been warned about severe rejection, but he felt... nothing.
"If the rejection feels intense, try gently circulating your chakra around the area. It can help ease the transition," Matsushima advised, misinterpreting the frown for pain.
He then produced a small vial. "Akatsurugi, this is your original eye."
Akatsurugi accepted the vial and offered his thanks. Matsushima instructed him to rest and then departed.
Alone, Akatsurugi found a small mirror. His reflection stared back: one eye its usual dark color, the other now a brilliant, bloody red—his left. Within the crimson iris, three tomoe spun in a slow, lazy circle. Viewing the world through the Sharingan was indeed a different experience. The clarity, the perception of minute movements... it was no wonder the Uchiha's dynamic vision was so famed.
The eye constantly drew on his chakra, but the drain was manageable, well within his reserves.
Perhaps my unique constitution prevents rejection, he mused. The downside was apparent, however; he couldn't deactivate it. Without Uchiha blood, the Sharingan would remain perpetually active.
This new tool would necessitate a change in his combat style.
A more ambitious thought surfaced. Can I awaken the Mangekyō's true power?
Focusing his chakra, he directed it toward the transplanted eye. The three tomoe within his left eye began to spin wildly, faster and faster, until they blurred and morphed, settling into the distinct, four-pointed pinwheel of the Mangekyō Sharingan. His chakra reserves plummeted dramatically.
Huh? In that moment, knowledge flooded his mind—the unique ability tied to this specific Mangekyō.
Uchiha Kagami's Mangekyō power was Transposition.
Forced bodily transposition with a target. It was a power both formidable and situational. Used cleverly, it could turn the tide of a battle, swapping an enemy into the path of their own ally's attack or a prepared trap. Used poorly, it was nearly useless.
He understood, then, how his teacher had awakened this power. It had been in that moment of desperate, futile rage as the Second Hokage chose to sacrifice himself. Kagami's soul had screamed for a way to take his place, and the Sharingan, the eye that reflects the heart, had answered.
On a chaotic battlefield, this ability was a cheat against death. Imagine a hundred ninjutsu roaring toward you, only for you to instantly swap places with an enemy commander. The outcome was grimly predictable.
It was reminiscent of the ability Sasuke gained with his Rinnegan—Amenotejikara—though Sasuke's version allowed him to swap with objects or swap attacks, offering more versatility. Uchiha Kagami's power was purely person-to-person. In a one-on-one duel, its utility was severely limited.
Now, Akatsurugi also understood the full tragedy of his teacher's final battle against the Third Raikage. A power based on swapping positions would be near-meaningless against a single, overwhelmingly powerful foe who could tank almost any attack.
He let the Mangekyō fade, the pinwheel receding back into the three tomoe. He felt the cost immediately; nearly half his chakra was gone. A massive drain indeed.
He adjusted his forehead protector, pulling it down to cover the three-tomoe Sharingan. Studying his reflection, he noted the resemblance to a certain copy-ninja, save for the lack of distinctive silver hair.
Exiting the tent, he encountered Danzō. The elder shinobi gave him a measured look. "The Sharingan transplant increases chakra consumption and carries a heavy rejection burden. You are to refrain from missions for the next several days. Focus on adaptation."
Akatsurugi nodded, offering no argument. He wouldn't reveal the lack of rejection or the manageable chakra cost. While this version of Danzō seemed reasonable, the future was uncertain. It was best to appear as expected.
"Very well. Do not disgrace Kagami's legacy. As for the Uchiha clan... I will handle them." With that, Danzō swept away, and Akatsurugi returned to his own tent.
The following days would indeed require a shift in his approach. He needed to drill the Sharingan's applications into his muscle memory. As for the Mangekyō's unique technique, he resolved to keep it as a last resort, a hidden card. The chakra cost was prohibitive, and its utility was too niche. The three-tomoe state, however, would be a tremendous boost—enhancing his genjutsu, refining his taijutsu, and sharpening his perception. It was a powerful, cost-effective tool now