Qianyu and Kakashi stood silent and still amidst the trees, gazing out at the distant streets of Konoha.
Kakashi had once felt such fierce pride and belonging for the Leaf. Now, he held only simmering hatred in his heart for it.
Suddenly, the system's cold, mechanical voice hammered into his mind.
[Witnessed and altered the life trajectory of Kakashi Hatake. Reward: 20,000 Witness Points.]
His heart lurched. This… this was the first time he'd ever gotten a reward this huge.
He'd only had a little over 6,000 points before. Witnessing Sakumo's death netted him 5,000, bringing his total to around 12,000.
Now, with this 20,000-point windfall? His total skyrocketed to 32,000 Witness Points.
To exchange for the Mangekyō Sharingan… since he already had Uchiha blood, it would only cost him 10,000 points.
Even after that, he'd still have a whopping 22,000 points left.
A flicker of excitement stirred in his chest. He'd never been this rich before.
This changed everything. The playing field just got a lot bigger.
Sure, exchanging for abilities he didn't inherently possess cost five times the normal rate. 22,000 points could still feel tight for those.
But I have Senju blood in me.
Hashirama Senju's Wood Release… the very bloodline limit that crowned him the God of Shinobi. Legendary.
And for Qianyu to awaken that bloodline? He'd only need to pay the standard exchange rate.
A confident grin touched his lips. This… this gave him a lot more confidence about the whole Nine-Tails situation.
He pushed the excitement down, turning to Kakashi beside him. "Let's go, Kakashi. Time to head home. Miyuki will start worrying."
They walked back through the gathering dusk.
That night, in their room, Miyuki Uzumaki asked, "Qianyu, Kakashi seemed… better, earlier. More settled. Did you talk to him?"
"He's back on his feet," Qianyu said with a soft smile. "Don't worry about him anymore."
Miyuki let out a relieved sigh. "Good. That's good." She paused, her expression turning serious. "The Hokage summoned you today… is it about the front? Are they sending you out?"
Qianyu raised a brow. "You figured that out?"
She pouted. "Qianyu, do you think I'm stupid? It's obvious. After Lord Sakumo… after what happened, the Grass Country front has no commander. I've already seen squads heading out as reinforcements all day. Someone as strong as you? The Hokage wouldn't keep you in the village forever. So, am I right?"
He chuckled. "Spot on. You got it. He did want me to reinforce the Grass Country. I refused. With Kakashi's state… I wasn't comfortable leaving."
"And now?"
"Now Kakashi's standing again. I've got no more excuses. I leave for the Grass Country in two days."
Miyuki sighed, a world of weariness in the sound. "You just got back. Now you're leaving again. I'll miss you."
"This war… it might drag on for years. Five, six, maybe more. But if things go my way?" His voice turned firm. "Two or three. And I'll request to have you assigned to my team for missions."
Her eyes widened. "Really?"
"Really. You know I never lie to you."
Her smile faded, replaced by a quiet worry. "Two or three years… is that about me? And the Nine-Tails? Qianyu, don't… don't push yourself too hard for this."
He met her gaze, his own full of a newfound certainty. "Don't worry, Miyuki. I've got a lot more confidence now."
The next day, Qianyu sent Kakashi back to the Hatake compound to pack. They'd depart for the Grass Country tomorrow.
Alone, Qianyu slipped into the long-abandoned Orochimaru base. This was the place. Today was the day.
He took a deep, steadying breath.
"System. Exchange 10,000 Witness Points. For the Mangekyō Sharingan."
[Exchange complete. Host, will you now receive and awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan?]
"Awaken."
The moment the word left his lips, a burst of pain—sharp, sudden—lanced through his eyes. He squeezed them shut, hands flying to his face.
It wasn't just pain. It was fire. It was daggers plunging into his sockets. He pressed his palms hard against his eyelids, gritting his teeth. Tears—bloody tears—leaked between his fingers.
But beneath the agony, he could feel it. A strange, potent chakra was blooming deep within his eyes, swirling, coalescing, birthing something new.
Time lost meaning. Then, gradually, the searing pain began to recede.
Behind his closed lids, his three-tomoe Sharingan spun wildly, madly, before finally settling into a new, permanent form.
He opened his eyes.
The pattern was intricate. A perfect outer circle. Inside, five blade-like shapes connected at a central point, forming a stark, deadly flower.
Power. A sense of raw, limitless power flooded his senses. He felt untouchable. Invincible.
Strong. So damn strong.
He clamped down on the feeling hard. An illusion. A potent one. The Mangekyō didn't make him a god. It just amplified what was already there. Believing the hype was a one-way ticket to getting killed.
He focused inward. The awakening wasn't… complete. That unique chakra was still there, still growing, still shaping itself inside his eyes.
His Mangekyō was evolving. Forging the unique ocular jutsu that would match his path, his fighting style.
He deactivated the Sharingan, letting the process continue on its own. He exhaled, long and slow.
Once the Mangekyō was fully formed and its abilities manifested—he would step squarely into the ranks of the true powerhouses.
No question.
The Mangekyō Sharingan was just that overwhelming.
But it came with a price. A steep one. The more he used it, the faster the light would fade from his eyes. Only the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, or cells from the First Hokage, could prevent that fate.
The Eternal Mangekyō… achieving it the normal way was impossible. He had no blood brothers.
A quick mental check of the system shop confirmed it. 250,000 Witness Points. A five-fold markup. Because he lacked the prerequisite—a sibling's eyes.
As for First Hokage cells… with Orochimaru around, getting them wouldn't be the hard part.
But implanting them? Carving Hashirama's face onto his chest like Madara? The very thought made his skin crawl.
Hell no.
"Not happening," he muttered to the empty air, his decision final.
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