Realizing the danger, Uchiha Yoru did not panic. He adjusted his breathing and fully guided the flow of natural energy, maintaining the rhythm of the oscillations within his dantian while making them heavier and more forceful.
The giant ape in his mind seemed to sense its impending end and erupted in its final frenzy. His heart pounded violently—so violently that it felt as if it might stop at any moment.
If it were an ordinary person, this would at best bring suffocating discomfort, and at worst a piercing pain in the chest, even a direct brush with the terror of life and death. But Uchiha Yoru felt none of that. Instead, he sensed a strange illusion of expansion, as though his body were swelling beyond its limits. His instincts told him clearly—this was not a problem.
As long as he could kill that damned monkey, nothing else mattered.
He was someone who cultivated by following the sensation of pleasure. He trusted his instincts completely. So he gathered all his focus, maintaining absolute calm in both mind and body.
As for that wretched monkey in his inner world—there was no need to do anything more. He simply let the inner world run its course, waiting for it to be ground down and destroyed.
At this moment, Uchiha Yoru had not entered full stillness, yet it was as if he had surpassed it. His mind surged like a raging sea, yet at the same time reflected everything like a perfect mirror.
Every heartbeat, every surge of blood through his vessels, every subtle vibration within his dantian, and every last struggle of the mind-ape—everything was reflected with perfect clarity.
With a single thought, he realized that this awareness was not limited inward—it extended outward as well.
The impassioned speech of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the breathing and movements of the sixty-two newly promoted chunin, the faint, nearly imperceptible breaths of six hidden ANBU, the drifting dust in the air—even the sharp, blade-like gazes of those hidden operatives—all of it was gathered within his perception.
Uchiha Yoru felt neither surprise nor joy. Instead, he calmly understood—
He had grasped a divine ability.
All-Knowing Mind's Eye.
Unfortunately, this first ability was still immature. Its effective range was only nine meters. Beyond that, all information collapsed into meaningless chaos.
As the mind-ape let out its final, most violent roar, its body suddenly exploded, turning into fragments that filled the mental world before dissolving into fine crimson dust.
Yet it had not vanished entirely.
Its furious roar quickly turned into a faint, pitiful whimper. Uchiha Yoru could even sense a trace of pleading within it.
Interesting… Let me see what it has become.
At his will, the inner world shifted. The crimson dust settled into a flat red earth, and upon that surface appeared a trembling golden monkey.
It was… unexpectedly cute.
Bright eyes, a blue face, golden fur—curled into a small, pitiful ball. It looked nothing like the raging, sky-defying beast from moments ago.
But Uchiha Yoru did not forget.
This was only temporary submission.
The mind-ape could never be destroyed. It would remain with him forever on his path of cultivation, constantly stirring his emotions, constantly seeking to overturn him and take control.
It could only be defeated again and again—until one day, it was truly tamed.
To truly tame it… perhaps only at the moment of becoming an immortal…
…maybe.
That makes sense. The mind-ape cannot be eliminated. It is the embodiment of desire itself.
Without it, there would be no impulse, no emotion, no will.
That would no longer be human.
Even plants have desire—they compete for sunlight, water, nutrients. They evolve thorns, poisons, and strangling vines.
Only lifeless matter, or cold calculations, are without desire.
I am human. Even an immortal is still human.
The mind-ape and the self coexist.
"…Hm?"
Uchiha Yoru suddenly noticed that the crimson earth in his mental world was thinning, like melting snow. At the same time, he sensed a rain falling within his inner being.
A crimson rain.
The benefits of subduing the mind-ape revealed themselves immediately. The once violent emotions transformed into a nourishing downpour, enriching both his mind and spirit.
It felt… incredible.
At this moment, Uchiha Yoru experienced an unparalleled sense of clarity. His mind was full, his spirit refreshed, and his body completely relaxed. Even in his horse stance, he trembled ever so slightly, his blood and vitality rising in a tangible way.
As the mind-ape settled, the inner world gradually faded from his perception, until it disappeared entirely.
Fortunately, his awareness—both internal and external—remained intact. His newly awakened ability had not vanished.
That alone was enough to satisfy him.
There was nothing more frustrating than gaining something, only to lose it immediately.
Almost at the same time, the speech came to an end.
"…I hope all of you will uphold the Will of Fire and strive for Konoha's prosperity and peace!"
Applause erupted.
The young shinobi clapped enthusiastically. Some were so moved that tears filled their eyes, unable to contain their excitement.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked on with satisfaction. He believed these newly promoted chunin would become his supporters, playing vital roles in the coming war.
"Indeed… I am the one who is right."
"The times have changed. Shinobi are no longer mere tools, as they were in the Warring States era."
His gaze briefly swept over the hidden Root operatives, his brows tightening slightly.
"Though such shinobi still exist, they are no longer the majority. They will never be able to overturn the tide."
With that, the Third Hokage departed.
The promotion orders had already been signed the previous day, so there was no need for him to personally distribute them.
He still had to attend the promotion ceremony for adult genin. Though those shinobi lacked the potential to become elite, they were experienced enough to serve as capable team leaders—essential assets in the early stages of war.
Soon, administrative shinobi began distributing the promotion certificates.
Uchiha Yoru received his.
Before he could even read it clearly, another administrative ninja approached, holding a scroll and brush.
"As a chunin, you may form your own mission squad. Do you have any candidates?"
"If so, provide their names and registration numbers. The Hokage will coordinate assignments."
"If not, the village will assign members to you at random."
"A mission squad?"
Uchiha Yoru smiled faintly and answered without hesitation,
"I don't plan to form a squad. No need to register."
At this stage, how could he possibly team up with others?
His secrets were not something anyone could know.
Besides, forming a squad meant responsibility, time, and splitting mission rewards.
Compared to that—
Working alone was far more comfortable.
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