The Deep Forest Emergence enhanced by Sage Chakra was at least three times more powerful than usual, with effects vastly different from its previous uses.
Within just a minute, it swept away all the shadow clones, turning most of the wasteland in the eastern district into a barren forest devoid of leaves.
Shisui managed to avoid it with the Body Flicker Technique, while Kushina, having kept her distance from the beginning, also successfully evaded the Deep Forest Emergence.
However, the loss of so many shadow clones at once, despite the support of the Nine-Tails' chakra, left Kushina drained.
"Ye Zi is incredibly strong… How can we stop him?" Kushina thought silently.
At that moment, Shisui regrouped with her.
"Shisui." Kushina nodded toward him, then noticed the Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes. A flash of surprise crossed her face, but she said nothing.
That eye… It looked strikingly similar to Ye Zi's right eye.
"I thought your numerous shadow clones might be able to handle him, but they still failed. What an incredible Wood Release." Shisui stood beside Kushina, calmly observing Ye Zi, who stood atop the highest tree root.
Shisui had already made up his mind to use Kotoamatsukami on Ye Zi. However, he also noticed that Ye Zi possessed a Mangekyō Sharingan, not just one, but with an additional unique feature: a golden vertical pupil.
Every Mangekyō Sharingan carries unique ocular powers.
Throughout history, very few Uchiha had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, and each one who did possessed two special abilities, one in each eye.
Shisui was an exception. Both his left and right eyes housed the same ability, Kotoamatsukami.
This did not make him weaker than other Mangekyō users. On the contrary, because both eyes shared the same ability, Kotoamatsukami was more powerful, placed less strain on him, and could be used with shorter intervals between activations.
Kotoamatsukami is the ocular ability housed in Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, it was a genjutsu so powerful that it can infiltrate the target's mind undetected, altering their will and controlling their thoughts.
It is the strongest genjutsu. With both eyes capable of using Kotoamatsukami, its power is terrifyingly unmatched.
Shisui had never disclosed this ability to anyone. If unnecessary, he intended to keep it a secret forever.
He understood that if others knew about Kotoamatsukami, it would stir paranoia among those around him. The ability to alter someone's will unnoticed would inevitably sow distrust.
Has he used Kotoamatsukami on me?
Are my actions truly my own?
What if he commands me to commit suicide if we ever become enemies?
Such doubts would arise because of this ability. Even if Shisui explained that Kotoamatsukami could only be used after long intervals, people wouldn't believe him.
While Shisui could disregard such concerns, in any system of power, this ability would make him a target of envy or fear.
These reasons made Shisui determined to keep Kotoamatsukami hidden. Even his Mangekyō Sharingan was rarely revealed.
Now, however, was the time to use it. With Kotoamatsukami, Shisui could alter Ye Zi's will and end the battle. If he kept silent, no one would know the ability was used.
Kushina remained silent. Though so many shadow clones had been destroyed, she still had chakra to continue fighting.
If not for Ye Zi's overwhelming power deterring her from approaching rashly, she could have used sealing techniques to restrain him.
"His strength is terrifying, it must be restrained." Shisui and Kushina shared the same thought.
If Kotoamatsukami could modify Ye Zi's will, Shisui had two options: one, make Ye Zi protect Konoha; two, direct Ye Zi's power toward maintaining peace in the ninja world.
Both options would ensure Ye Zi would no longer harm Konoha. The second, however, had broader implications.
Of course, Shisui could simply command Ye Zi to commit suicide. However, he felt it would be a waste of such power.
Power like Ye Zi's should be put to proper use. Between the two options, Shisui leaned toward the latter.
Like Itachi, Shisui wanted to avoid further conflict and prevent more wars in the ninja world.
After weighing his choices, Shisui decided to make Ye Zi a force for maintaining peace in the ninja world.
To conceal Kotoamatsukami, Shisui didn't inform Kushina of his plan. Using his Body Flicker Technique, he darted past the still tree roots and positioned himself several hundred meters away from Ye Zi.
"Mangekyō Sharingan?" Ye Zi frowned, the light in his right Mangekyō Sharingan flickering faintly.
Another person had arrived, young in age but already wielding a Mangekyō Sharingan, hinting at a terrifying talent that couldn't be underestimated.
As long as Ye Zi confirmed that his wood clone had safely taken Kotoe away, he would retreat immediately rather than remain.
No matter how strong he was, even he couldn't fend off endless waves of enemies.
With the perceptive abilities of Sage Mode, Ye Zi could vaguely sense that Konoha's ninjas were converging on his location.
This was because the Edo Tensei bodies had mostly been dealt with, and the only remaining summoned creature, Manda, was barely holding on. With the pressure easing up, Konoha's forces began focusing their attention on the eastern district.
Here, they were facing the most formidable enemy!
Uchiha Shisui fixed his gaze on Ye Zi. Any opponent unaware of the effects of Kotoamatsukami would obediently fall under its influence. Moreover, Shisui wasn't about to give Ye Zi an opportunity to use his Mangekyō Sharingan techniques.
As Ye Zi looked into Shisui's eyes, a faint light emanated from Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan.
Kotoamatsukami, activate!
...
With the perceptive abilities of Sage Mode, Ye Zi could vaguely sense that Konoha's ninjas were converging on his location.
This was because the Edo Tensei bodies had mostly been dealt with, and the only remaining summoned creature, Manda, was barely holding on. With the pressure easing up, Konoha's forces began focusing their attention on the eastern district.
Here, they were facing the most formidable enemy!
Uchiha Shisui fixed his gaze on Ye Zi. Any opponent unaware of the effects of Kotoamatsukami would obediently fall under its influence. Moreover, Shisui wasn't about to give Ye Zi an opportunity to use his Mangekyō Sharingan techniques.
As Ye Zi looked into Shisui's eyes, a faint light emanated from Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan.
Kotoamatsukami, activate!
.....
Root Base, Forest
Danzo had instructed the Root members not to interfere in the battle but ordered them to monitor it closely.
"Central Street: Fugaku Uchiha. Northeastern Training Ground: Obito Uchiha. Eastern District: Shisui Uchiha. And... Ye Zi!" A masked Root member approached Danzo, reporting the information he wanted to know.
"All four of them show advanced Sharingan forms, though Ye Zi only has it in his right eye."
Due to the pressure from Sakumo Hatake and the need to assist Hiruzen Sarutobi, both Fugaku and Shisui refrained from using their Mangekyō Sharingan, as observed by the Root members.
"Three of them, plus Ye Zi!" A gleam flickered in Danzo's eyes as he subconsciously stroked his right arm.
The Sharingan has an even higher-level form? Fugaku and Shisui had both hidden this information. Now, there was also Obito. It seemed prudent to remain wary of the Uchiha clan.
Realizing that three members of the Uchiha clan possessed advanced Sharingan forms left Danzo increasingly apprehensive about the clan's potential.
And then there was Ye Zi's right eye, a higher-level Sharingan. Danzo had no idea what kind of power it held.
A flicker of greed crossed Danzo's eyes.
He couldn't move against the Uchiha clan so easily, but Ye Zi was different.
Though Ye Zi was strong, against the combined strength of the entire Hidden Leaf Village, he would inevitably reach his limits.
"When that moment comes, I need to ensure he escapes successfully, only to intercept him later and seize that eye," Danzo thought to himself.
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Currently on Chapter 480 - Illusions within Illusions