Bab 167: Chapter 167: Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan
The stage between the Mangekyo Sharingan and the Rinnegan is known as the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
It's achieved by merging two pairs of Mangekyo eyes, typically those of siblings, resulting in a drastic enhancement of spiritual power. This fusion is what allows for the true awakening of the complete Susanoo, the ultimate form of the Susanoo technique.
But Orochimaru, having experienced the Mangekyo, knew this wasn't an absolute requirement.
Why does the Eternal Mangekyo surpass the regular Mangekyo? It's due to the fusion of two Mangekyo pairs, which causes a qualitative leap in spiritual energy. The reason sibling eyes are needed for this is due to the genetic compatibility required for a successful merger without rejection, brothers' genes are typically close enough to avoid the risks. In theory, however, a similar effect could be achieved by father and son, but no one had ever attempted it to confirm.
In short, if one's spiritual energy was strong enough, it was possible to activate the complete Susanoo without the Eternal Mangekyo.
For instance, Uchiha Obito, without possessing the Eternal Mangekyo, was still able to manifest the complete Susanoo after transferring his power to Kakashi. This was possible only because of the immense spiritual power he wielded, having been a Jinchuuriki of the Ten-Tails, which vastly amplified the chakra and spiritual power channeled through his eyes.
Currently, Orochimaru had amassed an immense amount of spiritual power through his experiments, but the limitation was clear: there's a fundamental difference between the regular Sharingan and the Mangekyo. The genetic samples he had collected from ordinary Uchiha bloodlines were only enough to push him to the level of a Mangekyo user, but they didn't contain the kind of spiritual potency required to reach the Eternal Mangekyo.
The fusion of two Mangekyo pairs isn't as simple as doubling power; the synergy produces exponential growth in spiritual strength. So, gathering hundreds of ordinary Sharingan genes would do little to elevate him further, it would barely make a dent.
If he truly wanted to reach the level of a complete Susanoo, he needed genetic material from Uchiha with the Mangekyo itself, someone like Uchiha Madara, Obito, or Itachi.
Madara was clearly out of reach, and Obito wasn't even born yet. As for Itachi or Sasuke… well, they wouldn't appear for years. This left Orochimaru with only one viable candidate in the current timeline: Uchiha Fugaku.
Or… possibly Uchiha Mikoto. But her potential to awaken the Mangekyo was uncertain. Given her children's prodigious abilities, it was possible she carried the genetic potential, but she had never shown signs of unlocking it herself.
As Orochimaru was lost in thought, a sudden voice pulled him back to reality.
"Lord Orochimaru?"
He turned to see a small red-haired girl in a short shirt and skirt, her black thigh-high stockings standing out in the dim light. She looked nervous, almost intimidated.
"Kushina?" Orochimaru paused, glancing around and realizing he had wandered near the Senju clan's territory. "What are you doing here so late? Are you looking for Tsunade?"
"Y-Yes…" Kushina replied, lowering her head, her usual fiery attitude replaced by timidity. She didn't dare meet his eyes. "But… Tsunade-sama doesn't seem to be around."
"Of course not," Orochimaru replied calmly. "She was deployed to the front lines over a week ago."
"Ah… I didn't know…" Kushina looked disappointed. She'd been busy with school and hadn't kept up with the news of the war.
"If there's anything important, you can tell me," Orochimaru offered, a hint of intrigue in his voice. Kushina might still be a child, but as the Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki, she held immense potential. She was certainly more interesting to him than Kato Dan.
"N-No, that's alright!" Kushina stammered, looking flustered. Without waiting for a response, she quickly bowed and ran off, disappearing into the night.
Watching her retreat as though fleeing for her life, Orochimaru reached up to touch his cheek, amused. "Am I really that frightening?"
With a faint smile, he turned and continued on his way back home.
---
The gene fusion serum he had developed could theoretically integrate any genetic material. Although conventional wisdom dictated that gene serums were best administered via injection, Orochimaru's potion, developed with the aid of the system, had eliminated all negative side effects. Thus, it was taken orally instead.
Far away on the front lines, Tsunade still hadn't mastered the Yin Seal, so her chakra reserves were limited. Treating so many injured ninja each day drained her significantly. Even with chakra pills, a full night's rest only restored about half of her chakra at best. The constant strain was beginning to take a toll.
But today felt different. No, it felt very different.
The morning after taking Orochimaru's potion, Tsunade awoke with an unusual sensation. Her chakra reserves, typically higher than average due to her Senju lineage, had now grown to an absurd degree.
If she compared her previous chakra reserves to a river, what she felt now was like an ocean. She blinked, bewildered, trying to comprehend the transformation.
"Unbelievable… what is this power?" Tsunade murmured to herself, holding up her hands and examining them. She felt completely rejuvenated; not only had her chakra fully recovered, but it had grown to an extent she'd never thought possible.
Any lingering fatigue from her previous exertions had vanished entirely, replaced by an overwhelming sense of vitality.
Tsunade wasn't a fool; she knew that this newfound power was likely linked to Orochimaru's potion. But even with that knowledge, the sheer potency of it left her stunned.
"What in the world did Orochimaru put in that vial?" she whispered, half in awe, half in disbelief.
With her current chakra levels and rapid recovery rate, she could potentially unleash large-scale ninjutsu without restraint, transforming herself into a veritable humanoid powerhouse.
Excited to test her abilities, Tsunade quickly rose to her feet and stepped outside her tent, ignoring the curious looks from other medics.
As she walked, she noticed something remarkable, wherever her feet touched the ground, the grass seemed to grow taller, lusher, responding to her chakra as if it were alive.
"Wait… is this… Wood Release?" she gasped, staring in disbelief at the grass slowly flourishing beneath her.
"Did I… awaken the Wood Release?"
***
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Status Power Mingguan
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