THE UCHIHA ASCENSION

"Magic!"

The statement from the cloud clone made Uchiha Kiyo ponder deeply.

Pupil techniques are akin to magical powers.

The preconditions for a technique's activation are constructed in advance, allowing instant execution when needed.

Since pupil techniques can be activated instantly, why hadn't he thought of applying this principle more broadly?

There must be a mechanism for this instant activation—something pre-programmed.

A "library" of techniques.

The existence of a stored "repository" of powers was another concept that inspired Uchiha Kiyo.

If a technique is cultivated to an extremely refined level, forming a "Dao" akin to fundamental rules, could it then function similarly to a pupil technique?

If such an art is imprinted upon the very fabric of the world, then anyone capable of connecting to it should, in theory, be able to channel it instantly.

How could such a power be formed? What qualifies a technique as a true supernatural ability?

A technique imprinted between heaven and earth?

It made sense.

Uchiha Kiyo nodded to himself, feeling that this explanation was at least plausible.

If a person could perform a technique without prior training, merely by tapping into pre-existing rules, then that technique could be classified as a supernatural ability.

And if it manifested through the eyes, it was a pupil technique.

Could such abilities be mastered through practice? Uchiha Kiyo believed so, but it would be an incredibly difficult endeavor—perhaps near impossible.

"Izanagi and Izanami… These two unconventional jutsu should be supernatural abilities attainable through training, right? They just come at a heavy cost."

"What about other abilities?"

"Does the gravitational repulsion controlled by Nagato's Rinnegan qualify as a supernatural ability? After all, Nagato doesn't understand the principles behind these abilities—he merely activates them as inherent functions of the Rinnegan."

"Shinra Tensei, Chibaku Tensei... Are these also supernatural abilities?"

Uchiha Kiyo's thoughts wandered.

"It seems that Sage Mode can also be classified as a supernatural ability.

Also, the Tailed Beast Mode of Jinchuriki, Yin-Yang Release, Truth-Seeking Orbs... all of these could be considered supernatural powers."

"I was puzzled before about why Yin-Yang Release, distinct from Yin Release and Yang Release, was interpreted differently by the Ōtsutsuki on the Moon.

Now I understand—Yin-Yang Release itself is a fundamental rule imprinted upon the world. If one masters this rule, they gain access to its power. If the rule's master grants access, others can channel it through special means."

So, Yin-Yang Release was likely a rule controlled by the Sage of Six Paths.

That would make him a being who had transcended into the realm of governing universal laws.

Perhaps his continued existence as a spiritual entity was tied to his mastery of such fundamental rules.

In theory, couldn't he have achieved true immortality?

If so, does this mean imprinting one's essence upon a fundamental rule requires some sort of "harmony with the Dao"?

Shaking his head, Uchiha Kiyo set aside these thoughts.

It was too soon to dwell on such matters. These were ideas for a later stage—when his own power had grown sufficiently.

For now, the greatest application of this understanding lay in unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Natural energy could trigger the Mangekyō's awakening, but it wasn't the sole requirement.

Perhaps this rule-based mechanism played a role as well.

The reason the Mangekyō was so powerful—and why it burdened the body—might be due to its connection to fundamental laws, as if it had been refined by these rules.

And the Eternal Mangekyō? Was its evolution simply a matter of gaining greater mastery over these rules? If one could fully control the essence of these powers, could they mitigate the Mangekyō's physical strain entirely?

---

Konoha – Hui's Residence

It had been over a month since White Fang had been rescued, yet he still hadn't woken up.

Hui was certain that his soul had returned to his body, but it seemed to be adjusting, preventing him from regaining consciousness.

After all, being separated from the body for an extended period could cause discrepancies.

The method used to "resurrect" him had been relatively simple—relying only on medical ninjutsu like Rejuvenation to restore the body.

No vitality infusion. No special techniques to accelerate soul-body fusion.

Frankly, it was remarkable that the process had succeeded at all.

Maintaining White Fang's basic bodily functions still required a shadow clone, and this was beginning to affect Hui's own cultivation.

His main body had obtained Hashirama's cells and was progressing with Wood Release research, yet Hui himself had yet to make substantial breakthroughs.

"We were supposed to study it together and lighten the burden on the main body," Hui muttered, feeling slightly frustrated.

"Where does Wood Release's vitality come from? Earth and Water Release don't inherently contain life energy."

This question had become more pressing ever since he gained insight into Paper Release.

"Life force... what exactly is it?"

Cellular activity?

Potential for division?

Wait—potential for division?

What was that?

How many times could a cell divide before ceasing its function?

If a cell could continue dividing, it could continue growing and living.

The greater a cell's division potential, the longer the lifespan. But if unchecked, like cancer, it would become destructive.

Could this cell division potential be an external manifestation of vitality itself?

And what determined this number?

Natural energy?

It seemed possible.

Research was all interconnected—the relationship between different elements was complex. Natural energy was linked to the Sharingan, to vitality, to cell division potential, and even to Sage Chakra.

Simply put, the study of natural energy was crucial.

Hui made a decision.

"I should share these insights with the main body."

Just as Hui prepared to perform Annihilation and Resurrection, White Fang stirred beside him.

"...Ugh..."

Hui paused, turning toward White Fang.

Did he just hear a voice?

That hoarse, barely human voice...

Amused, Hui approached.

Sure enough, White Fang's presence felt different—there was finally a spark of life in him.

His body had regained enough vitality to function independently, no longer requiring an external force to sustain it.

The fusion of soul and body was complete.

Without the soul, even the strongest body would deteriorate in a matter of days.

"Cough… cough…"

White Fang's weak coughing pulled Hui from his thoughts.

He had been about to spiral into another research tangent.

But right now, White Fang took priority.

White Fang's eyes opened. A sense of detachment from reality filled his gaze, his mind clouded with confusion.

"Where… is this?

"…Wasn't I dead?"

"Of course you're dead," Hui quipped. "Welcome to my house."

"...Qing? You're here too? Is this the Pure Land? It looks just like the ninja world..."

Hui's expression twitched.

"Pure Land, my ass. This is still the ninja world. You're alive. I saved you."

White Fang slowly processed Hui's words.

"I… I'm not dead? Qing saved me? But how?"

That wasn't the most important thing.

"Wait—Qing is alive too?!"

"You did commit suicide, but I got there in time. As for how I survived… that's a long story. Let's just take things slowly for now.

Oh, and don't go running outside. My house is isolated by a barrier. To the world, you're still dead. Let's keep it that way."

Hui didn't bother explaining further.

He had already convinced Fugaku that his survival was due to his Mangekyō abilities—one that allowed omniscience and another that created clones.

Fugaku likely attributed everything to Uchiha's mysterious powers.

But White Fang? Who knew if he would make the same assumptions?

So Hui decided to let White Fang draw his own conclusions.

For the next few days, Hui briefed him on recent events.

White Fang, still bound to his old beliefs, was eventually persuaded to stay hidden and serve Konoha from the shadows.

A fate similar to ROOT—but, unlike Danzo, Hui had no intention of being ruthless.

Even if White Fang didn't realize it, Hui had his own plans in motion.

And in the meantime, Wood Release research was progressing far more smoothly than expected.

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