Deidara, the prodigious young ninja from the Village Hidden in the Stone, had become a rogue ninja after leaving the village due to his unwillingness to be disciplined. In his absence, Iwagakure suffered a talent drain, leaving only Onoki to hold the fort.
During this time, Kawasaki focused his efforts on supporting the Uchiha clan's commercial development. Initially, he faced considerable resistance when he asked the civilian Uchiha to change their businesses. However, after Kawasaki showcased his culinary skills and hosted a banquet, the exquisite flavors of Celestial Cuisine instantly won everyone over. The unique food preparation techniques and explosive tastes turned the Uchiha into devoted fans. With a plan already in motion, Kawasaki had them begin renovating their shops.
Kawasaki dedicated most of his attention to his communications with Orochimaru. Through the summoning animal, Yatsuki, the two exchanged information daily. Beyond the initial reports from Itachi and Shisui, their correspondence evolved into deep discussions. Kawasaki held high hopes for the ninja world's top scientist, as many of his own plans required Orochimaru's support. He even shared details of matters that fell outside his immediate schemes. Upon learning of the great upheavals that would soon rock the ninja world, Orochimaru grew even more driven, burying himself in endless experiments and neglecting the management of the Village Hidden in the Sound.
Fortunately, the influx of Uchiha elites had led to a qualitative leap for the Sound Village. Its mission completion rate soared, ranking just behind the Five Great Shinobi Villages and far surpassing villages like the Rain, Waterfall, and Grass. Investigations by the major villages soon revealed the unhidden Uchiha, and word spread that Itachi had joined a small, upstart village. All eyes turned to Konoha, waiting for a reaction. But to everyone's surprise, Konoha remained utterly silent, as if it were of no concern. Even more astonishing was the fact that the Uchiha, despite their numbers, showed no intention of seizing power. They simply carried out their duties as shinobi of the Sound Village.
Kawasaki was not surprised. These Uchiha elites had long been under the influence of Kotoamatsukami. They would not only follow orders without question but would even end their own lives in an instant if commanded.
Meanwhile, Kawasaki's energy was primarily focused on renovating the restaurants along Konoha's Eighth Street. After treating the Uchiha shop owners to a taste of Celestial Cuisine, his confidence in its appeal had skyrocketed. The project accelerated, and within two short months, the "Celestial Cuisine" signs adorned every establishment on Eighth Street. The moment the restaurants opened, they became an instant sensation, sweeping through Konoha with an endless stream of customers. Each Uchiha shop specialized in different delicacies: Reganmian, Roujiamo, Spicy Crayfish, Cheung Fun, Rice Noodles, and Luosifen. You could eat your way from one end of the street to the other without tasting the same thing twice. Their unique cooking methods and secret sauces were nearly impossible to replicate, driving other restaurants out of business and forcing them to change professions.
Simultaneously, in the Land of Rice Paddies, Kawasaki's business plan was even more ambitious, earning high praise even from Orochimaru. Medical experiments often required vast sums of money. While developing new jutsu had been costly, completing the various projects Kawasaki had proposed—from self-enhancement to exploring the evolution of the Sharingan—demanded an astronomical amount of funding. Fortunately, Orochimaru had spent years quietly infiltrating the Land of Rice Paddies, to the point where even the feudal lord was under his control. With the lord's backing, a chain of restaurants named "Celestial Cuisine" sprang up like mushrooms after a spring rain.
At first, local restaurateurs thought the feudal lord had lost his mind, pouring massive resources into supporting a foreign novelty. The final results, however, left everyone dumbfounded. The "Celestial Cuisine" franchise, with its array of main courses, desserts, and specialty snacks, swept through the traditional restaurant industry of the Land of Rice Paddies like a hurricane. When it came to main courses, the old, monotonous menus couldn't compare to the rich and diverse culinary styles of Celestial Cuisine. The desserts were dazzling, with a vast selection of pastries and drinks. As for the specialty snacks, they were simply irresistible: Chuan Chuan Xiang, Hot and Sour Noodles, Reganmian, Roujiamo, Spicy Crayfish, Cheung Fun, Rice Noodles, Luosifen, Jianbing Guozi, and Guo Bao Rou.
In a short time, many local establishments found their dining rooms deserted. Just as the owners were desperately searching for a solution, the "Celestial Cuisine" chain unveiled its next move: a franchise model. Local business owners could pay a fee to receive technical support and the recipes for the various secret Celestial Cuisine dishes. Initially, no one dared to take the plunge, as the unknown always brings fear. But eventually, a few pioneers emerged. Steeling themselves, they invested heavily to open "Celestial Cuisine" snack shops. Within months, they had not only recouped their costs but were earning immense profits. The other restaurant owners could no longer sit still, lining up with cash in hand to join the "Celestial Cuisine" brand.
From the Land of Rice Paddies, the trend of "Celestial Cuisine" began to spread, reaching into the major nations. More than a year passed, and Konoha's Eighth Street had become the most prosperous area in the village, all thanks to the rise of the Uchiha clan's culinary empire. For most people, these dishes were unlike anything they had ever seen or heard of. Once someone dared to try them, the otherworldly flavors quickly conquered every palate. Astute observers noted that the "Celestial Cuisine" on Eighth Street had appeared at the same time as the one in the Land of Rice Paddies, deducing that the Uchiha clan was undoubtedly the driving force. Because of this, the Uchiha became one of the four wealthiest powers in the ninja world.
It had been nearly two years since Naruto and Sasuke enrolled in the academy. Naruto's academic performance was average at best, though he showed some promise in taijutsu. His biggest struggle was with chakra control and application. In the recently taught Transformation Jutsu, Naruto was consistently last in his class. Thanks to the quiet support from Kawasaki and Sasuke, the Third Hokage seemed to feel threatened and continually increased Naruto's allowance. He also decreed harsh punishments for anyone who targeted Naruto, fearing the boy might one day be swayed by Kawasaki Uchiha. At the same time, he hoped Kakashi could form a closer bond with Naruto. Unfortunately, Kakashi's demanding mission schedule limited their interactions to casual chats, preventing any deep connection from forming. First impressions are powerful, and Naruto's relationship with Kawasaki and Sasuke was clearly stronger than his with Kakashi.
Within the dreamscape, Orochimaru's hands flew through a series of seals. "Summoning Jutsu!"
With a loud poof, the colossal serpent Manda erupted from the ground. "Susanoo!" Kawasaki channeled his dōjutsu, and a massive chakra avatar materialized, towering over the landscape. From skeleton to flesh to armor, the sheer force of its chakra shook the very earth. Kawasaki controlled the Susanoo to hurl a Yasaka Magatama, an attack so vast that even Manda couldn't evade it, leaving behind only a shed skin and a low hiss.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" Orochimaru exhaled a gale-force wind that kicked up sand and stone, obscuring all vision. Hidden within his Susanoo, Kawasaki waited for an opening.
*CRACK!*
A boulder shattered, and Manda lunged from behind Kawasaki. Orochimaru teleported to his flank. "Striking Shadow Snakes!" He slammed his palm on the ground, and countless venomous snakes shot forth.
Kawasaki's Susanoo took Manda's headbutt head-on. He immediately dispelled the avatar and placed his hand on the great serpent's head. "Contract Seal: Release!"
*BOOM!* Amidst a cloud of smoke, Manda was forcibly sent back to Ryuchi Cave. Orochimaru formed another seal. "Eight Branches Technique!"
*Hiss!*
With the sound of tearing flesh, an enormous white serpent with eight heads emerged, lunging viciously at Kawasaki. Pushing through the immense chakra drain, Kawasaki reactivated his Susanoo and drew a massive katana. With a series of ringing clashes, the sharp blade severed three of the heads, but it was futile. The serpent's infinite regeneration caused the heads to grow back instantly. Before long, Kawasaki was ensnared.
The dreamscape shattered. Kawasaki's eyes snapped open as his consciousness returned to reality. He had lost again. How was Orochimaru this strong?
Ever since Kawasaki had provided Orochimaru with numerous research topics and theories, Orochimaru's name had started appearing in his dream training simulations. Kawasaki had to admit, he initially hadn't thought much of Orochimaru's combat prowess. After all, Orochimaru's strength lay in research. The fact that he was so easily defeated by one of Itachi's genjutsu had led Kawasaki to underestimate him. It was only after facing him directly that he understood. While Orochimaru did have a glaring weakness to genjutsu, that didn't make him weak. In fact, Orochimaru was far more powerful than he could have imagined.
In their many spars, Kawasaki had mostly ended up defeated. He either fell to the endless regeneration of the Eight Branches Technique, was overwhelmed by the reanimated First and Second Hokage, or was killed by Orochimaru's unnerving body modifications and surprise snake attacks. As for genjutsu, the one area where he should have had an advantage, Kawasaki's skills were unrefined. Orochimaru couldn't resist Itachi's genjutsu because Itachi's technique was masterful. Kawasaki, on the other hand, could only rely on overwhelming his opponents with raw dōjutsu. To put it simply, Itachi could use genjutsu to make you lose control of a single limb. Kawasaki could only create a psychological suggestion of death. The technique was effective, but it consumed a massive amount of dōjutsu, and its potency diminished against opponents with stronger willpower.
Without using genjutsu, Kawasaki's chances of defeating Orochimaru were slim to none. It reminded him of his confrontation with Jiraiya. Although he had been holding back then, in a true life-or-death battle, it was uncertain who would have emerged victorious. Only by facing one of the Sannin at full strength did Kawasaki realize his own deficiencies. His victories against Itachi, Shisui, and Fugaku were entirely due to dōjutsu suppression, which nullified their genjutsu, and the fact that their Susanoo were at a significant disadvantage against his. Itachi's Susanoo, at its peak, was barely over twenty meters tall. Kawasaki's, however, could already reach seventy meters and continued to grow as his dōjutsu strengthened. Furthermore, Kawasaki possessed numerous sealing jutsu that could quickly immobilize an opponent.
But what Kawasaki truly lacked was a powerful dōjutsu of his own. He envied Itachi's Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi. Although he had a one-time-use ability, it would be gone after a single activation. *If only I had an offensive dōjutsu! Not just offensive, but devastatingly powerful!*
As he thought this, a restless stirring began in his Sharingan. *Huh?!* A jolt of anticipation shot through him. *Could it be?!*
The Sharingan was the "Eye that Reflects the Heart." As its name suggested, a powerful inner desire was needed for its abilities to manifest. Obito awakened his Mangekyo because of Rin's death. In that moment, his entire world collapsed. In his despair, he wished to escape reality, and so he opened the "Kamui" dimension to hide from it. Shisui longed for peace, dreaming of a way to change the hearts of his clansmen and the villagers so everyone could live in harmony. Thus, he awakened "Kotoamatsukami," the power to alter a person's will.
Itachi's Mangekyo was unlocked by Shisui's death, and his ideals were far more radical. In his view, if peace couldn't be achieved, one side had to be destroyed, giving rise to "Amaterasu," the flames that could extinguish all things. His vision for a better world, however, manifested as "Tsukuyomi," the power to reconstruct reality. Fugaku was consumed with thoughts of the clan's future. Every decision he made was weighed against its future impact, and so he unlocked a genjutsu that could create visions of the "future."
As for Kawasaki, since his transmigration, he had always felt a sense of detachment from this world. When he first arrived, nothing had felt truly real. When his Mangekyo awakened, the only thing he could recall was the invincibility of the Susanoo. Consequently, he had unlocked the Susanoo with ease, mastering every stage of its development without any trouble. But when it came to unique dōjutsu, he lacked the intense emotional drive necessary. Despite his immense dōjutsu reserves, he had yet to awaken a specific ability. After all, since coming to this world, he hadn't experienced the horrors of war or faced a true life-or-death struggle. He had defeated Killer Bee with almost no effort.
As Kawasaki pieced this together, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry at his own foolishness. *Does this mean I have a chance to awaken my Mangekyo dōjutsu now?!* A thrill of excitement ran through him. Should it be the all-evading Kamui? The all-consuming Amaterasu? Or the will-bending Kotoamatsukami? After some thought, Kawasaki decided none of them truly suited him. What he wanted was a power that was clean and decisive, an ability that could sever all his troubles in a single stroke!
With this resolute thought, the dōjutsu in his mind surged violently. He lost control, and his Sharingan flared to life, the tomoe spinning wildly. The unique pattern—a blade on the outside and a flower within—rotated as three lines extended from the center, touching the edge of his irises.
*Thump... thump... thump...*
Waves of dōjutsu radiated outward like ripples from a stone cast into a pond. Every Uchiha warrior present with a three-tomoe Sharingan felt it keenly. They distinctly sensed a unique pulse of dōjutsu wash over them from Vice-Chief Kawasaki before it subsided. *Is Lord Kawasaki experimenting with a dōjutsu? Why did that power feel so different?*
Fugaku was the first to arrive at Kawasaki's residence. He entered to find a weary Kawasaki pacing out of his room. "Kawasaki, what happened? What was that dōjutsu pulse just now?"
Kawasaki waved a tired hand. "It's nothing. I was just testing a dōjutsu. Sorry to have worried you, Chief."
"A dōjutsu?" A sharp glint appeared in Fugaku's eyes. No ordinary dōjutsu could create such a disturbance. There was only one possibility: a Mangekyo Sharingan ability. Kawasaki had once told him his dōjutsu was called "Heaven's Fissure," a powerful ability that could peer into the future. *Did Kawasaki just look into the future again?* Seeing Kawasaki's exhausted state, Fugaku's tone softened. "Kawasaki, does peering into the future drain you so much?"
Kawasaki's appearance was a clear sign of severe mental exhaustion. His eyes were framed by dark circles and riddled with blood vessels, making him look utterly drained. He paused, closing his eyes to gather himself for a moment before speaking. "The activation of 'Heaven's Fissure' is not under my control. It has been activating less and less over the years, so I try to remember as much useful information as I can. Just now, I saw some more fragments of the future, but the vision was much longer than usual. I have a feeling that 'Heaven's Fissure' will never activate again."
A pang of regret struck Fugaku. Kawasaki's Mangekyo had secured immense benefits for the Uchiha. It was natural for such a powerful dōjutsu to have limitations, but to lose it entirely was still a blow. Still, the Uchiha were now on the right track. Both the clan members in the Sound Village and those in Konoha were far better off than they were a year ago. Now, neither the Third Hokage nor the other clans dared to look down on the Uchiha.
"Chief, I'm going to rest. Once I've sorted everything out, I'll explain it all in detail," Kawasaki said, yawning as he headed back to his room.
Fugaku was used to Kawasaki's casual nature and didn't mind. Instead, he summoned the fourth elder, Yōhei, and ordered a clan-wide injunction: no one was to speak of what had happened tonight. In truth, any Uchiha with a three-tomoe Sharingan would have recognized the dōjutsu pulse and kept quiet, but Fugaku issued the gag order just in case.
Inside his room, Kawasaki collapsed onto his bed and fell into a deep sleep. In reality, his chakra and dōjutsu consumption had been minimal. His exhaustion was the result of mentally testing his new dōjutsu in a dream state. One was called the "Eye of Susanoo," which merely enhanced his perception—a slight disappointment. The other could enhance his Susanoo's weapons, making them sharper. When pushed to its limit, it became the "Heavenly Cloud Formation," an ability that could forcibly devour space. *Obito, it seems you won't be much trouble for me anymore.*
Using these abilities in a dream didn't consume his chakra or dōjutsu. The fatigue came from the mental strain of repeated trials. That was the minor part. The greater toll came from his Sharingan itself. With the awakening of his new dōjutsu, his eyes had quietly undergone a qualitative leap.
In other words, Kawasaki had silently evolved to possess... the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan