Konoha Forest - Ninja Academy Field Training Area.

  Instructor Hayate waved his hand, and several carts loaded with weighted backpacks were brought to the edge of the training grounds.

  He announced in a booming voice:

  "rials of Summer, Sed Trial: Weighted Field Exercises!"

  "In the perilous ninja world, long-distanbat operations are onpce. As ninja, you must be able to reach your designated locations as swiftly as possible."

  "This often involves coordinating with logistiits and transp essential supplies to the front lines."

  "To achieve this, you need a strong physique, unwaveriermination, and unwavering loyalty to the Will of Fire!"

  Instructor Hayate casually picked up one of the weighted backpacks aed it. "These backpacks are the first batch imported to Konoha through the newly established Konoha-Suna Trade Route, a symbol of our friendship with Sunagakure!"

  "Exceptional quality, each packed with thirty kilograms of trainis. You are to carry these backpacks and plete ten ps around Konoha."

  "We initially pnned for twenty ps, but sidering the Suna exge students' unfamiliarity with the terrain and to avoid actal incursions into restricted Anbu areas, we've reduced it to ten."

  "I hereby decre the sed trial of the rials of Summer officially begun!"

  Upon hearing "Suna," the Sunagakure students puffed out their chests with pride. See? Even the Konoha instructor aowledged the quality of Suna-made goods!

  They failed to notice the small "Yu" character printed otom of the backpacks.

  With the Konoha-Suna Trade Route eg three nations, who knew if these were produced in Sunagakure akure? Goods imported through the trade route symbolized friendship between the vilges.

  The Konoha Times reporter diligently recorded Instructor Hayate's speeodding along.

  The backpacks were distributed.

  The "school bullies" stood back-to-back.

  "Thirty kilograms? Ten ps? Are they ihis is like looking down on us!!"

  "Let us, with the mature wisdom of seasoaijutsu masters, domihis sed trial!"

  "Should we go easy on them?"

  "No way. I'm going for absolute suppression!"

  Thump—

  Fifty-kilogram backpaded on the bullies' backs, sileng their boisterous chatter. Only the veins bulging on their foreheads spoke of their "loyalty" to the Will of Fire.

  Thirty kilograms, even with chakra enha, was a signifit burden for academy students.

  Except for a few taijutsu prodigies, most would o rely on their unwavering dedication to the Will of Fire to pass this trial.

  Even Itachi Uchiha's usually stoic face showed a flicker of . Talent aside, he was still just a five-year-old.

  Temari, from behind, nodded smugly. So, he wasn't an invincible prodigy after all.

  The weighted march began.

  But as always, the ued occurred. Rip, rip, rip—

  Several Suna students' backpack straps tore uhe strain.

  "What the—?! My strap broke!" Several Suna students stared at their broken backpacks in disbelief.

  The backpacks were desigo distribute the weight evenly. With the straps broken, the full thirty kilograms pressed down on their shoulders. Their faces torted in pain.

  They had no Will of Fire to rely on. Carrying such heavy backpacks without the straps was excruciating.

  "Heave… ho…"

  A strange sound from the side caught Temari's attention. She turned and stared, dumbfounded.

  A ninja a green jumpsuit was… walking on his hands. His arms and legs were weighed down with thick metal ptes.

  Sweat dripped from his bushy eyebrows as he muttered, "Lap eleven… Elbow strength training, nine ps to go. The weight feels too light. Not enough for optimal results."

  "At this rate, I'll never master the Bck Elbow. I need more weight…"

  Temari tugged at Izumi Uchiha's sleeve. "Hey, Izumi, who's that weirdo?"

  "That's Might Guy. We usually call him Guy-senpai," Izumi replied. She was used to Guy's etricities, especially sihey were teically colleagues in the Advisuard.

  "He's… dedicated."

  Such beast-like trainihods were unheard of, even in Sunagakure.

  Though Temari thought that in Suna, handstand training in the sand might be even more effective.

  'Konoha invites our students for exge. Perhaps we should invite someone like Might Guy to Suna to… showcase our trainihods?'

  Even at her young age, Temari was already thinking strategically.

  Instructor Hayate, hearing the otion, approached the Suna students. "Broken straps? That's the logistics department's fault. You're exempt from this trial."

  "But you still have to plete the course. As for your backpacks…"

  Hayate reized the etric Might Guy and called out, "Guy! Want some extra weight?"

  "Weighted backpacks? Perfect!" Guy stopped his handstand walk, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

  The Suna students, hearing they were exempt, were initially relieved but then grew ed. "Instructor Hayate, is it really okay for us not to carry the backpacks?"

  "Don't burden yourselves with responsibilities that aren't yours!" Hayate said sternly. "The faulty equipment is the Academy's fault, not yours. Your responsibility is to plete the Summer Camp trials. No sg, no feigning illness! Our responsibility is to ehe smooth execution of these trials."

  "Si's not your fault, there's no need for you to carry the weight. Just plete the course."

  "Uood, Instructor Hayate!" The Suna students, their initial unease quickly repced by relief, readily handed over their backpacks.

  After all, they were still just academy students, easily swayed. Free from the burden of the backpacks, they walked with a newfound swagger, a smug sense of privilege.

  Everyone else struggling uhe weight, while they strolled freely. This… ecial treatment.

  Hayate collected the four backpacks and pced them on Guy's back.

  Guy's face flushed, his hands sinking deeper into the earth uhe added weight.

  Even fuy, this was excessive.

  But these were Advisojo's orders. To appear at the precise time and location, to relieve the students of their burdens – this was his mission!

  For the Will of Fire! For Advisojo! He wouldn't fail!

  "Excellent! This is the springtime of youth!"

  "Konoha's Azure Beast, activate!"

  With a burst of speed, Guy vanished from sight.

  "Eyes forward! Keep moving!" Hayate shouted.

  Half an hour ter, the "school bullies'" backpack straps also tore. "Instructor Hayate… our straps broke too…"

  "Carry them! And keep moving!" Hayate didn't even turn around.

  "But the Suna kids got to give theirs to that Guy…" the bullies muttered.

  "Do you think you'll have someoo carry your burdens for you otlefield? Will there always be reinforts to bail you out?"

  "Keep moving!"

  The bullies grumbled, but obeyed. They were, after all, the most loyal to the Will of Fire.

  Gritting their teeth, they trudged forward, leaving footprints in the earth.

  Temari, silently, clutched her chest.

  A warmth spread through her.

  She uood.

  This was Instructor Hayate's way of showing special sideration to the Suna students.

  He was so strict with the Konoha students, yet so kind to them. Once again, Temari felt the warmth of Konoha's hospitality.

  The seeds of peace blossomed within her heart.

  Untainted by the icism of the ninja world, Temari, with her pure sense of justice, believed in reciprocation. Konoha's kindness wouldn't be fotten. Upourning to Suna, she would make sure her father treated Konoha with the same respect.

  She felt a surge of warmth, a feeling of belonging. 'This… this is the Will of Fire Izumi always talks about? It feels… f.'

  'I actually… feel it.'

  While Temari was lost in thought, Itachi Uchiha whispered something to Izumi.

  Izumi's expression turrange, but she nodded and approached Temari. "You must be tired. Let me help you."

  "Eh?" Temari blinked, surprised. "That's… not necessary."

  "The rial will likely be even more challenging. You should serve your strength. As the Suna princess, failing wouldn't look good, would it?"

  "Don't worry, Temari. I'll just take some of the weight. The instructor won't notice."

  Temari hesitated. The more she witnessed Konoha's… superiority, the more cautious she became. As Suna's princess, she couldn't show weakness.

  But if it was just Izumi… it was a favor between friends, nothing to do with the vilge. And if she truly couldn't pass the rial…

  "Thank you, Izumi. You're a true friend," Temari said gratefully, quickly transferring some of the weights into Izumi's backpack.

  Satisfied with her discreet maemari breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't noticed the reporters nearby.

  The Konoha Times reporter diligently recorded the se:

  [Konoha and Suna students were each given a 30kg backpad instructed to plete twenty ps around Konoha. However, out of sideration for the Suna students' unfamiliarity with the terrain, their requirement was reduced to ten ps.]

  [Both Konoha and Suna students experienced equipment failure, with their backpack straps tearing. The faulty backpacks, imported through the Konoha-Suna Trade Route, provided a ve excuse for the Suna students to sck off. They transferred their burdens onto a Konoha in, while the Konoha students, driven by their unwavering loyalty to the Will of Fire and unwilling to burden their rades, persevered…]

  [As for the Suna princess…]

  The reporters paused, exging notes and opinions.

  "Gin, you're truly exceptional. You've excelled in the journalism course Advisojo established."

  "It's nothing. I'm merely serving the advisor, demonstrating my loyalty." Gin, the reporter, pocketed his notes.

  This was only the sed trial… Acc to Advisojo's schedule, tomorrow would be even more… eventful.

  …

  …

  "Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan Warrior, awaken!"

  A demonic voice jolted Uchiha Obito awake. He opened his eyes, astoo find… he could see again!

  His vision blurred for a moment before refog.

  "Gojo Kaigetsu!" Obito growled, his voice filled with rage.

  "Now, now, hold your horses," Gojo Kaigetsu said, raising a hand. "Let's discuss business first. Obito, don't you find it… strahat eye that restored yht… doesn't it feel… familiar?"

  "Guess the price you paid."

  Familiar?

  Obito's anger faltered as he focused on the sensations in his left eye socket. A familiar yet fn feeling.

  His heart sank.

  Normal people were born with two eyes.

  This was the natural order. Even unwavering loyalty to the Will of Fire wouldn't grant you ara eye.

  Obito had been living with a single eye for years, ever sirusting his left Sharingan to Kakashi during the Kannabi Bridge mission.

  The empty socket, a stant reminder of his loss, had bee a source of both pain and strength.

  But now… his left eye had returned.

  Yet…

  Its return brought no joy, only fusion and a growing sense of dread. That eye… he'd given it to Kakashi. Why… why was it in Gojo Kaigetsu's possession, impnted bato his own socket?

  A chilling thought crossed his mind.

  "Gojo Kaigetsu! What did you do to Kakashi?!" Obito's voice trembled with rage.

  Yes, during moments of desperation, he'd sidered retrieving his Sharingan. But it was his eye! Kakashi was his friend! Even if he were to take it back, he'd do it himself.

  No outsider—not even Uchiha Madara, let alone Minato Namikaze—could touch it! Aainly not you, Gojo Kaigetsu.

  A horrifying image formed in Obito's mind.

  Gojo Kaigetsu, having discovered his true identity and enraged by his assassination attempt, had taken revenge on his friend, Kakashi.

  He'd dragged Kakashi to some secret underground chamber, t him, extrag the Sharingan, avenging himself while…

  There was no other expnation.

  Kakashi, if he could, would have protected that eye, the symbol of their friendship, with his life. Obito couldn't imagihe torment Kakashi must have endured.

  "You monster!"

  He saw, in his mind's eye, the blood and tears staining Kakashi's face…

  Tears streamed down Obito's face. His heart ached, a searing pain that ed him.

  His anguish exploded, fueling his rage, stimuting his Sharingan.

  Let Kakashi's blood be my sacred baptism!

  "My love is lost… my world in ruins!"

  "My ninja way transds death!"

  "I embrace death… but I wish it were my own!"

  "Unfivable! You are unfivable, Gojo Kaigetsu!"

  Obito thrashed wildly against his restraints.

  The monitors ected to him beeped erratically, the numbers spiking. Even Orochimaru's restraints couldn't tain his power.

  'What the… is he insane?' Gojo Kaigetsu observed Obito's rea, stunned.

  He'd prepared a whole speech, but after a single question, Obito had lost trol.

  What exactly was he imagining?!

  Gojo Kaigetsu had po taunt Obito, to tell him that Kakashi had readily handed over the Sharingan in exge for a month's paid vacation.

  Your friendship, Obito, was worth only a month's vacation.

  He'd been fident that such words would enrage Obito. He hadn't expected Obito to reach a boiling point on his own.

  Silent, seething, making Gojo Kaigetsu guess.

  "Seriously?"

  Gojo Kaigetsu hadn't e to the b just to torment Obito. Orochimaru had sent an urgent request.

  Perhaps because his chakra had been drained, or because he'd accepted his fate, Obito seemed to have lost the will to live.

  The impnted Sharingan showed no signs of activity.

  Its chakra fluctuations were weaker tha was in Kakashi's possession. No matter how much Orochimaru stimuted it, it only maed a siomoe.

  Orochimaru was a master of ninja sce, but when it came to psychological warfare, he was no match fojo Kaigetsu.

  That's why he'd summoned him.

  And the results… were immediate.

  Obito's weakened body surged with power, his ocur prowess flooding his left eye.

  The Sharingan had already reached the Mangekyō stage, but it cked the proper catalyst, the emotional trigger.

  Now… the code was correct, the energy suffit. Mangekyō Sharingan, activate!

  The tomoe in Obito's left eye began to spin rapidly, evolving—Siomoe → Double tomoe → Triple tomoe → Mangekyō Sharingan.

  "I will extinguish Konoha's fme and plu iernal darkness! Hear me, the silence of…!"

  Before Obito could finish his decration, the light in his left eye vanished.

  "My eye… my eye!"

  "Gojo Kaigetsu! What did you do?!" He thrashed frantically.

  "Too much talk." Gojo Kaigetsu, his hand slick with fluid, casually tossed the left Sharingan into a special tainer provided by Orochimaru.

  Before impnting the eye, he'd coated it with his own chakra. He'd been waiting for this moment. The instant the Mangekyō Sharingan formed, he'd activated Blue and Red, swiftly extrag the eye.

  The speed was so great that even Obito, despite his mastery of Kamui, couldn't react. He was once agai with ay socket.

  Gojo Kaigetsu pressed a button, and a special solution flowed through the IV lines ected to Obito, subduing him.

  Obito, despite his willpower, could only close his eyes, his body falling still.

  Gojo Kaigetsu held the tainer up, admiring its tents. "So, this is the Mangekyō Sharingaiful."

  The distinct "sickle" pattern of Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan gleamed, a potent and sinister beauty.

  A true treasure.

  But Gojo Kaigetsu felt no desire. His Six Eyes were more than enough.

  "A pity… there are only two eye sockets." He sighed. If not for aesthetis, he'd create a third eye socket on his forehead and impnt the Mangekyō Sharingan.

  The ability to banish people to the Kamui dimension… it was the ultimate escape route.

  "Wait a minute… with the other Kamui gohe Kamui dimension bees a one-way trip."

  The Kamui dimension was essentially a sealed room with no windows. The left and right Mangekyō were the keys. Now, there was only one.

  In the most extreme sario… if the Infisukuyomi were activated, the Kamui dimension could serve as a refuge, a ninja world Noah's Ark.

  "I'll call it… Project Ark, Orochimaru-sensei."

  Gojo Kaigetsu ehe observation room, handing the Sharingan to Orochimaru. "Find a way to amplify its power using ninja sce. As for Obito… we 't risk impnting it again. He'll use Kamui to escape."

  "And if possible, try to unlock the secrets of the Mangekyō Sharingan. Why does it require such extreme emotions to activate? And what exactly transforms?"

  "Konoha needs more Mangekyō Sharingan users."

  Obito's emotions were certainly… intense, but he was too unstable.

  Perhaps… have Fugaku sele Uchiha who was absolutely loyal and eager to repay his debt to Advisojo, to serve as a vessel for the Sharingan?

  Pain was areme emotion, so was gratitude…

  Gojo Kaigetsu stroked his , sidering writing another "Soldier Pill" article, specifically naming Uchiha members who wished to repay their debt to him, thus stimuting the Mangekyō's evolution.

  Whether it created another Mangekyō or simply enhahe existing Kamui, it would be a signifit boon.

  Listening to Gojo Kaigetsu's ramblings, Orochimaru frowned. "I'll hahe Mangekyō research. But you're saying… Konoha might be destroyed?"

  "Hypothetically. A ninja alrepares for the worst."

  Orochimaru's frown softened. "That's true."

  "I'll impnt this Sharingan in Hidan and try sending myself into the Kamui dimension."

  Orochimaru's gaze sharpened. "And you, Gojo Kaigetsu… why are you so familiar with the Mangekyō Sharingan? Did you ehe Kamui dimension that night?"

  "That doesn't make sense. If you were trapped in the Kamui dimension, how are you still here, unharmed?"

  Orochimaru had noticed the discrepancy. Something didn't add up.

  Though guided by the Sage of Six Paths, and willing to give his all for Konoha, it didn't mean he'd blindly follow Gojo Kaigetsu's orders.

  Perhaps, uhe Sage's guidance, he could reshape Konoha in his own image.

  He could follow Gojo Kaigetsu, but he o know his secrets.

  "Oh~ that question? I did ehe Kamui dimension. But why am I still here?"

  "Because I, too, am guided by the Sage of Six Paths." Gojo Kaigetsu spread his arms wide. "But unlike you, Orochimaru, the Sage granted me power directly. The power to escape the Kamui dimension. The power to defeat the Mangekyō Sharingan…"

  "What… are you talking about?!" Orochimaru held his breath, his gaze fixed on Gojo Kaigetsu.

  This Orochimaru… he truly had a rebellious spirit. Not a shred of loyalty to the Will of Fire.

  Gojo Kaigetsu sehe probing in his tone and decided to end this charade. He removed his blindfold, revealing his shimmering Six Eyes.

  To Orochimaru's astonishment, he raised a hand.

  "Blue!"

  The tainer holding the Sharingan flew into Gojo Kaigetsu's hand.

  "Red!"

  The tainer flew bading in Orochimaru's arms.

  Then, Gojo Kaigetsu slowly rose into the air, his palms fag upward, one knee slightly bent.

  All he needed e and a Konoha uniform, and he'd be a genuine super ninja.

  He maintained his position effortlessly, his chakra trol precise.

  He cpped his hands, f a seal, and a sinister chakra surged from his abdomen.

  A white, spectral cloak enveloped his body, vaguely revealing the monstrous form of Maha.

  After much experimentation, the Maha chakra cloak was finally… a work in progress.

  He nded softly, retrag the chakra cloak.

  Using repulsive force for levitation was fine for short bursts, but sustained flight with his current chakra reserves, even with Maha's boost, was beyond his capabilities. It was like using a fast charger on a loacity battery—the power drain was too great.

  But for a bit of theatrics, it was more than enough.

  Orochimaru stared, his eyes wide with disbelief.

  Clearly, he was impressed.

  "What… is that?" he murmured.

  "The Sage of Six Paths told me these are the Six Eyes. I believe you uand their significe, Orochimaru-sensei." Gojo Kaigetsu's face was sincere, his toerly ving.

  Orochimaru stared, speechless. He could sense Gojo Kaigetsu wasn't lying. Those shimmering eyes… they were a gift from the Sage of Six Paths.

  And the name "Six Eyes?" Could it be…

  'Gojo Kaigetsu… sent by the Sage of Six Paths to guide me back to the right path, to save Konoha?'

  'That would expihing. Why a Land of Flowers immigrant would dedicate himself to Konoha, why a mere in could survive the war and rise to such a position.'

  'And… that scroll he gave me…'

  'It wasn't luck or ce. It was…'

  'Divine guidance! I uand, Sage. I will serve Gojo Kaigetsu with all my might!'

  "Loyalty!" Orochimaru's gaze tojo Kaigetsu burned with ferveion. His earlier suspi ament had vanished.

  This transformation… was akin to having one's worldview shattered by Sasuke Uchiha, leading to a plete reversal of one's ninja way, embrag cepts like "friendship" and "bonds."

  "Good, good. I won't say more. Just focus on your work, Orochimaru-sensei," Gojo Kaigetsu said, waving his hand dismissively.

  Operation: Orochimaru Re-education, phase two, plete!

  Another loyal follower added to the Gojo fa.

  Just as pnned.

  …

  …

  Kisame Hoshigaki, a prison uniform, sat quietly in his cell, deep in thought.

  His chakra had been sealed, and Samehada fiscated. He was now no different from an ordinary prisoner.

  His cell was and well-maintained, a stark trast to the dungeons of Kirigakure.

  The Uchiha guards were polite and respectful. pared to the guards in Kirigakure's prisons, they were practically angels.

  There was no spitting in his food or other forms of petty cruelty.

  From his observations, it wasn't that the Uchiha feared his "Tailless Tailed Beast" moniker.

  These Uchiha guards treated even the most on criminals with respect.

  The ninja world was a cruel pce, ruled by strength.

  Given the Uchiha 's standing, even if they tortured prisoo death, no one would bat ahe guards responsible would, at most, receive a mild reprimand.

  At least… that's how it was in Kirigakure.

  The greatest evil often maed within the smallest spheres of power. And prisons… they were breeding grounds for such cruelty.

  A city's true nature could be seen in its sewers; a vilge's civility, in how it treated its weakest members.

  From Kisame's perspective, the Uchiha guards here were practically saints. Eae a paragon of virtue.

  If even the prison was like this, what about the vilge itself?

  "Iki wasn't lying," Kisame murmured in admiration. "The gap between Kirigakure and Konoha… it's a geional differe would take Kirigakure decades to reach this level of civility."

  "Yo, Kisame-san."

  A voice called out from the cell's entrance.

  Kisame looked up and saw a strangely dressed figure, unusually tall, his eyes covered by a bck blindfold. This distinctive style…

  "Yare yare, Advisojo of Konoha," Kisame grinned, reizing him.

  "Good evening, Kisame-san."

  "?"

  Gojo Kaigetsu pulled out a thick stack of wanted posters and preteo examihem.

  "Kisame Hoshigaki… former elite Anbu Jonin of Kirigakure, wielder of Samehada. Wanted for the assassination of the Fourth Mizukage. A dangerous criminal with a bounty of twenty million ryō, branded a missing-nin."

  Kisame sat motionless, his gaze fixed on Gojo Kaigetsu, anticipating his words.

  What's with that inteare? Gojo Kaigetsu felt a shiver run down his spiaking a step back. "Acc to the Konoha-Kiri Treaty, we are obligated to extradite you. However…"

  He dramatically tore the wanted posters to shreds, tossing them aside. He then produced a different dot. "Konoha is willing to offer you a ce at redemption, Kisame Hoshigaki."

  "I accept!" Kisame decred instantly.

  "Hold on, I haven't even told you the terms yet. What if I ask you to form a band and sing 'Yare yare' for the rest of your life?" Gojo Kaigetsu teased.

  "A warrior… isn't suited for music," Kisame replied seriously. "But since you haven't handed me over takure, you likely wao… kill. And that's all I'm good for."

  "I'll accept your terms. However, I have four rules. I won't kill those with depes…"

  "It's nothing like that," Gojo Kaigetsu interrupted. "I want you to join the Konoha Avengers. Your ame will be… The Deep." He then expihe purpose and principles of the Avengers Initiative.

  He held a certain respect for Kisame Hoshigaki.

  This guy was one of the few whose vis couldn't be swayed, even by Talk no Jutsu. To protect the Akatsuki's secrets, he'd eve Samehada devour him. He was a truly remarkable ninja.

  Even ih, he'd remained loyal to Obito's Eye of the Moon Pn, never betraying the Akatsuki.

  If he could sway Kisame's loyalty, he'd gain a powerful ally, utterly devoted to the Will of Fire.

  Kisame listened ily, his heart pounding. A world without falsehood… it was within reach.

  Having read Iki, he'd seen his true self reflected in its pages.

  He uood who he was, what he was meant to be. He was an Avenger.

  "So, you want me, a rogue ninja who betrayed his vilge, to bee an Avenger and uphold pea the ninja world?"

  "I believe in you, Kisame."

  Siy. The ultimate jutsu.

  Kisame's voice was low and thoughtful. "But what if I told you… my loyalty wouldn't lie with Konoha? That after I've eliminated your targets, I'd still defed a Kirigakure's best is?"

  "You io elimihe Elder cil, led by Elder Genji, don't you? Even if you have to do it alone. You want to… liberate Kirigakure."

  Kisame remained silent.

  He envisioraveling the ninja world, gathering like-minded individuals to reform Kirigakure. If he found no one, he'd return alone, a lone warrihting for his vilge.

  "Those who betray me, I give them a million ryō. What about those loyal to me?"

  "I've always sidered Kirigakure's Elder cil a threat to world peace."

  "Ohis is done, I'll send the entire Avengers Initiative to avehose who perished during the Bloody Mist era."

  Kisame grinned. "Yare yare."

  Gojo Kaigetsu crushed the s binding Kisame with a single gesture. He turned and walked away, his voice eg in the silent prison.

  "Avengers, assemble!"

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