Chen Xing screamed as he gouged out his left eye. The pain was unlike anything he had ever experienced—sharp, blinding, and deep enough to rattle his skull.
With a surge of soft green medical chakra, he placed the transplanted three-tomoe Sharingan into the empty socket and pressed his palm tightly against it, applying healing chakra. Even with Hashirama's enhanced vitality coursing through his body, the pain forced small groans out of him.
After more than twenty minutes, he finally lowered his hand. If not for the regenerative boost from the First Hokage's cells, reattaching the optic nerve would have taken half a day and still required weeks before the eye could be used. Kakashi was able to use his transplanted Sharingan quickly only because his surgery was crude and he accepted the immense physical burden. Chen Xing had no intention of repeating that mistake.
He picked up a mirror.
His left eye—now restored—remained a normal black eye in its inert state. That meant his fusion of Uchiha Shisui's cells had succeeded.
"Open."
He pulsed chakra into the eye.
The sclera shifted scarlet, three tomoe forming a smooth, perfect rotation. His vision sharpened instantly; even tiny dust particles drifting through the air became visible.
Satisfied, Chen Xing exhaled… then took out Shisui's right Mangekyō.
Once again—
"AAAHHH!"
He repeated the agonizing process, refusing anesthesia. Twenty minutes later, drenched in sweat, he infused chakra into the transplanted eye.
Both of his new Sharingan spun into life.
A sudden wave of information struck his mind—instinctive knowledge of Mangekyō techniques. When he pushed more chakra into the right eye, the pattern shifted, the tomoe twisting into a four-bladed pinwheel.
A kaleidoscope pattern.
Chen Xing grinned.
Thanks to the perfect integration of Hashirama's cells, his Mangekyō would not burn out easily. Unlike Kakashi, who could only use Kamui a few times before collapsing, or Danzō, whose crude transplants required cooldown time, Chen Xing's body could support prolonged use of ocular techniques.
And Shisui's Mangekyō abilities—genjutsu that manipulated thoughts—responded effortlessly.
"Good… better than expected."
---
The Daimyō
Chen Xing named the right-eye technique Pseudo-Kotoamatsukami, and Shisui's original left-eye ability simply Kotoamatsukami.
Once the surgery was complete, he stored the remaining Sharingan, cleaned the house, and left the valley.
---
At the Edge of Bear Country
In the months he had been secluded, the outer forest had changed drastically. Star Village shinobi had cleared dangerous beasts from the area and were constructing fortifications. Workers hired by Summer Star were building the foundations of a new Star Village—stone offices, cement-reinforced training grounds, and a proper shinobi academy.
Chen Xing's funds had been poured entirely into infrastructure.
"Roads first, prosperity later"—that was the rule. Wide, stable roads were being paved to nearby cities to boost trade.
When he entered the Star Shadow Office, he saw the Third Star Shadow and Summer Star both wearing grim expressions.
"Star Shadow-grandpa, Summer Star-sister—what happened?"
Summer Star handed him a document.
"Our intelligence network reports that the son of the Bear Daimyō has been contacting envoys from Wind Country. The daimyo has finally noticed Star Village's rapid growth… and he's wary. He may try to suppress us."
Chen Xing's expression hardened.
"So it begins sooner than expected."
The Third Star Shadow exhaled smoke.
"Chen Xing—what do you think we should do?"
"We wait. I'll go to Chiba City and speak to the daimyo directly. If he's reasonable, he can become an ally—like the Fire Daimyō supports Konoha."
His voice cooled.
"But if he refuses to listen… we replace him. Plenty of nobles want power."
It was the simple political reality of the shinobi world. Even the Fire Daimyō feared Danzō because he understood what a ruthless shinobi with power could do.
The Third Star Shadow nodded.
"I'll leave it to you."
After Chen Xing left, the old star shadow smiled faintly.
"A genius like him is a gift to Star Village… It may be time for me to retire."
"Star Shadow-grandpa?" Summer Star was shocked.
"He will be the Fourth Star Shadow. Start preparing the succession ceremony. When he returns, our village will welcome a young leader."
---
Chen Xing, unaware he was about to be named the next Star Shadow, headed straight toward Chiba City—the capital of Bear Country.
The identity of the daimyo wasn't important.
What mattered was whether the man understood power.
And if he didn't…
Chen Xing already knew what had to be done.