"So that's how it was!?"
Fugaku couldn't hide his shock. He was aware of the old history between Tobirama and Madara Uchiha, but he had always believed Tobirama's prejudice was solely due to his brother's death. He never imagined there was this deeper meaning behind it.
Kawasaki continued, "Of course, where there is Yin Release, there is also Yang Release..."
"The holders of Yang Release chakra are the Uzumaki and Senju clans."
"The Uzumaki clan possesses vast chakra and astonishing life force."
"The Senju clan has an extraordinary physique and incredible regenerative abilities."
"Even the Akimichi clan's secret techniques, like their Body Expansion Jutsu, are related to Yang Release chakra."
"Chief, you've heard the legends of Hashirama, haven't you?"
Fugaku nodded. "Of course."
Fugaku's era was not far removed from Hashirama Senju's. He had grown up listening to the legendary tales of the First Hokage. The clan's records even described Hashirama Senju as the God of Shinobi.
"He could heal without hand seals?" Fugaku had a flash of insight and blurted out the question.
Kawasaki nodded. "Hashirama Senju possessed a rare Sage Body, which filled his flesh with immense life force. He could recover from injuries without needing to perform any hand seals."
"Therefore, Chief, the first method is to inject Hashirama's cellular fluid."
"After the injection, you can achieve a balance of Yin and Yang, producing a power that encompasses all things."
"Hashirama's cellular fluid?" Fugaku frowned. "Hashirama Senju has been dead for many years. Where would we get his cells?"
Kawasaki chuckled. "Chief, why do you think Orochimaru defected?"
"Hmm?" Fugaku was aware of Orochimaru's human experiments.
"Ever since Hashirama's death, Konoha has been trying to replicate the Wood Release. They've been continuously experimenting with his cells."
"During the Great Ninja Wars, they naturally used enemies for their experiments. After the war, they could only turn to subjects from their own village."
Fugaku asked, "Did Orochimaru succeed?"
Kawasaki shook his head. "You could say he succeeded, but you could also say he failed."
"Hashirama's cells are too powerful. They experimented on sixty infants..."
"All but one survived; the other fifty-nine turned into trees."
"Turned into trees." Fugaku fell silent upon hearing this. He didn't believe he was much stronger than any of those other test subjects.
"Then, what's the second method?"
"The second method can evolve a Mangekyo Sharingan into an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. But the price is incredibly heavy."
Kawasaki paused for a moment. "Why do you think the Uchiha's Sharingan is called the Cursed Eyes?"
"It's because of this second method: transplanting the Mangekyo Sharingan of a close relative."
"When two pairs of eyes become one, they awaken the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan."
"Back then, Madara Uchiha transplanted the eyes of his younger brother, Izuna, evolving his own into the Eternal Mangekyo. Only then did he become a powerhouse capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Hashirama."
"Hahaha, excellent! Excellent! This is perfect! If that's the case, then Itachi's eyes can be saved."
"And he can achieve the Eternal Mangekyo, 100 percent! Excellent! Excellent!"
Fugaku's first reaction wasn't sadness, but an immediate desire to give his own eyes to Itachi, to allow him to possess the Eternal Mangekyo and become stronger.
Kawasaki was amused by Fugaku's reaction and said with a wicked grin, "You're celebrating too soon, Chief..."
"Sasuke is exceptionally gifted. It's only a matter of time before he awakens his own Mangekyo Sharingan."
Fugaku's expression froze. If Kawasaki said Sasuke would awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, then it was as good as certain. Whether it was due to Kawasaki's ability to see the future or Sasuke's sheer talent, Fugaku believed it without a doubt.
But that created a dilemma. It was an impossible choice.
What should he do? He didn't mind going blind himself, but he couldn't let one of his sons suffer the same fate, could he?
Suddenly, Fugaku's eyes lit up as if he'd thought of something.
Kawasaki cut him off directly. "Don't even think about giving one eye to each of them. Both eyes must be transplanted at the same time to awaken the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan."
Fugaku's shoulders slumped in disappointment.
When he turned back, he saw Kawasaki covering his mouth, trying to stifle a laugh.
"Kawasaki, you have a solution, don't you?"
"Hehehe, do you know why I insisted that the Uchiha become independent and that we remove all of the Anbu's surveillance?"
Fugaku's gaze was scorching as he stared intently at Kawasaki.
Kawasaki clenched his fist and declared with conviction, "I will make the Uchiha clan stand at the pinnacle of the world!"
"I will make our Uchiha the most powerful force in existence!"
Kawasaki took a deep breath, his voice growing more impassioned. "I will have every Uchiha awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan!"
"Every Uchiha... with the Mangekyo Sharingan!?"
Fugaku's eyes gleamed. The entire clan possessing the power of gods! That kind of Uchiha! He could already see it: wherever the Uchiha went, their Susanoo would sweep through armies, conquering every nation!
"It's no problem for you to give your eyes to either Sasuke or Itachi. Doesn't Sister Mikoto still have a pair of Sharingan?" Kawasaki's calm words pulled Fugaku back from his reverie.
He frowned. "Even if Mikoto awakens the Mangekyo, if she gives up her eyes, wouldn't she be blind too?"
So, Fugaku really did dote on his wife. He didn't care about his own sight, but Mikoto was a different story.
Kawasaki rolled his eyes. "Why are you so dense? The Uchiha have sacrificed so many clansmen in the past. Weren't all of their Sharingan recovered? Just implant a random pair. They might not have the power of the Mangekyo, but at least she'll be able to see."
***
In the Third Hokage's office.
"Lord Third, the Uchiha have returned the four Anbu members they detained."
"They weren't punished, just held for a night."
"I see." The Third Hokage took a drag from his pipe.
"What do you plan to do, Hiruzen?" Mitokado Homura asked from the side.
The Third Hokage sighed. "Pull back all the Anbu monitoring the Uchiha. There's no need to send any more in the future."
"Is that really wise, Hiruzen?" Mitokado Homura was still uneasy. Surveillance on the Uchiha was a solemn duty left by the Second Hokage. They had never dared to be lax, yet they had never found any concrete proof of wrongdoing.
But the Nine-Tails' attack was clearly connected to the Uchiha's Sharingan.
"If we don't pull them back, do you want our Anbu to die there for nothing?" the Third grunted heavily. "The Uchiha now have two Kage-level shinobi, Fugaku and Kawasaki, both Mangekyo users. And Killer B is still laid up in our hospital!"
Mitokado Homura sat down sullenly, saying nothing more.
Utatane Koharu suggested, "Perhaps we should recall Jiraiya and Tsunade?"
Sarutobi took a sharp puff from his pipe. "Tsunade's whereabouts are unknown. Let's recall Jiraiya first."
Homura and Koharu exchanged a glance. How could Tsunade's whereabouts be unknown? Her title as the 'Legendary Sucker' was famous across the lands.
Tsunade refused to return because she had always harbored suspicions about Konoha's leadership. The deaths of Nawaki and Dan had signs of foul play that were all too obvious. It was only due to a lack of evidence that she left the village in the first place.
Recalling her now would not be easy.
Jiraiya's personality was easier to control.