In the training field, Kamihane clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention back to himself.
"Of course, you can also completely ignore what I say and treat it as the ravings of a madman."
He drawled, "However, if someone actually finds the treasure first, latecomers won't count anymore."
Orochimaru instinctively glanced at Hiruko, and before he could avoid it, their eyes met.
"What kind of nonsense is this? Hey Orochimaru, you're not serious, are you?"
Kirito stepped forward, his face full of concern as he pleaded, "You're already plenty strong—do you really need to go down that path?"
He couldn't comprehend Kamihane's sudden mention of "treasure" and "trial" at all.
"But that's... betraying the village!"
Just imagining drawing his blade against his own sister made his heart feel torn apart.
"Only the weak call it 'betrayal'—the strong call it 'departure'," Kamihane said with faint disdain. "A mere Konoha... I'd already left that place when I was seven years old."
He shrugged, "I won't speak ill of Konoha. What kind of place this really is, whether it has what you're seeking... heh, you'll come to understand that in time."
'So he was indeed once part of Konoha too? No wonder he's so familiar with the village,' Orochimaru thought to himself.
At this moment, the previously silent Nian spoke up: "Kirito, people have different pursuits. Perhaps becoming stronger means nothing to you, but that doesn't give you the right to stand in others' way."
"I..." Kirito was at a loss for words. He truly had no desire for power.
For him, doing his best was enough. When it came to things beyond his efforts, he preferred to leave it to fate. At worst, his sister would help him solve it.
Nian stepped forward, blocking Kirito's path. He looked up at Kamihane without a trace of fear in his eyes. "Big brother, the test you mentioned should only apply to Orochimaru and this Mr. Hiruko, right?"
"Call me 'senpai'," Kamihane said with a smile.
"Uh, Senior."
Kamihane nodded in satisfaction, "Indeed, you and Kirito are both kekkei genkai users—and not ordinary ones at that. Compared to others, your starting line is much closer to the finish."
"Then... what is our path to becoming stronger?" Nian asked softly.
"Don't misunderstand," Kamihane said. "The theory I mentioned applies to everyone. Even if you possess the strongest dojutsu among kekkei genkai, the only difference lies in the quality of one's 'vessel.' Your path... is destined to be cruel and lonely."
"But... Sister clearly said that once we awaken the Sharingan, our strength would naturally skyrocket... Do we really need to steal others' power?" Kirito said agitatedly.
Being inherently kind-hearted, even just imagining those horrifying methods made him feel sinful.
"Silly child, awakening the eyes is merely taking the first step." Kamihane chuckled lightly.
After his gaze flickered for a long while, Nian finally gathered the courage to ask, "Senior... did you also rely on such methods to gain such formidable strength?"
"Hmm... more or less." Kamihane pondered before adding, "Also, I'm an Uchiha as well."
He raised his palm and gently removed the black silk band, instantly revealing a strikingly handsome face that radiated divine brilliance to all present.
He opened his eyes, unveiling a pair of mirror-bright pupils - crimson in color with three pitch-black tomoe slowly rotating around the irises. Within them shimmered a profound violet glow, both beautiful and ethereal.
"These are... the Sharingan!"
The moment they saw these eyes, the group was instantly dumbfounded.
"Senior... could it be that senior is actually from the Uchiha clan?"
Kamihane chuckled lightly as his eyes emitted a crystalline glow, the tomoe spinning and patterns shifting, transforming in an instant into the Mangekyō Sharingan—resembling a magnificent three-leaf clover blooming within a magic circle, breathtakingly beautiful.
"These eyes are called the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. The reason they're eternal..." Kamihane spoke with detached calm, "is because I took another's eyes and fused them with my own ocular power, thus achieving this form."
Orochimaru gazed at Kamihane's eyes with awe, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
Even though the other party had completely restrained their aura, he still felt an icy chill piercing to the bone, as if he had fallen into an ice cave, with every cell soaked in freezing river water.
"Even someone as powerful as you, Senior, needs to do this...?"
Kirito's pupils trembled violently. Today's revelations had completely shattered the worldview he had built over the past ten years.
If becoming stronger required paying such a price, then he would rather remain an ordinary person for his entire life—even if it meant having his life reaped away, he would have no regrets.
"Kirito, with your personality, never awakening the Mangekyō would be the right path," Kamihane suddenly said, his tone turning slightly solemn. "Otherwise, you would undoubtedly suffer for the rest of your life."
His gaze shifted toward Uchiha Nian. "As for you..."
Nian's eyes brimmed with anticipation, his breathing growing noticeably quicker.
"Have you been practicing that secret technique I gave you properly?"
"I've been studying it every day without fail."
"Good, that's enough." Kamihane stepped forward and crouched down to meet Nian at eye level. "To be honest, I'm quite curious—what exactly drives you to become stronger? Or rather... what's the motivation behind your pursuit of power?"
"I..." Nian hesitated for a moment, his gaze wavering. "I..."
Kamihane smiled faintly. With a crisp snap of his fingers, a visible ripple spread from beneath their feet. Moisture gathered in the air, instantly forming a transparent water dome two meters in diameter—smooth and silky, cutting off all sound.
"Speak freely, this is a vacuum shield constructed from double-layered water molecule barriers—they can't hear us." Kamihane blinked his eyes.
Nian looked outside in amazement and indeed saw the three people outside the shield exchanging confused glances, completely unaware of the situation.
"Can you tell me now?"
"It's... it's because of my father," Nian stammered.
Kamihane's eyes flickered imperceptibly.
Nian clearly didn't notice, continuing on his own: "Both my parents died on the battlefield, but my father was a cowardly deserter. At the critical moment, he betrayed the village and chose to flee... yet he still died in the end... This makes me feel... utterly humiliated..."
He smiled bitterly: "The crimes he committed were so grave that no one would even tell me his name..."
"I believe only by becoming stronger, by becoming someone everyone must rely on and look up to, can I cleanse my father's sins and dispel all the grievances and injustices I've suffered these past eight years because of it!"
As he spoke, Nian noticed the young man before him had fallen silent. His gaze appeared gentle, yet resembled a lake beneath rolling dark clouds—calm on the surface while a storm brewed beneath.
In an instant, Nian's breath caught in his throat.
Seeming to notice his own emotions, Kamihane narrowed his eyes slightly, and all the oppressive atmosphere dissipated in an instant. "Is that what they told you?"
"Senior, did you know my father?" Nian's eyes brightened with hope.
"I know him. He was indeed an utterly cowardly deserter, a despicable traitor, but..."
Kamihane smiled faintly and said softly, "That was only directed at me."
"What?" Nian widened his eyes.
"The only one he could truly live up to was the Hidden Leaf Village."
Nian's face flushed red as he urgently said, "Senior, do you know something about my father? Please, you must tell me!"
"Hmm... telling you just like that would be too easy." Kamihane's lips curled into a sly smile. "How about this - you join the mission to find the laboratory too. Assist either Orochimaru or Hiruko, and as long as they successfully locate the treasure, I'll consider your task complete. As a reward, I'll tell you everything about your father."
"This..."
After some thought, Kamihane added, "Seeing how pitiful you look, I'll mercifully tell you... his name at least."
Nian's eyes widened, unconsciously swallowing hard.
"He's called... Uchiha Kagami."
Kamihane stared intently at Nian's eyes, "If you ever feel like dying someday, try saying that name to Konoha's higher-ups."
Nian gave a bitter laugh, "Senior, you really have a peculiar sense of humor."
As the words fell, Kamihane waved his hand, and the water dome burst like foam, allowing air to circulate freely again.
"Good luck to you all in the time ahead." Kamihane raised both hands, his gaze slowly sweeping across everyone's faces, his smile carrying a hint of wicked charm. "Now then, the test begins."
With a clap of his palms, his entire figure abruptly vanished. This miraculous Body Flicker Technique was as elusive as an antelope's horns—utterly untraceable.
Kamihane was gone, as if he had never been there at all.
However, everyone's minds were filled with all sorts of thoughts when Kirito suddenly jolted—he had spotted three pairs of eyes gleaming with madness.
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