[Ding!]
[Core "concept code" detected: Rinnegan]
[Recording complete! Obtained disc: Rinnegan]
Success.
The instant he entered the tower's range—amid the six Paths' certain-kill encirclement—success.
The triumphant grin on Sora's face froze for a moment.
Then grew even brighter, even madder.
Deva Path Pain's Shinra Tensei was already charging.
Asura Path's cannon fire, Animal Path's summoned beasts, Human Path's pursuit—sealing all retreats from every direction.
A flawless net woven by "god."
Too bad.
He'd already gotten what he came for.
So that's how it is.
These eyes aren't truly Nagato's.
They're foreign—an unremovable curse constantly draining the host's life force and chakra.
That's why it's like a broken signal tower—broadcasting its core data 24/7.
Enter the signal range—perfect reception.
Truly… a generous god.
Sora flashed an apologetic, utterly insincere smile at the blocking Deva Path Pain.
System backup complete.
Service concluded.
As for these broken "action figures"—leave them for "god" to clean up.
"See ya."
He mouthed silently.
[Replicate and play: Flying Thunder God Technique]
Buzz!
One second before Shinra Tensei erupted.
One second before all attacks landed.
Sora's figure vanished without trace.
As if he'd never been there.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!!
Targetless repulsion and ninjutsu collided—unleashing an energy storm far more terrifying than before beneath the tower.
All Amegakure trembled violently.
Atop the tower, black red-cloud-robed figures silently gazed at the cratered pit below.
The intruder—gone.
Vanished into thin air.
…
Next instant.
Salty sea wind hit his face.
Sora stumbled onto a barren reef.
But he didn't stop.
[Replicate and play: Flying Thunder God Technique]
Figure vanished again.
Second appearance—above a dense primeval forest.
An unmarked area in Fire Country he'd once passed and marked casually.
Still no pause.
[Replicate and play: Flying Thunder God Technique]
Three consecutive limit teleports.
Only when soft beach sand touched his feet and rhythmic waves sounded did he fully relax—collapsing spread-eagle on the sand.
His usual training island.
Absolutely safe.
He lay on the beach, gasping heavily—chest heaving.
The oppressive rain of Amegakure, steel's coldness, and god's suffocating presence—finally dispersed by warm sea breeze.
He slowly closed his eyes.
Consciousness sank into the system space.
A disc glowing eerie purple.
No complex patterns—just concentric black spiral ripples contracting inward and expanding outward.
Edges radiating faint, sacred yet majestic light.
Merely looking at it evoked visions of world creation and destruction—universal truth.
[Rinnegan]
The eyes of the Sage of Six Paths.
Power over creation and annihilation.
Pinnacle of all dojutsu.
Ultimate of all bloodlines.
"Haha… hahahaha…"
Sora laughed low at first.
Then louder.
"Hahahahahahahaha!"
He shot upright from the sand, roaring skyward—laughter echoing across the empty island, brimming with unrestrained glee and madness.
He pounded the beach, sand coating hair and face.
For this moment—he'd planned too long.
From border battlefield, to joining Anbu, to volunteering for the most dangerous mission.
Every step paved the way for today.
To reach Amegakure, meet the self-proclaimed god, claim this ultimate "concept code"!
He succeeded!
"Become Hokage—unify the ninja world!"
"Today—finally the most critical step!"
Sora reined in laughter, slowly standing and brushing off sand.
Mad joy faded from amber eyes—replaced by ice-cold, absolute resolve.
Play?
Far from enough.
From the start, his goal wasn't "playing" Rinnegan.
Shinra Tensei strong, Universal Pull convenient, Chibaku Tensei world-destroying.
But mere "play"—mental energy-consuming, one-time skills.
He never wanted borrowed god power.
He wanted to become god himself!
Sora slowly extended a hand—as if touching the purple disc floating in consciousness depths.
[System.]
His will—unshakable.
[Devour disc: Rinnegan.]
[Command confirmed: Devour disc: Rinnegan.]
System prompt—emotionless.
But Sora heard gathering storm's gravity.
[Warning: Target "concept code" highly conflicts with host's existing "Sharingan" code.]
[Forced fusion will cause unpredictable mutation. Continue?]
"Heh."
Sora—lying on the beach—chuckled lightly.
Mutation?
For a perfectionist like him, any "mutation" off-script equaled "evolution."
"Continue."
Will—ironclad.
Buzz!
In consciousness space, the eerie purple-glowing Rinnegan disc shattered explosively!
Not gentle data flow.
But violent purple lightning—mingled with countless twisted, indescribable runes—crashing toward his soul core!
"Ugh!"
Agony.
Pain transcending flesh—tearing straight to soul origin—instantly overwhelmed Sora!
As if his existence, concept, everything—thrown into a high-speed blender—to be shattered and remade anew.
Vast, cold, lifeless knowledge flooded his brain like a breached dam.
Not mere technique usage.
The very concept of "Rinnegan."
Sora understood.
Nagato wasn't these eyes' true master.
Just a "host"—temporary "vessel."
To Nagato, the eyes were unremovable highest-privilege malware—constantly draining life to run.
What Sora recorded: merely this malware running on low-spec hardware—"performance" data.
Severely throttled, second-hand crippled version.
A flicker of disappointment.
Quickly replaced by madder fervor.
Using throttled-card data to overclock his super-host built from "Top-tier Uzumaki Physique" and "Hashirama cell source energy"!
Using foreign "concept" to forcibly catalyze his own "bloodline"!
Perfect leverage!
BOOM!
The instant this thought formed—his inner Uchiha source energy detonated under the foreign, domineering Rinnegan concept!
If Rinnegan concept was a heaven-falling hammer.
His originally gentle Uchiha bloodline—a red-hot iron embryo!
Hammer—down!
"Aaaaaah!"
Sora finally couldn't suppress a stifled roar.
He bolted upright from the beach, hands clutching his eyes.
Pain!
Burning!
As if two red-hot branding irons forcibly jammed into his sockets!
He could "see"—the three tomoe in his eyeballs spinning rapidly—then melting, shattering, reforming!
Bloodline war!
Cruel clash between foreign concept and native foundation!
His body trembled violently from pain—cyan veins bulging like twisted worms under skin; massive chakra uncontrollably leaked, carving a shallow crater in surrounding sand.
But he didn't fall.
Top-tier Uzumaki Physique fused with Wood Release source—ultimate furnace—firmly bearing this internal nuclear fusion.
Unknown time passed.
Perhaps a second.
Perhaps a century.
The madness-inducing burn faded like receding tide.
Replaced by new, cold—piercing essence of all things—wondrous perception.
Sora slowly lowered hands from eyes.
He staggered to the sea, using moonlit mirror-calm water to view his reflection.
The amber eyes in the water—completely changed.
No longer pure amber.
Crimson base—three spinning tomoe gone.
Replaced by complex, sharp black pattern—like three crossed scythe blades.
Mangekyo Sharingan.
Awakened.
No best friend's death.
No heavy sorrow.
Merely through cold, rational—near-insane "code injection."
He forcibly birthed these "cursed" eyes.
Sora's lips curved in satisfied arc.
He gently touched his sockets.
Unprecedented power brewed in these new eyes.
Not borrowed from "play."
His own—genuine, soul-rooted power!
[Mutation complete.]
[Congratulations, host: Mangekyo Sharingan awakened.]
System prompt timely rang.
This time followed by new, even surprising analysis.
[Pupil power strength evaluation: Eternal Mangekyo level.]
[Vision degradation risk: 0%.]
[Cause analysis: Host—using "Top-tier Uzumaki Physique" and "Hashirama cell source energy" as base—perfectly bore Rinnegan concept code's forced catalysis on Sharingan source, skipping degradation phase—directly constructing stable energy cycle.]
Eternal Mangekyo.
Skipping bloody steps of killing kin, eye-swapping.
Even skipping long struggle on blindness's edge.
One-step graduation.
"Perfect."
Sora gazed at water reflection's ominous yet exquisitely beautiful eyes—sincere praise.
True perfectionism.
Minimal cost—maximum gain.
Most scientific method—most efficient shortcut.
Uchiha clan's emotionally tangled, self-destructive upgrade path—in his view, utterly stupid.
And best…
Externally—these eyes indistinguishable from ordinary Mangekyo.
Perfect hidden trump.
One to overturn all perceptions at critical moment.
Mad laughter gradually calmed in sea breeze.
Sora lay back on sand, feeling new bloodline-rooted power within.
Mangekyo Sharingan.
Eternal.
Not endpoint.
Just beginning—stepping stone—lever for greater goals.
Become Hokage—unify ninja world.
Grand, laughable goal.
Even Hashirama—ninja world god—pacified chaos, founded Konoha.
Result?
Peace fragile after death.
Even Madara—with god-rivaling power—tried Infinite Tsukuyomi false peace.
How naive.
Power merely tool.
Governing nation, sustaining civilization—not one man's strength.
But perfect, self-running, self-correcting system.
Nobles? Daimyo?
Parasites on ninja blood and sacrifice—why lord above?
He'd build unprecedented—ninja-led, absolutely unified iron-blood empire.
Territory encompassing continent.
Power centralized.
All ninjas—empire's foundation and blades.
He—creator and sole emperor.
For this—he needed hearts.
Legitimate identity.
Hokage.
He must claim it.
Sora rose from sand—grains sliding silently off.
Amber eyes restored usual pure clarity—as if soul-level fusion mere dream.
His figure vanished.
[Replicate and play: Flying Thunder God Technique]
…
Fire Country border—damp dense forest.
Tanuki and Weasel escorted the gravely wounded comrade—struggling through trees.
Sora's shadow clone scouted ahead, occasionally turning with encouraging sunny smile.
"Senpai—keep going! Almost home!"
Tanuki and Weasel exchanged glances—bitterness hidden beneath masks.
Home?
Did Anbu like them truly have one?
This mission—nine deaths, one life.
Without that boy Akashi Sora…
They dared not think further.
Just then.
A figure appeared without warning before them.
Sora's real body.
"Yo! I'm back!"
He waved—smile even brighter than clone's—as if he'd just picnicked, not handled nine pursuers.
"You…"
Tanuki and Weasel tensed instantly—kunai instinctively aimed.
How did he appear?
No Body Flicker chakra.
No seals.
He simply "grew" from air.
Poof.
Scout clone—seeing real body—dispelled into smoke.
Massive memories flooded Sora.
All smooth.
"Don't worry, don't worry." Sora raised hands in surrender. "Little secret—personal escape technique. Super fast."
Escape technique?
Tanuki and Weasel hearts shook.
Technique for instant appearance—just for running?
How many secrets did this boy hide?
"Pursuers?" Weasel asked coldly.
"All handled!" Sora replied lightly. "Few Iwa and Ame small fry—nothing much."
Tanuki and Weasel fell silent.
Nine at least Chunin-level pursuers.
To this boy—small fry.
And his relaxed demeanor—barely a warm-up.
Monster.
The word surfaced simultaneously.
"Alright, mission complete. Time to report back." Sora clapped, easily taking the wounded onto his back.
"Let's go—home for dinner!"
He led, heading toward Konoha.
Light steps, cheerful smile—clashing with gloomy forest.
Tanuki and Weasel followed—feeling like bodyguards escorting a young master on outing.
No.
More like…
Mortals following a god walking among men.
Return journey atmosphere grew strange.
Sora remained cheerful boy—exclaiming at interesting bugs, cupping stream water to wash face, humming off-key tunes.
But Tanuki and Weasel could no longer view him as ordinary junior.
They followed silently—awe growing.
Sora naturally noticed.
Exactly the effect he wanted.
Awe—first step to controlling hearts.
He needed these Anbu to report everything unchanged to the Third Hokage.
A profoundly strong genius with myriad powerful ninjutsu, secret techniques—yet absolutely loyal to village.
Such persona—enough for old Sarutobi to drop guard, see him as perfect Will of Fire successor.
With trust—Jonin title mere formality.
Jonin—just first step toward power center.
Konoha gates loomed.
Evening glow painted village warm gold.
"Finally back!" Sora stretched hugely—face genuine joy.
Tanuki and Weasel relaxed at familiar sight.
Alive.
Gate guards paused seeing them—especially blood-soaked Anbu on Sora's back.
"Need support?" One Chunin stepped forward.
"Mission complete—returning to report." Tanuki showed ID.
Guard verified, allowed passage—glancing complexly at Sora.
Grad-school-age boy returning from battlefield with two Anbu.
Intriguing in itself.
"Alright, my job was safe delivery." Sora handed wounded to Tanuki. "Rest is your report to Hokage-sama."
"You're not coming?" Tanuki asked instinctively.
"Man, I'm beat—going home to sleep!" Sora yawned exaggeratedly. "Credit's yours, senpai—I just helped!"
He waved and dashed homeward—vanishing quickly.
Watching his back, Weasel silent long before speaking slowly.
"What kind of person… is he?"
"A true Konoha ninja," Tanuki answered.
Even he barely believed it.
…
Sora didn't go home.
After turning a corner, he changed direction—toward another place.
Hokage Building.
He'd personally see Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Not for credit—but to deliver a name-card that would shake the ninja world.
Amegakure commotion too big.
Five Elements Grand Chain Bullet chakra surge, Shinra Tensei destruction—unconcealable.
News would reach Konoha eventually.
Better he strike first.
Maximize intel value.
Whitewash his role from "suspicious intruder" to "hero who brought back top-secret intel."
When Sora reappeared before Hokage Building, guarding Anbu showed clear surprise.
"I need to see Hokage-sama."
Sora's smile gone—replaced by mission-return gravity.
"Urgent intel—must report personally."
Guards exchanged glances—no obstruction.
They'd heard from Tanuki and Weasel of the boy's "great deeds."
Single-handedly saved trapped squad, wiped all pursuers.
Such genius deserved respect.
Sora passed unhindered—back to the familiar office door.
He didn't knock.
He knew the occupant already sensed him.
"Come in."
Hiruzen's aged, weary voice.
Sora entered.
Office held only Hiruzen.
He sat behind desk, slowly polishing his crystal ball—dim light deepening facial wrinkles.
"Mission complete?"
He didn't look up—seemingly unsurprised by Sora's quick return.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Sora dropped to one knee, head bowed. "Two survivors, one critically injured—safely escorted inside village."
"Mmm." Hiruzen set down crystal ball, finally raising cloudy old eyes. "Your comrades reported the process. You did very well, Akashi Sora. Your courage and strength exceeded my expectations."
Praise—flat, formulaic.
As if mere procedure.
Sora didn't rise—maintaining kneel.
"Hokage-sama, I came alone because…"
He paused, choosing words.
"After completing the mission, I discovered… anomalies."
"Anomalies?" Hiruzen leaned slightly forward—mild interest.
"Yes." Sora looked up—pure amber eyes showing unmasked lingering fear and shock for first time.
Actor's craft.
"In Amegakure, I found an extremely powerful ninja. A man… who calls himself 'god.'"
"God?" Hiruzen's lips curved dismissively. "Arrogant fools abound in the ninja world."
"He's different."
Sora's voice dropped low.
"He possesses… the legendary eyes."
Office air instantly froze.
Hiruzen's hand—pipe poised to light—halted midair.
Cloudy old eyes flashed unprecedented sharpness—like a hawk locking prey.
"What did you say?"
"Rinnegan."
Sora enunciated the taboo word.
BOOM!
As if an invisible bomb detonated.
Hiruzen shot up—motion too sharp; chair slid back half-meter with grating screech.
He stared dead at Sora—age spots flushing red from surging blood.
"Are you certain?!"
Not question—interrogation.
Fire-shadow authority—no lies allowed.
"Absolutely certain." Sora met gaze unflinching. "I saw it myself. Those eyes—exactly as legends describe the Sage of Six Paths'."
Hiruzen's chest heaved violently. He strode around desk to Sora.
"Tell me everything you know! Not a single detail omitted!"
"Yes!"
Sora began his "report."
Carefully scripted—half-truth, half-lie.
He described discovering unusual chakra in Amegakure, infiltrating to scout.
Then "encountering" the self-proclaimed god Pain.
"He was too powerful." Sora timely showed lingering fear. "I only glimpsed from afar—yet was detected."
"One move—he flattened all my traps and a large district."
He avoided naming Shinra Tensei—describing only results' terror.
"I tried countering, but all ninjutsu repelled—or… absorbed before reaching him."
He cleverly attributed Preta Path ability to "god."
"I was no match—that wasn't power humans can oppose."
"I could only flee."
"Fortunately, my self-developed escape Body Flicker was fast enough—I barely escaped with my life."
"In my final withdrawal moment, I saw five more appear beside him—with the same eyes."
"Six… with Rinnegan."
Here, Sora's voice trembled uncontrollably.
Perfect performance.
Turning his self-initiated mad probe and theft into desperate, lucky escape.
From mad provocateur—to hero who accidentally uncovered divine secret and risked life to bring intel.
Hiruzen listened silently—long speechless.
He returned behind desk, picked up pipe—forgot to light, merely rubbing unconsciously.
Office—deathly quiet.
Rinnegan.
Six Rinnegan.
Intel weight—enough to crush ninja world balance.
Long time.
Hiruzen exhaled heavily.
His gaze at Sora—completely changed.
No scrutiny, no probing.
Only heartfelt mix of admiration, lingering fear, and relief.
"Sora."
He called his name.
"You exceeded even my imagination."
"You didn't just complete the mission and save comrades."
"You brought the village S-class—or higher—world-altering secret intel."
He stood, went to cabinet, retrieved a scroll.
Returned to Sora—still kneeling—and personally unrolled it.
Inside: brand-new green vest.
Konoha backbone's Jonin vest.
"I, Sarutobi Hiruzen—as Third Hokage—promised."
He took the vest and personally draped it over the kneeling boy.
"From today—you are Konoha Jonin, Akashi Sora."
No excess words.
The act itself—highest honor.
"Rest well." Hiruzen patted Sora's shoulder. "Today's matters—tell no one. The village will remember your merit."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Sora rose, touching the new vest—face blending excitement and honor.
He bowed deeply once more, then turned—crisp—exiting.
When door closed softly.
The two Anbu guards outside looked at him differently.
No longer scrutiny—genuine respect.
Sora didn't go home.
Nor fetch gear.
Emergency support—time was life.
He headed straight for Konoha's gates.
Along the way: perfect sunshine, villagers at peace, children chasing and playing in streets.