In Masahiko's estimation, using the [Bloodline Development Card] should have triggered a visceral reaction—a surge of power, a glowing aura, or at least a shiver running down his spine.
The reality, however, was underwhelming.
Absolutely nothing happened.
Even the "Kekkei Genkai" column on his System interface remained stubbornly unchanged.
"F*ck! Is this a knock-off?" Masahiko cursed aloud, his patience snapping. He had anticipated this moment for so long, only for the item to turn out like some cheap bootleg product. What a piece of junk! He tossed his notebook aside and threw himself onto the bed, fuming. The mood to document his progress had completely evaporated.
"Maybe it's just a matter of time? It hasn't fully developed yet. That has to be it."
Masahiko sat back up, his rational mind taking over. Given the System's finicky nature, aside from direct upgrade cards, everything else required personal effort to master. The item was labeled "Bloodline Development," not "Bloodline Awakening." The distinction likely lay in the process. Furthermore, the previous prompts had mentioned timeframes.
Thinking of it that way, his mood improved considerably. Let the bloodline simmer for a bit.
Composing himself, he didn't immediately close the holographic interface. instead, he navigated back to his initial objective. The Forest of Death was vast. While Shisui could access detailed maps of abandoned outposts through ANBU archives, Masahiko had no such intelligence source. To find Shisui, he had to rely on a clumsy but effective method: brute-force geography. He began cross-referencing environmental features, memorizing distinct landmarks to compare against public maps of the training ground later.
Three days passed in a blur.
Masahiko's routine was monotonous: training, cultivation, teaching classes, and conducting research while scouring materials related to the Forest of Death to pinpoint Shisui's location.
Thanks to the notes left by Hanbō, Masahiko's theoretical medical knowledge had advanced by leaps and bounds. By tirelessly grinding inside the Ninjutsu Training Space, his practical skills had also leveled up significantly.
[Water Style: Water Jellyfish — Proficiency: Mastery]
Beyond his skills, he kept a close eye on his physical condition. According to his self-assessment, the last three days had brought abnormal gains. His weight had increased due to muscle density, his stamina was significantly higher, and consequently, his chakra reserves had grown. His top speed had likely improved as well, though without specialized equipment, it was hard to quantify exactly how much.
Crucially, this enhancement seemed to be an ongoing process, slowly remodeling his physiology. Masahiko knew this had to be the effect of the [Bloodline Development Card]. As long as it was working, he didn't feel shortchanged, regardless of whether a Kekkei Genkai appeared immediately.
Simultaneously, his research paid off. He had narrowed down Shisui's location to a specific sector. It was time to pay him a visit and see if the prodigy required assistance.
Night had fallen over the Forest of Death.
In a secluded ravine bordering another training ground, Shisui Uchiha huddled inside an underground bunker, his heart numb.
No outsiders had entered the forest recently, which implied that things were proceeding in the best possible direction. That man must have covered his tracks. It made sense; the mysterious figure wouldn't risk exposure—and the subsequent impact on his own plans—just for a single eye.
The current Shisui had no desire to die. However, with each passing day, he felt his empty eye socket healing shut. He couldn't tell if it was a hallucination born of anxiety or a physical reality. Neither the black-robed man nor the masked man with the swirl pattern had appeared since that night.
Shisui couldn't suppress the rising tide of agitation. He had no idea what either party truly wanted.
The silence of the night was oppressive. He leaned against the cold earthen wall, attempting to snatch a moment of rest. Suddenly, his remaining eye snapped open.
Whoosh.
Shisui vanished from his spot. An instant later, a figure strolled out from the tree line, casually tossing a kunai that embedded itself into the rock face outside the bunker.
Shisui recognized the throwing technique, but he hesitated to reveal himself. He couldn't confirm the visitor's identity—it could be the swirl-masked man in disguise, or perhaps... were they working together? He couldn't afford to be careless.
"Do you remember what I said?" The visitor's voice carried a light, confident chuckle. "Besides Danzō and myself, there is a third party. And from the looks of it, they have already set their sights on you."
The figure paused, his tone shifting to one of command. "Come out. The fact that I found this place proves I know everything about your current situation."
The black-robed man didn't leave; he stood there, certain of his deduction.
Silence reigned in the forest for a few long seconds. Finally, Shisui stepped out from the shadows, his face etched with curiosity. "How did you find me?"
"I have my own intelligence channels," the black-robed man replied with a faint smile. "What do you need? Soldier pills? Supplies? I can provide you with some provisions for the short term."
Shisui remained silent for a moment before making a request. "Do you know medical ninjutsu? I need someone to help me reattach an eye."
"I know a thing or two," the man replied casually. "But transplanting an eye requires delicate medical ninjutsu..."
"That doesn't matter. I know a little myself," Shisui interrupted, desperation edging into his voice. "I just need you to use your chakra to reactivate the nerves and flesh around the socket. I can handle the rest."
Shisui covered his missing eye with one hand. Chakra surged at his fingertips, forcefully invading the socket.
Rip.
Intense pain shot through his skull. He tore open his own partially healed wound, fresh blood streaming down his face. Ignoring the agony, he used the blood as a medium to perform hand seals, unsealing a scroll with his free hand.
Poof.
A small preservation jar appeared in the center of the scroll. Inside floated a perfectly preserved three-tomoe Sharingan.
Fighting through the pain, Shisui explained, "This was given to me by the man in the swirl mask. He invited me to join him. I was considering it."
"Oh? And now?" The black-robed man didn't seem angry; if anything, he sounded amused.
Shisui frowned—whether from the pain or deep thought was unclear. "I believe I should join him. What do you think?"
The black-robed man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he formed a set of hand seals, refining a precise amount of medical chakra.
Shisui's single eye widened in slight surprise. When the man said he "knew a thing or two," Shisui had expected basic first aid. But watching the way the stranger manipulated chakra, he realized how modest that claim was.
The method was unique. As the man's palm pressed near the bloody socket, the chakra didn't just coat the surface; it blended into the blood, traveling along the vessels to work from the inside out. The flesh and nerves around the orbit began to regenerate and sensitize rapidly.
Suppressing his excitement, Shisui fished the spare eye from the jar and aligned it with his socket.
The black-robed man increased his chakra output. The technique he was using wasn't the standard Water Style: Water Jellyfish, but a variation Masahiko had derived specifically for precision healing.
To Shisui, the sensation was incredibly soothing. Although the process was gradual, the foreign chakra worked in harmony with his blood, knitting the eye into his skull. The optic nerve connected. The muscles attached.
Slowly, vision returned.
Shisui exhaled a long, shaky breath. Success.
"Thank you."
"I told you," the black-robed man smiled beneath his hood. "We share a common goal. Cooperation is natural."
He paused, then added, "By the way, I have another piece of good news for you... The 'death' I arranged for you was quite convincing. Although Danzō remains skeptical, the trauma was sufficient. Itachi Uchiha has awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan."
"You..."
Shisui wanted to ask how this man knew about the requirements for the Mangekyō, but stopped himself. If this person knew about the swirl-masked man, knowing about the Uchiha clan's secrets wasn't a stretch.
He fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Can Danzō use Izanagi?"
"Given your experience, the answer should be obvious," the black-robed man replied obliquely, glancing at Shisui. "I possess a great deal of intelligence, but I am not omnipotent."
Shisui nodded slowly. The man might not be all-knowing, but finding this hideout proved his reach was terrifying. He was either a genius of deduction or possessed a vast spy network. The frank admission of limitations only made him seem more confident.
With that in mind, Shisui sought his counsel. "Should I make contact with the masked man?"
"You can, but exercise caution... He understands the Uchiha intimately. It is highly likely he was once a member of your clan."
The black-robed man gave a light, chilling laugh. "The 'Blood Mist' era of Kirigakure and the Nine-Tails Incident in Konoha... both seem to be his handiwork."
Shisui's blood ran cold. He understood the warning. Making a deal with a tiger... one slip, and he would be devoured.
What shocked him most was the connection to the Blood Mist. This black-robed man is an expert in Water Style... could he be from the Hidden Mist?
No, that doesn't fit.
His demeanor, his knowledge... this person must be from Konoha.
Shisui's eye flickered with thought, but he voiced none of his suspicions. He simply nodded, signaling that he understood the stakes.