Chapter 198: 198. Chapter 195: Endurance, Divine Longevity

198. Chapter 195: Endurance, Divine Longevity

"How does it feel?"

Yan Shifan's curious voice came to his ears, but Sima Yi kept his eyes tightly closed and ignored it.

After two clusters of light surged into his body, they did not dissipate immediately; Sima Yi could clearly feel a cold and a hot stream of fluid moving inside him.

These two energies continuously strengthened his body and spirit, and in an instant his vitality, qi, and mind underwent an earth‑shattering change.

When the two energies were completely exhausted, a piece of information poured into his mind out of nowhere, and Sima Yi opened his eyes.

"Grandpa, your eyes!"

Shisui's delighted expression and Yan Shifan's sour, teasing gaze made Sima Yi realize that his Copy Wheel Eye must have made considerable progress.

Sima Yi took the mirror prepared earlier and examined it carefully.

He saw that the original single tomoe had turned into three unknown black symbols linked end to end.

"What a strange pattern, but as long as it can promote, it's fine. I didn't expect a single point to turn Grandpa's single tomoe directly into a Kaleidoscope; the panel's ability is truly terrifying!"

Shisui was somewhat excited; with the Kaleidoscope activated, Sima Yi would have a self‑protection power against anyone, which relaxed him considerably.

Yan Shifan squinted at the pattern in Sima Yi's pupil; after a moment he crossed his arms, tilted his head to the side, and curled the corners of his mouth.

Although the pattern was somewhat abstract, he recognized it.

Sima Yi noticed Yan Shifan's gesture, but he remained silent; his mood was also a bit complicated because he too recognized it.

Three elongated horses, linked head to tail.

"Grandpa, quickly look at what your Eye Technique is!"

Shisui didn't notice any of this, only asked out of curiosity.

Upon hearing that, Sima Yi reflected carefully and then understood the Eye Technique's ability and name; however, the name was somewhat odd, so he ignored it, gave a brief summary and said, "The left eye's Eye Technique is called Endurance; when activated it can absorb all damage. The right eye's Eye Technique, when activated, can return the absorbed damage."

Sima Yi did not fully disclose the Eye Technique's details; his Eye Technique is far more complex than he described.

When Endurance is activated, the body will be replaced by an Illusory Body; all damage will be borne by the Illusory Body, which converts the damage into stored energy, later released all at once by the right eye.

Of course, the Kaleidoscope has limits; the Kaleidoscope enhanced by points also has limits. If the Illusory Body endures damage beyond its cap, it will vanish, and the user will suffer severe side effects.

Yan Shifan nodded, but inwardly he was rather disdainful; he could tell just by instinct that Sima Yi was definitely not telling the truth.

Shisui's expression also became a bit odd; he suddenly noticed a change in his panel's contents.

Points: 0; Strategist: Sima Yi (enhancement count: 1), Yan Shifan (enhancement count: 0)

Bonus: Divine Longevity (LV1)

Divine Longevity: lifespan slightly increased; the longer one lives, the stronger one becomes; for each year Sima Yi lives, this effect rises one level. (Bonus comes from Sima Yi.) Shisui felt a faint change in his own strength, most noticeably his chakra and eye power both rose a bit, roughly by half a stage.

"Grandpa, after your enhancement my panel also gained some bonuses."

Shisui set aside his doubts and told the two about the panel changes.

"This ability seems somewhat related to your grandpa's experiences."

Yan Shifan, well‑versed in history, immediately pointed out the key and hinted at something.

Sima Yi ignored Yan Shifan's sarcastic tone, merely nodded in agreement with the speculation, "It seems after the enhancement we still have some other effects on you. Next year's points, if nothing major arises, should first be used to strengthen the East Tower."

Endurance, eruption, longevity.

After Yan Shifan's reminder, Shisui immediately recalled the stories Yan Shifan had secretly told him before.

"Hahaha, that's great; with such ability aiding us, great deeds can be accomplished!"

Although the yearly bonus is small, accumulated over time it becomes a terrifying force, and there will be other bonuses later, which made Shisui quite eager.

The few of them daydreamed for a while until late night; Shisui could only quell his excitement and go back to rest.

Early the next morning, Shisui looked at Sima Yi's jet‑black hair and finally noticed something amiss.

"Grandpa, your hair?"

Sima Yi's hair, which had been mixed with gray, had turned back to black; although his appearance was unchanged, he looked more vigorous.

Sima Yi brushed his beard with a smile and said loudly, "It became like this last night; the enhancement seems to involve yin‑yang power, with changes both inside and out."

"How marvelous!"

After Shisui reflected again and saw it was getting late, he went as usual to the Hokage Tower, while Sima Yi called Ying Shu, who was preparing to train at the clan academy, to the backyard to familiarize himself with the ability.

"Butler, do we really have to do this?"

Ying Shu looked somewhat worried at the Sima Yi across wearing sunglasses, and told the Butler that releasing a ninja technique should be "less powerful, that's fine, no need to worry."

"Alright, I will control it!"

A fine sweat beaded on Ying Shu's forehead; this pressure was greater than when he sparred with Itachi at the clan academy.

He formed hand seals and used Water Release, sending a small water sphere at a slightly fast speed to strike Sima Yi's chest.

The water sphere burst, Sima Yi stood unmoving, his whole body drenched.

"Butler, are you alright!"

Ying Shu startled, hurried over to check.

Sima Yi shook his head reassuringly, "No problem, it's nothing serious, just the clothes are a bit wet. It's getting late; you should go to the clan academy to train first."

After checking several times, Ying Shu saw Sima Yi's expression was normal, not looking injured, and he breathed a sigh of relief before leaving.

Yet his heart found Sima Yi's behavior odd.

After Ying Shu left, Sima Yi took a light step, his body slightly twisted, and the water droplets on his clothes vanished as if the water sphere had never struck.

"I see, the Illusory Body is like a stand; the damage it takes is unrelated to my true body. Is this the power of the Uchiha, or that mysterious power?"

Sima Yi let out a light sigh, then began to test the right eye's ability; a water sphere instantly condensed and shot out, but its power was slightly weaker than when Ying Shu cast it.

After becoming familiar, Sima Yi stopped testing; this power came without any clue, and he was too lazy to waste mental effort, so he went straight to the study and began browsing the sealing technique texts brought from the Barrier Department.

Thus, another month passed; as the year‑end approached, Tuan Zang finally received news.

The order for Tuan Zang to return to the Village had actually been issued for nearly two months, but Tuan Zang employed every means to continuously delay. Even with Shisui's covert assistance, the various ninja divisions still complained bitterly, and rumors even arose that Tuan Zang had betrayed the Village and should be sent back to be captured.

It is evident how much the ninjas of each division despise Tuan Zang.

Shisui cannot even imagine how long Tuan Zang could live if, one day, he refused to shelter Tuan Zang.

Tuan Zang, however, seemed oblivious, and proudly entered through the Leaf Village gate with a large army.

After all, they fought for the Village, so even though they were dissatisfied with Tuan Zang, they could only pinch their noses and greet him at the gate. Amid cheers, Tuan Zang scanned the crowd, seeing a flash of fervor in each ninja's eyes.

Then he looked up toward the distant Hokage Rock, where Shisui's statue had already been carved; gazing at the towering bust, a surge of jealousy and disgust rose in his heart.

But he quickly steadied himself and went straight to the Root.

Shisui was somewhat surprised to learn that Tuan Zang had not come to see him, while Nara Suzaku and Mizuto Monen wore different expressions.

"Tuan Zang must be too tired."

Mizuto Monen offered a pale, feeble explanation, and Nara Suzaku remained silent. He vaguely sensed that Shisui kept Tuan Zang for a purpose; even though Tuan Zang's behavior was somewhat rude, Shisui would not mind.

Sure enough, Shisui merely smiled and said, "The advisor is right; they've traveled all day and deserve a good rest."

The matter was thus settled, but Tuan Zang's return indeed made the Village's atmosphere grow stranger.

"You bastard, what are you doing? I was just about to buy something like this!"

"Huh? But you never paid."

"What? You guy, you're from the Sake Fermentation clan, aren't you? Do you look down on me!"

On the main street, Hui helped Shisui go to the Police Department to fetch some documents, but in front of a shop he saw two ninjas arguing.

Hui stopped, and, puzzled, leaned in.

"You bastard are looking for trouble on purpose!"

"What did you say!"

As more people gathered, the Sake Fermentation clan members felt their pride slipping, and the two's shouting grew louder, on the verge of losing reason and striking, but the Police Department arrived in time and escorted them away.

Hui scratched his head; since he also needed to go to the Police Department, he left with its officers, intending to investigate the incident.

The cause of their quarrel was, as he had heard, trivial.

"They almost fought over such a small matter; these ninjas have quite a temper"

Hui didn't know how to describe it, so after taking the documents he returned to the Hokage Building to tell Shisui.

Shisui felt the matter might not be that simple, and immediately summoned Dao Huo.

"Hokage, since the Tuan Zang advisor returned, the number of ninja fights in the Village has increased steadily; I think perhaps, no, it must be Tuan Zang's doing!"

Dao Huo compiled a brief tally of recent Police Department cases and told Shisui, noting that even before Tuan Zang's return he had shown no concealment of his disgust.

Shisui furrowed his brows, tapped the table, and thought quietly.

Hui and Dao Huo exchanged a glance and then waited silently nearby.

A moment later, Shisui, combining recent surveillance of Tuan Zang and the ninjas returning from the Grass Country, quickly understood the reason.

Tuan Zang's temperament is impatient; within days of his return, ninjutsu spread among chūnin, and he deliberately avoided ninjas of both large and small clans, which not only caused knowledge to spread unevenly among ninjas but also made their identities clearer.

The ninjas, who had once been relatively harmonious, began subconsciously distinguishing between ninja clans and civilians, repeatedly affirming their own stances.

The contradictions among them accumulated more and more unintentionally.

After reading, Shisui furrowed his brows; the situation exceeded his expectations, and this is not what he wants, at least not now.

"Police Department, keep an eye out lately; if there are ninja fights, seize them directly and send them to prison for forced labor."

"Understood."

"The ANBU should also monitor; if there are signs of large‑scale conflict, inform me promptly."

"Understood."

For now it's only the beginning; the contradictions are still in the accumulation stage, with only a few eruptions. Shisui does not intend to act immediately, though he is unsure if this is correct, so he returns to ask Sima Yi and Yan Shifan.

"The spread of ninjutsu deliberately avoids the ninja clans; this deliberate act repeatedly reminds civilian ninjas of their difference from the clans. Once this notion forms, even minor past incidents will breed discontent, and the buildup of contradictions will be faster than you think."

"If we let things develop, future promotion of ninja school reforms will be aided, but if mishandled, contradictions may erupt early. You must keep constant vigilance yourself."

Both pros and cons exist, but Shisui lured Tuan Zang to do this precisely to strengthen civilian ninjas and suppress the ninja clans; he cannot choke on his own food.

"Understood, I will keep a constant watch."

Currently Shisui has too many matters to watch; the civilian‑clan conflict will take time to erupt, and he needs to resolve other issues first.

A few days later, ninjas gathered in the capital region gradually reported news.

"Sure enough, if the blade doesn't cut you, you don't feel pain; the daimyo and nobles aren't a solid iron plate either."

Inside the Hokage Building, Shisui told the news to Hui and Nara Suzaku, then sighed.

"I didn't expect the daimyo's reaction to be so swift; as soon as they appeared, they were chased repeatedly. It seems the daimyo's guards are indeed strong. Should we provide support?"

Those who become daimyo guards are far from ordinary; with their strength, average chūnin have no resistance, and even the first twelve jonin in one‑on‑one battles are no match for those guards.

"The Kyoto aristocrats have also pitched in; it seems the fate of local nobles has frightened them. In this situation, sending too few may be useless, while sending too many risks exposure."

"Hokage, let me go; these mere guard ninjas will see the power of Uchiha!"

Hui patted his chest, confidently stepping forward.

"Improper."

Shisui shook his head; Hui's strength, even among the Uchiha, is not top‑tier, and he does not have confidence in Hui.

"I will have Shi Liu Ye assist from the shadows."

Nara Suzaku only knows that Shi Liu Ye is on an external mission, but not the details; however, Shisui does not speak, and he does not wish to ask further.

"Shi Liu Ye~"

As an Uchiha, Hui naturally reveres and envies the Kaleidoscope, so he had no objection to the remark.

After handling these matters, Shisui realized there were too many recent issues; he could not let everything erupt simultaneously, as that would disperse his grasped power.

Thus he once again sought out Sima Yi and Yan Shifan for counsel.

"Why bother asking about this? You've become too reliant on the East Tower lately."

But unexpectedly Sima Yi refused to answer and even gave Shisui a lecture; Yan Shifan, seeing this, naturally would not answer and also took the chance to mock him.

Shisui instantly sensed something was amiss, his face reddening, and returned to his bedroom to introspect.

"No matter when, the first thing to do is to clarify the goal, especially to distinguish means from ends."

Shisui recalled the words Sima Yi had once said, then sat quietly in the room and began to sort through his actions during this period; after a long while, he reached a decision. (End of chapter)