Chapter 12

As a high-security prison for Uchiha clan members, the dungeon was heavily guarded, but Chu Yang had the authority to enter and leave freely.

Because news of his becoming a direct disciple of Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju had already spread throughout the Senju clan.

At this point, Chu Yang’s status was no longer what it once was.

So when he entered the dungeon, the guards merely asked the usual formal questions.

They even assigned a clan elite to protect Chu Yang.

Still, before Chu Yang entered, the guard specifically warned him, “Do not endanger the lives of these prisoners—they are bargaining chips to exchange for our Senju kin.”

As the war dragged on, both sides held captives, and in the end, negotiations were inevitable.

The experiments Chu Yang planned would not endanger these people’s safety; rather, he himself would be at greater risk.

Chu Yang agreed and entered the dungeon.

Upon hearing the noise, the Uchiha clan members turned their heads toward Chu Yang.

Only then did Chu Yang realize their eyes were sealed by binding incantations.

This method of controlling the Uchiha clan was a lesson paid for in Senju blood.

Additionally, the sealing incantations on the Uchiha clan members prevented them from extracting chakra.

To make them cast genjutsu on Chu Yang, the incantations would have to be removed first.

Chu Yang turned to the guard beside him and said, “Bring out the one with the worst injuries and the least chakra.”

The guard immediately looked troubled.

Chu Yang smiled and explained, “I just want to experience the Uchiha clan’s Sharingan genjutsu.”

The guard relaxed and chuckled, “No problem.”

Not long after, the guard dragged out a boy younger than Chu Yang from the cell.

The boy was sallow and emaciated, listless, clearly suffering from long-term malnutrition—even Chu Yang doubted he could muster any chakra.

Chu Yang thought the boy must have gone hungry often during his time in the dungeon.

He was limp, like a pile of mud.

Chu Yang had originally planned to ask for someone else, but then he reconsidered—better to be cautious; who knew if this was an act?

Without Tongshu enhancement, a normal ninja could hardly perceive an opponent’s chakra level unless there was a vast power gap.

“Be careful—I’m removing his incantations,” the guard warned Chu Yang, then reached out and tore off the seals covering the boy’s eyelids.

Without needing Chu Yang to say anything, the boy opened his eyes and locked his Sharingan onto Chu Yang with deadly focus.

One eye bore a single tomoe, the other a double tomoe.

In the instant their gazes met, the boy’s hatred pulled Chu Yang into genjutsu.

Chu Yang’s expression suddenly turned blank and vacant.

This made the guard beside him breathe heavily, instinctively reaching to knock out the Uchiha boy still casting genjutsu.

“Wait.”

A deep, mature voice came from outside, halting the guard’s action.

The guard turned and immediately bowed deeply in shock.

The newcomer was Tobirama Senju.

He stood aside, watching with interest, then smiled, “This kid is cautious enough—he’ll survive on the battlefield. Brother told me not to be too harsh on him, but now I see no need.”

Tobirama’s words implied he was treating Chu Yang as a successor, causing the guard to suddenly realize he had vastly underestimated Chu Yang’s status.

The guard was about to speak when the Uchiha boy in his grip let out a muffled groan and collapsed unconscious; Chu Yang also awoke from the genjutsu.

Chu Yang’s eyes regained their alertness, tinged with a hint of lingering fear—he had prepared himself, but the Sharingan genjutsu was even more terrifying than he’d imagined.

“Awake? How do Itachi feel?”

“Fine…” Chu Yang, hearing the familiar voice, immediately bowed respectfully to Tobirama Senju. “Master, good morning!”

Tobirama Senju spoke coldly, “Itachi still remember I’m your master? Itachi sneak into the dungeon to do something this dangerous! Do Itachi know how terrifying Sharingan genjutsu is?”

Chu Yang quickly explained, “In past missions, I only faced Uchiha without opened eyes, so I wanted to experience real Sharingan genjutsu—better to learn now than pay the price on the battlefield.”

“Better to prepare early than panic at the last moment!”

Tobirama Senju, who had been somewhat angry, now smiled faintly—Chu Yang’s thinking aligned perfectly with his own. He always preferred planning ahead.

What annoyed him most was his brother Hashirama’s naive belief that “things will work out when the time comes.”

At this thought, Tobirama had no intention of rebuking Chu Yang for his recklessness.

Instead, he asked, “What was your first experience with Sharingan genjutsu like?”

“Terrifying,” Chu Yang said seriously, recalling carefully. “It’s faster than ordinary genjutsu, making targets nearly impossible to defend against. I warned myself to be careful, yet I was caught in an instant.”

“What’s truly despairing is that Sharingan genjutsu cannot be broken by conventional means—Itachi must endure it through sheer willpower.”

Tobirama nodded. “Itachi’re right. So far, when we’ve fought Uchiha genjutsu masters, the only way to avoid their Sharingan genjutsu is to avoid looking into their eyes—there’s no other reliable method.”

“The only relief is that genjutsu has limited advantage in war—it’s easiest to disrupt in a battlefield setting.”

Chu Yang suddenly understood. “So except in small-scale or one-on-one combat, genjutsu has very limited effectiveness.”

“Exactly,” Tobirama reminded him. “So Itachi only need to understand the characteristics of Sharingan genjutsu—don’t waste your time and energy going too deep.”

Chu Yang bowed respectfully. “Master, I understand.”

In truth, Tobirama didn’t believe Chu Yang would stop after his warning—he saw him as a young man with strong will.

So Tobirama said only what was necessary, then left the dungeon.

After Tobirama departed, Chu Yang quietly sensed his own aura.

Under the stimulation of genjutsu, it had indeed grown.

The negative emotions and scenes within the genjutsu had stimulated Chu Yang’s spirit, causing his aura—or willpower—to surge, thereby enhancing his aura.

This theory had already been proven.

In addition, Chu Yang discovered that as his Wood Release continuously enhanced his cellular vitality and strengthened his physique, his aura also rose slowly—though not as dramatically as under genjutsu stimulation.

Excited, Chu Yang exhaled deeply, glanced down at the unconscious Uchiha boy, and said coldly, “Next one.”

Thus, after enduring three rounds of Sharingan genjutsu, Chu Yang’s aura broke through.

His Armament aura not only reached a new level—he also unconsciously awakened Observation aura!

(End of Chapter)