Naruto: Starting with the Granted Strongest Eye

Both cultists stood frozen—one, his legs severed, unable to rise; his grievous wounds still steaming as if healing. The other dared not move. Who were these people who could instantly analyze cursed seal power... maybe even sense chakra or wield some unique dōjutsu?

Rifling lore, rumors spoke of bloodline dōjutsu that could see through techniques. Could they be that kind of shinobi?

The black‑spear cultist decided to flee. With techniques exposed and "immortality" useless, fighting had no meaning. Better to die at least by an escape attempt.

He edged backward toward Itachi, whom he'd long regarded as weakest. But the Uchiha trio had noticed. Only Itachi betrayed a shift in posture—did he underestimate me?

Suddenly, Itachi teleported behind him with an active triple‑tomoe Sharingan. The cultist froze, eyes widening in terror, trembling.

Tō calmly approached the leg‑wounded cultist. "Tell us—what technique are you researching? Is it immortality?" he asked, unleashing his dual‑tomoe Sharingan, activated and spinning. At the same time, Itachi began speaking:

"Even the strongest jutsu require chakra—we need a breakthrough, and the High Priest won't stop."

"High Priest? Who is that?" Shisui's expression stiffened; it was a critical figure.

The cultist opened his mouth to speak, but both suddenly clutched their heads as if triggered by a spell. When Itachi and Tō tried to dispel the genjutsu, the cultists' eyes rolled back, and they fell silent.

Then, one whispered, "Too bad... he's dead..." placing a finger on his neck and shaking his head. Shisui sighed and looked back toward the ruins. "These cultists are no joke."

Tō, Itachi, and Shisui nodded, mentioning that the High Priest triggered a strong inhibitor capable of brain damage across distance. Such a defensive seal spoke to the High Priest's power, and his intelligence unnerved even Shisui.

Tō placed a hand on both comrades' shoulders. "I'm not scared of these cultists—in fact, I worry more about ninjas from other villages. Seen through these eyes, these jutsu are nothing. Even true 'immortality' isn't frightening. But other countries' shinobi aren't so simple."

Shisui smiled and ruffled his hair: "Let's stay another two days to see if the Mist or other villages show up."

Itachi scoffed smugly: "I'm not afraid—just cautious."

Night fell. Silence draped the unstable castle. In a hidden chamber, a tall figure paused mid-thought, then rose and approached a ritual talisman. He sneered and watched it burn to ashes.

"My High Priest—we've lost more operatives. If this continues, ninjas will assault us in numbers," a slender figure warned from behind.

The High Priest snorted, eyes flashing: "They're already here—Mist shinobi, Cloud shinobi, and even others. Yes—Leaf shinobi have arrived too."

He formed a hand seal. "Bring Kuina. The Leaf ones were strongest—seven cultists killed in three days! The Mist group that showed up two days ago was powerful… they're likely outside the castle now. Go fetch him—now we begin." He then vanished, becoming invisible.

The tall assistant trembled, then vanished with a shunshin technique—a surprising step for a cultist.

In the forest outside, after the battle:

An elder Mist-ninja scowled: "These cultists use jutsu that transform chakra into their energy or mirror that energy. Very powerful—if the Mist learn that, we'll level up immediately."

"Acknowledged, Master Aoda," came the reply. "Then let's go."

Nearby, a squad of dark-skinned Cloud shinobi cleaned themselves. One, battered and blood-stained, surveyed the bodies with disdain.

He sneered: "So someone wants world domination with this power? Delusional."

A tall ninja interjected: "Not necessarily—if wielded well, it's strong. Look at how close Kut almost died just now."

"But they move in groups—like hunting something. If we're exposed…"

"No, no—that's not certain. Maybe other villages are here too," the odd one interjected, freaking out the rest of the squad like a sudden earthquake.

They visibly wilted. One confused youth asked, "Master, why did they send you again?" He scratched his head regretfully. But the burly warrior didn't scold him—he simply paused, as an idea struck. He pulled out a notebook and began making notes, causing the female shinobi to sigh.

"Darui—what do we do?" asked the tall one. Master Darui frowned, thinking deeply.

After a long moment, "Hi, sense chakra. Akai, Kut—go scout ahead. Avoid conflict if possible."

"Why?" Akai asked curiously. Darui said, "I feel someone got here before us. Notice how the cultists attacked immediately when they saw us?" Every listener paused, except the burly note-taker, who kept writing.

Elsewhere, more shinobi examined the scene, whispering ominously:

"We weren't told we'd face such bizarre jutsu."

"Yeah—be very careful," they replied.