Chapter 44: [44] : Mikoto's "Gratitude"
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"Mikoto, your Sharingan has evolved to two-tomoe!"
Kushina exclaimed. Even Tsunade was surprised. Shin had actually done it.
Mikoto, who had been in a daze, finally snapped back to reality, her face pale.
"Mikoto, are you alright?" Shin asked cautiously.
He knew she wasn't in any real danger, but his method wasn't exactly pleasant.
But there was no easy way to force the Sharingan to evolve. Gain came with pain.
"I'm fine," Mikoto said through gritted teeth, glaring at Shin.
"Ahaha, that's good."
Shin chuckled nervously. Mikoto looked like she wanted to eat him alive. Was it just his imagination?
Mikoto tried to calm her racing heart. She was still shaken.
"Mikoto, I could probably help you awaken the three-tomoe Sharingan too. Maybe two more falls, and you'll have it. Want to try?"
Mikoto took a step back. No way. She couldn't handle that again. She'd rather stick with the two-tomoe Sharingan.
"No, thank you. I'll awaken it on my own," she said quickly.
"Is it really that scary?" Kushina asked.
Mikoto looked at her. "You should try it, Kushina. Then you'll know."
"No, thank you."
Kushina had watched Mikoto fall from the sky; just thinking about experiencing it herself made her shudder.
Mikoto might have been terrified, but the results were worth it. Her Chakra had doubled, and with her two-tomoe Sharingan, she was now comparable to an elite Chunin.
Shin was a bit disappointed that Mikoto refused, but he quickly moved on. He was about to go train when Tsunade stopped him.
"Tsunade, what is it?" Shin asked.
"You said Madara Uchiha doesn't have the Mangekyō Sharingan, but the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. What's that? An evolved form of the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
She had forgotten about this earlier, but now she remembered.
"Yes, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan is an evolved form of the Mangekyō Sharingan. You didn't know that?"
Shin was surprised. The Senju and Uchiha were mortal enemies; how could she not know about Madara's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?
"Is it that strange that I don't know?"
Tsunade glared at him. "How do you know about it?"
"I, uh... I just do." Shin didn't know how to answer.
Tsunade gave him a knowing look. She had known from the beginning that he had many secrets.
But she wouldn't pry. If he didn't want to tell her, she wouldn't ask.
Changing the subject, she asked, "What's the difference between the Mangekyō Sharingan and the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?"
"The difference is huge. First, the ocular power. If the Mangekyō Sharingan's ocular power is a river, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan's is an ocean."
"The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan can use the Perfect Susanoo, while the Mangekyō Sharingan can't due to insufficient ocular power."
"Also, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan can be used without limitations, while the Mangekyō Sharingan can't. The ocular power it consumes doesn't regenerate. Overuse leads to vision loss and eventually blindness."
"What? You're saying the Mangekyō Sharingan can cause blindness?!"
Tsunade, Kushina, and Mikoto exclaimed in unison.
"Don't worry, I'm special. I won't go blind," Shin reassured them, seeing the concern in their eyes.
"Really?" Kushina looked at him skeptically. "Don't lie to us."
"I swear, if I'm lying, I'm a puppy."
Kushina finally believed him.
"Don't worry, I have a way to evolve my Sharingan. I'm going to train now."
Shin left to train. Mikoto checked the time and went to the kitchen to cook. Kushina and Tsunade were left staring at each other.
Soon, Mikoto finished cooking and went to call Shin for dinner.
"Smells delicious," Shin said as he entered, inhaling the aroma. Mikoto might be young, but she was a great cook.
"Shin, I made this chicken soup for you. It's to thank you for helping me awaken my two-tomoe Sharingan."
"No need for thanks, Mikoto. We're friends; we don't need such formalities," Shin said with a smile.
"Friends? What kind of friends?" Kushina interjected, glaring at Shin.
"Teammates, of course. What else would we be?" Shin said innocently.
"That soup smells amazing."
Kushina reached for a bowl, but Mikoto swatted her hand away.
"Kushina, this is for Shin. Only he can have it. It's my way of thanking him. You have to finish it all, Shin," Mikoto said seriously.
"Hmph, who cares? I don't even want any," Kushina pouted.
"Since it's Mikoto's kind gesture, I'll finish it all," Shin said, taking the bowl from Mikoto.
The aroma was enticing; it must be delicious.
He blew on the soup to cool it down and took a sip. His face contorted. It was incredibly salty!
"What's wrong? Don't you like it?" Mikoto asked with a smile.
Shin looked at her. Was it just his imagination, or was her smile a bit creepy?
Tsunade, eating quietly, glanced at Shin's face and immediately knew something was wrong with the soup. No wonder Mikoto wouldn't let them have any.
"Mikoto, it's a bit salty," Shin said with a wry smile. He understood now. This wasn't gratitude; it was revenge.
Mikoto was still holding a grudge for the way he had helped her awaken her Sharingan.
"Salty? Just drink more water then," Mikoto said cheerfully.
Shin stared at her. Was she a demon? This wasn't the sweet Mikoto he knew.
"Mikoto, I helped you awaken your Sharingan, and this is how you repay me?" Shin sighed dramatically.
"You almost scared me to death!" Mikoto glared at him. She still had nightmares about that experience.
"Ahem, it was all part of the process. And look, you have your two-tomoe Sharingan now."
Shin coughed awkwardly. He had been a bit harsh.
"Fine, I'll finish the soup." He looked at Mikoto's vengeful expression and sighed.
"Don't. I might have gone a bit overboard with the salt," Mikoto admitted, taking the soup away.
"You're too kind, Mikoto," Shin said with a grin.
Mikoto blushed and glared at him playfully.
Kushina watched their exchange, a pang of jealousy in her heart.
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