NARUTO: START WITH THE MANGEKYO SHARINGAN

Watchers and Capture: White Zetsu

"One, two... eight... sixteen... thirty-four. ANBU and Root? I didn't expect so many operatives to be stationed against the Uchiha clan. Konoha's higher-ups have certainly gone to great lengths."

Moving like a phantom, Uchiha Yue silently traversed the Uchiha district, his keen Sharingan scanning every hidden post he uncovered. As he observed the final concealed position, a sneer played on his lips.

While the ANBU might not have played a dominant role in the main events of history, they were nonetheless an elite force, handpicked from Konoha's finest shinobi. Each operative was a weapon, honed to serve directly under the Hokage's command. Their missions, often classified, required exceptional skill, making them the village's silent enforcers.

The Root division, though technically a branch of ANBU, operated under a different philosophy—one sculpted by Danzo Shimura. Unlike standard ANBU, Root shinobi underwent ruthless conditioning that stripped them of their individuality, making them emotionless tools of Danzo's will. This brutal training ensured that each member was among the strongest and most obedient in Konoha's ranks.

Now, seeing such a significant presence of both ANBU and Root operatives stationed within the Uchiha district, it was evident just how much the village leadership feared the Uchiha.

"Tch... As much as I'd like to eliminate them all, making a move now would only alert Konoha. If I act too soon, I might unintentionally accelerate the Uchiha Clan Downfall. That would be... quite the waste."

A flicker of killing intent flashed through Uchiha Yue's eyes as he pondered silently, yet he ultimately chose not to act.

Though he had successfully awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—his newfound ocular abilities granting him immense power and elevating his strength to the upper echelons of the Uchiha clan—it came with its own set of limitations.

The Mangekyō, despite its formidable prowess, carried an inherent flaw. Overuse of its abilities led to severe strain, gradually deteriorating his vision and eventually causing blindness. Each activation drained not only his chakra but also his very pupil strength, a resource far from infinite.

Moreover, he was still in his early teens, his body yet to fully mature. How much chakra could he truly muster in prolonged combat? How long could he endure against opponents in drawn-out battles?

If war were to break out, even the most overwhelming pupil techniques would mean little if his endurance failed him first.

"No… if I want to become truly invincible, the Mangekyō is only the beginning. I can't afford to stop here. The next step must be taken—no hesitation."

Casting a final glance at the concealed Anbu ninja, Uchiha Yue's form blurred, vanishing into the night without a trace.

Then, when Uchiha Yue's figure reappeared, he was standing beside an unremarkable large tree. At the same time, his Mangekyō Sharingan activated, locking onto a presence hidden within, as if seeing through the tree itself.

"Huh? Those eyes... Mangekyō Sharingan? Can he actually see me?"

A strange, white humanoid figure embedded in the tree—White Zetsu—wore a puzzled expression. Realizing he had been spotted, he instinctively tried to retreat.

"You think you can still escape? Come out!"

Uchiha Yue's voice was cold as he extended an arm. His movement was almost ghostly, his hand phasing effortlessly through the tree's bark. In the next instant, he yanked forcefully, dragging White Zetsu out as if he had simply reached into thin air.

"W-What? How did I—?"

White Zetsu was thrown to the ground, his expression dazed with confusion. He had no idea how he had been pulled from his hiding place so effortlessly.

"Tch."

Seeing White Zetsu's clueless reaction, Uchiha Yue clicked his tongue in annoyance. But he didn't waste words. His Mangekyō spun once more, and in an instant, White Zetsu's will was completely dominated by Hypnosis.

"Good. White Zetsu is secured. Now, it's time to take this further."

Seeing that White Zetsu was under his control, Uchiha Yue's eyes flashed with excitement. Without hesitation, he disappeared with White Zetsu once again.

As Uchiha Yue had previously realized, simply awakening the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan was not enough.

To fully utilize the abilities of the Mangekyō, he needed to overcome its inherent drawbacks—particularly the strain it placed on the user's body and eyesight. Otherwise, even with its immense power, he would be little more than a fleeting force, unable to bring lasting change.

There were two known methods to counteract these side effects. The first was evolving the Mangekyō Sharingan into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan by transplanting the eyes of a close blood relative. The second was integrating Hashirama Senju's cells, harnessing their unparalleled vitality to mitigate the Mangekyō's drawbacks.

For now, the Eternal Mangekyō was not an option, but Hashirama's cells were within reach. Both Danzo Shimura and Orochimaru had access to them, but there was an even easier opportunity: White Zetsu.

Created by Uchiha Madara through a combination of Hashirama's cells and the God Tree's power, White Zetsu possessed a unique biological makeup infused with Senju vitality. Additionally, White Zetsu had played a role during the Uchiha Clan Massacre, assisting Uchiha Obito, who had inherited Madara's legacy. Given that Obito used White Zetsu as spies, it was highly likely that some were still lurking near the Uchiha district, monitoring the aftermath of the massacre.

If White Zetsu were nearby, tracking and capturing one would not be difficult, given their generally weak combat abilities.

As expected, Uchiha Yue's deduction was flawless.

His Mangekyō Sharingan, which granted him dominion over illusion and reality, provided extraordinary perception and insight. He easily located not only the hidden Anbu and Root operatives but also the elusive White Zetsu.

In time, Uchiha Yue successfully captured a White Zetsu. However, instead of returning home, he made his way deep into the Forest of Death.

Unlike the mere act of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, dealing with White Zetsu required caution. The creatures shared a hive-mind connection, meaning his actions might alert others if he was careless. Though he had used his Mangekyō's abilities for interference shielding and transformed his appearance to remain undetected, he could not afford to take unnecessary risks.

Ensuring secrecy, he ventured far into the secluded forest.

"This distance should be sufficient," he murmured to himself.

Fixing his gaze on the restrained White Zetsu, Uchiha Yue's Mangekyō spun faster than ever before.

As Uchiha Yue's Mangekyō Sharingan spun rapidly, an overwhelming aura erupted from his body, sending a ripple of silence through the vast expanse of the Forest of Death. For a brief moment, all movement ceased—birds halted their songs, leaves stopped rustling—before an intense, chaotic energy surged outward, disturbing the entire area. Then, just as suddenly as it had come, an eerie stillness took hold once more.

Yet, Uchiha Yue paid no mind to the shifting environment.

His entire focus was locked onto his Mangekyō Sharingan, the power surging through it unlike anything he had ever wielded before. He pushed his chakra to the limit, refining the technique with unwavering concentration.

Time lost meaning. Seconds, minutes, perhaps even hours passed. Then, at last, the technique reached completion.

A strange, otherworldly space materialized around him like a phantom, its presence distorting reality itself. The eerie dimension extended outward, encompassing a radius of dozens of meters before vanishing as swiftly as it had appeared.

And with it, the figure of White Zetsu—whom he had been holding in his grasp—faded into nothingness, as if he had never existed.