Volume 1, Chapter 4: The Flying Thunder God Technique

The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path devoured the Three-Tails’ chakra with remarkable speed, reaching its final stages in less than an hour. Fortunately, merely controlling the statue to absorb chakra did not demand much energy; otherwise, given Feng Tian’s current ocular power, maintaining the "Reversal of Cause and Effect" for this long would have been impossible.

"BOOM!!!"

With a roar from the Demonic Statue, the absorption process officially concluded. At this moment, blood streamed continuously from the corners of Feng Tian’s eyes; the strain of sustaining the "Reversal of Cause and Effect" for so long was immense. Yet, thankfully, the process had gone exceptionally smoothly.

"Project Eye of the Moon progress... 1/9..."
"Congratulations to the host for obtaining a chance to draw a ninjutsu..."

As the mechanical voice echoed in Feng Tian’s mind, a massive roulette wheel appeared before him, visible only to his eyes. Inscribed upon it were the names of dozens of legendary figures: [Minato Namikaze], [Hashirama Senju], [Itachi Uchiha]...

"I hope I can draw a decent ninjutsu this time..."

Feng Tian whispered to himself. With a light tap of his finger, as if triggering a switch of fate, the wheel began to turn slowly. Its rotation was not fast, yet it carried an indescribable rhythm, as if every turn represented a choice of destiny. Of course, only Feng Tian could perceive this. Even Uchiha Madara, with his [Rinnegan], could not detect the existence of this wheel. It was like a secret hidden in the fissures of space and time, visible only to those chosen by fate.

The wheel spun faster and faster, as if to pull the very space around it into its motion. Feng Tian’s heartbeat quickened, each throb carrying a yearning for an unknown power. His gaze remained locked on the shimmering names, each one representing a legend of the ninja world.

"Stop!"

Feng Tian commanded in his heart. Obedient to his will, the wheel slowed as if held by an invisible hand, coming to a halt. The pointer rested on a name—one that seemed unremarkable among the titans of the past, yet at this moment, it was bathed in the light of destiny: [Minato Namikaze].

"Minato Namikaze?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Feng Tian’s mind. As far as he knew, the current Minato Namikaze did not possess many powerful offensive techniques; the only truly monstrous ability in his arsenal was the miraculous space-time ninjutsu—the [Flying Raijin].

"Congratulations to the host for selecting Minato Namikaze. Please proceed to choose a ninjutsu."

As the familiar mechanical voice sounded, several skill icons belonging to Minato Namikaze appeared before Feng Tian:
[Rasengan]
[Flying Raijin]
[Heavenly Soaring Swallow Dance Light Flash Shadow Zero Style]
[Gale Super Flash Flying Thunder God Spiral Super Whirlwind]
...

The first two names were normal, but upon seeing the absurdly long names that followed, Feng Tian couldn't help but scoff: "The Fourth Hokage really was a genius at naming things. To borrow a phrase from the Second Hokage, under normal circumstances, I would certainly be amused by these titles, but right now, I lack the leisure..."

After some deliberation, Feng Tian gently tapped on [Flying Raijin]. Instantly, information regarding the technique flooded his mind. There was no helping it; a standard [Rasengan] was merely an A-rank ninjutsu and would provide little boost to his combat prowess. The other skills relied on the [Flying Raijin] as their underlying logic to achieve maximum effect. Given the current situation, it was the optimal choice. If he could develop it further, it would prove highly effective in the long run.

Following this, a vast, ocean-like surge of mental energy poured into his mind, as sudden and warm as a spring sun. It was pure and flawless, like snow atop a mountain peak, commanding awe. Feeling this unprecedented, refined power, a faint smile tugged at the corners of Feng Tian’s mouth.

"It’s here—this familiar and powerful strength!"

Feng Tian snapped his eyes open, his pupils beginning to spin until, within a single breath, they transformed into the [Mangekyo Sharingan]. At this moment, his ocular power felt as if it had undergone a qualitative leap; the world around him became clearer than ever before. Every subtle flow of chakra, even the dust motes dancing in the air, could not escape his perception.

"You seem to have grown much stronger, Feng Tian..."

Madara, currently in his elderly state, keenly sensed the change. Even in such a frail condition, his insight remained astonishing.

"Thanks to you both, I have unlocked one layer of my power," Feng Tian replied calmly, his voice tinged with confidence.

"Hmph..."

Not far away, Obito, having awakened his own [Mangekyo Sharingan], also possessed heightened insight. He could vaguely sense the change in Feng Tian, yet deep down, he remained filled with hostility.

"So, what do you intend to do next?"

Elderly Madara’s voice sounded again, carrying a trace of hidden gravity. His original plan had been completely disrupted by unforeseen events; despite his annoyance, he was more curious about Feng Tian’s next move.

"I intend to find some helpers. After all, relying on myself alone won't suffice to capture the Tailed Beasts smoothly..."

"To ensure the success of the project, we must collect at least three Tailed Beasts as soon as possible..."

Feng Tian replied, then turned his gaze toward the cave entrance and began to walk slowly away.

"Do you require any assistance from me?"

Madara’s voice echoed behind him, causing Feng Tian to pause for a moment.

"That won't be necessary. I’m only looking for a few hands; there's no need to trouble you, Elder..."

"Who are you looking for?"

At this point, Madara’s gaze suddenly sharpened. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Feng Tian as if trying to read something from his expression.

"Shisui Uchiha..."

As the words fell, his figure blurred into an afterimage, vanishing into the depths of the cave, leaving behind only the faint scent of chakra lingering in the air.

"Follow that boy."

After Feng Tian had left the underground lair, Uchiha Madara spoke slowly, signaling the White Zetsu rooted nearby to tail him in secret.

"Understood, Lord Madara..."

Several White Zetsu emerged from the soil like ghosts, slipping away silently. Their bodies seemed to blend into the earth, leaving no trace wherever they went.

Having finished these arrangements, the elderly Madara returned to his wooden throne. He turned his gaze toward Obito and said:

"During this time, I will teach you how to control the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and other ninjutsu. Only if you can keep up will you be qualified to become a part of the [Project Eye of the Moon]!"

"Understood!!!"