Aomi stood atop the sea, arms open wide, as if to embrace the entire world.
The boundless ocean, starting from the deep seabed, erupted with exceedingly pure natural energy like a volcanic explosion, swiftly entering Aomi's body.
This formless, unobservable natural energy used to be perceivable only by those well-versed in Sage Mode, like Senju Hashirama...
But at this moment, due to the overwhelming magnitude, even ninjas without perception ability can visibly see power far surpassing the Tailed Beasts rushing toward Aomi...
The entire ocean responded to Aomi's demand; the once clear blue-green water turned into a bleak gray as the natural energy rapidly dissipated!
The withered, dim waters roared and surged, forming a massive black vortex in the sea, as if the depths communicated with the Gate of Hell, emanating a devouring presence...
"What... what is happening, brother?"
Senju Tobirama frowned deeply, staring at the apocalypse-like scene created by Aomi, and asked gravely, "Does Sage Mode cause this kind of effect?"
Although Senju Tobirama could use Sage Mode, it was only with the help of Aomi's chakra, lacking enough understanding of the details concerning natural energy.
But the problem is...
Even without any understanding, just this eerie scene is enough to make everyone feel something is amiss...
What Aomi is doing is far from Sage Mode!
This should be called Hell Mode, or Devil Mode, which more aptly suits his current demeanor!
At this moment.
Aomi stood mid-air, his red and white ponytail fluttering, still possessing the same ethereal elegance, the hallmark appearance of a beautiful Uchiha...
But in his eyes, the Three-Tomoe Sharingan had a scarlet depth growing, with the tomoe's black seemingly capable of swallowing everything, blending black and red, reflecting the dark sea beneath Aomi as if he were a devil emerging from Hell!
"I don't know, Tobirama..."
Upon witnessing this form, Aomi, who had been troubled by the sudden improved relations between his brother and the Uchiha Clan, Senju Hashirama became solemnly serious. After taking a deep breath, he gravely said:
"Normally, the natural energy required for Sage Mode doesn't have this kind of impact... with the natural energy dispersed between heaven and earth, even at my chakra level, it's enough to synthesize adequate Sage Art Chakra..."
"But Aomi... he is purely extracting natural energy from the ocean, and the natural energy in the ocean even responds to his call, like a contracted Summoned Beast, entering him at an unimaginable rate, causing the entire ocean to lose its vitality..."
"I don't know how Aomi does it... to handle such an immense natural energy, his chakra level has vastly surpassed mine, even taming the rampaging natural energy, which to me seems beyond human capability..."
Having never tasted defeat, Senju Hashirama watched Aomi violently absorb the ocean's natural energy, and suddenly felt a sense of helplessness akin to the adversaries he had defeated before.
This God of Ninja primarily excelled in having a massive chakra, taking the path of miracle-making through brute strength...
But evidently, Aomi has surpassed him in this aspect, going even further to extremes.
Uchiha Madara stared at Aomi, his mind racing like lightning, murmuring to himself:
"When I plotted for the Ninja World and wanted Uchiha Obito as my proxy, I once thought... for a Uchiha to acquire supreme power, his heart must hold kindness and sincerity, thus possessing sufficient explosive force, awakening the power of the Mangekyo..."
"I should have realized earlier... with Aomi's extreme kindness as a Uchiha, should he fall into the Demon Path, he would acquire a power and mindset so extreme it's unimaginable..."
Uchiha Izuna took a deep breath, at a loss for words.
Seeing so many Uchiha, extracting the ocean's life force to such extremes, even he was witnessing it for the first time!
And beside him, Senju Tobirama remained silent, constantly recalling previous traces of Aomi's extreme tendencies...
Permanent peace, falsehood and reality, the Eye of the Moon Plan on the Uchiha Stele...
Senju Tobirama exhaled heavily, his heart filled with helplessness.
Many times, there had been signs, just he hadn't extinguished them in time...
So, who can be blamed?
Blame himself? Senju Tobirama believed he had tried his best...
Blame Aomi? After all, the Uchiha Clan is inherently evil, born to fall into the Demon Path...
But Senju Tobirama couldn't do it.
Accompanying Aomi along the way, Senju Tobirama, from an Uchiha perspective, witnessed Konoha and the Ninja World, endured the discrimination and pressure from within the village, and such pure evil as Shimura Danzo, plunging Aomi into his first confusion...
This confusion, Senju Tobirama doesn't blame Aomi, but feels genuine shame from the heart.
Any ninja with sense, upon knowing Shimura Danzo's deeds, would spit on the somewhat hypocritical Will of Fire concocted by Sarutobi Hiruzen...
Let alone a sensitive Uchiha like Aomi, who faithfully adhered to the Will of Fire, only to find out the higher-ups merely used it as a tool for their own gain?