Mufasa found himself immersed in the same experience, yet his unparalleled mental strength kept him grounded.
Despite the overwhelming waves of sorrow emanating from Sasuke, he remained unaffected.
Sasuke was drowning in grief, his emotions like a raging river pulling him under.
As he struggled, a memory surfaced—words once spoken by Orochimaru:
"If I eliminate the differences and find the common threads, I may be able to decipher the fundamental operating method of the Sharingan."
"Sharingan is a form of ninjutsu. If it is ninjutsu, then it must have a unique hand seal sequence and a distinct chakra flow."
Those words resonated deep within Mufasa.
What if he could replicate the Uchiha clan's evolution and channel chakra in the same manner?
What would happen to his spiritual energy then?
Sasuke's grief surged, threatening to consume everything in its wake.
Mufasa had no time to deliberate.
He closed his eyes, allowing chakra to flow naturally, merging it with his own spirit.
Then, something extraordinary happened.
The very air within the brainwave-enhancing chamber began vibrating in a steady rhythm.
Above Mufasa's head, sparks of lightning flickered into existence, crackling with raw energy.
The electricity increased in intensity, growing denser, condensing into a sphere of pure light.
The sphere pulsed like a heartbeat, arcs of lightning weaving around it.
Sasuke stirred, his body jolting awake.
Mufasa's influence over his brain waves had ended, leaving him fully conscious once more.
However, Mufasa remained entirely focused on his own work.
His goal had already been accomplished.
Rubbing his eyes, Sasuke turned toward the reflective surface of the metal wall.
His breath caught in his throat.
His Sharingan had changed.
Three swirling tomoe had evolved, interlocking in an intricate pattern—a design that bloomed like a flower.
The Mangekyo Sharingan.
Excitement surged through Sasuke, but he suppressed it, wary of disturbing Mufasa, who remained seated across from him, eyes closed, brows furrowed.
Above him, the glowing orb of electricity hovered, pulsating steadily.
It was clear Mufasa was undertaking something monumental.
Sasuke held his breath and waited.
After what felt like an eternity, the lightning flickered and finally dissipated. Mufasa exhaled deeply, his exhaustion evident.
He looked up at the fading glow above him and smiled wearily.
"Creation is no simple task," he murmured.
Reaching out, he allowed the remnants of white light to gather in his palm.
He then turned to Sasuke.
"Can you see what's inside?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, activating his newly awakened Mangekyo Sharingan.
These were the eyes that were said to peer into unseen worlds, to unravel mysteries beyond comprehension.
And yet—
Nothing.
He shook his head. "There's nothing there."
Mufasa chuckled. "She's still unborn. You wouldn't be able to sense her yet. Maybe she doesn't want you to see her just yet."
She?
Sasuke stiffened. "Who's inside that light?"
Mufasa pondered for a moment before finally answering. "Altair."
The sphere shimmered, and a vague figure took form within it.
Her image flickered, like a mirage barely holding its shape.
Long silver hair tied into a high ponytail.
A navy-blue cavalry cap atop her head.
A Spanish-style double coat, flowing like a battle standard.
Knee-high socks paired with platform heels.
A saber, floating just beneath her feet.
Her eyes remained closed, her expression serene yet commanding.
She was still in the process of forming.
A creation not yet complete.
Mufasa knew that bringing her into existence all at once was beyond his current level of mental and chakra capacity.
He would need to nurture her creation over time, feeding her energy bit by bit, allowing her to fully take form when the time was right.
Why had he created her?
The answer lay in two things.
First, the nature of the Sharingan itself.
At its core, the Uchiha's dojutsu was a manifestation of Yin-Yang Release—Yin being the power to create form from nothingness, and Yang being the force that breathes life into that form.
The Uchiha inherited the deep secrets of Yin Release, while the Senju wielded the power of Yang Release.
Susanoo was a prime example of this concept.
It was not a tangible entity.
It did not truly exist.
It was a form created from nothingness, given presence only through the wielder's chakra.
By tracing the evolutionary path of the Sharingan, Mufasa had discovered the inspiration to create life from the void.
That life took the form of Altair.
And the second reason?
Military Uniform Princess.
Her purpose, her very essence, was encapsulated in one phrase:
"Bring change to this world. Deliver judgment upon the gods."
Perhaps, deep down, Mufasa had created her because he wanted to reshape the shinobi world itself.
Mufasa gazed at the sphere, the light flickering gently in his hands.
He felt an unfamiliar warmth—something akin to the joy of an expectant father.
His princess.
His creation.
He eagerly awaited the day she would be born.
She would need sustenance.
More chakra. More energy.
Sasuke, on the other hand, was watching him with a mixture of awe and concern.
His mentor was grinning at an empty sphere of light as though he had lost his mind.
Clearing his throat, Sasuke let out a small cough. "Ahem."
Mufasa snapped out of his daze, blinking in confusion.
Then, with a small push, he sent the glowing sphere floating toward the center of the room.
There, it hovered silently, absorbing energy from the surrounding space.
Mufasa turned back to Sasuke and examined his eyes with satisfaction.
"Congratulations," he said, his voice warm. "You've achieved the next level."
Sasuke lowered his gaze, then bowed his head slightly.
"Thank you, my lord."
Mufasa exhaled, feeling content.
The experiment had been a success.
Yet, something gnawed at him.
The inspiration he had felt—the moment of clarity that had allowed him to create from nothing—
It was gone.
Like a fleeting thought, impossible to recall no matter how hard he tried.
Perhaps he would attempt this again, help another awaken their eyes.
But would he ever be able to replicate that moment?
He wasn't sure.