Chapter Fifty-eight: "Tyrant King" Bacal

In a daze, Yu Uchiha and Shisui suddenly felt darkness fall before their eyes, as if the world spun around them. It was as though they had journeyed through the currents of time, wandered the boundless universe, and then—suddenly—all the weight was gone.

Everything around them fell eerily silent, suffused with an ethereal stillness. There was a feeling of drifting, a sense of being untethered. The two opened their eyes.

White mist, endless and rolling, greeted their gaze. The landscape was shrouded in veils of white, lending everything a mysterious, dreamlike beauty; the horizon stretched off into infinity, swallowed by haze.

“So this is Terra, the homeland of the Apostles—a world once beautiful and prosperous…” Yu turned, scanning his surroundings. He could feel, upon entering Terra, as though the whole world welcomed his arrival with silent rejoicing.

Having inherited the mantle of Karosso, he was born as Terra’s will made manifest, its rightful master.

“Where are we?!” Shisui, beside him, opened his eyes and stood rooted to the spot in astonishment. He could clearly sense this was not the ninja world he knew; this was a wholly new realm.

Barely able to believe it, Shisui asked, “Li, is this the power of your Mangekyō—a world of your own?”

Yu shook his head in response, answering, “No, this is not my world. I am but a member within Terra.”

He paused, then continued, “As for my Mangekyō, its awakened power is ‘Amaterasu.’ You’ll witness it in due time.”

As he spoke, Yu silently apologized to Shisui in his heart. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Shisui—he had long pondered this very dilemma: when the time came to recruit successors to the Apostles, what role should he assume?

At first, he considered openly declaring himself Terra’s master, asserting his absolute dominion. But eventually, he abandoned that idea, realizing he was not yet strong enough.

Though he had awakened the Mangekyō and possessed a portion of Karosso’s power, his current strength was only at the Kage level. That was formidable, of course, but Yu knew Kage was not the ultimate limit for a ninja.

While there were no strict divisions of power among shinobi, Yu had developed his own scale: Genin, Chūnin, Special Jōnin, Jōnin, Elite Jōnin, and Kage—these were the conventional ranks. Beyond them, in his mind, were the unconventional tiers: False Sage, Sage, Bloodline Synthesis, and finally, the realm that transcended all—God.

If he revealed his identity as Terra’s ruler now, it would diminish both the world’s mystique and its standing. For instance, he wanted Shisui to succeed as one of the Apostles, but Shisui too possessed the Mangekyō.

Their strengths were already not far apart; once Shisui inherited an Apostle’s power, they would be even closer. Such circumstances were hardly conducive to Yu’s authority over Terra.

Of course, given Shisui’s character, he would hardly scheme against him. But future recruits could not be counted on so simply. Consider the Akatsuki: if Nagato hadn’t been powerful enough, would the other members have followed him so obediently?

Thus, Yu conceived another plan: to make Terra an organization, with himself merely a member. The true leader of Terra would remain hidden, a shadowy figure known to none.

For after all, the unknown is always the most terrifying.

When he became strong enough, he could reveal his true identity without fear.

“Li, you’re just another member here?” Shisui was taken aback, but soon a look of realization dawned on his face.

Everything about this place exuded mystery, especially the faint, distant auras he could sense in the regions ahead. Though Yu, like him, possessed the Mangekyō, nothing about this world suggested it was a power the Mangekyō could conjure.

“Enough—the details of Terra can wait.” Yu said, “I’ve already recommended you to the leader. Today, you’re here to become an Apostle’s successor and obtain new strength.”

“Oh.” Shisui was both mystified and profoundly shaken.

Yu said nothing more, but led Shisui toward Terra’s core.

Soon, thirteen colossal statues, each distinct in shape, loomed into view. Shrouded in the ever-present white mist, their faces were obscured, but their diverse forms were unmistakable: regal and graceful elves, mighty birds and great raptors, a black dragon poised in wrath, a monstrous octopus with wild, flailing limbs, and more.

All thirteen Apostles now awaited their new successors.

Yu, watching Shisui’s rapt gaze, began to explain:

“These are Terra’s Thirteen Apostles. Each possesses a unique power. Once you join Terra, you will inherit one of them and gain their abilities.”

“Recently, the leader has been absent, so I will be guiding you through the process.”

Shisui drew a deep breath, steadying himself. “What must I do?”

Having chosen to trust Yu, he saw no reason to doubt further. Still, he could barely regain his composure. To be suddenly brought into such an unfamiliar world—a place called Terra of which he’d never even heard—was staggering.

Yu’s gaze swept across the thirteen statues before settling on the Eighth Apostle, “Long-Legged” Lothos, and the Tenth Apostle, “Dragon King” Bacal.

By rights, Lothos, who specialized in mental control, was a perfect match for Shisui—a natural fit. But Yu had other considerations.

Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami was already the pinnacle of genjutsu; even if he gained further psychic powers, it would be mere embellishment.

Instead, it might be better to enhance Shisui’s physical abilities.

For Shisui was best known not for his Kotoamatsukami, but for his title: “Shisui of the Body Flicker.” Normally, the Body Flicker Technique used extreme speed to create afterimages and confuse opponents.

But Shisui’s version was different. His unique technique required hand seals, allowing him to instantly produce multiple tangible clones within a certain range. He could alternate between the conventional and his unique Body Flicker in battle, making every afterimage real—or all of them mere illusions. Combined, this made him nearly impossible for ordinary ninja to counter.

However, the Body Flicker was limited not only by chakra, but also by physical endurance—especially since it required swift repositioning. Shisui could not use it without limit.

But by inheriting Bacal’s legacy and gaining the mighty body of a dragon, he could break through those physical constraints and fully unleash his combat style.

“The leader has already chosen your Apostle. Just stand over there.”

With that thought, Yu pointed to Bacal’s statue, signaling Shisui to stand before it.

Shisui took a deep breath and walked up to the statue.

Yu seized the moment to activate his authority as Terra’s will, forging a connection between Bacal and Shisui.

At once, the once-lifeless statue began to tremble.

A jet of black light erupted from the dragon’s maw, bathing Shisui in its glow.

Enveloped in darkness, Shisui began to absorb the power. His body started to change…