After taking over the snake uncle's foundation, Sasuke came to surrender on his own initiative.

Chapter 284 Jirobo's Kaleidoscope

The underground warehouse of Otogakure Village glowed a faint ochre in the morning light. Jirobo stood before the defensive formation at the warehouse entrance, his hands pressed to the ground, his ochre-colored chakra flowing along the rock veins. His rock-controlling Mangekyō slowly spun, and the eight cracks in the rock outside his rock-hammer pupils synchronized the rock energy of the defensive formation with the rhythm of his earth escape technique. This was the tenth day since he awakened his Mangekyō, and he practiced daily to refine the precision of his "Rock Pupils, Rock Control." However, whenever his chakra reached the "Netherworld Rock Layer" deep within the warehouse, it was always forcibly repelled by a wave of icy rock-gu energy, like hitting solid iron, unable to penetrate even the slightest rock-veined conduction.

"Still no use?" Qin's voice came from behind. Her sonic chakra swept across the defensive formation, and a pale blue halo flickered in the cracks of the rock. "The rock gu energy in the Nether Rock can absorb earth-style chakra. It's five times more powerful than the last time Akatsuki used the Impure Earth Rock Gu. It also contains 'Nether Worm Eggs' that can harden the rock veins."

Jirobo put away his Mangekyō, the Earth Style Chakra at his fingertips suddenly dissipated, and the rock pattern mark on his palm also dimmed: "I can feel the energy gathering, but my rock control can't penetrate the Nether Rock Layer... If they use the Nether Bug to destroy the ninja tools in the warehouse, we won't be able to rescue them in time!" He touched the "Rock Eye Amplification Pendant" around his neck - this was made by Yin Zhu using his Earth Style fragments and Uchiha crystals, which can enhance the penetrating power of rock control, but he always felt that he had not fully tapped the true power of the Mangekyō.

At that moment, a resounding crash of ninja tools clashed suddenly erupted from deep within the warehouse. Jirobo's Mangekyō instantly illuminated, and his Earth Release chakra spread along the defensive formation. However, the moment it reached the tools, it was abruptly severed by a wave of black rock gu energy. The Nether Rock Formation had enveloped the warehouse, countless black rock threads entwining the tools, moving them like controlled puppets towards the heart of the warehouse. Nether Worm eggs seeping from the cracks in the rock were rapidly hatching, threatening to completely harden the entire warehouse's rock veins.

"It's the 'Netherworld Rock Formation'! The remnants of the Akatsuki organization are coming!" Yin Zhu's voice came from the air. His Eternal Mangekyō locked onto the core of the warehouse, and his black windbreaker rustled in the wind. "The leader of the remnants knows the 'Rock Gu Devouring Technique', which can absorb your earth escape technique. Quickly use the Mangekyō to build a rock barrier!"

Jirobo immediately mobilized his chakra and formed hand seals: "Rock Eyes? Protective Formation!" A khaki rock-controlling barrier formed around the ninja tool, but it was gradually corroded by the black rock threads, and spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the barrier. He could clearly "feel" the pain of the hardened rock veins. These sensations traveled along the veins into his mind, resonating with his earth escape gene, causing his chakra to begin to stagnate. "No! His rock gu can absorb my rock-controlling power. I can't stop it!"

"Don't panic! Use your Mangekyō to resonate with the rock veins in the warehouse!" Tos's voice came from the communicator, his sonic chakra covering the warehouse. "Have you forgotten what Yinzhu said? Your earth escape technique is derived from the same source as the Uchiha bloodline. Rock control isn't about 'fighting', it's about 'transforming' – turning the consumed rock control power into the 'core spark' that awakens the rock veins!"

These words were like thunder, splitting Jirobo's chaos. He remembered what Yinzhu had said when he handed him the Rock Eye Amplification Pendant: "Your rock control is the 'key,' capable of igniting sealed rock veins; your Mangekyo is the 'fire,' allowing this fire to spread to every inch of the rock layer in the warehouse. When the two resonate, there is no rock formation that cannot be broken."

Jirobo took a deep breath and pressed the Rock Eye Amplifier Pendant to the ground. Earth-style chakra and Uchiha energy collided violently within his Mangekyo. Pain seared his eyes like flames, yet it also caused a qualitative shift in his rock control. The previously devoured earth-yellow chakra suddenly transformed into countless tiny "rock core sparks," following the path of black rock threads and invading the core of the remnant's Nether Rock Formation.

"Ah——!" Jirobo's roar intertwined with the trembling of the rock veins, and the rock cracks in the kaleidoscope suddenly accelerated, "Rock pupils? Burning veins!" The ochre-colored rock-controlling chakra burst out from the bottom of his eyes, penetrating the black rock filaments and directly acting on the deep rock veins in the warehouse - those hardened rock veins suddenly resumed flowing, and the Netherworm eggs burst one after another under the burning of the core fire; the black rock filaments that invaded the warehouse were like ice and snow encountering a raging fire, and were swallowed up by the rock veins bit by bit, turning into harmless rock ash.

"Impossible! How can your rock control penetrate my rock formation?" The leader of the remnants rushed out from the core of the warehouse, holding the black-striped "Netherworld Rock Gu Staff" in his hand, and the staff was crawling with wriggling Netherworld insects. "I want you and these ninja tools to become the nutrients for my hardened rock veins!"

He swung the Nether Rock Staff, and countless black rock spikes transformed into claws, lunging towards Jirobo. Toss's sonic barrier instantly deployed: "Jirobo, left!" Neji's Bagua Palm struck out in time, its golden chakra shattering the rock spikes. However, he hadn't anticipated the remnants' potential—a sudden black beam of light from the Nether Rock Staff pierced Jirobo's Mangekyō, attempting to devour his eye energy.

"Be careful!" Qin's sonic chakra transformed into a sharp blade, blocking Jirobo's path, but the black beam corroded it, leaving tiny cracks. Jirobo's rock control suddenly shifted, and the cracks in the rock within his kaleidoscope transformed into "Rock Pupils? Materialized." His earth-yellow earth-style chakra condensed into a physical rock hammer, wrapping around the Netherworld Rock Gu Staff. Simultaneously, he injected his Burning Vein power into the remaining Rock Gu cores, leaving him vulnerable to the backlash of his own Rock Gu.

"Ah! My Rock Gu!" The remnant screamed, clutching the Rock Gu staff. The staff exploded in the trembling of the rock control, and the energy of the Nether Rock Formation dissipated instantly. Jirobo seized the opportunity and stepped forward, condensing his Earth Release chakra into a Rock Fist. He struck the remnant in the chest, slamming him against the warehouse wall, completely rendering him defenseless.

At the end of the battle, the warehouse's ochre-yellow glow returned. Jirobo's Mangekyō gradually receded, and the earth-style chakra in his palms glowed gently. He walked over to the rescued ninja tools, caressing the familiar ones, feeling a surge of gratitude. These tools were a vital resource for the Otogakure; if they were destroyed by the remnants, the consequences would be disastrous. The old craftsman shook his hand, gratefully saying, "Thank you, Jirobo! Without you, all our hard work would be ruined." The young craftsman patted him on the shoulder, smiling, and said, "Brother Jirobo, your rock control is incredible. From now on, the safety of the warehouse depends on you."

Jirobo scratched his head and rarely showed a shy smile: "Don't be afraid, from now on my rock control will always protect the warehouse, and will never let the bad guys destroy our ninja tools again." He looked at his hands, at the kaleidoscope in his eyes, and suddenly understood - this power of earth escape is not a "bulky defense", but a "reliable weapon" that can protect others; this pair of hands that control the rock veins are not "clumsy tools", but "the key to awakening the core of the rock"; his rock control is not "lonely perseverance", but "a bond that unites people's hearts."

Yin Zhu stepped forward and handed over a khaki potion. "This is 'Rock Eyes Warming Potion,' it will help stabilize the power of your Mangekyō and prevent excessive consumption of Earth Style chakra from rock control." He pointed at Jirobo's Mangekyō. "Your 'Rock Eyes Materialization' is a new ability that transforms Earth Style chakra into physical attacks. Even if you encounter stronger Rock Style ninjas in the future, you'll be able to handle them with ease."

Jirobo took the potion, gripping it tightly in his hand. The morning light brought the Otogakure Village to a lively bustle. Craftsmen were meticulously preparing their ninja tools. His companions' smiles reflected in his eyes—Ninji's Byakugan irises shone with a gentle light, Toss's sonic emitter had been retarded, and Jean's sonic chakra enveloped the entire village like a warm veil. He suddenly felt that he was no longer the "rough-and-tumble ninja" who only knew how to fight with earth escape techniques, no longer the "defender" who could only hide behind his companions. Instead, he was a powerful warrior who could fight alongside them, protecting everything with his rock control and Mangekyō.

"From now on, leave the defense of Otogakure's underground warehouse to me!" Jirobo raised his fist, and the rock cracks in the Mangekyo spun gently. "I will use my rock control to guard every ninja tool, every inch of rock vein, and our home!"

The laughter of his companions echoed through the warehouse, blending with the rhythm of the rock veins like a warm and resolute song of protection. Jirobo knew that this was only the beginning of his Kaleidoscope journey. There would be stronger enemies and more difficult challenges ahead, but as long as he was with his companions, as long as he could still feel the beating of the rock veins, there would be no difficulty he could not overcome.