Simultaneous Transmigration: From Douluo Continent to the Pinnacle

Chapter 107 Increased Strength, Concern

The temporary camp of Konoha on the border of the Land of Grass.

Inside the medical tent, pale green medical chakra hung like a thin veil from Tsunade's fingertips.

Her brows furrowed into a shallow line, her fingertips lightly touching Uchiha Yao's brow, her gaze falling on his tightly closed eyelashes.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, as if suppressing some kind of fatigue.

A faint crimson glint occasionally flashed beneath his eyelids—the chakra residue left from overuse of the three-tomoe Sharingan.

"Tsk, this brat, who taught her to use her mental power so desperately? Does she really think she's a Kage-level powerhouse?"

The thought flashed through Tsunade's mind, but her fingertips subconsciously slowed down the pace of chakra output.

She looked at the fine beads of sweat on Uchiha Yao's forehead, her watery eyes flickered slightly, and she raised her hand to gently wipe them away with her sleeve.

The sound of patrolling ninjas could be heard outside the tent. Tsunade glanced at the sunlight filtering through the gaps in the tent flap, then turned her attention back to Uchiha Yao.

Although the latter's breathing was slightly rapid, the rise and fall of his chest was unusually steady, and even his pulse, after his mental energy was exhausted, was stronger than that of a Jonin.

This physical strength is somewhat reminiscent of the Senju clan, giving the impression that it doesn't resemble the Uchiha clan who only know how to open their eyes.

"Finally awake."

After a while, Tsunade sensed the state of Uchiha Yao in front of her and raised an eyebrow slightly.

As soon as he finished speaking, Uchiha Yao slowly opened his eyes. The crimson of the three-tomoe jade had faded, leaving only his dark pupils reflecting the medicine rack in the tent.

Upon seeing this scene, Uchiha Yao, who had just woken up, naturally understood that Tsunade had taken care of his body.

As expected, it lived up to my trust and choice.

In fact, given Uchiha Yao's cautious nature, he always kept something in reserve.

He wouldn't just fall into a coma without any defenses; he had a trump card up his sleeve to save his life.

Even without Tsunade's protection, if someone wanted to attack him, such as someone from Danzo's Root, they could easily awaken him; it would just take time to adjust afterwards.

However, the current situation is the best.

Thinking this, Uchiha Yao was about to sit up by propping himself up on the bunk when Tsunade reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder. The pressure was neither too light nor too heavy, but it carried an undeniable meaning: "Lie still. Your mental energy hasn't been replenished yet. Moving around will only make things worse."

Hearing this and sensing the concern in the words, Uchiha Yao obediently lay down.

The faint herbal scent emanating from Tsunade lingered in his nostrils, but the battle scenes from just moments before involuntarily replayed in his mind.

The chakra of the Tailed Beast Kushina when she unleashed her power was truly terrifying. Even though I only used my three-tomoe Sharingan to control it and didn't deal with it one-on-one, I was still exhausted.

Of course, although it was a bit tiring, it wasn't entirely without its benefits.

Uchiha Yao could feel the power of the Nine-Tails' chakra burning faintly within his body.

"You were lucky this time. Kushina was already out of control at the time. What you did was very risky, and you could have been seriously injured if you hadn't been careful."

Tsunade's voice interrupted Uchiha Yao's thoughts.

She withdrew the medical chakra from her fingertips, casually picked up a ceramic bowl from the side, poured a bowl of slightly cool herbal tea, and handed it over.

"However, to be fair, the power you unleash is indeed much stronger than Kushina in her Four-Tails form."

Based on my assessment, your current strength is sufficient to protect yourself given the village's current situation.

Uchiha Yao took the ceramic bowl, his fingertips touching the coolness of the rim. He felt it necessary to ask Tsunade about his current situation, and immediately said softly, "Tsunade-neechan, when I was helping Kushina suppress the Nine-Tails, I accidentally absorbed some of its chakra."

He paused, then raised his hand and pressed it against his chest.

"Strangely, although that chakra possessed a strong offensive drive, it didn't corrode my cells. Instead, it seemed to be 'eaten' by my body, and even my Sharingan's reactions became more acute than before."

Tsunade abruptly stopped, staring at Uchiha Yao's chest, her amber eyes filled with shock: "What did you say? You have the Nine-Tails' chakra integrated into your body, and there's no repulsion?!"

It's important to know that even Kushina of the Uzumaki clan had to exhaust herself to suppress the Nine-Tails' chakra.

This brat not only absorbed it, but also turned it into his own?

She immediately reached out and grabbed Uchiha Yao's wrist, her chakra flowing into his body along his pulse.

When Tsunade's chakra touched the power hidden within him, she felt a heavy pressure emanating from the earth.

That power, like a furnace, firmly enveloped the Nine-Tails' chakra, refining it little by little and integrating it into Uchiha Yao's bloodline.

"Groudon's power—"

Tsunade muttered to herself, her fingertips trembling slightly.

I had heard Uchiha Yao mention this name before, but I didn't understand it at the time. Now I think it must be a powerful ninja beast.

It could be said that she knew Uchiha Yao had a special bloodline, but she never expected that this power could suppress the Nine-Tails' chakra.

Considering Uchiha Yao's spirit, which far surpasses that of other Uchiha ninjas with the three-tomoe Sharingan at the same stage, as well as his powerful physical strength.

Tsunade suddenly felt that the brat in front of her was simply someone favored by the Sage of Six Paths.

She released her grip, leaned against the medicine shelf behind her, and looked at Uchiha Yao with a complicated expression: "You brat, you really are a monster. Although your chakra level is about the same as other Uchiha of the same age, your mental strength and physical strength, after accumulating some more time, will be comparable to the Senju and Uzumaki clans."

"Of course, don't be complacent. No matter how talented you are, you still need to live long enough to be able to use your talent."

Tsunade suddenly composed herself, leaned down to look at Uchiha Yao, her eyes sharp as knives.

"The ninja world is not as simple as you think. There are many people eyeing Konoha's geniuses now."

There are people from outside the village, and possibly people from within the village as well, especially a brat like you with multiple bloodlines.

Once you show any weakness, there are plenty of people who want to nip you in the bud.

She paused, tapping the rim of the ceramic bowl with her fingertips, producing a crisp sound.

"Remember, the reason why geniuses are precious is because they can grow into strong individuals, but if they fall along the way, they are just roadside dummy."

""

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Yao understood the connection in those words, looked up at Tsunade, and said softly, "I understand, Tsunade-neechan."

He knew that Tsunade's concerns were not unfounded.

The suspicion and covetousness of the Uchiha by the Konoha leadership, as well as the covetousness of external forces, cannot be ignored.

This is something the Uchiha clan in Konoha will most likely encounter at the start of their campaign.

Seeing that Uchiha Yao had taken her words to heart, Tsunade nodded in satisfaction.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she changed the subject, her tone becoming somewhat probing: "By the way, have you been in contact with that old guy Uchiha Setsuna lately? Has he said anything unusual to you?"

Uchiha Yao's heart skipped a beat. He knew that Tsunade was testing whether he knew any secrets about the Uchiha clan.

He didn't answer directly, but placed the ceramic bowl on the low table beside him and said softly, "Tsunade, more than that, I'd like to know, do you really think the Senju and Uchiha are safe right now?"

"The cunning Uchiha brat."

Tsunade thought to herself, but this topic had indeed caught his attention, and her gaze became much more serious: "What do you want to say?"

"When the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha founded Konoha, they wanted the two clans to work together to protect the village, but now—"

Uchiha Yao lowered his eyes, his voice low.

"After the Second Hokage passed away, the power of the higher-ups increasingly shifted towards third parties."

The Senju clan is dwindling in number and its influence is waning, while the Uchiha clan is being marginalized.

He looked up at Tsunade, his gaze carrying a hint of unreadable emotion.

"Don't you think that if things continue like this, the names of the Senju and Uchiha clans might disappear from Konoha?"

"This is alarmist."

Tsunade replied with a smile, but her gaze grew increasingly heavy.

In the past, he definitely wouldn't have listened to this Uchiha brat trying to sow discord.

However, ever since the incident with Nawaki, I almost lost my only younger brother if I hadn't been careful.

Anything is uncertain.

It could be said that they simply didn't want to admit it before, but now the truth has been revealed.

The Leaf Village that once bore the weight of my grandfather and uncle's hard work is no longer what it used to be.

"Actually, there is one person who might be able to change the status quo."

Uchiha Yao's voice broke the silence. He looked into Tsunade's eyes and spoke, word by word.

"Sakumo Hatake".

Tsunade looked up abruptly, her eyes wide with surprise: "You mean White Fang?"

"That's right."

Uchiha Yao nodded, his tone becoming increasingly firm.

"Sakumo Hatake is powerful and highly respected among commoner ninjas. He does not belong to any major clan and has no factional prejudices."

If he could become the Fourth Hokage, he could balance the power among the higher-ups while also satisfying both commoner ninjas and powerful clans.

He paused, then added.

"Most importantly, after he takes power, the Senju and Uchiha clans will most likely be able to catch their breath."

I believe Tsunade has a certain understanding of her clan; what she lacks most right now is time.

Tsunade looked at Uchiha Yao, thought for a moment, and then suddenly smiled, a knowing smile in her eyes: "You little brat, you've got a good plan."

She certainly understood Yao's intentions.

Sakumo Hatake's rise to power would not only alleviate the crisis for the Senju and Uchiha clans, but could even create more room for the Uchiha clan to grow.

This is a win-win situation.

But she didn't refuse. Instead, she nodded gently: "What you said makes sense. However, whether the three generations of old men and those other old guys will agree is still unknown."

Just as Uchiha Yao was about to say something more, Tsunade turned around, took a scroll from her storage box, and handed it to him.

The roll cover is dark brown, printed with a slug pattern, and the edges still bear the marks of time.

"Here you go, this is the Slug Sage's psychic scroll."

Tsunade's voice carried a hint of complexity.

"Your current strength is not bad, but you lack the means to protect yourself. Learning spirit communication will at least provide an extra layer of protection."

Uchiha Yao's eyes lit up as he looked at the scroll. He accepted it with both hands and bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you, Tsunade-nee!"

The scroll felt heavy in my hand, not just because of the weight of the paper, but also because of Tsunade's trust.

Tsunade waved her hand, her tone returning to its usual disdain: "Don't be too happy yet. Summoning Jutsu isn't so easy to learn. If you don't master it, you'll be the one who embarrasses me."

Even so, looking into Uchiha Youming's bright eyes, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.

Two months later, in the early morning, in a forest not far from the Konoha camp where ninjutsu was being practiced.

Uchiha Yao was right there, moving swiftly, his hands forming hand seals rapidly, chakra surging wildly in his palms.

The paralyzing sensation of Lightning Release and the scorching sensation of Fire Release intertwined, forming a spiral-shaped energy body.

The surrounding air was distorted into ripples, the ground cracked with fine lines, and even the distant wild grass trembled.

"Thunderfire Spiral Shuriken!"

With Uchiha Yao's shout, a spiral-shaped energy body shot out with a piercing sound, striking the distant mountain rocks.

A deafening roar erupted, dust billowed, and the massive rock formation was instantly blasted into powder.

Not only were the rocks blasted to pieces, but a large crater was also created in the ground beneath them.

"Not bad. You've actually managed to integrate Lightning Release and Fire Release into your self-created ninjutsu. Your chakra control skills and talent are truly terrifying."

Tsunade's voice came from not far away.

Looking up, Uchiha Yao saw Tsunade leaning against an old locust tree with her arms crossed, her eyes filled with shock and relief.

Tsunade admires hardworking people the most.

Especially a talented kid like Uchiha Yao, who isn't arrogant about his talent.

That ninjutsu just now not only combined two attributes, but also controlled chakra with extreme precision.

This level of skill even surpasses that of my great-grandfather back then.

Upon seeing Tsunade, Uchiha Yao quickly withdrew his chakra and hurried over, saying, "Tsunade-neechan, what brings you here?"

Tsunade stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and could feel the firmness of Uchiha Yao's muscles with her fingertips.

The past two months of training have clearly improved the physical strength of this incredibly talented kid.

It seems like they are improving every moment, which is truly amazing.

"I was just passing by and never expected to witness such a spectacular scene."

She paused, her tone tinged with surprise.

"What kind of ninjutsu is this?"

When discussing ninjutsu, Uchiha Yao's fingertips twitched slightly, deliberately adjusting the order of his words: "Actually, this is an evolved version of my self-created ninjutsu, the Spiral Ring, and the inspiration for the Rasengan came from when I helped Kushina suppress the Nine-Tails last time."

A pale blue chakra emanated from his palm, and the vortex formed by the rapidly spinning chakra caused the surrounding air to vibrate slightly.

"When I saw the power of the Tailed Beast Ball being compressed, I wondered if I could rotate, compress, and stabilize chakra in the same way."

After many attempts, I finally managed to create this unmarked A-rank ninjutsu.

As soon as he finished speaking, the chakra in his palm suddenly changed color.

Half of it turned into dazzling lightning, and the other half into scorching flames.

The two types of chakra intertwined and swirled in the vortex, gradually condensing into the shape of a shuriken.

The light, a blend of pale blue and crimson, illuminated the tents, and even the air seemed to be torn apart by this force, emitting a faint "hissing" sound.

"Later I discovered that if I incorporated the lightning and fire attributes into the Rasengan, I could turn it into the Rasenshuriken, which would be more than three times more powerful than before."

Upon hearing these words, Tsunade's breath hitched slightly. Looking at the Rasengan in Uchiha Yao's palm, her eyes were filled with shock.

In a short period of time, he developed a No-Mark A-Rank ninjutsu, mastered two attribute transformations, and was able to combine the two to create an S-Rank ninjutsu.

Such talent is something even my great-grandfather back then probably couldn't have achieved at the same age.

"Your current explosive power has surpassed that of an elite Jonin, and even a near-Kage level, reaching the true Kage level."

But the next second, Tsunade's face darkened, and she reached out and tapped Uchiha Yao's forehead: "But who told you to abuse Shadow Clone Technique like that?"

I saw three of your shadow clones practicing ninjutsu yesterday. Do you think mental energy is free?

And how much of your slug summoning magic have you practiced? Don't tell me you've been using the scrolls just for decoration!

Sensing Tsunade's affection and concern, Uchiha Yao pretended to rub his forehead, feigning pain. "I've been working on the Lightning Fire Rasengan Shuriken lately, and I haven't had time to practice the Summoning Jutsu yet."

"Nonsense!"

Tsunade glared at him, but wasn't really angry.

"Spiritual abilities are a means of survival. Offensive methods are certainly important, but survival skills are the most crucial part that determines the upper limit of your life."

From today onwards, you must spend enough time practicing psychic magic every day. Master it as soon as possible, and stop dawdling, you little brat.

Uchiha Yao nodded quickly: "I understand, Tsunade-neechan."

He looked up at Tsunade and suddenly noticed a subtle tenderness hidden in her eyes.

Compared to the previous exploitation and wariness, it seems that now they really care about him as a younger brother.

this----

Three days later.

The herbal scent inside the medical tent was stronger than usual.

As soon as Tsunade stepped into the tent, she saw Uchiha Yao's hands forming hand seals with fluid grace.

The next second, pale pink chakra surged from his palm.

Accompanied by the soft sound of dripping mucus, a live slug, about half the height of a person, slowly appeared, its fleshy growths rising and falling gently with its breath.

It was an incarnation of the Slug Immortal.

"Lord Yao, it's our first meeting. Please take good care of me."

After greeting Uchiha Yao, the slug sage's clone also saw Tsunade and greeted her in return.

"And Lady Tsunade, I didn't expect to see you here too."

"You mastered it so quickly?"

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, her tone revealing a hint of surprise.

I was originally curious about Uchiha Yao's current situation, but I didn't expect him to master it so quickly.

Indeed, Tsunade greeted the Slug Sage's clone, then stepped forward and probed Uchiha Yao's body with chakra to see how he was recovering.

Upon sensing the condition within her body, Tsunade frowned again.

Although Uchiha Yao's mental strength had recovered considerably from the last time, it still showed signs of over-consumption, clearly caused by his recent frequent use of Shadow Clones.

"I told you to watch your step, but you wouldn't listen. Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you're talented?"

Tsunade's voice deepened, and she reached out to tap Uchiha Yao on the head, but the prepared latter dodged it.

I'd only knocked on it once before, how could I not have noticed?!

"Tsunade, with such powerful talent, you really can do whatever you want!"

Upon hearing this, Tsunade's smile grew even brighter.

Seeing that Tsunade seemed genuinely angry, Uchiha Yao realized he couldn't act recklessly any longer, lest he suffer the blows of Tsunade's powerful punches. He immediately explained earnestly, "Tsunade-neechan, there are too many people I want to protect, but I'm not strong enough right now. I can only spend more time training so that I can have the opportunity to choose before danger comes."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a small pebble thrown into Tsunade's heart.

Looking into Uchiha You's clear eyes, she suddenly remembered herself when she was young.

At that time, she also wanted to protect the Senju clan and Konoha, but in the end, she almost lost her only younger brother.

Then think about this kid in front of me. His talent far surpasses that of his peers, yet he doesn't have the arrogance common among Uchiha. On the contrary, he knows better than anyone else the path he should take.

Thinking this, Tsunade's tone softened, and she reached out to pat his shoulder: "Wanting to become stronger is a good thing, but you have to know how to balance work and rest, and don't really push yourself to the limit."

Just then, the tent flap was gently lifted, and a figure carrying a faint scent of snake scales walked in.

Orochimaru, dressed in his signature dark blue robe, swept his golden vertical pupils over the ninjutsu in Uchiha Yao's palm, a flash of fanaticism in his eyes: "Interesting, very interesting."

He walked straight up to Uchiha Yao, his gaze landing on his eyes.

"There seems to be another power hidden in your three-tomoe Sharingan? And this physical strength is not something an ordinary Uchiha could possess."

Tsunade frowned, raised her hand to block Uchiha Yao, and said in a warning tone, "Orochimaru, don't mess with him."

"I was just curious."

Orochimaru smiled, lightly licking his lower lip with the tip of his tongue, but his gaze remained fixed on Uchiha Yao.

"If the child is willing, I'd like to give him a physical exam; perhaps we'll discover something interesting."

Seeing the undisguised inquiry in Orochimaru's eyes, Uchiha was wary, but also wanted to know the true state of the power within him.

He tugged at Tsunade's sleeve and whispered, "Tsunade-neechan, it's alright, I can take a look if I want."

Tsunade hesitated for a moment, but finally let go.

Orochimaru immediately took out a specially made chakra detector and gently placed the probe on Uchiha Yao's wrist.

When the instrument touched the earth power within his body, a dazzling earth-attribute fluctuation curve instantly appeared on the screen, far exceeding the intensity of an ordinary earth-style ninja.

"This force—"

Orochimaru's eyes lit up.

"It is like a gift from the earth, somewhat similar to the immortal power of the three holy lands, but purer and more domineering."

After the test, Orochimaru took out a scroll from his pocket and handed it to Uchiha Yao: "This contains some ninjutsu usage techniques that I've compiled. They might be useful to you."

6

His eyes held a hint of admiration as he looked at him.

"Your understanding of chakra, and those ideas that transcend Konoha's conventions, are very interesting."

Uchiha Yao took the scroll, his fingertips able to feel the weight of the paper.

He knew how terrifying Orochimaru's insight was, so he thanked him on the surface, but was somewhat wary in his heart.

Orochimaru is already showing signs of becoming the Snake Lady of the future, his desire for power is too obsessive.

If one is not careful, one may unknowingly become a subject of their experiments.

Of course, it's different if you're strong enough.

After Orochimaru left, Tsunade immediately warned him, "Stay away from him in the future, especially don't get involved with Root. That guy is too cunning; you can't outsmart him."

"I understand, Tsunade-neechan."

Uchiha Yao nodded in agreement, but he had other plans in mind.

Orochimaru's research capabilities are among the best in the ninja world.

If I can recruit him when I am strong enough, I might be able to use his scientific abilities to become even stronger.

After all, science is the primary productive force.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage Building office in Konoha, Danzo slammed the scroll in his hand onto the table, his one eye under the bandage filled with rage: "Third Hokage, that Uchiha Yo is a menace."

Not only did he come into contact with Kushina, but he also displayed such a powerful three-tomoe Sharingan in the Land of Grass, clearly indicating that he was an important pawn of the Uchiha clan.

Furthermore, Tsunade actually took extra care of him.

If this continues, the Uchiha will eventually rise to power using his strength, and then we won't be able to control them at all!

The Third Hokage sat in his chair, his fingertips lightly tapping the table, his tone calm: "During the war, it is important to stabilize the Uchiha's emotions. I am ready to promote him to Jonin."

Although Yao is a very talented child, he is still young, and I can keep him in check.

Besides, upon closer inspection, his relationship with Tsunade is just that of ordinary friends; there's no need to be so nervous.

Danzo wanted to say something more, but the Third Hokage raised his hand to interrupt him: "Let's leave it at that for now. Don't let a small matter affect the overall situation."

In the council hall of the Uchiha clan compound, Uchiha Setsuna slammed his hand on the table, his voice filled with worry: "We absolutely cannot let Yo accept the Jonin appointment. He's already attracting enough attention."

If he becomes a Jonin at such a young age, he'll be in a very dangerous position, attracting even more open and covert attacks.

"Grandpa, I think you're overthinking it."

Mikoto Uchiha stood up and placed a scroll on the table.

"This is a new ninjutsu scroll shared by Yao-kun, which contains training methods for Rasengan and Chidori."

His ability to develop such powerful ninjutsu in such a short time shows that he has the ability to grow in danger.

Moreover, the position of Jonin would grant him access to more resources, which would benefit him and the entire Uchiha clan.

Uchiha Setsuna picked up the scroll, opened it, and his eyes were filled with shock.

The Rasengan's ability to be used without hand seals and the Chidori's high burst damage are both ninjutsu that can change the course of a battle.

It is also very suitable for the Sharingan bloodline limit of the Uchiha clan.

He was silent for a moment, then finally sighed: "Alright, I will fully support him and won't interfere with the Jonin matters, but you must promise to make sure he is extremely careful."

.

"Okay, Grandpa."

A month and a half later, beside the waterfall in the back mountain of the Konoha camp in the Land of Grass, Uchiha Yao was undergoing high-intensity training.

He channeled lightning chakra into his legs, and his body instantly became a blur, darting swiftly between the rocks.

Immediately afterwards, fire-attribute chakra surged from his palms, merging with the earth power within his body, making each step he took exceptionally stable.

Even the immense power generated by the waterfall's own weight and potential energy could not shake his figure.

At the same time, the three-tomoe Sharingan rotated in its eye socket, accurately capturing every subtle movement around it.

-

"A good training method."

A voice suddenly came, and Orochimaru stepped out from behind the tree, his golden vertical pupils showing a hint of appreciation.

"Using lightning to increase speed, fire to unleash the power of the earth, and combined with the Sharingan's dynamic vision, your growth rate is faster than I imagined."

He stepped forward, took out two small jade bottles from his pocket, and handed them to Uchiha Yao: "These are secret medicines used by Kumogakure for Lightning Release ninjutsu and Taijutsu, and auxiliary secret medicines from Iwagakure. They can accelerate your control over Lightning Release chakra and your affinity for Earth Release chakra, which may help you improve faster."

"Your talent is terrifying, but you are too young and your foundation is not solid enough."

If you don't mind, I can occasionally give you some pointers on ninjutsu techniques, which will also help him build a better foundation.

Uchiha Yao accepted the jade bottle. Seeing the fervor in Orochimaru's eyes, he was wary but also knew this was a good opportunity to improve his strength, so he nodded: "Then thank you very much, Lord Orochimaru."

On the platform above the waterfall, Jiraiya was watching Minato Namikaze practice the Rasengan.

When Minato Namikaze heard that Yo Uchiha had developed a ninjutsu without hand seals, his chakra instantly went out of control, and the vortex dissipated into the air.

He was stunned for a moment, then a stronger fighting spirit ignited in his eyes: "I didn't expect Yao Jun to be so amazing. It seems I have to work harder and catch up with him."

Jiraiya was initially worried that Minato Namikaze would be discouraged, but seeing that he was not only not discouraged, but even more motivated, he immediately smiled.

He patted Minato on the shoulder, his tone filled with satisfaction: "Minato, you truly are the disciple I've chosen. With this ambition, you'll surpass him sooner or later, and perhaps even become a Hokage more powerful than this old man."

Minato Namikaze nodded vigorously, regrouping his chakra. The vortex in his palm began to spin again, more stable than before.

More concise.