361-365

Chapter 361: The One Piece World's United Front 

The next morning, the first rays of dawn pierced through the darkness, rising above the horizon and illuminating the two figures on the shore. 

The bonfire, after burning for half the night, had died down. 

Uchiha Hikari slowly woke from her slumber, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She felt Esdeath open her eyes at the same time and stand up. "Awake? You rest here for a bit; I'll go get some food." 

After a quick meal to satisfy their hunger and regain their spirits, Uchiha Hikari took Esdeath back to the place where they had fought Big Mom and the others. She instructed Esdeath to retract the freezing aura that had previously enveloped the entire Whole Cake Island. 

With this action, Big Mom and her crew gradually thawed from their ice statues, looking a bit disoriented. Katakuri and Perospero were the first to notice Uchiha Hikari and Esdeath in front of them. Just as they were about to move in and subdue them, they were engulfed by an indescribably powerful Conqueror's Haki, which immediately forced them to their knees. 

These two were Big Mom's eldest and second sons, and the strongest members of the Charlotte Family besides Big Mom herself. If even they reacted this way, there was no need to mention the others, who collapsed in an instant. 

"This intensity of Conqueror's Haki... how is it possible?! It's incredibly strong!" 

"Could what the newspaper said actually be true?!" 

Amidst the murmurs of discussion, Uchiha Hikari stood suspended in mid-air, arms crossed, and spoke nonchalantly: 

"My apologies, we meet again. Just a reminder, it is now the next day. You can confirm this by observing the direction of the sun." 

"Given that the sweets on this island taste quite good, I'll give you another chance to choose. Serve the new World Government, or fall into eternal slumber. The decision is yours." 

"..." 

Given these options, the answer was self-evident. 

Even Yonko value their lives, especially Big Mom, whose Soul-Soul Fruit ability allows her to steal others' lifespans. 

After receiving her promise, Uchiha Hikari activated her Mangekyo Sharingan and placed a collective curse seal on the Whole Cake Island crew. Then, she and Esdeath departed, making another trip to Onigashima. 

There wasn't much to say about this trip. 

After all, Uchiha Hikari had already fought Kaido once when she first arrived in the One Piece world. Unless his Azure Dragon Fruit could suddenly awaken during this time and become an existence on par with the Nika Fruit, the outcome wouldn't be any different even if they fought a hundred more times. 

And in fact... 

This trip went even more smoothly than expected. 

"...You truly are the legendary 'Joy Boy.' You can defeat not only the Gorosei but even an existence like Im... If that's the case, then I'll tentatively believe in this 'fate' and see where you can lead this world." 

That's what Kaido said. 

Although he had mistaken her identity, since Kaido had come to terms with it, Uchiha Hikari didn't bother to explain the "Joy Boy" matter further. She simply gave a brief overview of the new government, urging him to make time to attend the conference. 

Thus, this "United Front of the One Piece World" was established. 

Although this "front" was currently very loose—after all, it was comprised of the Marines, Yonko, the Revolutionary Army, and even former World Government allied nations. These forces, from various factions, had never had a precedent for sincere cooperation in history. Several of them were even sworn enemies, only being forcibly suppressed by the "Dimensional Group's" overwhelming power. 

Furthermore, while Im and the Gorosei had "fallen," there were still quite a few "spiritual Celestial Dragons" on the seas—stubborn individuals who, even after seeing the news reports, dared to defy the new government and even the "Dimensional Group." If these predators representing the old order couldn't be thoroughly eliminated, then peace in the One Piece world would ultimately not last... 

However, these were not matters for Uchiha Hikari or the "Dimensional Group" to worry about. 

They couldn't possibly arrange everything perfectly; they had to leave some work for Whitebeard, Shanks, and the Revolutionary Army of this world, to see if this "new government" could be smoothly operated. 

At this moment, Uchiha Hikari had already begun planning another itinerary she had been contemplating: 

"The matters in the One Piece world are settled. It's time to take a trip to Planet Namek." 

[Bulma: ...Oh, Hikari, are you planning to go to Planet Namek? When are we leaving? I want to come too!] 

[Little Monster: +1] 

[Oni Princess: +2] 

[Nameless: Do you think this is a vacation?... While Namekians are generally friendly, it's not entirely without danger. Wait until Esdeath and I have explored the way, then you can follow.] 

[Bulma: Huh? So you're only taking Esdeath with you this time?] 

[Nameless: Yes...] 

The decision to bring Esdeath along was actually one Uchiha Hikari had made long ago. 

However, having just had a date with Esdeath and some intimate moments two days prior, Uchiha Hikari felt a little guilty at this moment, sensing that Bulma's words might have an underlying meaning. 

After taking a moment to calm herself, she continued to type out her thoughts: 

[Nameless: Someone is needed here in the One Piece world to maintain order, lest the Celestial Dragon remnants launch a counterattack. I'll leave that to you, Yamato. Also, Mr. Minato's clones need your help to monitor, Bulma. If conventional technology can't achieve a perfect revival, we might have to use Namek's Dragon Balls.] 

[Bulma: Hmm... alright.] 

In the past few days, Dr. Brief and others had already begun cultivating Minato Namikaze's cells, preparing for future cloning. 

With an all-star lineup like Dr. Brief, Dr. Gero, Vegapunk, Orochimaru... plus Bulma, undertaking this task is basically a sure thing. The only difference is how long it will take for the cultivation to be completed. 

Uchiha Hikari had already planned it out. 

It would take her about a month and a half to travel from Earth in the Dragon Ball world to Planet Namek. Then, finding the Namekians, gaining their initial trust, and meeting the Grand Elder would take about half a month. In total, two months. 

Minato Namikaze's situation should be accurately assessed within these two months. 

At that point, they would decide which revival method to use based on the circumstances. 

Chapter 362: Destination, Planet Namek! 

"Power system check: complete..." 

"Takeoff and landing system check: complete..." 

"Life support and escape system check: complete..." 

The journey to Planet Namek was a big deal. 

Before officially departing, Uchiha Hikari visited Korin Tower and Kami's Lookout to see Korin-sama and Kami. She even asked Kami if he wanted to come along to his homeworld, Namek, but he declined, saying he had too many things to handle on Earth. He simply asked her to extend his greetings to his people on Namek. 

As for Bulma and Dr. Brief, they both returned to the Dragon Ball world, thoroughly checking the modified Kami's spaceship. They also provided Hikari with a quite detailed operation guide. 

Actually, as the technological pinnacle of Namekians from hundreds of years ago, this spaceship was basically capable of self-piloting and didn't require human operation. And even if something went wrong in space, Uchiha Hikari and Esdeath could simply rely on their ability to travel back to other worlds to ensure their survival. 

So, this operation guide was just for good measure. 

Uchiha Hikari read through it once, roughly memorizing it, then handed the document to Esdeath beside her. 

At that moment, Bulma handed her something that looked like a VR device. 

"What's this?" Uchiha Hikari's eyes shifted. 

She wasn't unfamiliar with the appearance of this device. It was essentially the Scouter from the original Dragon Ball series, with a few small modifications, making it appear more robust and futuristic. A row of buttons on the side were labeled with different initialisms, seemingly indicating different functional divisions. 

"It's my new invention that I've been working on," Bulma explained with a smile. "Little Hikari, you've probably figured it out, but one of its functions is to detect an enemy's power level. Since I didn't have a Saiyan scouter for reference, the readings might not be as precise as shown in the manga... so I added a small feature: it can analyze the strength of someone's hostility by detecting their heartbeat, body temperature, and micro-expressions." 

"Additionally, it can also act as a translator, allowing you to communicate normally with the Namekians." 

"You two should find all these functions pretty useful." 

"Wow~" Uchiha Hikari exclaimed softly. 

She hadn't noticed when Bulma had whipped up this thing... It was probably when they were stirring up trouble in the Pirate World, during the "Paramount War." 

Given Bulma's inventive genius, capable of creating absurd things like mini-bracelets, a mere scouter was just a small creation, not particularly surprising. 

After a final check of all their equipment and supplies, and confirming that "Planet Namek" was set as the destination on the ship's control panel, Uchiha Hikari and Esdeath boarded the vessel. Through the glass, they waved goodbye to Bulma below: 

"Well then... it's goodbye for a while." 

"Mm, have a safe trip, Little Hikari! Remember to check in daily on the group chat~" Bulma shouted. 

"I will." 

As the hatch closed, the spaceship's hull began to vibrate gently. Then, a plume of pale white gas blasted from its bottom, and it ascended into the skies above West City, piercing through the stratosphere and finally reaching the outer reaches of space. 

During this ascent, Uchiha Hikari vaguely saw Korin Tower and Kami's Lookout, and could faintly sense Korin-sama and Kami's "ki." But soon, this sight vanished without a trace. The Earth behind them gradually transformed into a brilliant blue sphere, and beyond the glass lay a vast, profound starry sky, with countless stars scattered in every direction like pieces on a Go board, dazzling to behold. 

"Such advanced navigation technology..." Uchiha Hikari couldn't help but marvel silently. 

Although her knowledge wasn't as extensive as Bulma's, she knew that to escape Earth's gravitational pull, one needed to reach at least escape velocity. Yet, at such speed, she felt no turbulence whatsoever, as if she were simply riding a bus. This seemingly simple feat concealed an astonishing level of technological sophistication. 

Of course... 

The more astonishing aspects were likely yet to come. 

According to Bulma, this ship was capable of "light-speed travel" and "spatial leaps," which was why a journey that would originally take thousands of years could be shortened to just a few months. 

She wondered what kind of monsters the Namekians were centuries ago, to have developed a spaceship with such technological prowess at that time... 

"...Is this what you previously called 'the universe'?" 

Footsteps sounded from beside her. 

It was Esdeath, who had also come to the window, standing next to Uchiha Hikari, gazing out through the glass. A look of surprise flickered across her usually icy countenance. 

For someone seeing this sight for the first time, it was indeed breathtaking. 

Uchiha Hikari opened the chat group's photo function, took several pictures, and uploaded them to the group. 

Immediately, the group erupted— 

[Tanjiro: Wow, is this what it looks like beyond the sky? It's so beautiful, just like the ocean!] 

[Miko Yotsuya: Space and the ocean are hardly comparable... I used to only see pictures like this in textbooks, but I never imagined the real scenery would be so breathtaking. Seeing these photos, Earth suddenly feels so small.] 

[Little Monster @No_Name: Eriyi wants to go on a space trip with Hikari too.] 

[No_Name: ...You'll get your chance. Once we reach Planet Namek, I'll bring you all over.] 

Uchiha Hikari genuinely intended to do just that. 

In her opinion, it wouldn't matter when communicating with ordinary Namekians. However, if they were to meet the Great Elder of Namek, it would be best to bring Kikyo, Eriyi, Yamato, Tanjiro, and everyone else over. 

On one hand, this would prove the existence of "other worlds," hopefully convincing the Great Elder to lend them the Dragon Balls. 

On the other hand, she wanted to seize this opportunity to try and get a "head pat" from the Great Elder. 

—According to Dragon Ball lore, the Great Elder had the ability to unlock people's potential. In the Saiyan Saga, Krillin and Gohan's power levels skyrocketed from thousands to tens of thousands after he touched their heads. 

While none of the current group members, including Uchiha Hikari herself, were as strong as Gohan was back then, gaining some battle power certainly wouldn't hurt. 

Chapter 363: The First Time Feels Like This 

In just a short while, the chat group had already picked up on what Erii said earlier and started discussing "interstellar travel." 

Yamato and Brand, who hadn't attended school, didn't know much about this, so they were getting a crash course from Miko. She explained everything from the "Big Bang" to the "eight planets of the solar system." However, considering that in the Pirate World, you can fly directly to the moon, and the Akame ga Kill! world has its own unique seasonal characteristics, this basic astronomical knowledge might not be universally applicable there. 

Bulma: "Speaking of which, I just thought of something... Do you think the 'star sea' counts as a 'sea'?" 

"?" 

Nameless: "You're not... thinking of becoming a 'space pirate,' are you?" 

Bulma: "Oh, Little Light, you guessed what I was thinking so quickly! You're amazing!" 

Nameless: "...That's what I should be saying." 

In a way, the Dragon Ball world does have "space pirates"—the Frieza Force. 

What those guys do is essentially the same as pirates, but even more ruthless and unrestrained. They've eradicated countless cosmic races, including the Saiyans, and then sold the remaining planets to other races for habitation. 

When Uchiha Hikari left Earth this time, she was taking a bit of a risk in that regard. Normally, Frieza wouldn't have even noticed the existence of the Milky Way at this point. If Raditz hadn't gone to Earth looking for his brother and sent back news about the Dragon Balls, then Vegeta and Nappa probably wouldn't have come. 

But, since she was in space, no matter how small the chance of encountering Frieza, it wasn't zero. 

So, some contingency plans had to be made in advance to avoid being caught off guard. 

Nameless: "Let's put interstellar travel aside for now. Bulma, if you're interested, you could consider checking out the moon in the Pirate World... Just remember to bring Yamato, or ask Whitebeard to lend you a couple of his commanders." 

Eneru was up there on the moon in the Pirate World. 

Uchiha Hikari had originally wanted to go find him and see the limits of the "Rumble-Rumble Fruit," but she got delayed with the "New Government" matters and couldn't make it. If Bulma went without her, she'd need to be careful. 

Bulma: "Alright... I'll think about it. You be careful too, Little Light, and remember to check in every day to let us know you're safe." 

Nameless: "Mhm." 

After a few more exchanges, Uchiha Hikari temporarily went offline to grab something to eat. 

According to her pre-trip estimates, the journey from Earth to Planet Namek would take about a month and a half. 

It was a bit of a long trip. 

So, Uchiha Hikari had prepared a lot of manga, novels, anime, and movie DVDs in advance, bringing them on the spaceship to pass the time when she got bored. 

However... 

Since the environment inside the spaceship was pretty similar to Earth, with a dedicated kitchen, bathroom, and gravity training room—allowing for a one-stop shop of eating, drinking, playing, and training—and occasionally Bulma and others could send fresh fruit from the Pirate World or other places using the chat group's upload/download function, she generally didn't have to worry about getting bored. 

And for Esdeath... 

This place was like heaven. She could spend every day alone with Uchiha Hikari, and even do some more intimate things, like— 

"Huff... huff..." 

"Is this your first time feeling like this... Can you handle it, Little Light? Do you want to stop and rest for a bit?" 

Amidst a slightly intense panting, Esdeath, dressed lightly, looked down at Uchiha Hikari and asked. 

Don't misunderstand. 

They weren't doing anything inappropriate for children; they were in gravity training. 

As mentioned before, this spaceship was equipped with a special gravity control device that could adjust the gravity coefficient inside the cabin at any time, ranging from 2x to 100x. Theoretically, training in a high-intensity gravity field could yield twice the results with half the effort, similar to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber in Kami's Lookout. 

Esdeath was a veteran at this. She used the gravity training room on the "Blue Planet" more than anyone, spending almost three hours or more in it every day. Her training intensity had long since increased from 2x to 3x-5x, and now she was even challenging 10x gravity. 

—This gravity intensity was the same as King Kai's Planet, theoretically providing a hundred days' worth of training in a single day. 

On the other hand, while Uchiha Hikari's overall strength was higher than Esdeath's, she had been busy dealing with various factions in the Pirate World and setting up the "New Government," so she hadn't invested much time in this training. As a result, she was a bit unaccustomed to the 10x gravity at first. 

But it was fine. 

With her regenerative physique, this level of pressure wasn't enough to overwhelm her. 

It was just that her body was in a process of tearing, healing, and tearing again, making the sensation a bit painful. 

"Huff... Again!" 

Uchiha Hikari took a few deep breaths, and once her body gradually adapted to the 10x gravity, she sprang up from the ground with a powerful flip and took a combat stance. 

"Wing Chun, Hikari's Question!" 

"?" 

A string of question marks slowly appeared above Esdeath's head. 

A month and a half slowly passed. 

During this time, Uchiha Hikari's routine became quite regular. She'd wake up promptly at 8 AM every day, eat breakfast, rest for a bit, then start training until the evening. After that, she and Esdeath would help each other shower, and she'd be in bed before 11 PM, never letting fatigue carry over to the next day. 

It was almost like she was back on Korin Tower, learning "ki" from Korin. 

With their minds solely focused on training, the "ki" within both Uchiha Hikari and Esdeath increased visibly, both in total amount and in the precision of their control. 

If they were to be sent back to Mary Geoise from not long ago, even Whitebeard and others would probably have to bow down before their Conqueror's Haki. 

Meanwhile, in the Pirate World, some groundbreaking progress had been made in the research of "Perfect Active Matter." 

Nameless: "...So, the synthesis route for 'Perfect Active Matter' has been calculated, and Dr. Brief and his team have already started group experiments?" 

Bulma: "Yes, currently it's only being tested on mice. We'll have to wait for the results before trying it on living humans. But from what we've seen so far, it looks promising." 

Nameless: "That's good." 

Chapter 364: The Arrival 

It looks like organizing that "Scientific Exchange Symposium" was a brilliant move. If Uchiha Hikari had given the "Perfect Active Substance" project to just one person, even someone as brilliant as Dr. Brief, it would have taken forever to get results. But now, with top scientists from different worlds all working together, a study that might have taken years is moving along at a ninja's pace. 

I bet Minato Namikaze's perfect clone is already on the way, too. And this "Perfect Active Substance" could totally be used to heal everyone from that girl, Eri, to even Whitebeard himself. Maybe they could even give Eri a deep-level treatment so she could get a taste of what it's like to transform into a super-powered little dragon! 

[Nameless: Oh, right. How's Orochimaru been acting lately? He hasn't been spewing any weird, crazy nonsense, has he?] 

[Bulma: Crazy nonsense?] 

[Nameless: Yeah... things about his understanding of life and obsessions, and more importantly, has he been splitting off pieces of his soul and putting them into other people?] 

Uchiha Hikari had been hesitant to bring Orochimaru to other worlds for a long time, and this was the main reason. Orochimaru is never a guy you can trust to stay put. If he started using his Cursed Seal on people from other worlds and leaving fragments of his soul behind, it would be a huge mess. It's impossible to predict whether a new Orochimaru would even emerge from that soul fragment when he returned to the ninja world. No matter the outcome, it would definitely cause some serious problems. 

But now, with Minato there and Kikyo, who has the "Spirit Vision" ability, they should be able to spot any strange chakra or soul manipulation. 

And as it turns out... 

[Bulma: No, not at all... He's been pretty respectful to my dad and Dr. Gero. He even explained the principles behind his "Immortality Jutsu" and "Cursed Seal" so we could discuss them. Dr. Vegapunk thinks it's similar to his own body-swapping technology, and they've been having some deep conversations about it.] 

[Nameless: Oh, really?] 

"Immortality Jutsu" and the "Cursed Seal" are definitely Orochimaru's two most prized secret jutsu. And yes, they do sound similar to Dr. Vegapunk's methods. However, the latter's technique of separating his consciousness and putting it into clones is likely tied to the "Brain-Brain Fruit," and not just pure science. If they could find a common link between the two and combine them, who knows what kind of special chemical reaction they could trigger? 

After a few more days, the spaceship's journey finally hit day forty-nine. 

That morning, Uchiha Hikari looked out the ship's window and saw a pale green planet in the vast starry sky. The planet's surface was covered in craters and strange, winding lines that stretched across the landscape like giant worms, which must have been mountains and rivers. 

"...That must be Planet Namek, right?" Uchiha Hikari thought to herself. 

In the Dragon Ball manga, there were illustrations of Planet Namek, but it was hard to tell from space. Still, there weren't many celestial bodies in this area of the sky, so the odds were good. 

Meanwhile, Esdeath had just finished her morning workout. She walked up to Uchiha Hikari in just a T-shirt and shorts, with a towel slung over her shoulder. Beads of sweat were trickling down her pale skin, but instead of smelling like sweat, she had a cool, crisp scent, like fresh ice. 

"Are we almost there? Is that our destination?" 

"It should be," Uchiha Hikari nodded, then added, "Hey, Esdeath, you should go take a shower and change. We might not have much time once we land." 

"Alright." 

Esdeath nodded, took a couple steps back, and then paused. "Want to come with me? The shower is pretty big." 

For a while, Uchiha Hikari had been showering with Esdeath to help each other wash their backs and save water. But now... 

"...No, I'm good." Uchiha Hikari refused. 

Esdeath just shrugged. She didn't say anything else and went into the bathroom with her clean clothes. 

A little while later, the spaceship began to get closer to Planet Namek. Its near-light speed slowed down noticeably, and its outer shell rubbed against the atmosphere, quickly bursting into a ball of fire. 

Inside the ship, Uchiha Hikari and Esdeath both felt a strong tremor, but the ship's shock absorbers were incredible. Even in these conditions, they didn't feel much of a gravitational pull; it was just a little uncomfortable. 

The ship, looking like a ball of fire, streaked through the sky and entered Planet Namek's atmosphere, slowing down as it descended. Finally, with a sharp screeching sound, the ship completed the last part of its journey, with its sonic boom breaking through the last layer of air resistance. It plunged straight into a valley on one side of the planet. With a thunderous boom, it smashed into the ground, creating a massive crater. 

Blazing flames erupted in all directions, creating a huge shockwave that instantly scorched everything within a hundred-meter radius. The scene was a lot like when the Saiyans first landed on Earth in the original story. 

"We're here." 

Uchiha Hikari stood at the control panel, first using the ship's cameras to get a good look at the surroundings. She then pressed a button to release a fleet of nanobots that flew off in all directions to map the terrain and send back the results. 

Only after confirming there was no danger did she put on the combat suit Bulma had made for her, along with a scouter. She and Esdeath, who had just finished getting ready, walked out of the open hatch. 

"Temperature..." 

"Humidity..." 

"Gravity coefficient..." 

A stream of text flashed across the scouter's screen. The feedback from the nanobots also appeared on the single-lens eyepiece. 

It was pretty handy. 

Uchiha Hikari adjusted the scouter and quickly noticed a small message: "Signs of life detected eighty kilometers to the northeast... That's pretty convenient. I thought we'd have to spend more time looking." 

She paused and looked at the blue-haired general next to her. "Ready, Esdeath? Let's go check it out." 

Chapter 365 Nail 

So, Uchiha Hikari used a sealing scroll to pack away their flying vehicle, and together with Esdeath, they used a flight jutsu to head toward the location the sensor was pointing to. 

Along the way, they saw vast, vibrant forests, with trees far taller and thicker than any back in their world. It was probably because the air here was so full of natural energy. Still, it wasn't so dense that they needed a special jutsu to breathe; after all, even non-shinobi like Bulma and Krillin managed to come here just fine in the original tale. 

After about fifteen minutes, Hikari and Esdeath stopped, finding a lone, green-skinned figure in a clearing. 

The person was a typical member of this unique clan: about five feet tall, with green skin and two antennae on their head. They looked a lot like the one named Dende from the stories, but a bit older, like a young man. 

The clan member was clearly startled, and they spoke a string of odd, unfamiliar sounds. 

"...What's he saying?" Esdeath asked, a frown on her face. 

"He's asking where we're from," Hikari replied, tapping the translation function on their sensory device. He then spoke back in the clan's language. "Hello. We're from a distant land, a place called Earth. Would you mind leading us to your village leader?" 

Just as the old stories described, these green-skinned people were generally kind and easy to get along with. 

Even though it was their first time meeting Uchiha Hikari and Esdeath, the young clan member, who was out gathering food, immediately believed them. Especially once Hikari's translation device "spoke" their language, things got even easier. 

It's a little amazing, if you think about it. The ability to create a device that can instantly learn and translate a foreign tongue is a feat that even the brightest minds in their world would struggle with. 

Soon enough, Hikari and Esdeath were meeting the nearby village elder. All these clan members looked so similar that Hikari couldn't tell them apart, but based on his clothing, he guessed this was likely one of the elders who was a casualty of the Frieza army in the original tale. 

When the elder heard where they were from and about the existence of their own village leader, he was visibly surprised. He decided to send a messenger to the patriarch while also arranging for Hikari and Esdeath to rest in the village. 

During this time, Hikari cautiously asked about borrowing their sacred relics. 

"That's a difficult matter..." the village elder hesitated. "Our clan has a rule that the relics cannot be used lightly. If they must be, it requires the approval of seven elders after a thorough assessment. But since you are guests, perhaps the patriarch might make an exception if he agrees." 

"Is that so..." Hikari nodded slightly, already thinking of how to convince the patriarch. 

Esdeath, meanwhile, stretched her neck and smiled with interest. "How do these assessments usually work? Are they tests of knowledge or strength?" 

"A little bit of everything. Each elder has a different personality, so their assessments are different. In our village, we usually choose a test of strength. You must defeat our strongest warrior to be allowed to use the relic..." 

Listening to the elder's words, the smile on Esdeath's face widened. "Well then, how about we give it a try?" 

The combat prowess of this clan's members was actually quite impressive. 

Especially the battle-oriented ones; their chakra levels were generally in the hundreds, making them as strong as seasoned jonin. And the one guarding the patriarch, Nail, was said to have a chakra level of 40,000, which would put him on par with even a powerful Kage-level ninja. 

On top of that, these people had all sorts of incredible jutsu—from basic regeneration to Giant Transformation, creating weapons out of thin air, and even extending their limbs. They also had the ability to merge with other members of their clan to get a huge power boost, similar to a forbidden jutsu. 

If they weren't so peaceful, they might have rivaled even the Saiyans for the title of "warrior clan." 

With the village elder's permission, Esdeath faced off against a battle-type member in a friendly sparring match. 

Hikari watched the entire thing. 

According to the sensory device provided by Bulma, this clan member had a chakra level of around 1000 to 1500. 

If it had been the Esdeath from their old world, a one-on-one fight without using her ultimate jutsu would have probably been an even match. 

However, after spending a month and a half training under ten times their normal gravity inside the flying ship, Esdeath's power had grown significantly. She fought with a casual ease. After a somewhat intense battle, she ultimately used a massive Ice Release jutsu to overpower her opponent, who had activated their Giant Transformation jutsu. 

This victory left Esdeath a little smug. 

"Hikari, are you sure these people are as strong as you said? I mean, he was a little tougher than the people from our old world, but... it didn't feel like that big of a deal." 

"...That's because you haven't met their strongest warrior yet," Hikari said with a chuckle. "When we meet their patriarch, be respectful, and don't speak a word until I do." 

"Is it really that serious?" Esdeath raised an eyebrow. 

Even though she was a little skeptical, she trusted Hikari's judgment and didn't argue. 

After spending about three days in the village, on the morning of the fourth day, Hikari and Esdeath felt an incredibly powerful chakra signature approaching from the north. Within minutes of sensing it, a tall green figure appeared in the sky above the village. 

"Whoa!" 

"This chakra... it's huge!" 

The chakra of someone with a power level of 40,000 was far more intense than any enemy Hikari had ever faced. 

Even Esdeath's usually calm face showed a rare expression of shock, as she squinted in disbelief. She hadn't expected anyone to be this powerful; it felt like they were on a completely different level. 

"Are you the visitors from Earth?" 

Hovering in the air, Nail looked down at Hikari and Esdeath with a cold gaze. "Hmph! Though your arrival isn't particularly welcome, come with me. The patriarch has summoned you."