236-240

Chapter 236 Heading to Kannabi Bridge Again 

Two days later. 

In his lab, Shindai was currently experimenting with a new idea he'd had yesterday. His Magnet Release kekkei genkai allowed him to manipulate magnetic fields to create electromagnetic fields, giving him control over positive and negative charges. He wondered if a pure positive magnetic field and a pure negative magnetic field, when brought into contact, would simply attract each other. 

Shindai used his Magnet Release to create a positive and a negative magnetic field. Both fields crackled with electricity. As they drew closer, they indeed attracted and converged. However, at the point of convergence, the current suddenly vanished, and a burst of force exploded, violently pushing Shindai backward. His back hit the wall with a heavy thud. 

"Ugh~" Shindai felt like his bones were rattling. 

As more positive and negative magnetic fields converged, the explosive force grew stronger. Shindai quickly dispelled both fields. Though he was in pain, he was also incredibly excited. 

"Tsk, that was intense! Just a casual try and it had this much power. If I can control it, wouldn't this be a powerful jutsu?" 

Shindai understood why this was happening. When positive and negative magnetic fields attracted and converged, the positive and negative charges intertwined. The equal amount of charge resulted in electrical neutrality, meaning no net charge. The force generated during this process was what blasted him away. 

Shindai tried again, attempting to master this power, but the chakra consumption was immense. After only a few attempts, he was forced to stop due to lack of chakra. Seeing the entire room in disarray, Shindai's mouth twitched. 

Oh no! Orochimaru is going to chew me out! 

The timing was perfect. The two days Kushina Uzumaki mentioned were up. If all went well, they should have figured out how to break that double seal by now. Shindai bolted straight to Minato Namikaze's house. 

"Kushina-neechan, Minato-sama, how did it go? Was it successful?" 

Minato, wearing an apron, was humming a tune while cooking, looking quite pleased. Kushina was sitting on the sofa, watching TV. 

Minato smiled. "We've figured out the method to break it." Minato was so happy because he had successfully broken the double seal, meaning he could finally have some alone time with Kushina. 

Shindai excitedly asked, "So, what's the method? Teach me quickly!" 

Kushina pulled out a scroll and tossed it to Shindai. "The method is in there. Once you understand the principle, breaking it is actually quite simple. This double seal is very old. While it looks complex, it's not difficult to break. Minato and I successfully broke it this morning." 

Shindai's face lit up as he looked at the scroll in his hands. He could finally go confirm that 'treasure'! 

Minato asked curiously, "By the way, Shindai, are you planning to go to Kannabi Bridge to break that seal? It's such an old seal, there's no need to break it, is there?" 

Shindai put away the scroll and bluffed, "I've recently become quite interested in sealing jutsu. I want to practice on that double seal. So, Minato-sama, I'll be leaving for a few days, you're fine with that, right?" 

Minato replied, "I'm fine with it, but... won't there be any danger? Since it's a double seal, it might contain something very dangerous." 

Shindai puffed out his chest. "Minato-sama, don't you trust my skills? If there's danger, I'd have already run away. So, could you please give me a village departure permit, Minato-sama?" 

"Alright." Minato wrote Shindai a village departure permit. 

Kushina frowned. "Hmm? Something doesn't feel right. You've never been interested in sealing jutsu before, why the sudden interest? Even if you were, you should start with the basics and figure out the breaking method yourself, not just ask us for it directly. I think... you're not interested in the sealing jutsu itself, but what's inside the seal, right? That's why you asked me to help you break it. Do you know what's sealed inside that double seal?" 

Having already obtained the village departure permit and the scroll for breaking the seal, Shindai gave a perfunctory reply. "I'm just interested, I'm going to find Pakura, bye!" 

Kushina "tsk"ed in annoyance. "That kid! He's all fawning when he needs something, then so dismissive when he doesn't." 

Minato smiled gently. "It's alright, I still have faith in Shindai's abilities. Let him go. Kushina, come try the miso soup I made. How is it?" 

"Okay~" Kushina's face instantly brightened, and she ran over to Minato's side, becoming all sweet and loving. 

After packing up at home, Shindai left and found Pakura, who was working as a shop manager. 

"Pakura, I'm leaving Konoha for a few days. Oh, Kabuto, you're here too~" 

Kabuto Yakushi, who was stocking shelves, greeted Shindai. "Good day, Shindai-nii!" 

Pakura cautioned Shindai, "I understand. Be careful, and don't do anything reckless." 

"I know! Bye-bye." 

Shindai, holding the village departure permit given to him by Minato, successfully left Konoha Village. 

Another two days passed. 

Shindai was now very close to the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass. He estimated he only needed to travel for a little over another day to reach his destination. 

Meanwhile, back in Konoha. 

Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki had spent two wonderfully pleasant days together. Minato still had three days left of his vacation, as he had taken seven days off. With Hiruzen Sarutobi handling things, Minato had no worries at all. If it weren't for feeling embarrassed, Minato would have wanted to take a whole month off! 

Minato was pondering how he and Kushina would spend their lovely day when a knock came at the door. Minato opened it and found an unexpected visitor: Fugaku Uchiha. 

Fugaku apologized. "My apologies for disturbing the Fourth Hokage's vacation. I wanted to talk with the Fourth Hokage, if it's convenient?" 

Minato instantly realized what Fugaku wanted to discuss. His smile was radiant. "Of course, please come in." 

The understanding Kushina also knew that Fugaku's private visit to Minato today surely meant something very important. So, after pouring tea for Fugaku and Minato, Kushina went to the handicraft shop to find Pakura. 

Fugaku took a sip of tea, then said to Minato, "Fourth Hokage, what you told me the other day, I've given it serious thought. I hope to work together with the Fourth Hokage to improve the relationship between the Uchiha and the village." 

Minato smiled. "If Clan Head Fugaku is willing, I will naturally do everything in my power." 

Chapter 237: Fugaku and Minato's Discussion 

Minato Namikaze and Fugaku Uchiha were in talks, figuring out how to mend the strained relationship between the Uchiha clan and Konoha. 

Fugaku Uchiha leaned forward, asking, "Fourth Hokage, the first step to mending our relationship... that would involve the Konoha Military Police Force, wouldn't it?" 

Minato Namikaze replied seriously, "That's right. Reforming the Military Police is absolutely essential. The Military Police maintain Konoha's order and security, and if that role isn't handled well, it can easily spark conflict. Especially when all the members are Uchiha clan members." 

Fugaku Uchiha's tone became troubled. "Fourth Hokage, within the Uchiha... well, some of our clan members have rather extreme personalities. The Military Police Force is a symbol for the Uchiha clan in Konoha. If we try to reform it, we might face opposition from those very clan members." 

Minato Namikaze stated gravely, "Reform will always face opposition from those who benefit from the current system. But if we don't reform, the problems will persist. So, we have to cut out the rot and solve this once and for all. I've thought about how we can improve things. I hope you, Clan Head Fugaku, can rally those clan members willing to accept the changes. Based on their abilities and specialties, I'll arrange for them to be placed in other suitable departments, so they can contribute to Konoha in different areas, without being confined to the Military Police Force. As for the Military Police, other shinobi will be assigned to its ranks, turning it into a joint Konoha security department, no longer solely comprised of Uchiha. This way, even if conflicts arise while maintaining order and security, the blame won't fall entirely on the Uchiha clan." 

Fugaku Uchiha crossed his arms, pondering Minato Namikaze's proposal seriously. 

After a moment, Fugaku Uchiha asked, "If we do this, then... the clan members who remain in the Military Police... Fourth Hokage, aren't you concerned about them?" 

Minato Namikaze chuckled. "Concerned? Of course, but I trust you, Clan Head Fugaku, to keep them in line. As I've always said, improving our relationship requires effort from both of us. Once the Konoha Military Police Force reform is complete, we'll be halfway there. After that, I hope you can select some talented Uchiha clan members to undergo the Anbu examination and join the Anbu. There's also a kid in my personal guard whom I have high hopes for, and I'd like him to join." 

Fugaku Uchiha was surprised. "Who? Obito?" 

Minato Namikaze shook his head. "Not Obito, but Shisui. Shisui is 13 years old now, and in the Third Great Ninja War, he earned the moniker 'Shisui of the Body Flicker' for his prowess on the battlefield with his Mangekyo Sharingan and Body Flicker Jutsu. I've interacted with this boy many times; he's inherited the Will of Fire, is honest and deeply compassionate. I have high hopes for him, which is why I want to recruit him into the Hokage Guard Platoon. What do you think, Clan Head Fugaku? Would you agree to Shisui joining my guard?" 

Fugaku Uchiha immediately said, "Of course, I agree!" After all, those who join the Hokage Guard Platoon are Minato Namikaze's most trusted individuals. 

Minato Namikaze continued, "Next, for future meetings, I ask that you, Clan Head Fugaku, do not be absent. You'll be able to discuss and exchange ideas with the heads of other ninja clans and Konoha's higher-ups, offering your own suggestions for Konoha's future development." 

Fugaku Uchiha took a slight deep breath. As clan head, it had been a long time since he'd attended such Konoha meetings. This was precisely why they hadn't been able to directly converse and exchange ideas with Konoha's higher-ups, unable to express their thoughts, demands, or stance, often feeling excluded. Now, Minato Namikaze's decisions could truly help the Uchiha clan reintegrate into Konoha. All he had to do was fully support Minato's plan and keep his own clan members in line. 

Fugaku Uchiha's expression became solemn and earnest. "Fourth Hokage, I will cooperate with you fully. I support the reform of the Military Police Force, and at the same time, I will rein in my clan members and not let them cause trouble!" 

Fugaku Uchiha's resolve was now unshakable. Such an opportunity was one in a million; if he missed it, it might never come again. And... perhaps only Minato Namikaze would be willing to treat them like this. 

However, Fugaku Uchiha still had some worries. And the source of those worries... was Danzo. 

Fugaku Uchiha said, worried, "Fourth Hokage, Danzo-sensei... no, Lord Danzo, he's always had strong opinions about us Uchiha. I'm worried Lord Danzo won't agree." 

Minato Namikaze smiled. "The Third Hokage and I have already discussed this. The Third Hokage believes that the Root still needs to exist..." 

Fugaku Uchiha's heart sank. That's troublesome then, he thought. Even if Danzo outwardly agreed with Minato, that old fox Danzo would surely try to sabotage things behind the scenes and make sure this never happened. 

Minato Namikaze reassured him, "There's no need to worry, Clan Head Fugaku. Root needs to exist, but as a training department for Anbu, it should rightfully be under the Hokage's direct command, just like Anbu, instead of becoming a private organization." 

Fugaku Uchiha's eyes widened. From what Minato Namikaze was implying, he was going to strip Danzo of his power. Danzo was no longer the Hokage's assistant, nor an advisor. If the Root's authority was also taken away, then Danzo would become a mere shell, completely powerless. In that case, there would be no need to worry about Danzo targeting the Uchiha behind their backs. 

A smile unconsciously spread across Fugaku Uchiha's face. "Fourth Hokage, thank you so much! The Uchiha clan and I will stand firmly by your side, contributing our strength to Konoha's growth!" 

Minato Namikaze smiled. "We are all comrades; we should help, understand, and tolerate each other. That's what I, as the Hokage, am supposed to do." 

Having received a satisfactory answer, Fugaku Uchiha bid farewell to Minato Namikaze and departed. Fugaku Uchiha now had his work cut out for him. Since this involved the Military Police Force, there would undoubtedly be many clan members who opposed it, perhaps even acting irrationally. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was something Fugaku Uchiha absolutely couldn't allow to be missed. Anyone who dared to act irrationally, he would make sure they paid the price! 

After Fugaku Uchiha left, Minato Namikaze sighed. "Looks like my vacation ends today, huh..." He still had three days of vacation left, but now it had to end early, leaving Minato feeling quite disappointed. Since Kushina Uzumaki had gone to find Pakura, Minato left home alone and headed for the Hokage Office. 

Chapter 238: A Little Girl? 

After a long journey, Shindai finally arrived at the Kannabi Bridge. 

Ever since the bridge was destroyed, it hadn't been rebuilt, remaining in its shattered state. 

Shindai gazed at the rubble, deep in thought. "Where did I see it back then? I think I was standing right here, looking over there..." 

Shindai's eyes drifted to the riverbank beneath Kannabi Bridge, which was buried under rocks. 

"It was right there!" 

Once he confirmed the location, Shindai formed hand signs. 

"Magnet Release! Satetsu Spindle!" 

Shindai used his iron sand to create three-sided iron sand projectiles, which spun rapidly and smashed into the rocks, pulverizing them. 

Then, he used a Sand Iron Wave to clear the area, finally revealing the seal on the rock wall. 

Despite Shindai's forceful attack, the seal on the rock wall remained perfectly intact, proving it was still actively functioning. 

Shindai walked up to the seal on the rock wall and pulled out the scroll Kushina Uzumaki had given him for breaking seals. 

"So many hand signs! My hands are gonna cramp up like crazy!" 

Shindai grumbled, then bit his finger, and following the pattern on the scroll, he used his blood to draw symbols on the sealing jutsu on the rock wall. 

After he finished, Shindai shook his hand and began to focus his chakra and form hand signs according to the scroll's instructions. 

The Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu has 44 hand signs, but the one Shindai had to perform now had a whopping 287! One mistake, and he'd have to start all over. 

To avoid errors, Shindai performed the hand signs slowly. 

After several minutes of intricate weaving, he finally finished. 

Shindai placed his hands on the center of the sealing jutsu on the rock wall and let out a low cry. 

"Release Seal!" 

The patterns and symbols Shindai had drawn on the rock wall's sealing jutsu began to move, intertwining with the original seal in a way Shindai couldn't comprehend. 

Moments later, the sealing jutsu on the rock wall began to spin, like an unlocking mechanism. Then, the jutsu solidified, the ground began to tremble, and cracks appeared in the rock wall. 

Shindai, unsure what was happening, retreated a good distance to observe, his heart thumping with a mix of excitement and anticipation. 

The seal must be broken now. Is it treasure? Or more treasure? 

The cracks in the rock wall grew larger, eventually breaking open into an entrance, and the ground stopped shaking. 

Shindai approached the opening and peered inside. It was very dim and looked quite empty. 

Shindai's brows furrowed. 

This wasn't quite what he'd imagined. In Shindai's mind, it should have been overflowing with gleaming gold! 

Shindai stepped inside, and his mood plummeted. 

"What?! Nothing at all! And they called this treasure!" 

Shindai's chest heaved with frustration. He felt completely tricked. 

Shindai pulled out the scroll that read, "[Kannabi Bridge has Treasure]," and angrily tossed it to the ground. 

"I must have been out of my mind when I wrote that! I actually tricked myself!" 

Unwilling to give up, Shindai searched the cave. Inside, he found a crumbling iron door, and behind it, what appeared to be a coffin. No, it was a coffin! 

Shindai muttered, "Could it be... someone's tomb? Is the treasure inside the coffin? That wouldn't be very nice, would it? I'd be a grave robber! 

But... the person's already dead, and they can't use any treasures anyway. How about this: I'll borrow it for now. If you're a guy, I'll make you a beautiful female puppet to be buried with you later. If you're a girl, I'll make a handsome guy puppet to join you. How about that? Pretty good, right? Better than being all alone, wouldn't you say? 

I'll count to three. If you don't say anything, I'll take it as a 'yes.' Three, two, one! Alright, since you didn't say anything, I'll take it as your consent. I'm opening the coffin lid now, okay?" 

Shindai kicked open the iron door and grabbed the coffin lid, trying to pull it open, but it didn't budge. 

"Huh? What's going on?" 

Shindai examined the coffin closely and noticed a sealing tag stuck to the edge of the lid. 

Shindai scratched his head, "No way? This coffin has a seal too? How am I supposed to open it then? Go back to Konoha, ask Kushina-nee to break it, and then come back? That's way too much trouble, and this coffin doesn't look like it could hold much treasure anyway. It might not be worth it." 

After pondering for a while, Shindai patted the coffin. "This thing looks really old. I'll get you a new coffin later, a sturdier one made of iron sand." 

"Magnet Release! Satetsu Cuboid!" 

Shindai created a cuboid of iron sand and slammed it violently into the coffin. 

The coffin pulsed with chakra, actually blocking the impact of the iron sand cuboid. 

"Hey! That tough?" 

"Magnet Release: Satetsu Spindle!" 

The rotating three-sided iron sand cone relentlessly drilled into the coffin lid. 

However, five minutes passed, and it still hadn't caused any damage to the coffin. 

Shindai racked his brain, trying every method he could think of, but all failed. 

Shindai himself was exhausted, slumped on the ground, panting heavily. 

After resting for a bit, Shindai wiped the sweat from his forehead. "This shell is way too tough! Should I just give up?" 

Feeling somewhat helpless, Shindai considered retreating. 

But then, a thought flashed through Shindai's mind, and his eyes narrowed. 

"One last try. I'll use the new jutsu I developed, the one I haven't used yet! If it doesn't work, I'm out of here!" 

After a moment of chakra manipulation, Shindai stood up again. 

Shindai formed hand signs. 

"Magnet Release! Satetsu Cylinder!" 

A cylinder constructed of iron sand stood upright next to the coffin. 

"Magnet Release! Electromagnetic Blast!" 

Shindai used his Magnet Release bloodline limit to create an electromagnetic field. The field crackled with electricity, instantly illuminating the entire cave. 

The moment Shindai brought his hands together, the electromagnetic field enveloped the iron sand cylinder, and an incredibly powerful force erupted with a roar. 

Massive energy surged wildly through the cave, and electric currents, like silver snakes, darted through the air, crackling loudly. 

The intense energy from the electromagnetic blast swept outwards from the iron sand cylinder, causing rocks to crumble and dust to fly wherever it reached. 

The cave walls developed countless cracks under this terrifying force, and碎石 like rain, pelted down. 

The deafening roar of the electromagnetic blast echoed through the cave, as if it would tear the entire cavern apart. 

And amidst this fierce electromagnetic blast, the seal on the coffin finally gave way, and the sealing tag began to dissipate. 

A slight smile touched Shindai's lips. It seemed the intensity of this attack had surpassed the strength of the seal, causing it to break. 

Once the seal was broken, Shindai immediately snapped his fingers, reorganizing the chaotic charges within the electromagnetic blast, and the electricity instantly vanished. 

This was a jutsu Shindai had created after researching how to convert a magnetic field into an electromagnetic one. 

The principle behind it was generating a strong magnetic field within the conductive iron sand cylinder using the electromagnetic field's current. The magnetic field and current then interacted, causing the load to converge towards the axis, releasing immense energy. 

Shindai walked over to the coffin. The seal on it was completely broken, and he easily pushed open the lid. 

"Huh? Why is there a little girl lying inside?" 

Chapter 239: Nameless 

Shindai forcibly broke the seal on the coffin, but instead of treasure, all he found was a young girl lying inside, seemingly around his own age. 

"Huh? This isn't right. Coffins are supposed to have dead people in them, right? But she looks perfectly rosy and vibrant, and it seems like no one has been here in ages." 

Shindai felt something was really off. It had been almost a year since he was last at Kannabi Bridge. Even if someone alive was sealed in a coffin, they'd be dead from starvation and thirst after a year, probably a mummy, wouldn't they? 

Strange, truly, unbelievably strange. 

Shindai poked her cheek with his finger. 

It was bouncy! And she had body heat! Though the temperature was a bit low. 

Then, Shindai checked for her breath, and it startled him so much he recoiled a step. 

"By the whiskers of Pakura! This kid is breathing!" 

He thought it was a corpse, but when he checked for breath, he found she was alive! It scared Shindai so much his heart nearly leaped out of his chest. 

Shindai took a few deep breaths, then cautiously approached the coffin again, wanting to check carefully if he had been mistaken. 

But just as Shindai got close, the little girl inside suddenly sat bolt upright. 

"Ah!" 

Shindai let out a sharp shriek and instinctively punched forward. 

Shindai had been afraid of ghosts and anything supernatural since he was a child. This 'fear' wasn't about being cowardly; it was an instinct. Yes, that's right, pure instinct. 

However, the little girl raised her hand, opened her palm, and caught Shindai's fist. 

"Who... who are you?" 

She seemed like she hadn't spoken in a long time; her words were halting, and her voice was very small and dry. 

Shindai stared at the little girl in horror. "Are you a person or a ghost? Are you even alive?" 

The little girl released Shindai's fist and looked at her own hands. "I think... I think I'm still alive..." 

When Shindai heard the little girl say she was alive, he immediately relaxed. He forced a smile. "Heh, I knew it! Even though souls exist in this world, what are the odds I'd stumble upon one? I'm not scared at all! That's right, I'm the bravest! Not scared in the slightest! 

Speaking of which, who are you? And how did you get sealed in here? Not just a double seal outside, but a seal on the coffin too?" 

Perhaps because she had been sealed for too long, her mind wasn't quite sharp yet. The little girl tilted her head, frowned, and seemed to be deep in thought. 

A moment later, the little girl seemed to remember something; her face kept changing, filled with a strong sense of hatred. 

"Hey? What's wrong with you all of a sudden? You look like you want to eat someone!" 

The little girl didn't answer Shindai's question. Unlike her earlier innocent, slightly foolish look, she now had a sharp glint in her eyes as she retorted, "Who are you?" 

Shindai scratched his head. "Uh... me? I'm a Konoha ninja." 

The little girl's eyes looked a bit lost. "Konoha? What's that place?" 

Shindai stared at the little girl in shock. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, no way! Konoha, seriously?! One of the Five Great Shinobi Villages! Even a three-year-old knows that! You don't?" 

The little girl's brows were tightly furrowed. She asked, "Do you know about the Uchiha clan and the Senju clan?" 

Shindai felt utterly bewildered now. "You know about the Uchiha and Senju, but not Konoha? Konoha is the Hidden Village founded by the Uchiha and Senju clans working together! Did the seal mess with your brain?" 

The little girl's expression turned incredibly incredulous. "What?! That's impossible! How could that bastard Tajima Uchiha ever ally with his sworn enemies, the Senju clan?!" 

Now Shindai was completely stumped. "Huh? Tajima Uchiha? Who's that? I've never heard of anyone like that in the Uchiha clan. Who exactly are you? You don't know Konoha, but you know the Uchiha and Senju? That's really strange." 

The little girl lowered her head, remained silent for a long time, then spoke. "Others call me Nameless." 

"Nameless? That's a strange name. So where are you from?" 

"I don't know." 

Shindai felt utterly troubled now. "Tsk, this is a pain. No treasure, and I've stumbled upon a brat who knows nothing, but somehow knows about the Uchiha and Senju... Are you suffering from amnesia?" 

Nameless didn't speak. Shindai cautiously probed, "Um, why don't you take your time thinking here? I won't bother you. I'll just head out?" 

Nameless looked up and said to Shindai, "Take me to this 'Konoha' you speak of." 

Shindai shook his head and refused. "Huh? Your identity is unclear; I can't just take you to Konoha. This is the Land of Grass. You're most likely from the Land of Grass, so you should go ask around at Kusagakure." 

Nameless climbed out of the coffin, stumbled due to her weakness, and almost fell. 

Shindai immediately backed away a step. He didn't want Nameless to fall on him and try to blame him. In this desolate place, he wouldn't be able to explain himself. 

"Hmm?" 

Shindai's eyes narrowed as he noticed the symbol on the back of Nameless's clothing. It was a fan shape, red on top and white on the bottom. Wasn't that the Uchiha clan's crest? 

Shindai asked, "Are you from the Uchiha clan?" 

Nameless still didn't answer Shindai's question. Instead, she said, "If you won't take me, then just tell me where Konoha is. I'll go myself." 

Now it was Shindai's turn to fall silent. This 'Nameless' girl was very likely an Uchiha, but how could she have been sealed here? And it was truly strange that she knew about the Uchiha and Senju clans but not Konoha. She must have amnesia. 

Shindai sighed, feeling like he'd just brought trouble upon himself. 

"Fine, I'll take you to Konoha. If you're really from the Uchiha clan, then there might be someone who knows you there. Let's go." 

Shindai decided to take Nameless to Konoha after all. If he hadn't seen the Uchiha clan crest, it would have been fine, but seeing it and leaving Nameless to fend for herself didn't feel right. 

Shindai started walking towards the cave entrance, but after a few steps, he realized Nameless wasn't following. He turned back, puzzled, and asked the still-standing Nameless, "What's wrong? Didn't you say you wanted to go to Konoha? I've agreed, so why are you suddenly not moving? Do you want me to say, 'Princess, please proceed?'" 

Nameless's cheeks flushed slightly. "I... I can't walk. I'm very hungry, and I don't have any strength." 

"Hungry, huh? You should have said so sooner! Here, this is secret jerky from Chouza-sensei's family, it tastes amazing and is super filling." 

Shindai pulled out the jerky Chouza Akimichi had given him and offered it to Nameless. 

Nameless took the jerky and took a bite, her eyes widening slightly as she devoured it. 

After eating a few pieces, Nameless was full, but her strength didn't return quite as quickly. 

"Sigh, I'll carry you then. Once you have some strength, you can walk on your own. Honestly, no treasure and now I'm doing manual labor." 

Shindai squatted in front of Nameless, patting his shoulders to signal her to get on. 

Nameless paused for a moment, then, at Shindai's urging, climbed onto his back. Shindai carried Nameless and walked towards the cave entrance. 

Chapter 240: Hikari Uchiha 

Shindai, carrying the unnamed girl on his back, left the cave. 

Once they emerged, the sunlight bathed both Shindai and the girl. The unnamed girl, having been in darkness for so long, immediately closed her eyes and buried her face in Shindai's shoulder. 

After walking for a bit, the silent girl finally asked, "Can you tell me about Konoha? Especially about how the Uchiha and Senju clans joined forces to create it?" 

Shindai figured it was a good idea to tell her; maybe she'd remember something. 

Shindai began, "Oh, that's a famous historical event! It happened decades ago. Back then, the ninja world was in chaos; there was no concept of hidden villages yet. The Uchiha clan and the Senju clan were mortal enemies." 

The girl, hearing "decades ago," trembled slightly, her expression filled with disbelief. 

However, since Shindai was carrying her on his back, he didn't see her face. 

Shindai continued, "But then, a pair of best friends emerged from the Uchiha and Senju clans: Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju. Madara was the leader of the Uchiha, and Hashirama was the leader of the Senju. These two great clans fought countless battles, but they were always evenly matched, with no clear victor. 

Hashirama Senju was a magnanimous and great man. He didn't want the endless fighting to continue, so he repeatedly pleaded with his best friend Madara to make peace and cooperate. 

Then, during a duel between Madara and Hashirama, Madara was defeated. When Hashirama again pleaded for the two clans to cooperate, Madara demanded that Hashirama either commit suicide or kill his own younger brother, Tobirama Senju, before he would surrender. The noble Hashirama bravely chose to commit suicide, and Madara, moved by Hashirama's actions, finally agreed to reconcile and cooperate. 

Soon after, the two most powerful clans, the Uchiha and Senju, joined forces to establish the Hidden Leaf Village, Konohagakure. The other four nations then followed the example of the Land of Fire, forming their own ninja organizations and hidden villages. This marked the beginning of an era where the five great nations ruled the ninja world. 

Huh? Why are you breathing so heavily? Did you remember something?" 

The unnamed girl on Shindai's back was breathing very heavily, and Shindai worried she might stop breathing any second. 

The girl took a deep breath, calming herself, and then asked, "I'm fine. What happened next?" 

Shindai asked, "Are you really okay? Maybe we should rest for a bit? I'm not in a hurry." 

The girl's voice trembled slightly as she said, "No, I really want to know what happened next, especially about the Uchiha." 

Seeing how eager she was, Shindai continued, "Alright then. After that, Hashirama Senju initially wanted Madara Uchiha to become the Hokage, but there was opposition. The Hokage position had to be chosen by popular vote, and the general consensus was to elect Hashirama. The Uchiha, being the last clan to surrender to the Senju, also couldn't compare to the Senju in terms of influence in Konoha. Even among the Uchiha clan, not many trusted Madara. 

Basically, apart from Hashirama supporting his friend Madara for Hokage, all the other villagers and clans in Konoha supported Hashirama. The result, of course, was that Hashirama became the First Hokage. 

Later, Madara Uchiha left Konoha alone. When he returned, he suddenly attacked Konoha, attempting to destroy the village he once built with Hashirama. That battle is another famous historical event, known as the Valley of the End. 

But in the end, Hashirama won, and Madara lost. To commemorate this great battle, Konoha erected statues of them standing on opposite banks of the Valley of the End. 

After that, the Uchiha clan continued to live in Konoha as one of its ninja clans. And that's about it." 

The unnamed girl was now in a daze, her mind still reeling. 

Shindai, meanwhile, was feeling a bit numb. He'd spoken so much in one go, yet after all that, she completely ignored him. Who does that? 

It was already dark, so Shindai found a camping spot and prepared to sleep, planning to continue their journey at dawn. 

"I'm going to rest now. If you're hungry, the jerky is by the fire. Don't eat it all; save some for me. I don't want to eat soldier pills. We'll continue traveling tomorrow." 

Shindai still received no response. 

"Hmph." 

Shindai, feeling the cold shoulder, lay down, rolled over, and presented the girl with the back of his head. 

The unnamed girl sat by the fire, the flames casting flickering shadows on her face. 

Her real name was Hikari Uchiha. She was actually a member of the Uchiha clan from the Warring States period. Her parents died in the war, leaving her an orphan, and it was then that she awakened her Mangekyo Sharingan. 

At that time, the leader of the Uchiha clan was still Tajima Uchiha, Madara Uchiha's father. 

Because of her Mangekyo Sharingan's dōjutsu, her own clan members saw her as a weapon, stripped her of her name, and called her "Nameless." 

Eventually, due to her overwhelming power, she became feared by other clans. Hikari Uchiha was ultimately sealed away by the combined forces of the Senju and Sarutobi clans. 

This was the origin of the double-layered seal on the rock wall. 

Hikari Uchiha never thought she would live to see the sun again, and she certainly never imagined she'd awaken decades later, in the present day. 

Everything had changed, making it all unfamiliar to her. 

Hikari Uchiha harbored resentment towards the Uchiha clan. They were her own kin, yet they treated her as a weapon, subjecting her to inhuman treatment. 

That's why, when she remembered everything in the cave, her expression had been filled with hatred. 

Uchiha clan, Senju clan, Konoha, Konoha ninjas... 

Hikari Uchiha's gaze shifted to Shindai. 

Shindai was already sound asleep, one hand reaching into his pants, scratching his backside, then rolling over, sleeping soundly. 

Hikari Uchiha's eyes held a complex expression. From what Shindai said, Konoha was founded by the Uchiha and Senju, so perhaps Konoha could be considered synonymous with the Uchiha. 

But decades had passed. Was the Uchiha clan still the same Uchiha clan as before? 

Hikari Uchiha resented the Uchiha clan and wanted revenge, but her inherently kind nature made her unsure if she should seek it. 

Hikari Uchiha picked up a piece of jerky and began to chew on it. 

"Forget it. I'll go to Konoha and see the situation first." 

If... A cold glint flashed in Hikari Uchiha's eyes. 

The next morning. 

"Ah! It's gone! It's all gone!" 

Shindai woke up that morning, wanting some breakfast, but staring at the empty bag by the campfire, all the jerky was gone. 

Hikari Uchiha, who was also sleeping and resting, was woken by Shindai's voice and frowned, "What's wrong?" 

Shindai didn't speak; he just held up the empty bag, giving Hikari Uchiha a wistful look. 

He said nothing, but it seemed to say everything. 

Hikari Uchiha felt a bit awkward. Last night, while she was thinking, she just kept eating piece after piece, forgetting to leave any. 

Shindai sighed, "Never mind. I'm not in a hurry to return to Konoha anyway. Once we reach the Land of Fire, we'll buy some food elsewhere. Do you have your strength back now?" 

Hikari Uchiha nodded. 

"Then let's head out. Once we enter the Land of Fire, it'll still be a bit of a journey to the nearest town, Kamimaki." 

Shindai and Hikari Uchiha continued their journey, heading towards the Land of Fire.