261-265

Chapter 261: Taming Mahoraga 

Right now. 

Uchiha Hikari got to work again, starting to perform “Idle Transfiguration” on Tsumiki. 

This girl’s situation was a bit trickier than Yukichi’s. Her soul was no longer a single, independent entity—it had been partially corrupted by an ancient female sorcerer named Man, who had used her as a vessel for “Incarnation.” So, fixing her was a more tedious process. First, Hikari had to strip away the corrupted parts of Tsumiki’s soul before repairing what was left of the original. 

During this process… 

Hikari “saw” the shadow of that ancient sorcerer, Man. 

“Who… who are you? What do you want?!” Man demanded, her voice tinged with panic. 

Hikari just gave a faint smirk. “Is that your last word? Sorry, but try picking a better reincarnation next time…” 

“!?” 

With a soft exhale from Hikari, Man’s soul fragment was swept away by pale purple cursed flames, vanishing into ashes in an instant. 

After that… 

Hikari continued her work, following the same steps she’d used on Yukichi to try and restore Tsumiki’s soul. 

This part took a bit of time. 

Thankfully, it all went smoothly in the end. 

When Hikari finally withdrew her technique, Tsumiki’s eyelids fluttered, as if waking from a long slumber. Her gaze, though, was a bit dazed. 

“Sis?” Megumi Fushiguro asked tentatively. 

“She’s awake, but her soul’s taken some damage,” Hikari explained. “Her memory and mental clarity might be affected for a while… and her body’s pretty weak right now. She’ll probably need a lot of rest before she can even get out of bed.” 

“Got it. I’ll take good care of her,” Megumi said with a serious nod. 

The treatment was a success. 

Next up… 

Hikari followed Megumi outside to a secluded spot with no one around. She watched as he clasped his hands together, activating his technique: the “Ten Shadows Technique.” 

“Burube, Yura Yura…” 

“Mahoraga!” 

As the technique took effect, the air around Megumi shimmered and twisted. A massive silhouette appeared, slowly solidifying into a tangible form. 

—Mahoraga. 

This thing was a towering humanoid creature with a lizard-like head and tail, no eyes, and a massive wheel-like structure on its back. That wheel was Mahoraga’s Circle of Power, symbolizing its ability to “adapt to all things in the world.” 

Thanks to that wheel, Mahoraga had incredible learning and recovery abilities. Even a move as devastating as Sukuna’s “Dismantle” could be quickly adapted to, letting Mahoraga hold its ground undefeated. 

But now… 

As soon as Mahoraga appeared, it launched an indiscriminate attack on everyone around. Megumi was the first to get flung far away. Then, the creature turned its attention to Hikari, who was standing closest, its face radiating a ferocious aura. 

However… 

“Wanna take him for a spin, Esdeath?” Hikari asked, glancing at Esdeath beside her. 

Esdeath cracked her neck and stepped forward with a grin. 

… 

Two minutes later. 

Mahoraga, now frozen solid as an ice statue, stood motionless, looking like it had lost all signs of life. 

Esdeath glanced back at Hikari, raising an eyebrow. “This guy’s that weak?” 

“…” 

Hikari’s mouth twitched, unsure how to respond. 

How to put it… 

Mahoraga’s current power level was roughly on par with Sukuna at 15 fingers. In the original Shibuya Incident arc, it went toe-to-toe with Sukuna, basically fighting to a draw. Cursed spirits like Jogo or Mahito, by comparison, were only around the 10-finger level. 

Hundreds of years ago, the head of the Zen’in clan relied on Mahoraga to take down the “Six Eyes” of that era, both perishing in the process. And in the later stages of the Jujutsu Kaisen story, Sukuna—armed with 19 fingers and the head of the Tathagata Buddha, nearly at full power—used Mahoraga to take down Satoru Gojo. 

But… 

When Mahoraga faced a power that exceeded its adaptability threshold, it would fail to keep up and fall quickly. 

Like right now. 

Still… 

In theory, if a strong enough master was willing to invest time in training and refining Mahoraga, its potential was nearly limitless. At the very least, it could reach the ceiling of the Jujutsu Kaisen world—equivalent to a 20-finger Sukuna. That would make it a Shikigami on the level of a Kage, at minimum. 

Hikari decided to give it a shot. 

“Well then… I’ll be taking this Shikigami, no objections.” 

After a quick word with Megumi, Hikari pulled out a sealing scroll and sealed Mahoraga inside. 

She could’ve used her “Yasaka Magatama” to absorb its cursed energy right then and there. 

But Mahoraga’s abilities were unique, and absorbing it on the spot might lead to unexpected complications. Better to play it safe and try it somewhere secure later. 

… 

With that… 

Hikari had pretty much accomplished everything she came to do. 

As for Sukuna, he was still missing a few fingers. She’d have to wait for Satoru Gojo to track down the rest and summon Sukuna’s full form to see what he was really made of. 

So, the day after acquiring Mahoraga, Hikari took Esdeath, Yukichi, and the ten Sukuna fingers she’d gotten from Jogo, and left the Jujutsu Kaisen world for now. 

First, she dropped Yukichi off with Dr. Gero, going through the “onboarding process.” 

During this, Yukichi’s expression turned a bit odd. 

“Um… just to check, is this old guy Dr. Gero?” he asked. 

“You know him?” Hikari raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised. 

Yukichi looked at her like it was obvious. “Duh, he’s a character from Dragon Ball, right? Looks exactly like him… Wait, is it really him?” 

“?” 

Hikari suddenly realized. 

She’d forgotten that the Jujutsu Kaisen world had Dragon Ball manga. Yuji Itadori had mentioned it once, but since he wasn’t super into anime, he didn’t know much about it. Yukichi, on the other hand, had been bedridden for years—probably passing the time by reading tons of manga like that. 

In that case… 

“Yup, it’s him,” Hikari admitted with a nod. “As you can see, this is the Dragon Ball world. It’s just a bit different from the one you read about. Keep that to yourself, though—don’t go spreading it around.” 

“…Got it.” 

After introducing Yukichi to Dr. Gero and the others, and asking Tamayo and Yushiro to keep an eye on him, Hikari temporarily left the Dragon Ball world. 

She and Esdeath headed back to the Hidden Leaf Village. 

Chapter 262: Yamato’s Request 

Konoha Village, Uchiha Clan Grounds. 

Shisui placed a stack of neatly organized booklets in front of Uchiha Hikari. 

“Great-Grandmother, you’re back.” 

“Here’s the backup of the data records from the clan’s clinical experiments over the past two weeks. Please take a look.” 

“…Got it.” 

Uchiha Hikari casually flipped through one of the booklets, skimming the contents while asking offhandedly, “How’s Orochimaru been acting lately? No shady moves, I presume?” 

“None.” 

Shisui shook his head. “Senior Orochimaru has been quite diligent and responsible in his work. He does show some extra… interest in a few clan members, but it’s harmless.” 

“Extra interest?” 

Is it Itachi and Sasuke? 

Figures. 

Even though Orochimaru is currently working under her, he hasn’t given up on his research into the Soul Transference Technique, constantly seeking the perfect vessel for immortality. The Uchihas, especially those with potential for the Mangekyō Sharingan, are prime candidates in his eyes. If he were too well-behaved, Hikari would actually suspect he was up to something. 

For now, Hikari patiently went through the booklets one by one, forming a clear picture in her mind. 

It seems Dr. Brief’s research results are pretty impressive. 

In the two-week clinical trial, two One-Tomoe Uchihas successfully awakened their Two-Tomoe Sharingan, and one Two-Tomoe Uchiha advanced to Three-Tomoe. 

The numbers might not sound like much, but… 

An Uchiha with a Three-Tomoe Sharingan, as long as they don’t die prematurely, is guaranteed to become a Jōnin. With a bit of luck and opportunity, they could even reach Elite Jōnin status. 

The Uchiha clan currently has fewer than twenty such individuals. 

And this is just the first phase of the trial. 

Once Orochimaru and Dr. Brief adjust the drug formula based on these results, the effects could be even better. 

Additionally, since these clan members awakened their Two- and Three-Tomoe Sharingan through targeted gene therapy rather than traumatic experiences, their personalities remained largely unchanged and stable—though a few hotheads were promptly disciplined by Shisui’s “fist of love.” 

“Good work.” 

Hikari glanced at Shisui, giving him a nod of approval. 

It seems making the Uchihas read more books is paying off. 

The current Shisui is a far cry from the indecisive, helpless version from the original storyline. If things continue this way, with some proper nurturing, he’d make a solid candidate for the next Uchiha clan leader. 

Why Shisui as the next candidate? 

Well, it’s not like Itachi could take the role, right? 

Sasuke’s a possibility, but he’s still too young. Plus, as the reincarnation of Indra, his growth in this drastically altered timeline is unpredictable. She’d need to assess the situation before deciding. 

“By the way, there’s one more thing,” Shisui said, as if suddenly remembering something. “It’s about Itachi.” 

“…What’s up with Itachi?” 

“He said he recently saw a man wearing a swirl-patterned mask near the Naka River waterfall.” 

“?!” 

Hikari’s eyes narrowed. “Tell me everything.” 

Shisui didn’t beat around the bush and quickly recounted the details. 

The man with the swirl-patterned mask was, of course, Obito, who called himself “Uchiha Madara.” 

This wasn’t Itachi’s first encounter with him. 

Years ago, when Itachi was a Genin on a mission outside the village, he’d met the masked man and, with his “help,” awakened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan—by “help,” it meant the masked man killed his teammate. Then, in early spring, when Danzō defected, the masked man had infiltrated the Uchiha grounds and briefly crossed paths with Itachi, who was training on a cliff. 

Both times, Itachi kept it to himself, not even telling Shisui. 

Until recently. 

The masked man appeared at Naka River again, this time inviting Itachi to join him in wiping out the Uchiha clan. 

By then, Itachi had undergone some ideological reshaping through “Shisui’s Study Sessions” and no longer thought solely with his “seven-year-old Hokage mindset.” After some deliberation, he chose to confide in Shisui. 

“That guy just doesn’t quit, does he…” Hikari muttered, rubbing her chin. 

Obito’s been busy lately— 

From airdropping Mist ninja into Konoha to cause chaos, to attacking lone Uchihas, to heading to the Land of Demons to try taming the “Mōryō.” Apart from their one encounter early on, Hikari had only heard of his actions without seeing him, almost as if he was deliberately avoiding her. 

Which makes sense. 

Others might not know about her ocular abilities, but Black Zetsu likely does. 

At the very least, he’d know about Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu. Yasaka no Magatama? That’s less certain. 

Unsure if Obito could withstand her genjutsu, those two would naturally be cautious to avoid giving her an opening. 

“Well, if push comes to shove, I’ll take Esdeath to Rain Village…” 

“Or maybe… check out Mist Village first?” 

“At this point, Obito’s probably still in Mist, controlling Yagura, right?” 

Hikari mulled it over. 

No rush, though. 

Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. She’d gained some powerful tools from her time in the Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen worlds, particularly the techniques of a few Special Grade Cursed Spirits. She’d need to master those first before taking on Obito. 

Hikari asked a few more questions about the clan’s recent affairs. 

Shisui answered thoroughly, adding a bit about Naruto and Sasuke. 

After all, it wasn’t a secret within the clan that Hikari had once been Naruto’s temporary guardian. While some Uchihas didn’t understand why their revered ancestor would associate with the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, no one dared question her actions given her status and power. 

“…Those two kids are rivals at the Ninja Academy?” 

“Yes, the school placed them in the same class, but they don’t get along. They argue whenever they meet and nearly hurt each other during sparring practice. The school had to call in a guardian… Since you weren’t around, Jiraiya-sama handled it.” 

“…” 

Alright then. 

Hikari had hoped her involvement would make Naruto and Sasuke’s relationship better than in the original timeline, but clearly, she’d overestimated things. 

Still… 

Is their rivalry due to their personalities, or the influence of Indra and Asura’s chakra? 

The old Hikari might not have been able to tell, but now, with Mufū Henka allowing her to “see” and touch souls, she could try digging into the deeper secrets of Naruto and Sasuke. 

“I’ve got the gist of it.” 

“Keep monitoring the clinical trials and let me know if anything comes up. I’ll check on Sasuke and Naruto when I have time.” 

Hikari thought for a moment before giving Shisui her instructions. 

“Understood.” 

Shisui bowed respectfully and left to attend to his duties. 

Only then did Hikari upload the experimental data to the group chat, asking Bulma to pass it on to Dr. Brief. She also casually asked about something else— 

Nameless@Onihime: How’s it going, Yamato? Is your dad, Kaido, giving you a hard time? 

That’s right. 

After her stint in the Jujutsu Kaisen world, Yamato had reluctantly ended her months-long runaway adventure and returned to Onigashima in the One Piece world. 

The group chat members had expressed some concern about this. 

Brand even offered to bring his “Night Raid” team to help if needed. 

Onihime: Thanks, everyone, but I’m fine for now… 

Onihime: According to Nibuya, Kaido left Onigashima with his crew a few weeks ago. Ulti and Page One showed up once, saying they were ordered to lock me up, but I beat them black and blue, and they ran off. They might try contacting Kaido via Den Den Mushi. 

EternalBigSis: …Den Den Mushi? 

Onihime: Yup, it’s a communication tool we use here, kinda like the phones Bulma and Itadori have! 

Perhaps because the question came from Minato Namikaze, Yamato even sent a photo of a Den Den Mushi to the group for everyone to see. 

The snail-like creature piqued Bulma and Erii’s interest, with both wondering if they could keep one as a pet. 

In theory, a Den Den Mushi might actually work in other worlds. 

Its mechanics are similar to a telegraph, relying on electromagnetic waves for long-distance communication. But for Bulma and others who already have phones, using it would be a bit redundant… 

After chatting a bit about the One Piece world, Yamato pinged Hikari again. 

Onihime: Miss Hikari, I checked, and Ace’s Life Card is still fine… Could you come by when you have time to check on Ace’s situation? 

Nameless: In a couple of days. Once I sort out things here, I’ll swing by. 

Previously, during their time in the Jujutsu Kaisen world, Hikari had privately told Yamato about Ace’s impending capture and public execution by the Marines. 

Yamato was understandably anxious and had earnestly begged Hikari for help. 

“Please, Miss Hikari, this is my one lifelong request!” 

“…Where’d you pick up that dramatic line?” 

“Uh… from an anime I watched with Nobara and the others.” 

Chapter 263: Yo, Mind Lending Some Chakra? 

Let’s set aside Yamato’s so-called “once-in-a-lifetime request” for now. 

Uchiha Hikari was already planning to swing by the One Piece world soon to check on the timeline there and do some scouting for Bulma’s “Dimensional Pirate Crew Plan.” If time allowed, saving Ace would just be a little side quest. 

But for now… 

“Wanna take a walk, Esdeath?” Hikari asked, glancing at the battle-hungry queen beside her. 

“Looks like nice weather today.” 

Esdeath didn’t even need to think about it. She nodded instantly, and the two of them slipped on their shoes, leaving the Uchiha clan grounds to wander into the village. 

How to put it… 

After getting used to the modern cities of the Dragon Ball and Jujutsu Kaisen worlds, coming back to the Hidden Leaf Village in the Naruto world felt like stepping into a different era. Which, well, it kinda was. To the villagers, though, Hikari had just been “out of town” for a bit. 

On their way… 

A few members of the patrol team passed by and bowed to Hikari. “Greetings, Great-Grandma!” one said. “Lady Hikari,” another added. 

“Mhm…” Hikari nodded, giving them a quick glance. 

The one calling her “Great-Grandma” was clearly an Uchiha. The other two were an Inuzuka—easy to spot with the face paint and spiky blonde hair—and a Yamanaka.  

The trio, despite coming from different clans, seemed to get along pretty well. Even the villagers passing by didn’t show the usual fear or hostility toward them. Instead, there was a sense of familiarity. 

—Probably the result of the patrol team’s recent push for “civilized enforcement.” 

The original Naruto story didn’t mention this, but most of the Hidden Leaf’s villagers were, to put it bluntly, “simple folk.” Low education, barely literate, and only vaguely aware of the village’s rules. That’s why they used to resent the patrol team, who were always quick to arrest people. 

But now… 

Shisui and the younger Uchiha generation had started playing smart, taking control of public opinion. They set up a “Legal PR Division” to explain the village’s systems to the common folk, subtly easing the villagers’ hostility toward the Uchiha. 

And it was working pretty well. 

“Not bad,” Hikari said, giving a small nod like some wise old sage. “Guess my ‘grandkids’ are doing fine on their own. Time for this ‘Great-Grandma’ to kick back.” 

Esdeath’s mouth twitched, her face screaming really? 

“What?” Hikari asked. 

“Nothing,” Esdeath said, shaking her head. “It’s just… you saying stuff like that with your face is kinda cute in a weird way.” 

“…Huh?” Hikari blinked, caught off guard. 

She’d mostly been joking, but Esdeath seemed to take it seriously. 

Hikari didn’t bother explaining. She just kept strolling with Esdeath, stopping here and there. They grabbed a couple of boxes of tricolor dango, munching on them as they walked. Then they hit up the commercial street, buying a bunch of cool-looking clothes and handicrafts. 

—Gotta admit, the Leaf Village had some top-notch woodcarving shops. If you took their stuff to the Jujutsu Kaisen or Dragon Ball worlds, you could probably sell it as high-end collectibles for a fortune. 

… 

After wandering the village all afternoon and chilling up by the Hokage Rock to catch the breeze, Hikari led Esdeath to the Ninja Academy. 

It was just about dismissal time. 

Groups of kids, ranging from six to ten years old, poured out of the school, chattering and laughing. One kid stood out in particular—a loudmouth in a whirlpool-patterned T-shirt with bright blonde hair. A few meters away was another kid, dark-haired and spiky, dressed in a blue shirt and white pants. 

Yup. 

Naruto and Sasuke. 

The second Naruto spotted Hikari, his eyes lit up. The sulky look he’d been giving Sasuke vanished as he sprinted over. “Hikari-nee! It’s really you!” 

“Hey, long time no see,” Hikari said, catching him by the shoulders before he could tackle her with a hug. She ruffled his hair. “Hmm, feels like you’ve been keeping up with your baths. Hair’s nice and soft.” 

“Of course!” Naruto grinned. “I’ve been doing everything you told me—eating right, sleeping well, bathing every day!” 

“Oh, and Mochi and Riceball! They’ve grown so much lately. Hikari-nee, wanna come see ‘em with me?” 

Once Naruto started talking, he didn’t stop. 

Nearby, Sasuke paused, looking like he was debating whether to say hi to Hikari or just pretend he didn’t see her and bolt. 

Before he could decide, Hikari waved him over. “Sasuke, right? Shisui says you and Naruto have been getting along pretty well. Haven’t been to his place yet, have you? Wanna come with?” 

“…?” Sasuke’s face slowly formed a question mark. 

Me… and Naruto? Getting along? For real? 

He was skeptical but couldn’t exactly say no to Hikari, a clan elder. After mumbling something about his parents and brother waiting for him at home, Hikari just grabbed his wrist and dragged him toward the streets near the academy. 

Naruto’s place wasn’t far from the school. 

About ten minutes later, they arrived at his small, single-person apartment. 

As the door swung open, a cream-colored dog, about half a person’s height, bounded over, tail wagging. It sniffed around the group, then seemed to recognize Hikari and reared up, looking like it wanted to lick her face. 

“Hmph!” Esdeath let out a sharp huff, and the dog froze, tail tucked, its face a mix of confusion and fear. 

“Easy, Esdeath, don’t scare it,” Hikari said, waving her off. She crouched down and petted the dog’s soft fur. “You’re… Rice, right?” 

“Uh, Hikari-nee, that’s Mochi,” Naruto corrected quietly. 

“Oh, right,” Hikari said, then glanced at the black-and-white dog lounging lazily in a dog bed nearby. “And that one’s Sushi?” 

“…Riceball.” 

“Eh, close enough,” Hikari said with a laugh, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “You know, since these two are from the same litter, they should’ve been named Sesshomaru and Inuyasha.” 

“?” 

Sadly, no one in the room got the joke. 

Especially Sasuke. 

Maybe because most Uchihas were cat or crow people, not big on canines, Sasuke and Mochi seemed to mutually ignore each other. Sasuke stood off to the side, playing cool and quiet, while Mochi didn’t bother sniffing him like it did with Hikari and Naruto. 

Hikari sighed, gave Mochi and Riceball a few good scratches, then stood up, glancing at the clock on the wall. “It’s about dinnertime… Since I’m here, I’ll cook tonight. Got any fresh ingredients?” 

“Yup, we do!” Naruto said eagerly. 

That night’s dinner was a joint effort between Hikari and Esdeath. 

It was quite the feast. 

Sasuke initially seemed ready to head home early, but Hikari’s elder authority kept him at the table. After a few bites, his face lit up with surprise, and he started sneakily—but quickly—piling food into his bowl. 

Naruto wasn’t about to lose. The two nearly started a chopstick war. 

After everyone was stuffed and satisfied, Naruto jumped up to wash the dishes. 

Sasuke, meanwhile, reverted to his cool-guy act, looking around like he was searching for an excuse to leave. 

That’s when Hikari waved Naruto over, pulling the little blond closer and placing a hand on his shoulder. 

“…Hikari-nee?” Naruto asked. 

“Hold still. Let me take a look.” 

As she spoke, Hikari closed her eyes and activated “Idle Transfiguration.” Her consciousness extended like tendrils through her hand, slipping into Naruto’s body to examine his soul. 

“…Huh. This kid’s soul is tough. Way more solid than those cursed spirits.” 

“…Wait, is this that legendary ‘Ashura Chakra’?” 

“And…” 

As Hikari carefully studied Naruto’s soul, trying to uncover Ashura’s secrets, another ripple of chakra suddenly stirred. The calm “mental world” within Naruto shifted rapidly, overtaken by a flood of crimson liquid. In that moment, a structure like a prison cell appeared in Hikari’s “vision.” 

“This place is…” 

Hikari glanced around, already piecing it together. 

She wasn’t unfamiliar with this spot—it was the place inside Naruto where the Nine-Tails was sealed. 

This had to be somewhere within Naruto’s soul, like his mindscape or mental world. When she probed his soul, she must’ve accidentally connected to this place. And if she wasn’t mistaken, that orange fox was probably lurking nearby. 

Hikari had been meaning to meet the Nine-Tails in Naruto’s body at some point. 

And now… 

No time like the present. 

Since she was already here, and the faint outline of that orange fox was flickering in the cell, she figured she might as well call it out for a chat. 

“Ahem…” 

Facing the Nine-Tails, Hikari flashed a grin. “Yo, Nine-Tails. You in there? Mind lending me some chakra?” 

Chapter 264: A Deal with the Nine-Tails 

“…” 

A brief silence. 

Then, a massive shadowy figure emerged from behind the iron bars of the “cell,” revealing an orange-red fox with nine tails. It glared at Uchiha Hikari with a fierce expression, its eyes brimming with irritation. “That aura… another naturally wicked Uchiha, huh? What are you doing here? Get lost!” 

As the word “lost” echoed, a ferocious aura erupted, transforming into a wave of crimson energy that surged outward. 

In the blink of an eye, the mental space was engulfed in a thick, blood-red hue, as if it had become an endless sea of blood. 

“…Heh.” 

“Over a thousand years old, and still so hot-headed, huh, Kurama?” 

Uchiha Hikari remarked casually. 

To be fair, the Nine-Tails’ presence was impressive. 

If she had come here right after arriving in the Naruto world and faced this beast, she might’ve felt a bit intimidated. But now, after being tempered by experiences in other worlds, this display felt like a drop in the ocean. It didn’t stir a single ripple in her heart. 

Besides… 

Despite the Nine-Tails’ ferocious act, Hikari, who knew the original storyline, saw it as little more than a giant orange cat or husky—a classic tsundere with a bark worse than its bite. 

Compared to the likes of Sukuna, Naraku, or Muzan from other worlds, the Nine-Tails was practically a saintly lotus flower. Given its centuries of being captured and controlled, a bit of craziness was understandable. 

On the other side, the Nine-Tails’ pupils narrowed. “What… did you just say?” 

Kurama? 

How does she know that name?! 

“Well, I’m a ‘naturally wicked’ Uchiha. Is it really that surprising I know a few secrets?” Hikari said with a smirk. 

“…” 

The Nine-Tails squinted but stayed silent. 

Just as Hikari recognized it, the Nine-Tails also “knew” her. 

After all, before Hikari returned to the Uchiha clan as their “Great-Grandmother,” she had lived with Naruto for months. Through the Jinchūriki’s perspective, the Nine-Tails could “see” the outside world. So, it was well aware that Hikari possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan. 

And considering what previous Uchihas with the Mangekyō had done… 

A suspicion crept into the Nine-Tails’ mind. “Hmph, an Uchiha is an Uchiha.” 

“Even your tone and looks are infuriating, just like that man from back then…” Its expression grew even more disdainful as it mentioned “that man.” “So, you’re here to follow in the footsteps of those other Uchihas, huh? Planning to set me loose to wreak havoc on Konoha? I knew it—people like you never settle for peace!” 

“But if that’s your goal… I wouldn’t mind cooperating just this once. I’ve been itching to tear this wretched village apart!” 

“…” 

Hikari pursed her lips slightly, looking at the Nine-Tails as if it were a hyperactive husky. “Are you… misunderstanding something?” 

“Misunderstanding?” The Nine-Tails’ fluffy face twisted into a sneer. “What, are you saying you’re different from the other Uchihas?” 

“Not exactly.” 

Hikari scratched her head. “What I mean is, aside from having a ton of chakra and being big, what else do you have going for you? If I wanted to destroy Konoha… I could do it myself. Why would I need you?” 

“!” 

The Nine-Tails froze, then roared in fury. “Are you saying I’m weak?!” 

“Pfft—” 

Hikari couldn’t help but laugh. 

In that moment, her mind flashed to Hashirama Senju’s iconic scene. 

You know, the “Kurama, you’re too strong, so you need to be sealed” head-pat moment. 

Strictly speaking, the gap between the Nine-Tails and Hashirama wasn’t that wide. Its strength depended entirely on the user. If treated as just a giant beast, even a decent Kage-level ninja could go toe-to-toe with it. But in the hands of a Perfect Jinchūriki, it was a whole different story. 

“Alright, let’s get to business.” 

Seeing the Nine-Tails spiraling into a rage, Hikari’s smile faded, and she cleared her throat to get to the point. “I don’t know how much you know about me, but I’m friends with this kid’s father, Minato Namikaze, the one who sealed you. So, I’m here on his behalf to have a little chat. 

“If possible, I’d like you to get along with Naruto. At the very least, stop messing with him when he’s practicing ninjutsu.” 

Naruto hadn’t brought up any issues with his ninjutsu training during this visit. 

But based on Shisui’s intel and some snippets from Naruto and Sasuke’s bickering, Hikari could tell Naruto was, as expected, the “dead-last” at the Ninja Academy. 

In theory, it wasn’t a big deal. 

After all, compared to “demon fox,” “dead-last” was a much kinder nickname. 

Still… 

Hikari was curious to see what would happen if Naruto took the “genius” route instead. 

Of course, the Nine-Tails wasn’t going to cooperate easily. 

“Hmph, why should I listen to you?” 

“Because of these eyes.” 

Hikari closed her eyes for a few seconds before opening them again, revealing a fiery, rose-red glow in her Mangekyō Sharingan. “These eyes can see glimpses of the future. Want a look?” 

… 

Hikari didn’t play all 700 episodes of Naruto Shippuden for the Nine-Tails. 

Instead, she showed it selected scenes—mostly those involving itself and Naruto. 

The Nine-Tails’ expression flickered between uncertainty and disbelief. 

Well… it’s hard to read much beyond “disgust” on that fluffy face. 

“…You’re saying this masked ‘Uchiha Madara’ will start a ninja war in a decade or so? And I’ll team up with this kid to fight him?” 

“Impossible… Absolutely impossible!” 

“He’s the son of the Fourth and Kushina, the ones who sealed me! I’d rather die than work with him!” 

The Nine-Tails’ face was full of outrage. 

Hikari just watched it with amusement. “You sure about that?” 

“…” 

“Fine, maybe you think what I showed you was just Sharingan genjutsu. 

“But that’s okay. 

“How about a deal? If you stop interfering with Naruto’s training, I’ll grant you one not-too-extravagant wish. Sound good?” 

This time, the Nine-Tails was intrigued. 

“Can you set me free from here?” 

“…Do you understand what ‘not too extravagant’ means?” 

Releasing a Tailed Beast from its Jinchūriki means the host’s death. 

So, naturally, Hikari couldn’t do that. 

But… 

Taking a small part of the Nine-Tails out? That was doable. 

In the Naruto world, chakra includes elements of the soul, allowing Asura and Indra to reincarnate through it, and Minato and Kushina to store fragments of their souls in Naruto as chakra. So, taking a piece of the Nine-Tails out to experience the world was, in a roundabout way, close enough to “freeing” it. 

—That’s how Hikari pitched it to the Nine-Tails. 

“…Really?” 

The Nine-Tails was a bit dumbfounded by her logic. 

But it also knew this was probably the best it could get. After a brief consideration, it nodded and gathered a portion of its chakra, sending it out from the cage. 

During the process, Hikari glanced at the sealing formula on the cage. 

She could faintly sense two chakra signatures within it—likely Minato and Kushina’s. But due to the seal’s conditions, this level of loosening wasn’t enough to let them break free. 

Hikari could forcibly break the seal and pull them out. 

But there was no point in that, and it might cause complications—Minato’s chakra fragment likely wouldn’t recognize her and could mistake her for an ally of the masked man, leading to unnecessary explanations. 

So, she let it be. 

Soon, the Nine-Tails’ separated chakra formed a small, two-to-three-meter-tall mini Nine-Tails outside the cage. 

“…It’s this chibi?” 

Hikari reached out to pat the mini Nine-Tails’ head, but it dodged with a look of disgust. “What are you doing?” 

“Sealing you up to take you out, obviously.” 

“…Hurry up.” 

With the mini Nine-Tails’ impatient tone, Hikari activated the Four Symbols Seal, binding it to her soul. She then waved at the main Nine-Tails in the cage and, with a thought, withdrew from Naruto’s mental world. 

Back in reality, in the living room, Hikari slowly opened her eyes. 

She saw Naruto, drenched in sweat, and Esdeath, standing nearby with a wary expression. 

“What’s with you two…?” 

“Just now, this kid suddenly gave off a ferocious aura, like something was about to break out… Was that you? Everything okay?” Esdeath explained, then asked. 

“Of course.” 

Hikari gave a small smile and glanced at her pale hand. There, on her hand, was a fluffy fox head, like an old-school animated sticker, looking adorably chibi. But only she knew it contained the chakra of that mini Nine-Tails. 

“By the way…” 

Does this mean I’m a “Nine-Tails Jinchūriki” now? 

Chapter 265: The Ninja Training Manual 

The clone that the Nine-Tails split off wasn’t exactly huge, but it still packed a serious amount of chakra. 

Rough estimate? 

Probably enough to match a few dozen Kakashis. 

Uchiha Hikari wasn’t exactly short on chakra herself—she had senzu beans and the “Yin Seal” for quick recovery, so stamina wasn’t an issue. But this chunk of Nine-Tails chakra could actually boost her chakra cap. Plus, it might even let her develop some moves like a “Perfect Jinchuriki.” 

Worth a shot later. 

For now… 

Naruto finally snapped out of the slight daze from the Nine-Tails’ mini-rampage and looked at Hikari, totally confused. “Hikari-nee, what just…?” 

“No big deal. Just had a quick chat with a certain friend inside you,” Hikari said casually. “You’ve already learned chakra extraction at school, right? Give it a try now, see how it feels.” 

“Huh?” 

Naruto didn’t quite get it but followed her lead anyway. 

After a couple of tries, the little blond’s face lit up with excitement. “Hikari-nee, I did it! I can actually extract chakra now! Must be ‘cause you’re here—my genius side’s finally kicking in!” 

“…Tch, dead-last,” Sasuke muttered. 

Naruto’s hair practically stood on end. “I’m talking to Hikari-nee, butt out, you ugly jerk!” 

“Dead-last!” 

“Ugly jerk!” 

Just as the two were about to start bickering again, Hikari swiftly grabbed them by their collars, one in each hand, and pulled them apart. “Alright, cool it, you two. Didn’t get enough of this at school?” 

“…” 

As their “big sister” and “great-grandma,” Hikari had plenty of authority over Naruto and Sasuke. 

Once they quieted down, she pulled a small booklet from her pocket and handed it to Naruto. “This is something your fa—uh, I mean, I got this ready for you. I was gonna wait till you were older, but whatever, now’s fine. It’s got the basics of ninja training. Study it, and if you’ve got questions, come to me… or ask Kakashi or Yugao Uzuki. They’re still keeping an eye on you, right? 

“If you master what’s in here, even if you don’t catch up to Sasuke, you’ll at least make it to the top few in your class.” 

To be precise… 

This booklet was carefully put together by Minato Namikaze. 

Hikari had just turned his digital version into a physical copy. 

Back in the Sound Village, she’d shared it with Karin and Kimimaro—with Minato’s permission, of course. Now that Naruto’s Nine-Tails issue was mostly sorted out, it was time for him to make good use of it too. 

As for Kakashi… 

As Minato’s student, showing him the booklet wasn’t exactly a security breach. Who knows, maybe he’d even pick up on some of his old teacher’s writing quirks. 

Speaking of which… 

Minato had asked her a while back to keep his existence a secret from Naruto for now. That was when the chat group only had the original four members. 

Hikari figured she’d check in with Minato later to see if he’d changed his mind. If there was some father-son talk he wanted to pass on to Naruto, she didn’t mind playing messenger. 

That night… 

Hikari, Esdeath, and Sasuke hung out at Naruto’s place for a bit, playing some poker. 

—Sasuke had tried to dip out, but they were one player short, so he got roped into staying. 

Naruto initially suggested drawing turtles on the loser’s face, probably wanting to see Sasuke’s pretty face covered in doodles. But he stopped himself mid-sentence. With Hikari and Esdeath there, if they lost and ended up with doodles, that’d be… awkward. 

They played until around eight or nine. 

As the moon climbed higher, Hikari yawned and stood up to leave. “Time to head out.” 

“Safe travels, Hikari-nee! And Esdeath-nee… You don’t count, ugly jerk,” Naruto called out. 

He walked them downstairs, watching as the trio disappeared around the street corner. He stood under the streetlight for a few minutes before heading back home. 

On the other side… 

On the way back to the Uchiha compound, Sasuke kept glancing up at Hikari, looking like he wanted to say something but couldn’t quite spit it out. 

“What’s up? Got something to say?” Hikari asked. 

“…Great-Grandma, that dead-last… I mean, Naruto Uzumaki. Is he really the ‘demon fox’?” Sasuke asked hesitantly. 

“Hm?” Hikari paused mid-step. 

Under her gaze, Sasuke mustered his courage. “I heard you say you talked to some friend inside him. And a lot of people in the village, even Dad, say Naruto’s tied to the ‘Nine-Tails Incident.’ So…” 

Sasuke hadn’t awakened his Sharingan yet, so he couldn’t see what was inside Naruto. 

But he’d definitely felt the brief surge of energy when Hikari met with the Nine-Tails earlier, and it got him thinking. 

Hikari considered for a moment. “You ever heard of a ‘Jinchuriki’?” 

“…What’s that?” 

“There are nine Tailed Beasts in this world, each with insane power. The people who seal them inside their bodies are called Jinchuriki. Regular folks can’t tell the difference between the beast and the person, and they’re scared of that power, so they take it out on the human who carries it.” 

“!” 

“So… that’s why the village treats Naruto like that? If he’s the one sealing the Nine-Tails, doesn’t that make him a hero?” 

“Pretty much,” Hikari said. 

Sasuke’s expression shifted as he processed her words. 

“…Then I won’t call him dead-last anymore.” 

“?” Hikari raised an eyebrow, glancing at the spiky-haired kid. 

She’d half-expected Sasuke to worry about Naruto surpassing him after learning about the Jinchuriki thing. But then again… 

In the original Naruto story, Sasuke’s obsession with power came from the trauma of the Uchiha massacre. That pushed him to clash with Naruto when he saw him getting stronger. But now, Sasuke was still living in a happy family. Even if Naruto passed him up, he’d probably just pester Itachi or Fugaku for extra training to catch up, not go all extreme. 

“Speaking of, is Fugaku still as cold to Sasuke as he was in the original story?” 

If so… 

Maybe it was time to have a chat with him. 

Hikari hadn’t been a parent herself—obviously not a mom either—but she wasn’t a fan of Fugaku’s parenting style. Itachi’s “Hokage mindset at age seven” was half his fault, and Sasuke’s more standoffish traits were largely due to Fugaku’s constant neglect. 

For the sake of the next generation’s mental health… 

Hikari decided she’d swing by Eri’s place later to grab some parenting books. Not just for Fugaku—plenty of other Uchihas could probably use a read too. 

“We’re here.” 

Stepping into the Uchiha compound, Hikari patted Sasuke’s head. “Stop overthinking and get some sleep. Oh, and tell your dad I need to talk to him. Have him come by tomorrow or the day after when he’s free.” 

“…Got it.” 

Sasuke bowed and darted off. 

Hikari, meanwhile, led Esdeath back to her private villa near the Naka River waterfall. 

After washing up… 

As Hikari grabbed some bedding from the closet to set up for Esdeath, she saw the latter step out of the bathroom in a bathrobe, toweling off her hair. 

“Hey, you sleeping with me tonight?” Esdeath asked with a teasing grin. 

“…Nope,” Hikari said, pointing to the next room. “My bedroom’s over there, just a wall away. Call me if you need anything… Though, didn’t you already stay here once?” 

If she remembered right, the last time Esdeath was here was right after she’d been pulled from the Akame ga Kill world. Eri was there too. They’d stayed a couple of days before heading to the Land of Demons. 

If that didn’t count… 

This was technically the first time Hikari had brought Esdeath home alone. 

Her eyes couldn’t help but drift to Esdeath’s chest a few times, her cheeks flushing slightly before she looked away. Couldn’t help it—the bathrobe was clearly hiding nothing underneath, and with the top few buttons undone in the warm weather, there was a clear view of a deep valley and snowy peaks. 

Sure, they’d already seen each other in the buff at the hot springs in the Land of Hot Water. 

But this half-covered look was somehow more tempting. 

Esdeath noticed Hikari’s gaze, glanced down, and smirked. “What, wanna take a peek? If it’s you, I don’t mind.” 

She even tugged her collar down a bit, revealing more snowy skin. 

Hikari nearly choked. “Ahem… Just an accidental glance. Button up, will you? Not great if someone else sees.” 

“Who’s gonna see? It’s just us here,” Esdeath said, unbothered. 

“Uh…” 

So, I’m one of the “inner circle” now? 

Hikari caught the familiar, slightly flirty tone in Esdeath’s voice but was too busy setting up the bedding to dwell on it. “…All done. It’s past ten, pretty late. Get some rest. I’m gonna need your help training some new abilities tomorrow.” 

“…Alright. See you tomorrow, then,” Esdeath said after a pause. “Goodnight.” 

“Goodnight.” 

(Chapter End)