141-145

Chapter 141: Heading to the Land of Water 

"Mist Village... is it the Kaguya clan?"  

Uchiha Hikari's mind raced.  

In the original storyline, the Kaguya clan launched their rebellion around this time.  

That’s why she had previously considered making a trip to the Land of Water to bring back Kimimaro. After all, following this rebellion, the Kaguya clan was nearly wiped out. Without outside intervention, Kimimaro might also perish under the pursuit of the Mist Village’s Anbu.  

On the other side, Orochimaru was slightly surprised. "So, Lady Hikari has informants in the Land of Water as well?"  

"Guess."  

Uchiha Hikari’s “informants” were actually from a manga artist in another world.  

But there was no need to explain that to Orochimaru.  

When dealing with a subordinate with such ambition and ability, it was better to maintain an air of mystery and unpredictability.  

Orochimaru didn’t dwell on the topic and gave a concise explanation:  

The Mist Village was indeed on the brink of internal conflict.  

But the situation had shifted slightly.  

In the original timeline, the Kaguya clan’s rebellion was mainly due to the Blood Mist policy. During Obito’s reign over the Mist, he had near-madly purged the village’s various kekkei genkai clans. First, the Yuki clan was exterminated, and then the Kaguya, Hozuki, and Terumi families faced repeated suppression. Anyone with a bit of foresight could see that clan annihilation was only a matter of time.  

In this timeline, Obito had tried to divert internal tensions by launching attacks on the Leaf Village—a clever move, albeit a desperate one.  

But... both attacks failed.  

The Mist Village had sent the Kaguya clan as the main force in both operations. The first time, they clashed with Uchiha Hikari; the second time, they ran into Shisui. Not only did they lose many members, but they also gained nothing—no spoils, no glory. Instead, they were questioned by the Leaf Village and the Land of Water’s daimyo, leaving them in a mess.  

As a result, the Kaguya clan’s dissatisfaction with the Mist Village’s leadership exploded. Their clan head, Kaguya Hiromitsu, openly expressed that the current Mizukage was incompetent and declared his desire to take over, vowing to make the Mist Village great again.  

The rebellion hadn’t happened yet.  

But based on reports from spies mentioning the Kaguya clan’s recent movements to gather their members, Orochimaru believed they might launch an uprising soon. So, he decided to head there in advance.  

"…I have some assets in the Land of Water that might be affected by this unrest, so I’d like to temporarily leave the Sound Village to handle things.  

Don’t worry, Lady Hikari. During this time, I’ll leave a shadow clone behind to continue researching a cure for Lady Eri. Karin and Jugo can also train under my clone for now. Once things in the Land of Water are settled, I’ll return as soon as possible."  

That’s what Orochimaru said.  

Uchiha Hikari’s expression turned a bit odd. Are you sure you’re just going to manage your assets and not kidnap a child?  

Of course…  

It’s possible Orochimaru’s plan to take Kimimaro wasn’t premeditated but rather a decision he’d make after arriving in the Land of Water and assessing the situation. So, he might not even know his own intentions yet.  

"How long will you be gone?"  

"About a month and a half."  

The Mist Village, located in the distant Land of Water, was separated from other nations by vast seas. Even with a ninja’s speed, the journey there would take about a week. Including the return trip and the time needed to handle things, a month and a half was already quite fast.  

Uchiha Hikari pondered for a moment. "…Alright, go ahead with peace of mind."  

Seeing her swift agreement, Orochimaru seemed to relax, bowing in thanks before mentioning Jugo.  

"That boy can be brought along for your research, under the same conditions as Karin and her mother."  

Uchiha Hikari agreed readily once again.  

With both of his goals achieved, Orochimaru gave a slight bow of gratitude and turned to leave.  

Uchiha Hikari, meanwhile, narrowed her eyes, a playful glint flashing through them. She had approved Orochimaru’s leave, but she never said she wouldn’t go to the Mist Village herself.  

Since both of them were targeting the Kaguya clan, it was a race to see who would act faster.  

Creak—  

With the sound of the door turning, Uchiha Hikari returned to the house she shared with Eri.  

As soon as she looked up, she saw Eri soaking in the bathtub, blowing bubbles and playfully poking at a little yellow duck floating on the water, a relaxed and content look on her face.  

"…How did your clothes end up scattered everywhere again?"  

Uchiha Hikari shook her head, walking over to pick up the strewn skirt and underwear, dusting them off and placing them on a chair. "Eri, do you want to go back home for a bit?"  

"?"  

Eri froze for a moment, then turned her head, looking a bit anxious as she glanced around for her notebook.  

Splash—  

Seeing the girl stand up in the tub to grab her notebook, Uchiha Hikari quickly stepped forward, handed it to her, and gently pushed her back into the water. "If you want to say something, just raise your hand. I’ll get it for you. Don’t keep running around without clothes—what if you catch a cold?"  

"Eri has a strong constitution. I won’t catch a cold."  

Eri scribbled a few lines, held up the notebook, then lowered it to write more. "Does Hikari not want me to stay here anymore?"  

"No, it’s just that I have some dangerous things to take care of."  

Uchiha Hikari paused. "And you’ve been away from home for quite a while now. Aren’t you worried about your brother and father?"  

"It’s fine. I left a note."  

"A note…"  

Uchiha Hikari suddenly thought of something. "Wait, when you came here, did you not tell your brother or anyone in person?"  

Eri shook her head. "No."  

"Hmm…"  

Hikari could probably guess the situation at the Uesugi family now.  

In the eyes of Uesugi Etsu and the others, Eri had likely been whisked away by her, the “White King,” into Nibelungen again.  

For now, Uchiha Hikari took out a universal capsule and checked its contents. "You brought one more dose of the serum, and with Dr. Brief’s suppressant… it should last about a week without issues. Once I’m back from the Land of Water, I’ll take you home. I also happen to have some things I’d like your brother and the others to help with."  

With Hikari’s reassurance, Eri’s face lit up with a bright smile. She raised her notebook again: "I like Hikari the most! (∩_∩)"  

"Heh…"  

Caught off guard by the girl’s radiant smile, Uchiha Hikari let out a small, helpless sigh.  

…  

The next morning, Orochimaru left a shadow clone behind and set off from the Sound Village.  

A little later, Uchiha Hikari gave some instructions to Karin and her mother, left a shadow clone in the village, and set out with Eri.  

The two boarded the Flying Nimbus once more, heading toward the Land of Water.  

Chapter 142: My Name is Uchiha Madara! 

Thanks to the Nimbus Cloud, Uchiha Hikari made it to the Land of Water in just one day. 

Finding Kimimaro, though? That took a few days. 

The Land of Water’s climate is kind of like the British Isles—super humid, with most areas constantly shrouded in thick fog. Looking down from high above, all you can see is a sea of white mist, making it impossible to spot anything below. 

No choice, really. 

Hikari had to pick a slightly larger city at random, track down the lord’s mansion, and interrogate someone there to get directions to the Kaguya clan’s stronghold. From there, it was a slow, careful journey to find the place. 

Here’s something worth noting… 

The Kaguya clan’s base isn’t actually in the Hidden Mist Village. 

It’s pretty far from it, in fact. 

Apparently, ever since the Second Mizukage’s time, bad blood with the Mizukage’s faction led the Kaguya to pack up and leave the village. For years, they’ve maintained a “we’ll listen, but we don’t obey” attitude. The Daimyo’s influence is the only reason they begrudgingly follow the Mizukage’s orders at all, but there’s been plenty of bad blood and friction behind the scenes. 

This rebellion? It’s been a long time coming. 

Too bad their strength wasn’t enough. The uprising lasted one night before it was completely crushed. They’re like the Uchiha clan from Konoha—brothers in misery. 

“…This should be the place.” 

Hikari, holding Erii’s hand, stopped at the top of a hill, looking down at a valley below. 

There, nestled in the valley, was a cluster of stone houses that looked like a small tribal settlement. It was the middle of the night, so aside from a few patrolling figures, the place was quiet—no signs of activity. 

“Erii, stay here and don’t move. I’ll be right back.” 

Hikari activated her Blood Jade Barrier and handed the Blood Jade Coral to Erii. 

The red-haired girl nodded blankly, then gave an “OK” hand gesture. 

“…Did you learn that from a manga too?” 

Hikari’s lips twitched as she slipped on her mini-bracelet. Using the Flying Thunder God technique, she silently took off, gliding into the valley. After a quick scan, her eyes locked onto a row of dark caves at the far end of the settlement. 

That was the only area with guards. 

But with the cover of night and her body shrunken to just a centimeter or two by the bracelet, even the skilled Kaguya ninjas didn’t notice her. She easily marked them with a seal, and they collapsed into a deep sleep. 

With that done, Hikari looked at the three or four cave entrances in front of her. After a moment’s hesitation, she picked one and flew inside. 

… 

Deep inside the pitch-black cave was a square, sealed chamber. 

Inside, candles flickered. 

A few square-faced men in kimonos, their hair tied into buns on both sides of their heads, sat around a long table. They spoke in low, serious tones, their faces grim. The candlelight cast long, eerie shadows behind them. 

“…So, that’s the situation.” 

“With the defection of Juzo Biwa and his Decapitating Carving Knife, plus Raiga Kurosuki and his Thunder Blades, the Anbu are spread thin chasing them down. The Hidden Mist Village is at its most vulnerable right now. Clan leader, our people are ready. It’s time to show Yagura Karatachi what we’re capable of!” 

… 

The room buzzed with heated excitement. 

The square-faced man at the head of the table coughed, turning to the only person dressed differently in the room. “What do you think, Zabuza?” 

All eyes shifted to a figure in the corner. 

He was tall, wearing the Hidden Mist’s Anbu uniform, his face half-wrapped in bandages, leaving only his browless eyes visible. His gaze was fierce and predatory. 

“I’ve said it before—I don’t care about your goals. I’m only working with you to assassinate the Fourth Mizukage. If you can keep Yagura’s personal Anbu and the other clans’ forces busy, my team will slip into the Mizukage’s tower and take him out with my Silent Killing technique. Whether you can take his place afterward… that’s on you.” 

“Hmph. The Kaguya clan isn’t just talk. Once Yagura’s dead, the Fifth Mizukage title will belong to me, Kaguya Hiromitsu!” 

“…Heh.” 

Zabuza let out a barely audible sneer, his cold eyes sweeping over the Kaguya clansmen. “Our endgame might differ, but we’re after the same target. So… let’s make this work—huh?!” 

Suddenly— 

A thunderous rumble shook the room! 

BOOM! 

The candle flames flickered wildly, and everyone, including Zabuza and the Kaguya clan leader, stumbled slightly, stunned. “What’s going on? An earthquake?” 

“No, that vibration… someone’s broken the seal on Kimimaro’s prison?!” 

… 

In another cave, separated by dozens of meters of solid rock, dust filled the air. 

A dungeon, layered with countless seals, had been half-smashed by a dark red greatsword. 

Inside the dungeon, a frail boy in a thin blue outfit, with two red dots on his forehead and white hair, sat with his knees hugged to his chest. He stared, wide-eyed and dumbstruck, at the faint outline of a crimson giant emerging from the smoke. “A… a god? Are you a god here to save me?” 

“…” 

Hikari didn’t answer. Her fiery red eyes scanned the wreckage, and she rubbed her temple. 

Honestly, the moment she stepped into this cave, a powerful sense of déjà vu hit her— 

A sunless cave… 

A dungeon full of seals… 

And another “human weapon” used by their own clan… 

All these eerie similarities made her feel like she’d been transported back to the Warring States era, the memories flooding her mind almost too much to suppress. 

“Why do I suddenly feel like I’m living in this kid’s shadow…?” 

It was a weird feeling. 

But Hikari knew this wasn’t the place to linger. Taking a deep breath to push aside her thoughts, she darted forward, knocking out the instinctively resisting Kimimaro with a swift move. Grabbing his unconscious body, she flew toward the cave’s exit. 

As she did, the sound of rushing footsteps echoed from outside. 

With Kimimaro in one hand, Hikari formed a seal with the other, using the Transformation Technique to change her clothes into a black robe with red clouds. She pulled out the orange swirl mask she’d bought a few days ago and slapped it on her face. In an instant, her entire presence shifted. 

“…Stop! Who are you?!” 

Several Kaguya clansmen appeared at the cave’s entrance. 

“My name is Madara… Uchiha Madara!” 

“?!” 

Chapter 143: This Kid, Maybe Suited for Women’s Clothing… 

If Uchiha Hikari had mentioned a name like “Obito” or someone else, the Kaguya clan members probably wouldn’t have batted an eye.  

But…  

“Madara?!”  

The moment they heard that name, several Kaguya clan members froze in unison.  

Before they could react, Uchiha Hikari’s figure flashed forward, delivering a swift, spinning kick.  

Bang! Bang! Bang!  

A series of dull thuds echoed as the Kaguya clansmen were sent flying like ragdolls.  

But they were just the first wave to arrive.  

The explosion from the dungeon earlier had already drawn the attention of the entire Kaguya clan. More and more members, startled awake from their sleep, began converging on the area, their Shikotsumyaku abilities activating as they moved.  

Rip—  

With the sound of tearing fabric, countless white bone blades protruded from their bodies, and clumps of condensed bone bullets began forming at the joints above their palms.  

As Uchiha Hikari stepped out of the cave, she was met with a barrage of bone bullets raining down like a storm!  

“Shikotsumyaku: Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!”  

Facing the overwhelming killing intent, Uchiha Hikari gripped her blade with one hand, slashing at a speed barely visible to the naked eye. “Word Spirit: Instant!”  

Seventh-tier Instant—128 times god-speed slash!  

In that moment, the blade in Uchiha Hikari’s hand seemed to vanish mid-motion, her swinging arm almost invisible. It was as if hundreds of fiery sparks burst around her, scattering in all directions. Every bone bullet that came within two meters of her was sliced in half in an instant, losing momentum and dropping to the ground.  

In just seven or eight seconds, a pile of white “shells” had accumulated at the cave’s entrance.  

But the blade in Uchiha Hikari’s hand, after thousands of high-speed slashes, was now riddled with nicks and dents, looking like a bone gnawed by a dog, one step away from snapping.  

“Tch, is the standard Uchiha clan longsword really this flimsy? I guess I’ll have to wait for the one from Totosai…”  

As the second wave of bone bullets loomed, Uchiha Hikari sighed, tossed the damaged blade aside, and channeled her ocular power.  

Amid the whistling sound of bone bullets cutting through the air, a dark red skeletal giant emerged once more, swinging its sword in a simple, sweeping motion! 

Whoosh—!!  

The moment Susanoo appeared, the nature of the battle shifted entirely. Even though Uchiha Hikari swung the blade casually, an overwhelming force erupted, sweeping away everything in its path! Shattered bone fragments mixed with broken rocks and debris flew outward, a massive cloud of dust rising to engulf dozens of square meters. Kaguya clansmen were flung in all directions, landing hard, coughing up blood, and turning back in terror.  

“What kind of ninjutsu is this?!”  

“No way, how can it be this strong…?”  

“Could it really be the legendary one…?”  

Under their shocked and fearful gazes, Uchiha Hikari lifted Kimimaro and soared into the air from the dust cloud. She paused deliberately for a second, letting the Kaguya clansmen get a clear look at her black-and-red-cloud robe and swirl-patterned mask, before letting out a cold huff and rocketing into the night sky above.  

…  

A few minutes later, Uchiha Hikari, having circled the area, flew back to the hillside where she’d left Eri.  

At that moment, Eri was still sitting obediently in place, hugging her knees, head lowered, fiddling with a few blades of grass between her fingers.  

Before Hikari even landed, Eri heard the sound of the wind and jumped up with a delighted expression, rushing over to inspect Hikari closely, then sniffing her.  

“…What’s wrong?”  

“There’s a smell of blood.”  

Eri held up her notebook, her pale face tinged with worry.  

“Hm?”  

Hikari paused, recalling that while slashing the bone bullets earlier, a few might have slipped through. But with her body consciously wrapped in chakra and aura, even the machine-gun-like Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets had only left shallow scratches that healed almost instantly.  

She hadn’t expected Eri to notice the scent.  

“Your hands aren’t hurt, are they?”  

Eri held up her notebook again.  

Perhaps because of the time in the Grass Village when she’d accidentally hurt Hikari’s hands with “Judgment,” Eri was especially attentive to them. She grabbed Hikari’s hands, inspecting each finger carefully and even sniffing them to confirm there were no wounds. Only then did she relax, her gaze shifting to Kimimaro.  

“Is this the kid you were looking for?”  

“Yeah, his name’s Kimimaro. You probably saw him in that manga.”  

“?”  

Eri blinked, staring at Kimimaro for a moment before seeming to recall something. She wrote in her notebook: “Is he that guy who works for Orochimaru? So this is what he looked like as a kid. He kinda looks like a girl.”  

“…True.”  

Uchiha Hikari nodded seriously. “This kid, maybe he’s suited for women’s clothing…”  

Joking aside, Kimimaro’s appearance was indeed different from the other Kaguya clansmen… or rather, he was in a completely different style. It was hard to imagine that the burly, rough-looking Kaguya clansmen, all sporting ugly topknots, could produce a child as delicate and refined as Kimimaro, with white hair unique to the entire clan…  

Perhaps it could only be explained as an atavistic trait.  

After all, the original ancestor of the Shikotsumyaku, Kaguya Otsutsuki, had white hair…  

“It’s getting late. Let’s find a place to rest and head back in the morning.”  

Uchiha Hikari stretched, summoned the Flying Nimbus, and took off with Eri and Kimimaro into the distance.  

…  

That night, the Kaguya clan’s territory was ablaze with lights.  

Though a few clansmen questioned whether “Uchiha Madara” could still be alive, the news of “Uchiha Madara’s attack” spread like wildfire through the clan.  

Even Zabuza Momochi, secretly meeting to discuss the coup, learned of it in the early hours.  

This incident was like a stone tossed into water, making the already complicated situation in the Village Hidden in the Mist even more unpredictable.  

But…  

None of that concerned Uchiha Hikari.  

Her main goal this trip was Kimimaro. She’d briefly considered capturing a few more Shikotsumyaku users for research, but after seeing the Kaguya clansmen’s appearances, she gave up on the idea.  

Her other goal was to stir some trouble for Obito—  

With his Kamui ability, finding Obito himself was nearly impossible unless he showed himself willingly.  

But when the Kaguya clan, and even other families in the Mist Village, started hunting for a person claiming to be Uchiha Madara, wearing a black-and-red-cloud robe and a swirl-patterned mask, Obito’s reaction would surely be entertaining.  

(Chapter 144: A Dragon King Who Loves Academic Research? 

Kimimaro woke up the next morning. 

Uchiha Hikari and Erii were already getting breakfast ready. 

“You’re awake?” Hikari glanced at him. “The surgery went fine… Toothbrush and towel are over there, brand new. Go wash up and come eat.” 

“…” 

Kimimaro stood still, hesitating as he glanced around before fixing his eyes on Hikari. “Who… are you? Where is this place?” 

“Don’t worry, you’re far from that dungeon you were locked in. As for those clan members who kept you there, chances are you’ll never see them again.” 

“Dungeon…” Kimimaro muttered, lifting his head. He studied Hikari closely, as if recalling something. “Are you… the god who saved me last night?” 

“Something like that.” 

Hikari held up a piece of bread and nodded casually. “I know you’ve probably got a ton of questions, but they don’t matter right now. Don’t ask me stuff like ‘Why did you save me?’ or ‘What’s the point of living?’ Life doesn’t have a built-in purpose, but you’ve got to keep going to find the good stuff—like this bread, or me running into you. Got it? Now go wash up, the milk’s getting cold!” 

“…” 

Maybe because he hadn’t gone through the clan massacre from the original timeline, Kimimaro just seemed a bit confused. He wasn’t exactly moved by Hikari’s speech, which sounded like something Orochimaru might’ve said. 

After standing there for a moment, he finally turned to wash up, then cautiously joined them at the table. 

“Sit.” 

Hikari motioned to the empty chair beside her and handed him a plate with bread and milk. 

“Eat up. We’ve got to hit the road soon.” 

… 

After breakfast, Hikari took Erii and Kimimaro for a stroll through a small town in the Land of Water. They picked up some local snacks and souvenirs. 

By the afternoon, she summoned the Nimbus Cloud, and they set off for the Sound Village. 

Kimimaro was clearly curious about the Nimbus Cloud, but his reserved nature kept him from asking questions like Karin would’ve. His face stayed blank, giving nothing away. 

They arrived at the Sound Village the next morning, after a few days away. 

Back in the village, Hikari handed out the snacks she’d bought in the Land of Water to Karin, Juugo, Orochimaru, and even Guren. Then she introduced Kimimaro to the Uzumaki family, officially marking him as a new resident of the Sound Village. 

When Orochimaru’s shadow clone saw Kimimaro, he looked completely baffled. 

“Lady Hikari, this kid is…?” 

“Oh, just someone I picked up on the road a few days ago. His name’s Kaguya Kimimaro, a descendant of the Kaguya clan.” 

Hikari gave a casual explanation. 

“…” 

Orochimaru’s eye twitched, unsure of what to say. 

Last time she went out, she “picked up” Juugo with his natural Sage Mode. Now she’s back with Kimimaro and his Bone Pulse? What’s next—grabbing a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki in a few days? 

Also, the Sound Village and the Land of Water are a thousand miles apart. How did she manage a round trip in a week and bring someone back? 

Hikari asked a few quick questions about Karin and the others. 

Orochimaru pulled himself together and answered with a slightly more serious tone. “You were right about Karin. That girl’s got a real knack for research. She’s a quick learner.” 

“Really?”  

Coming from a scientist like Orochimaru, that was high praise. Karin was clearly doing well. 

Juugo, though? Not so much. 

The big guy wasn’t the sharpest. Even the most basic lessons were a struggle, and he only barely kept up thanks to Karin’s help. Considering Orochimaru was only teaching the basics for an hour a day, any tougher material would probably leave Juugo in the dust. 

“No big deal. He can learn what he can,” Hikari said, patting Kimimaro’s shoulder. “Starting tomorrow, bring him along too. Might as well make it a proper class.” 

“...Alright.” 

Orochimaru glanced at Kimimaro, hesitating like he wanted to say something. 

Hikari read his mind. “You can study his Bone Pulse abilities, but on one condition—figure out a way to cure his bloodline disease.” 

The Kaguya clan’s Bone Pulse was a bit like the Uchiha’s Mangekyo Sharingan. 

Both were powers that grew stronger with use but came with a heavy cost. 

While the Mangekyo usually just led to blindness—Itachi being a rare exception—the Bone Pulse’s bloodline disease affected the entire body. In the original story, Kimimaro’s overuse of his abilities left him on the brink of death by his mid-teens. 

If that issue wasn’t fixed, his lifespan in this world wouldn’t be long either. 

“Understood, Lady Hikari.” 

Orochimaru nodded slightly, taking it in. 

Since Hikari arrived in the Sound Village, Orochimaru’s research projects had been piling up fast. 

Hybrids, demons, Uzumaki physiology, Sage Transformation, Bone Pulse… 

Every single one was a major topic that could take years to study. 

Add to that his existing projects—like the Living Corpse Reanimation, Impure World Reincarnation, and Hashirama cell cultivation and transplants… 

All told, he had about a dozen major projects on his plate. 

Even for someone as research-obsessed as Orochimaru, it was overwhelming. For the first time, he worried he might not die in battle but from being buried under all this blessed work. 

“Work hard, Snake Uncle. I believe in you,” Hikari said, standing on her tiptoes to pat Orochimaru’s shoulder. “I’ll try to get you some lab equipment, but research assistants? That’s on you. Train Karin up fast so she can take some of the load off.” 

Oh, and by the way—Hikari had already used her “Tsukuyomi Seal” to summon Danzo and give him orders to send Kabuto and his mother to the Sound Village as undercover agents. 

But their arrival had to be timed carefully, set up like a real infiltration mission to avoid raising Orochimaru’s suspicions. 

Hikari’s control over Danzo through the “Yasaka Magatama” was her hidden ace. On the surface, she was still Danzo’s most hated enemy. No one could suspect that his actions were tied to her. Even she herself had to be on Kabuto’s “watch list.” 

After sorting out the Sound Village’s affairs, Hikari took Erii back home the next day. She handed a pre-written shopping list to Chikao Genji in person. 

“Get these things for me. Thanks.” 

“…” 

Inside the wooden room at Genji Heavy Industries, Chikao stared at the list, which included items like “nuclear magnetic scanner” and “high-throughput sequencer,” and sank into deep thought. 

So… 

This mysterious “White King” lady didn’t just love spicy manga—she was also a Dragon King with a thing for academic research? 

Chapter 145: Next-Generation Dragon Bone Essence 

A brief silence hung in the air.  

Gen Chisei carefully reviewed the list of items again, then, choosing his words carefully, spoke slowly. “Miss… Uchiha Hikari, the items you’ve listed are indeed products that human society has developed, but…”  

“There’s a small issue.”  

Gen Chisei tapped the paper lightly. “Quite a few of these instruments aren’t available in Japan. We’d likely need to contact manufacturers in Europe or the Americas directly. Even if negotiations succeed, the cost would probably be astronomical…”  

This was normal.  

In the field of scientific research, the biggest expense was always experimental equipment.  

Especially for cutting-edge, high-precision devices—ones only a handful of manufacturers could produce and that were typically used only in national institutions or advanced labs—the price tags were often astronomical. On top of that, the costs for training and maintenance afterward could easily exceed the equipment’s base price.  

A conservative estimate put the total at tens of billions of yen to complete the purchase.  

This wasn’t like buying a few manga books.  

The Uesugi family, despite their vast wealth and status as the shadow emperors of Japan’s underworld, would struggle to mobilize such a massive cash flow on short notice.  

Moreover…  

Uesugi Etsu had only recently returned to the Uesugi family. To move funds of this magnitude, they’d likely need to consult the other family heads…  

Worried that Uchiha Hikari, as a “Dragon King,” might lack common knowledge of human society, Gen Chisei explained in detail.  

“…You don’t need to go into so much detail. I get it.”  

Uchiha Hikari waved a hand.  

She hadn’t calculated it carefully before, but now that she thought about it, the total cost of these instruments was indeed no small sum. The Uesugi family could definitely afford it, but it would take time and might impact their other businesses, possibly even stirring discontent among some members.  

—If this were Su Enxi, she probably wouldn’t care, considering how she could whip up a hundred million dollars for Lu Mingfei in minutes…  

“Alright.”  

“I know this request is a bit much, but I’d still appreciate your help. In exchange…”  

Uchiha Hikari thought for a moment, then pulled out two universal capsules, opening one of them.  

“This serum suppressant was made by someone I commissioned. It can effectively stabilize the bloodline ratio of hybrids, preventing them from losing control… It should be useful for the ‘ghosts’ in your family. You can take it back, study it, and see if you can mass-produce it.”  

The so-called “ghosts” referred to the Uesugi family’s hybrids whose bloodlines had gone out of control.  

Eri was technically a “ghost” too, but because she’d been raised in isolation and protected, her temperament remained stable, keeping her from becoming like the fierce ghosts of the crowd.  

In theory, if the serum suppressant worked for her, it should work for the other “ghosts” as well.  

“And…”  

Uchiha Hikari opened the second capsule. “This thing’s no longer useful to me. Take it and see if you can make some alchemical weapons out of it.”  

As the sealing jutsu unraveled, a pile of blood-drenched bones materialized in the wooden room.  

A sturdy spine, dark cyan scales, massive clawed limbs…  

Even though it was just a fragment of the complete corpse, one could still sense the majestic and imposing presence of its owner in life.  

That’s right.  

This was the corpse of a Dragon Bone Essence! 

The Dragon Bone Essence was enormous, even larger than the Ten Thousand Serpents. The main portion had been taken by Totosai earlier, but Uchiha Hikari had kept a smaller piece of the remains.  

Initially, she hadn’t decided how to use this part of the corpse. She’d even considered digging out the meat to roast and eat, but now…  

“If you can make weapons from it, save one for me.”  

Compared to Uchiha Hikari’s casual tone, Gen Chisei froze for a moment before bolting up from the sofa, staring in shock. “This is…?!”  

“A pureblood dragon’s corpse?!”  

…  

“That’s right, a dragon!”  

At the same time, a dozen white-coated researchers in the control room stood up from their chairs in unison.  

Eri had always had several medical teams monitoring her.  

But after Uchiha Hikari, the suspected “White King incarnate,” appeared, this team—originally tasked with observing “Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto’s” health— was quickly expanded. Their duties now included researching the “White King lady’s” origins, temperament, preferences, and her relationship with “Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto.”  

To better accomplish these tasks, nearly every medical staff member had a copy of Naruto.  

The Uesugi family even funded a studio for Kishimoto Seishi, assigning a few clan members with artistic talent to assist him, constantly trying to “awaken” Kishimoto’s memories of entering “Nibelungen” back then.  

Whether they succeeded or not was unclear, but the plot of Naruto had started veering in increasingly bizarre directions…  

And now, with Uchiha Hikari’s reappearance, the medical team sprang into action.  

“By analyzing the two lists Miss ‘White King’ provided, we can infer she’s studying human physiology—last time through H-manga for surface observation, this time through medical equipment for internal study…”  

“The so-called ‘serum suppressant’ might be made from her own blood. According to ancient texts, a Dragon King’s blood can stabilize a hybrid’s bloodline…”  

“This corpse she’s brought out now is likely from a third-generation dragon… no, maybe even a next-generation dragon!”  

“Based on the length and size of that claw, we can roughly model its living body structure…”  

Amid the heated discussion, someone raised a hand. “Is it possible that Miss ‘White King’s’ two requests aren’t related, and she just wanted something spicy to look at…?”  

“Quiet! How can you use human thinking to judge a Dragon King?”  

Another person shot back sternly.  

The one who raised the hand muttered, “But history does record Dragon Kings who liked spicy stuff, like Attila the Hun over a thousand years ago…”  

“Hm…”  

The control room fell silent for a moment, then a new round of debate began.  

…  

Uchiha Hikari had no idea that her “White King” image had solidified further thanks to the Dragon Bone Essence corpse.  

Right now, she was making another request to Gen Chisei. “One more thing.  

I need a legal identity and passports for the major countries of this world. That should be easy for the Uesugi family to handle, right?”  

Been swamped with overtime lately, only finding time to write after getting home, so updates are coming late. Once this busy period is over, I’ll get back to a normal schedule. Thanks for your understanding…