136-140

Chapter 136: I Will Pledge My Loyalty to You 

“Not included.” 

Hikari Uchiha’s answer was blunt. “But I can give you blood samples from other Uchihas, including that Itachi you’re so obsessed with.” 

Honestly… 

She wasn’t about to hand over her own blood sample to Orochimaru so easily. 

Her genetic makeup was probably completely different from other Uchihas—or anyone in the ninja world, for that matter. Beyond her unique Yachihoko eye technique, she’d fused powers from other worlds. Who knows what Orochimaru might do with her DNA? He could churn out a bunch of her clones, and that’d be a mess to clean up. 

Itachi, though? No big deal. 

Even with his Mangekyo Sharingan, he was just a watered-down version of her. 

On the other side… 

Orochimaru’s lips twitched subtly. 

Before today, he’d definitely been itching to get his hands on Itachi’s body—Hikari wasn’t wrong to call it an obsession. But now… 

Itachi? 

Just some wet-behind-the-ears kid. 

This “great-grandmother” in front of him, though… well, she didn’t exactly look that old either. 

“Second question,” Orochimaru continued. “If you die someday, what happens to this agreement?” 

“It’s off,” Hikari replied casually. “But only if I’m actually dead, not just missing.” 

“I know you’ve got some… less-than-pure thoughts about my body. I’ll let you entertain those ideas, but if you ever act on them, be ready for the consequences. You’ll only get one shot.” 

She paused, then dangled a carrot: “That said, if you prove your worth and earn my trust, I might consider giving you some of my blood samples.” 

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, licking his lips. “What about vile ninja—like me, for instance? Can I use them for experiments?” 

(…Wow, you’ve got some serious self-awareness.) 

Hikari mentally rolled her eyes but answered slowly, “…Sure, but only with solid reasons.” 

For people who’d crossed the line of basic humanity—like those Grass ninja earlier—talking about “human rights” was a bit too generous. 

Even so, there needed to be clear standards, not just her personal whims deciding who lives or dies. 

“Outside of research time, I…” 

“Do whatever you want, as long as you don’t touch my people. I won’t meddle.” 

“What about funding and resources for research?” 

“Submit a budget proposal. I’ll review it and allocate funds based on the situation.” 

“What if—” 

After a rapid-fire Q&A, the air fell silent. 

Orochimaru stood quietly, mulling it over for a long time before finally speaking. “I’ve asked all my questions. So…” 

“I will pledge my loyalty to you, Lady Hikari.” 

“Smart choice.” 

Hikari’s eyes flickered, releasing the Tsukuyomi. 

… 

What happened in the Tsukuyomi space was just a moment in the real world. 

So, one second, Guren and the others were fuming over Hikari’s group injuring Orochimaru. The next, they were stunned to see him bowing respectfully to Hikari and inviting her to tour the base. 

“Guren, Ushio, starting today, Lady Hikari is the new leader of the Sound Village. Treat her with even more respect than you show me. No disobedience, understood?” 

“??” 

Guren was dumbfounded at Orochimaru’s orders. 

After whispering a few questions to confirm he wasn’t joking, the pineapple-haired girl reluctantly approached Hikari, bowing her head. “I’m Guren, your subordinate. Nice to meet you, Lady Hikari.” 

“Good girl.” 

Next up, Hikari followed Orochimaru for a tour of the Sound Village. 

As she’d guessed, the village was less than a year old. Its total population was barely thirty or forty people. Guren, with her Crystal Style Kekkei Genkai, was the strongest among them, but only at elite chunin level. The rest averaged below chunin. 

Knowing Orochimaru’s habit of keeping multiple hideouts, he probably had secret bases outside the village too. 

Also… 

The Sound Village had a sizable underground area, extending into a cave system behind the village. 

“…Why do you shady types always love holing up in places like this?” Hikari shot Orochimaru a weird look. 

The last guy who liked skulking in sunless hideouts was Danzo Shimura. A rat in the gutters, a cunning snake in a cave—guess these spots suited them. 

“By the way, have you been to the Mist Village lately, Orochimaru?” 

“The Mist? No,” Orochimaru replied. “I was planning to visit in a bit, but it sounds like something’s changed over there, so I put it on hold.” 

“Changed?” 

“Word is the Blood Mist policy’s shifted. Don’t you know about it, Lady Hikari? From what I’ve heard, it’s tied to that attack the Mist launched on the Leaf not too long ago.” 

“What about the Akatsuki? Know them?” 

“The group from the Rain Country? I’ve heard a little. Their leader supposedly has some powerful eye technique, but I’ve never seen it myself.” 

So… 

The Akatsuki hadn’t recruited Orochimaru yet? 

Makes sense. In the original story, Orochimaru joined after seeing Pain’s Rinnegan and actively sought them out. He was one of the later members to join. If Hikari hadn’t shown up, he might’ve joined within the next six months to a year—but not now. 

“Guess I’ll need to swing by the Mist Village sometime to pick up Kimimaro…” 

The Kaguya clan, after all, was a direct descendant of the Otsutsuki, making them valuable for research. 

“And Jugo…” 

Orochimaru had started working on curse marks early, even planting one on Anko before defecting from the Leaf. But perfecting the technique likely came after studying Jugo. 

Suigetsu? Eh, just a Hydrification Technique user. Not a big deal. 

Hikari mentally mapped out her plans, then stopped walking and called Eri over. She turned to Orochimaru. “This girl has the power of Words of Spirit, but it’s also cursing her, eating away at her body. Here are two reports—one from the Leaf Hospital, one from a friend. Any ideas?” 

Orochimaru skimmed the reports, lingering longer on the one from Dr. Brief. He looked up. “Sounds like a bloodline disease. Let’s start with a blood sample.” 

Chapter 137: A Hypothesis About Sage Mode 

Ten minutes later. 

Orochimaru stared at the blood sample in the test tube, now the color of cola, lost in thought. 

To be precise, it wasn’t just the dark, fizzy hue. 

The “cola” was bubbling—tiny pockets of air forming, merging, and bursting. The glass tube, sturdy as it was, started showing fine white cracks, as if it might shatter any second. 

“Is this… what flows through Miss Eri’s veins all the time?” Orochimaru asked. 

“Yup, that’s how hybrid blood works,” Hikari Uchiha nodded. “Mix it with normal human blood, and you’ll get a nasty explosion. It creates a highly corrosive compound that can burn through a carpet in seconds.” 

“?” 

Orochimaru blinked, momentarily thrown, but he’d seen enough weird stuff to recover quickly. He got to work, methodically analyzing the sample. 

Hikari took a vial of serum from Eri and handed it to Orochimaru, along with research notes from Herzog. “This serum was extracted from a hybrid fetus with even worse erosion. It suppresses the damage but mainly pushes bloodline evolution…” 

Exactly. 

The serum was essentially an evolution drug. 

Herzog’s goal was to use Eri as a vessel for the “Holy Skeleton,” filtering out its toxins so he could ascend as the White King. To do that, he needed Eri alive until the Skeleton emerged, while also pushing her bloodline closer to the White King’s to make her a better container. 

The serum was a double-edged sword—quenching thirst with poison. Without the “Holy Skeleton,” Eri’s bloodline would spiral out of control eventually. It was just a matter of time. 

Since Hikari had decided to let Orochimaru tackle this research, she took a moment to explain it in detail. 

“…Hybrids, Deadpool, Dragons?” Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. “Do these things really exist in the ninja world?” 

“Think of it as a far-off continent,” Hikari said. 

“…Alright.” Orochimaru gave Eri a long look but didn’t press further. He turned back to his lab bench. “I’ll need a few days to analyze this. Miss Eri might need to cooperate with some tests. If you’re worried, Lady Hikari, you can stick around to watch or roam the base as you like. Just tell Guren and the others if you need anything.” 

“Cool.” 

Starting the next day, Hikari split off a few shadow clones. One handled daily training, another went searching for Jugo, a third gave Karin some pre-training prep, and another grilled Guren and the others for intel on the Sound Village’s current state. Oh, and she made sure to place a Seal on everyone, just in case. 

Her real body stayed in the cave, keeping an eye on Eri during her tests. She answered Orochimaru’s questions and helped with some of Eri’s physical exams. 

In her spare time, she browsed Orochimaru’s book collection. 

Gotta say, Orochimaru’s knowledge stash was impressive. 

Unlike the power-obsessed meatheads in the Uchiha clan, he was on another level. 

Heck, the whole ninja world leaned that way. The “Ninjutsu Doctor,” Hiruzen Sarutobi, knew a ton about ninjutsu but probably hadn’t cracked open many science books. Meanwhile, the rough-and-tumble Cloud Village quietly leapfrogged everyone, building a chakra cannon that could blast the moon just a few years after the Fourth Great Ninja War… 

In Orochimaru’s cave, Hikari found shelves packed with books on anatomy, pharmacology, pathology, and even psychology. There were some math and physics texts too, though fewer, and those fields seemed less developed than the medical ones. 

“…You can read these, Lady Hikari?” one of Orochimaru’s shadow clones asked, peering over her shoulder after watching her for a bit. 

“What do you think?” Hikari shot him a sideways glance. 

In her past life, she’d been a science major with decent grades. She wouldn’t claim to master these technical books on the first read, but she could grasp the gist. With enough time and focus, she could probably get a solid handle on most of it. 

After a moment’s thought, Hikari dug through her universal capsule and pulled out a stack of books, setting them on the table. “Here, take a look.” 

Orochimaru, puzzled, picked one up and scanned the titles— 

Euclid’s Elements, Number Theory, Calculus, Linear Algebra… 

Yup, most of these were bought in the Dragon world. 

A few others were tossed her way by Dr. Brief last time she visited. 

Orochimaru flipped through them casually at first, but his eyes soon sharpened. “Lady Hikari, did these come from that ‘friend’ of yours from another continent?” 

“Something like that.” 

“…Got any more?” 

“Want them?” Hikari’s lips curled into a half-smirk, her tone playful. “How about a trade for the Ryuchi Cave scroll?” 

Orochimaru froze, narrowing his eyes. “Are you serious, Lady Hikari?” 

“Dead serious.” 

The Ryuchi Cave scroll was one of her main goals for this trip. 

Summoning beasts were secondary. She really wanted to study the Sage Mode of the three holy grounds and figure out what kind of power it was. 

Though, trading a few math books for the Ryuchi Cave scroll might be a bit uneven… 

“How about this,” Hikari continued. “I mentioned those ‘demons’ earlier—I can give you a few live samples. Plus, some Uchiha blood samples. That should be fair for your summoning scroll, right?” 

Orochimaru smiled. “Since you’re so keen, Lady Hikari, I’ll do my best as your subordinate… But fair warning: the Ryuchi Cave snakes I’ve contracted with are a prickly bunch. Even I have to pay a steep price to summon them.” 

“No worries,” Hikari grinned brightly. “I love dealing with rebellious kids.” 

Speaking of which… 

“The Sage Mode of the three holy grounds is all about harnessing natural energy, but there’s a risk of being consumed by it. In the Dragon world, dragons control elements through their blood, which can also erode humans… Don’t you think there’s some overlap there?” 

The thought hit Hikari out of nowhere. 

“You’ve considered it too, Lady Hikari?” Orochimaru’s raspy voice replied. “When you mentioned the hybrid origins, I had a similar hunch. But since I don’t know much about Sage Mode, I didn’t want to jump to conclusions. 

If you’re curious, you could visit Ryuchi Cave yourself and ask the White Snake Sage. You might get some answers.” 

Chapter 138: Ten Thousand Snakes: The Naturally Evil Uchiha Brat 

Uchiha Hikari definitely planned to meet the White Snake Sage. 

But not yet. 

As Orochimaru had warned, the folks at Ryuchi Cave weren’t exactly the friendliest bunch. If she just wanted a summoning beast, that’d be one thing, but to train in Sage Mode, she’d need to deal with the White Snake Sage herself. 

And according to the Sage’s rules, trainees had to let her inject natural energy directly through her fangs. Survive, and you’d end up like Kabuto—a half-human, half-snake freak. Fail, and you’re dead. 

That wasn’t exactly Hikari’s idea of a good time. 

She wasn’t delusional enough to think she could storm Ryuchi Cave single-handedly, but she at least wanted to sit down with the Sage as an equal. 

The White Snake Sage, a thousand-year-old serpent from the era of Kaguya, was a force of unfathomable power. Earning her respect wouldn’t be easy. 

It’d take some serious planning. 

For now, Hikari got the summoning contract scroll from Orochimaru, signed her name, and stepped outside to give it a try. 

Summoning Jutsu! 

With a puff of smoke, the massive Ten Thousand Snakes appeared on the open ground outside the Sound Village. 

“Figures it’d be you…”  

Hikari wiped the blood used for the summoning from her hand and looked up at the giant serpent, her expression unsurprised. 

Looks like no matter who called, Ten Thousand Snakes was the most likely to show up. 

On the other side, Ten Thousand Snakes scanned the area with a scowl, noticing Orochimaru’s absence before zeroing in on Hikari. “Hmph, that Orochimaru guy handed the summoning scroll to someone else? Hey, kid, you his student or something? Don’t you know my rules? You dare summon me so carelessly?” 

“Heh.” 

Hikari looked up, her Mangekyo Sharingan swirling in her eyes. “Wanna fight?” 

“What?!” 

Over the next few days, Hikari, clad in her Susanoo, had a few “heart-to-heart” sessions with Ten Thousand Snakes. 

At first, the serpent was all bravado, refusing to bow to anyone, spouting lines like, “No hundred human sacrifices, no deal!” or “If there’s no offering, I’ll just eat you!” 

But soon enough… 

Ten Thousand Snakes started cowering before her, muttering the toughest words in the meekest tone. The only thing it clung to was calling her “the evil Uchiha brat”—its last shred of pride and defiance. 

Hikari didn’t mind. Age-wise, she probably wasn’t older than the snake anyway. 

After a few days of “playtime,” Hikari had a rough gauge of Ten Thousand Snakes’ strength— 

It was about on par with a wounded Dragon Bone Spirit. 

Its strengths were agility, faster than the Dragon Bone Spirit, with quick strikes. Its weaknesses? No ninjutsu, no ranged attacks like demonic energy blasts, and its regeneration was lackluster. In the Inuyasha world, it’d barely qualify as a mid-tier demon. In the Dragon Clan world, maybe a third-generation dragon at best. 

That tracks. 

Ten Thousand Snakes wasn’t exactly a top dog in Ryuchi Cave—just middle of the pack. 

Not even counting the White Snake Sage, the three White Snake Princesses were likely stronger. 

Still, Ten Thousand Snakes refused to spill any intel on the White Snake Sage, even after Hikari beat it black and blue. 

…Or maybe it genuinely didn’t know anything. 

Meanwhile, Orochimaru, after running a slew of tests, finally came up with a treatment plan. 

“…Based on the serum samples and research materials you provided, Lady Hikari, I’ve isolated a few chemical compounds from the serum. They seem to be what stabilizes bloodlines. If we synthesize them into an inhibitor, it should work for Miss Eri.” 

“Is that so…?” 

Hikari listened halfheartedly, her attention split as she glanced at the chat group. 

[Bulma @Nameless: Hikari, you there?] 

[Bulma: I ran into Dad last night when I went home to grab some stuff. He said there’s been progress on that serum you asked him to research. Here’s a sample for you to check out.] 

[Bulma uploaded “Bloodline Inhibitor Prototype” (1 vial)] 

[Bulma uploaded “Dr. Brief’s Research Notes” (1 document)] 

[Bulma: This vial’s been tested on animals, and it’s about 30% more stable than the previous serum. Dad says you should show it to the doctor who developed the original serum, but it’d be best to bring Miss Eri over for a clinical trial…] 

[Nameless: Got it.] 

After a quick chat with Bulma, Hikari downloaded Dr. Brief’s research and skimmed through it before handing it to Orochimaru. 

The “doctor who developed the serum” was long gone. 

But Orochimaru should be able to handle it. 

Under Hikari and Eri’s watchful eyes, Orochimaru spent twenty minutes speed-reading the notes, his face lighting up with surprise. “Lady Hikari, this is your friend’s work? Incredible! Our approaches are similar, but their methods are so much cleaner. And this step… using that enzyme to catalyze the reaction? Pure genius!” 

After gushing for a bit, Orochimaru looked at her eagerly. “Lady Hikari, could you arrange a meeting with this doctor? I’ve got so many ideas I’d love to discuss.” 

“Hmm…” 

Hikari’s first instinct was to say no. 

Letting Orochimaru study tech from another world was risky enough. Bringing him to the Dragon Ball world? That’s how you end up with another Dr. Gero. 

But… 

“A meeting’s off the table for now, but you can exchange letters with him. I’ll deliver them.” 

Orochimaru didn’t seem too disappointed. “Fair enough. I’ll start by analyzing this ‘bloodline inhibitor’ to see if I can improve it… But I should warn you, Lady Hikari, both the serum and the inhibitor only stabilize Miss Eri’s condition. They won’t cure it. 

To develop a true cure, we’d need a ton of Deadpool and pure-blood dragon materials.” 

“…I’ll figure something out. You just focus on your research.” 

Deadpools were humans transformed into hybrids. 

After Tachibana Masamune’s exposure, the Snake Eight Families probably wouldn’t create more Deadpools… but you never know. With Uesugi Etsu and Minamoto Chisei running things—neither of whom were exactly political masterminds—and the Snake Eight Families riddled with traitors, there could still be some of Tachibana’s sleeper agents lurking. 

Still, the number of Deadpools Hikari could get her hands on was likely limited. 

So… 

Next time she visited the Dragon Clan world, should she swing by Beijing and trick some blood out of Fenrir? 

Or maybe hit up his second-generation dragon sister instead… 

Chapter 139: Jugo and Sage Chakra 

After getting Dr. Brief’s notes, Orochimaru pulled a few all-nighters and churned out a letter seven or eight pages long. 

Hikari was floored when she saw it. 

“Seriously… all this just for a bloodline inhibitor?” 

Dr. Brief’s original notes weren’t even that long, were they? 

“It’s not just the serum,” Orochimaru rasped, his voice hoarse from lack of sleep. “This letter covers a medical research topic I’ve been stuck on for years. I hit a wall with no new ideas… but from Dr. Brief’s notes, it’s clear he’s got some serious expertise in this area. I’d love to hear his thoughts.” 

Fair enough. 

Compared to the Dragon Ball world, the Naruto world’s research environment was downright brutal. Orochimaru didn’t even have Kabuto yet, so he was handling everything himself, maybe splitting off a shadow clone to help with grunt work. 

But a shadow clone’s just an extension of the user—not exactly a second brain to bounce ideas off of. 

So it was clear Orochimaru was genuinely excited about the chance to connect with Dr. Brief. 

“Got it. I’ll deliver the letter for you.” 

Hikari skimmed the pages, making sure there wasn’t anything sketchy tucked in, then stuffed it in her pocket. “By the way, what do you think of that Uzumaki girl?” 

“…Think of her how?” 

“Like, does she have potential for research work?” 

Orochimaru paused, considering. 

“She’s sharper than most kids her age, and her curiosity’s off the charts… but research isn’t something you can judge in a day or two.” 

“If you’re thinking of grooming her for this, I could teach her a few things,” he offered. 

“Good.” 

Hikari paused, then added, “She and her mom both have that Uzumaki ‘healing factor’ ability. You can study it a bit, as long as it doesn’t harm their health. Make sure you explain everything to them clearly. And no slapping any ‘cursed seals’ on them or anything like that.” 

In theory, Orochimaru still had some of Hashirama’s cells lying around. 

If those were combined with Karin and her mom’s blood… they might cook up something with near-broken healing powers. 

—Hikari had even wondered if transplanting Hashirama’s cells into Eri could counter the dragon blood erosion, but that was way too risky. Even if it was theoretically possible, it’d need someone like Orochimaru, who knew Hashirama’s cells inside and out, to pull it off. 

For now, since Orochimaru didn’t bring it up, Hikari played dumb. 

It was a loyalty test of sorts. 

If Orochimaru kept that secret under wraps, she’d only trust him so far. But if he came clean, she might toss him a small reward… 

Karin’s path was more or less settled for now. 

Then Orochimaru pulled out another sheet of paper. 

“Lady Hikari, here’s a budget I worked up. For the ‘dragon blood erosion study,’ ‘demon cell research,’ and ‘Uchiha bloodline study,’ we’ll need custom lab equipment and maybe some new hires… What do you think?” 

“…” 

Hikari had already grilled Guren and the others about the Sound Village’s finances. 

From what they said, the village had three main income streams: 

First, Orochimaru’s savings from his Sannin days, which were mostly spent setting up his bases. 

Second, funding from the Land of Rice Paddies’ daimyo, thanks to Orochimaru’s silver tongue. But since it’s a small country, the budget was limited. 

Third, mission earnings from Guren and the others—tasks for the land’s nobles or shady assassinations on the black market. 

After covering the Sound Village’s daily expenses, there wasn’t much left. 

And Orochimaru’s research gear? Cutting-edge tech for the Naruto world, often custom-built from scratch to his specs. Add in raw materials and labor costs… 

Yeah, it burned through cash fast. 

So, Hikari pulled out two chests of treasure she’d gotten from the Ox Demon King and set them on the ground. “Take a look at these. See what you can sell off and have Guren’s team handle it. Keep good records.” 

“If it’s not enough, let me know.” 

Since arriving in the ninja world, Hikari hadn’t really bothered with making money. She didn’t need much—some spending for food and clothes, sure, but housing? She’d crashed at Naruto’s place, and later the Uchiha clan “generously” covered her needs. If she wanted anything, she could just ask Fugaku. 

In other worlds, Bulma, Yushiro Ubuyashiki, or the Snake Eight Families picked up her tab. 

But now… 

Trying to build a team and get things done, she realized her own funds were pretty thin. 

“Guess I need to figure out a way to make some cash…” 

“Or maybe hit up the Dragon Ball or Dragon Clan worlds, grab some ready-made lab equipment, and haul it over. Basic research gear should work across worlds.” 

“Then there’s the staffing issue…” 

Karin had potential, but she was still too young to contribute much. 

Hikari was already planning to recruit Kabuto. 

—Easy enough. Just have Danzo send him to the Sound Village as an “undercover” agent. 

And if Kabuto was coming, might as well bring Nonou Yakushi too. She was a medical ninja and a skilled spy—perfect as Orochimaru’s assistant. 

Plus, she could keep an eye on him. 

Tsunade would’ve been a great pick too… 

But Orochimaru’s an S-rank rogue ninja. If Tsunade found out where he was, she might tip off the Leaf. Hikari wasn’t keen on brainwashing Tsunade like she did Danzo, so convincing her would be tricky. 

While Hikari was making moves behind the scenes, the shadow clone she’d sent to track down Jugo finally returned. With Jugo, tied up in ropes like a bundle. 

“This guy… you sure it’s Jugo? He looks so small.” 

“Positive,” the shadow clone said curtly. “He went berserk out there once, so I used Yasaka Magatama to drain some of his chakra. I might’ve overdone it a bit, and he ended up like this.” 

“…No side effects, right?” 

“None. His body seems to absorb the wild energy in natural chakra, filtering it. The chakra I got from him has a slight negative vibe, but it’s no big deal.” 

Even so, Hikari wasn’t taking chances. She dragged the shadow clone inside for a thorough check, confirmed everything was fine, and dispelled it. 

In an instant, a flood of memories from multiple shadow clones, along with a surge of sage chakra, poured into her. 

“This chakra… is this the natural energy filtered through Jugo?” 

“It feels different from regular chakra—closer to ki, maybe. But it’s sluggish to control…” 

Maybe it needed to be paired with Sage Mode to work properly? 

Hikari decided to tinker with it a bit. 

Then she’d figure out if a trip to Ryuchi Cave was in order. 

Chapter 140: News from the Mist Village 

The one most thrilled about Jugo’s arrival was Orochimaru. 

He’d been dabbling in curse mark research long before defecting from the Leaf, but those early “curse marks” were just soul-binding seals—nothing like the ones later used by the Sound Five or Sasuke. 

Well, maybe they had one side effect… 

Anko, for instance, never gained weight while she had the Heaven’s Curse Mark, no matter how much she ate. But once it was gone? A few years later, she was a 200-pound sweet potato… 

Jugo, though, changed everything. 

His curse mark transformation was essentially an imperfect Sage Mode. 

As a natural Sage Body, he could unconsciously absorb natural energy, skyrocketing his strength in bursts. The downside? He lost his mind, turning violent and erratic. But the power boost was undeniable. 

More importantly, this ability could be replicated through a curse mark and grafted onto others. 

The results? 

The otherwise average Sound Four could take on Leaf jonin, nearly wiping out Neji’s team even while weakened. And Kimimaro, already talented, used it to take down the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa. 

Sure, Jugo’s arrival was years earlier than in the original timeline. 

But Orochimaru saw his potential instantly. 

That said… 

Hikari Uchiha was the one who brought him in. 

She wasn’t about to hand him over for free. 

Orochimaru would have to cough up something in return. 

“…Lady Hikari, the room’s ready. Fresh bedding, kitchenware, everything’s new. Furniture’s still being sorted. Let us know if you need anything else.” 

“Got it. Thanks for the effort.” 

That evening, outside the small house where the Uzumaki mother and daughter lived, Hikari waved off Guren and the others. 

She turned to Miya and Karin Uzumaki, who were curiously peeking out. 

“This kid’s Jugo Tenbin, an orphan from another village. I ran into him a few days ago while I was out and brought him back. He’ll be staying next door.” 

“Oh…”  

The Uzumaki duo didn’t think much of it. “Poor kid,” Miya said. “Don’t worry, Lady Hikari, Karin and I will look after him.” 

He was kind of pitiful. 

But… 

“Let’s be clear,” Hikari said. “Jugo’s usually gentle, but sometimes he goes berserk and loses control. Just give him a good whack to snap him out of it. Karin, if that happens, you’re in charge of knocking some sense into him.” 

“Me?!” Karin’s jaw dropped, hesitant. 

Jugo was only about ten, but he was almost as tall as Hikari—towering over Karin by a full head. 

The girl craned her neck to eye Jugo’s bulky frame, looking like she wanted to say something but held back. 

“Don’t worry,” Hikari reassured her. “I’ll put a sealing jutsu on him beforehand. Even if he goes wild, he’ll only be as strong as a slightly tougher genin. Plus, I’ll teach you some grappling moves. Back in the day, your clan’s Kushina Uzumaki was beating up genin at six or seven. I know you’ve got that potential.” 

Hikari wasn’t just hyping her up. 

From the original story, Karin’s talent was seriously impressive. Chakra Healing, Kagura Mind’s Eye, Adamantine Sealing Chains—three Uzumaki clan specialties that even Kushina didn’t fully master, yet Karin awakened them all. Despite a rough childhood and a decade wasted in Grass Village, she still reached jonin level in just a few years under Orochimaru. 

If she got proper resources and training from a young age, she could probably rival Kushina’s legacy. 

“Really?” Karin blinked. “The Uzumaki clan’s that awesome?” 

“You bet.” 

“…Okay then.” Karin glanced at Hikari, checking for any sign of a lie. Seeing none, she pursed her lips, a determined look settling on her small face. “If Lady Hikari needs me to do this, I’ll try my hardest!” 

“I know it’s a bit much for you,” Hikari said. “If it’s too tough, no pressure—just get Guren or the others to help. I’ll let them know it’s fine, so don’t feel like it’s a hassle.” 

She paused. “Also, I’ve talked to Orochimaru, the ‘mentor’ I mentioned before. In a couple of days, you and Jugo will head to his lab and follow his instructions. The guy’s morals are sketchy, but he’s a knowledge goldmine. Ask him anything you don’t understand and try to soak up everything he’s got.” 

“Got it… I’ll do my best,” Karin nodded again. 

After wrapping up with Karin, Hikari pulled out a few scrolls and turned to Miya. “These are from Orochimaru and a friend of mine. They’ve got some Uzumaki clan secret ninjutsu and sealing techniques. Take a look. If you’ve got questions, ask me or Orochimaru.” 

Miya wasn’t a ninja. 

At her age, starting training now was a bit late. 

But that was fine. Hikari didn’t expect her to become a pro—just to have enough skills to protect herself. 

Miya took the scrolls, her eyes tearing up as she bowed deeply. “Miss Hikari, thank you so much! If it weren’t for you, Karin and I would’ve died at the hands of those Grass ninja. Don’t worry, I’ll train hard and make sure Karin follows through on your instructions!” 

“No need to make big promises,” Hikari said with a gentle smile. “I saved you both, sure, but don’t let that feel like a chain. If you’re not happy here or think my arrangements aren’t working, just say so. If you want to explore the world somewhere else, that’s fine too. Just let me know, and I won’t stop you.” 

Hearing this, Miya’s expression grew even more earnest. “Miss Hikari, you’re too kind. You saved our lives. Unless you no longer need us, we’d never betray your kindness.” 

“…Alright then.” 

After giving Jugo a quick talk about getting along with Karin, Hikari waved goodbye and left the Uzumaki house. She met up with Eri, who was waiting nearby, and they were about to head back for dinner when Hikari felt a creepy gaze on her. 

Orochimaru. 

Even after spending some time with him and agreeing to overlook his inner thoughts, Hikari still couldn’t stand the way he looked at her. Anyone unaware might think he was some pervy lolicon… 

Every time their eyes met, she got goosebumps. 

“Eri, head back for now,” Hikari told her. 

She took a few steps forward to Orochimaru. “What’s up?” 

“Lady Hikari,” Orochimaru bowed slightly, toning down the greed in his eyes just a bit before speaking in his raspy voice. “I just got word from my contacts in the Water Country. Something’s going on in the Mist Village.”