126-130

Chapter 126: Blood Coral Jewel 

As she spoke, a dark red Susanoo materialized around Hikari Uchiha, encasing her body as it swiftly rose into the air. 

Daiyokumaro stood over twenty meters tall. 

And the third stage of her Susanoo? Also about twenty meters. 

When the giant red figure from the Naruto world appeared, Daiyokumaro’s face twisted with even greater shock. “Are you a demon too? No… I can’t sense any demonic aura. A half-demon with diluted blood, then?” 

In the Inuyasha world, humans with spiritual powers exist, but there’s no way they could pull off a colossal technique like this. 

Hikari wasn’t in the mood to chat. She calmly maneuvered her Susanoo, raising its massive sword. “Flame Breathing…”  

“Form One Hundred Eight: Crimson Flame Slash!!!” 

With a sharp cry, she swung the blade. In an instant, a blazing red sword aura tore through the air, trailing a fiery sonic cone as it hurtled toward Daiyokumaro hundreds of meters away! 

And then… 

Boom! 

A faint, translucent shimmer flickered in the air. 

The unstoppable Crimson Flame Slash slammed into something incredibly sturdy. After a brief stalemate, it shattered into scattered sparks. Those same sparks illuminated a defensive barrier in front of Daiyokumaro. 

“…That’s the Blood Coral Jewel’s barrier,” Kikyo said softly, stepping forward with her bow in hand as the helicopter landed nearby. 

The Blood Coral Jewel, a treasure passed down through generations of the Demon Bat Clan, held the demonic energy of their past leaders. When wielded by a guardian, it could project a powerful barrier to protect the clan—pretty much the “strongest shield” in the Inuyasha world. 

In the original timeline, Inuyasha used his Tessaiga to shatter the Blood Coral Jewel, absorbing its demonic energy to upgrade into the “Red Tessaiga,” capable of breaking barriers. 

And now… 

Hikari had just witnessed the jewel’s strength firsthand. 

“To block a Crimson Flame Slash like that? This barrier’s toughness is almost on par with the Four Violet Flames Formation,” she mused.  

Best part? It’s portable! (I want it!) 

Hikari’s eyes narrowed, locking onto Daiyokumaro, who was smugly gloating inside the barrier. “You seem pretty confident in that barrier’s power,” she said lightly. 

“Hmph!” Daiyokumaro scoffed. “The Blood Coral Jewel is my clan’s greatest treasure, and Shiori’s a genius at barrier techniques. You think you can break it? Keep dreaming!” 

“Oh? I wonder what Shiori would do if she found out her dear grandpa was the one who killed her father,” Hikari shot back. 

“?!” 

That’s right. 

Shiori was a half-demon. 

Her father, Tsukuyomaru, the previous guardian, fell in love with a human woman and developed compassion for humans—only to be killed by his own father, Daiyokumaro. Shiori, born with strong demonic power, was taken back to serve as the new guardian. 

Daiyokumaro’s current plan? Slaughter villagers to sever Shiori’s emotional ties to humans, ensuring total control over her. 

To be fair, Shiori didn’t exactly have deep “emotional ties” with the villagers. Their treatment of her and her mother was about as warm as Konoha’s attitude toward Naruto—just enough to keep them alive, nothing more. 

But the Demon Bat Clan was even worse… 

Sure enough, when Shiori learned the truth about her father’s death, her demonic energy erupted, expelling Daiyokumaro from the barrier in a furious burst. 

Hikari seized the moment, unleashing her prepared ocular jutsu. “Engraved Tsukuyomi! …Yasaka Magatama!” 

Daiyokumaro froze, caught in the grip of Tsukuyomi’s illusion.  

Then, his demonic energy went haywire, surging uncontrollably as it was siphoned away like water through a straw, flowing from the void into Hikari’s body! 

Daiyokumaro flapped his wings, lunging forward in a desperate counterattack. But Kikyo was ready. She drew her bow, the string trembling as she took aim at the giant bat.  

“Sacred Arrow!” 

Against a fully powered Kikyo, Daiyokumaro could only hold out for a moment before his body exploded midair!  

But in the next instant, his spirit darted from the shattered corpse, streaking toward Shiori. Hikari’s reflexes kicked in, and she activated Yasaka Magatama again, yanking Daiyokumaro’s residual soul toward her and absorbing it into her Sharingan’s power. 

“Miss Hikari, you…” Kikyo hesitated, looking concerned. “The souls of these demons are filled with deep malice. Absorbing them recklessly could affect your mind. If you feel anything off, tell me right away, and I’ll find a way to help.” 

“Got it,” Hikari said with a nod, descending from the air. 

With the threat gone, the surrounding villagers let out sighs of relief. But as they noticed the bodies of those killed in the attack, their gazes turned hostile, blaming the half-demon Shiori for the carnage. 

Only Shiori’s mother ran forward, embracing her daughter and weeping softly. 

“Ugh, I saw this in the manga, but these villagers are so annoying,” Bulma muttered, clearly irritated. 

“Seriously,” Hikari agreed. 

“Why don’t we take them with us?” Bulma suggested. “Shiori’s dad is gone, and they don’t have any other family here. They could join us in the search for the Shikon Jewel shards and move to the Village of Maple. At least there, no one would discriminate against a half-demon. Or they could come to my place—my house is pretty big.” 

Hikari blinked, caught off guard. 

Kikyo nodded slightly. “If Shiori and her mother are willing, I can talk to Maple about it.” 

Since Kikyo was on board, Hikari gave her approval too. She and Bulma approached Shiori and her mother to ask their thoughts. After glancing back at the villagers, Shiori’s mother hesitated but agreed. “…Alright. Maybe a fresh start somewhere else will be easier for Shiori.” 

Hikari’s gaze drifted to the Blood Coral Jewel. 

She was just wondering how to ask for it without sounding too forward when Shiori, as if reading her mind, held out the jewel. “Here, big sister. This is for you.” 

“Hm?” 

“It’s a thank-you for avenging my dad.” 

“Is that so…” Hikari’s lips curved into a small smile. “Well, in that case, I’ll gladly accept.” 

Chapter 127: Can I Touch Your Ears? 

Since Shiori took the initiative to speak up, Hikari decided to drop the formalities. 

After taking the Blood Coral Jewel from the half-demon girl, she started asking about how to use it. 

“Well…” Shiori, being young and not the best with words, struggled to explain clearly despite being the jewel’s original owner. 

Kikyo stepped in, listening patiently before translating for Hikari. “This artifact needs the demonic energy of the Hyakki Bat Clan to activate it. The stronger the demonic energy you pour in, the tougher the barrier it creates.” 

“Even though Shiori’s a half-demon, her demonic energy is top-tier,” Kikyo continued. “That’s why, even at her age, she can produce barriers as strong as her father’s.” 

According to the official Inuyasha guidebook, Shiori’s demonic energy was rated five stars—on par with Sesshomaru and a whole tier above Inuyasha, a fellow half-demon with the Great Dog General as his father. If Shiori weren’t so gentle by nature, she might’ve been the most powerful half-demon of her era. 

“Miss Hikari, you absorbed Taiyumaru’s demonic energy earlier, so you should be able to use the Blood Coral Jewel now,” Kikyo explained. “You might not be able to push it to its full potential, but Shiori says there’s another way…” 

Kikyo paused mid-sentence. 

Shiori, meanwhile, picked up a long sword from the ground and sliced her wrist. 

“?!” Hikari’s eyes widened. 

As Shiori held her bleeding wrist over the Blood Coral Jewel, it glowed brilliantly, radiating a vivid crimson light. 

The glow lasted for dozens of seconds before slowly fading. Shiori’s face had gone pale, clearly drained, but she gritted her teeth and held on. 

“That’s enough,” Kikyo said quickly, pulling herbs and bandages from her satchel to dress Shiori’s wound. Turning to Hikari, she added, “Shiori used her blood as a medium to infuse her demonic energy into the jewel, breaking its restrictions. Now you should be able to wield its power as freely as she does.” 

“It can work like that?” Hikari asked, skeptical. 

She pulled out a Senzu Bean and handed it to Shiori. “Eat this.” 

Gulp. 

After swallowing the bean, Shiori’s wrist healed instantly, and some color returned to her face. 

Kikyo raised an eyebrow, glancing back. “Is that the same thing you gave me last time? I didn’t realize it had such an impressive healing effect. Shame it doesn’t work on this clay body of mine. You wasted one on me.” 

“No such thing as a waste,” Hikari said with a smile, brushing it off. “I’ve got a decent stockpile of these.” 

Thanks to her wish-granted regenerative abilities, Hikari rarely needed Senzu Beans for herself. The ones she’d given to Kikyo, Shiori, and others barely dented her supply. 

Once she confirmed Shiori was okay, Hikari picked up the Blood Coral Jewel and gave it a try. 

With a trickle of demonic energy, a faint reddish barrier spread outward, stretching over a hundred meters before stopping. 

“Shiori says you can control the barrier’s size with your mind,” Kikyo relayed. “The smaller it is, the stronger it gets. At its max, it can cover a sphere about a kilometer in diameter. Oh, and if there’s someone inside the barrier you don’t like, you can forcibly eject them.” 

“Got it,” Hikari said, experimenting a few more times. She was getting the hang of it. 

She planned to test the barrier’s defensive limits later. For now, it felt like it was somewhere between 70% and three-to-five times the strength of the Four Violet Flames Formation, depending on its size. 

Unlike the Four Violet Flames, which needed four people and a complex setup, the Blood Coral Jewel’s barrier was a breeze to use. Just a bit of demonic energy, and it activated instantly, adjustable with a thought. Perfect for home or travel. 

With that settled, Hikari’s group took a short break before boarding a larger helicopter Bulma pulled out, taking Shiori and her mother along as they headed toward Maple Village. 

Having seen the flying Hyakki Bat Clan, Shiori and her mother weren’t too shocked by the helicopter, assuming it was some kind of special mount. 

During the flight, Shiori pressed her face against the window, her eyes wide with curiosity. 

“Is Maple Village up ahead, Miss Kikyo?” Bulma asked, piloting without turning around. 

“That’s right,” Kikyo confirmed after a quick glance. 

A few minutes later, the helicopter landed gently at the edge of the village. 

The group hopped out, and after Bulma stored the helicopter in a universal capsule, Kikyo led them into Maple Village. 

Villagers had already noticed their arrival and informed the village elder, Grandma Kaede. 

Seeing her sister again, Kaede’s expression was a mix of emotions. But Kikyo seemed at peace, casually greeting her before explaining Shiori and her mother’s situation and introducing Hikari and Bulma. 

Just then, a commotion broke out nearby. 

Inuyasha’s group had returned to the village, rowdy as ever. 

Spotting Kikyo, Inuyasha’s eyes lit up. “Kikyo, you’re back?!” 

Hikari and Bulma exchanged a glance. 

The shrine maiden looked at Inuyasha quietly, then gave a soft, serene smile. “Yeah, it’s been a while.” 

Since it was a rare reunion, both groups settled in at Kaede’s house to catch up on their Shikon Jewel shard hunts. 

During the conversation, Inuyasha’s eyes kept drifting toward Kikyo. At 200 years old, the guy was still a kid at heart, his feelings plain as day. And Kagome, the 15-year-old schoolgirl, couldn’t hide her crush on Inuyasha either—not from Hikari and Bulma, who knew the story’s ins and outs. 

Still… 

“Let Kikyo handle it,” Hikari thought. “She’s probably already made up her mind.” 

While Kikyo purified some Shikon Jewel shards, Hikari pulled Inuyasha and Kagome aside to ask about Totosai and Ryukotsusei. 

“You mean old man Totosai? We ran into him not long ago. He’s usually…” Inuyasha trailed off. “Wait, who’s Ryukotsusei?” 

“Never mind,” Hikari said, waving it off. Then, her curiosity got the better of her as she eyed Inuyasha’s fluffy dog ears. “This might be a weird request, but… can I touch your ears?” 

“?” 

Under Inuyasha’s baffled stare, Hikari reached out, rubbing his soft ears and giving them a gentle tug. “Nice. They feel pretty real.” 

“??” Inuyasha bared his fangs, bristling. “What do you mean, ‘pretty real’? Are you mocking me for being a half-demon?!” 

“…Aren’t you being a bit too sensitive?” Hikari shot back. 

After a day and a half in Maple Village, Hikari’s group set off again. 

This time, she finally found Ryukotsusei. 

Chapter 128: Slaying Dragonbone Spirit and Awakening Spiritual Power (Third Update) 

The Dragonbone Spirit was sealed at the base of a low mountain. 

Hikari Uchiha first activated the Blood Coral Jewel, conjuring a barrier that enveloped a several-hundred-meter radius. Then, she summoned the fourth stage of her Susanoo before nodding to Kikyo. The shrine maiden loosed an arrow, breaking the seal on the Dragonbone Spirit. 

As a surge of demonic energy erupted, the ancient great demon, dormant for centuries, awoke. 

What followed was an earth-shaking battle! 

Demonic energy churned, sending countless rocks flying like a storm of stone rain. The Dragonbone Spirit unleashed energy blasts from its mouth that made even the sturdy Blood Coral barrier tremble—comparable to a Tailed Beast Bomb from the Naruto world. 

Though, to be fair, it wasn’t on the level of the Eight or Nine Tails’ bombs—more like something from the lower Tailed Beasts. 

Bulma and the others, who’d been stationed outside the barrier, hopped into their plane mid-battle and fled a dozen miles away, watching the chaos through binoculars. 

To be honest, the Dragonbone Spirit was stronger than demons like Naraku or Daiyokumaro. It was, without a doubt, the toughest opponent Hikari had faced in the Inuyasha world! 

Without the protagonist’s plot armor or something like Inuyasha’s “Wind Scar” to counter its regeneration, things got tricky. (Amaterasu could’ve worked, but Hikari wanted its scales and claws for gear, so she needed its hide intact—no burning allowed.) 

It took a ton of effort. Kikyo nearly drained her spiritual power, and Hikari had to pop a Senzu Bean to restore her chakra. Only then did they manage to overpower the raging Dragonbone Spirit through sheer brute force. 

“Damn humans, daring to challenge me…” Even with its body severed in two, the pale human face on the Dragonbone Spirit’s head kept yapping. “If I were at my peak, you’d never have beaten me! Even King Toga…” 

“You lost, dude. Quit talking,” Hikari interrupted. Towering in her forty-meter Susanoo, she raised its dark red greatsword and drove it through the demon’s heart. 

A fountain of blood gushed out, staining half her Susanoo crimson. 

Hikari followed up with several heavy slashes, hacking the Dragonbone Spirit into four or five pieces, making sure to sever its cervical spine. Finally, it stopped struggling, choking on its own blood until it went silent. 

Just to be safe, Hikari waited a bit to confirm it was truly dead before descending from the sky. She pulled out a scroll and began sealing the demon’s body parts separately. 

“By the way… this thing’s a ‘dragon,’ right? Wonder how it’d stack up in Eri’s Dragon Clan world,” she mused. “A Next-Gen Dragon? Or more like that dimwit Fenrir?” 

Too bad she wasn’t confident using Yasaka Magatama to control a centuries-old great demon’s mind. It would’ve made a pretty cool mount. 

A dragon knight, though? That’s the dream! 

Hikari sighed, imagining the scene, a little bummed. 

Oh well. There were plenty of dragons in the Dragon Clan world. If she really wanted to, she could probably ride one someday… 

While Hikari and Kikyo dealt with the Dragonbone Spirit’s corpse, Bulma and Kohaku flew back in the plane. The battle had reshaped the surrounding mountains, and the storm of demonic energy had carried for dozens of miles, drawing Inuyasha’s crew, who’d been heading elsewhere, to the scene. 

Two uninvited guests also showed up: Sesshomaru and Totosai. 

At this point in the timeline, Sesshomaru was still obsessed with claiming Tessaiga, so the moment he saw Inuyasha, their usual love-hate sibling brawl kicked off. 

Hikari, meanwhile, flagged down Totosai with a request to forge a weapon. 

As the Inuyasha world’s greatest swordsmith and an old friend of the Great Dog Demon, Totosai was a quirky old man. In the original story, plenty of demons—even Sesshomaru—got turned down when they asked him to forge blades, forcing them to settle for his apprentice, Kaijinbo. 

But Totosai was pretty friendly toward humans. 

Maybe that’s why Hikari’s request went through so smoothly. 

“Didn’t expect two humans to take down the Dragonbone Spirit,” Totosai said, inspecting the demon’s remains. “The materials are in good shape. Come back in half a month.” 

“Thanks for the trouble, old man,” Hikari replied. Then, after a moment’s thought, she added, “Oh, and after you’re done with the sword, could you use the leftover scales to make a few sets of armor? Simple inner armor’s fine too. I’ll make sure the payment’s worth your while.” 

“Armor, huh? Sure, but I’ll need the measurements of whoever’s wearing them.” 

“No problem.” 

Besides herself, Hikari planned to get sets for Bulma, Eri, Kikyo, and a few others. If there was extra material, she’d make some spare sets in different sizes to gift to people she liked—Naruto, the younger Uchihas, or maybe future group chat buddies. 

With Totosai taking the Dragonbone Spirit’s corpse, Hikari checked one goal off her list. 

Her other goal? 

“…So this is ‘spiritual power’? Feels kinda like telekinesis,” Hikari said, standing in the forest. She held out her right hand, and a small pebble floated above her pale palm. 

“Exactly,” Kikyo confirmed, nodding. “With the strength of your soul, Miss Hikari, your spiritual power reserves are far greater than this. But if we drew it all out at once, your body might not handle it, and your soul could separate from it. You’ll need to acclimate gradually before pushing further. 

I’ll put together a guide on training spiritual power and upload it to the group chat. You and Bulma can follow it based on your own situations.” 

“Got it,” Hikari said, glancing at her reflection in a nearby stream to check her Sharingan. No new changes yet. 

Probably had to wait for the “purification” to finish. 

“Hey, Miss Kikyo, that ‘Purifying Light’ of yours—can you teach it to others?” Hikari asked suddenly. 

Kikyo hesitated before answering. “…It’s possible, but I can’t guarantee you’ll be able to learn it.” 

According to Kikyo, Purifying Light was an advanced spiritual technique that demanded more from one’s purity of heart than their spiritual power. Basically, only someone with a heart as pure as a saint could master it—think “worthy of riding the Golden Nimbus” levels of purity. 

Hikari was just curious, though. She didn’t really need the skill. When it came to purging malice, she preferred a more… physical approach. 

(When I run into Orochimaru, I’ll ask if he’s got any secret techniques to help restore Kikyo’s soul, she thought.) 

“Well, I’m heading back. Call me if you run into any tough enemies,” Hikari said, waving goodbye to Bulma, Kikyo, and Kohaku in the distance. 

She exited the Inuyasha world. 

When she opened her eyes again, she was back in the familiar surroundings of Konoha. 

Chapter 129: The Uzumaki Orphan, Eriyi 

The day after returning to Konoha, Hikari checked in with Fugaku about the latest Uchiha clan updates, popped by to see Naruto, then packed light and left the village. 

Technically, ninjas needed approval from the Hokage’s office to leave. But Hikari wasn’t about to jump through those hoops. Flashing her face to Yugao Uzuki and the other Anbu was her way of saying, “I’m doing you a courtesy here.” 

Once out of the village, she summoned her Flying Nimbus, checked her map and compass, and zoomed off toward the Land of Rice Fields—where Orochimaru had set up his Hidden Sound Village. 

She didn’t know the exact location of the Sound Village, but the Land of Rice Fields wasn’t exactly a sprawling nation. A little searching would do the trick. 

[Kikyo uploaded “Spiritual Energy Training Method”] 

[Kikyo uploaded “Archery Training Method”] 

[Kikyo @Nameless @Bulma: I just put together these training guides. Take a look, and feel free to ask if anything’s unclear.] 

[Kikyo: If Miko, Miss Eriyi, Mr. Minato, or Tanjiro are interested, please feel free to check them out too.] 

[Bulma: Awesome!] 

[EternalSidekick: You’re too kind, Miss Kikyo. I’m in a tricky spot and can’t upload written materials, but if you’re curious about ninjutsu, I’m happy to share what I know.] 

[IronHead: Thanks, Miss Kikyo! I don’t have much to offer, but if anything I’ve got is useful, please take a look!] 

[IronHead uploaded “Water Breathing”] 

[IronHead uploaded “Hinokami Kagura (Incomplete)”] 

Scrolling through the flurry of messages, Hikari’s eyes caught on Tanjiro’s posts, and she raised an eyebrow. 

[Nameless: Tanjiro, you’ve already got Hinokami Kagura down?] 

[IronHead: Oh, Miss Hikari! Not quite… I’ve been training hard with Mr. Rengoku and Mr. Tengen, and after fighting two Lower Moons recently, I’ve started recalling bits and pieces. But it’s still a long way from what my father could do.] 

[Nameless: What about the Transparent World?] 

[IronHead: …My father mentioned it once, but I’m too slow to grasp it yet.] 

[Nameless: Got it…] 

Hikari had promised to take Tanjiro to meet the Cat Sage and learn about “ki” at some point. She’d gotten sidetracked with Eriyi and other matters, but after her meeting with Orochimaru, she’d make good on that promise. Maybe she could use her “Yasaka Magatama” to peek into Tanjiro’s memories and nudge him toward unlocking the Transparent World. She was curious to see what kind of ability it was. 

Meanwhile, Eriyi’s focus was elsewhere. 

[LittleMonster: Hikari, are you there? Onii-chan and Dad just left. Can I come hang out with you now?] 

[Nameless: Uh… sure, that’s fine.] 

But why does that sound kinda weird? 

With Hikari’s okay, Eriyi sent a join request and appeared on the Flying Nimbus mid-flight. 

“?!” 

Eriyi clearly hadn’t expected to pop into the sky. Her little face froze in panic, lips sealed tight. She glanced around nervously before turning to Hikari, hesitantly raising her notebook to say hi. 

Hikari was looking her over too. 

Unlike their first meeting—when Eriyi showed up without even clothes—this time, she was prepared. Her face was scrubbed clean, her hair neatly combed, and she wore a pristine red-and-white miko outfit. The scarlet hakama had been customized, though, with a dozen or so pockets sewn onto the skirt, stuffed to the brim. Hikari could make out a manga book, a rubber duck, a PS3 controller, and a few glass vials that looked suspiciously like… 

“What’s in those pockets, Eriyi?” Hikari asked. 

Eriyi held up her notebook, her expression bright. “Serum vials. I asked Onii-chan for extras, so I can stay with you longer this time.” 

“…Alright,” Hikari said, nodding. “Hand them over. I’ll store them in a universal capsule so they don’t fall and break.” 

She slowed the Flying Nimbus and carefully tucked Eriyi’s vials into a capsule. 

As she did, Eriyi leaned toward the edge of the cloud, her dark red hair fluttering in the cool breeze. She gazed curiously at the rivers and mountains below. 

Suddenly, she scribbled something in her notebook and held it up. “Hikari, there’s a lot of people down there. It looks like they’re fighting…” 

“Hm?” Hikari followed her gaze. 

Below, a group of ninjas was locked in combat. One side wore headbands with an “M”-like symbol. A bit farther off, a small town bustled with activity—stretchers carried wounded people from outside the village to a hospital for treatment. 

It was a common sight. 

Even in the current ninja world, only the regions around the Five Great Villages enjoyed relative peace. Most other countries and areas were caught in endless wars, where chaos and bloodshed were the norm. 

But then… 

“The Land of Grass?” Hikari’s mind sparked. 

This period in the Land of Grass was home to a certain pair of Uzumaki survivors—Karin and her mother. 

Pureblood Uzumaki carried a healing ability almost on par with Senzu Beans. Their blood could rapidly restore chakra and heal injuries. Because of this, Karin and her mother were treated as “blood bags” by the Grass ninja, used without care. 

Karin’s mother eventually died from the strain. Karin herself followed in her footsteps until Orochimaru took her in as a test subject, which was only slightly better—less outright deadly, at least. 

There weren’t many Uzumaki survivors left in this era. If Hikari hadn’t stumbled across this place, she might’ve let it slide. But since she was here… 

“Eriyi, wanna check it out?” she asked. 

Eriyi, ever obedient, nodded eagerly. 

They descended, Hikari directing the Flying Nimbus to hover high above as they landed in a corner of the Hidden Grass Village. 

After hopping off, Hikari sent the cloud back into the sky. Eriyi, wide-eyed, looked around curiously. 

The area wasn’t crowded, with only a few Grass ninja passing by in a hurry. 

Suddenly, a tall ninja noticed them—specifically Eriyi. He frowned and strode over. “Hey, you two! Where’d you sneak in from? I don’t recognize you from the Grass Village.” 

“You—” Hikari started, but he cut her off, his eyes shifting to Eriyi with a flicker of recognition. “That red-haired girl… are you from the Uzumaki clan?” 

Chapter 130: Death! 

“?” 

Eri froze for a moment, instinctively glancing at Hikari Uchiha. 

Hikari tugged her gently, motioning for the girl to stay behind her, then looked up at the Grass ninja across from them. “And if she is?” 

These Grass ninjas didn’t seem like the sharpest kunai in the pouch. 

Hikari’s question was clearly rhetorical, but they took it at face value, their eyes widening as if they’d just struck gold. 

“Whoa, she’s really from the Uzumaki clan?” 

“I knew it! That hair color’s a dead giveaway. We’ve been stressing about all these wounded shinobi and how that woman can’t keep up with healing them. Talk about luck! Hey, you, redhead—come here!” 

Neither Hikari nor Eri budged. 

The tall Grass ninja assumed they were just scared stiff. He swaggered forward a couple of steps, reaching out with a massive hand to grab Eri’s shoulder while sneering at Hikari. “Get lost, black-haired brat, or I’ll kill you!” 

“…” 

As the ninja’s arm stretched toward them, Hikari let out a soft sigh. “Are you… always this brave?” 

The moment she said “you,” she moved. 

Or rather, her leg did. 

In a flash, she executed a high whip kick, her slender right leg slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. The force was explosive, completely disproportionate to her frame. The Grass ninja barely saw it coming before he was airborne, soaring over a dozen meters like he was riding a cloud, only to slam into a wall with a thunderous crash! 

Boom! 

The impact left a human-shaped dent in the wall. He rolled to the ground, blood gushing from his mouth, staining his chest red. 

Only then did Hikari casually finish her sentence, as if there’d been no pause at all. 

“…What just happened?!” 

“Kenta!” 

Hikari’s kick was so fast that, to the Grass ninjas, it looked like their buddy Kenta had just flown out of nowhere. 

One of them seemed to sense something was off and quietly slipped to the back of the group. The others, though, were bold—or foolish—enough to surround her, looking ready to throw down. 

Hikari couldn’t be bothered to talk anymore. With a flicker of movement, her body seemed to split into three or four afterimages. A few crisp, brutal whip kicks later, the remaining Grass ninjas were sent flying, each crumpling in a pool of their own blood, barely clinging to life. 

Done with that, Hikari didn’t even spare them a glance. She turned and grabbed Eri’s hand. “Let’s go. Ignore them. We’re heading inside to check things out.” 

“Okay…” Eri nodded obediently, casting a blank glance at the fallen ninjas before taking Hikari’s outstretched hand and following close behind. 

“…” 

Hikari glanced down, her expression twitching slightly. 

Where the heck did Eri learn to hold hands like that, fingers interlocked all cozy-like? 

But seeing Eri’s innocent, clueless face, Hikari didn’t say anything. She just pursed her lips and started walking toward the inner part of Grass Village. 

As they moved, the crowd around them grew. Eyes of all kinds locked onto them—surprised, curious, greedy, lustful… 

The Grass Village ninjas’ gazes were like those of wild beasts in a forest, dripping with raw malice and unmasked desire, as if they wanted to devour the two girls with their stares alone. Compared to them, even Konoha’s villagers, who constantly screamed about “killing the demon fox,” seemed downright polite. 

“Hey, who gave you permission to wander around the village like that?” Another voice cut in, blocking their path. 

Hikari was fed up with these interruptions. She activated the Blood Coral Jewel, shaping a barrier just big enough to encase herself and Eri. Anyone who tried to get close was stopped cold by the translucent, pale shield. 

“What the hell is that?” 

“It’s some kind of barrier… Wait, I get it! The redhead’s an Uzumaki! That must be one of their special barrier techniques!” 

“Is she here for that mother and daughter? Someone go tell the Elder!” 

The commotion spread, but for now, no one else dared to block their way. 

Ignoring the Grass ninjas’ muttering, Hikari pulled Eri along, striding forward like she owned the place. They soon reached a building marked with a stone sign reading “Grass Village Hospital.” As they turned into the corridor, the air grew thick with the stench of blood and disinfectant. 

“Help! Someone, help! We need a healer!” 

“Where’s that Uzumaki woman? Get her over here!” 

“Wait, she’s still being used over there…” 

As they spoke, a hospital bed was wheeled out from a room at the end of the corridor. 

On it lay a red-haired woman, barely in her thirties, but looking like a withered husk of an elder. Her naked body was covered in bite marks, some so deep they’d torn through skin to reveal bloodless muscle tissue. She looked less like a person and more like a dried-out tree trunk hollowed by insects—a sight that was hard to stomach. 

As the bed rolled down the corridor, several ninjas stumbled out of nearby rooms, moving like starving hyenas. They pounced on the woman, biting into her, sucking what little blood remained. 

“Blood… Give me blood! This useless woman—where’s her blood?!” 

The “hyenas” roared in a frenzy, squeezing her neck to wring out the last drops from her carotid artery. 

“Stop choking her—she’s almost dead!” 

“Dead?! With all these wounded, how dare she die?! Wait, doesn’t she have a daughter? Bring her here! Her blood’s gotta heal wounds too!” 

“We’ve already sent someone to find her. Just hold on…” 

“…” 

Hikari stood in the corridor, holding Eri’s hand, watching the scene in silence, at a loss for words. 

She’d known this part of the story existed, but it was hard to imagine humans could be this vile. The scene before her could only be described as a living hell. 

Suddenly, one of the “hyenas” noticed Eri. 

After a brief moment of shock, their bloodshot eyes locked onto her, and they lunged, clearly intending to do to Eri what they’d done to the woman. 

Hikari sighed again, a glint of killing intent flashing in her eyes. Words were useless with creatures who’d forfeited their humanity. The only language they’d understand was… 

But in the same moment she decided to act, she felt Eri’s grip on her hand tighten, her fingers trembling slightly. 

Then, a clear, girlish voice echoed through the corridor, speaking in an ancient tongue, uttering the word Hikari had been thinking: 

“Death!” 

(End of Chapter)