91-95

Chapter 91: Naraku, You're Too Dangerous—You Must Be Sealed!

Kikyo quickly made her decision, speaking rapidly without looking back: “Miss Hikari, please create an opening for close combat. I’ll use my Sacred Arrow to shatter his defensive barrier!” 

“Got it!” 

A gust of wind roared! 

Before Kikyo’s words even settled, Uchiha Hikari had already commanded her Susanoo to charge forward. As it lunged, the already towering Susanoo—roughly twenty meters tall—stretched and expanded further. In just a breath or two, it grew to nearly forty meters! 

“Susanoo: Fourth Form, Activate!!” 

Blood-red tears streamed down Hikari’s face as dense, intricate Tengu armor materialized from the void. Then, a blazing mass of black flames crawled up the crimson Susanoo’s arm, quickly spreading across its entire body. The fully armored Susanoo was now cloaked in an additional layer of pitch-black flame armor! 

The Four Purple Flame Formation spanned only a hundred or two meters. 

So, in just about a second, Uchiha Hikari and her towering Susanoo reached the spot where Naraku had appeared. She swung a massive black-and-red sword, wreathed in Amaterasu flames! 

“Breath of Stone… Hundred-Eight Forms: Heavy Cannon Slash!!” 

A piercing whistle cut through the air! 

In that moment, the black-red blade carved a crescent-shaped arc from above. Mid-swing, a milky-white shockwave erupted from the air—a telltale sign it had broken the sound barrier! 

Rip— 

The surrounding sword aura was blasted aside. 

The colossal blade, carrying a deafening sonic boom, crashed forward, and then… 

BOOM!!!! 

An earth-shattering roar exploded! 

An indescribable force surged outward, instantly dispersing the surrounding miasma. A milky-white shockwave radiated in all directions, clearing a massive vacuum in its wake. Spiderweb-like cracks fractured the ground, and tremors like an earthquake rippled outward, making even Inuyasha and the others outside the barrier struggle to stay upright. 

“?!” 

What the hell is this?! 

Deep in the miasma, Naraku’s pupils shook. 

But Uchiha Hikari gave him no time to recover. After the first slash, she immediately unleashed a horizontal strike: “Breath of Flame… Hundred-Eight Forms: Crimson Flame Slash!” 

Another sonic boom erupted! 

The black-red greatsword, moving so fast, glowed with a fiery sonic cone mid-swing! 

“Sacred Arrow!!” 

Kikyo fired her second arrow of the night. 

In that instant, the arrow, cloaked in spiritual power, and the greatsword in Susanoo’s hand shot forward in near-parallel trajectories. They struck Naraku almost simultaneously! Even the barrier forged from the Shikon Jewel held for only a second before melting under the pure light of the Sacred Arrow. Then, the Crimson Flame Slash followed, cleaving through with devastating force! 

Shatter—! 

The barrier collapsed! 

As the Shikon Jewel fragments dimmed, the double-handed greatsword, trailing Amaterasu’s black flames, struck Naraku with a torrent of light and heat! 

Sensing the threat of death, Naraku fought with everything he had. 

His body swelled at a speed barely visible to the naked eye, splitting into a massive, grotesque demon resembling a giant human skin. It absorbed the brunt of the black flames and the blade’s impact. Meanwhile, his remaining body pulled a cicada-shedding trick, slipping out of the skin-like demon. 

In that moment, a tearing screech rang out as the Crimson Flame Slash broke through the skin demon’s resistance, chasing Naraku from behind and slicing him in half at the waist! 

The two halves of his body then morphed into hundreds of demonic phantoms, scattering in every direction. Each one carried Naraku’s aura, making it impossible to tell which was the real one. 

But… 

There was no need to figure it out! 

“Breath of Mist… Hundred-Eight Forms: Vortex Dance!!” 

The greatsword in Susanoo’s hand swung again. 

This time, it wasn’t a sweep or a vertical slash but a massive, turbine-like arc. With the motion, swirling black flames surged outward, like a black sun conjured from thin air, spinning rapidly toward the hundreds of “Narakus” fleeing in every direction! 

The flames roared! 

Most of the demonic phantoms were incinerated within a second or two of touching the black flames, leaving only a handful still escaping. 

“Kikyo?” 

Uchiha Hikari glanced at the miko beside her. 

Kikyo was barely standing. 

Two consecutive Sacred Arrows, plus the constant barrier to fend off the miasma, had nearly drained her spiritual power. Still, she forced herself to raise a hand, pointing in one direction. 

“Over there, huh…” 

Uchiha Hikari maneuvered Susanoo to pursue, slashing relentlessly! 

At that moment, Naraku was anything but calm. 

He wasn’t unfamiliar with human mikos. 

In the fifty years since his creation, he’d personally killed several, including one or two nearly as strong as Kikyo. 

But… 

What kind of miko was this fierce? 

Was this even human? She was practically a great demon in human skin! 

As the chase continued, Naraku kept conjuring more miasma to slow Uchiha Hikari and Kikyo. 

But under Hikari’s Amaterasu flames, the miasma’s density grew thinner and thinner. Even the faint traces that reached the forty-meter-high Susanoo were blocked by Kikyo’s barrier. 

Over time, the purple-black miasma within the Four Purple Flame Formation began to dissipate, replaced by an ever-growing spread of black flames. These flames coalesced into black dragons, burning away the air and, alongside Susanoo, compressing Naraku’s room to maneuver to its absolute limit. 

Finally… 

Kikyo mustered the last of her spiritual power and, facing a cornered Naraku, fired her third Sacred Arrow of the night! 

Along with the arrow came Uchiha Hikari, launching herself from Susanoo’s head! With her Sky Dance Technique at full throttle, she and the Sacred Arrow reached Naraku almost simultaneously! 

In that moment, Naraku suddenly flashed a mocking grin, spreading his arms wide: “Ha… haha! Foolish humans, you actually chose to get close to me… Merge with me!” 

As he spoke, thick, writhing tentacles sprouted from Naraku’s body, lashing toward Uchiha Hikari. 

As for the Sacred Arrow? He ignored it outright. Though this battle had drained much of his strength, his vitality ensured the arrow wouldn’t kill him. Once he absorbed the girl before him, his power would surpass even its former heights! 

It was a beautiful plan, even somewhat feasible. 

However… 

“Tsukuyomi Engraving!” 

Their eyes locked, and Naraku’s expression froze. 

Uchiha Hikari’s palm gently pressed against his heart: 

“Naraku, you’re too dangerous! You must be sealed… Four Symbols Seal!!” 

Chapter 92: Secret Technique: Matryoshka Sealing! 

A flurry of dark runes erupted from the pale palm, racing across Naraku’s body in an instant. 

By the time he snapped out of Tsukuyomi’s genjutsu, most of his body was already covered in the intricate symbols of the Shishō Fūin (Four Symbols Seal). 

To maintain the Shishō Enjin (Four Violet Flames Formation), Uchiha Hikari had only about a fifth of her chakra left. On top of that, she was channeling the fourth stage of her Susano’o. Before the battle, she’d popped a Senzu Bean into her mouth, and now she swallowed it whole. 

As the Senzu Bean kicked in, her chakra surged back, and even denser runes spilled from her hand, enveloping Naraku’s entire body—his tentacles, the scattered chunks of flesh around him, even the lingering miasma—sealing it all tight! 

“How…?”  

Naraku’s face twisted in disbelief. 

“Sayonara.” 

Uchiha Hikari pulled a blank scroll from her ninja pouch and unfurled it with a flick. 

The long scroll danced in the air, and Naraku’s body, along with the Shishō Fūin runes, was sucked toward it like water spiraling into a whirlpool. The pristine paper began to sketch out a swirling jutsu pattern. 

It took nearly half a minute. 

Only when the last trace of dark runes vanished did Hikari fold the scroll. She grabbed a second blank scroll from her pouch and sealed the first one—Naraku included—inside it. 

“Shishō Fūin!” 

Then came a third scroll. 

“Shishō…” 

“Shi…” 

Since it was her first time using the Shishō Fūin, Hikari wasn’t entirely confident in her sealing skills. So, she went full matryoshka mode, sealing the scroll six times over until she finally felt secure. She tucked the final scroll into a Capsule Corp capsule, labeled it “Naraku,” and doodled a quick skull on it for good measure. 

With that done, Hikari walked back to Kikyo, helping her to her feet. She dispelled the Shishō Enjin, sending her four Kage Bunshin (Shadow Clones) to scour the surrounding ruins for Shikon no Tama (Jewel of Four Souls) fragments. 

“Kikyo!”  

Inuyasha barreled in, his face etched with worry as he looked at Kikyo. Then, he shot a wary glance at Hikari. “Who the heck are you?” 

“Guess.” 

Hikari studied Inuyasha with a spark of curiosity. 

Gotta say, he’s a bit of a dope, but Inuyasha’s got that cute factor going for him. That fluffy white hair and those fuzzy dog ears? Total urge to give ‘em a good ruffle. 

Meanwhile, a few Dead Soul Insects brought Kikyo some fragments of her spirit, helping her recover just enough to move again. She stood slowly, her voice cool and composed. “It’s been a while, Inuyasha.” 

“Kikyo…” 

“Let’s save the chit-chat. We need to talk business.” 

Half an hour later, in a tavern in Hitomi Castle, candlelight flickered. 

“So, what you’re saying, Miss Kikyo and… Miss Hikari, is that we seal Naraku away for now, hunt down the Shikon no Tama fragments, and then destroy both the jewel and Naraku once we’ve got all the pieces?”  

Since Inuyasha was too busy staring at Kikyo, it was Miroku who summed up their earlier discussion. 

Kikyo nodded. “Exactly.” 

“But how do we know we can trust you?” Miroku asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice. “The Shikon no Tama can grant wishes. What if you’ve got your own agenda?” 

“Oh, come on. You don’t seriously believe that thing grants wishes, do you?”  

Hikari, sipping tea at the side, cut in. “The Shikon no Tama’s less a treasure and more a curse. The whole ‘wish-granting’ thing? Just naive people kidding themselves. Truth is, everyone who’s tried to use it ends up controlled by it. Those yōkai you’ve fought? Naraku? Same deal. 

The Shikon no Tama was born from selfish desires, and it’ll keep existing as long as those desires do. The only real wish worth making is to make it disappear.” 

“Disappear?”  

Miroku blinked, caught off guard. 

Kagome and Sango’s eyes widened. “You can wish for that?” 

Fun fact: “Making the Shikon no Tama disappear” was actually Kagome’s wish in the Inuyasha Final Act. But by then, Kikyo was already out of the picture. 

Right now, Kagome’s still fresh from the modern era, new to the Sengoku period, and hasn’t had time to think that far ahead. As for Kikyo… she might have a vague hunch, but without testing it, she can’t be sure. 

“Hold up. If the Shikon no Tama disappears, doesn’t that mean the Bone-Eater’s Well that lets Kagome time-travel might close for good?”  

Hikari suddenly realized the implications. 

And, more importantly… 

“What happens to Kikyo?” 

From Hikari’s perspective, the revived Kikyo has a bit of a self-destructive streak.  

Kikyo knows the dead don’t have a future. Early on, she considered dragging Inuyasha down with her. Now, her only goals are taking out Naraku and the Shikon no Tama, no matter the cost—even if it means Inuyasha misunderstands her as a villain. 

Once those goals are done, she might just give up, stop collecting Dead Souls to sustain herself, and face true death. 

Judging by how Kikyo handled Naraku tonight, that’s a real possibility. 

For a miko like Kikyo, with her tragic fate, death might seem like a release. 

But… it’s just too sad. 

Even from a practical standpoint, if Kikyo dies, Hikari and the others might lose access to the Inuyasha world—a massive loss. 

“Guess I’ll need to talk to Bulma and the others. Maybe we can find a way to fully revive Kikyo or give her a new purpose…” 

Both options are tricky. 

Kikyo’s case is even more complicated than Namikaze Minato’s. Her body and soul are incomplete. With most of her soul reincarnated in Kagome and only a fragment left in her clay body, even a technique like Rinne Tensei (Samsara of Heavenly Life) probably wouldn’t work. 

As for something like what the demoness Urasue did—ripping Kagome’s soul out to stuff into Kikyo’s clay body…  

Sure, that might technically complete Kikyo’s soul.  

But neither Hikari nor Kikyo would ever go for something that messed up. 

“Maybe only the Dragon Balls can fix this.” 

While Hikari mulled it over, Kikyo used her Purification Light to cleanse the Shikon no Tama fragments they’d just taken from Naraku, along with the ones Inuyasha’s group had.  

That act finally eased Miroku’s doubts. After a quick huddle, the group agreed to work together. 

Chapter 93: Eri: Challenging the Longest Online Time 

After negotiations wrapped up, it was already late at night. 

Both sides went their separate ways, settling into the inn. 

At that moment, Uchiha Hikari opened the chat group and gave a quick rundown of the situation to Bulma and the others, who had been eagerly waiting for updates. 

[Bulma: Wow, you’ve already handled it smoothly? As expected of Hikari!] 

[IronHead: +1] 

[Nameless: It’s mostly thanks to Minato-sensei’s “Four Symbols Seal.” Without it, Kikyo and I wouldn’t have sealed Naraku so easily.] 

[EverCarryingSis: No, what I did was just icing on the cake. Your own talent and effort are what mattered most, Miss Hikari. Most people couldn’t master a high-level sealing technique like the “Four Symbols Seal” in such a short time.] 

After some mutual flattery, Bulma couldn’t wait to shift the topic— 

[Bulma: Since Naraku’s been sealed, there shouldn’t be any danger for you and Kikyo anymore, right? Can I come over now?] 

[Nameless @Bulma: It’s too late today. Tomorrow’s better. Just remember to bring that detection gear.] 

[Bulma: No problem!] 

[LittleMonster: EatingMelon.jpg] 

[Nameless @LittleMonster: …I’ll call you later.] 

Speaking of which, lately, the person with the longest online time in the chat group had shifted from Bulma to Eri. 

It wasn’t surprising. 

Most people in the group had some responsibilities. Bulma and Miko were students, though Bulma’s school attendance was more for fun—she’d been skipping classes a lot lately. Tanjiro had his Demon Slayer Corps training and demon-hunting missions. Kikyo was a miko who traveled to heal and save people. Even Namikaze Minato was busy battling the half of the Nine-Tails sealed in the Shinigami’s stomach. 

Eri, on the other hand, was a textbook shut-in. 

As the secret weapon of the Sheqi Eight Families, her usual ways of passing time were gaming and watching anime. 

But ever since joining the chat group, the girl had barely touched her gaming console. She’d open her eyes each morning and immediately start staring at the group’s messages, eagerly waiting for Uchiha Hikari or others to pop up. Even when no one was active, she’d scroll through the chat history for hours, thoroughly entertained. 

How to put it… 

Though Eri never said it outright, her behavior practically screamed “I’m lonely” in big, bold letters. 

Everyone in the group could sense it to some degree, so they were happy to chat with her and share funny stories from their own worlds. 

Uchiha Hikari had once promised to invite Eri over to hang out once things calmed down, but various delays had kept that promise unfulfilled. Now, with Naraku’s issue mostly resolved and the search for the Shikon Jewel fragments waiting on Bulma’s radar—which wouldn’t be ready for a few days—Hikari finally had some free time. 

It was the perfect chance to invite Eri to Konoha. 

… 

Time flew to the next day. 

Bright and early, Bulma sent a request to Kikyo to join her. With a flash of white light, she appeared inside the inn at Hitomi Castle. 

Her outfit was similar to when she visited the Demon Slayer world: casual sportswear and a backpack, looking like she was ready for another hiking adventure. 

“Oh, so this is Kikyo-san? She’s even prettier in person than in the anime screenshots Eri sent… I’m Bulma!” 

Bulma studied Kikyo with curiosity, her eyes lingering on the red-and-white miko outfit. “By the way, Kikyo-san, your clothes have such a unique style. Can you buy something like that in the city? I’d love to try wearing one!” 

“You probably can’t buy them. Those clothes are meant for mikos only, and most people wouldn’t make them casually… But you could ask Miko to help you order one online. She might know someone who makes cosplay outfits like that.” 

Since Miko came up, Hikari took the chance to briefly explain Miko’s world to Kikyo. 

Kikyo listened patiently, frowning slightly. “I saw some glimpses during the livestream the other day, but hearing you describe it… Miko-san’s situation does seem a bit unusual. It’s possible something’s gone wrong with the balance between the yin and yang realms, causing so many vengeful spirits to linger in the human world.” 

“Does Kikyo-san have any way to fix it?” 

Kikyo considered for a moment. “If my guess is correct, this involves the rules of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, which are beyond human intervention. All I can do is help Miko figure out what’s going on and teach her ways to deal with those spirits.” 

After some thought, Kikyo decided to craft a few simple protective talismans for Miko to use as a precaution. Once her spiritual power recovered in a few days, she’d visit to check things out. 

Bulma was itching to join. 

“If you go with Kikyo-san, safety won’t be an issue, but…” 

Hikari paused, then said seriously, “You need to be careful. Miko’s world is a pretty normal modern society. Most people are ordinary, with no superpowers or ninjutsu, and the tech level is average. When you’re there, keep a low profile and don’t do anything too attention-grabbing…” 

Hikari wasn’t too worried about Kikyo. 

Her clay body wasn’t something most people would notice, and her miko outfit and bow wouldn’t seem too out of place in modern Japan—maybe mistaken for cosplay at most. As long as she didn’t start healing people with Sengoku-era herbs and get arrested for “illegal medical practice,” she’d be fine. 

But Bulma… 

Some of her Dragon Ball world inventions could cause a stir in the modern world. If the wrong people noticed, she might catch the attention of government agencies. 

Sure, with “world-hopping” abilities, she wouldn’t end up dissected in a lab, but it’d still be a hassle. 

“Alright, I’ll be careful,” Bulma said, nodding a bit reluctantly. 

… 

According to Bulma’s initial estimate, the Shikon Jewel radar would take about seven or eight days to complete. 

Since the fragments were somewhat dangerous, Hikari and Kikyo didn’t feel comfortable letting Bulma work alone with them. In the end, they decided Kikyo would stay with her, assisting with the research while also taking the time to recover her spiritual power. 

—After purifying Hikari’s negative thoughts the previous night, Kikyo was still in a weakened state, only about twenty to thirty percent recovered. 

Inuyasha had wanted to stay with Kikyo, but with Kagome around, plus Miroku and Sango’s nudging, he rested for a day before setting off again to hunt for Shikon Jewel fragments. 

Once Hitomi Castle’s inn returned to its quiet state, Hikari temporarily left the Inuyasha world. 

[Nameless @LittleMonster: Eri, you there?] 

[Nameless: I’m back home. If you want to come hang out, now’s a good time.] 

Chapter 94: First Meeting, Barely Covered 

In the Naruto world, Konohagakure. 

Deep within the Uchiha clan’s compound, nestled at the foot of a mountain, stood a secluded villa. 

Having just finished a major cleaning spree, Uchiha Hikari stretched lazily, dispelled her Kage Bunshin (Shadow Clones), and spat a Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Great Fireball Technique) to light the fireplace in the living room. 

The flames roared to life. 

After a moment, as the air warmed up, Hikari sent an invite to Eri in the chat group. 

And then… 

Barely ten seconds later. 

[Little Monster requests to enter the Nameless World] 

“…That was quick,” Hikari muttered, a bit surprised but assuming Eri was just super prepared. She approved the request with a tap. 

A flash of white light filled the room. 

Like a burst of spring sunshine, a girl appeared before Uchiha Hikari— 

She was young, barely a teenager by the look of her. 

Though tall enough, she gave off a delicate, almost childlike vibe, like she wasn’t even sixteen. Her slightly youthful face had refined, delicate features, and her rose-red eyes held a touch of confusion. Silky, dark red hair cascaded over her shoulders, and below that, her slender frame was wrapped in nothing but a large bath towel. Her fair skin gleamed like ivory in the soft morning light. 

Lower still, her bare feet touched the villa’s wooden floor, her toes smooth and glossy like pearls. 

Everything about her was like a breathtaking painting—every inch radiating elegance, purity, and a timeless grace that made you hold your breath, afraid to shatter the moment. 

“…” 

A brief silence. 

Hikari opened her mouth, then closed it, at a loss for words. 

Across from her, Eri blinked, her doe-like eyes studying Hikari for a moment. Then she scribbled something on her little notebook and held it up: “Hello, I’m Eri.” 

“…I know you’re Eri, but…” 

What’s with this getup? Couldn’t you at least put on some clothes before popping over? 

Aren’t you cold? 

Was that lightning-fast response because you just jumped through without a second thought? 

Though she hadn’t seen it herself, Hikari could tell from Eri’s current state—wet hair still carrying the faint sandalwood scent of shampoo, clad in nothing but a towel—that she’d probably been mid-bath when she crossed over. 

“Hikari… don’t you like me?”  

Eri, misreading Hikari’s stunned reaction, scribbled again, her eyes tinged with panic, like a kitten who’d messed up. 

“It’s not about liking or not liking…” 

“Forget it. Hang on, I’ll grab you something to wear.”  

Hikari gave up on explaining, first pulling all the living room curtains shut. Then she headed to her bedroom. 

By now, she’d pieced together why Eri showed up like this— 

Raised in isolation, Eri’s mental age was younger than her years, and her grasp of gender norms was hazy at best. She probably had no clue how showing up half-naked might come across. 

In the original Dragon Clan story, her first meeting with Lu Mingfei was just as bold—she was bathing and even changed clothes right in front of him. Lucky for her, it was Lu Mingfei, the guy with a lion in his eyes, who saw her. If it’d been someone from the Gattuso family, who knows how that would’ve played out. 

“Gotta find a moment to talk to Eri about this…” 

Musing to herself, Hikari returned to the living room with an armful of clothes—inner and outer layers—and gestured for Eri to put them on. 

She stepped back, arms crossed, double-checking the curtains to make sure no one could peek in. Using sheer willpower, she avoided glancing at Eri, who was rustling into the clothes. 

Of course… 

The mirror on the wall caught a few stray reflections. 

Hikari let out a soft breath, her cheeks warming as she lowered her eyes. 

A few minutes later, Eri—now in a long-sleeved shirt and jeans—tugged at her bra strap and pointed to her chest, holding up her notebook: “This part feels really tight.” 

Then she gestured at the sleeves, which stopped short of her wrists: “And this part’s kinda short.” 

“…” 

Sorry for being short and flat-chested, okay? 

Sure, Hikari had “lived” for over a century, but her body had been in stasis during her sealing, so physically, she was still a thirteen-year-old girl. Barely five feet tall, not exactly busty—her clothes were bound to be a tight fit on Eri. 

Still… 

Glancing at Eri, who looked like she was struggling to breathe, Hikari coughed awkwardly. “Just make do for now. You can unhook the back if it’s too much… I live alone, so I’ve only got my own clothes. We’ll go shopping for you later.” 

“Okay.”  

Eri nodded obediently. 

Since she hadn’t expected their first meeting to kick off in such a bizarre way, Hikari’s carefully planned conversation starters went out the window. She was at a loss for how to begin. 

Eri, on the other hand, seemed unfazed. After looking around, she held up her notebook: “Is this Konohagakure?” 

“You know about Konohagakure?” 

“Namikaze Minato-san said you two are from the same world. I found his name in Naruto…” 

Eri paused, hesitating, before writing more: “But I didn’t see your name, Hikari. Were you killed by that Uchiha Itachi guy too?” 

“Nah, that’s not it…” 

Hikari’s heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly asked, “When you came over from your world, how far into Naruto was the anime?” 

“Episodes?”  

Eri clearly hadn’t memorized episode numbers. After Hikari clarified, she thought hard and wrote: “It was that guy with eyes like yours who killed the snake-looking guy, then went off with a few others…” 

“Sasuke killed Orochimaru?”  

Hikari closed her eyes, sifting through her memories. “That arc… I think it aired in the summer of ’09?” 

Hmm… looks like the Dragon Clan world’s timeline is roughly where she’d estimated, just slightly off. 

By that math, Eri’s about seventeen now—a prime age for, well, filling out. 

No wonder the bra was that tight… 

Chapter 95: Tachibana Masamune, with a Lion in His Eyes 

“…That’s the gist of it.” 

Uchiha Hikari took a few minutes to gather her thoughts before speaking slowly. 

“To sum it up, this is indeed the Konoha Village from Naruto, but it’s a few years—about a decade—earlier than what you’ve seen. As for me, I’m someone whose name was never mentioned in the original story. I only ended up here because of an unexpected awakening.” 

“As for things like the Uchiha clan’s destruction… Like Bulma mentioned before, the chat group’s appearance has caused our worlds to shift, diverging from the original storylines. So, most of the events you saw on TV probably won’t happen anymore.” 

“Oh…” 

Eri listened, half-understanding. 

Hikari didn’t expect her to grasp it all with just a few sentences. “It’s not a big deal, so don’t worry about it. How about I take you out to look around? We can also grab you some new clothes.” 

“Okay.” 

Eri nodded eagerly. 

With that, Hikari tidied up briefly, threw on a thick coat for herself and one for Eri, and led her out the door. 

The Uchiha clan’s compound was pretty large. 

It even had its own clothing store. 

Hikari took Eri to try on a few outfits—though, inevitably, she ended up “accidentally” seeing Eri’s figure a few times during the process. In the end, she had to step into the fitting room herself to help pick out the right size for Eri’s undergarments. 

When they were done, the shopkeeper didn’t dare charge her. He sent Hikari off with a deeply respectful demeanor, maintaining a bowing posture even as she walked far away. 

After that, Hikari stopped by an Uchiha-run pancake stall and picked up a free bag of senbei. She munched on one piece and handed the rest to Eri. 

Eri tugged gently at Hikari’s sleeve, holding up her little notebook: “Great-grandma, what does it mean?” 

“Uh…” 

Hikari was momentarily stumped. 

How do you explain “great-grandma” to someone who doesn’t grasp the concept of family hierarchy? 

“To put it simply, I’m the head of this family, kind of like your brother… No, wait, it’d be Tachibana Masamune right now, in terms of his position in your family.” 

“Oh…” 

Eri remained adorably clueless. 

Due to her innocent nature, she didn’t even notice that Hikari had casually dropped a spoiler about the Dragon Clan storyline. 

But… 

When mentioning “Tachibana Masamune,” a sudden thought struck Hikari: 

At this point in time, the head of the Sheqi Eight Families is indeed Tachibana Masamune. It’ll be another two years before Genichiro takes over. 

Masamune played his role so convincingly that, until his true identity was exposed, no one suspected he was actually Herzog from Black Swan Bay. He masterfully juggled multiple personas, manipulating the entire Sheqi Eight Families and even Cassell College like pawns in his game. 

So… 

Should she find some time to visit the Dragon Clan world and take out that old schemer? 

… 

Dragon Clan World. 

Tokyo, Japan. Genji Heavy Industries. 

Dressed in a dark kimono, Tachibana Masamune stepped into a wooden room, accompanied by Genichiro. 

For a girl’s living space, the room was strikingly bare. Aside from the essentials like a desk and chair, there were no decorations—not even the flower arrangements common in Japanese homes. It felt almost like a prison cell. 

Inside an open closet, a neat row of red-and-white miko outfits hung in perfect order. 

A PS3 in the inner room was connected to a large LCD TV, but its owner was nowhere to be found. 

“How long has she been missing?” 

Tachibana Masamune spoke, his voice aged and gravelly. 

“Four hours. This is her longest disappearance yet.” 

Genichiro lowered his head, his tone equally grave. “Crow and the others have already checked the internal surveillance at Genji Heavy Industries, as well as cameras at key traffic points around the building. There’s no trace of Eri. From the state of the room, it seems she left in the middle of a bath—there are still signs of bathing in the bathroom, and none of the clothes in her closet are missing.” 

“…So, Eri was abducted?” 

Tachibana Masamune’s brow furrowed. 

“That’s the logical conclusion.” 

Genichiro’s expression wavered. “But there’s something odd. I found a note in the bathroom, written in Eri’s handwriting. It says, ‘Going out to play, will be back in a few days.’ If she was truly abducted, she wouldn’t leave a note like that, unless…” 

Unless she knew the abductor or was somehow charmed by them. 

Eri’s every move had always been closely monitored. Aside from regular medical checkups, she rarely left this room. The farthest she’d ever gone during her previous “escapes” was the crossroad next to Genji Heavy Industries. 

If someone had managed to gain Eri’s trust and sneak her out of Genji Heavy Industries without anyone noticing… 

That was a terrifying thought. 

“Investigate! Keep digging!” 

Tachibana Masamune turned, his voice carrying unshakable authority. “Mobilize the family’s resources. Search every inch of the surrounding buildings, hotels, stations—everywhere! Also, pull Eri’s recent gaming and viewing records. Round up everyone she’s interacted with, from medical staff to online contacts, and interrogate them one by one!” 

Genichiro’s eyes flickered. “Old man, you mean…” 

“This kind of operation isn’t the work of one or two people. Someone inside the family is helping them!” 

Tachibana Masamune let out a cold huff, his aged, cloudy eyes glinting with the ferocity of a lion. “Whoever dares to target the daughter of the Sheqi Eight Families… will pay in blood!” 

… 

“Achoo—” 

At a barbecue restaurant in Konoha, Hikari rubbed her nose and took a sip from the water cup beside her. 

Across the table, Eri sat obediently, her eyes locked on the sizzling meat on the grill, barely containing her excitement. She raised her notebook: “Can we eat now?” 

“Just a bit longer.” 

Hikari pushed a bowl of mixed sauce to the center of the table and gestured for Eri to dig in. “This is Minato-sensei’s secret ‘Super Shiny Black Salty Whirlpool Sesame Sauce.’ I got the recipe from the group. I made it for Naruto—Minato-sensei’s son—once before, and it tasted pretty good. Give it a try?” 

“Okay.” 

Eri snapped her chopsticks apart, mimicking Hikari’s movements. She picked up a piece of meat, dipped it in the sauce, and popped it into her mouth. Her face lit up with satisfaction. “Delicious!” 

“Glad you like it.” 

(Chapter End)