66-70

*Chapter 66: Jiraiya* 
 
“Huh? Guests?” 
 
Naruto glanced at Hikari Uchiha, and after seeing her nod, he hopped off his chair and dashed to the entrance to open the door. 
 
As the door creaked open, two figures appeared outside: one old, one middle-aged. 
 
The older man was, of course, Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in loose casual clothes, his wrinkled face sporting a warm, grandfatherly smile. 
 
The middle-aged man was tall, clad in a tea-colored kimono with a red haori, a large forehead protector engraved with the kanji for “oil” strapped to his head. His face was square and honest enough, but his whole vibe screamed unserious from head to toe. 
 
“Hey, it’s little Naruto! Been a few days, and you’ve already shot up, huh?”  
 
Hiruzen ruffled Naruto’s hair, his tone all warm and chatty. “How’ve the last couple days been? Did you check out those books I brought last time? Any words you didn’t know?” 
 
“Hikari-nee said they were trash and tossed ‘em!”  
 
Naruto glanced at the trash bin by the coffee table, then looked up with an innocent grin. 
 
“…” 
 
Hiruzen’s mouth twitched, his kindly expression faltering for a second. 
 
Meanwhile. 
 
Jiraiya’s gaze slipped past Naruto, landing on the living room. 
 
When he caught sight of Hikari Uchiha—strikingly beautiful with a cool, sharp aura—Jiraiya froze, then his eyes widened dramatically. “Old man, this is the Uchiha miss you were talking about? She’s a total knockout! And that rare vibe… it’s like she’s straight out of…” 
 
“…Who are you?” 
 
Hikari’s brows furrowed slightly. 
 
Of course, she knew exactly who this guy was. She’d already pieced together his return to the village that morning, thanks to Naruto’s chatter and that copy of The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi.  
 
But given her “identity” and “era,” she wasn’t supposed to know Jiraiya’s name. 
 
“Great question!”  
 
Jiraiya cleared his throat, flicked his long hair over his shoulder, and struck what he thought was a dashing pose in the doorway, arms spread wide. “I am the Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku, the Gallant Jiraiya, also known as the White-Haired Wonder and one of Konoha’s legendary Sannin! The name’s Jiraiya, and I’m—” 
 
“Ahem!”  
 
Hiruzen coughed loudly, cutting off Jiraiya’s grand introduction, and spoke in a more serious tone. “Miss Hikari, this is my student, Jiraiya, who was also Minato’s sensei. He’s been wandering the ninja world for a while and only just returned to the village. I brought him along to check on Naruto…  
 
We didn’t know you’d be here. If we’re intruding, please don’t take offense.” 
 
“…Oh.” 
 
Hikari wasn’t buying the “didn’t know you’d be here” excuse for a second. 
 
But since Hiruzen had pulled the “Minato’s sensei” card, she couldn’t exactly slam the door in their faces. 
 
“So you’re Minato’s teacher, huh…”  
 
Her tone shifted, a sly edge creeping in. “So you’re the Toad Sage who used his self-invented transparency jutsu to peep on the women’s bathhouse, only to get your ribs cracked by the other Sannin? Quite the reputation. Come on in.” 
 
“…” 
 
Jiraiya’s grin froze, his foot half-raised, stuck between stepping forward and backing off. 
 
Naruto, young as he was, could tell “peeping on the bathhouse” wasn’t exactly a badge of honor. He edged away from Jiraiya with a faintly disgusted look. 
 
After Hiruzen and Jiraiya shuffled inside with awkward expressions and settled down, Hikari slipped into her room to grab a jacket. She reemerged and said, “You guys catch up with Naruto. I’m heading out to grab some stuff.” 
 
“?” 
 
Just as she turned to leave, Hiruzen quickly spoke up. “Wait a moment, Miss Hikari! Besides visiting Naruto, we actually have a few things we’d like to discuss with you… Two of them involve the Uchiha clan.” 
 
“Oh?” 
 
Hikari paused, her face unreadable as she studied Hiruzen for a moment. Then she turned back, plopping onto the living room sofa. 
 
“Spit it out.” 
 
Naruto sensed the tension in the air. He glanced at Hikari, then at the Third Hokage and his student, before quietly grabbing a stack of dishes and heading to the kitchen to wash them. 
 
The sound of running water filled the room. 
 
After a brief silence, Hiruzen spoke, his voice low and deliberate. “Miss Hikari, while you were away, we finalized a few agreements with Fugaku. About six or seven Uchiha clan members have been enrolled in the Ninja Academy and the Jonin Corps. Every candidate was approved jointly by the Uchiha, the Hokage’s office, and the advisory council. Additionally, a few kids from the Yamanaka, Nara, and Inuzuka clans have joined the Police Force… 
 
I brought the list with me. Would you like to take a look?” 
 
“No need.” 
 
Hikari’s tone was flat. 
 
The Ninja Academy and Jonin Corps arrangements were her idea, sure. 
 
But she wasn’t interested in micromanaging the details. Besides, as the Uchiha’s so-called “grandmatriarch,” she was mostly a figurehead—she didn’t even know the names of most clan members. A list wouldn’t mean much. 
 
“…The second matter also concerns the Uchiha clan. Recently, members of the Barrier Corps detected some unusual activity near the Naka River, suggesting someone may have infiltrated the village from outside. The Police Force and Anbu have formed a joint task force to investigate, but there’s no solid lead yet.” 
 
“The Naka River…” 
 
Obito’s been here? 
 
Hikari’s eyes narrowed slightly, filing the info away. “Got it. I’ll check with Fugaku for details. Anything else?” 
 
“The third matter…”  
 
Hiruzen hesitated, glancing at Jiraiya. “This isn’t village business—it’s personal. 
 
Miss Hikari, you mentioned before that you and Minato were close, despite the age gap. Minato was Jiraiya’s most cherished student, and when Jiraiya heard about this, he wanted to ask about Minato’s current… situation.” 
 
“Situation?”  
 
Hikari almost laughed. “He’s doing great, chilling in the Shinigami’s stomach. Probably more relaxed than when he was alive—no more paperwork, right?” 
 
“…” 
 
Hiruzen and Jiraiya fell silent. 
 
No matter how you sliced it, they both carried some guilt over Minato’s death via the Reaper Death Seal. Hiruzen, especially, knew he could’ve changed that outcome. 
 
Meanwhile. 
 
Hikari’s gaze flicked between the two, a mocking edge in her expression. “I can guess what you’re thinking. Still don’t believe I actually met Minato, huh? Then you really won’t believe he taught me a forbidden jutsu like Flying Thunder God.” 
 
“?!” 
 
Hiruzen and Jiraiya jolted in unison. “So the technique you used to leave Konoha before, and when you returned last night—it was…” 
 
“Yep. Flying Thunder God.” 
 
Hikari nodded slightly. 
 
—Total lie. 
 
Chapter 67: Just Because It’s Always Been That Way, Does That Make It Right? 

Uchiha Hikari, of course, didn’t know Flying Thunder God. 

But from a ninja’s perspective, the “world-hopping” function of the chat group did feel a bit like Flying Thunder God. 

And besides… 

She had learned one of Namikaze Minato’s signature techniques not too long ago— 

“This jutsu… you guys shouldn’t find it too unfamiliar, right?” 

As she spoke, Hikari raised her right hand. Chakra swirled, and a small spinning ball began to form in her palm, emitting a faint buzzing sound. 

“Rasengan!?” 

“Minato taught you that technique too?!” 

Sarutobi Hiruzen’s eyes widened in shock, instinctively glancing at the man beside him. 

Jiraiya’s expression was even graver. 

Having witnessed the entire development of the Rasengan and being the only person in the ninja world who could currently use it, he was the most qualified to judge whether the technique before them was the real deal. 

“It’s actually the Rasengan…” 

“Minato, is he really still…” 

Jiraiya trailed off mid-sentence, unable to find the right word. 

What exactly was the state of someone sealed in the belly of the Shinigami? 

“…I don’t know how you met Minato, Uchiha Hikari-san, but if he trusted you enough to teach you those two techniques, he must have had great faith in you. In that case, I won’t say much more. I only hope, for the sake of that friendship, you’ll look out for Naruto and keep him from going down the wrong path.” 

After a long pause, Jiraiya spoke slowly, his tone solemn. 

“Hm?” 

Hiruzen whipped his head around to stare at Jiraiya—that wasn’t what they’d discussed! 

Hikari, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow. “Wait, you guys didn’t come here to take back Naruto’s guardianship? Well, whatever. I’m planning to move out of here soon anyway.” 

This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. 

When Hikari first arrived in Konoha, she had nowhere else to go, so she stayed at Naruto’s place as part of her deal with the Fourth Hokage. 

But now? 

She was pretty well-off, and her trips across worlds had netted her plenty of new gadgets. Staying in this cramped apartment, constantly under Anbu surveillance, was starting to feel inconvenient. 

“Move out?” 

Hiruzen glanced toward the kitchen, hesitating. “What about Naruto…?” 

“Naruto’s capable enough to take care of himself now. Even without me, he can manage just fine.” 

Hikari paused for a moment, then narrowed her eyes at Hiruzen. “But I’d suggest you don’t try to force your vague, half-baked ideals on him—especially that ‘Will of Fire’ nonsense.” 

“…” 

Hiruzen opened his mouth a few times, finally unable to hold back. “Hikari-san, do you have some kind of grudge against the Will of Fire?” 

“Pfft—” 

Hikari couldn’t help but laugh. “Grudge?” 

“Sarutobi, kid, let me ask you this. If I had never shown up in Konoha, what were you planning to do about the Uchiha clan?” 

“Well…” 

Hiruzen wasn’t sure where this question was going. “That scenario didn’t happen, but if it had, Konoha’s leadership would’ve focused on de-escalation, trying to resolve things peacefully through negotiation…” 

“Oh?” 

Hikari’s smile grew sharper. “De-escalation? You mean setting the Anbu to watch their every move, letting the Root stir up trouble behind the scenes, and pretending you don’t see any of it from your comfy office? 

With the Uchiha unable to clear their name from the Nine-Tails incident and fed up with their unfair treatment, what do you think a clan like theirs would do? And when that time came, how would you respond?” 

In truth, at this point in time, the tensions between the Uchiha clan and Konoha were already razor-thin. 

If Hikari hadn’t appeared… 

Within a few months, those tensions would’ve boiled over. Shisui would’ve been forced to reveal his “Kotoamatsukami” to Konoha’s leadership, catching Danzo’s attention. Danzo would’ve stolen his eye, leaving him to die in the river, derailing the Uchiha’s rebellion plans. Then, two years later, Itachi and Obito, the ultimate double-crossers, would’ve teamed up to wipe out the clan. 

Others might not know the details. 

But as the Hokage, who’d been ordering the Anbu to closely monitor the Uchiha for years, Hiruzen should’ve known better than anyone. 

“This…” 

Hiruzen was sweating buckets now. 

In front of this Uchiha clan “grandma,” there were things he didn’t dare say too plainly. 

After stammering for a while, he tried to phrase it delicately. “If the Uchiha clan truly stood against Konoha, the leadership might’ve urged Fugaku to punish the key instigators. After all, their actions would’ve undeniably threatened the village’s safety…” 

“Oh.” 

“So a baseless accusation is enough to justify wiping out an entire clan? Simply wanting fair treatment is somehow a threat to village security? 

If the one who triggered the Nine-Tails incident had been someone with Hashirama’s cells, or someone with a Byakugan stolen from the Hyuga, would the Senju, Hyuga, or even the Nara-Shika-Cho or Sarutobi clans have ended up ‘standing against Konoha’ too?” 

Hikari’s tone grew colder. “Let’s cut to the chase. In your eyes, what is Konoha? The people who make up this village, or the village itself? What’s the ‘Will of Fire’ really about—protecting Konoha, or putting Konoha above everything else? This village was founded to protect the people we care about, so when did it become about sacrificing those people to preserve the village’s interests? Without its people, can you even call it a village?” 

“…” 

Hiruzen opened his mouth, stunned by the barrage of questions. “But… that’s how it’s always been. The other ninja villages are the same…” 

“Just because it’s always been that way, does that make it right?” 

Hikari cut him off sharply. “If everything’s still the same as it was during the village’s founding or the Warring States period, then what was the point of creating Konoha in the first place?” 

“Whether it’s Naruto or anyone else, they’re people first—before they’re Konoha villagers, ninjas, or anything else. They weren’t born into this world to be kindling for your fire!” 

“…” 

Hiruzen wanted to call it sophistry. 

But for the life of him, he couldn’t find a counterargument. 

The “Will of Fire” he’d preached countless times—to the ninja academy, the Anbu, the jonin, and Konoha’s villagers—suddenly felt hollow. 

Jiraiya, meanwhile, stared at Hikari with wide eyes, a rare seriousness in his gaze, as if he were seeing her for the first time. 

Chapter 68: “Child of Destiny”? 

After a long pause. 

Hikari Uchiha shook her head, her expression one of boredom. 

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s theoretical spiel was even weaker than she’d expected. 

Utterly flimsy. 

This so-called “Will of Fire” had been preached since Konoha’s founding, yet after generations, it amounted to little more than a handful of pretty slogans with barely any tangible progress. And when you stacked those lofty words against the dirty laundry of Konoha’s past few decades—some of which hadn’t even happened yet—the irony was almost laughable. 

“Anything else to say?” 

Hikari locked eyes with the two men across from her, breaking the silence. “If not, you can go. Don’t expect me to walk you out.” 

… 

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya left Naruto’s place with the same awkward air they’d arrived with. 

But before they went, they left something behind. 

“Minato Namikaze’s property deed… This thing still exists?” 

Hikari eyed the stack of papers on the coffee table, a bit surprised. 

She knew the cramped apartment Naruto lived in wasn’t the home Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki had shared—obviously, no Hokage would live in a tiny 40-square-meter flat. From her hazy recollection of the Naruto storyline and the address listed on the deed, the Namikaze residence wasn’t far from here: a two-and-a-half-story villa. 

Hikari had assumed that after the Nine-Tails incident, Minato and Kushina’s property would’ve been liquidated, much like the Uchiha compound was repossessed by Konoha after the clan’s massacre in the original timeline. But apparently, it had been preserved. And now, Hiruzen choosing this moment to return the deed, asking her to handle it as “a friend Minato trusted”… 

What was his angle? 

Was he worried that if she moved back to the Uchiha compound, she’d start siding with the clan and turn against Konoha, so he was using this to keep her tethered? 

Hmm… Pretty likely. 

Hikari didn’t dwell on it. She tucked the deed away, planning to ask Minato’s opinion in the group chat later. 

As she turned, she caught sight of Naruto standing at the kitchen doorway, head bowed, looking a bit downcast. 

“Hikari-nee, are you… really moving out?” 

“?” 

Hikari paused, then gave a small smirk. “You overheard us talking? Yeah, I’m thinking about it, but it’s for personal reasons—not because I’m sick of you. Don’t worry, I’ll swing by to check on you, and you can come find me… if I’m in the village, that is.” 

—Though a place like the Uchiha compound? Naruto probably wouldn’t get past the gate. Anbu would step in, and if some Uchiha hothead attacked the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, it’d be a mess. 

“…” 

Naruto kept his head down, silent. 

Hikari ruffled his bright blonde hair and let out a soft sigh. “Come on, why’s a kid like you getting all mopey? You weren’t like this before. I’m heading out for a bit. If I’m back before the afternoon, I’ll take you shopping.” 

At that, Naruto perked up and nodded. “Okay… I’ll wait here!” 

After a quick word, Hikari threw on her jacket and stepped outside. 

She leaped from the second-floor hallway, heading straight for the Police Force headquarters. 

… 

Meanwhile. 

In the Hokage’s office. 

“What’s your take, Jiraiya?” 

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who’d been silent the whole walk back, settled behind his desk, took a heavy drag from his pipe, and looked up at the man beside him. 

“…” 

Jiraiya, equally quiet until now, stood with his arms crossed. He didn’t answer right away, instead giving Hiruzen a complicated look. “Old man, all that intel you gave me about her—it’s legit, right?” 

“…You mean?” 

“That stuff about this girl hailing from the Warring States era over a hundred years ago, raised as a weapon by the Uchiha clan and sealed away by the Senju back then…” 

Jiraiya rubbed his chin. “It was my first time meeting her, but she gives off… a unique vibe. Doesn’t feel like an Uchiha at all. Especially not one born over a century ago who was enslaved by her own clan.” 

Jiraiya was born after Konoha’s founding. 

Hiruzen was a bit older, from the tail end of the Warring States period. 

Their knowledge of that era came mostly from fragmented records in old scrolls and stories passed down by family elders—particularly a certain unnamed Senju Hokage. From those sources, they could roughly sketch the Uchiha clan’s profile:  

Sensitive, extreme, unhinged, defiant… 

But in Hikari Uchiha? Defiance was the only trait that stood out. The rest… maybe faint traces, but so diluted they barely counted as traits. 

Her looks, though, were pure Uchiha—gorgeous, with a refined air that added to her charm… but that wasn’t exactly relevant to the discussion. 

Overall, she seemed more normal than most Konoha villagers born in the last twenty years. 

Especially her comments about the “Will of Fire”… 

Those words had shaken Hiruzen to his core. 

Thinking back on Konoha’s history—the tragedies of White Fang, Nawaki, Orochimaru, Hizashi Hyuga, Danzo… and the Uchiha, who were practically a recurring nightmare… 

Could the “Will of Fire” really have gone astray? 

If so, what had he been protecting all these decades? 

Hiruzen’s grip tightened, unwilling to let his thoughts spiral further. 

Jiraiya was deep in thought, too. 

To him, Minato Namikaze wasn’t just a brilliant student but the “Child of Prophecy” he’d spent decades searching for, the one he’d believed would change the world—until the Nine-Tails incident four years ago shattered that dream. But now… 

If Hikari Uchiha knew Minato, could her ideas today have been shaped by his influence? 

Or… 

What if the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy—the one about a figure who’d revolutionize the ninja world—wasn’t about Minato at all, but this Warring States-era Uchiha girl, recently unearthed from her seal? 

But with his seniority, he couldn’t exactly take her as a student, could he? 

Plus, shouldn’t it be a “Daughter of Destiny” or something…? 

Jiraiya scratched his head, wondering if he should make a quick trip to Mount Myoboku to ask. 

After a moment of silence, Hiruzen spoke again. “Jiraiya, back at Naruto’s place, did you sense anything like Minato’s Flying Thunder God chakra?” 

Chapter 69: Tsunade: Wait for Me to Join the Fight! 

“I don’t know.” 

Jiraiya shook his head. “As you know, after Lord Second passed away, only Minato ever mastered Flying Thunder God. Even the Hokage’s guard team, like Shiranui Genma and the others, could barely pull it off working together as a trio. Plus, the seals for Flying Thunder God vary from person to person, depending on their physique and chakra nature… I can’t tell.” 

“But the Rasengan? That’s the real deal, no question about it.” 

“The Uzumaki clan is gone, and we only know scraps about their secret ‘Dead Demon Consuming Seal.’ Maybe there is a way to enter the Shinigami’s stomach and talk to Minato… After all, wasn’t that girl sealed in a coffin for centuries? Maybe back then, she was in some kind of superposition of life and death, and that’s how she got the chance…” 

As he spoke, Jiraiya’s thoughts drifted to a certain former close friend. 

—If he were here, he’d probably have a lot to say about this stuff, right? 

What a shame… 

Jiraiya shook his head, pushing Orochimaru’s image out of his mind, and concluded, “So, theoretically, it’s not impossible for her to have met Minato.” 

“Hm…” 

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe, exhaling smoke rings. His aged face looked shadowed and unreadable in the swirling haze. 

After a long pause, he muttered, almost to himself, “Well, at least wherever Hikari-san went these past few weeks, she’s been quieter this time. She hasn’t stirred up a mess like last time…” 

It had been over a month since the Root base was destroyed. 

Some of the Root ninjas sent there had recovered and been reassigned to the Anbu or other units. Danzo himself, however, was still in the hospital, under strict Anbu surveillance as he healed. 

But the fallout from that incident went beyond just that— 

Konoha’s major clans had started catching wind of what happened, and some had been probing Hiruzen’s stance through subtle inquiries. Add to that the recent negotiations between Konoha’s leadership and the Uchiha clan to open up the jonin ranks, and the clans’ sharp-eyed members were reading into every move. Some had even started privately reaching out to the Security Force, signaling their allegiances… 

A good chunk of Hiruzen’s increased workload lately came from dealing with all this. 

“Last time…” 

Jiraiya had obviously heard about the Danzo situation too. 

At that moment, the white-haired sage seemed to remember something, and his expression turned odd. 

“…Old man, remember when you asked me to send a message to Tsunade, telling her to come back to the village when she had time?” 

Hiruzen blinked. “Yeah, what about it?” 

“Shizune replied a couple of days ago.” 

Jiraiya pulled an envelope from his pocket and placed it on the desk. “Take a look. Shizune says Tsunade’s left the casino and is on her way back to the village… She’s furious about Danzo’s experiments with the First Hokage’s cells. She told us to make sure he’s taken care of, because when she gets here, she’s going to kill him herself.” 

Hiruzen: “?!?!” 

… 

Konohagakure Central District 

Security Force Headquarters 

When Uchiha Hikari arrived, some Uchiha clansmen immediately recognized her and escorted her straight to the top floor, where Fugaku was handling paperwork. 

“Great Ancestor, you’re here?” 

Fugaku hurriedly stood and bowed, his face lighting up with surprise. “Did you just return to the village? You didn’t have to come in person—if there’s anything you need, I would’ve visited you…” 

“No need for formalities.” 

As she spoke, Hikari glanced around. 

It was her first time at the Security Force headquarters, but from what she’d seen on her way up, there were definitely some new faces around. Judging by the clan crests on the back of their uniforms, she could roughly identify their surnames— 

Nara, Yamanaka, Inuzuka… 

Hikari gave them a brief look before turning her attention back to Fugaku, cutting to the chase. “I heard from Sarutobi Hiruzen that there’s been some trouble around the Naka River?” 

“Yes.” 

Fugaku nodded promptly. “Over the past two weeks, the barrier around the Naka River area has shown signs of unauthorized entry multiple times, with the most recent one three days ago. 

Since that’s deep within the Uchiha clan’s territory, many clansmen initially didn’t want the village sending people in to investigate. But after Shisui and I persuaded them, we reached an agreement. Right now, the Anbu and Security Force are conducting a joint investigation… 

No one’s seen the intruder’s face, so we don’t know if it’s related to what you mentioned before.” 

“…You’re sure no one’s seen them?” 

“Yes. I’ve personally asked every clansman with three-tomoe Sharingan or higher, and none of their responses showed any obvious inconsistencies.” 

“…” 

Hikari fell into thought. 

Honestly, she didn’t buy that Obito would make multiple trips here just to take a nostalgic stroll through his old stomping grounds. Knowing that guy’s personality, it’d be out of character for him not to stir up some trouble. 

But since Fugaku was so certain, she couldn’t exactly call him out in front of everyone. 

“Take me to the site.” 

“Alright.” 

Fugaku handed his tasks over to the deputy captain, Uchiha Yashiro, gave a few instructions, and then led Hikari toward the Uchiha clan’s territory in the southwest part of the village. 

Halfway there, Hikari found the pace too slow. She grabbed Fugaku with Susanoo, used Sky Dance Technique to take to the air, and within minutes, they arrived near the Naka River. Following Fugaku’s directions, she landed above the waterfall. 

Whoosh— 

The roar of the falling water was deafening, and the air was thick with damp mist. 

“Great Ancestor, the barrier team found traces in this area. Some of our team members are still searching the forest over there,” Fugaku said loudly, pointing to a few shadowy figures in the distance. 

“Got it.” 

Hikari nodded, scanning the surroundings. 

She was pretty familiar with this place. In the original story, this was where Shisui fell into the river and died, triggering Itachi’s Mangekyo Sharingan and setting off the Uchiha clan massacre. 

[Nameless has started a group live stream] 

[Nameless @ForeverCarryingSis: Minato-san, what’s your take?] 

[ForeverCarryingSis: …I’ve got the gist of the situation. If the intruder really is that masked guy who called himself ‘Uchiha Madara’ back then, even if I were there in person, I probably wouldn’t spot anything. His space-time ninjutsu is incredibly tricky. If he’s trying to stay hidden, he’s not likely to leave any traceable clues.] 

Chapter 70: Hidden Mist Jutsu and the Shikotsumyaku 

Hikari Uchiha didn’t tell Minato Namikaze that the masked man claiming to be Madara was actually Obito. 

There was no point. 

The blackened Obito was practically a stranger to Minato now—his personality, abilities, goals… all completely different. Even his smarts had ticked up a notch, or he wouldn’t have gone unrecognized during the Nine-Tails attack.  

And Kamui? That was one of the most broken abilities among Mangekyo Sharingan techniques. 

—From the original storyline, “Kamui’s dimension” seemed to have some spatial teleportation capability, meaning entry and exit points didn’t have to align. Obito likely used this to slip through Konoha’s barrier undetected. If he was serious about hiding, tracking him down would be as tough as finding Kibutsuji Muzan. 

Unless they gouged out Kakashi’s left eye, transplanted it into an Uchiha, and tried unlocking Kamui’s full potential. 

Or… had Minato himself cross over and use the Flying Thunder God seal he’d once placed on Obito. 

Hikari had floated that second idea in the group chat once. 

But… 

[EternalWingSis: …My “cross-over” function is usable, but there’s a warning about unknown risks. If I jump over recklessly, something unpredictable could happen. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, it’s better to play it safe.] 

[NoName: Fair enough.] 

Unknown risks… Did that mean a soul without a physical vessel might not stabilize in the living world? Or that returning to the Shinigami’s stomach could cause issues—like the Shinigami noticing something? 

Hikari had never died, so she had no clue what chilling in the Shinigami’s gut was like. She mused about whether, once she’d roped in Dr. Gero or Orochimaru, she should try cloning Minato a new body. 

While she and Minato were hashing things out in the chat, elsewhere… 

The Police Force members searching the area spotted her and Fugaku Uchiha. 

“Lord Fugaku, Grandmatriarch!”  

A clear, bright voice called out as a girl in a Police Force uniform hurried over. Her sleek black hair and the tear-shaped mole under her right eye made Hikari recognize her instantly. 

“Izumi?” 

“Greetings, Grandmatriarch!”  

As Izumi bowed respectfully, another girl beside her followed suit, bending low. “Hana Inuzuka, of the Inuzuka clan. It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Hikari.” 

Hana Inuzuka?  

Hikari glanced over. 

The girl was pretty enough, about Izumi’s age, with short brown hair and dark red fang-like markings painted on her cheeks. Three identical gray puppies trailed her, wagging their tails and sniffing around. 

(Kiba’s older sister from the Rookie Nine, huh…) 

Hikari was less interested in Hana’s identity than her attire. 

“You’re with the Police Force too?” 

Hana’s posture grew even more deferential at Hikari’s question. “Yes, I joined as a genin just a week or two ago. Izumi’s a good friend, and she’s told me about your feats before I enlisted. It’s truly an honor to meet you.” 

Pretty polite. 

Hikari waved a hand casually. “Find anything?” 

“We discovered some fresh tracks near the forest entrance by the waterfall—looked man-made. My mother’s already leading a team to follow them, and we’re staying behind to keep searching. If we find anything, we’ll signal with a flare…” 

Before Hana could finish, a flash lit up in the distance. 

Boom! 

The sound carried through the air. 

Under Hikari and the others’ gazes, a red flare exploded above the distant forest, marking the target’s location. 

“That’s my mother’s signal!”  

“Let’s move!”  

Hana’s three ninken took off first, with Fugaku, Izumi, and a handful of nearby Anbu and Police Force members following close behind. 

Hikari, meanwhile, used Bukujutsu to lift off the ground. After gauging the direction, she soared over the treetops at thirty or forty meters, quickly outpacing Fugaku and the others below. 

When she was about one or two kilometers from the flare’s position, she spotted a thick fog blanketing the forest, shrouding trees and figures within a hundred-meter radius. It was like a pocket of pure white carved out of the greenery. 

“Is that… Kirigakure’s Hidden Mist Jutsu?” 

Hikari slowed as she neared the fog’s edge, activating her three-tomoe Sharingan to peer downward. 

Honestly, the mist was absurdly dense. Even this close, she couldn’t make out a thing inside. Only when a stray breeze blew through could she faintly catch the scent of blood, hinting at a fight raging within. 

Just as Hikari considered using Wind Release or Fire Release to clear some of the fog, a faint killing intent pricked at her senses from below— 

“Shikotsumyaku: Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!!” 

Swish! Swish! Swish! 

Dozens of bone bullets, sharp and whistling, shot out of the mist, streaking toward her in midair. 

Hikari barely tilted her head, letting the projectiles zip past, their wake stirring the hair at her temple. 

But… 

That was just the opener. 

Two burly Kaguya clan ninjas, sporting ugly topknots, leaped from the trees on either side like a pair of gorillas. As they vaulted into the air, jagged white bone spikes tore through their skin, turning them into human porcupines as they barreled toward Hikari. 

“Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Willow!!” 

“Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!!” 

Hikari flashed through hand seals and exhaled sharply. A roaring gust exploded in midair, blasting the two Kaguya ninjas aside and briefly parting a section of the mist. From her vantage point, she glimpsed two groups locked in combat below. 

One was Konoha ninjas. 

Some wore the dark green Police Force uniforms, others the gray-white Anbu vests. They’d taken heavy losses—only a few were still standing, fighting desperately. A black wolfhound stood out among them, likely the Inuzuka clan’s Kuromaru. 

The other group… 

About a dozen strong, none wearing forehead protectors. But the Kekkei Genkai some of them displayed made their identity crystal clear— 

Kirigakure shinobi! 

(End of Chapter)