61-65

Chapter 61: First, Rule Out One Correct Answer 

“This is… way too weird! They’re Upper Ranks, for crying out loud!” 

Even after the battle had been over for a while, Uzui Tengen still looked completely baffled. “They were fighting us so fiercely just moments ago, but the second they saw you, Hikari-san, they just… stopped moving? Even if they were exhausted, you’d think they’d at least put up some kind of fight…” 

Iguro Obanai didn’t say a word, but his eyes echoed the same sentiment. 

Uchiha Hikari, half-joking, chimed in, “What, you guys aren’t seriously thinking I’m Kibutsuji Muzan in disguise, are you?” 

“…” 

Uzui Tengen and Iguro Obanai exchanged a glance but stayed silent. 

For a split second, yeah, that thought had crossed their minds. 

There weren’t many people who could make two Upper Ranks give up resistance and surrender without a fight, and their master, the Demon King Muzan, was definitely one of them. But the thing is… Muzan wouldn’t be out in broad daylight, and he sure as hell wouldn’t disguise himself as a young girl to play house with the Demon Slayer Corps. 

Not to mention, Uchiha Hikari’s identity had been personally verified by the Master himself. 

So… 

There was only one conclusion. 

“I thought I had a pretty good read on you, Hikari-san, but now I’m realizing… your strength is just ridiculously insane,” Uzui said. 

“Eh, it’s alright,” Hikari replied with a shrug. 

After that, Rengoku Kyojuro and the others started organizing the cleanup. 

Uchiha Hikari stretched lazily, rolling her shoulders as she stepped to the side. She casually ruffled Nezuko’s head as the girl bounded over to greet her, then turned her attention to Tanjiro and the others nearby. “By the way, Tanjiro, those moves you used earlier—those were the ‘Hinokami Kagura’ your father taught you, right?” 

“Y-Yeah…” Tanjiro nodded. 

“For some reason, beyond the memories of my time with my father, it’s like… weird images just popped into my head out of nowhere…” 

Tanjiro pressed a hand to his forehead, looking a bit confused. 

“Weird images…” Hikari repeated. 

Could it be memories passed down through the Kamado family’s DNA, tied to Tsugikuni Yoriichi? 

Hikari pondered for a moment. 

Before stepping in, she’d actually been observing the battle from above the Yoshiwara Entertainment District for a while—otherwise, she wouldn’t have timed her entrance to wrap things up so perfectly. 

She’d seen the whole thing: Tanjiro and Nezuko being cornered by Daki, and then Tanjiro unleashing the Hinokami Kagura in a burst of desperation. 

But maybe because they faced Daki about half a year earlier than in the original timeline, Tanjiro and the others weren’t strong enough yet. Plus, with three Hashira shouldering most of the pressure, Tanjiro didn’t awaken his Mark in this fight like he did in the original story. 

And honestly, that was a good thing. 

The Mark, Transparent World, and Red Blade—the three power-ups of the Demon Slayer world—could massively boost combat ability, but the Mark was the least worth it. 

The cost was just too high. 

That power came from burning through your life force. Once you awakened the Mark, your lifespan would plummet, and you wouldn’t live past 25. 

—Tsugikuni Michikatsu, after all, became Upper Rank One, Kokushibo, because of it. 

As a friend, Hikari wanted to help Tanjiro avoid that fate if she could. 

“Once we’re back, I’ll talk to Rengoku Kyojuro and have him train you in the Hinokami Kagura. His Breathing Style is the closest to yours, and his family has some ancient texts passed down through generations… They should give you some unique pointers.” 

Hikari thought for a second, then patted Tanjiro’s shoulder. “In a little while, I’ll take you somewhere to check out some cool stuff…” 

The place she had in mind was in the Dragon Ball world. 

—Karin Tower. 

Hikari had already tested it with Uzui Tengen: people from the Demon Slayer world couldn’t fully cultivate the chakra system. The Sound Hashira was pretty sharp, and even he couldn’t manage it, so Tanjiro probably wouldn’t fare much better. 

But… 

“Ki” was different. 

According to Master Korin, everyone—even people from ordinary worlds—had latent physical and mental energy in their bodies. If you could draw it out, you could cultivate “ki.” Over time, Hikari had also noticed that Breathing Techniques and “ki” weren’t entirely unrelated; there seemed to be a faint connection between them. 

So, people from the Demon Slayer world might actually be able to cultivate “ki.” 

Even if their potential was limited by their physiology, it’d still be better than awakening the Mark. 

“…Got it! I’ll do my best!” Tanjiro nodded enthusiastically. 

Nearby, Zenitsu and Inosuke were staring at her with eager, puppy-dog eyes, clearly hoping for their own shot. 

“Hikari-san, what about us…?” Zenitsu ventured. 

“Alright, alright,” Hikari laughed. “I’ll talk to the other Hashira and make sure you guys get some training too.” 

Over time, Hikari had gotten pretty close with the nine Hashira. A few of them even owed her a favor or two for her guidance, so finding mentors for Zenitsu and Inosuke wouldn’t be hard. 

After making a few casual promises, Hikari looked up at the deep night sky. 

“By the way…” 

“It’s been a while since I first cosplayed as Tsugikuni Yoriichi, hasn’t it? How come Muzan hasn’t made a move? He’s too scared to come himself, but he hasn’t even sent any lackeys to test the waters?” 

Is he really that much of a coward? 

… 

Infinite Castle, Another Dimension 

Through the eyes of Daki and her brother, Kibutsuji Muzan “saw” Uchiha Hikari appear, and once again, he was gripped by soul-shaking fear. 

“It’s her… It’s her again!” 

“Why does this haunting woman keep showing up?!” 

Ever since Rui’s death, Muzan hadn’t left the Infinite Castle. 

Out of his fear of death, he’d abandoned all the human identities he’d cultivated over years without a second thought. All his focus had gone into investigating “Tsugikuni Yoriichi’s reincarnation.” He’d tasked Kokushibo, Akaza, and Gyokko with finding clues about that girl, but they’d come up empty. 

Just when Muzan had resigned himself to hiding in the Infinite Castle for a century… 

He saw that face again. 

And this time, the image was clearer—and far more terrifying! 

Not only did her appearance and aura resemble Tsugikuni Yoriichi, but those red eyes with black tomoe patterns, her dramatic descent from the sky, the bizarre technique that paralyzed demons, and the black runes tied to a scroll… None of it made sense to Muzan! 

“What kind of technique can instantly rob a demon of their ability to move?! Rui was one thing, but even Gyutaro… Damn it! How is her power even stronger than before?!” 

“Kokushibo!” 

“It’s been this long, and you still haven’t figured out the identity of Yoriichi’s reincarnation?!” 

“…” 

At that moment, besides Muzan and Nakime, there was a third figure in the Infinite Castle. 

A man dressed as a samurai. 

He wore a haori with purple-black stripes, a katana at his waist, and his face bore six eyes, each with red sclera and golden irises. The two in the center were marked with the kanji for “Upper Rank” and “One,” declaring his identity— 

Upper Rank One, Kokushibo. 

The oldest and strongest of the Twelve Kizuki, second only to Muzan himself. 

At that moment, Kokushibo knelt on the floor a short distance away, his face expressionless. “Lord Muzan, I have indeed been unable to uncover the identity of the girl you speak of…” 

“Hah.” 

Muzan let out a bitter laugh. “Unable to find her? Are you telling me she just appeared out of nowhere, with no family, no parents, no past… born into this world for the sole purpose of hunting us down?!” 

“…” 

Chapter 62: Sacred Blade · Onikiri 

Inside a wooden room. 

Kokushibo lowered his head, silent for a long while before finally speaking in a low voice: 

“Hard as it is to believe, I’ve thoroughly investigated the Demon Slayer Corps bases in Natagumo Mountain and Asakusa. So far, there’s no trace of any records related to her. Back then… it was I who cleaved his body in two. There’s no way he could’ve come back to life.” 

“As for the demon-hunting techniques she’s using…” 

On that point, Kokushibo wasn’t surprised at all. 

Just as he could never catch up to his younger brother’s shadow no matter how hard he tried back then, if this girl truly was the reincarnation of Yorichii Tsugikuni, then no matter how unbelievable her methods were, it made sense. 

—A child of the heavens can’t be judged by mortal logic. 

Another stretch of silence followed. 

Finally. 

Muzan seemed to piece something together, his voice hissing as he spoke: “It seems the root of all this likely lies with the Ubuyashiki clan.” 

“It must be some change in this generation’s Ubuyashiki foresight ability that let them discover Yorichii’s reincarnation. They hid that girl in advance, planning to use her as a secret weapon against us, then erased every trace of her existence to keep us from finding her!” 

Once he reached this initial conclusion, Muzan’s thoughts started to flow more clearly: 

“I see…” 

“No wonder the Demon Slayer Corps has been able to pinpoint the locations of the Twelve Kizuki so accurately in such a short time. Last time with Rui, fine, but this time against Gyutaro? Sending three Hashira at once? That was clearly premeditated. And from the looks of it, they even knew that Daki and Gyutaro’s heads had to be severed simultaneously to kill them… 

It seems the Ubuyashiki’s ability doesn’t just predict the movements of the Twelve Kizuki—it can even glimpse their abilities!” 

In that moment, Muzan felt a flicker of relief at his own caution. 

If he hadn’t acted decisively, the Demon Slayers might’ve found him instead of Daki… 

“…” 

Kokushibo kept his head bowed, saying nothing. 

Muzan made his decision: “Nakime, summon all the Upper Ranks here immediately. I’m holding a meeting now!” 

“Until we confirm the location of the Demon Slayer Corps’ headquarters and get solid intel on that girl, we must preserve the Upper Ranks’ strength to the fullest!” 

… 

Ubuyashiki Kagaya had no idea he’d been painted as the mastermind behind every scheme in Muzan’s eyes. 

The news from the Kasugai Crow about the successful defeat of Upper Rank Six had put him in a great mood. 

After all… 

The last time an Upper Rank demon was defeated was over a hundred years ago. 

Even though it was just the lowest of the Upper Ranks, this mission proved the accuracy of the intel provided by Hikari Uchiha. With that, the Demon Slayer Corps’ odds of taking down the other Twelve Kizuki would improve drastically. 

There was even a faint glimmer of hope for their ultimate goal: eliminating Kibutsuji Muzan once and for all. 

For this, Ubuyashiki Kagaya personally visited Hikari Uchiha with his wife and daughters to express his heartfelt thanks. 

He brought plenty of gifts, too. 

“These are tea sets crafted from Yakusugi cedar from Kagoshima, ceramic dolls from Hakata in Fukuoka, and平安-era sachets made from wisteria flowers…” 

“These are all handicrafts I’ve had people collect from across the country recently, along with some preserved foods. It’s a small token of appreciation from me and my wife—please don’t think them unworthy, ladies.” 

“Wow, these sachets are pretty unique… You’re too kind, Mr. Ubuyashiki.” 

Bulma seemed quite taken with the little trinkets. 

After all, you wouldn’t find stuff like this in the Dragon Ball world. 

Hikari Uchiha’s attention, meanwhile, was drawn to a few other items— 

A blade, a bronze mirror, some jade artifacts, and a flute… 

“These are the items with a mystical aura you asked for, collected over this short period,” Ubuyashiki explained. 

“Since time was limited and these kinds of items are hard to authenticate, we could only gather this much for now. If you’d like more, I’ll have people continue searching and bring them to you next time.” 

Ubuyashiki Kagaya went on to introduce each one: 

“This blade is a sacred sword, Onikiri, enshrined in a shrine managed by my wife’s family. Forged eight hundred years ago by a master smith of the Heian era, it was once wielded by a Minamoto general to slay wicked demons. Even today, it remains as sharp as ever.” 

“…” 

So the “demons” from the “Night Parade of a Hundred Demons” stories were Muzan’s demons? 

Hikari Uchiha drew the blade from its sheath, inspecting it closely before flicking it with her finger. A faint, resonant hum echoed. 

“Not a bad sword.” 

Having trained in kenjutsu, she could tell quality from junk. Compared to the mass-produced tanto she’d bought from ninja tool shops or the standard blades carried by most Demon Slayers—even the Hashira—this sword’s craftsmanship was top-notch. 

And… 

When she gripped the hilt, she felt a distinct aura. Cold, sharp, unyielding—almost like chakra… 

No. 

Hikari Uchiha suddenly realized the source of this aura—it was likely the lingering will of those who’d wielded Onikiri over eight hundred years, their beliefs etched into the blade, forming a unique spiritual force. This force enveloped the blade, granting a weapon of mere iron an extraordinary edge that endured centuries without decay. 

“I see…” 

“Could it be that the blade hidden in Yorichii Tsugikuni’s puppet in the Swordsmith Village carries his spiritual force, too? That’s why it’s so powerful?” 

A blade like this was just barely worthy of her. 

Next. 

Hikari Uchiha examined the other items— 

Prayer beads from a Shingon Buddhist monk, said to protect the wearer from fire and water; 

A spiritual bow and demon-breaking arrows from a Sengoku-era miko… though they were battle-damaged and didn’t look usable; 

A jade necklace rumored to unleash “kotodama” (spirit words), but its method was lost; 

A simple wooden flute that, when played, could soothe the listener’s sorrows… 

A mirror said to reflect the heart’s desires… 

With Onikiri as the gold standard, these other items felt a bit lackluster. 

Still, seeing Ubuyashiki Kagaya introduce them so earnestly, Hikari Uchiha didn’t let her thoughts show. She nodded in thanks and stowed the items away, planning to tinker with them in her spare time. 

At the very least, the jade necklace was pretty, its hue like a clear blue sky. 

The flute’s tone was nice, too—calming, like it really could ease the heart. 

“By the way… the ‘kotodama’ this necklace is supposed to release—could it be something like ‘sit’?” 

Hikari Uchiha glanced at the spiritual bow and jade necklace, her mind wandering to that thought. 

Chapter 63: Impure World Reincarnation! 

The day after receiving the gift… 

Bulma handed over her modified “Demon Slayer World 2.0 Laser Sword” to Ubuyashiki Kagaya, giving him a serious rundown of the precautions. 

“…The light is just as harmful to humans as it is to demons. If you overexpose yourself—especially to sensitive areas like the eyes, throat, or heart—it could cause permanent injury or even death, so you’ve gotta be careful. 

In a pinch, you can press the red groove at the bottom of the hilt and throw the sword. It’ll self-destruct after a five-second delay to keep it out of the wrong hands.” 

“As for the energy, as long as you don’t overuse it, it should last three to five months without a problem. Use it sparingly, and it’ll hold out even longer.” 

“Thank you.” 

Ubuyashiki Kagaya bowed deeply again, carefully stowing the laser sword. 

Now that the laser sword had been delivered, how the Demon Slayer Corps would use it was up to them. 

Most of the nine Hashira were highly skilled with swords. Except for those like Himejima Gyomei or Kanroji Mitsuri, whose unique weapons couldn’t be easily swapped out, the others should be able to master the laser sword quickly. Picking two suitable “sword wielders” from among them shouldn’t be an issue. 

And now… 

It was time for the final—and most important—reason Uchiha Hikari had come here. 

… 

Late at Night, Snowy Mountain, Mountainside 

Uchiha Hikari, Bulma, Tanjiro, and Rengoku Kyojuro, who’d tagged along, came to a stop. 

Before them stood an old, weathered wooden cabin. Nearby, a few lonely gravestones dotted the landscape. Though spring had already begun, the high altitude meant patches of unmelted snow still lingered around them. 

“Hikari-san, this is the place,” Tanjiro said softly, his breath forming a small cloud in the cold air. 

Hikari didn’t respond right away, instead scanning their surroundings. 

She’d known Tanjiro’s family lived on a snowy mountain, but she hadn’t realized the altitude here was close to a thousand meters. Judging by the thick snowpack, it probably didn’t fully melt even in summer. 

But… 

For what they were about to do, that was actually good news. 

With Tanjiro’s permission, Hikari formed a series of hand signs, summoning seven or eight shadow clones. She then pulled a pile of shovels from a Capsule Corp capsule, handed one to each clone, and they began carefully digging around the graves. 

Meanwhile, her real body took a slow walk through the cabin and made a quick trip to the back of the mountain. 

Nothing noteworthy. 

Not surprising, really. 

This had once been Tsugikuni Yoriichi’s home, but that was three hundred years ago. Even if Yoriichi had left something behind, time would’ve likely erased it. The fact that the red sun-patterned earrings had been passed down was already a testament to the Kamado family’s careful preservation. Expecting to find anything else was a long shot. 

As for the “Blue Spider Lily”… 

Tanjiro vaguely recalled it, but according to his memories, the flower only bloomed for a few days around the autumn equinox, opening during the day and wilting at night. Right now, all they could find near the stream were some bulb-like roots that looked like they might belong to the spider lily. 

Hikari dug up a few to take back for analysis, hoping to uncover something useful. 

Finally… 

Several thin wooden coffins were unearthed and laid out in front of the Kamado family’s cabin. 

Hikari gave a slight bow of respect, then opened one of the coffins, revealing a body that hadn’t fully decomposed. The thin air and freezing temperatures of the snowy mountain had preserved the corpses far longer than normal. 

After taking a small piece of skin from the body, Hikari retrieved a demon from a sealing scroll and placed it onto a prepared ritual array. 

“Ninjutsu…” 

“Impure World Reincarnation!” 

With a series of hand signs, the array glowed faintly. Dust swirled from the air, enveloping the demon’s body layer by layer, reshaping it into the form of a gentle-looking woman in white. 

“…” 

The moment Tanjiro saw her, he gripped Nezuko’s hand tightly with one hand while the other clenched into a fist. 

A few seconds later… 

Under the watchful eyes of Hikari and the others, the woman’s eyelids twitched, and she slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze swept the surroundings before settling on Tanjiro and Nezuko. 

“It’s been a long time… Tanjiro, Nezuko.” 

“…Mom!” 

At the sound of her voice, Tanjiro choked out a sob and rushed forward without hesitation. The woman, Kamado Kie, opened her arms, embracing her eldest son and daughter tightly. Her slightly clouded eyes shimmered with tears. 

“…Huh??” 

At that moment… 

Bulma, Rengoku Kyojuro, and Uzui Tengen, who’d witnessed the whole thing, stood wide-eyed, their faces full of disbelief. 

“L-Little Hikari, this is…?” Bulma stammered. 

“Impure World Reincarnation, a ninjutsu that temporarily brings the dead back to the living world. It requires a piece of the deceased’s body as a medium and a living body as a vessel to complete the technique… I wasn’t sure it’d work, but looks like it did,” Hikari explained softly. 

Since she hadn’t been certain the technique would succeed, she hadn’t explained the details to Bulma and the others beforehand, only saying she was helping Tanjiro preserve his family’s bodies for a potential future revival. But now… 

It seemed Senju Tobirama’s version of Impure World Reincarnation wasn’t as underwhelming as she’d thought. 

Over the next ten minutes, Hikari performed the technique again, bringing back Kamado Takeo, Shigeru, Hanako, and Rokuta. 

Once it was done, she stored all the coffins and their bodies in a Capsule Corp capsule. 

—While it was still unclear how next year’s Dragon Ball wish would be used, the vacuum-sealed environment of the capsule would preserve the bodies even longer. 

On the other side… 

Kamado Kie finally calmed her whirlwind of emotions. She stepped forward and bowed deeply to Hikari. “Uchiha-san, thank you so much for giving our family this chance to reunite. Being able to see Tanjiro and Nezuko again after death… I’m already more than content. If there’s anything you need us to do, please don’t hesitate to ask.” 

“You know my name?” Hikari raised an eyebrow. 

Kie nodded. “Though Takeo and I have passed on, we can occasionally glimpse what’s happening around Tanjiro and Nezuko from the other side. I’ve been fortunate enough to see you a few times.” 

“…” 

Hikari was a bit surprised but didn’t dwell on it. “First, I’m sorry, Kamado-san, but I might need to run a few small experiments with your body.” 

Chapter 64: Amaterasu-no-Mikoto and Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto?

The so-called “experiment” was mainly to test the regenerative abilities of an Edo Tensei body. 

Hikari Uchiha gathered chakra into her right hand, shaping it like a blade, and swiftly severed Aoi Kamado’s wrist, shoulder, and neck in succession. 

The scene caught everyone off guard. 

Tanjiro and Nezuko’s jaws dropped, their faces frozen in disbelief. 

Takeo and the other kids, freshly “revived” and eager to protect their mother, started crying and shouting, trying to rush over to help. But Hikari’s Kage Bunshin clones intercepted them, one clone per kid, holding them aloft as they flailed helplessly. 

Rengoku Kyojuro, standing nearby, ventured cautiously, “Miss Hikari, what are you…?” 

“Shh—” 

“Watch closely.” 

Hikari raised her index finger, signaling for silence. 

In just a few minutes, Aoi Kamado’s severed hand, arm, and head dissolved into a cloud of dust before reforming at their respective places on her body. The sight was even more shocking than her earlier “resurrection,” leaving Bulma and Rengoku feeling like their worldview had been forcibly shattered—again. 

But soon enough. 

Rengoku Kyojuro and Uzui Tengen seemed to pick up on something, instinctively growing wary. 

“Miss Hikari, could it be that Tanjiro’s mother and the others… were turned into demons by you?” Rengoku asked. 

“No, it’s different from demons.” 

Hikari shook her head slightly. “Think of the bodies created by Edo Tensei as puppets molded from earth, temporarily housing a soul. In this state, they don’t need to eat or sleep, they don’t age or die, and any damage they take heals after a short time… Oh, and they’re not afraid of sunlight either.” 

“But this ninjutsu isn’t flawless. If you look closely, you’ll notice fine cracks all over their skin, and their physical strength is probably weaker than when they were alive.” 

—Her judgment came from noticing that Aoi Kamado’s wounds healed much slower than she’d expected. 

As for their combat ability… 

Aoi Kamado was just an ordinary person in life, not a fighter, so testing that wasn’t straightforward. 

But it wasn’t hard to guess— 

In the original Naruto storyline, even during the Fourth Great Ninja War, the four Hokage summoned by Orochimaru’s Edo Tensei were far weaker than they’d been in life. And this version, developed by Tobirama Senju in Konoha’s early days, was likely even less effective. 

Knowing that white-haired Hokage’s style, he probably designed this technique to be paired with Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags. If it was just meant for self-destructing bombs, then how much strength the Edo Tensei body retained didn’t really matter. 

(Guess I’ll need to make a trip to Otogakure sometime and snag Orochimaru’s improved version of Edo Tensei…) 

Having confirmed the intel she wanted, Hikari waved a hand, signaling Aoi Kamado to step back. 

Then she turned to Rengoku Kyojuro and Uzui Tengen. 

“Honestly, this was my first time using this ninjutsu, so I’m not entirely sure how it works in this world—what effects it’ll have, whether it’ll hold up after Bulma and I leave, or if using demons as sacrifices might cause side effects… For now, this was just a test run.” 

“Kyojuro, Tengen, this is also why I asked you two to come along.” 

“Tanjiro and Nezuko might not be equipped to handle any issues or complications that crop up later, so I’m counting on you guys to take responsibility. Whether you tell the other Hashira or Mr. Ubuyashiki about what happened tonight is up to you.” 

“…” 

The two Hashira exchanged glances, a bit stunned, but nodded. “Thank you for trusting us, Miss Hikari. We’ll figure out how to handle it properly…” 

After a few final instructions, Hikari let out a breath and looked up at the night sky. 

“Well then…” 

“Time for Bulma and me to head back.” 

Her trip to the Demon Slayer world had pretty much accomplished all her goals— 

She’d gotten the hang of “Breathing Techniques,” copied some of the “Hinokami Kagura” from Tanjiro, collected a bunch of live demons and blood samples, and snagged a pile of mystical items, useful or not. 

A full haul, no question. 

Sure, she was curious about Kibutsuji Muzan and those Upper Ranks—catching them for experimental material sounded tempting—but after staying this long without a lead on their whereabouts, sticking around felt pointless. For now, she’d let it go. 

Besides, with Tanjiro around, if Muzan ever showed his face, she could always pop back. 

So… 

“See you later. Please pass our goodbyes to the others.” 

“Bye-bye, everyone~” 

Hikari and Bulma waved, their bodies flashing into beams of white light before vanishing on the spot. 

“???” 

Rengoku Kyojuro’s owl-like eyes widened even further. He stood there, dazed, before whipping around to Tanjiro. “Tanjiro, what was that… with Miss Hikari and the others?!” 

Tanjiro, busy following Hikari’s earlier instructions and nervously checking on Aoi Kamado and the others, mumbled a vague reply. “Uh… I don’t know the details exactly, but Miss Hikari and the others… they don’t seem to be from this world.” 

“Not from this world? What’s that supposed to mean?” Uzui Tengen’s face was a giant question mark. 

As Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, they’d seen their fair share of wild things. 

Up until now, Hikari’s abilities, while mind-boggling, hadn’t completely upended their understanding of the world. 

But tonight… 

From “resurrecting the dead” to regenerating severed limbs to vanishing in a flash of white light… every bit of it was rewriting their reality. Even as Hashira, they didn’t know what to make of it. 

Suddenly, Rengoku Kyojuro looked up at the bright moon, as if struck by a revelation. “I get it now… No wonder Miss Hikari was staring at the night sky like that. She and Miss Bulma must be kami from the heavens! They’ve gone back to their homeland!” 

“?” 

Uzui Tengen blinked, then slowly caught on. “Yeah… being able to bring back the dead—that’s gotta be the power of Izanami-no-Mikoto, who rules over Yomi’s slopes, right?” 

“No, Miss Hikari kept glancing at the moon before she left. I bet she’s the pure and flawless Kaguya-hime, living on the moon!” Rengoku declared with conviction. 

“Then what about Miss Bulma? Is she Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, living on the moon with her?” 

“…Collecting sunlight to make weapons? That’s something only Amaterasu-Omikami could pull off!” 

At that, the two Hashira locked eyes, feeling like they’d stumbled onto some earth-shattering truth. 

Tanjiro: “?” 

Chapter 65: Tales of the Third Hokage (Please vote for more~) 

Naruto World, Konohagakure 

Naruto’s House 

It was late at night. 

The entire village was silent, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. Aside from a few patrolling Anbu and security team members, everyone else in Konoha had long since gone to bed. 

Suddenly… 

Uchiha Hikari’s figure appeared without warning in the bedroom. 

After a quick check to make sure nothing in the room had been disturbed, she opened the door, glanced at Naruto sleeping soundly next door, and started brushing her teeth while checking messages in the group chat. 

[Bulma: I’m home! How’s it going on your end, Little Hikari? No issues, right?] 

[Nameless: I’m back too.] 

[Nameless @IronHead: Tanjiro, any changes on your side?] 

[IronHead: Nope, Mom and the others are still here. They don’t seem to be fading… We’re heading down the mountain now. Rengoku-san’s planning to find a place to settle for a bit and wait for the Master’s instructions.] 

[IronHead: Oh, also, Rengoku-san and Uzui-san are debating whether you or Bulma-san is ‘Amaterasu’ or ‘Tsukuyomi.’ Should I explain it to them in detail?] 

[Bulma: Huh?] 

[Nameless: …No need to explain. Just leave it.] 

Even without being there, Hikari could imagine the scene Tanjiro was describing. From the perspective of the Demon Slayer world, the techniques she and Bulma had shown off probably seemed downright divine. 

Good thing she hadn’t unleashed Susanoo in front of the Demon Slayer Corps… 

Otherwise, between her, Bulma, and Susanoo, they’d have the whole trio of Japan’s mythical noble gods covered. 

In the chat group… 

[ForeverCarryingSis: Why’s it so lively all of a sudden? Did something happen that I don’t know about?] 

[Bulma: Oh, it’s ForeverCarryingSis! Evening, sir! Let me tell you…] 

Bulma clearly wasn’t sleepy at all, eagerly pulling Namikaze Minato into a recap of the past few days’ events. 

Meanwhile, Hikari finished brushing her teeth, returned to the bedroom, and drew the curtains. She typed a quick “goodnight” in the group chat, kicked off her shoes, slipped into bed, and closed her eyes to sleep. 

… 

A few minutes later… 

Sarutobi Hiruzen, deep in slumber, was jolted awake by urgent knocking. 

“…You’re saying Uchiha Hikari’s back, and she’s at Naruto’s place right now?” 

“Yes, Lord Third.” 

Kakashi nodded, reporting with a serious tone. “Yugao and I were both on watch outside. We saw her suddenly walk out of the bedroom, but there was no sign of anyone entering or leaving beforehand, and we didn’t sense any chakra fluctuations… 

I suspect she used some kind of space-time ninjutsu to return! Three weeks ago, when she vanished from the village, she might’ve used the same technique!” 

“…” 

Hiruzen, still groggy, rubbed his temples to shake off the sleep while listening to Kakashi’s report, his expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. 

About three weeks ago, the Anbu had already noticed Hikari’s disappearance. 

At the time, Hiruzen, Kakashi, and the others monitoring her assumed she’d just slipped past their surveillance and left. While her ability to come and go as she pleased was frustrating, in a way, it was a relief— 

This Uchiha clan “grandma” put way too much pressure on Hiruzen. 

He couldn’t fight her, couldn’t outsmart her, and her ties to both the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the Uchiha clan forced him to tread carefully. Things that used to be simple now came with a heap of extra work. 

So, her absence had actually let Hiruzen breathe a little easier. He’d even hoped she’d stay gone for a few months. 

But… 

She was back? 

And with space-time ninjutsu? 

What kind of space-time ninjutsu could slip past Konoha’s barrier team undetected? Flying Thunder God? 

“Other than you and Yugao, no one else knows about this, right?” 

“No, I sent a shadow clone to report to you right away. My real body and Yugao are still keeping watch.” 

“Hm…” 

Hiruzen pondered for a moment before looking up. “Come with me. We’re худ 

A few minutes later, a tall, white-haired man, reeking of alcohol, was roused from a drunken stupor at an inn. Soon, hushed voices began to fill the room as discussions started. 

… 

The Next Morning 

As the sun rose, beams of light slipped through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled patches of brightness across the wooden table and floor. 

Since she’d gotten back late the previous night, Hikari slept in a bit. When she finally emerged from the bedroom in a white sweater, she caught Naruto scrubbing away at the living room with a rag and a basin of water. 

Hearing the door open, the little blond turned around, his face lighting up with joy. 

“Hey, Hikari-nee, you’re back!” 

“Mm-hm…” 

Compared to Naruto’s excitement, Hikari’s response was calm. “Anyone come by the last few days?” 

Her eyes landed on a few books on the coffee table—definitely not the kind of thing Naruto would buy. 

Naruto nodded. “Yeah, Grandpa came by the night before last and dropped off some stuff. Oh, and there was this white-haired old guy who seemed to know me, but I forgot his name!” 

“White-haired old guy…” 

Kakashi? 

Or… 

Hikari had a hunch but didn’t voice it. Instead, she walked over to the sofa and picked up the books, glancing at their titles: The Will of Fire, Tales of a Gutsy Ninja, Tales of the Third Hokage, My Mentor, Senju Tobirama… 

“…What a bunch of random junk.” 

Hikari flipped through a few pages, set Tales of a Gutsy Ninja aside to skim later, and tossed the rest straight into the trash. 

Then she headed to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash up. 

“By the way… isn’t it almost New Year in Konoha?” 

“Yup!” Naruto’s cheerful voice carried from the living room. “Grandpa and Ichiraku’s Uncle Teuchi were saying next Wednesday’s the big day. They say you gotta clean the house for New Year… Oh, and Uncle Teuchi said the village is throwing a huge festival. It’s gonna be super lively!” 

“Oh.” 

Hikari spat out her mouthwash, staring at her reflection in the mirror—a pale, delicate face that felt almost unfamiliar, like it belonged to another lifetime. 

“New Year, huh…” 

“After breakfast, let’s go pick up some stuff for the holiday.” 

Once she was done, Hikari headed to the kitchen, fried a few eggs, and made sandwiches. She opened a carton of milk, poured two glasses, and called Naruto over to eat. 

A knock at the door came just as they finished breakfast. 

(End of Chapter)