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🕑 Added 2025-07-14 16:33:47 +0000 UTCChapter 246: The Uchiha Clan Clinical Trial Plan is Set
As Uchiha Hikari and her group arrived, the people in the Sound Village gradually noticed the commotion. Those with nothing better to do started gathering in groups.
The Sound Village was small—about the size of a modern high school campus, with a population of just over a hundred. A “spar” on the training grounds was impossible to miss.
Among the onlookers, Karin’s excitement stood out.
The red-haired girl dragged Kimimaro and Jugo through the crowd, rushing to Hikari’s side. She looked up with a bright grin and shouted, “Big Sis Hikari, you’re back!” Then her curious gaze shifted to the training grounds, where Esdeath and Orochimaru faced off. “Ooh, is that blue-haired lady going to fight Teacher Orochimaru?”
“Yup,” Hikari replied, glancing subtly at Kabuto Yakushi, Kidomaru, and the others nearby. “Watch closely and learn. You don’t see a clash of powerhouses like this every day.”
“Got it!” Karin nodded eagerly, taking Hikari’s words to heart. Her eyes locked onto the battlefield with a serious, studious expression. Kimimaro, standing beside her, was equally focused.
To be fair, Orochimaru wasn’t weak. Apart from being vulnerable to Sharingan genjutsu, his skills in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu were top-tier in the ninja world. His versatility and survival abilities were unmatched—even Naruto in his Four-Tails form couldn’t take him down quickly.
But his opponent was Esdeath.
And not just any Esdeath—this was the Esdeath who’d been to the Dragon Ball world with Hikari and learned to harness “ki.”
At first, Esdeath held back, testing Orochimaru’s abilities. She observed his Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, Kusanagi Sword: Sky Blade, and Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes, getting a sense of his skill level. Once she had his measure, she unleashed her full ferocity. With a burst of “Ice Purgatory,” she froze the entire training ground, shattering the Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes in an instant. Then, activating her “Snow Demon,” she summoned two 40-meter-long ice blades and launched a relentless onslaught!
The air roared with deafening booms.
Orochimaru tried to counter with ninjutsu, but his techniques—and his body—were sliced in half. He escaped using a substitution technique, but Esdeath’s attacks came like a storm, relentless and overwhelming. In moments, the training ground was a haze of dust and debris, as if bombarded by artillery.
Finally, Esdeath snapped her fingers, conjuring a massive ice meteor over 100 meters wide that nearly engulfed the entire field. It plummeted from the sky!
“…Triple Rashomon!”
As the meteor fell, three massive gates adorned with demonic faces rose from the ground. The collision was cataclysmic, like Mars crashing into Earth, accompanied by a violent earthquake!
Outside the training ground, Karin and the others were stunned.
The little girl’s jaw dropped as she stared at the chaos. It took her a moment to snap out of it, tugging at Hikari’s sleeve. “Big Sis Hikari, this…”
“Don’t worry, Orochimaru’s not dead yet,” Hikari said calmly.
As if to prove her point, the dust cleared, revealing a pale, slime-covered Orochimaru crawling out of a pile of crushed flesh and rubble. He slithered to a safe distance from Esdeath, his wounds healing in under half a minute. But his chakra was noticeably depleted, and his gaze toward Esdeath now carried a hint of wariness.
And, of course, greed.
Esdeath’s strength far exceeded Orochimaru’s expectations for a “vessel.” If possible, he wouldn’t mind claiming her body for himself. But given her overwhelming power and killing intent, he didn’t dare voice the thought.
On the other side, Esdeath dispelled her Snow Demon and floated down on a thin sheet of ice, a faint look of disgust on her face. She turned to Hikari. “What was that technique? It’s gross.”
“Substitution technique,” Hikari replied.
“Huh? But when you use it, it doesn’t look like that.”
“Personal flair, I guess.”
Hikari shrugged. Truth be told, Orochimaru’s “Orochimaru-Style Substitution” was incredibly practical. It required hand signs and offered near-perfect damage negation, rivaling even Obito’s Kamui intangibility.
But it was also undeniably gross.
Most people probably couldn’t stomach emerging from their own body covered in slimy goo. Hikari pictured it and felt a shiver of goosebumps.
By now, the fight’s outcome was clear.
Orochimaru’s eyes flickered before he spoke in his raspy voice, conceding defeat. “As expected of the one who defeated Moryo in the Land of Demons. Your strength, Lady Esdeath, is beyond my own.”
“…You know about Moryo?” Esdeath’s brows furrowed, her expression turning dangerous.
Orochimaru nodded. “Of course. The Land of Demons incident involved several ninja villages to some extent. I have my connections, so I’ve heard a thing or two.”
“Oh…” Esdeath nodded, then let out a heavy, cold snort. “So you knew who I was but pretended otherwise, huh? And don’t think I missed that greedy look you gave her earlier. A subordinate coveting their superior? Do you not know how to spell ‘death’?”
Despite playing second fiddle to Hikari lately, Esdeath was still the commanding general of an empire. As her face darkened, a murderous aura surged like a tidal wave, sweeping across the training ground. Everyone, including Orochimaru, felt it like a blade against their skin.
“And one more thing,” Esdeath continued, her voice as cold as ancient ice. “‘Little Es’ is a name only she gets to use. If you overstep again, subordinate or not, I’ll personally gouge out your eyes.”
“…”
Hikari, watching from the sidelines, blinked.
Was Esdeath… defending her?
Hikari had long known about Orochimaru’s obsession with her body—it was rooted in his very nature, unchangeable even with something like the “Yasakani no Magatama.” The only way to stop it would be to erase his consciousness entirely.
But this was Esdeath’s first time in the Sound Village, meeting Orochimaru and seeing his covetous gaze toward Hikari. Such blatant disrespect from a subordinate clearly irked Esdeath, who’d once been a high-ranking imperial officer. It even made her question Hikari’s ability to control her followers.
Her ruthless display earlier was, in part, meant to address that.
Sensing the tension, Hikari coughed and stepped in to smooth things over. Then she stretched her neck and glanced at the Fallen Princess siblings nearby. “Next round’s mine. I want to test the ‘Dragon Curse Mark’ myself.”
Fallen Princess and Gyutaro: “?”
Hikari took the field to evaluate the siblings’ abilities.
To put it bluntly, without the curse mark, they were barely special jonin-level. Gyutaro had decent combat sense, but Fallen Princess was mostly just there to fill space. Even the current Tanjiro could take her out without breaking a sweat.
But with the “Dragon Curse Mark” activated, they transformed into small dragon-like figures, covered in scales and purple-black runic patterns, their faces masked by bony protrusions. Their strength skyrocketed, nearing the level of Upper Moon One, Kokushibo. Hikari doubted any single Hashira could defeat them now.
The boost was impressive—stronger than the original “Earth Curse Mark” by a significant margin, almost a qualitative leap.
And this was just “Dragon Curse Mark I.”
According to Orochimaru, with enough dragon king blood samples, he could develop “Mark II” and beyond. Mass-producing kage-level fighters might be a stretch, but elite chunin or jonin? Entirely doable with the curse mark.
“Not bad,” Hikari mused. She planned to check in with Eriyi and visit the Dragon Clan world to get blood and tissue samples from the Xia Mi siblings for Orochimaru to continue his research. Once the curse mark’s stability was solid, she might even consider distributing it beyond the Sound Village.
Like, say, giving a few to the Uchiha clan?
Speaking of the Uchihas, Hikari remembered the other reason for her visit.
“Here’s Dr. Brief’s research data,” she said, dismissing Karin and the others with an excuse and clearing the area before handing a stack of files to Orochimaru. “Dr. Brief analyzed the Uchiha clan’s gene sequences, comparing them with Uzumaki samples and running experiments. He developed a ‘gene-targeted drug’ that, in theory, can repair genetic defects in the Uchiha’s eye cells, eliminating the latent bloodline disease.”
“But it’s still in the lab phase—no human trials yet. We need a clinical trial to verify its effectiveness and iron out any issues. What are your thoughts on this?”
Orochimaru’s expression shifted to surprise before he responded. “Dr. Brief managed to create something like that? In that case, I’m willing to assist, Lady Hikari.
“Though I’m a Konoha traitor now, I still have some contacts from my time there, plus two hidden labs in the village. If you need them, I can reactivate them.”
“Oh?” Hikari’s eyes narrowed. “You mean Anko Mitarashi?”
“No, Anko was just my student. She was too young back then to be involved in my contingencies, so she doesn’t know about them,” Orochimaru explained.
Despite his current state, Orochimaru had once been a contender for Fourth Hokage and led several key battles during the Third Great Ninja War as one of the Sannin. His network was extensive. Even after his defection, when Konoha investigated and purged his connections, he could still call on loyal followers if needed.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have pulled off the “Konoha Crush” years later in the original story.
Kin Tsuchi and Misumi Tsurugi, two genin who joined Kabuto in Naruto’s chunin exam in the original plot, were among his hidden assets.
“They’re both my privately trained operatives—clean records, reliable. I’ll send word to have them prepare the labs for the clinical trials,” Orochimaru said.
The Sound Village, thanks to Hikari’s efforts through the Sheqi Eight Families and spoils from the Red Ribbon Army, had cutting-edge scientific and medical equipment, outpacing the rest of the ninja world by a decade. But clinical trials were time-intensive, and bringing batches of Uchihas to the Sound Village for dosing, observation, and feedback wasn’t practical.
The next best option was to use Konoha’s secret labs.
As for who’d oversee the “clinical trial plan”…
“For now, I can send a shadow clone to infiltrate Konoha and conduct the experiments,” Orochimaru suggested. “But as a non-Uchiha, I might not earn Fugaku’s trust. You’d need to bridge that gap, Lady Hikari. Later, Kabuto can take over. She’s skilled in medicine, has been my assistant for months, and is a Konoha ninja, so her presence there wouldn’t raise suspicions.”
“Hm…” Hikari considered.
Kabuto was a solid choice, but her loyalties were tangled. On the surface, she worked for Danzo, spied for Orochimaru, and was ultimately manipulated by Hikari behind the scenes. Sending her to Konoha to interact with the Uchihas would make her a quadruple agent. Who knew what complications that might stir up?
Chapter 247: "This Is Fine"
The matter of conducting “clinical trials” was tentatively settled.
Next, a detailed plan needed to be drawn up—everything from the participants and group divisions to the dosage and timing for each group. Orochimaru would handle this, and once it was ready, he’d pass it to Uchiha Hikari for review.
At this point, Uchiha Hikari casually brought up the topic of “Reaper Death Seal.”
The reason? Minato Namikaze.
The two were old acquaintances by now.
At first, Uchiha Hikari had approached him with a deal: she’d look after Naruto in exchange for various secret and forbidden jutsu from Minato. But after over a year of interaction, they’d built a decent friendship. It was about time to consider pulling him out of the Reaper’s belly.
Still, she needed to consult the expert, Orochimaru, on how to proceed.
After all, in the original timeline, he was the one who freed Minato.
Though, Orochimaru’s intense research into the “Reaper Death Seal” was likely driven by his desire to unseal his own hands. Since he hadn’t yet clashed with Sarutobi Hiruzen, his motivation might not be as strong now…
“…A way to undo the ‘Reaper Death Seal’?”
Orochimaru thought for a moment. “I’ve been studying this forbidden jutsu, but progress is slow. The Uzumaki clan, who developed it, was wiped out years ago, and many of their secret scrolls were lost. Finding a way to break it will take time.”
He paused, then added, “But if you’re interested, Lady Hikari, you could try the Cloud Village. You might find some useful intel there.”
“The Cloud Village?”
“Yes.”
Orochimaru nodded. “When the Whirlpool Village fell, multiple parties were involved, with the Cloud and Mist Villages doing the heavy lifting.
The Mist Village, caught up in its Blood Mist policy, is a mess—even their intel chief, Fuguki Suikazan, sells secrets. I’ve bought some jutsu data from them, including sealing techniques. But the Cloud Village, with its unique geography and tight defenses, is tough to infiltrate…”
Listening to Orochimaru, Uchiha Hikari frowned slightly but soon got the picture.
It made sense.
The Cloud Village had a history of stealing bloodlines and secret techniques from other villages.
Take the Second Ninja War, when they kidnapped Kushina, or a few years back, when they tried to snatch Hinata during peace talks with the Leaf. If they didn’t even fear the top ninja village, the less populous Uzumaki clan wouldn’t stand a chance in their eyes.
Come to think of it…
The Cloud Village, never known for sealing techniques, had produced perfect jinchuriki for the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails in recent decades. That was suspicious.
As for the Mist Village, no need to elaborate.
Among the five great ninja villages, it was closest to the Whirlpool Village.
Even if they didn’t strike first, when the Land of Whirlpools fell, they were in the best position to swoop in and pick up the scraps.
“Speaking of which…”
“When the Whirlpool Village fell, wasn’t Uchiha Madara already in the Mist?”
Maybe… the Uzumaki clan’s downfall had his hand in it too?
Uchiha Hikari mused silently, keeping her face neutral. “I’ll consider a trip to the Cloud Village, but the plan’s not your concern. Your job now is to finalize the trial plan and show it to me.”
“…Yes.”
Orochimaru nodded in agreement.
…
Orochimaru left in a hurry to work on the plan.
Only then did Esdeath narrow her eyes, staring at his retreating figure for a moment before turning to Uchiha Hikari. “Your subordinate seems a bit restless. Need me to put him in line?”
“Put him in line?”
“Heh.”
Esdeath smirked coldly. “I’ll admit your strength is impressive, but when it comes to managing subordinates, you’re still green. It’s normal for underlings to have their own agendas, but showing it openly is another matter. Indulging them isn’t what a leader does.”
“…It’s fine.”
Uchiha Hikari didn’t think Esdeath was exaggerating.
—Compared to Esdeath, she was indeed inexperienced here. The latter had been an empire general, managing an army of over 100,000 with precision—something no ordinary person could pull off.
But…
Uchiha Hikari wasn’t without ways to keep Orochimaru in check.
Not to mention his weak resistance to Sharingan genjutsu.
She hadn’t used “Yasaka Magatama” to alter his memory, but she’d already left a mark on him. Rewriting or even destroying his will wouldn’t be too hard—it just depended on whether she wanted to.
Like Esdeath’s Three Beasts, taking in villains as subordinates meant you couldn’t expect them to be perfect. As long as they didn’t cross the line or relapse into old habits, a bit of personal scheming was tolerable.
If Orochimaru used his soul-transfer jutsu to take over Nagato, Obito, or even Kaguya’s body, Hikari might even praise his skill.
At that moment, Uchiha Hikari looked up at Esdeath, her lips curving into a slight grin.
“…What?”
“Nothing, just wondering if you’re worried about my safety, Little Ai. Even during your spar with Orochimaru earlier… If something happened to me, wouldn’t that be good news for you? You’d be free again.”
“…Tch.”
Esdeath snorted, turning her gaze away from Hikari’s face, her tone casual. “Don’t overthink it. It’s just mutual respect. There aren’t many opponents who can push me to fight all out and make it fun—you’re one. If you died, I’d feel lonely.”
“Besides, worry, sympathy, pity… those are weak emotions for ordinary people, burdens a strong person like me doesn’t carry.”
“Oh… got it~~”
Uchiha Hikari drew out the words, flashing a teasing smile.
A few months ago, when Esdeath first “submitted” to her, Hikari wouldn’t have doubted a word of that.
This war princess was naturally self-centered and cold-blooded, unmoved by anything. In the original story, even after falling for Tatsumi at first sight, she showed no mercy to Night Raid or the rebels, even trying to finish him off when she realized he wouldn’t join her.
But now…
Esdeath had followed her out of the empire, seen bigger worlds, and met more people.
Hikari didn’t dare hope to rival Tatsumi’s place in Esdeath’s heart, but some camaraderie, like brothers-in-arms, was probably there.
“Come on, Little Ai.”
Uchiha Hikari put her hands behind her head, stretched lazily, and turned to walk off. “Let’s go try Aunt Miu’s cooking. The mountain rabbits around here are pretty tasty.”
…
That evening, Uchiha Hikari brought Esdeath to Karin’s family table, enjoying braised rabbit cooked by Uzumaki Miu herself.
Kimimaro and Jugo were there too.
Like the Uzumaki mother and daughter, these two were “recruited” by Hikari from outside and lived in nearby houses. Miu often called them over for dinner, treating them like her own sons. Though Kimimaro and Jugo were still quiet, they’d livened up a bit compared to the original story.
During the meal, Uzumaki Miu chatted about the Sound Village’s recent progress.
“Thanks to you, Miss Hikari, the village is doing well. The population’s grown several times over, more shops are popping up on the streets, and Lord Orochimaru and Senior Nonou are talking about starting a school to teach adults to read and write… Things should keep getting better.”
“That’s great.”
Uchiha Hikari, nibbling on a spicy rabbit head, gave a faint smile.
Truth be told, the Sound Village was pretty rough—far from the Leaf Village, and even lagging behind some smaller ninja villages.
But compared to the Grass Village, where the Uzumaki duo had been, which only bled people dry, even someone as shady as Orochimaru seemed kind by contrast.
And Hikari had a hand in that.
—Without her, Orochimaru wouldn’t be this well-behaved. The Uzumaki family’s treatment would’ve been a lot worse.
“By the way,” Uzumaki Miu asked softly, “how long are you staying this time, Miss Hikari?”
“…Hard to say, maybe just a few days. I’ve got some stuff to handle in the Leaf Village.”
Hikari swallowed her rabbit meat and looked up. “Why? Need help with something?”
“Not really. It’s just that Karin and the others learned some new jutsu and wanted to show you, so…”
“Jutsu? The Three Basic Techniques?”
Or…
“It’s the Adamantine Sealing Chains!”
Karin raised her little hand proudly. “Teacher Orochimaru said it’s an Uzumaki clan secret, only the best can learn it… Since I mastered it, Kimimaro and Jugo can’t beat me anymore!”
“Oh?”
Hikari glanced at Kimimaro and Jugo, who stayed silent, seemingly agreeing with Karin.
In theory, both were pure taijutsu fighters, easily countered by sealing techniques. But given Karin was the youngest, it was hard to tell if she was really that good or if the “big brothers” were going easy on their little sister.
“So… Big Sis Hikari, can you watch my new jutsu tomorrow?”
Karin looked at her eagerly.
“Sure.”
Hikari smiled, ruffling the girl’s head.
The gesture made Kimimaro cast an envious look. Noticing, Hikari chuckled and ruffled his head too. “I’ll check yours tomorrow too. And Jugo’s.”
“…Okay!”
Kimimaro nodded hard, his face flushing.
After dinner, Karin jumped up first, swiftly clearing the dishes, with Kimimaro and Jugo quietly helping.
Now free, Uzumaki Miu washed a bowl of oranges and brought them to Hikari and Esdeath. “These are from local villagers—really tasty. Try some, Miss Hikari, Lady Esdeath.”
“You’re too kind, Aunt Miu.”
Hikari peeled an orange, ate a slice, and casually offered another to Esdeath. “Try it?”
“….”
Esdeath instinctively leaned back, then eyed the orange slice, the pale hand holding it, and Hikari’s smiling face. Finally, she opened her mouth and ate it.
The moment her lips brushed Hikari’s fingers, Hikari’s fingertips trembled slightly, a tingly current brewing in her palm. Esdeath lowered her eyes, her expression subtly shifting.
“…How’s the taste?”
Hikari took a light breath, feigning calm.
“It’s fine.”
Hikari skipped further feeding attempts, splitting the rest of the orange and giving half to Esdeath. Taking it, Esdeath’s gaze lingered briefly on Hikari’s right fingers, then shifted away as she ate quietly.
Neither spoke again.
The air in the room only livened up when the kitchen water stopped and Karin and the others returned.
After more chatting, with the hour growing late, Hikari stood to leave. Kimimaro and Jugo said goodbye to the Uzumaki family, heading off to rest.
“See you tomorrow, Big Sis Hikari!”
“See you tomorrow.”
Waving goodbye, Hikari took Esdeath back to her little residence.
To be precise, it was a temporary lodging.
Even in the Naruto world, she mostly stayed at the Uchiha compound in the Leaf Village or roamed the ninja nations, spending the least time in the Sound Village.
Because of that, the place was bare—beds and chairs, like a hospital room, with little decoration.
“…Want to sleep somewhere else? With ‘Shangri-La,’ getting to the Leaf is easy.”
Hikari glanced back at Esdeath, asking.
Esdeath paused, then said faintly, “No need. This is fine.”
Chapter 248: Nakime and the Infinity Castle
The next morning, Uchiha Hikari woke up early, thanks to her internal clock. After washing up and grabbing breakfast, she joined Karin and Kimimaro at their invitation to watch their ninjutsu practice on a nearby training field.
Both kids had solid talent for training.
Kimimaro, in particular, stood out. Two years older than Karin and already skilled in taijutsu, he’d been close to chunin-level even when locked in the Kaguya clan’s dungeon. Now, after months of Orochimaru’s focused tutoring in the Sound Village, his progress was remarkable.
“What do you think, Es?” Hikari asked, glancing at the battle-hardened woman beside her.
“…Not bad,” Esdeath replied, arms crossed casually. “They’re a bit weak and their moves lack sharpness, but for their age, they’re decent enough. Together, they could probably take down a regular Dangerous Species.”
“Uh…” Hikari blinked.
So, the benchmark for “good” was whether they could hunt a Dangerous Species?
Fair enough. Esdeath, at their age, had already taken down most of the Dangerous and Super Dangerous Species in the Empire’s northern territories. Compared to her, not just Karin and Kimimaro, but even Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha at that age probably wouldn’t measure up.
Meanwhile, Karin and Kimimaro finished their spar, panting as they jogged back. Karin looked up at Hikari with eager eyes. “How’d we do, Big Sis Hikari?”
“Not bad at all,” Hikari said warmly, bending down to praise them and correct a few bad habits. Her gaze shifted to Kimimaro—his shirt was riddled with holes from his Shikotsumyaku bone spikes, looking like some avant-garde fashion statement. She wondered how many more wears it could handle.
Maybe I should make him some soft armor from East Sea Cloud Dragon fur, she thought. Bursting his clothes every time he uses his kekkei genkai isn’t just impractical—it’s wasteful.
“By the way, has Orochimaru been checking up on you lately, Kimimaro?” she asked.
“Yes,” Kimimaro nodded obediently. “Every two weeks, Teacher arranges a full physical. When he’s not around, Sister Nonou takes over. He also prescribed some medicine for me to take daily.”
“Oh? What kind?”
“Green ginger, white atractylodes, red flame flower, frostweed…”
“?” Hikari’s brow furrowed. What are those?
Seeing her confusion, Karin chimed in, explaining that these were herbs tied to bone development, some used by the Kaguya clan since the Warring States era. Orochimaru had acquired the recipe through his connections and tweaked it for better results. He was also experimenting with “demon” and “dragon king” cell extracts to boost Kimimaro’s self-healing, hoping to counter his kekkei genkai’s bloodline disease. But that research was still in early stages and needed extensive testing before it could be used on him.
“Got it,” Hikari nodded, planning to ask Orochimaru for the data later to share with Dr. Gero. Combining their efforts might speed things up.
For now, though, Orochimaru was likely busy with the clinical trial plans, so Hikari decided not to bother him. After encouraging Karin and Kimimaro, she and Esdeath wandered out of the village.
They strolled through the main street, left the Sound Village, and followed a winding path to a small hill a few kilometers away. There, Hikari stopped, found a clean rock to sit on, and stretched lazily. The motion accentuated the soft curve of her waist, her T-shirt riding up to reveal a glimpse of toned abs that caught the eye.
“Juice or cola, Es?” Hikari asked, pulling out both from a Capsule.
Esdeath took the juice, and Hikari popped open the cola, sipping it while enjoying the cool mountain breeze. Then, from a sealed scroll, she released Nakime.
“…Lady Hikari,” Nakime said, still clutching her biwa. After a quick glance around, she bowed respectfully.
“Mm,” Hikari responded, taking another sip of cola before eyeing the long-haired demon. “Let’s see if your Infinity Castle works properly here.”
“…Please wait a moment,” Nakime replied, plucking her biwa strings.
In an instant, her figure vanished before Hikari and Esdeath.
Seven or eight seconds later, she reappeared.
“Hm?” Esdeath’s casual expression sharpened with interest. “This demon’s ability—it’s like a spatial technique similar to ‘Shangri-La,’ isn’t it? Pretty intriguing.”
“Definitely,” Hikari agreed, observing more closely.
To her, Nakime’s entry and exit from the Infinity Castle wasn’t quite true teleportation. It required the act of plucking the biwa strings, with a brief wind-up of a few tenths of a second. For most people, that was negligible—too fast to react to. But for someone with exceptional reflexes and perception, it might be enough to strike her down the moment she appeared or disappeared.
Not that many could pull that off.
Plus, Nakime could reappear in a different location, potentially dozens of miles away. If she had Muzan’s shameless personality and chose to hide in the Infinity Castle for decades after entering, even Hikari might struggle to track her down—the Yasakani no Magatama’s connection didn’t work across dimensions.
“Say, if we kept feeding Nakime Muzan’s blood, could we push her Blood Demon Art further?” Hikari mused, then spoke softly. “Pull me in. I want to see it.”
“Alright,” Nakime nodded.
With a gentle strum of the biwa, her figure vanished again. Hikari’s vision blurred, and when it cleared, she stood in a vast, sepia-toned space, her feet on a checkered floor.
The Infinity Castle.
She’d seen it countless times in the Demon Slayer anime, but this was her first time inside.
All directions—forward, backward, left, right, up, down—stretched endlessly into a black void, dotted with wooden rooms linked like building blocks. Some were fixed, others moved like floating elevators. The visual effect was striking, to say the least.
Hikari shaded her eyes, scanning the expanse before focusing on Nakime, who knelt nearby with her biwa, awaiting orders.
“Nakime, how big is this place?”
“…I don’t know,” Nakime replied.
“Huh?” Hikari’s forehead sprouted a question mark. “Your own Blood Demon Art, and you don’t know?”
“…I’ve never measured it.”
“…”
After confirming Nakime wasn’t lying, Hikari formed hand signs and summoned seven or eight shadow clones. They took off using the Flight Technique, scattering in different directions to physically measure the Infinity Castle’s scale.
Her main body stayed put, stomping the floor and peering over the room’s edge into the pitch-black abyss below.
“I recall you can freely manipulate the terrain here, right?”
“Yes,” Nakime answered promptly. “The Infinity Castle is shaped around me, so I can alter its structure based on my perception. But I can only reshape what’s already here—I can’t create things from nothing.”
“So the lab equipment Muzan used was brought in from outside?”
“…Yes.”
Nakime plucked her biwa again. With a flicker of light and shadow, the door to the next room opened and closed, its contents shifting instantly. Tables, chairs, bookshelves, beakers, test tubes, and scales appeared as if by magic.
“This is the room Lord Muzan once used. Please take a look,” Nakime said.
Hikari stepped inside, glanced at the books on the shelves, and quickly turned back. Muzan’s rotten personality made his old haunt feel… off-putting.
Still, if Muzan could build a lab here, Hikari could turn it into a secret base.
“If you can reshape the space, making a villa or even a castle shouldn’t be an issue, right?” she mused. “This could be a bedroom, that a study, a game room, a theater… Bring in some sofas, wardrobes, and gaming consoles from outside, spruce it up, and it’s a proper base. Hmm… could we move a gravity training room in here?”
She asked Nakime about restrictions on bringing items in.
“Well…” Nakime hesitated, her words vague. “I’m not sure how large or heavy objects can be. I’ve only brought in furniture and supplies for Lord Muzan before… but as long as it’s not too extreme, it should be fine.”
“Is that so…” Hikari wondered. Would a kilometer-long East Sea Cloud Dragon count as extreme? What if it was shrunk a hundred times with a Mini Band?
She’d have to run some tests later.
Next, Hikari asked about Nakime’s “eyeball creation” ability. Nakime explained that the eyeballs were made from her flesh, linked to her optic nerves. She could send them in and out of the Infinity Castle via her biwa, transmitting what they saw back to her.
As for range, in the Demon Slayer world, she could monitor half of Kanto—about a few dozen miles. In the original story, she’d used this to locate the Demon Slayer Corps’ headquarters and most of its members’ homes. While the Ubuyashiki family’s leak helped, her ability was still impressive. Beyond that range, there’d be a delay in the visuals.
Her teleportation range was even greater—hundreds of miles for precise drops. But sending someone from Japan to China or Europe? That was pushing it. She could try, but she’d lose control over the destination, essentially tossing them blindly. They might land in a volcano and get a lava bath.
“Got it,” Hikari said, estimating the scale.
The Naruto world’s main continent, while limited to the Five Great Nations, was still vast. Nakime’s real-time surveillance range covered roughly the Land of Rice Fields, with precise teleportation spanning about half the Land of Fire.
“Not bad,” Hikari concluded. Given the lower power level of the Demon Slayer world, Nakime was already an anomaly. Hikari didn’t expect more. With “Shangri-La” already handling teleportation, Nakime’s ability was a nice bonus, especially her surveillance, which was like an upgraded version of Kagura’s Mind’s Eye. If Muzan’s tissue research progressed, her Blood Demon Art might be enhanced further, expanding its range.
For now, Hikari described her vision for a “villa-style castle” and guided Nakime to shape it with her Blood Demon Art.
It felt a bit like playing Minecraft or stacking toy blocks.
After nearly an hour of tweaking, a four-story castle prototype took shape. Hikari then unloaded some miscellaneous items from her Capsules—priceless antiques and paintings from Minister Honest and the Red Ribbon Army, plus manga, books, and DVDs—placing them in the villa to clear her inventory.
The process took a while.
Just then, her shadow clones, sent to explore the castle’s boundaries, started returning.
Chapter 249: Yamato: "Happy Here, No Thoughts of Onigashima"
After listening to her shadow clones’ reports and absorbing their memories, Uchiha Hikari had a rough idea of the situation—
The core of Infinity Castle was a wooden room area centered around Nakime, forming a spherical zone with a radius of about five kilometers.
Beyond that sphere?
A deep, dark void of immeasurable scale.
To be specific, no matter how far you flew into the darkness, you’d never reach an end. But turn back, and you’d be back in the room area in a blink. The concepts of “far” and “near” got jumbled here, giving off an eerie, illogical vibe.
“So… is the ‘infinity’ of Infinity Castle like an infinite series?”
“Like Gojo Satoru’s ‘Limitless,’ but a divergent series instead of a convergent one?”
Uchiha Hikari pondered for a bit, still unsure.
She set the thought aside, planning to brainstorm with Bulma later. With the mind that invented the “mini bracelet,” Bulma would likely grasp these spatial concepts more easily.
For now…
“Let’s test the teleport function again.”
“Nakime, send me to the farthest place you can—somewhere normal.”
Over the next few days, Uchiha Hikari dragged Esdeath along, experimenting with Infinity Castle’s entry and exit functions from different angles and positions.
For this, she randomly popped up around various spots in the Land of Fields, encountering a noble’s carriage outing, a few groups of masked ninja on the move, and even taking down two bands of bandits raiding villages.
Since those bandits were just ordinary folks with basic fighting skills, using ninjutsu or eye techniques felt like overkill. So, Hikari opted for her Gundam form, unleashing a brutal rat-tat-tat barrage, turning dozens of bandits into pulp on the spot, then leaving without a trace, her deeds unsung.
To Uchiha Hikari, this was just a casual pastime.
But for the plundered villagers and random passersby who witnessed it…
It was a whole different story.
Within days, rumors of the “Ten-Winged Sage” began quietly spreading through villages and towns around the Land of Fields.
Well… the Strike Freedom Gundam did have five pairs of wings—ten in total—and could fly and vanish into thin air. To those unfamiliar with “mecha,” it was easy to mistake for some mystical, divine phenomenon.
Soon, villages plagued by bandits started enshrining wooden statues of the “Ten-Winged Sage” in their shrines, praying for it to appear and drive off their troubles.
But…
Uchiha Hikari remained unaware of all this.
She’d already taken Orochimaru back to the Leaf Village after a long absence, finding Shisui at the Uchiha compound.
“Great-Grandma, you’re back!”
It was the same house on the side of the clan grounds.
When Uchiha Hikari arrived, Shisui was holding a book, loudly discussing it with a few young Uchiha clansmen.
At the sound of footsteps, they all turned, stunned for a moment at the sight of her, then broke into respectful or excited greetings, standing to bow.
“…No need for formalities.”
Uchiha Hikari calmly accepted their welcomes, glancing at the book Shisui had just set down.
Hmm… Wang Yangming’s Records of Transmission and Practice.
Nearby was a stack of bound papers, covered in dense handwritten notes and multicolored annotations—likely Shisui’s thoughts from reading.
The setup looked pretty serious.
Hard to say how much he’d actually absorbed, though.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru, his face hidden behind a snake mask, also noticed the books, a puzzled look flickering beneath the mask.
—Books he’d never seen.
He’d been to the Uchiha compound before, back when he was one of the Leaf’s Sannin, even meeting Clan Leader Fugaku briefly. In his memory, the Uchihas were simple-minded, power-obsessed types. Even the few thinkers among them had laughable ideas. Since when did they start reading?
Shisui glanced at Orochimaru, instinctively wary, then turned to Uchiha Hikari. “Great-Grandma, do you have any instructions this time? The clan leader’s away—I’ll send someone to fetch him.”
“No need. I’m here for you.”
Uchiha Hikari got to the point. “I brought this doctor. With his help and some other doctor friends, I’ve developed a special drug to treat the Uchiha clan’s bloodline disease, stabilizing the mental state when awakening the Sharingan. We need to recruit some clansmen for clinical trials.”
“?!”
If any other Uchiha, even Clan Leader Fugaku, had said this, Shisui might’ve been skeptical.
But…
Since it was Great-Grandma Uchiha Hikari herself speaking, he agreed without hesitation. “Got it. I’ll follow your orders. By the way… how should I address this doctor?”
“Just call him Little Orochimaru.”
“?”
During the discussion, Uchiha Hikari, shielded by dark contact lenses, discreetly activated her Mangekyo Sharingan, pulling Shisui into the Tsukuyomi space. She asked about the Uchiha clan’s recent state, then revealed Orochimaru’s true identity and the details of the drug trials.
“…You’re saying that’s Orochimaru?! But he defected from the Leaf long ago—a wanted S-rank rogue ninja…”
“Just a rogue ninja. What’s the big deal?”
Uchiha Hikari brushed it off. “Keep his identity secret, even from Fugaku.
“Orochimaru’s sworn loyalty to me, and the drug was developed by a reliable friend, just tweaked by him. It should be fine in theory. Oversee the trials, and if anything goes wrong, restrain Orochimaru and report to me.”
Orochimaru was, after all, a Leaf defector.
If his presence leaked to the other clans or Sarutobi Hiruzen, it’d stir up trouble.
That’s why Hikari chose Shisui for this.
Compared to Fugaku, tied up as captain of the Leaf’s police force, Shisui—now “near-blind” and staying home—had more freedom and discretion.
Of course…
If Shisui was naive like in the original story, blindly trusting Sarutobi Hiruzen and Koharu Utatane, spilling everything, Hikari would chalk it up to misjudging him and cut ties with the Uchiha clan, leaving them to their fate.
Meanwhile, Shisui hesitated. “Even if you say that, Great-Grandma, he’s one of the legendary Sannin. I might not be a match…”
“…Are you serious?”
Hikari’s mouth twitched, her face speechless.
Shisui really thought that.
Though he’d awakened the Mangekyo, he did so in peacetime, with little experience against kage-level foes. Orochimaru’s fame, forged in ninja wars, was intimidating—hard to imagine he’d be downed by a single genjutsu.
Still, trusting Hikari, Shisui noted her instructions and vowed to carry them out.
Starting the next day, a room in the Uchiha compound was cleared out, filled with medical equipment Hikari brought from the Sound Village. Shisui and Orochimaru began the clinical drug trials.
The first batch had twelve participants, each signing a confidentiality agreement.
Among them were Itachi and Izumi.
Hikari never fully trusted Itachi, always feeling he had a rebellious streak.
But Shisui vouched for him, saying Itachi had been doing well in the “reading study group,” diligently completing weekly 3,000-word reflections, ensuring no repeat of the clan massacre from the original story.
Hikari let it go.
She shifted her focus to the chat group, checking in on Bulma and Yuji Itadori—
[Anonymous @ Bulma: How’s Aunt Kie and the others? Need me to help send them home?]
[Bulma: No need, Hikari. Focus on your stuff. I’ve asked Miss Kikyo to help.]
[Anonymous: Oh?]
Kie Kamado and the others, revived in the Dragon Ball world, couldn’t be sent back to the Demon Slayer world with points—100 per person, over 10,000 for the group, too much even for early members like Hikari and Bulma.
Sealing techniques were the way to go.
Hikari had planned to handle it, but since Kikyo was willing, that saved effort. Kikyo’s sealing skills were as good as hers, and her meticulous nature left little room for error.
As for Yuji Itadori…
[Tiger of Nishi @ Anonymous: Miss Hikari, um… Teacher Gojo’s back. You said to let you know when he returned.]
[Anonymous: Oh?]
[Anonymous: Then the ‘Kyoto Sister School Exchange Event’ should be soon, right?]
[Tiger of Nishi: Yeah, Teacher Gojo mentioned it. It’s about a week away. Want to come check it out, Miss Hikari?]
[Bulma: Wait… what’s this ‘exchange event’ you’re talking about?]
[Anonymous: Simply put, it’s a regular event between two jujutsu schools, comparing which one trains better students… in theory.]
But this year was special.
Yuji Itadori, as Sukuna’s vessel, had the jujutsu higher-ups on edge, plotting to kill him during the event. Meanwhile, curses like Mahito would stir the pot, aiming to steal Sukuna’s fingers stored at Jujutsu High.
So…
If they wanted to catch Mahito, this was the best shot. Miss it, and they’d wait until the “Shibuya Incident” to see him again.
On the other side, Yuji explained what he’d heard from Gojo about the event.
Bulma, predictably, got curious.
So did Yamato.
[Ghost Princess: Wow, sounds super interesting… Can I tag along with Miss Hikari to see?]
[Anonymous: Wait… Yamato, are you still at Bulma’s?]
[Ghost Princess: Yup!]
Alright.
Looked like Yamato was truly enjoying herself here, no thoughts of Onigashima.
If she stayed in the Dragon Ball world another year or two, mastering “ki” and “Haki,” maybe even visiting Namek, she might return stronger than Kaido.
But Hikari had a sudden thought—
“Speaking of which, what’s the timeline in the One Piece world? The War at the Top can’t be far off, right?”
So far, Hikari hadn’t visited the One Piece world, and Yamato had no clue about her timeline, only that she’d met Ace a year ago. Roughly, the War at the Top might be within six months.
Hikari planned to nudge Yamato about it.
She didn’t care much for Ace, no interest in saving him—unless he was secretly Ace the Ultraman.
But Yamato and Ace were friends. If she wanted to help, Hikari wouldn’t mind lending a hand.
Plus…
The War at the Top was a gathering of powerhouses—six or seven Emperors and Admirals, plus Warlords and vice-captains. A rare spectacle, grander than the Dragon Ball world’s Tournament of Power. Bulma and Esdeath would probably love to jump in.
[Anonymous @ Tiger of Nishi: Let me know when it’s convenient. I’d like to meet your Teacher Gojo in person.]
[Tiger of Nishi: Sure, I’ll ask Teacher Gojo now.]
Hikari wasn’t worried about Gojo refusing. Compared to other jujutsu higher-ups, the “strongest” had a decent mind and personality. His loss to Sukuna was just plot-driven, not a lack of skill.
Besides, to visit the jujutsu world, she only needed Yuji’s okay. Meeting Gojo was just a bonus.
For now, Hikari pulled her focus from the chat group, stretched her arms with a long yawn, then turned to Esdeath with a slight smile. “Little Ai, want to check out another new world?”
Chapter 250: Meeting Gojo Satoru
“A new world?” Esdeath asked.
Having been through the Dragon Ball, Demon Slayer, and Naruto worlds, Esdeath was no stranger to world-hopping. To her, the destination didn’t matter much—as long as there were worthy opponents to fight. Even if there weren’t, sparring with Uchiha Hikari alone was enough to satisfy her battle lust.
Still, since Hikari asked, Esdeath replied casually, “Whose world are we going to this time? That tall woman with horns? The red-haired shrine maiden? Or the other shrine maiden?”
Back in the Akame ga Kill world, Esdeath had met Bulma, Yamato, and Eriyi, leaving quite an impression.
She’d already visited Bulma’s Dragon Ball world, but the other two were still uncharted territory, so she was a bit curious.
Hikari, however, gave an unexpected answer. “None of them. It’s someone you’ve never met.”
“Oh?” Esdeath’s interest piqued. “Are there any strong fighters in that world?”
“Definitely,” Hikari said. “There’s a guy called the strongest sorcerer of the modern era, and another known as the most powerful cursed spirit in history. They’re probably on par with your status in the Empire.”
She wasn’t lying. Gojo Satoru and Sukuna were the twin peaks of the Jujutsu Kaisen world. Sukuna, in particular, nearly wiped out Japan’s top sorcerers single-handedly, even taking out a few foreign ones, a feat comparable to Esdeath facing over a dozen Teigu users in her final battle. Sure, there was a gap between peaks, but the variety of cursed techniques was worth checking out. If Hikari could absorb some via the Yasakani no Magatama or use them as inspiration for new abilities, it’d be even better.
That noon, Yuji Itadori sent a message in the group chat, confirming he’d sorted things out with Gojo.
West Tiger: Teacher Gojo’s on board. Miss Hikari, whenever you’re free, you can come over.
Also, if Miss Yamato wants to visit, she’s welcome anytime.
Nameless: Cool, I’m tied up for a bit, but I’ll send a request in about an hour.
West Tiger: Sounds good.
Since they might stay a few days, Hikari checked on Xiaolong, then briefed Shisui and Fugaku on the experiments and Uchiha clan matters. With that done, she activated the chat group’s travel function from her small residence, also spending 100 points to cover Esdeath’s trip.
Nameless has requested to enter West Tiger’s world.
Oni Princess has requested to enter…
With a flash of white light, Hikari and Esdeath vanished, reappearing in the Jujutsu Kaisen world, followed by Yamato.
They materialized in a spacious, well-lit living room. Two figures were there—one standing, one sitting.
Yuji Itadori stood, dressed in his Jujutsu High uniform, looking a bit nervous.
The seated figure was a young man in black with white hair and white eyebrows, sporting black sunglasses that hid his eyes. He lounged on the sofa, legs crossed, casually sizing up Hikari and Esdeath.
“First time meeting. I’m Uchiha Hikari,” Hikari said, offering a polite, faint smile.
“Yo!” Gojo Satoru raised two fingers in a greeting. “So you’re the friends Yuji mentioned? You’re a bit more…”
He paused, struggling for the right word.
How to put it? The three of them together—Hikari, Esdeath, and Yamato—made for an odd picture, their vibes clashing wildly.
Hikari, barely 14, was petite, barely over five feet, like a delicate doll. Yamato, nearly three meters tall, practically grazed the ceiling, a literal giant. Esdeath’s build was normal, but her icy, don’t-come-near-me aura was impossible to ignore.
Thankfully, all three were human, not sorcerers or cursed spirits. That eased Gojo’s mind. When Yuji first mentioned the chat group, Gojo half-suspected they were illusions conjured by some cunning cursed spirit, luring people into trust before striking. It wouldn’t be the first time a high-intelligence spirit pulled that trick.
Yuji jumped in to make introductions. “Miss Hikari, Miss Esdeath, and Miss Yamato, this is my teacher, Gojo Satoru. Teacher, these are the friends I told you about yesterday—from the ninja world, the pirate world, and…”
The introduction meant little to Hikari. She probably knew more about Gojo than Yuji did, including his embarrassing beatdown by Toji Fushiguro before mastering his techniques.
Esdeath and Yamato, however, were clueless.
Esdeath squinted, sizing Gojo up. “Nice presence.”
“Likewise,” Gojo replied, his tone still laid-back, but his gaze sharpened as his Six Eyes picked up on Esdeath’s extraordinary aura.
Neither side was big on formalities, so after some brief pleasantries, Hikari got to the point. “I’m really interested in the ‘cursed technique’ system. I’ve heard you’re the top sorcerer of this era, so I’d love to spar and learn a thing or two. What do you say?”
“Learn from me? Nah, the ‘strongest’ title’s just hype,” Gojo said modestly, sitting up. “Yuji’s mentioned you guys a few times. I thought you were just his online buddies or maybe cursed spirits in disguise. Never imagined other worlds were real—and not just one. It’s an honor to meet people from another dimension.”
As he said, Yuji had shared some chat group details with him. But since Gojo wasn’t a member, he hadn’t seen it firsthand. He knew Hikari and her crew were “strong,” but how strong? That was unclear.
Talk alone wouldn’t cut it for figuring that out.
The real way to gauge strength? “How about a spar?” Hikari suggested. “A real fight to see how cursed techniques work. It’d be good for both of us.”
Gojo agreed instantly.
“This place is a bit cramped, though,” he said, standing to grab his blindfold. “I know a remote valley—perfect for testing abilities you don’t want prying eyes on.”
But Hikari raised her hand, revealing the watch-like “Shangri-La” on her wrist. “No need for the hassle. I’ll pick the spot. Don’t worry, I won’t teleport us somewhere random.”
She channeled her mental energy into the Teigu, and a massive teleportation circle formed beneath their feet.
“…What’s this?” Gojo blinked, nudging his sunglasses down to peer at the glowing array.
At first glance, the “Shangri-La” circle resembled a Domain Expansion from the jujutsu world, both fueled by mental energy. A newbie like Yuji might not tell the difference, but Gojo, a special-grade sorcerer, saw it instantly.
“…A power similar to cursed energy, tied to space?” he muttered.
Before he could think further, the world spun.
In a flash, everyone’s vision blurred. When it cleared, the indoor living room was gone, replaced by a lush forest. A massive lake sparkled nearby like a mirror under the sunlight.
“Where are we?” Gojo asked, scanning the area. “All these yew trees… somewhere in northern Honshu?”
“Farther,” Hikari said, stowing “Shangri-La” and taking a deep breath of fresh air. She glanced at the sunlight filtering through the leaves. “I haven’t been here before, but if I’m right… this is Hokkaido.”
“??” Gojo’s jaw dropped.
Instant movement wasn’t shocking—he could do that himself with his “Blue” technique, which worked like a mini-black hole, compressing distances for ultra-fast travel or even teleportation.
But “ultra-fast” usually meant a few dozen kilometers. Tokyo to Hokkaido was over a thousand kilometers! What kind of teleportation could cover that distance?
For the first time in years, Gojo, the pinnacle of the jujutsu world, felt genuine shock.
Hikari, meanwhile, was discussing the sparring order. “This place is perfect. Who’s up first?”
Yamato cracked her knuckles, raring to go. Esdeath stayed silent, but her aura simmered, her eyes blazing with battle lust.
“Let’s make it fair,” Hikari said. “The three of us—winner goes first.”
Neither Yamato nor Esdeath objected.
“Rock, paper, scissors!”
“Scissors…”
After a few heated rounds, Hikari’s scissors beat Esdeath’s paper. She stretched lightly and turned to Gojo. “Alright, Teacher Gojo, I’ll be your first opponent.”
“Let’s do this,” Gojo said after a brief pause. He pulled off his blindfold, revealing his piercing blue eyes.
Six Eyes.
The Gojo clan’s kekkei genkai, akin to the Sharingan or Byakugan, granted unmatched perception, reading an opponent’s techniques and cursed energy flow. It was also a prerequisite for his Limitless technique.
As his aura surged, Gojo said, “Gojo Satoru, Tokyo Jujutsu High. Let’s make this fun.”
The air stilled.
Hikari and Gojo stood 100 meters apart by the lake, steadying their breaths. A breeze stirred, scattering leaves.
In an instant, Hikari’s figure split into two—one stayed put, the other flashed forward like lightning, closing the gap in a heartbeat. Her small fist tore through the air with a sonic boom, aimed straight at Gojo’s face!
“!”
“So fast!!” Gojo’s eyes widened.
It wasn’t Hikari’s full speed, but it still caught him off guard. Yet he didn’t dodge, simply channeling his cursed energy. Her fist slowed, as if sinking into a swamp, stopping just centimeters from his face, the breeze ruffling his hair.
Hikari frowned, feeling intense resistance against her fist.
“…So this is the Limitless technique?”
(End of Chapter)
