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🕑 Added 2025-07-02 16:35:55 +0000 UTCChapter 196: The Ninja School Entrance Ceremony
After wrapping up business, Shisui and the others took their leave one by one.
Uchiha Hikari, however, stayed behind at Fugaku’s warm invitation, eager to try Mikoto’s cooking.
While waiting for dinner, she randomly picked a few booklets from a stack of “reading reflections” and skimmed through them.
Hmm… no obvious signs of copying.
Not that it mattered much if they did.
The Uchiha clan’s younger generation only numbered a few dozen. Expecting every single one to become a scholar was unrealistic. As long as key figures like Shisui and Izumi were properly trained, they’d hold up the clan’s reputation. The rest just needed to avoid being too incompetent.
Sniff sniff.
Hikari suddenly perked up, glancing toward the kitchen. “Is today some kind of special occasion? The food smells really good.”
“Well…” Fugaku hesitated, then smiled. “It’s mainly because of your return, Ancestor. But there’s also a small matter—my son Sasuke is starting at the Ninja School tomorrow. There’s a big entrance ceremony, so I asked Mikoto to pick up some extra meat and vegetables to give him a nutritious boost.”
“…School’s starting?” Hikari blinked, caught off guard.
The Konoha Ninja School’s schedule was similar to a modern school system—starting in August, two semesters a year, with short winter and summer breaks. But as a “military academy” of sorts, it wasn’t quite like standard education. Summer breaks were a recent invention, only introduced in the last decade or so.
“Has it really been almost a year already?” Hikari let out a soft breath, her mind drifting back to the moment she’d awakened in darkness and climbed out of her coffin. It felt like a lifetime ago.
“Since Sasuke’s starting school… Naruto must be too, right?”
Perfect timing for her return.
By tradition, the Ninja School’s entrance ceremony required parents to attend. With Minato gone, it was up to her, as Naruto’s “proxy guardian,” to step in.
She just hoped Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn’t ramble too long during his speech. Her patience had limits.
That evening, Hikari feasted at Fugaku’s house, then returned to her own place. She summoned two shadow clones to clean the house and change the bedsheets while her real body sank into the depths of her “mindscape,” connecting with Danzo Shimura, whom she hadn’t contacted in a while.
Since awakening her Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, her eye powers had grown significantly stronger. Using her seal as a medium to pull someone into a “remote Tsukuyomi” was now smooth as silk.
In a flash, she dragged Danzo into the Tsukuyomi space.
“Tch, tch.” Hikari eyed Danzo, now clad in a black robe with red clouds, clicking her tongue before questioning him about his “mission progress.”
Danzo had joined the Akatsuki just over two weeks ago. His guide was a man wearing a swirl-patterned mask, claiming to be “Uchiha Madara”—Obito.
The nominal leader, Pain, hadn’t shown up.
That was to be expected.
Danzo, alongside Hanzo, was responsible for wiping out the original Akatsuki and causing Yahiko’s death. While Hanzo took most of the blame (and had already been killed by Nagato), Danzo was still someone Nagato and Konan despised. Letting him join Akatsuki was already Nagato’s maximum concession. Personally greeting him? Nagato would probably kill him on sight.
Perhaps because of this, Danzo was barred from approaching the Rain Village and wasn’t privy to detailed Akatsuki intel.
But he did have a partner.
“It’s Hidan from the Mist Village, wielder of the Decapitating Carving Knife. I’m currently working with him,” Danzo said.
“Oh.” Hikari nodded, understanding.
She knew of Hidan—one of the weaker Akatsuki members, barely at elite Jonin level, not even Kage-tier. She had zero interest in fighting him.
“What else do you know about Akatsuki’s movements?”
Danzo hesitated before answering, “There’s something… I’m not entirely sure about. Akatsuki’s been visiting the Land of Demons a few times recently, dealing with a group called the ‘Yomi Cult.’ Also, they might’ve tried contacting Orochimaru.”
“Hm?” Hikari raised an eyebrow.
Orochimaru was indeed an original Akatsuki member in the timeline she hadn’t altered. In that version, he’d joined Akatsuki to pursue Pain’s Rinnegan, only to get thrashed by Pain, then later by Itachi, before defecting. Given his status as a “Konoha S-rank traitor,” it wasn’t surprising Akatsuki would target him again.
But… the Land of Demons? The Yomi Cult?
If she recalled correctly, there was something called “Moryo” there. Could that be Akatsuki’s target?
That was intel worth noting.
From the original story, Moryo was no pushover—it had killed the previous Priestess of the Land of Demons and nearly took out a fifteen-year-old Naruto. For Esdeath… it’d be a decent opponent.
Hikari gave Danzo a few more instructions before casually dismissing the Tsukuyomi.
Then she grabbed some clothes, headed to the bathroom, and went to bed.
The next day arrived in a blink.
Naruto was still half-asleep when he was woken by barking. Opening his eyes, he saw Mochi, the white ninja dog, perched by his pillow, licking his cheek while wagging its stubby tail like a propeller.
It’d been over half a year, and the two ninja dogs from the Inuzuka clan had nearly doubled in size. Mochi was as lively as ever, dragging Naruto out for hours-long walks, while Dumpling, the black one, remained as lazy as ever—lying down if it could, standing only if forced.
“Mochi, cut it out… you’re drooling on the sheets!” Naruto groaned.
“…Oh no, it’s that late? I’m gonna be late!” He rubbed his eyes, checked the clock, and scrambled out of bed, pulling on clothes as he rushed to the bathroom.
Brush teeth, wash face, comb hair.
As he went through the motions, Naruto’s eyes kept darting to a corner of the living room, half-expecting a familiar figure to step out—the one he used to see every day.
But… nothing.
His expression dimmed as he made a sandwich, chugged some milk, grabbed his goggles, and headed out.
He arrived at the Ninja School, where the courtyard was already buzzing with people—adults and kids chatting in small groups.
There was a pink-haired girl with both parents.
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio standing with their fathers.
A shy Hyuga girl shrinking into the crowd.
And then…
“Naruto!” A spiky black-haired boy pounced from behind, slapping his shoulder.
Naruto jumped, then grinned as his gloom lifted. “Kiba, it’s you!”
“Hmph, only I’d put up with a klutz like you,” Kiba said with a smug toss of his head. He glanced around. “Where’re Mochi and Dumpling? And that sister of yours… Hikari, right?”
Whack!
Before Kiba could finish, Hana Inuzuka appeared behind him, giving his head a firm but gentle smack. “Show some respect! You can’t just throw around Lady Hikari’s name like that. If I were in my Security Force uniform, I’d have you locked up.”
After scolding her brother, Hana crouched down, her tone softening as she looked at Naruto. “Little Naruto, didn’t Lady Hikari come with you?”
“Nah… Big Sis Hikari’s probably busy with super important stuff. I’m a big kid now—I can handle the entrance ceremony on my own!” Naruto puffed out his chest, putting on a brave face.
But the hint of loneliness in his eyes was plain to any adult.
Hana pursed her lips, ruffling his hair, about to say something when her gaze froze. “Wait, is that…?”
“Huh?” Naruto turned to follow her line of sight.
A soft hand landed on his shoulder, and a strand of hair brushed his cheek as a warm voice teased, “What’s this? It’s only been a few months, and you’re already missing me?”
“…Big Sis Hikari?!” Naruto’s face lit up like the sun breaking through clouds, his blue eyes sparkling. With his whisker-marked cheeks, he looked like a big cat reuniting with its owner.
On the other side, Hikari chuckled and straightened up. “Long time no see.”
It really had been a while.
Hikari had left Konoha at the start of the year. After dealing with Orochimaru, she’d spent time in the Dragon Clan, Inuyasha, and Akame ga Kill worlds, and nearly half a year had passed.
Compared to six months ago, Naruto had grown taller, his yellow hair a bit longer and neatly combed. He even bore a slight resemblance to Minato now.
“Hm… you’re looking a lot better than before,” Hikari said.
“Before?”
She meant the original timeline’s Naruto, who’d grown up neglected, dressed in grimy yellow clothes with dull, malnourished hair. The Naruto standing before her was a completely different kid.
At that moment, Fugaku and Mikoto, who’d been standing nearby, coughed and chimed in. “Ancestor, this is the boy you mentioned—Naruto-kun, right? He’s about Sasuke’s age. They might become good friends.”
“…Hey, it’s you!” Naruto and Sasuke said, recognizing each other.
They’d met before, but living far apart—and with the Anbu keeping Naruto away from the Uchiha district—their interactions were limited to brief encounters in the village. Now, as they greeted each other, a competitive spark flared between them.
Fugaku quickly scolded them, while Mikoto knelt to mediate softly.
Hikari, arms crossed, watched the scene unfold with amusement, snapping a few photos to send to the group chat.
[Nameless: [Naruto.jpg]×5]
[Nameless @EternalBro: Mr. Minato, these are Naruto’s latest pics.]
[GhostPrincess: !]
[GhostPrincess: So this is Mr. Minato’s son? He’s so cute! I wanna hug him myself!]
Yamato was the first to pop up.
Hikari wasn’t surprised. In the original story, Yamato’s obsession with Kozuki Oden led her to treat Momonosuke like her own son, going all out to protect him. Now, with her admiration for Minato surpassing even Oden, she was probably already imagining some kind of “father-son” bond with Naruto.
[EternalBro: Naruto’s grown a lot… Is that the Konoha Ninja School? The kid next to him looks familiar.]
Hikari smirked to herself. Of course he’s familiar—he almost became your “daughter-in-law.”
[Nameless: That’s Sasuke, Fugaku Uchiha’s son. Same age as Naruto, starting school this year too.]
[EternalBro: Oh, him… I saw him once when I went with Kushina for her checkup. He was just a tiny bundle in Mikoto’s arms back then. Hard to believe he’s this big now.]
[Brand: Wait, in your and Mr. Minato’s world, kids start school this young? They look like they’re only five or six!]
[Nameless: You haven’t seen the Warring States era here. Back then, kids that age were already dying on battlefields.]
[Brand: ?]
As Hikari chatted in the group, lost in thought, the Ninja School’s annual entrance ceremony kicked off.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took the stage first, followed by the principal and teacher representatives. Perhaps because he’d heard from the Anbu that Hikari was back—and saw her in person—Hiruzen kept his speech short, sticking to generic lines about “leaves dancing and flames burning” before stepping down.
He even glanced nervously at Hikari a few times, as if worried she’d pick apart his “Will of Fire” spiel again.
Luckily, Hikari wasn’t in the mood to bother with him.
As the ceremony wound down, Hiruzen strolled over, offering a polite smile and some small talk before lowering his voice. “Miss Hikari, we received reports that an Uchiha clansman activated Susanoo in the Grass Village and went on a killing spree. Was that…?”
“Yeah, that was me.”
Chapter 197: Speculations About Moryo
Uchiha Hikari nodded, not bothering to deny it. “I happened to pass through the Grass Village a while back and saw some scum who didn’t deserve to live, so I dealt with them. What’s the issue?”
“Well…” Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated, a wry smile creasing his aged face. “It’s not a big issue, but some of those ‘scum’ might’ve included a few nobles from the Land of Grass. Their daimyo has sent several letters to Konoha, pressing us to investigate and provide an explanation.”
“Nobles?” Hikari raised an eyebrow.
The Grass Village incident happened when she rescued Karin and her mother, quite some time ago. Wielding the might of her Susanoo, she’d cut down over a hundred people in one stroke, not paying much attention to who they were—ninja or not. But it didn’t matter.
Any noble associating with the likes of those Grass Village lowlifes wasn’t worth sparing.
Having already turned the Akame ga Kill empire upside down, Hikari had no qualms about shaking things up in the Naruto world too—maybe even uprooting the Land of Grass’s ruling class entirely.
As for Hiruzen…
Hikari turned to him with a playful smirk. “So, Lord Third, you came to talk to me about this personally. Got any special orders? Planning to tie me up and hand me over to the Land of Grass to appease them? Like you did with Hyuga Hizashi back then?”
“?!”
Hiruzen’s eyes twitched, a cold sweat breaking out. “No, no, Miss Hikari, you misunderstand! I only wanted to confirm the situation since you’re back. The Grass Village’s vile habits are no secret to me. Your actions weren’t wrong, and Konoha will handle it appropriately.”
“Good.” Hikari gave a cold huff, then shifted gears. “By the way, Sarutobi kid, I’ve got a question for you.”
“…Yes?” Hiruzen took a deep breath, his tone respectful despite the shift from “Lord” to “kid.”
Hikari didn’t beat around the bush. “Do you know where the Land of Demons is?”
A few minutes later, Hiruzen walked off, hands clasped behind his back.
The new students, including Naruto, were sorted into classes and led to their classrooms by their teachers. As expected, Naruto, Sasuke, Kiba, and a few others ended up in the same class, with Iruka Umino as their teacher.
Hikari ruffled Naruto’s yellow hair, waved goodbye, and turned to face Fugaku and Mikoto, who had just finished giving Sasuke some last-minute advice and were approaching her.
“Ancestor, about the Third…” Fugaku began.
“Oh, just some trivial stuff. Don’t worry about it,” Hikari said casually, though her eyes narrowed slightly. Out of the corner of her vision, she caught a glimpse of an Anbu ninja leaping from a hiding spot, hurrying after Hiruzen.
“Speaking of, when I mentioned the Land of Demons, Sarutobi’s expression seemed… off,” Hikari mused. “Could it be that this ‘Moryo’ thing is already stirring?”
Her interest in the Land of Demons wasn’t a whim.
Last night, after hearing Danzo’s intel, she’d mentally reviewed the plotline.
In the original story, Moryo appeared twice.
The first time, a few years before the main Naruto storyline, it was awakened by the Yomi Cult and tried to consume the Land of Demons’ priestess, Miroku. She sealed it at the cost of her life.
The second time, during the Shippuden era, it was freed from its seal again, attempting to devour Miroku’s daughter, Shion, and nearly killing Naruto, who was on a mission there. Ultimately, it fell to Naruto’s protagonist aura and a super-sized Rasengan infused with the priestess’s power.
By Hikari’s calculations, even without Akatsuki’s interference, Moryo’s first awakening should be within the next year or so.
Initially, she hadn’t thought much of Moryo, assuming it was just another monster.
But on second thought… it wasn’t so simple.
The Naruto world had its share of odd creatures, but few could rival the tailed beasts in strength. Moryo was one of them.
And something about its power felt… off. It didn’t seem to align with the standard chakra system.
Similarly out of place was the power of the Land of Demons’ priestesses. They were said to have the ability to “predict life and death” with near-perfect accuracy—failing only once, because of Naruto.
Frankly, that kind of ability went beyond ninjutsu. No bloodline limit or kekkei tota could do that. Only one power system in this world came close…
Sage Arts!
Yes, the priestesses’ “prophecy” reminded Hikari of the sage arts of the three holy lands—particularly the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku, whose prophetic abilities were a native power of this planet, separate from ninjutsu.
This was getting interesting.
If the priestesses’ power was a form of unique sage arts, could interacting with them unlock the secrets of natural energy?
It was worth a shot.
“I’ve got the Land of Demons’ location. I’ll bring Esdeath along to check it out… Oh, and I should let Kikyo know too,” Hikari thought.
As fellow priestesses, Kikyo and Miroku might share some common ground, perhaps revealing the true nature of that “prophetic” power.
Next, Hikari followed her original plan, hitting up Konoha’s ninja tool shop to restock on sealing scrolls depleted from recent use. Then she returned to the Akame ga Kill world to meet Esdeath again.
A few days earlier, she hadn’t brought Esdeath along immediately, giving the general time to tie up loose ends.
After all, Esdeath was an imperial general, beloved by both the military and the capital’s citizens. With Minister Honest and General Budo dead, and the little emperor in prison, she was practically the empire’s highest-ranking officer. If she vanished suddenly, it could spark unrest or mutiny among her old subordinates.
So, after a quick discussion, Hikari gave Esdeath a few days to settle her affairs.
Chapter 198: The First Time Might Hurt a Bit
Uchiha Hikari didn’t see anything wrong with her decision.
Sure, Esdeath’s worldview was a bit warped, but her integrity was solid. Since she’d agreed to be Hikari’s subordinate, she wouldn’t go back on her word until she could flip the tables and beat her.
But…
The Revolutionary Army was on edge about it.
They didn’t have Hikari’s strength to keep Esdeath in check single-handedly. If Esdeath took advantage of her freedom over the past few days to launch a coup, it could spell disaster for the army that had just conquered the capital.
To prevent that, they’d secretly moved the Little Emperor’s detention site and stationed tons of sentries and troops around the palace, keeping tabs on Esdeath’s every move, ready to react at a moment’s notice. Thankfully, none of that came to pass.
When Hikari’s figure reappeared in the capital, Najenda, who’d come to greet her, visibly relaxed.
“Miss Hikari, you’re back.”
“Yup… but what’s with the crowd? Don’t tell me this is all for me?” Hikari said, glancing around.
Bulma and Brand being there was expected.
But the entire Night Raid team? All geared up with their Teigu, looking ready for a fight?
Najenda quickly explained, her words tumbling out. “This setup was for Esdeath. With you gone, we had to show some respect to our former enemy.”
Meanwhile, Esdeath gave Najenda and the others a dismissive glance, then stood and walked straight to Hikari, ignoring everyone else.
“Took you long enough. Did you find me a worthy opponent?”
“…Sort of,” Hikari nodded. “There’s a strong beast—think of it as a super dangerous species from another world. Should satisfy your battle cravings.”
“Good.” Esdeath dropped her arms without pressing for details. “Let’s get started. This ‘sealing technique’ you mentioned—what do I need to do?”
“Nothing. Just stand still.”
Hikari paused, then added, “The first time might hurt a bit… but just bear with it.”
Esdeath: “?”
This was an experiment, too.
Hikari had only tested cross-world travel with demons from the Demon Slayer world before. From Daki and Gyutaro’s experience, the process was mostly safe, though it caused side effects like muscle tears—similar to the Cloud Village’s “Heavenly Transfer Technique.”
For self-healing demons, that kind of damage was trivial, healing in minutes. But for living humans, it might not be so pleasant.
Still, Esdeath, as the strongest in the Akame ga Kill world, had a physique on par with the Fourth Raikage. A little muscle tearing probably wouldn’t faze her.
Taking a deep breath, Hikari formed hand signs and pressed her pale palms against Esdeath’s chest.
“Sealing Technique… Four Symbols Seal!”
Chakra surged, and black runes mixed with gray bandages flowed from her palms and sleeves, wrapping around Esdeath’s body. In moments, she was cocooned like a humanoid mummy.
Hikari placed Esdeath in a prepared coffin, sealed it into a scroll, and called it done.
Najenda, watching this, narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.
“Miss Hikari, that secret technique… can it work on others?”
“Hm?” Hikari raised an eyebrow. “Theoretically, yeah. What, you wanna tag along to another world, Boss?”
“…It’s tempting, but I’ll pass,” Najenda said with a smile. “The revolution’s not over yet. The new regime still needs a lot of work, and I can’t step away, even if my skills are just average. But if things settle down, I might consider a long vacation…”
She trailed off, glancing subtly at Akame and the others. “That said, Akame and the team might have some free time soon. If you need extra hands, you could hire them. As their current boss, I can vouch for their skills.”
Her tone was light, but Hikari could tell she was serious.
Night Raid was formed to do the revolution’s dirty work—eliminating old nobles. With the empire gone, their purpose was fading.
For now, there were still bandits and stubborn factions to clean up, keeping Akame and the others busy. But in a few months—maybe half a year—Night Raid would likely be disbanded, fading from history.
When that happened, people like Brand and Lubbock, with military or noble backgrounds, could become generals or governors. But Akame, Mine, and others without such ties? They’d be jobless, and their past dirty work could make them targets for grudges.
Najenda wanted to protect her old comrades, but as just one of the revolution’s higher-ups, her influence was limited. Even as the top leader, she couldn’t shield them from every hidden dagger.
So, letting Akame and the others follow Hikari to another world for a fresh start wasn’t a bad idea.
“…I’ll seriously consider hiring them,” Hikari said after a moment’s thought.
On the side, Bulma piped up quietly. “Actually, if you guys want a career change, you could join me. My ‘Blue Planet’ has plenty of room—could fit a hundred people, no problem!”
“…Blue Planet?” Najenda asked.
“Yup! That’s the name Minato-sensei, Yamato, and I came up with for our pirate ship,” Bulma said. “It’s still just a blueprint, though.”
“Hm…” Hikari hadn’t been keeping up with the group chat lately.
The name “Blue Planet” was surprisingly simple. She’d half-expected Minato’s naming habits to produce something like “Blue Whirlwind Thunder Flash Zero-One.”
“So, Bulma, what’s your next move?” Hikari asked.
Bulma scratched her head. “I’ll stick around here for a bit, studying alchemy, Teigu, and Orichalcum to see if I can use them for the ship. Oh, and I’ll work on that ‘thousand-times mini-ring’ you asked for.”
“Thanks,” Hikari said. “What about you, Eriri?”
Eriri held up her notebook: Wanna go with Hikari to hang out with Naruto and Karin.
“…Sure,” Hikari said. The Naruto world was stable enough for Eriri to tag along for a few days.
As for Yamato…
“I promised Leone I’d check out the capital’s slums, so I’ll stay a bit longer,” Yamato said. “If I go back to Onigashima now, my dad’ll probably punish me.”
Even Yamato’s carefree demeanor faltered when mentioning Kaido, her voice tinged with a shiver.
Kaido didn’t hold back when he disciplined her—full-on “beat you to the brink of death” style. If Yamato weren’t tougher than most, bolstered by her Devil Fruit’s extra “health bar,” she’d have been done for long ago.
Hikari didn’t know how to respond, so she just patted Yamato’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Our worlds are open to each other. Stay as long as you want. If you need help in the One Piece world, just let me know.”
If it was just Hikari, taking down Kaido would be tough. The guy was the “strongest creature,” surviving falls from 10,000 meters with a health bar thicker than most.
But with Esdeath, Yamato, maybe Kikyo, Brand, or even all of Night Raid? That’d be a different story.
“Also, keep an eye on Bulma’s safety. Ping me in the chat if anything comes up.”
The Akame ga Kill world wasn’t exactly safe for non-combatants like Bulma. Brand and Night Raid could protect her, but they couldn’t be around 24/7. Yamato, being trustworthy, was a good fit to watch her back.
“Got it!” Yamato thumped her G-cup chest confidently. “Don’t worry, Hikari. This is a man’s promise!”
“…”
Hikari’s lips twitched, but she let it slide and handed Bulma a microphone. “Here, Bulma, take this. It’s a Teigu called ‘Earth’s Roar.’ It emits powerful ultrasonic waves through singing. Should suit you well for self-defense.”
After a few more mutual reminders, Hikari left the Akame ga Kill world.
With a flash of white light, she returned to Konoha in the Naruto world, followed by Eriri.
At the Uchiha compound’s main residence, Hikari took out the coffin and released Esdeath.
“How’s it feel?”
“…Not bad,” Esdeath said, stepping out of the coffin and stretching her shoulders. “There’s a bit of muscle tearing, but it’s no big deal. So, this is the ‘other world’ you mentioned? Doesn’t look too different from the empire.”
Her tone suggested she was still skeptical about the whole “other world” thing.
“Well…” Hikari grinned. “Wanna take a look around, Esdeath?”
…
Since it was Esdeath’s first day, Hikari gave her a quick tour of Konoha to get her used to this “new world.” Eriri tagged along, occasionally scribbling on her notebook and showing it to Esdeath.
Having visited Konoha once before, Eriri was something of a “senior” here.
“Konoha Village, the Shinobi World, the Five Great Nations…” Esdeath said, pausing at a street corner. “These are all places I’ve never heard of. Definitely different from the empire.”
Her gaze flicked to Izumi, a Uchiha in a police uniform passing by, then back to Hikari. “I’ve been meaning to ask—why do they keep calling you ‘Great-Grandma’?”
“Uh…” Hikari hesitated. “Would you believe me if I said I’m over a hundred years old?”
“…”
Esdeath didn’t reply, but her eyes clearly said, Are you messing with me?
“It’s true,” Hikari sighed. “For reasons I can’t easily explain, I was sealed away once—yep, like what I did to you. I slept underground for a century until I woke up in this era. So everyone in this village is at least four or five generations removed from me.”
This wasn’t a secret to Eriri or the others in the group chat—they’d all known each other long enough to share their backstories. But for Esdeath, who wasn’t part of the chat, hearing Hikari’s “origin story” made her eyes flicker with surprise.
“Sealed for a century… So even you were weak once,” she said.
“Everyone’s weak at some point. That’s just how it works,” Hikari said casually. “If a world doesn’t let the weak survive, the problem’s with the world, not the weak.”
“…”
Esdeath scoffed, her “survival of the fittest” mindset too ingrained to be shaken by a few words.
Hikari was just testing the waters, seeing if she could nudge Esdeath’s worldview even slightly. They’d likely be together for a while, and if Esdeath clung to her twisted values, communication might get tiring.
Next, Hikari took Esdeath and Eriri to the shopping district to buy ingredients for dinner.
As they walked, Esdeath kept scanning the crowd, sizing up their strength with her eyes. Most villagers and ninja got a quick glance, but one guy made her stare.
“That man… he looks strong,” she said.
“Hm?” Hikari followed her gaze and saw a peculiar figure in a green bodysuit “running” by—upside down, shouting about “youth.”
“…Yeah,” Hikari agreed. “That guy could probably kill even me…”
Chapter 199: A Chance Encounter in the Land of Demons
Might Guy was probably one of the few Konoha Jonin who “didn’t know” Uchiha Hikari.
Not that he hadn’t seen her—he just had face blindness and couldn’t remember names for the life of him.
At that moment, Guy seemed to sense Hikari and Esdeath watching him. Balancing on one hand in a handstand, he glanced their way, flashed a thumbs-up, and grinned, his teeth gleaming. “Yo! Thanks for the support! Wanna join me in burning the sweat of youth?”
“Nah, you go ahead and burn it solo…” Hikari waved him off awkwardly.
Esdeath, on the other hand, looked intrigued.
Not because she wanted to join Guy in handstand laps around Konoha, but because she was itching to challenge him to a fight.
“Next time, Little Es. It’s almost dinnertime,” Hikari said, tugging Esdeath back.
By her estimate, Guy could definitely hold his own against Esdeath, but only if he opened the Sixth or Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates. That kind of fight would cause a massive ruckus, possibly leveling a few forests.
As for Guy with all Eight Gates open? In theory, he could one-shot Esdeath with Night Guy. The only question was whether Esdeath’s Mahapadma, which could freeze space, could counter Night Guy’s space-warping power.
But Night Guy was a last-resort move that burned the user’s life. Unless Esdeath was planning to make Konoha feel some pain, Guy had no reason to unleash it. The best outcome would be a mutual KO.
“By the way…” Hikari suddenly wondered, “Could a Senzu Bean heal the aftereffects of the Eight Gates?”
If it could… wouldn’t that mean Night Guy could be used like a regular attack?
It was an intriguing theory, but one she couldn’t test.
She couldn’t exactly ask Guy to pop open all Eight Gates just to satisfy her curiosity.
For now, Hikari watched Guy jog off into the distance, then dragged Esdeath and Eri back home. She changed into comfy clothes and started cooking.
Eri eagerly jumped in to help.
Well… as the sheltered princess of the Kaguya clan, Eri was a natural at “cutting people” with a blade, but cutting vegetables? Not so much. Despite her best efforts, she was clumsy and soon nicked her finger.
Hikari quickly called for Esdeath to grab some iodine and disinfectant wipes.
If they waited any longer, the wound would probably heal on its own.
After cleaning Eri’s cut with a deadpan expression, Esdeath picked up the knife and expertly sliced the remaining half of a potato.
“Huh?” Hikari glanced over, surprised. “Little Es, you cook too?”
“Sort of,” Esdeath replied, her face blank as she kept chopping. “Living alone, you pick up some household skills. I’m not a master, but I get by.”
“Hmm…” Hikari mused. “Didn’t you say you’re into gardening too? Wanna hit up a flower shop tomorrow?”
If she remembered right, the Yamanaka clan ran a flower shop and had recently joined Shisui’s “flower exhibition.” Her place could use some sprucing up with plants, though she’d need someone to water them since she was often gone for months.
Esdeath’s expression turned odd.
She did have a gardening hobby, but not for aesthetics. Her flowers were used to inflict pain during interrogations.
For a fleeting moment, Esdeath pictured tying Hikari up and subjecting her to “flower torture.” Shaking off the thought, she sighed softly. “No need. It’s just a way to kill time.”
“Is that so…” Hikari let it slide.
After dinner, she settled Esdeath and Eri into guest rooms next to hers. Her big house had plenty of spare rooms, so space wasn’t an issue.
The next morning, Hikari packed lightly and prepared to take the two to the Land of Demons.
Back in the day, she’d have summoned the Flying Nimbus and flown them there. But now…
“Let’s see, the Land of Demons is northeast of Konoha, about 900 kilometers away,” she said, eyeing a map.
Hikari activated “Shangri-La” on her wrist. As she channeled mental energy into the Teigu, blurry images of the landscape flashed through her mind, stretching northeast. A glowing teleportation circle appeared in the room.
With a flash of light, the three vanished, reappearing in a humid mountain range.
“This should be the Land of Demons. Let’s find a nearby town to get our bearings,” Hikari said, taking a step forward.
As one of the oldest nations in the Naruto world, the Land of Demons had a unique political system.
Unlike most countries ruled by daimyo, it was governed by a line of priestesses, blending politics and religion.
Its towns reflected this, brimming with shops selling witchcraft-themed trinkets and items steeped in spiritual lore.
Hikari bought two Hannya masks, handing one to Eri, who put it on with glee. Then she picked up a bouquet of cornflowers and offered it to Esdeath.
“What’s this?” Esdeath asked.
“Just a little welcome gift for a far-off guest,” Hikari said with a grin. “Plus, the blue matches your hair. It’ll look nice in your hands.”
“…” Esdeath’s eyelid twitched. After a pause, she hesitantly took the flowers.
Eri, nearby, mimed taking a photo and held up her notebook: “Really pretty, Esdeath-neechan!”
“…Thanks,” Esdeath muttered.
From then on, Esdeath stayed quiet, trailing half a step behind.
Hikari stopped at stalls here and there, buying snacks to share with the two. Eri picked out some wind chimes, tying them to her wrist, where they jingled pleasantly with each step.
“Seems lively here. Is there some kind of festival going on?” Hikari asked a goldfish-scooping stall owner.
“Hm?” The owner blinked. “You folks aren’t from the Land of Demons, are you?”
“Nope, we’re tourists from the Land of Fire.”
“No wonder…” The owner launched into an explanation. “Right now, it’s the annual ‘Divine Harvest Festival.’ All the towns hold celebrations to thank the gods for our current lives and pray for good fortune next year. Oh, you probably don’t know who the ‘god’ is, right?
It’s the First Priestess of the Land of Demons. Legend says, centuries ago, a ferocious monster roamed these lands, slaughtering and devouring humans. The First Priestess stood up, used her powerful spiritual energy to slay it, and protected the survivors, founding the Land of Demons. If you head to the capital soon, you might catch a glimpse of the current priestess at the festival.”
“Oh? That’s interesting,” Hikari said, her curiosity piqued.
As the owner spoke, she relayed the story to the group chat, tossing in a question.
[EternalBro: The Land of Demons?]
[EternalBro: I’ve heard some rumors about that place. It’s been around since the Sage of the Six Paths’ era, maybe even older than the Five Great Nations. And it’s always been ruled by priestesses with spiritual powers—kinda like Miss Kikyo.]
[YotsuyaMiko: Hmm… from Hikari’s description, it sounds a bit like the ‘Yamatai Kingdom’ from history books.]
[NishinakaTiger: Yamatai? Like Queen Himiko’s? I’ve heard of that too.]
[IronHead: Uh, what are you all talking about? I’m totally lost…]
Amid the flurry of messages, Hikari zeroed in on Kikyo’s reply.
[Nameless @Kikyo: Wanna come check it out, Miss Kikyo? You’re both priestesses, even if from different worlds. You might have something in common.]
[Kikyo: …If it’s not too much trouble, sure.]
[Nameless: Cool, I’ll pull you over once we reach the capital. Right now, we’re asking for directions.]
Maybe because outsiders were rare, the stall owner chatted with Hikari’s group for ages before reluctantly pointing them toward the capital.
He even gifted them a tank of goldfish.
Hikari meant for Eri to carry it, but the fish sensed her dragon aura and thrashed wildly, nearly leaping out. When Esdeath took the tank, they froze, as if chilled to the bone.
With no other choice, Hikari had a shadow clone hold the tank. They spent the day leisurely exploring the town, planning to rest overnight before heading to the capital.
While searching for an inn, an unexpected figure caught her eye.
“…Thank you so much! If it weren’t for you two, Young Master Takeyama might’ve…”
“Here’s the agreed-upon two million ryo reward. Please take a look!”
Outside a grand mansion, a blonde woman in a dark green robe stood with her arms crossed, looking relaxed.
Though nearing forty, she looked barely twenty, with fair skin, radiant blonde hair tied into braids, and a giant “Gambler” kanji on her back. Even without her… impressive chest, her appearance was eye-catching.
Beside her, a black-haired girl holding a piglet bowed politely, taking a black briefcase from the mansion’s old butler. She peeked inside, then zipped it up.
“Lady Tsunade, I’ve checked. The amount’s correct,” the girl said.
“Good,” Tsunade nodded, turning to the butler. “If you know any other rich folks with sick family members, send them my way—as long as they can pay.”
As she spoke, she turned to leave, her dignified air vanishing, replaced by an excited grin. “Hurry, Shizune! The casino’s still open. I lost big there the other day, but this time, I’m winning it all back—principal and interest. Those cheating punks are gonna learn!”
“…” Shizune opened her mouth, then stopped.
Having been with Tsunade so long, she knew her master’s gambling luck was abysmal. Win? Not a chance. Out of a hundred bets, winning three was a good day. The “Great Sucker of the Ninja World” title was well-earned.
Shizune could already picture Tsunade blowing through the two million ryo in days, then skipping town under creditors’ complaints to play the sucker elsewhere.
At that moment, Tsunade paused, frowning as she looked in a certain direction.
“That’s…”
Across the street, a hundred meters away, Hikari stopped too, her eyes narrowing in surprise.
“…What a coincidence.”
After a brief stare-down, Tsunade glanced around, then walked over hesitantly, her expression complex. “Miss… Hikari, long time no see.”
She clearly struggled with how to address Hikari, avoiding “Lady” or “Elder.”
Hikari didn’t mind. “Little Tsunade, fancy meeting you here. You traveling in the Land of Demons too?”
“Something like that,” Tsunade nodded.
Shizune bowed slightly, adding respectfully, “It’s like this, Lady Hikari. A rich merchant’s son fell gravely ill, and they offered a hefty reward for treatment. Lady Tsunade was nearby, so we came to help.”
“I see,” Hikari said, glancing at the briefcase in Shizune’s hands, piecing it together.
Under Tsunade and Shizune’s slightly puzzled gazes, she smiled. “As you can see, I’m traveling with these two friends. Running into each other here must be fate. How about we grab a drink?”
“…Sure.”
Chapter 200: The Cure for Hemophobia
Tsunade had clearly been in this town for a while.
With no effort, she led Hikari and her two companions into an unassuming little tavern, deftly ordering two jugs of sake, a few side dishes, and a jug of fruit juice.
The juice was for Hikari.
“Even though you’re a hundred-something-year-old senior, Miss Hikari, your body’s still underage. Drinking this early could stunt your growth… so stick to this for now,” Tsunade explained.
Hikari had no objections. She wasn’t much of a drinker anyway.
As for the other two…
Esdeath and Eriri sat quietly, eyeing Tsunade appraisingly.
Esdeath was sizing up Tsunade’s strength. Despite the hemophobia debuff, Tsunade was one of the legendary Sannin, renowned for her taijutsu prowess. You could tell just by looking at her muscle density. Esdeath’s battle instincts were itching.
Eriri, meanwhile, was staring at Tsunade’s jaw-dropping chest, then glancing down at her own. Whatever she was thinking, her expression turned a bit dejected.
Well…
Eriri was already pretty well-developed for her age, but compared to Tsunade’s legendary proportions, she fell short. And even Tsunade couldn’t compete with a certain ghost princess from the One Piece world, who had nearly double her height…
“Phew…” Tsunade sighed after a few cups of sake, her expression loosening up. “The special sake from the Land of Demons really hits different.”
She glanced at Hikari’s companions. “So, what’re the names of your two friends?”
“Uesugi Eriri and Esdeath. I met them after leaving Konoha,” Hikari replied casually.
“I see…”
As a Senju descendant, Tsunade didn’t jump to conclusions like the Grass ninja, assuming Eriri’s red hair meant she was an Uzumaki. But her kage-level instincts still picked up on something unusual about the two.
Hikari didn’t bother explaining, just sipping her juice and sharing road-trip anecdotes while clinking glasses with Tsunade.
At this point in her life, Tsunade was a bit of a boozehound, and having just pocketed two million ryō, she was in high spirits. It didn’t take long for her to drink herself into a slurring, tipsy mess.
“…So, you three came to the Land of Demons to chase rumors about ‘Moryo’?” Tsunade asked.
“That was the plan,” Hikari said. NSDAP “But seeing you two gave me another idea.”
She gestured toward Eriri. “My friend here has a rare bloodline disease. Some foreign energy in her body makes her health unstable. Could you take a look at her, Miss Tsunade?”
“…My fees are pretty steep,” Tsunade said, hiccupping.
“Ten million ryō,” Hikari said, holding up a finger.
“!?” Tsunade’s eyes widened, her drunken haze clearing slightly. “You… serious?”
“Dead serious.” Hikari unsealed a scroll, revealing a chest packed with cash and placing it on the table.
She’d already had Fugaku and the others appraise the treasure she brought back from the Akame ga Kill world. The currencies didn’t align perfectly, and some jewelry was hard to value, but liquidating those dozens of chests would net her five to ten billion ryō—equivalent to twenty or thirty Asuma heads. Ten million for Eriri’s treatment was pocket change.
But first, Tsunade’s hemophobia needed addressing.
Hikari was about ninety percent sure of her plan.
“This folder contains research from Konoha Hospital and two other doctors, plus their prototype ‘bloodline suppressor.’ You just need to refine it. If you need blood samples, Eriri will cooperate,” Hikari said, placing a stack of files and several dark red blood bags on the table.
As expected, Tsunade’s eyes lit up at the sight of the money, probably imagining herself dominating the casino. But the moment her gaze hit the blood bags, she instinctively looked away, her hand trembling slightly around her sake cup.
To most, it was a fleeting moment.
But Hikari, watching Tsunade’s micro-expressions, caught it instantly. Esdeath, too, narrowed her eyes and murmured, “…Hemophobia?”
“What?” Hikari feigned ignorance, glancing at Esdeath.
“…I’ve seen it in the army,” Esdeath said, tilting her head. “Some new recruits, after watching friends die, develop a fear of blood due to trauma. Does Miss Tsunade have something like that?”
Esdeath’s interest in Tsunade plummeted. In her eyes, someone plagued by a psychological condition like hemophobia was just a “weakling,” not worth her attention.
Tsunade pursed her lips and downed half a jug of sake.
Shizune, nearby, looked nervous.
Tsunade’s hemophobia was still a closely guarded secret, known only to a few like Hiruzen and Jiraiya. Most Konoha ninja thought the Senju princess was just tired of war and taking a break. If the village’s enemies found out…
“I see,” Hikari said, a playful smirk creeping onto her face. “Miss Tsunade’s been through a few Shinobi Wars, so a psychological condition like this is understandable. I happen to have some methods to treat it. Interested in trying?”
“No…” Tsunade started to refuse.
“Really?” Shizune blurted out.
Shizune was probably the one most desperate for Tsunade to overcome her hemophobia.
“Of course,” Hikari said. “Psychological conditions like this aren’t hard to treat. The best way to beat fear is to face it. So… just see more blood.”
As her voice trailed off, the surroundings subtly shifted.
The tavern was still the same, but the patrons now wore Konoha’s green vests and Uzumaki-emblem headbands. Their chatter turned to the “Demigod” of the Rain Village, border clashes between the Land of Wind and Fire, and the recent jonin meeting…
This should’ve alarmed Tsunade, but she was too drunk to notice, her mind sluggish. Just as she started to process it, a familiar male voice called out.
“…Tsunade, there you are!”
Kato Dan, clad in a Konoha jonin vest, appeared at the tavern door and strode over. “I wanted to discuss the medical ninja training system from the meeting… Who’s this?”
He paused at the table.
“Oh, she’s…” Tsunade began, but her voice faltered, confusion clouding her face. “Who?”
“Madara,” Hikari said. “I’m Uchiha Madara.”
A flash of blade light followed.
Kato Dan reacted instantly, leaping aside, but the strike severed his arm, blood spraying like a fountain!
Under Tsunade and Dan’s gazes, Hikari rose slowly, a deep blue aura flaring around her, forming the skeletal frame of a giant.
“This chakra… Uchiha’s Susanoo?!” Tsunade gasped.
“Heh.” In the Susanoo, Hikari’s crimson eyes gleamed. “Ready to face the blood?”
…
“Lady Tsunade?”
Back in reality, from Shizune’s perspective, Tsunade’s eyes suddenly glazed over, and her body began trembling like a leaf, as if she’d seen something utterly terrifying.
In her panic, Tsunade unconsciously activated her Strength of a Hundred Seal, black curse marks spreading from her forehead across her body.
After a brief hesitation, Shizune realized something and snapped her head toward Hikari. “Lady Hikari, what’s happening to her?”
“Just a side effect of the treatment kicking in. No need to panic,” Hikari said lightly.
From the moment she showed the blood bags, Hikari had been using Tsukuyomi and Yatayoi.
With the prior mark in place, pulling Tsunade into the genjutsu was effortless. And since Tsunade’s attachment to Dan and Nawaki was even stronger than Danzo’s obsession with the Hokage title, Yatayoi faced little resistance.
Hikari had recreated the Nine-Tails attack in the illusion, destroying half of Konoha, killing projections of Dan and others, and finally slaying Shizune in front of Tsunade. That was what pushed Tsunade to overcome her fear, launching her first counterattack while trembling.
“She fought back… that’s probably a sign she’s healed, right?” Hikari mused.
In the original timeline, Naruto’s influence had cured Tsunade in a similar way.
Though… there might be some lingering side effects.
Hikari rubbed her chin, assessing the situation, then turned to Shizune. “Miss Shizune, take her to rest. If there’s any issue, come find me.”
“…Understood,” Shizune replied.
…
The “treatment” took a toll on Tsunade’s mental state.
After Shizune took her back, she was out of it for two days before gradually coming to.
Her complexion was worse than before, as if gambling and alcohol had drained her. But her eyes? They were sharper, reclaiming the fierce aura of a Sannin.
When she saw Hikari again, Tsunade was silent for a long time before finally offering a complicated, “Thank you.”
“No big deal. Just a small favor,” Hikari said, waving it off. “The offer still stands. If you can cure Eriri’s condition, the ten million ryō is yours.”
“…I have a question,” Tsunade said after another pause. “I looked through the files you gave Shizune. The Konoha Hospital diagnostics are standard, but… who developed that ‘suppressor’?”
“Hm?” Hikari frowned slightly, not answering immediately.
Tsunade seemed to already have a guess. “Is it… Orochimaru?”
“There aren’t many medical ninja in the Five Great Nations who could advance blood research to this level. Orochimaru’s one of them. I worked with him for a long time and know his writing style. At least two of those research papers have his touch.”
“…You’re right. It’s Orochimaru,” Hikari admitted, seeing no point in hiding it. “I ran into him by chance during my travels. We had a little disagreement, but it’s resolved now. We’re sort of partners—he’s researching topics, including Eriri’s blood sample, with my funding.”
Hikari paused. “By the way, I’d love for you to join the research team. If you’re in, I’ll offer thirty million ryō a year on top of the ten million, and you’re free to do whatever—drink, gamble—no interference from me. Just a casual invitation, though. Your call.”
“…”
Tsunade’s brow furrowed, and she stayed silent.
After a long moment, she took a deep breath. “I’ll help with Eriri’s treatment, but working with Orochimaru… that’s a separate matter.”
“Fair enough,” Hikari said.
She really wanted Tsunade on board—being the top medical ninja in the shinobi world, she’d lighten Orochimaru’s load significantly. But if Tsunade wasn’t interested, forcing her would only tank efficiency.
“Then let’s talk another deal,” Hikari said. “How much would it cost to learn the Yin Seal and Palm Mystic Technique?”
