The words had barely left his mouth.
In an instant, Uchiha Hikari's eyes flared with the crimson glow of the three-tomoe Sharingan once more. But this time, the three tomoe didn't stay still after forming. Instead, they spun gently, merging into the shape of a giant pinwheel!
The Mangekyō Sharingan!
The moment Sarutobi Hiruzen saw the scarlet hue in Uchiha Hikari's eyes, he braced himself as if facing a formidable enemy. Chakra surged within him as he growled, "So you really…"
He didn't even finish his sentence.
The world spun wildly!
…
*Tsukuyomi*, one of the ultimate genjutsu of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
It was also Uchiha Itachi's signature technique in the original story.
In the illusory world crafted by *Tsukuyomi*, every factor—time, place, substance—was under the caster's complete control. Under normal circumstances, there was almost no way to break free. Only someone with their own Mangekyō Sharingan and superior dōryoku (ocular power), an exceptionally strong will, or a unique existence like a jinchūriki with two chakra sources could forcefully escape.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, once hailed as a "Ninja Hero" who dominated the battlefield with his Five-Element Barrage, was still a man of iron resolve even in his old age. If this were the original Uchiha Hikari, catching him in a genjutsu on a battlefield where both were prepared might not have been so easy.
But…
Uchiha Hikari, now with a fused dual soul, possessed dōryoku far beyond her former self.
In today's ninja world, there might still be a handful of people who could break her *Tsukuyomi* space with their unique abilities, but the aging, weakened Third Hokage standing before her was definitely not one of them!
Her dōryoku flowed.
It was as if a veil of mist swept over everything.
The surroundings—Naruto, the single-room apartment, the Anbu hiding outside, even the entire Konoha village—vanished like a mirage. All that remained was an endless, mirror-like sheet of ice. Beneath it lay a deep, shadowy abyss of water. On the ice, Uchiha Hikari and Sarutobi Hiruzen stood dozens of meters apart, facing each other.
Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly raised his hands, forming seals in rapid succession. After several failed attempts to dispel the genjutsu, his face twisted into a grim expression.
"Uchiha-san from the Warring States era, are you truly set on making an enemy of Konoha?"
"Heh."
Uchiha Hikari let out a chuckle, her voice echoing from all directions in the space:
"Don't throw 'Konoha' around so casually, acting like you're the village's will incarnate."
"I've said it before—I have no intention of being your enemy. I just wanted a private place to talk. Whether you believe me or not, I *have* met Namikaze Minato. And from him, I learned everything about what's happened in Konoha over the years—from the grudges between Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara to the Nine-Tails incident four years ago.
"Minato and Uzumaki Kushina willingly sacrificed themselves for Konoha, that's true. But that doesn't give you the right to trample on the dignity of the dead.
"My demands are simple, just two. First, keep certain people's mouths shut. Second, give Naruto the treatment he deserves as the orphan of a hero. As for his identity as the Fourth's son, you can keep it under wraps for now, but you'd better keep it in mind."
"This isn't a negotiation. It's an order."
"Of course, you could gamble your title as Hokage and go all-in against me. But you'd better weigh your chances first."
Uchiha Hikari pointed at her eyes, a mocking smile on her face. "In front of these eyes… you don't stand a chance!"
"…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen clenched his fists tightly.
As the leader of a village, he regained his composure after the initial shock. His voice grew steady as he said, "Uchiha Hikari-san, if you've met Minato, then you should know how much he poured his heart into this village. If your actions push Konoha to the brink of collapse, that's the last thing he'd want to see."
"I'll say it *one more time*."
Uchiha Hikari's gaze darkened, her words slow and deliberate: "This isn't a negotiation."
"…"
"Stalling won't help either. Time flows differently here. Even if you spend an entire day in this space, only a moment passes in the outside world. Your people won't make it in time to save you."
"…"
After a long pause.
Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a sigh, his tone shifting subtly. "You must know that the Mangekyō Sharingan can control tailed beasts. Four years ago, it was…"
"I've heard about the Nine-Tails incident four years ago from Namikaze Minato," Uchiha Hikari interrupted, catching the hesitation in his words. She decided to give him a way out. "According to what he witnessed, the one controlling the Nine-Tails was a masked man with a Mangekyō Sharingan, claiming to be Uchiha Madara. But since even Minato never saw his true face, his identity remains unconfirmed.
"You could send someone to investigate Uchiha Madara's whereabouts after he left Konoha. Maybe you'll find some clues."
"I've said all I need to. The path you take is up to you."
…
The conversation in the *Tsukuyomi* space lasted only a few seconds in the outside world.
Little Naruto stood there, confused, thinking Uchiha Hikari and Sarutobi Hiruzen had just locked eyes and started spacing out.
But the Anbu hiding outside couldn't stay calm.
"Trouble! Those eyes… she's going to harm the Third Hokage!!"
"Protect Lord Hokage!"
With a series of crashes, the apartment's windows shattered as several Anbu burst in from outside. One rushed to Sarutobi Hiruzen, attempting to channel chakra into him to break the genjutsu. Two others lunged for Uchiha Hikari's shoulders, aiming to restrain her.
But…
Their movements were only half-complete.
Uchiha Hikari, still "spacing out," suddenly snapped her eyes open. She rose from her chair in one fluid motion, her hands swiftly grabbing the wrists of the two Anbu. With a twist of her waist, she flung them to either side!
*Thud! Thud!* One Anbu slammed into the wall, while the other crashed into a table, knocking it over. They staggered to their feet, drawing their blades, faces tense with caution.
A deadly tension filled the cramped room. Everyone except Naruto—who stood trembling, clueless about what was happening—was ready for a fight.
Before the situation could escalate further, Sarutobi Hiruzen, now alert, spoke up: "Stand down, all of you."
"Lord Third…"
The Anbu glanced over, clearly confused.
"Step back. Uchiha Hikari-san… doesn't mean any harm."
Sarutobi Hiruzen forced the words out, his expression complicated as he glanced at Uchiha Hikari. "Hikari-san, I'll send people to handle your requests as soon as possible. Until then…"
"Until then, I'll just make do here," Uchiha Hikari said casually. "Might as well step in for my old friend and take on some guardian duties."
(End of Chapter)