Tsukuyomi!

"It's the old man!"

Hearing that aged voice, Naruto's face lit up with delight. Then he hesitantly looked toward Uchiha Hikari. "Sis, this is the old man I told you about. He..."

"This is your home. Don't mind me. Go answer the door."

Uchiha Hikari picked up her cup and stood to one side, taking small sips of water as she casually waved a hand.

Only after getting her response did Naruto run over and open the door.

Standing in the hallway was an elderly figure clad in a Priest Robe and wearing a Bamboo Hat.

He first rubbed Little Naruto's head, then walked inside with a genial smile. Judging by appearances alone, he was no different from an ordinary old passerby. Yet he was this village's highest authority—and the person Uchiha Hikari had come to see—

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Oh? Does Little Naruto have a guest at home?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen first exchanged a few pleasantries with Naruto, then, as though he had only just noticed Uchiha Hikari, asked with a smile, "Is this a new friend Naruto made?"

"Yeah! She's the big sister who brought me home just now. Her name is..."

Naruto wanted to introduce her, but suddenly realized he did not know this big sister's name yet.

Uchiha Hikari spoke at just the right moment. "Hikari. Uchiha Hikari."

"Oh? So you're Miss Hikari of the Uchiha Clan... But I know most of the Uchiha Clan members. How is it that I've never seen you before...?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was still playing dumb.

But Uchiha Hikari had no patience for putting on an act with him here. "Of course you haven't seen me, because I only came to this village last night... I think your subordinates would know more about where I came from."

Young and ignorant Naruto might have thought the Third Hokage's arrival was merely a coincidence, but Uchiha Hikari did not. The several concealed presences outside that had arrived with the old man had already revealed his true intentions.

But Uchiha Hikari was not flustered in the slightest.

Leaving aside who was stronger between her and the now-aged Sarutobi Hiruzen.

As long as Sarutobi Hiruzen had any sense of proportion, he would not possibly make a move against her in front of Naruto, the Jinchuriki. Otherwise, if something went wrong, the disaster from four years ago would repeat itself. Konoha was already severely depleted and lacking in new talent, and had recently suffered the blow of Orochimaru's defection. If another Nine Tails Riot struck at a time like this, the village would not be far from total collapse.

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes as he examined Uchiha Hikari, his expression beginning to change subtly.

On the way over from the Hokage Building, he had already reviewed the information gathered by the Anbu.

Although both Morino Ibiki's testimony and the Senju Clan's records did contain such an account, even now, after hearing Uchiha Hikari admit it herself, he still found it somewhat unreal.

A girl from the Warring States Period, who had risen from her coffin after being sealed away for over a hundred years...

An Uchiha girl?

"What... do you want?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Little Naruto beside him and lowered his voice. "I don't know whether what you said is true or false, but even if it is all true, this is no longer the Warring States period you knew. After a century, your former companions and enemies have long since passed away. Even the Uchiha and Senju Clan, once mortal enemies, have already made peace... Konoha's current peace did not come easily. No one will be allowed to destroy it!"

"And Naruto—although I don't know why you sought him out or why you came here with him, he is a very important member of this village. He must not be approached or deceived by someone with ulterior motives."

"Oh."

Uchiha Hikari nodded. "So being hated, bullied, insulted, and cursed by everyone in the village, being pointed at wherever he goes, drinking expired milk, eating nutritionally worthless instant noodles, and being unable to buy what he wants even at triple the price... is that how an 'important member' is supposed to be treated?"

"...Is that happening?"

In front of Naruto, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked slightly awkward. Pretending not to know, he turned to Naruto beside him. "Little Naruto, is what this... big sister said true? You're still growing. If you need milk or vegetables, you must tell Grandpa. Grandpa will bring them to you."

"...It's okay! Grandpa is usually so busy. It's already great that you come see me every month. I can figure out those things myself!"

Naruto replied softly, then looked uneasily between Sarutobi Hiruzen and Uchiha Hikari. "Um, I don't really understand what you and Grandpa are talking about, but Sister Hikari is a good person. She won't hurt me!"

On the other side.

Uchiha Hikari let out a snort of laughter.

"Third Hokage, your skill at dodging the issue is truly admirable... Fine, I'll be honest as well. An old acquaintance asked me to discuss his last wishes with you, which is why I came here."

"An old acquaintance?"

"Yes, an old acquaintance who died in that battle four years ago. You should know him well, considering he was once the successor you thought most highly of."

"?!"

Because of her agreement with Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Hikari did not directly say his name in front of Naruto. But the hint was obvious enough that Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally understood.

"You mean four... That's impossible! He already..."

"He already used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal and was swallowed by the Death God, right?"

Uchiha Hikari continued, "But in truth, not only did I meet him, I also learned from him that when he and his wife gave their lives for the village, they asked you to take good care of their child. Yet from the looks of things, you don't seem to have fulfilled that promise. Oh... Perhaps in your eyes, as long as he's still alive, that counts as 'taking good care of him'?"

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression shifted uncertainly.

The Naruto world did indeed have the concept of souls, as well as quite a few related ninjutsu. For example, the "Impure World Reincarnation" invented by his teacher, Tobirama Senju, and the Kato Clan's secret Reika no Jutsu. But to make Sarutobi Hiruzen believe that Minato, who had used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal and been dead for four years, had entrusted a member of the Uchiha Clan from the Warring States Period with looking after his child...

"Utter nonsense!"

"Even if you really did meet Minato, he could never have said such things to you! Besides, Konoha's affairs are not for an unrelated outsider like you to meddle in!"

"I knew it..."

Uchiha Hikari sighed.

"It's such a pain talking to crafty old bastards like you. Let's change locations and talk instead... Tsukuyomi!"