I'm Not Negotiating with You

Before he could finish speaking.

The Scarlet Three Tomoe appeared in Uchiha Hikari's eyes once more. This time, however, after the three tomoe took shape, they did not remain fixed. Instead, they spun gently again and merged into the shape of a great pinwheel!

Mangekyō Sharingan!

The moment Sarutobi Hiruzen saw the crimson in Uchiha Hikari's eyes, he treated her as a deadly threat, swiftly mobilizing the Chakra within him. "As I thought..."

Before he could finish his sentence...

The world spun around him!

Tsukuyomi, one of the Mangekyō Sharingan's ultimate genjutsu.

It was also Itachi Uchiha's signature technique in the original story.

Within the illusionary world created by Tsukuyomi, every factor—time, place, mass...—was controlled by the caster. Under normal circumstances, there was almost no way to break free. Only those who possessed a Mangekyō Sharingan with superior ocular power, those with exceptionally powerful spiritual strength, or special beings like Jinchuriki with two sources of Chakra in their bodies could forcibly escape.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had once been known as the Hero of the Shinobi. He had dominated the ninja world with the Five Great Element Barrage, and though he was old now, his will remained formidable. If this had been the original Uchiha Hikari, she might not have been able to pull him so smoothly into an illusionary space on a battlefield where both sides were on guard.

But...

After the fusion of her two souls, Uchiha Hikari's ocular power was no longer comparable to what it had been before.

There might still be a handful of people in the current ninja world who could rely on their special methods to forcibly break her Tsukuyomi Space, but this aged and frail Third Hokage before her was certainly not among them!

Her ocular power flowed.

Like a veil of mist sweeping over everything.

Everything around them—Naruto, the single-room apartment, the Anbu hiding outside, even all of Konoha—vanished like a bubble. All that remained was a boundless expanse of ice, smooth as a mirror. Beneath the ice lay dark, deep waters. Upon it, Uchiha Hikari and Sarutobi Hiruzen stood dozens of meters apart.

Sarutobi Hiruzen swiftly raised his hands and formed seals. After several failed attempts to dispel the genjutsu, his expression turned exceedingly grim.

"Miss Uchiha from the Warring States period, have you truly decided to make an enemy of Konoha?"

"Heh."

Uchiha Hikari laughed. Her voice seemed to echo from every direction at once, reverberating through this space.

"Stop throwing Konoha's name around at every turn, as if you're the living embodiment of this village's will."

"I told you already, I have no intention of becoming your enemy. I merely wanted to change locations and speak with you alone. Believe it or not, I truly have met Minato Namikaze. And from him, I learned everything that has happened in Konoha over the years, from the grudge between Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara back then to the Nine Tails Riot four years ago.

"It is true that he and Kushina willingly sacrificed themselves for Konoha, but that does not give you the right to trample upon the dignity of the dead.

"My demands are few—only two. Keep certain people's mouths shut, and give Naruto the treatment due to a hero's orphan. As for his identity as the Fourth Hokage's son, it need not be made public for now, but you'd better keep it in mind."

"This is not a negotiation. It is an order."

"Of course, you can choose to stake your name as Hokage and fight me to mutual destruction. But you'd best first consider whether you're capable of doing that."

Uchiha Hikari pointed at her own eyes, mockery written across her face. "Before these eyes of mine... you have no chance of winning!"

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen clenched his fists tightly.

After all, he was the leader of a village. Once the initial shock passed, he gradually calmed down and said in a low voice, "Miss Uchiha Hikari, if you have met Minato, then you should know how much Heart's Blood he poured into this village. If your actions cause Konoha to teeter on the verge of collapse, that would absolutely not be something he wished to see."

"I. Will. Say. This. One. More. Time."

Uchiha Hikari lowered her gaze, speaking each word with deliberate force. "I am not negotiating with you."

"..."

"Stalling for time is useless. Time flows differently here than it does outside. Even if you remain here for an entire day, only an instant will pass outside. Your people will not reach you in time to save you."

"..."

After a long while.

Sarutobi Hiruzen finally sighed, and a subtle change entered his tone. "You should know that the Mangekyō Sharingan can control tailed beasts. Four years ago, it was..."

"I also heard Minato Namikaze speak of the Nine Tails Riot four years ago."

Uchiha Hikari caught the hesitation in Sarutobi Hiruzen's words and decided to give him a way out. "According to what he saw with his own eyes, the one controlling the Nine-Tails was a Masked Man with a Mangekyō Sharingan. He called himself Uchiha Madara, but since even Minato Namikaze never saw his true face, whether that was true remains unknown.

"You can send people to investigate Uchiha Madara's movements after he left Konoha. Perhaps you will find some clues."

"I've said all there is to say. Which path you take is your own choice."

The conversation in Tsukuyomi Space lasted only a few seconds in the outside world.

Little Naruto looked confused. He only saw Uchiha Hikari and Sarutobi Hiruzen glance at each other before both of them suddenly began to stare blankly.

But the Anbu guarding outside could no longer remain still.

"Not good, those eyes are... She's going to harm the Third Hokage!!"

"Protect the Hokage!"

With several loud crashes, the windows of the single-room apartment were smashed apart as several Anbu burst in from outside at once. One rushed toward Sarutobi Hiruzen, attempting to inject Chakra into him and dispel the genjutsu. The other two reached for Uchiha Hikari's shoulders, intending to restrain her.

But...

Before they had even completed those movements.

Uchiha Hikari, who had been "spacing out," suddenly lit up. She rose from her chair in one smooth motion, accurately seized the wrists of the two Anbu, then twisted at the waist and flung them directly to either side!

With two loud bangs, one Anbu slammed into the wall while the other overturned the table. They staggered to their feet, drew their blades, and turned back toward her with wary expressions.

A murderous aura spread through the cramped room. Aside from Naruto, who had no idea what was happening and stood trembling at the side, everyone was prepared for a fierce battle.

Before the situation could escalate any further, Sarutobi Hiruzen, having awakened, spoke up to stop them. "Everyone, stop."

"Third Hokage..."

The Anbu turned their heads, somewhat unable to make sense of the situation.

"You may all withdraw. Miss Uchiha Hikari... bears no ill intent."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said those words with some difficulty, then gave Uchiha Hikari a complicated look. "Miss Hikari, I will send people to handle what you requested as soon as possible. Until then..."

"Until then, I'll make do here for the time being."

Uchiha Hikari spoke lightly. "It just so happens that I can take on a little of a guardian's duty in place of my old friend."