All According to Plan

Come to think of it, the technological level of the Dragon Ball World was pretty skewed.

They could handcraft revolutionary black technology like Capsule Corp, yet they couldn't cure Goku's viral heart disease.

Although a miracle drug did eventually appear, Bulma only developed it many years after the timeline where Goku died of illness, then had Trunks take it back to the past in a Time Machine.

So it was the same with the Bloodline Disease inherited by the Uchiha Clan.

Theoretically, if Dr. Brief were given some time to study it, he might be able to create a miracle drug. But it was hard to say how long that would take. Even under the most ideal circumstances, it would take a year or two. And unless Uchiha Hikari stopped using Amaterasu and Susanoo altogether, her eyesight would inevitably worsen considerably, no matter how sparingly she used them.

—There was actually another way: clone another Uchiha Hikari, take out her eyes, and transplant them into the original Uchiha Hikari, allowing her to evolve into the Eternal Mangekyo. But that involved ethical issues. Even if she suggested it, Bulma and her father might not agree.

So...

The most perfect solution was still to make a wish to Shenron!

"It's fine. This kind of thing can't be solved anytime soon anyway, so let's go look for the Dragon Balls first!"

Uchiha Hikari took a deep breath and deliberately forced a smile as she spoke to Bulma.

Bulma froze for a moment. "Huh? Don't you need to rest for a few more days...?"

"It's fine. Ninjas have strong constitutions. These minor injuries can heal slowly along the way. Bulma, don't you have to go back to school after summer vacation ends? It'll be troublesome if we can't find all the Dragon Balls before school starts!"

After Uchiha Hikari repeatedly hinted at it, Bulma finally had a realization. "That's right, the Dragon Balls! The Dragon Balls can grant any wish. If you make a wish to Shenron and ask it to heal your eyes, then it should be fine, right?"

"But didn't you want to make a wish too...?"

"I just want a boyfriend. That isn't so urgent. Waiting another year is fine!"

Bulma began trying to persuade Uchiha Hikari instead. "But you, Hikari—you could go blind at any time. We absolutely can't delay this!"

"...All right."

After going back and forth a few more times, Uchiha Hikari finally agreed "reluctantly." Then, with her back to Bulma, she revealed a sly smile.

Keikakudoori!

Strictly speaking, Uchiha Hikari wasn't really tricking Bulma.

Because even without her interference, Bulma wouldn't have been able to make her wish successfully this time. According to the original plot, Oolong would ultimately snatch this wish opportunity and wish for "a pair of girls' panties." Rather than waste such a precious chance on such a boring wish, it would be better to give it to her, where it could at least serve some purpose.

That said...

Uchiha Hikari still felt somewhat guilty about deceiving someone.

"Oh, right, Bulma."

"When we entered the Dragon Ball World this time, I saw some fragmented images. They might be related to you... no, to our journey this time. And they were from a future that will happen soon. Do you want to hear about them?"

At Bulma's insistence, the journey to find the Dragon Balls was postponed by several days.

During those days, Bulma dragged Uchiha Hikari to Dr. Brief for several thorough full-body examinations, where they collected blood samples and skin tissue.

Just as she had expected, Dr. Brief couldn't find the cause of the Bloodline Disease either, but he promised to help research it.

Meanwhile.

Minato Namikaze also began considering how to teach Uchiha Hikari ninjutsu, as they had previously agreed.

The battle with the Root ninjas had made Uchiha Hikari realize two very important issues—

First, she relied far too heavily on the Mangekyō Sharingan.

As a "Humanoid Weapon" from the Warring States period, Uchiha Hikari's overall strength wasn't weak. In a one-on-one fight, there were only a handful of people in present-day Konoha who could truly pose a lethal threat to her—Jiraiya in Sage Mode, Uchiha Shisui with his Mangekyo activated as well, and Eight Gates Guy... But all of that was contingent on her using the Eye Techniques of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

If she didn't use the Sharingan, her fighting style became quite limited. Only her overwhelmingly powerful Fire Release could reach the standard of a Kage-level powerhouse; she was lacking in other areas.

For example—

She didn't even know the Shadow Clone!

That was right.

Shadow Clone, Flying Thunder God, Eight Gates, Impure World Reincarnation... A considerable number of the ninjutsu commonly seen in the original Naruto story only emerged after the establishment of the one-country, one-village system. In particular, that White-Haired Hokage who was naturally at odds with the Uchiha Clan had made tremendous contributions in this regard, expanding Konoha's catalog of forbidden techniques through his efforts alone.

Uchiha Hikari, who had lived in the early Warring States period, naturally couldn't have foreseen the future and learned those ninjutsu that emerged after she was buried alive.

Second was "version updates."

Just as MOBA games required players to change tactics according to the current version.

Uchiha Hikari's anti-tracking awareness was still stuck in the Warring States period version. Compared to the present era, it was already somewhat outdated. That was why those Root ninjas had caught up to her earlier. And based on her post-battle review, she felt that she should have dealt with those people more easily and in less time. She shouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state at all.

In short, Uchiha Hikari felt that she still had plenty of room to improve.

Although she had "borrowed" one wish opportunity from Bulma, whether Shenron of the Dragon Ball World could resolve a Bloodline Disease from the Naruto world remained unknown.

To prevent any special circumstances in the future from leaving her unable to use the Mangekyō's Eye Techniques, Uchiha Hikari needed to improve her basic abilities and learn about the new things countless ninjas had developed and refined over the past several decades.

Forever with Sis: ...In that case, I think I roughly understand where your trouble lies, Miss Hikari.

Forever with Sis: Since we cannot meet and communicate directly, I will ask you a number of questions in detail so that I can tailor a study plan suitable for you. Rashly learning new ninjutsu that do not suit you would only waste time and energy, resulting in twice the effort for half the result.

Nameless: No problem. I will answer truthfully.

Forever with Sis: In addition, I have one personal suggestion. Before my death, I heard a little about the Sharingan. It is said that although the Mangekyō Sharingan possesses immense power, it is also a cursed ability. Every use places a severe burden on the body and may even cause declining eyesight. Therefore, I personally suggest that you do not rely too heavily on the Sharingan, and instead train your abilities outside of Eye Techniques more.

Nameless: Mm, I think so too.

Happy New Year~