Root Affair Resolved

As both sides took a step back, the tense atmosphere in the air eased somewhat.

The Anbu scattered around the area also breathed sighs of relief.

Many of them had never met Uchiha Hikari before today. They knew of her existence, but had no direct understanding of her strength.

But today, after entering the Root Base, they had personally witnessed the severely damaged and warped underground structures, the aftermath of the battle, Danzo lying on the ground, the Mangekyō Sharingan in Uchiha Hikari's eyes, and the Susanoo at her side... All of it had deeply shocked these Anbu.

If possible, they did not want to fight a monster of this caliber just to clean up Root's mess...

"Right."

As though she had remembered something, Uchiha Hikari suddenly said in an offhanded tone, "When I came over from that direction just now, I saw several laboratories. There were still living infants and teenagers inside, probably materials for Lord Danzo's experiments. I don't know whether they were snatched from your village or abducted from elsewhere.

"Also, when he fought me just now, he displayed the Sharingan's abilities. And his right arm suddenly failed to contain its Chakra rampage and turned into a large tree... If I remember correctly, Wood Release is an ability of the Senju Clan, right?

"Could it be that Lord Shimura Danzō has the bloodlines of the Shimura Clan, Uchiha Clan, and Senju Clan all flowing through him at once?"

"What?!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes flew wide open, while Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu revealed looks of shock as well.

They all knew that Danzo had once worked with Orochimaru to conduct secret human experiments.

But after Orochimaru defected, all such research had been completely halted. Sarutobi Hiruzen had personally led the team that sealed those laboratories. Even he had never imagined that Danzo would defy him so thoroughly—not only continuing the experiments, but even transplanting the First Hokage's cells into his own body!

This was simply a desecration of their predecessors!

As for the Sharingan...

As far as Sarutobi Hiruzen and the two advisors knew, Danzo's eye had remained blind ever since it was injured during the war.

If he had truly secretly taken the eyes of Uchiha clansmen...

Sarutobi Hiruzen swept his peripheral vision over two members of the Anbu behind him who came from the Uchiha Clan, then quickly said to another Anbu beside him, "Shinnosuke, take some men to inspect those laboratories. Inventory everything inside and make records! Rinkaku, you are responsible for taking Danzo and the other wounded to Hidden Leaf Hospital... Is that acceptable, Miss Hikari?"

"Go ahead."

Uchiha Hikari withdrew her Susanoo and tipped up her chin.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke swiftly departed with several Anbu.

Then, two other Anbu cautiously passed in front of Uchiha Hikari and hurried over to Shimura Danzō. They peeled him off the large tree, placed him on a stretcher, and carried him away.

The remaining cleanup was Konoha's own business.

Uchiha Hikari stretched lazily, preparing to leave.

"Miss Hikari."

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly called after her.

Uchiha Hikari paused. "Is there something else?"

"No, nothing..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen forced out a smile and asked in a concerned tone, "I merely wished to ask whether you could tell us where you went some time ago, and whether you have any new plans now that you have returned..."

"As for plans, I'll probably stay in the village for a while first. After all, since returning this time, I haven't yet gone to see the son of an old friend."

Uchiha Hikari directly skipped over Sarutobi Hiruzen's first question. As she walked away, she casually added, "As for borrowing it, use your own judgment. I don't have much patience, so you'd better not keep me waiting too long."

She would definitely still leave Konoha.

Going to the Dragon Balls and Demon Slayer World, as well as finding Orochimaru—she needed to make time for all those plans.

But before setting out again, there were preparations she needed to make. Reading the Book of Seals was one of them.

As for what Sarutobi Hiruzen thought...

That was up to him.

"Third Hokage..."

The Anbu in the corridor glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen, then, at his signal, made way for Uchiha Hikari.

Without looking aside, Uchiha Hikari walked forward. After passing through the group of Anbu, she turned another corner and retraced her route.

After walking for five or six minutes, she finally saw the ceiling from when she had entered. Afternoon sunlight poured through the enormous opening and fell over her, carrying a warm, cozy feeling.

Uchiha Hikari raised her face and half-closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of the sun. Then she used the Levitation Technique to rise into the air and flew out of the gloomy underground base.

"Hikari..."

Uzuki Yugao hurried out after her and had only called out once before she stared blankly at the figure ascending into the sky in broad daylight, dumbfounded. "Huh?"

More than ten minutes later.

Uchiha Hikari stopped on a street in Konoha.

The disturbance at the Root Base had clearly drawn plenty of attention. On her way here, she had seen quite a few Konoha ninja in green flak jackets hurrying in that direction, while some civilians stood outside their homes, watching from afar.

But...

"What the hell does that have to do with me?"

Uchiha Hikari glanced at several ninja dressed like members of the Military Police Force nearby, then looked away. "I'm a little hungry... I should find somewhere to eat first."

It was the familiar Ichiraku Ramen shop.

Uchiha Hikari ordered a bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen, then casually slapped a gold bar onto the counter. "We meet again, Uncle Teuchi. This is my meal money for the foreseeable future. Estimate the cost, then deduct it from this each time."

Teuchi: "..."

Compared with the last time she had come here for ramen, Uchiha Hikari was now considerably wealthier.

The several boxes of jewelry she had obtained from the Ox-King were equally hard currency in the Naruto world. But taking such things out and using them directly as money was rather intimidating.

Teuchi repeatedly asked for reassurance. Only after confirming that Uchiha Hikari had not stolen her family's valuables to spend recklessly did he hesitantly accept the gold bar. Then he solemnly wrote down her name and promised that she could come eat anytime over the next two years—she would only need to give her name to eat for free.

While waiting for the noodles to be ready.

The ramen shop's curtain was lifted once again.

Then a gentle female voice said, "Sasuke, don't sulk. Your brother didn't mean to do it. He just couldn't accompany you because he had a mission to carry out. How about Mommy takes you out for noodles?"

"Hmph! I hate my brother! I hate him the most!"

"...Sasuke?"