Return to the Dragon Ball World

"..."

Fugaku and several elders looked at one another, then ultimately chose silence.

How should they put it...

The feeling was rather strange.

Aside from her youthful appearance, Uchiha Hikari's strength, seniority, and the decisive air she exuded through her words and actions all fit their ideal image of a powerful leader—well, basically the Uchiha Madara they had imagined in their minds.

Although no clansmen had been willing to follow Uchiha Madara when he broke with the First Hokage and defected from Konoha, that did not stop the present-day Uchiha from occasionally reminiscing about that prosperous era when all the clans of Konoha had feared and revered them. They had even begun to miss the early Warring States era Uchiha Hikari had fabricated, when "there were dozens of clansmen capable of using Susanoo."

In any case.

With this Grand Ancestor there to cover for them if anything went wrong, and with the Uchiha Clan's circumstances already bad enough, things could not possibly get any worse.

After confirming that Uchiha Hikari had no further instructions, the elders gathered around the table and began quietly discussing how to implement their Grand Ancestor's will within the clan.

Meanwhile.

Uchiha Hikari took a few sips of tea and beckoned. "Fugaku, come here."

Fugaku froze for a moment, then hurried over. "Grand Ancestor?"

"I need you to do something for me, but try not to make a big show of it."

Although he did not understand why Uchiha Hikari had suddenly requested blood samples from Uchiha clansmen, Uchiha Fugaku still followed her instructions.

Then, three days later, he handed a scroll and a booklet to Uchiha Hikari.

"Grand Ancestor, this scroll contains sealed blood and skin samples from seventy-one clansmen. As you instructed, I collected samples from clansmen of different ages, sexes, and Sharingan tomoe states... Their Sharingan awakening times and other important information have also been recorded in the booklet and can be matched against the labels one by one.

"In addition, the blood samples of two clansmen who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan are also inside. Please keep them safe and do not let them fall into the hands of those with ill intentions."

"I'll be careful."

Uchiha Hikari took the scroll, then glanced at Fugaku. "Of the two Mangekyō blood samples, one belongs to Uchiha Shisui. Who does the other belong to?"

Could it be...

"Mine."

Uchiha Fugaku looked to either side before quietly admitting, "My Mangekyō awakened during the Third Shinobi World War. Because I was worried about the clan's extreme actions, I never told them about it. Please help me keep it secret..."

"Hm?"

Uchiha Hikari was slightly taken aback.

She had been a little suspicious.

After all, since coming into contact with her, the current Uchiha clan head had never displayed any Eye Technique abilities. In the original timeline, he had even died at his own son's hands without putting up the slightest resistance. Who would have thought...

He really was a Mangekyō user?

It had to be said, Fugaku's ability to endure and conceal himself was truly something. Uchiha Hikari was a little curious about what his Eye Technique actually was...

Meanwhile.

Fugaku tentatively asked, "Grand Ancestor, what are your plans going forward...? Will you return to live within the clan? We have already prepared a house for you. It is quite spacious, all the furniture has been purchased, and someone is assigned to clean it every day. If you wish, you may stay there at any time."

"We'll talk about that in a few days. I need to leave for a while first and visit a friend."

Uchiha Hikari considered it. "I don't know when I'll return this time. It could be as short as three to five days, or as long as one or two weeks... For now, follow what I told you before and negotiate with the Third Hokage. If, during that time, you encounter a man near the clan compound wearing a spiral-patterned mask and calling himself 'Uchiha Madara,' you must be careful. You can pretend to cooperate with him first. We'll discuss it properly once I return."

"Uchiha Madara?!"

Fugaku's eyes widened abruptly, and terror spread across his face. "Do you mean the one who fought the First Hokage at the Valley of the End? He is still alive?!"

"He merely calls himself that."

Uchiha Hikari spoke lightly. "Besides, even if he really were Madara, before me he would only be a junior like the rest of you. As the clan head, can't you keep your composure?"

"...Grand Ancestor is right to reprimand me."

At noon on the day she obtained the samples, Uchiha Hikari went back to say hello to Naruto, then traveled from Naruto's home into the Dragon Ball World.

Following the plan, she first found Dr. Brief and separated half the samples from the scroll to hand over to him.

—The other half was intended for Dr. Gero, but that part of the plan would have to wait until next year, after she subdued him.

Then, Uchiha Hikari spent nearly half a day explaining the origins of the Uchiha Clan and the process behind the formation of the "Mangekyo" to Dr. Brief in detail.

She also solemnly handed him three samples separately.

Shisui, Naruto, and Sasuke.

Shisui's sample had been an unexpected gain. After all, Uchiha Hikari had only mentioned it casually at first and had not expected to actually obtain his blood sample.

As for Naruto and Sasuke...

Uchiha Hikari had secretly collected those herself. With her abilities, quietly taking blood samples from two children had been effortless.

Setting aside the Otsutsuki family, the only pair of Rinnegan in the Naruto world had belonged to Uchiha Madara, but he had been dead for many years. Uchiha Hikari could not reach Nagato, who had inherited those eyes, for the time being—and even if she could, it would be useless. Nagato was merely the vessel for the Rinnegan and still possessed Uzumaki Clan blood. Studying his genetic sequence would have little meaning.

Therefore, she could only use the genes of this generation's Asura and Indra as substitutes and see whether they could uncover some clues toward advancing to the Six Paths.

Having troubled Dr. Brief several times in a row, Uchiha Hikari felt somewhat embarrassed, so she took the initiative to ask whether there was anything she could help him with.

Dr. Brief was unconcerned. "It's fine. You and Bulma are friends, after all. Friends should help each other. Besides, these blood samples you provided, along with this 'Kekkei Genkai,' 'Sharingan,' and so on, are all things I had never understood before. For someone like me, who is devoted to scientific research, being able to explore these unknown fields is itself a pleasure.

"If you really want to do something, then help me protect Bulma. She has always loved adventure, and her mother and I often worry about her safety."

"Alright."

After finishing his conversation with Dr. Brief, Uchiha Hikari was immediately dragged into another laboratory by an excited Bulma.

"Come on, Hikari, help me take a look at my newest ultraviolet weapon!"