Woke Up Too Fast, Saw Uchiha Madara!

More than four years had passed since the Nine Tails Riot.

As he grew older, Sarutobi Hiruzen no longer had the boundless energy of his youth. Even handling administrative affairs—the most basic of duties—was gradually becoming taxing. Recently, two matters in particular had been weighing heavily on him.

One came from outside the village.

With the Fourth and Kushina having died young, and the Three Ninja leaving one after another, Kumogakure had sensed Konoha's weakness and was beginning to make moves.

The other came from within the village—

According to various intelligence reports, voices of dissatisfaction toward the higher-ups had emerged within the Uchiha Clan, and they were only growing louder. The Military Police Force had also become increasingly harsh in its everyday enforcement, already drawing the resentment of many.

If the situation continued to worsen, something terrible might happen—something that could shake the very foundations of the village.

"Ah... I only hope Fugaku can see the bigger picture and make the right choice..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and took a crystal ball from his drawer. "I should check on that little Naruto. It's been a while since I last saw him. I wonder how he's been lately."

He formed hand seals and began to perform the Telescope Technique.

Then...

He saw the commercial street where Naruto was, as well as the figure standing beside the little blondie—a person dressed in Warring States Period attire, with crimson eyes and black hair bristling like a hedgehog's. Even through the crystal ball, he could feel that wild, defiant aura rushing toward him. It looked so much like someone buried deep within Sarutobi Hiruzen's memories.

"What?!"

For an instant, Sarutobi Hiruzen froze completely, his clouded old eyes widening to their limit.

He woke up too fast and saw Uchiha Madara!

But he quickly came to his senses—

No.

The temperament was similar, but the age was wrong, and so was the gender.

Besides, Uchiha Madara had been killed by the First Hokage during the Valley of the End Battle. There was no way he could still be alive.

Then... when had the Uchiha Clan gained someone like this? She had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan at such a young age. She was clearly a genius. Why had Shisui never mentioned her to him? Who had allowed her to approach the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki? What was Uchiha trying to do?!

The string of questions gave Sarutobi Hiruzen a bad feeling.

"Third Hokage!"

The office door was pushed open.

A towering, burly Anbu wearing an ape mask strode inside. "There's something I need to report to you..."

"Tell me tomorrow. I have other work I need to handle first..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen had already risen from behind his desk, preparing to throw on his robe and head out to take a look.

But the Anbu persisted. "But, Father, this matter is extremely important! Last night, the Ibiki Squad discovered an explosion in Aoki Forest north of the village. They encountered unknown enemies and fought them... According to confirmation from the Sealing Team, along with a secret scroll preserved by the Senju Clan, it can basically be confirmed that it was the sealing site of an Uchiha clansman from the Warring States Period!"

"When we're outside, call me Lord Hokage!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen halted and turned to look at Sarutobi Shinnosuke behind him. After correcting him, he asked, "What did you just say? An Uchiha from the Warring States Period?"

"That's right. We haven't uncovered more precise information yet, but judging from the reconstructed sealing specifications at the site, she likely possessed eyes like Uchiha Madara's back then. That's why she was treated with such caution..."

As Shinnosuke spoke, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly turned and looked at the crystal ball on the table.

That figure who had looked so much like Uchiha Madara just now...

Could it have been her?!

"Do you need help?"

In front of the shop.

Uchiha Hikari asked again.

Naruto stared blankly ahead without answering. Then she grabbed his wrist and pulled him to his feet, gently patting the dust from his clothes.

Uchiha Hikari had no particular thoughts when she did it. She had simply acted on impulse.

But Naruto suddenly froze. Tears welled up in his bright blue eyes, and no matter how hard he wiped them, he could not stop them from falling. "Th-thank you..."

"...What are you crying for? If you get dust in your eyes, I'm not wiping it out for you."

Uchiha Hikari wiped the wound on Naruto's hand with her sleeve, then turned to look at the bystanders across from her.

"You lot, pick up the money on the ground."

The parents of the adolescent from before, along with the two Anbu, were already kneeling on the ground, trembling all over as though they had seen something terrifying. Against opponents of this level, Uchiha Hikari did not even need to make a big fuss. A Three-Tomoe Hell Viewing Technique was enough to leave them unable to move.

That action also exposed the fact that she possessed the Sharingan.

"Those eyes... She's from the Uchiha Clan!"

"The Uchiha Clan actually attacked Anbu. Could they really be about to..."

"Quick, pick up the money! She's looking this way!"

Under the pressure of her Killing Intent, the bystanders' legs had gone weak, and even walking was difficult. In the end, one person took the lead. Only then did the others barely muster the courage to gather the coins scattered near them. A ninja wearing a Leaf Headband shakily delivered them to Uchiha Hikari.

Once she accepted them, those people backed away one by one before fleeing in all directions, scrambling away in panic.

(Come to think of it... does this count as speeding up the conflict between Uchiha and Konoha?)

Uchiha Hikari blinked.

But she did not dwell on it. She turned and stuffed the money back into Naruto's hands, saying softly, "Put it away. It belongs to you."

"Oh, right. You wanted to buy that mask just now, didn't you?"

When Uchiha Hikari raised her head, the toy shop owner's teeth began to chatter. He hurriedly carried over a pile of masks from the store and said cautiously, "P-please, take whichever one you like..."

"Naruto?"

Uchiha Hikari tilted her head slightly.

Only then did the little blondie remember what he had originally come for. He looked hesitantly at her, then at the shop owner, and pointed with his uninjured hand at a fox mask on top. Then he counted out several coins from his pocket and offered them over. "This is three times the price we agreed on..."

"..."

The shop owner did not dare take them. He looked at Uchiha Hikari as if begging for mercy.

Uchiha Hikari casually plucked a 500-yuan coin from Naruto's hand and tossed it over. "No need to give back the change."

"This money..."

The shop owner instinctively opened his mouth, but under Uchiha Hikari's friendly gaze, he swallowed the words "isn't enough."

Over here.

Uchiha Hikari waited until Naruto had put away the mask and money before taking his hand and turning to leave.

Two soft sets of footsteps moved along the stone-paved road.

Naruto looked back several times, then secretly glanced at Uchiha Hikari a few more times. After they had walked some distance, he finally looked up at her cautiously. "Big sister, why... why did you help me?"