Meeting Sarutobi Hiruzen

"Hmm... I guess it was a spur-of-the-moment thing."

Uchiha Hikari gave an ambiguous answer.

"But I'm a monster everyone hates. Back in the village, no one ever wanted to speak up for me, and no one wanted to touch my hand..."

As he spoke, Naruto lowered his head. As though he had suddenly noticed something, he began trying to pull free from Uchiha Hikari's hand. "Sis, my hands are dirty... They're covered in blood and dust. I'll get you dirty."

Naruto's sudden movement caught Uchiha Hikari off guard for a moment, then she laughed softly. She really had not expected Naruto at this age to be so insecure and sensitive. Even such a tiny, insignificant act of kindness was enough to leave him at a loss.

"It's okay."

Uchiha Hikari held Naruto's hand and walked a few more steps before stopping in front of a two-story apartment building at the end of the street. "Your home should be up there, right? Would you mind inviting me up for a look?"

"Huh? How did you know my home was here, Sis...?"

"Take a guess."

—This apartment building was not the same one Minato Namikaze had mentioned in the chat group. Third Hokage had probably arranged a new place for Naruto after the Nine Tails Riot. Still, it was not difficult to find. It was not far from the Shopping Street, and its appearance was very distinctive. Uchiha Hikari had seen it countless times in the anime.

Four-year-old Naruto was not that guarded. Though he had been wondering where Uchiha Hikari got her information just a second ago, the next moment he broke into a wide grin. "Of course I don't mind! Other than Grandpa, no one has ever visited my home before! Sis, I'll take you up right now..."

They went upstairs.

Opened the door and entered.

What greeted them was a shabby, messy scene. Slightly yellowed walls, a chipped coffee table and chairs, and a pile of instant noodle cups, kettles, milk cartons, and other clutter scattered across the dining table... Perhaps because the noodle broth had been drunk clean, there was not much of an odor in the air.

"Ah, I forgot to clean up today..."

Naruto shot Uchiha Hikari an embarrassed glance, then hurried over to clear the table. "Sis, wait a moment. The room's too messy. I'll clean it up right away!"

The legs of the table scraped against the floor.

Watching Naruto fumble about in a panic, Uchiha Hikari casually took a few steps forward, picked up a half-full carton of milk, and shook it. Then she checked the date.

Well, just as expected.

"Was this milk already expired when you bought it?"

"Huh?"

Naruto froze for a moment before coming over and taking the milk. He looked at the label the way Uchiha Hikari had, then directly poured the remaining half into his mouth. "I don't really understand whether it's expired or not... I picked all this milk out of the bins behind those stores. If I went inside, they'd chase me out..."

As he spoke, Naruto carried over a stool. "Sis, I've already wiped this chair clean. Sit! I'll boil some water. Grandpa taught me how to use the kettle..."

"Thank you."

Uchiha Hikari thanked him and sat down as he asked, turning her attention to the chat group.

Nameless: Fourth Hokage, have you figured out what you want to say to him? I can pass it along for you.

A brief silence followed.

Forever with Sis: Miss Hikari, could you please not tell Naruto about my existence yet?

Nameless: ?

Forever with Sis: I might... not be a qualified father.

"Indeed."

From Uchiha Hikari's perspective, Minato Namikaze truly did not qualify as a good father. He had been far worse at it than he had been as a ninja or a husband.

Forever with Sis: Even now, I do not regret sealing the Nine-Tails inside Naruto, because it was the best choice at the time. I only regret that I could not stay by Naruto's side as his father and watch him grow up with my own eyes... Too many villagers died in the Nine Tails Riot. Everyone needed an outlet for their emotions, but I should have borne that burden, not Naruto, who knew nothing about any of it.

Forever with Sis: Miss Hikari, may I ask you for another favor? In return, I can teach you the ninjutsu knowledge I possess, including several of the techniques that made my name.

Nameless: ...One correction. The best choice would actually have been to seal the Nine-Tails back inside Kushina. A Jinchuriki will indeed be near death after losing a tailed beast, but if the beast can be sealed back immediately, they still have a chance of surviving. Especially members of clans with exceptionally powerful life force, like the Senju Clan and Uzumaki Clan.

Forever with Sis: ?!

That was possible...?

Uchiha Hikari did not linger on the subject and continued typing with her thoughts.

Nameless: Back to the point. What do you want me to do?

Nameless: Let me make this clear first: I can help you take care of Naruto for a little while, but I can't stay by his side forever.

Uchiha Hikari was indeed somewhat interested in Minato Namikaze's ninjutsu.

As the renowned Yellow Flash of the ninja world, Minato Namikaze's signature Flying Thunder God was practically a bug-level space-time ninjutsu. Even compared with Obito's Kamui, it was not inferior in the slightest.

However, Flying Thunder God was not what she wanted to learn.

Space-time ninjutsu could be said to be among the most talent-demanding of all ninjutsu. Learning Flying Thunder God required exceptional Chakra control and neural reaction speed. The former could be improved through repeated practice, but the latter was essentially inborn. People like Tobirama Senju and Minato Namikaze were one in ten thousand. Uchiha Hikari did not think she possessed that kind of talent.

But another type of technique was different—

Sealing Techniques!

As Kushina's husband, Minato Namikaze could be said to be one of the people in the current ninja world who understood Sealing Techniques best. Aside from techniques like Adamantine Sealing Chains, which required a Kekkei Genkai to use, he should have studied every other kind of Sealing Technique. Uchiha Hikari was very interested in this kind of knowledge!

Of course, the importance of Sealing Techniques was not something Flying Thunder God could compare to. Minato Namikaze might be willing to teach her Flying Thunder God and Rasengan, but he might not be willing to teach her Sealing Techniques.

But Uchiha Hikari could raise the stakes.

—Minato Namikaze was inside the Death God. Anything he wanted to do required her help to accomplish. So long as she did a little more than what the terms of their deal required, Minato Namikaze would owe her a favor and would have to find some way to repay it.

In a sense, this was also a form of moral coercion. Given the Fourth Hokage's character, he would not feel at ease letting her work for nothing.

Even if she truly could not learn Sealing Techniques, Uchiha Hikari could at least use this opportunity to place Yachihoko's mark on Naruto and borrow some of his Chakra when necessary.

Perhaps even...

She wanted to place a mark on someone else as well—

Someone who would very likely appear today.

In the chat group.

Minato Namikaze snapped out of his fantasy about the "best choice" and continued with complicated feelings.

Forever with Sis: I understand. I would not make such an excessive request. I only want to ask Miss Hikari to... talk to Third Hokage.

Gurgle, gurgle—

The kettle in the kitchen began to whistle.

Uchiha Hikari helped Naruto switch off the power. Just as she was about to pour herself a cup of water, she heard hurried footsteps approaching from the hallway outside the door.

Then came a knock.

"Naruto, are you home? Grandpa came to see you. Hurry and open the door for Grandpa."