Uchiha Hikari

Looking at the complex seals surrounding him, Uchiha Naka was momentarily stunned. Not being well-versed in sealing techniques, he spoke with some hesitation, "Lord Genmei, my level of sealing expertise isn't enough to understand how to break this."

"No need to worry, I have my own methods," came the indifferent response to Uchiha Naka's doubts.

Hum!

Black tomoe spun. Golden divine energy manifested as the arm of a colossal deity rapidly took shape, clutching a gourd overflowing with the scent of wine. Looking at the gourd, then back at the seals, Uchiha Genmei nodded in satisfaction.

Beside him, Uchiha Naka, stunned by the golden divine energy, widened his eyes. "It has appeared—Lord Genmei's Susanoo." He cast a glance at Uchiha Genmei, who stood under the divine light like a god. Lord Genmei is truly strong! He can activate Susanoo with just three tomoe.

According to the elders, as long as one could activate Susanoo, this guardian deity of the Uchiha could reside within one's heart, provided their Yin Release training was sufficient. It was said that one didn't need to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan; with enough chakra, it could be summoned. The elders say this without considering themselves—how could something like that ever be easy to achieve!

Suddenly, the massive divine arm underwent a transformation, interrupting his train of thought. The change in the scene made him exclaim, "What is this?!"

He watched as the giant god's arm transformed into a stream of divine light and spiritual energy, coiling around Uchiha Genmei's arm like a long serpent. In the blink of an eye, the Tosei-sode, Kote, and Tekko manifested one by one on Uchiha Genmei's arm. The golden divine armor arm formed instantly.

Uchiha Genmei looked at the shrunken Wine God Gourd in his left hand and marveled inwardly. Ever since he had reinforced the Yasakani no Magatama that day, his Susanoo had also undergone changes, becoming capable of shifting at will. By shrinking the massive Susanoo into armor, he had compressed its mass, increasing its defensive power by at least tenfold. It was no wonder Uchiha Madara rarely used his Mangekyo ocular techniques; in truth, Susanoo was simply too useful. He himself was the same—aside from Amaterasu-Omikami, he hadn't used Amaterasu even once.

He cast a glance at the bewildered Uchiha Naka and warned, "Naka, the person we are about to release is dangerous. Stay on guard!"

Hearing this, Uchiha Naka retreated to the side and activated his Sharingan to stand watch.

Uchiha Genmei shouted aloud, "Divine wine, surge across the storm and let everything before us be intoxicated by that madness!"

A massive torrent of wine swept over all the seals in the area. In an instant, the chakra within the sealing runes went berserk. As the divine wine surged, it turned all the chakra into a vortex and drew it into the gourd. Deprived of its chakra support, the seal was broken!

In the darkness.

The girl had been trapped in a state of deathly silence.

A glimmer of light appeared.

Light?

Where did the light come from?

The bewildered girl opened her eyes.

It was the world!

Compared to the dead, silent darkness, it was such a vivid world.

She stumbled, struggling to stand.

Her first sight: a handsome youth with his arms spread wide.

How beautiful!

He looked at her with a smile.

His lips moved.

"Welcome back to the real world."

His gentle voice reached into her heart.

A flutter of emotion.

She saw the fan crest on the youth's clothing.

A clansman?

She, who had once hated the Uchiha clan to the core, felt a strange, inexplicable flutter that made it impossible to hate the youth before her.

She took two unsteady steps, her training as a decisive weapon allowing her to quickly regain control of her body.

She scanned her surroundings.

Shaking off the chaotic emotions, she stared at the handsome youth in the center of the clearing.

She spoke directly:

"Did you save me?"

Huh?

It actually worked?

Uchiha Genmei felt surprised as he watched Uchiha Hikari, who had made no move to attack.

He had planned to be polite before resorting to force if Uchiha Hikari appeared.

If she responded well to kindness, she would settle down.

If she didn't, he would unleash the traditional Uchiha art: going berserk.

Then he would use force.

Who would have thought this girl would actually respond to kindness?

It couldn't be that she was giving him face because of his handsome face, could it?

Just then, a growling sound came from the girl's stomach.

He smiled slightly.

"It seems you need to eat something. Let's go up; I will explain the situation to you clearly."

Watching the girl wolf down her food, Uchiha Naka hesitated to speak.

Seeing this, Uchiha Genmei said, "If you have something to say, just say it."

Pacing to Uchiha Genmei's side, Uchiha Naka whispered:

"Is she really the Uchiha clan's decisive weapon? How does she look like anything other than a naive young girl?"

The girl gnawing on the grilled meat nearby felt her ears twitch slightly.

Uchiha Genmei watched all of this.

He said indifferently, "Once she finishes eating, I will ask her directly, and you will know. Also, Naka."

"What is it?"

"The other party heard you."

"Ah?!"

Uchiha Naka's face flushed red. Possessing a heart full of Uchiha pride, he felt nothing but shame in this situation.

A short while later.

Watching the young girl finish cleaning up.

Uchiha Genmei spoke bluntly, "My name is Uchiha Genmei, and the one beside me is my subordinate, Uchiha Naka."

"We are currently Konoha Jonin and Police Superintendents of the Police Force. My dream is to live freely."

Upon hearing this, The young girl tilted her head and asked in confusion:

"What is Konoha? What is the Police Force? And what is a Police Superintendent?"

Realizing that she lived in the Warring States period, an era even further back than Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Genmei sighed.

He patiently explained everything.

After hearing the explanation, The young girl felt as if it were all a fantasy.

Her eyes widened.

She said in disbelief, "The Uchiha and the Senju declared a truce? They joined hands to create a village? And that lot from the Sarutobi clan are the current leaders of the village?!"

"They were merely the followers of the Senju. How did they end up riding on the heads of the Hyuga, the Uchiha, and the Senju to become the leaders?"

Uchiha Genmei sighed, And explained with a sense of helplessness:

"Because of the cruelty of the Warring States period, the leaders of the Uchiha and the Senju at the time set aside their disputes to create peace together."

"That is how Konoha came to be."

He pondered for a moment before continuing.

"The Hokage, or the leader as you understand it, is not necessarily the one with the greatest strength. The reasons for this are very complex; you will understand slowly in the future."

The handsome, black-haired girl heard this.

She whispered in a daze: "Because of peace? Does peace truly exist?"

Hearing this, Uchiha Genmei remained noncommittal.

He asked:

"Introduce yourself."

The girl was stunned, Her expression turning somewhat desolate.

After hesitating for a moment, she said:

"I do not have a name. Weapons do not need names."

Looking at the girl's desolate expression, Uchiha Genmei said in a helpless tone:

"This is no longer the Warring States period where social order has collapsed. Although I intend to use your power to achieve certain goals,"

"But... once the goal is achieved, you can live the life you want. Therefore, you must have a name."

"I shall call you Hikari."

"Uchiha Hikari."

The girl was stunned.

Hikari?

In her mind, A pair of gentle parents said:

"In this era of war, my child must be happy. Hikari is our hope for you."

"Is Hikari your name?"

Those were her beloved parents.

Hikari...

An inexplicable sorrow filled her.

He nodded.

"Very well..."

After a round of self-introductions.

"How could such an outrageous ocular technique exist, Yachihoko?!" Uchiha Naka exclaimed.

He felt completely stunned by the Uchiha Hikari standing before him.

"What else did you expect? Why do you think she is considered the ultimate weapon?" Uchiha Genmei cast a sidelong glance at his flustered subordinate.

In truth, he was also astonished; he had underestimated 'Yachihoko' as well.

This ocular technique drained life force at the same time it absorbed chakra.

Uchiha Hikari had always fought against the Senju, whose Yang-release chakra had constantly sustained her.

Her eyesight had not weakened in the slightest.

He shook his head helplessly.

He stood up and brushed off his backside.

"Alright, let's head out. Shall we go pay a visit to Nekomata?"

The young girl—no, it was more appropriate to call her Uchiha Hikari now—asked in confusion, "Nekomata is still alive?"

Hearing the girl's doubt, Uchiha Genmei spoke calmly:

"That is not important."

"What matters is that I have a plan."

"And I need her to take a stand."