"It's the old man!"
Hearing the aged voice, Naruto's face lit up with joy, but then he hesitated and glanced at Uchiha Hikari.
"Sis, this is the old man I mentioned earlier. He..."
"This is your home. Don't mind me. Go ahead and open the door."
Hikari stood to the side, holding her cup and sipping water, casually waving her hand.
Only after getting her response did Naruto run over and open the door.
Standing in the hallway was an elderly figure wearing a Hokage robe and a conical hat. He first patted little Naruto's head, then walked in with a kindly smile. At first glance, he looked no different from any ordinary old man passing by. But his true identity was the highest authority of this village—the very person Hikari had come to meet.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Oh? Naruto, you have a guest?"
Hiruzen exchanged a few pleasantries with Naruto before finally seeming to notice Hikari's presence. He smiled and asked, "Is this a new friend of yours, Naruto?"
"Yeah! She's the sister who brought me home just now. Her name is..."
Naruto started to introduce her but suddenly realized he didn't actually know her name.
Hikari spoke up at the right moment: "Hikari. Uchiha Hikari."
"Oh? So it's Miss Hikari of the Uchiha clan... But I know most of the Uchiha clansmen. How come I've never seen you before..."
Hiruzen was still playing dumb.
But Hikari had no patience for his act. "Of course you wouldn't have seen me. I only arrived in this village last night... I think your subordinates would know more about my origins."
An innocent child like Naruto might think the Third Hokage's visit was just a coincidence, but Hikari knew better. The presence of several hidden chakra signatures outside the house had already revealed his true intentions.
But Hikari wasn't worried in the slightest.
For one thing, the aging Hiruzen might not even be her match in a fight.
More importantly, as long as Hiruzen had even a shred of sense, he wouldn't dare to start a fight in front of Naruto, the Jinchūriki. If things went wrong, the tragedy from four years ago could repeat itself. The current Konoha was already weakened, its forces dwindling and its future uncertain. With the recent blow of Orochimaru's defection, another Nine-Tails rampage would likely push the village to the brink of collapse.
"..."
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Hikari, his expression shifting subtly.
On his way from the Hokage's office, he had already reviewed the intelligence gathered by the Anbu.
Although both Ibiki Morino's testimony and the Senju clan's records did indeed contain such an account, even now—with Hikari confirming it herself—he still found it hard to believe.
A girl from the Warring States Era, sealed away for over a hundred years, now awakened from her coffin...
An Uchiha?
"What... do you want?"
Hiruzen glanced at Naruto and lowered his voice. "I don't know whether the information you've provided is true or false. But even if it is all true, this is no longer the Warring States Era you remember. A hundred years have passed—your former comrades and enemies are long gone. Even the Uchiha and Senju, once mortal enemies, have reconciled... The peace Konoha enjoys now was hard-won. I won't allow anyone to disrupt it!"
"And Naruto... I don't know why you sought him out or what reason brought you here with him, but he is an important member of this village. I cannot let anyone with ill intentions get close to him or manipulate him."
"Oh."
Hikari nodded. "So being hated, bullied, insulted, and scorned by the entire village, drinking expired milk, eating nutrient-deficient instant noodles, and being unable to buy what he wants even at triple the price... is the treatment an 'important member' deserves?"
"...Such things have happened?"
With Naruto present, Hiruzen's expression turned awkward. He feigned ignorance and turned to the boy. "Naruto, is what this... sister said true? You're at an age where you need proper nutrition. If you need milk or vegetables, you should tell Grandpa. I'll make sure they're delivered to you."
"...It's okay! Grandpa is always so busy. Just visiting me every month is already more than enough. I can figure those things out myself!"
Naruto replied softly, then glanced nervously between Hiruzen and Hikari. "Um, I don't really understand what you're talking about, but Sis Hikari is a good person! She wouldn't hurt me!"
Meanwhile, Hikari let out a soft laugh.
"Lord Third, your skill at sidestepping the real issue is truly impressive... Fine, I'll be direct. An old acquaintance asked me to discuss his will with you. That's why I'm here."
"An old acquaintance?"
"Yes. One who died in the battle four years ago. You should know him well—after all, he was once your most favored successor."
"?!"
Due to her agreement with Namikaze Minato, Hikari didn't mention his name outright in front of Naruto. But the implication was clear enough that Hiruzen immediately understood.
"You mean the Fourth—that's impossible! He already..."
"Used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal and was devoured by the Shinigami, right?"
Hikari continued, "But the truth is, I've not only met him, but I also learned from him that when he and his wife sacrificed their lives for the village, they entrusted you with the care of their child. Yet, it seems you haven't kept that promise. Well... I suppose in your eyes, as long as he's alive, that counts as 'taking care of him,' doesn't it?"
"..."
Hiruzen's face darkened.
The shinobi world did indeed have concepts related to souls, along with many corresponding techniques—such as the "Impure World Reincarnation" invented by his teacher, Tobirama, or the secret "Spiritual Transformation Technique" of the Hatake clan. But for Hiruzen to believe that Minato, who had died four years ago after using the "Dead Demon Consuming Seal," had entrusted a girl from the Warring States Era to look after his child...
"Preposterous!"
"Even if you really did meet Minato, he would never say such things to you! And in any case, the affairs of Konoha are not for an outsider to meddle in!"
"I knew it..."
Hikari sighed.
"Talking to scheming old men like you is exhausting. Fine, let's change the setting... *Tsukuyomi!*"