Uchiha Hikari had been sealed away—her abilities discovered and exploited by her enemies, who deliberately allowed weaker clan members to be controlled through her chakra marks. The cunning elders of the Uzumaki Clan had struck from the shadows, using their Adamantine Sealing Chains to trap her. Though Hikari's power was immense, she had barely been subdued.
She harbored no affection for the Senju or Uzumaki clans. Upon learning of their downfall, Hikari felt neither sorrow nor pity—only quiet satisfaction. However, when she was told that the Uchiha Clan had left Konoha and joined the Hidden Cloud Village in the Land of Lightning, her reaction was indifferent.
During her own era, the Uchiha had already been active in that land; it was, in a sense, a return to their roots.
"Is there even a difference between the Ninja Village Era and the Warring States Period?" Hikari asked quietly, her Sharingan eyes glinting with mild curiosity.
Neji, who stood beside her, gave a faint smile. "Not really. The people haven't changed. The conflicts of interest and the scale of war may have even grown larger than before."
Hikari nodded thoughtfully. To her, it didn't matter what the world called itself—war was war.
"So… are you sending me back to the Uchiha Clan?" she asked after a moment, finishing her last dango.
Neji turned to face the sea, his voice calm yet firm. "No. From now on, you'll stay by my side."
"Eh?"
"I won't let you out of my sight until all of this is over."
Hikari's eyes widened, then softened in relief. "That's… great."
She took a few cheerful steps forward. The Uchiha Clan had always felt like a cage to her—a place filled with harsh training, endless suspicion, and cold gazes. The thought of never returning brought her genuine joy.
"Hikari," Neji said, "we're heading to the Hidden Mist Village next."
"The Hidden Mist Village?"
"There's a traitor there—an Uchiha who's secretly controlling the Fourth Mizukage. My mission is to rescue the Mizukage, and if I can capture that traitor, even better."
Hikari nodded quickly. "I understand."
After a pause, Neji turned to her. "Your Mangekyō ability—the Eight Thousand Spears—can it transfer chakra freely?"
"Y-Yes…" Hikari hesitated, her fingers fidgeting nervously.
That ability was feared even among the Uchiha. It was a power that could mark others, control their chakra, and even dominate their bodies. The clan had used her as a weapon—but they were also terrified of her. They forbade her from marking any high-ranking members, ensuring that she constantly exhausted her eye power.
Hikari glanced at Neji anxiously. Will he see me as a monster too?
But Neji only smiled and placed a hand on her head. "Hikari, place the mark on me."
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Some kind-hearted Uchiha had once volunteered to let her mark them—until they learned the full extent of her ability. The moment they realized that her chakra mark could seize control of the mind itself, they recoiled from her in horror. She could still remember their fearful eyes, filled with disgust.
Neji must not understand what it really means… she thought bitterly. Once he learns, he'll treat me like the others.
Her hands trembled. "Neji, no! You can't!"
Neji gently took her shoulder and looked her in the eyes. "Hikari, I trust you. I know you won't hurt me."
That simple sentence shattered the dam she had built inside her heart.
"Neji…" she whispered, before throwing herself into his arms. Tears streamed down her cheeks, soaking his robes.
Neji smiled faintly, stroking her back. Children in this world are so easy to deceive, he thought. And deceiving an Uchiha child like her is even easier.
But deep down, he wasn't lying entirely. Neji truly intended for Hikari to mark him. With her chakra reserves feeding from his own, her power would multiply—and she would become his most potent weapon.
His confidence came from the Tenseigan. No matter how powerful Hikari's ability was, Neji knew he could break free from its influence whenever he wished.
"Don't cry," he said softly, "or you'll look like a little tabby cat."
Hikari sniffed, struggling to compose herself. "The Eight Thousand Spears doesn't just extract chakra—it can forcibly control someone's mind," she said tremblingly.
"I know," Neji replied with quiet assurance.
"Then why—"
"Hikari," he interrupted gently, "I believe you won't hurt me. So why can't you believe me?"
At those words, she broke again. "Neji!"
She curled up in his embrace, clutching his robe tightly as if afraid he might vanish. Neji continued to pat her back, whispering soothingly until the sobs faded.
Eventually, Hikari fell asleep in his arms, exhausted. In her dreams, two hazy figures appeared—her long-lost parents.
Dad, Mom, she said in her dream, I finally found the meaning of my existence.
From that moment on, she made a silent vow. She would stay by Neji's side no matter what. If he wanted to kill, she would hand him the blade. If he wanted to bury someone, she would dig the grave. And if the world became his enemy—then she would become an enemy of the world alongside him.
---
Meanwhile, in the Mizukage's office, Uchiha Obito sat calmly in the Fourth Mizukage's chair, flipping through reports. The real Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, stood beside him like an emotionless puppet, his eyes blank.
Years ago, the Hidden Mist had been known as the "Village of Bloody Mist." Students at the academy were forced to kill each other to graduate. Though the policy had officially changed after Zabuza Momochi slaughtered his entire class, the village's cruelty hadn't vanished.
Bloodline Clans were still persecuted. Superiors crushed their subordinates while being oppressed by those above them. Rival clans devoured one another for power.
The Kaguya Clan, for instance, had been even more deranged than the Uchiha—fanatical, arrogant, and obsessed with battle. They slaughtered civilians for sport until the Mizukage ordered their annihilation.
Even without Obito's manipulation, the Mist would have been a place of chaos.
Now, the situation was dire. Counting even academy students, fewer than six thousand ninja remained. The once-mighty army of eight thousand had been decimated.
Obito slammed a document onto the desk, his voice filled with irritation. "Do these people have a death wish?"
The village was collapsing, and the elders were demanding peace with the Hidden Cloud. Without their support—or the Daimyo's funding—it was impossible to wage another war.
He considered using genjutsu to control the Elder who led the moderate faction, but quickly dismissed it. His genjutsu wasn't as precise as Shisui's, and the Elder was constantly in public view. Any hint of strange behavior would expose him.
Tapping his fingers on the table, Obito pondered his next move when a deep voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Obito… something has happened."
A figure rose from the ground—Zetsu.
"What is it?" Obito asked sharply.
"One of the White Zetsu clones spotted an intruder in the Hidden Mist. A spy from the Hidden Cloud, perhaps."
Obito's eyes narrowed. "How strong?"
"Jonin level, at least."
Obito scoffed. "You're panicking over that?"
But Black Zetsu interjected, his tone serious. "The Mist army is broken, and Cloud spies are sneaking in. This could mean they're scouting our strength before deciding whether to ally—or destroy us."
After a long pause, Obito leaned back in the chair, his masked gaze cold. "Fine. Send a squad of White Zetsu. Have them disguise themselves as Hidden Cloud spies."
White Zetsu laughed. "Oh, planning to use them to provoke the Elder? Smart, Obito!"
"Just go," Obito snapped. "And make sure it's handled cleanly."
The Zetsu duo sank back into the ground, leaving the office silent once more.
---
At dawn, Neji and Hikari strolled through the misty streets of Kirigakure.
"Do you really have to wear that pink dress?" Neji asked, rubbing his temples.
"I like it!" Hikari twirled proudly, her long sleeves fluttering.
Neji sighed. Her sense of fashion is hopeless. Maybe he'd let her try modern clothes someday—something like a school uniform or maid outfit might shift her strange taste.
The streets of the Mist Village were bleak. Shops were half-empty, beggars huddled in alleys, and the air smelled of damp salt and blood.
As they turned a corner, Neji's sharp senses picked up several hostile presences. A group of thugs had locked their eyes on Hikari, likely mistaking her for an easy target.
"Idiots," Neji muttered, his eyes narrowing.
Three burly men stepped out, blocking their path. "Hand over your valuables, little girl."
Before Neji could react, Hikari moved. In a flash, the three men were sprawled on the ground, groaning.
"Hikari," Neji said sternly, "what did I tell you about fighting in public?"
She looked down at her small hands. "Was I… too rough?"
Before she could finish her apology, three senbon shot out from Neji's sleeve, silently piercing the bandits' throats.
"Hikari," Neji said softly, "you're too kind. Kind people get hurt in this world. I'd rather see you as a bandit than see you harmed."
Hikari's eyes filled with tears again as she hugged him tightly.
After comforting her, Neji glanced around the desolate streets. "This village has really fallen. Even thieves roam freely."
They eventually reached a small izakaya and took a seat upstairs. Neji ordered a few dishes and a plate of tricolor dango for Hikari.
From their seat, the Mizukage's tower was visible through the fog. Neji gazed at it thoughtfully.
If Obito's genjutsu on the Fourth Mizukage could be dispelled—or replaced with his own curse seal—then Kirigakure would fall under his influence.
The challenge wasn't in breaking the genjutsu. It was in getting close to the Mizukage without being noticed. After all, Obito had managed to keep him under control for nearly fifteen years before Ao's Byakugan detected anything unusual.
Neji sipped his sake, deep in thought. "Should I force my way in?" he murmured to himself.
Just then, a gentle voice broke through the morning noise.
"Haku, come sit here."
Neji froze slightly, recognizing the name—and realizing that things were about to get interesting.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)