I, Uchiha Hikaru, have joined the chat group.

Chapter 10 Tsukuyomi!

"It's an old man!"

Hearing the aged voice, Naruto's face lit up with joy, but then he hesitated and looked towards Uchiha Hikaru: "Sister, this is the old man I was talking about earlier, he..."

"This is your home, don't worry about me. Go open the door."

Uchiha Hikaru picked up his cup and stood to the side, taking small sips of water and waving his hand casually.

After receiving her response, Naruto ran over and opened the door.

Appearing in the corridor was an elderly figure dressed in a sacred robe and wearing a straw hat.

He first patted Naruto's head, then walked in with a smile. Judging by appearance alone, he looked no different from an ordinary old man passing by, but his identity was that of the highest-ranking person in the village, and the very person Uchiha Hikaru was there to meet—

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Huh, is Naruto having guests?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi exchanged a few pleasantries with Naruto before, as if he had just noticed Uchiha Hikaru's presence, asking with a smile, "Is this Naruto's new friend?"

"Yes! She's the older sister who brought me home earlier, her name is..."

Naruto wanted to help introduce her, but suddenly realized that he didn't know the woman's name.

Uchiha Hikaru spoke up at the opportune moment: "Hikaru. Uchiha Hikaru."

"Oh? So it's Miss Hikari from the Uchiha clan... But I know most of the Uchiha clan members, how come I've never seen you before..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi is still pretending to be stupid.

But Uchiha Hikaru had no patience to play along: "Of course you haven't seen me before, because I only arrived in this village last night... I think your subordinates should know my background better."

The young and naive Naruto might think the Third Hokage's arrival was just a coincidence, but Uchiha Hikaru wouldn't think that way. The other presences hidden outside the house who arrived with the old man had already revealed his true intentions.

But Uchiha Hikaru wasn't worried at all.

Let's not even discuss whether the aging Hiruzen Sarutobi is stronger or weaker than her.

As long as Hiruzen Sarutobi has any sense of propriety, he wouldn't dare to fight her in front of Naruto, a Jinchūriki. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, the tragedy of four years ago will repeat itself. Konoha is currently dwindling in population and facing a generational gap. Not long ago, it also suffered the blow of Orochimaru's defection. If another Nine-Tails attack were to occur at this time, it would probably be close to complete collapse.

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Hikaru Uchiha, and a subtle change began to appear on his face.

On his way from the Hokage Building, he had already reviewed the information collected by the Anbu.

Although such a record does exist in both Ibiki Morino's testimony and the Senju clan's records, even now, with Hikaru Uchiha's personal admission, he still feels it's somewhat unreal.

A being from the Warring States period, sealed away for over a hundred years, has risen from its coffin...

Uchiha girl?

"What...do you want to do?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Naruto beside him and lowered his voice, saying, "I don't know if what you're saying is true or false, but even if it is, this is no longer the Warring States period you know. A hundred years have passed, your former comrades and enemies are all long gone, even the Uchiha and Senju, those former mortal enemies, have made peace... Konoha's current peace is hard-won and will not be allowed to be destroyed by anyone!"

"And Naruto, although I don't know why you sought him out or what your reasons were for coming here with him, he is a very important member of the village, and we must not let people with ulterior motives get close to him or deceive him."

"oh."

Uchiha Hikaru nodded: "So, being resented, bullied, insulted, and cursed by everyone in the village, being pointed at and talked about wherever you go, drinking expired milk, eating unhealthy instant noodles, and not being able to buy what you want even if you pay three times the price... is that the treatment a 'significant member' should receive?"

"...Is that so?"

In front of Naruto, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked a little embarrassed. Pretending not to know anything, he turned to look at the person next to him and said, "Little Naruto, is what this... sister said true? You're in a stage where you're growing. If you need milk or vegetables, you must tell Grandpa, and Grandpa will bring them to you."

"...It's alright! Grandpa is so busy, it's already very kind of him to come see me every month. I can figure out those things myself!"

Naruto responded softly, then glanced nervously at Hiruzen Sarutobi and Hikari Uchiha: "Um, although I don't quite understand what you're talking about, Grandpa, Hikari is a good person, she wouldn't hurt me!"

the other side.

Uchiha Hikaru chuckled.

"Third Hokage, your skill in avoiding the main issue is truly admirable... Well, I'll be frank with you. Actually, an old friend asked me to come and discuss his will with you, which is why I'm here."

"Old friend?"

"Yes, someone who died in that battle four years ago. You should know him well, after all, he was your most favored successor."

"?!"

Because of his promise to Minato Namikaze, Hikaru Uchiha didn't directly reveal his name to Naruto. But with such an obvious hint, Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally guessed it as well.

"You mean four... That's impossible! He's already..."

"The Reaper Death Seal has already been used, and he's been swallowed by the Grim Reaper, right?"

Uchiha Hikaru continued, "But in fact, I not only met him, but I also learned from him that when he and his wife sacrificed their lives for the village, they asked you to take care of his child. But now it seems you haven't kept that promise. Oh... perhaps in your opinion, as long as he's alive, that's enough to 'take care of' him?"

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression shifted between light and dark.

The Naruto world does indeed have the concept of souls, and there are quite a few related ninjutsu. For example, there's the "Impure World Reincarnation" invented by his teacher, Tobirama Senju, and the "Spirit Transformation Technique" passed down in the Kato clan. But to convince Hiruzen Sarutobi that Minato, who had used the "Reaper Death Seal" and had been dead for four years, had entrusted a member of the Uchiha clan from the Sengoku period to help care for his child…

"Nonsense!"

"Even if you really did meet Minato, he would never say such a thing to you! Besides, the affairs of Konoha Village are not for an outsider to meddle in!"

"I knew it..."

Uchiha Hikaru sighed.

"Talking to you cunning old bastards is exhausting. Let's find somewhere else to talk... Tsukuyomi!"

(End of this chapter)