I, Uchiha Hikaru, have joined the chat group.

Chapter 265 The Ninjutsu Training Manual

Although the Nine-Tails' clone was not large, it contained a considerable amount of chakra.

I'm guessing...

There are at least several dozen Kakashi's worth.

Uchiha Hikari isn't inherently lacking in chakra, and she possesses Senzu Beans and the Yin Seal for rapid chakra replenishment, so her chakra reserves aren't a concern. However, this chakra originating from the Nine-Tails can increase her chakra limit. Furthermore, she might be able to develop techniques similar to those of a "perfect Jinchuriki."

I can try it later.

At this time.

Naruto finally recovered from the discomfort caused by Kurama's slight rampage, then looked at Uchiha Hikari with a bewildered expression: "Hikari-neechan, just now...?"

"It's nothing, I just had a conversation with a friend inside your body."

Uchiha Hikaru casually said, "You should have already learned chakra refining techniques at school, right? Now you can try refining it and see the effect."

"Um?"

Although Naruto was a little confused, he did as he was told.

After trying once or twice, the blond-haired boy's face lit up with surprise: "Hikari-neechan, I think I can successfully extract chakra! Hmm... it must be because Hikari-neechan is here that my genius side has been brought out!"

"...Tch, bottom of the class."

It was Sasuke who spoke.

Naruto immediately bristled: "I was talking to Hikari-neechan, what are you doing interrupting, you ugly monster!"

"...The worst performer!"

"Ugly monster!"

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Uchiha Hikaru quickly grabbed them by the collars, then separated them to either side, one in each hand: "Calm down for a bit, haven't you had enough of arguing at school yet?"

"..."

As the "older sister" and "great-grandmother," Uchiha Hikaru still held considerable authority in front of Naruto and Sasuke.

After the two shut up, she took out a small booklet from her person and handed it to Naruto: "This booklet was prepared for you by your father... I originally planned to give it to you when you were a little older, but it doesn't matter. The booklet contains basic content about ninjutsu training. You can study it by referring to it. If you don't understand anything, you can ask me... or ask Kakashi and Uzuki Yugao. They should still be the two of them looking after you, right?"

"As long as I can thoroughly understand the contents of this booklet, even if I'm not as good as Sasuke, getting into the top few in the class shouldn't be a problem."

To be precise...

This booklet was carefully prepared by Minato Namikaze.

Then, through Uchiha Hikaru's hands, it was transformed from an electronic version into a paper version.

Previously, back in Otogakure, she had given this booklet to Karin and Kimimaro—with Minato's consent, of course. Now that the Nine-Tails' problem within Naruto has been largely resolved, giving it to him should make the most of it.

As for Kakashi...

As Minato Namikaze's disciple, showing him this booklet wouldn't be considered a leak. Besides... Kakashi might even be able to discern his teacher's old wording habits from the booklet.

Speaking of which...

Minato Namikaze's request to "not reveal his existence to Naruto for the time being" was a long time ago. At that time, there were only the first four members in the chat group.

Uchiha Hikaru pondered that she could ask Namikaze Minato another day to see if he had changed his mind. If there was any conversation between father and son that he wanted to convey to Naruto, she wouldn't mind acting as a messenger.

That evening.

Uchiha Hikaru, along with Esdeath and Sasuke, played cards at Naruto's house for a while.

—Sasuke originally wanted to leave, but he was left behind because they were one player short.

Naruto had initially suggested drawing turtles on the loser's face, to see Sasuke, the pretty boy, turn into a smeared mess, but he changed his mind halfway through. After all, Uchiha Hikaru and Esdeath were also there; if they lost and had those graffiti drawn on their faces, that would be a bit...unseemly.

I stayed until eight or nine o'clock.

As the moon rose high in the sky, Uchiha Hikaru yawned and got up to say goodbye.

"Goodbye, Hikari-neechan, and Esdeath-neechan too... Ugly monster, you don't need to."

Naruto escorted them all the way downstairs and watched them disappear around the corner. He then stood under a streetlamp for several minutes before turning around and going home.

the other side.

On the way back to the Uchiha camp.

Sasuke looked up at Uchiha Hikaru several times, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

"What's wrong? Is there something you want to say?"

"...Reporting to Great-Grandma, that loser...that Naruto Uzumaki, is he really the 'Demon Fox'?"

"Um?"

Uchiha Hikaru paused in his steps.

Under her gaze, Sasuke mustered his courage: "I just heard you say that you communicated with one of the friends inside him, and then many people in the village, including my father and the others, said that Naruto is related to the 'Nine-Tails' attack back then. Could it be...?"

At this point, Sasuke hadn't activated his Sharingan yet, so he couldn't see what was inside Naruto's body.

However, he could still sense the brief burst of energy that occurred when Uchiha Hikaru met Kurama earlier. This led him to some speculations.

In this regard.

Uchiha Hikaru pondered for a moment: "Have you ever heard of 'Jinchūriki'?"

"...What is that?"

"There are nine tailed beasts in this world, like the Nine-Tails. Each of them possesses extremely powerful strength, and the containers that seal them are the Jinchuriki. Ordinary people cannot distinguish between tailed beasts and Jinchuriki, and they are afraid of the power of the tailed beasts, so they vent their dissatisfaction on those humans who sealed the leaders."

"!"

"So... is this why Naruto is discriminated against by the villagers? If he was the vessel used to seal the Nine-Tails, wouldn't he be a hero of the village?"

"You could say that."

Sasuke's expression changed upon hearing Uchiha Hikaru's explanation.

"...Then I won't call him the bottom of the class anymore."

"?"

Uchiha Hikaru raised an eyebrow and glanced at the little black-haired boy beside him.

She thought that Sasuke's first reaction after learning about the "Jinchūriki" was that he was afraid Naruto would surpass him... But thinking about it, that makes sense.

In the original storyline, Sasuke's extreme thirst for power stemmed from the trauma of the Uchiha clan massacre. Therefore, when he saw Naruto surpass him in strength, he was willing to break ties and fight him. Now, however, Sasuke lives in a happy family environment. Even if Naruto surpasses him, he would first think of seeking special training from Itachi or Fugaku to defeat the latter, rather than reacting in such an extreme way.

"Speaking of which, is Fugaku's attitude towards Sasuke still as cold as it was in the original story?"

If that's the case...

It would be worth considering talking to the latter.

Although Hikaru Uchiha herself had never been a father—and of course, a mother—she had little to say about Fugaku Uchiha's educational approach. Itachi's "seven-year-old Hokage mentality" was partly his fault, and Sasuke's somewhat eccentric personality was also largely attributable to Fugaku's long-term neglect.

For the healthy growth of the next generation.

Hikaru Uchiha planned to go back to Erii's place and buy some books on how to be a parent. Besides Fugaku, there were probably many other members of the Uchiha clan who needed to read them...

"arrive."

Upon entering the Uchiha compound, Uchiha Hikaru patted Sasuke's head: "Stop overthinking things. Go back to sleep early. Remember to tell your father that I need to speak with him, and ask him to come see me tomorrow or the day after if he's free."

"……knew."

Sasuke bowed and then ran away.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Hikaru, carrying Esdeath, returned to his private villa near the Nakagawa Waterfall.

After washing up.

As Uchiha Hikaru was carrying bedding he had taken from the closet, preparing to make the bed for Esdeath, he saw the latter, wearing a bathrobe, walk out of the bathroom and dry her hair with a towel.

"Hey, are you going to sleep with me tonight?"

"...Of course not."

Uchiha Hikaru pointed to the next room: "My bedroom is over there, just a wall away. You can call me anytime if you need anything... But I remember you've stayed here once before, haven't you?"

—If I remember correctly, the last time Esdeath came here was right after she was taken away from the world of Akame ga Kill!. But Erii was also there. The group stayed for two or three days before heading straight to the Land of Demons.

If we don't count that one time.

This is the first time that Uchiha Hikaru has brought Esdeath home alone.

now.

Her gaze unconsciously drifted towards Esdeath's chest a few times, then her face flushed slightly as she looked away—there was no way around it, the woman was clearly going commando under her bathrobe, and it seemed that because of the hot weather, the top few buttons weren't all fastened, so a deep cleavage and the snow-white mounds on either side could be clearly seen.

Although the two sides had already met frankly at the hot spring inn in Yu-no-kuni.

But this attempt to conceal is actually more alluring than when fully naked.

Esdeath seemed to notice Uchiha Hikaru's gaze, glanced down at him, then smiled and said, "What, want to see? If it's you, no problem."

As she spoke, Esdeath pulled her collar down even further, revealing more of her snow-white skin.

Uchiha Hikaru couldn't hold back any longer: "Ahem... I just caught a glimpse of it by accident. You should button up your shirt; it's not good if someone sees it."

"What does it matter? There are no outsiders here."

"Um……"

So, have I become "the wife" again?

As Hikaru Uchiha listened to these somewhat familiar words, he vaguely caught a hint of allure in Esdeath's tone.

However, she was still busy making the bed, so she didn't think much of it for the moment: "...It's done. It's already past ten o'clock, very late, go to sleep early, I want you to help me train a few new abilities tomorrow."

"...Okay. See you tomorrow."

Esdeston paused for a moment: "Goodnight."

"Good night."

(End of this chapter)