"We have to find Uchiha Hikari before she fully masters her power—or makes an even more dangerous move. If not, then we must at least find a way to counter her!"
A joint operation that had been nearing its end concluded instead in a way no one had anticipated—and with consequences potentially far more severe.
Uchiha Hikari's escape, along with the unsettling possibility that a "Devil Fruit" had intervened to rescue her of its own accord, became yet another dark cloud looming over the shinobi world—already shaken by the chaos surrounding Ōtsutsuki Graywhite and the Divine River Crab.
The future, distorted by a fruit said to possess "consciousness," had become increasingly unpredictable… and fraught with peril.
The Land of Rain
Endless rain blanketed the towering steel spires of Amegakure. The air carried the cold scent of damp metal.
This was the domain of a "god"—ruled by Pain, Nagato of the Rinnegan.
The shinobi world knew well that the legendary "Demigod" Hanzō of the Salamander was long gone. Amegakure—and the entire Land of Rain—now answered only to the man who reigned from atop the tower in the name of divinity: Nagato of the Uzumaki Clan.
The Five Kage's joint operation to eliminate Uchiha Hikari had ended with the target vanishing through a bizarre gateway, suspected to have been created by a Devil Fruit.
The shockwaves from this revelation spread like ripples across still water, reaching every corner of the shinobi world.
For Nagato—who had transformed the Land of Rain into an intelligence hub through Konan's vast underground network and the White Zetsu's near-perfect infiltration—the detailed report arrived faster and more complete than what many participating jōnin had received.
The Tower's Core
Deep within the tower's innermost chamber, beneath the looming shadow of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, the Deva Path of Pain stood silently atop one of its fingers. Rainwater seeped through cracks in the steel dome overhead, dripping at his feet.
A complete account—Hikari's unsealing, the awakening of her Mangekyō Sharingan, and her ultimate rescue by the so-called "Toy Kingdom"/Devil Fruit—was compiled by Konan and presented without delay.
"…An Uchiha survivor. A weapon of the Warring States Period. Possessor of the Mangekyō Sharingan. Identical to the 'Light' shown in the Heavenly Curtain. In the final moment, taken away by a toy-like existence of incomprehensible origin…"
The Rinnegan in the Deva Path's eyes rotated slightly. His expression remained lifeless.
As always, the intelligence was shared with the core members of the Akatsuki.
Elsewhere in the Land of Rain
Within a heavily warded underground base, Kisame Hoshigaki wrapped Samehada in fresh bandages while listening to White Zetsu's exaggerated retelling of the news.
"The Uchiha Clan sure can't stay out of trouble," Kisame grinned. "Another one pops up—and she's some ancient ancestor, no less. This is getting interesting."
His gaze flicked, almost unconsciously, toward the deeper recesses of the base.
In a more secluded stone chamber, lit only by flickering candlelight—
"Uchiha… Hikari?"
For the briefest moment, the perpetually composed face of Itachi Uchiha stiffened.
His Mangekyō Sharingan—bloodshot from overuse, his vision deteriorating rapidly—widened slightly.
An ancestor?
An Uchiha sealed away during the Warring States Period?
A wielder of the Mangekyō Sharingan. Foretold by the Heavenly Curtain as the future "Toy Queen." Harboring deep hatred toward the entire Uchiha Clan.
Now unsealed—and seemingly rescued by a Devil Fruit with a will of its own?
Even Itachi's formidable intellect required a moment to process the cascading absurdity of it all.
He connected the known threads in an instant:
Hikari's own words in the Heavenly Curtain—describing herself as a weapon who had been used.
Her hatred toward the Uchiha.
The ancient enmity between the Uchiha and the Senju/Uzumaki during the Warring States Period.
The "Dangerous Weapon" sealed jointly by two great clans.
Her immediate awakening of the Mangekyō upon release.
And the final, utterly irrational intervention of the Devil Fruit…
A clear and dangerous outline formed:
A prodigy—or perhaps a monster—born in the darkest era of the Uchiha Clan. Forged into a weapon. Used. Ultimately sealed by her enemies.
Now awakened with centuries of resentment and a curse aimed at her own bloodline.
And soon…
She might obtain the terrifying power shown in the Heavenly Curtain—the ability to distort reality and manipulate existence itself through the "rules" of toys.
Her hatred was indiscriminate.
She despised the ancient Uchiha who had created and used her. Naturally, she would also despise every living descendant who carried Uchiha blood.
Including… Sasuke.
"She must die."
The conclusion required no cost–benefit analysis. It was instinctive—a brother's most primal response to danger.
A killing intent, cold and suffocating, spread from Itachi like a tangible force. The warmth of the candlelight wavered violently.
Hikari's existence posed a threat to Sasuke far greater than the suspicion of Konoha's elders, greater than Danzō's schemes—even greater than the harsh path of hatred Itachi himself had laid out for his younger brother.
Because if Sasuke encountered her—
He would truly die.
The "Light" from the Heavenly Curtain had appeared ahead of time—and might already have gained the favor of the Devil Fruit.
The trajectory of the future had been utterly disrupted.
Who could guarantee that this ancestor—who bore genocidal hatred toward the Uchiha and might soon wield the power of the Toy Kingdom—would not immediately turn her gaze toward Konohagakure?
Toward the final remnant of what she would see as a detested bloodline—
Sasuke Uchiha.
With Sasuke's current strength, he would stand no chance.
The candle flames trembled violently under the surge of killing intent.
Itachi slowly closed his aching eyes. His mind raced through possibilities and countermeasures.
He knew his body was nearing its limit. His vision was irreversibly fading.
But some things—
Even at the cost of everything—
Had to be done.
Elsewhere, in a Forest
Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi stood in rare silence. The air was thick with a shared emotion: utter bewilderment.
Travel-worn and pressed for time, they had originally been heading toward the sealing site of "Wangcai," hoping to reach Karin before she caused irreparable chaos.
Before they even arrived, however, a string of reports struck like consecutive thunderclaps.
First: "Karin was sent flying by a giant crab."
Then: she vanished.
Orochimaru: "???"
His golden snake-like pupils filled with question marks.
In an instant, countless possibilities flashed through his mind—an unusual summoning beast? A mutated lifeform? Some unknown Kekkei Genkai manifesting in crab form?
He dismissed them all.
What kind of crab could send flying a Karin who had inherited demonic power, whose temper was volatile and whose strength defied estimation?
The notion was more absurd than Karin promising, from now on, to obediently follow his instructions.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 100+ chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789