"Hikari? Are you talking about Uchiha Hikari, Sensei?"
"Yes."
"Of course I remember. How could I ever forget Hikari!"
In Boruto's mind, the beautiful, stubborn, and lonely profile of Uchiha Hikari flashed, along with the bitterness and reluctance of their final parting.
His heart couldn't help but stir again.
"Wait, Sensei, how do you know her name is Hikari? And didn't we witness Hikari's sacrifice together?"
"How many times have you been caught in my genjutsu? Don't you remember?"
"Huh? Sensei, that's cheating! How could you peek into those memories?!" Boruto was mortified, wishing he could sink into the ground.
In simple terms, Uchiha Hikari was a powerful humanoid weapon sealed by the Uchiha and Senju Clans during the Sengoku era. Her seal was later broken by Merz, a rogue ninja from Amegakure, who used her power to try to destroy the world. She was ultimately stopped and defeated by Boruto and the others, but Hikari died from severe injuries.
To save Hikari, Boruto used Toneri's power to travel back in time, rescuing the imprisoned Hikari from the Uchiha Clan, giving her a free and bright future before returning to the present.
But due to time distortions in the past, he forgot all his original memories with Hikari…
"I didn't peek; there's another reason. You shouldn't be able to recall this part of your memories."
"Right! Why do I remember now? Damn it, I said I'd never forget my bond with Hikari…"
"I suspect it's likely an effect of Omnipotence, which forcibly distorted the memories of the entire world, disrupting time and reality, allowing you to recover some of those memories."
"I see, but Sensei, what does this have to do with now? Hikari was a ninja from the Sengoku era…"
"Do you remember Hikari's ability, feared by the strongest ninja clans, Uchiha and Senju?"
"Yachihoko?!"
Hikari's unique Mangekyo Sharingan dōjutsu, Yachihoko: As long as a mark is engraved on a target's body, she could control their mind and chakra regardless of distance.
At first glance, this dōjutsu's power didn't seem astonishing, but it was actually extraordinary.
It was equivalent to making anyone marked a complete puppet, allowing you to do whatever you wanted, even controlling their thoughts!
Even more remarkable, this dōjutsu had no range or quantity limits. With the aid of Engraved Tsukuyomi, it could use moonlight to mark everyone in the world, thus controlling the minds and chakra of everyone globally!
This near-limitless absolute domination ability understandably terrified the Uchiha and Senju Clans at the time.
"Exactly, Yachihoko!"
"It might be the only ability with a chance to directly counter Omnipotence."
Sasuke had been pondering ways to counter Omnipotence's global-scale manipulation.
Aside from directly attacking Eida, all other methods were unlikely to succeed.
Infinite Tsukuyomi was unreliable; it couldn't alter the memories of Edo Tensei ninjas, so it certainly couldn't defeat Omnipotence, which could manipulate Edo Tensei memories.
Even Kotoamatsukami was only a patch, affecting just a few people, nowhere near comparable to the hundreds of millions worldwide.
After careful thought, the only thing that could truly counter Omnipotence was Yachihoko!
By using Engraved Tsukuyomi to mark everyone in the world, Yachihoko could control their minds and chakra. It might not fully negate Omnipotence, but it could at least restrict their actions and even gather vast amounts of chakra.
This would allow Sasuke to gain terrifying combat power, capable of continuously firing Indra's Arrow!
With his remaining Six Paths power dwindling, he had to start considering the next battles. If he exhausted the Six Paths chakra granted by the Sage of the Ten Tails, he wouldn't be a match for Isshiki…
"Huh? Hikari's power can really counter Omnipotence?"
"There's a possibility, but it's not certain yet."
"But Sensei, she's from the past. Even if Yachihoko could counter Omnipotence, it's meaningless!"
"Last time, it was Toneri who took you back to the past, right?"
"Yes, Uncle Toneri said he used the Dragon Veins' power, allowing me to briefly return to the past…"
"If you could go back, it means there's a way to reverse space and time. Don't forget, last time we went back, we also met young Naruto."
"Karasuki's power? But didn't it leave Earth?"
"At least the Dragon Veins and Toneri are still here, so there's still a chance. Has Toneri contacted you recently?"
"No…"
"He's on the moon, so he should be safe, but it's unclear if he's been affected by Omnipotence."
"Is Uncle Toneri in danger?"
"Now's not the time to worry about that. To borrow Uchiha Hikari's power, we might still need Toneri's help. But this is only a last-resort backup plan. For now, the main target is Iwagakure. After Iwagakure is destroyed and Naruto is saved, we can make time to go to the moon and check on Toneri."
Sasuke explained slowly, as if delivering final instructions.
Boruto felt uneasy.
But Sasuke knew this was just a precaution. He wasn't a god; every battle could lead to his death.
If something unexpected happened to him, Boruto and the others were his successors. Giving them some backup plans early wouldn't hurt.
Sasuke hated how Itachi always revealed his heart at the brink of death—dangerous and annoying.
Boruto nodded: "I understand!"
Deep down, he truly hoped to see Hikari again, but with the blood feud he carried, he had no right or energy to think too much about it now.
"Alright, go rest. Tomorrow morning, we'll set out to destroy Iwagakure."
"Okay!"
Ninjas weren't immortal Edo Tensei; Boruto and the others needed a brief rest.
Though with Kara's current luxurious lineup, destroying Iwagakure was easy, no one could guarantee Otsutsuki Isshiki wouldn't interfere.
So, maintaining peak condition before the attack was still necessary.
Sasuke watched Boruto leave the office, then shook his head with a sigh.
(My daughter Uchiha Sarada, plus Uchiha Hikari…)
(This Boruto kid is truly full of sin!)
(Why does it feel like Sakura and Karin back then…)
Forget it. Sasuke had no interest in meddling in the younger generation's affairs; let it flow. Besides, he wasn't an expert in relationships.
Moreover, Sasuke had no mood to think about such things now.
His goal remained Naruto!
Boruto left the Raikage's office, and his loyal friend Kawaki immediately threw an arm around him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Kawaki, can you hold back a bit!"
"Quick, tell me, what did Sasuke-san say to you? When are we attacking Iwagakure?"
In Kawaki's mind, there was only Naruto and Boruto. Recently blessed with the Heaven's Curse power, he was eager to storm Iwagakure.
"Nothing much. We're leaving tomorrow morning. Go home and sleep!"
"Tomorrow morning? Fine, just one more night. Come on, tonight I'm sleeping with you!"
"What are you doing sleeping with me?"
"To protect you, of course. Your chakra hasn't recovered. If we're attacked, you won't hold up."
"With Sensei here, who'd dare attack?"
"You're rejecting sleeping with me that much?"
"…"
Boruto frowned, itching to slap Kawaki. Why hadn't he ever noticed this guy was so annoying before?
And of course, he didn't know that Kawaki's feelings toward him were quite complex.
Deeply grateful and trusting of his only friend, who had saved him multiple times before.
Yet, deep down, he worried Boruto might be controlled by Momoshiki within him, affecting the plan and preventing him from saving Naruto.
That's why his feelings were tangled and complicated.
What else could he do? Kawaki's strategy was to stick as close to Boruto as possible, so if Boruto showed signs of losing control, he could stop him immediately.
Based on that, his request to sleep with Boruto was perfectly normal.
"Fine, do whatever you want."
Boruto reluctantly agreed. Sleeping anywhere was the same; for him, it was just a means to recover.
"Alright, I'll make sure you sleep soundly till morning!"
"…"
The two walked out of the Raikage Building, arms around each other's shoulders.
But as soon as they stepped out, they were stopped by another Edo Tensei figure in a red cloak.
"Uncle Itachi?"
"Uchiha Itachi?"
Itachi glanced at Kawaki, pleased that Boruto had a reliable comrade, but his target wasn't Kawaki.
"Boruto, do you have a moment?"
"Sure…"
"You and Sarada have a good relationship, right?"
"Yeah, we're teammates…"
"Good, then I'll trouble you to talk to me about my little niece!"
Itachi grabbed Boruto without further ado, dragging him off into the distance. No one craved information about his little niece more than this affection-starved, obsessive Uchiha uncle.
"Hey! Wait, Boruto is…"
Kawaki was shocked, rushing to chase after Boruto, but a second later, his eyes met Edo Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan.
Kawaki froze, as if Boruto was back by his side. He happily threw an arm around 'air Boruto,' walking toward a nearby temporary lodging.
Trust me, in the beautiful world of genjutsu, he'd have a joyful night!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Elsewhere.
In Kumogakure's laboratory.
Poor Daimon, his body severely burned and nearly reduced to rotting flesh, was receiving treatment here.
Surrounded by the two most abnormal and brilliant scientists in the world.
One was his creator, Amado, and the other, of course, Orochimaru.
With both of them there, Daimon's injuries were nothing.
By tomorrow morning, Daimon, the strongest android, would likely be bouncing around lively.
Due to massive energy consumption, severe injuries, and Amado's injected anesthesia, Daimon was now in a deep sleep, letting the two abnormal scientists do whatever they wanted to him.
"An android this powerful, and you didn't install any restrictions in his body? That's unreasonable."
While repairing Daimon's body, Orochimaru proactively asked Amado.
He'd thoroughly examined Daimon's body, so he understood it well.
Amado lit a cigarette and casually replied:
"It's not that I didn't want to install them; I couldn't."
"Any restrictions or modifications harmful to Daimon would be completely nullified or reflected when he comes into contact with others, activating his [Killing Intent Reflection]."
"So installing restrictions on him is utterly meaningless."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed, increasingly understanding the power of that so-called Divine Technique.
"There's still a way, right? For example, replacing his critical mechanical organs, like an artificial self-destructing heart. Once he activates reflection, removing the heart, he should die too, right?"
"Theoretically, yes, but if the installer gets hit by the reflection, they'd likely die too. I don't want to commit suicide."
"Let me do it! A little death like that is nothing to me!"
Orochimaru volunteered, completely unbothered by death.
Amado didn't stop him, only saying briefly:
"If you're not afraid of death, go ahead."
"But after replacing the heart, Daimon's power would weaken significantly, and he wouldn't be able to activate his strongest ability."
"Are you sure Uchiha Sasuke would need a defective android as a fighter?"
Hearing that, Orochimaru paused, then chuckled.
"True, Sasuke-kun doesn't need a defective android."
"Forget it then, too lazy to modify him."
"But, Amado-san, your understanding of the human body still isn't deep enough!"
"Restrictions that harm him get reflected, but what about ones that benefit him?"
Amado, listening to Orochimaru's explanation, felt a stir of doubt.
"What do you mean?"
"This."
As he spoke, Orochimaru injected a tiny remote-controlled nano-drug tube into Daimon's main artery.
"This?"
"Just a mix of stimulants and aphrodisiacs, harmless to the human body. Once released, it stimulates the central nervous system or alters physiological functions, temporarily boosting physical and mental states, releasing large amounts of sex hormones, thus enhancing athletic performance and physical arousal. For experienced users, it can improve condition and ability. But for an android child with no exposure, such stimulation and enhancement are enough to disrupt his perception and judgment, reducing his threat…"
Orochimaru explained in detail, as if reciting, hiding nothing.
"Sss… You—!"
Amado's scalp tingled, and he took a sharp breath.
He hadn't expected such a cunning trick—using positive enhancement drugs as a reverse restriction.
But make no mistake, theoretically, this could work!
After all, the drug wasn't a negative restriction, and Orochimaru had no killing intent.
"What if it fails or gets reflected back at you?"
"Then it's no issue. My body's already accustomed to these drugs, even resistant…"
"…"
Amado was speechless, only able to mentally give a thumbs-up to Konoha's mad scientist.
He had to admit, in detailed human body research, he was far outclassed by this man!
Moments later, Orochimaru proactively asked again.
"By the way, creating an android this powerful is no small feat!"
Sighing, he looked at Amado with gleaming eyes.
Amado replied calmly:
"It's not me who's strong; it's that Otsutsuki God. All androids' power comes from his genes. These androids merely replicate a fraction of his strength using those genes…"
"Remarkable! The genes of a true god, likely far surpassing Hashirama's cells. Do you have more?"
"All of Shibai's cells and genes are controlled by Isshiki. He closely monitors every experiment. I don't have any finished cells in my hands."
"Tch! That kind of lie might fool others. You and I are both biotech researchers. Stealing and hiding a small portion of test materials during experiments is easy. Tell me, right?"
Orochimaru glanced at Amado with a hint of cynicism, as if saying they were colleagues, so no need to bluff.
Back then, he'd secretly taken who-knows-how-many of Hashirama's cells under Danzō's nose. How could he not know the tricks?
At this, Amado fell silent again.
But often, silence is agreement.
"How about it, can you give me some?"
Orochimaru suppressed his excitement, deeply intrigued by the legendary Otsutsuki God's genes!
"For what?"
"So it's a trade? That makes it easier."
Orochimaru squinted and smiled brighter:
"Amado-san, I heard your wish is to revive your daughter, who died of a terminal illness?"
"Yes!"
He'd shared all his information with Sasuke, so it wasn't surprising Orochimaru knew.
"Then I can revive her now with Edo Tensei, letting you father and daughter reunite."
"Is that enough of a stake?"
"…"
Amado took a deep drag of his cigarette, staring deeply at Orochimaru before him, and didn't answer for a long time.