"Oh?" Uchiha Hikari's eyes flickered as she turned to Tsunade. "Spill the details."
"Uh…" Tsunade hesitated. Her knowledge was limited, even less than what the street vendor had shared a few days ago. She'd only come across the name "Moryo" in an old Konoha scroll and knew next to nothing about it.
Endo Sakumo was in the same boat.
After all, Moryo's last appearance was centuries ago, long before Konoha or even Hikari existed. After years of war and upheaval, records were fragmented, and what little remained was passed down through oral tradition.
"…But Lady Miroku should know more. She's a direct descendant of the shrine maiden who sealed Moryo back then," Endo offered.
"Is that so?" Hikari mused. "Then let's go meet your Lady Miroku."
"…Alright." Endo nodded instinctively, then glanced at Tsunade with slight hesitation. "Is that also your intention, Lady Tsunade?"
"Absolutely not," Tsunade said flatly. "I just happened to run into her here; we're not connected otherwise. But if she's willing to help, that's probably better for you."
"Huh?" Endo blinked.
"What's with the 'huh'?" Tsunade huffed. "You didn't think she was my student, did you? This young lady is the head of Konoha's Uchiha clan. Even the Third Hokage gives her respect, let alone a Sannin like me. If she steps in, whether it's Moryo or some other monster, it'll be dealt with easily."
"...?" Hikari raised an eyebrow.
What's this? Throwing me under the bus with flattery?
But she quickly caught the glint in Tsunade's evasive eyes and pieced it together.
Alright, fine.
Tsunade was hyping her up to offload the Moryo mess onto her.
Though Hikari's "Yasaka Magatama" had forcibly "cured" Tsunade's hemophobia, without the original story's argument with Naruto about the Hokage title, Tsunade was still in her slacker mindset. She didn't see herself as a Sannin and had no interest in getting tangled in something that screamed trouble.
If Hikari weren't here, Tsunade would've already found a way to slip out.
"Come on, Lady Tsunade, you're too kind," Hikari said with a playful smirk. "I'm just an ordinary Uchiha. How could my reputation compare to the legendary Sannin?" She paused, then added pointedly, "By the way, I paid for a month of your guidance and medical services, and there's still about twenty million in outstanding fees. You wouldn't want to miss out on that payment, would you?"
Their deal had been verbal, with Hikari paying a small deposit upfront. The bulk of the payment was still in her hands, to be settled once the deal was complete. Given Hikari's status as the Uchiha clan's "grand matriarch," Tsunade never worried about her defaulting.
But now…
Tsunade's expression grew strained.
Hikari smiled faintly. "Don't worry, I won't stiff you. But you've got to hold up your end of the bargain, right?"
"…" Tsunade fell silent, then let out a resigned sigh.
Endo, meanwhile, didn't quite follow their exchange but kept his mouth shut, waiting for the outcome.
"Let's go," Hikari said.
"Go where?" Tsunade asked.
"To the capital, obviously." Hikari glanced at Endo. "Which direction is it, and how far?"
"…Due north, about seventy kilometers," Endo replied after a moment. "We've prepared fast horses. If you're ready to leave, we can go now. We meant to bring a carriage, but time was short, and the situation's urgent. Please forgive us."
"No problem," Hikari said. "Just give me a moment."
She excused herself to Endo and his group, then headed downstairs to fetch Esdeath and Kikyo. Once everyone was gathered, she signaled them to stand close together. Raising her wristwatch, she activated "Shangri-La."
As her mental energy poured in, a soft purple glow bloomed, forming a massive teleportation array beneath their feet.
In a flash of light, before anyone could fully process what was happening, their vision blurred. When it cleared, the inn's room was gone, replaced by a sprawling courtyard surrounded by high walls and palatial buildings.
Spear-wielding guards stationed around the palace noticed their arrival. After a brief moment of shock, they approached.
"?!" Tsunade froze.
It took her a good two or three seconds to whirl around, staring at Hikari in disbelief. "What was that technique… Flying Thunder God?!"
During her last visit to Konoha, Tsunade had heard detailed reports from Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya about Hikari—her awakening, her slaying of Danzo, and the grand ceremony welcoming her back to the Uchiha clan. They'd also mentioned that Hikari knew Minato Namikaze.
To be honest, Tsunade thought it was far-fetched.
Thanks to Kato Dan's influence, she knew a bit about souls and their state after death. If Minato had died normally and his soul resided in the Pure Land, it might be plausible that Hikari, sealed in a half-dead state, could've encountered his spirit. But Minato's soul was sealed by the Reaper Death Seal, consumed by the Shinigami. How could he interact with the outside world?
Yet… if she hadn't met Minato, how could she use Flying Thunder God?
"Wait…" Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "When you activated that array, there was no sign of chakra. The power came from that thing on your wrist. What is it, a ninja tool?"
Hikari smiled lightly. "Exactly. It's a ninja tool inscribed with the Flying Thunder God formula."
"?" Tsunade wasn't fully convinced.
Of course, Hikari wasn't about to reveal the truth about her Imperial Arms. "Ninja tool" was a convenient cover.
Tsunade, skeptical but unable to press further, let it go.
Esdeath, however, squinted at Kikyo and Eri, as if something clicked, but she said nothing.
"Who are you, intruding on the palace—Lord Endo, is that you?" a guard called out.
"It's me," Endo confirmed.
After a brief exchange with the guards, he turned respectfully to Hikari and Tsunade. "Ladies, this is the palace of the Land of Demons. Lady Miroku awaits inside. Please follow me."
"Lead the way," Hikari said.
Guided by Endo, they crossed the courtyard to a residence at the palace's heart.
The palace's architecture had a distinct Shinto influence, especially Miroku's residence. The entrance featured a row of vermilion torii gates adorned with white shimenawa ropes. A quaint stone path, covered in soft moss, led to a wooden house, flanked by ancient trees so thick it took three or four people to encircle them. Their dense canopies blocked most sunlight, casting dappled, surreal patterns on the ground.
As they passed, Hikari spotted a small figure with pale white hair clutching a ball, peeking shyly from the courtyard, flanked by a few guards.
"That's Lady Miroku's daughter, Lady Shion," Endo explained.
"Oh…" Hikari, already familiar with the girl's name, gave her a few extra glances.
(Hmm… she does look a bit like Hinata.)
(Pretty cute, though. Maybe I'll bring Naruto to meet her sometime…)
In a matter of moments, they entered the main hall, where the shrine maiden Miroku awaited by the throne.
Miroku was young, barely in her early twenties—fitting, since her daughter Shion was only a few years old. She wore a flowing white robe, her long white hair loosely tied back, crowned with a pure gold tiara. She carried an air of regal authority, arguably more imposing than the Third Hokage.
Well… maybe her youthful beauty helped. A twenty-something queen was undeniably more striking than a sixty-something old man.
"Lady Miroku, Lady Tsunade has arrived, along with Lady Hikari, head of the Uchiha clan," Endo introduced.
Miroku visibly paused at the name "Uchiha Hikari."
In Konoha, Hikari was a known figure. Aside from people like Might Guy, who couldn't remember names, or civilians out of the loop, most knew the Uchiha clan had gained a "grand matriarch" and had heard rumors of her deeds. Outside Konoha, though, her name was far less recognized compared to titles like "Sannin" or "Senju Princess."
Still, Miroku bowed politely, her tone warm. "I'm Miroku, shrine maiden of the Land of Demons. I've long admired your reputations and am honored to meet you today. Please, make yourselves at home. I'll explain everything about Moryo."
They settled onto tatami mats along the hall's sides. Servants soon brought fragrant tea and snacks.
Eri nibbled a pastry, her pale face lighting up with delight. She turned to Hikari, holding up her notebook with "Delicious!" written on it, then offered her another piece.
"…Thanks, I can manage," Hikari said.
"It's fine!" Eri insisted.
Unable to resist, Hikari let Eri feed her small bites, then giggled as the girl wiped crumbs from her mouth with the back of her hand.
Their little interaction went mostly unnoticed.
Esdeath gave them a cold glance before looking away, picking up a pastry and chewing it slowly. "…Not bad," she muttered.
Meanwhile, Miroku began her explanation.
"I'm sorry for summoning you so suddenly, but the Land of Demons is in a dire situation. If we don't deal with Moryo quickly, its devastation could spread beyond our borders and engulf the entire ninja world."
"…That serious?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it just a powerful demon?"
"It's more than that," Miroku said gravely. "Moryo can't be killed, much like a tailed beast. Even shrine maidens like us, with powers to counter it, can only seal it temporarily. Over time, the seal weakens, and someone always tries to release it…
According to our records and murals, Moryo can use the corpses of those it kills to create ghost-like monsters. They fear no death and slaughter everything in their path, spreading like a virus. If we don't seal it soon, the 'Ghost Corps' will multiply rapidly, bringing unimaginable disaster to the world."
"…" Hikari's eyes narrowed.
She'd seen Moryo and its Ghost Corps in the anime. For most people, even ninjas, they were a nightmare. Even elite Jonin like Kakashi and Might Guy couldn't permanently destroy the puppet-like soldiers; they'd shatter them, only for the pieces to reform moments later.
But… their traits reminded her of Esdeath's ice knights. Both were essentially immortal. What if the ice knights went up against the Ghost Corps?
With that thought, Hikari nudged Esdeath lightly and whispered, "Hey, Esdeath, quick question… How many ice knights can you make at once?"