Over the next few days, Uchiha Hikari stayed in the palace, consulting with Miroku about training in "natural energy."
As it turned out, the training method Miroku used wasn't something Hikari could replicate. The technique was somewhat akin to a bloodline limit, requiring a specific lineage to work. For a thousand years, it had been passed down exclusively through the shrine maiden line, making it impossible to teach outsiders.
However…
This was where her training in "ki" from the Dragon Ball world started to pay off.
Back when Hikari first began learning "ki" under Master Roshi, Minato Namikaze had speculated that "ki" and natural energy shared some similarities, suggesting that it could make learning sage techniques easier down the line. Now, that theory was being proven true.
Thanks to her prior training, Hikari could sense natural energy around her with hardly any effort. She could even clearly "see" the differences in natural energy density across various areas.
But absorbing it? That was a process she approached with extreme caution.
In the Naruto world, natural energy was far more dangerous than "ki." One wrong move during absorption, and you'd end up as a stone statue. Even Naruto, the main character, nearly turned into a frog during his first attempt at Sage Mode.
So, Hikari had to be absolutely sure she wouldn't mess it up before trying.
Oh, and by the way…
According to Miroku, a thousand years ago, the concentration of natural energy was way higher than it is now.
That's why the first shrine maiden was overwhelmed by natural energy, leading her to create Moryo—a demon with power rivaling that of a tailed beast.
And the reason natural energy had dwindled so much over the millennium?
That would be the fault of the Ōtsutsuki clan.
Miroku explained, "According to ancient murals preserved in the Land of Demons, over a thousand years ago, a strange seed appeared on this continent. No one knows where it came from or when it first showed up, but it started as a tiny sprout and grew into a massive tree that connected heaven and earth. As it grew, it absorbed the natural energy of the world, nearly draining the land dry.
That is, until someone called the 'Goddess of the Rabbit' ate the fruit the tree bore, putting an end to the process."
"But that 'Goddess of the Rabbit' couldn't handle the immense power within the fruit. She lost control, wreaking havoc on the world until she was defeated and sealed away by the Sage of the Six Paths.
They say during that time, the heavens split, and the earth cracked. Fire rained from the sky, countless mountains were leveled, and new valleys rose from flat ground. The entire continent was torn into fragments, drifting to different corners of the world… The land we're standing on now is just one of the larger pieces."
As she spoke, Miroku placed a stack of scrolls on the table. "These are copies I made of the murals in the Land of Demons' underground chamber. You can take a look. If you want to see the originals, I can take you there."
"No need," Hikari replied, flipping through a few pages of the scrolls, lost in thought.
She knew the story of the "Goddess of the Rabbit" all too well.
Of course, she'd read about it in the Naruto manga.
But in the real ninja world, this was the first time she'd come across such an ancient record. Sure, it was incomplete—mentioning only the title "Goddess of the Rabbit" without naming Ōtsutsuki Kaguya or her connection to the Sage of the Six Paths and his brother—but it was still far older and more detailed than anything the Leaf Village or the Uchiha clan had.
In terms of historical preservation, the Land of Demons was clearly a cut above the Five Great Nations.
Miroku's words got Hikari thinking.
"So, where did the seed of the Divine Tree come from? Is there another one out there? If chakra originated from the Divine Tree, and the Divine Tree grew by absorbing the planet's natural energy… doesn't that mean chakra is just a derivative of natural energy?"
Hikari rubbed her chin, deep in thought.
A thousand years later, the Divine Tree was long gone. All that remained was the Gedō Statue in Nagato's possession and the nine tailed beasts scattered across the continent. Observing the Divine Tree's growth process was no longer possible.
But…
There were still some things made from the Divine Tree's materials.
If she remembered correctly, the Uchiha clan's "Uchiha Fan" was crafted from the tree's branches. And the Sage of the Six Paths' ninja tools—like the Banana Fan or the Rope of Clarity—were supposedly made from it too.
If she got the chance, maybe she could track those down and study them. Perhaps they held some of the Ōtsutsuki clan's secrets…
…
While Hikari focused on studying sage techniques, Kikyo was discussing sealing techniques with Minato, Eri was playing with Shion, and Esdeath was idly tending to some flowers out of boredom.
As for Tsunade…
Per their agreement, she was supposed to continue treating and monitoring Eri's condition.
But just a couple of days later, she slipped out to hit the casinos outside the city.
Yup. The Land of Demons had just paid her a hefty reward for sealing Moryo, and combined with the millions Hikari had given her as a deposit, it was quite the fortune. For a seasoned gambler like Tsunade, there was no way she'd sit on that kind of cash and quietly play doctor.
Thanks to her spectacular luck, though, it took her just two or three days to blow through nearly ten million, leaving her not only broke but a few million in debt to the casino. She slunk back, drowning her sorrows in sake.
Hikari found it kind of hilarious.
She even started wondering if she should have Orochimaru set up a trap at a casino in the Land of Rice Fields, lure Tsunade in, and scam her out of a few hundred million—leaving her no choice but to sign a contract to work off her debt.
In theory, the plan could actually work.
It was just… a bit shady.
If she really went through with it, the next time the Senju brothers were reanimated with Edo Tensei, they'd probably point at her and yell, "You evil little Uchiha brat!"
Hmm… that scene might actually be pretty entertaining to see.
Hikari pictured it and couldn't help but chuckle.
That afternoon, after one final consultation about natural energy, Hikari's curiosity got the better of her, and she asked Miroku about the "prophecy" thing.
"I heard that the shrine maidens of the Land of Demons have the ability to see the future. Is that true?"
Miroku thought for a moment before nodding. "Yes. The shrine maiden's 'prophecy ability' manifests through visions. Usually, when we meet someone for the first time, we see a few glimpses of their future—especially the moment of their death.
The accuracy depends on how far into the future it is. Generally, we can predict things clearly within about two years. Beyond that, it starts to get blurry."
"What about me? Have you seen my future?" Hikari asked, pointing to herself.
"I'm sorry, but… not anymore."
"Not anymore?"
Miroku hesitated before explaining slowly, "When I first met you and your companions, I did see a few visions. One of them was you lying in a cold, dark valley, drained of all your chakra and dead… But that image vanished almost instantly. After that, even when I tried to use my prophecy ability on you, all I could see was a blank void."
"A valley?" Hikari's eyes narrowed.
Could it be…
Was Miroku seeing the original timeline's Uchiha Hikari, who woke up during the Boruto era, only to be used and indirectly killed by Mitsuki?
Hikari pressed for more details and confirmed that was indeed the scene Miroku had seen.
Not only that, but Miroku had also glimpsed Esdeath being killed by a cursed poison, Kikyo being taken down by Naraku, Eri dying at the hands of the Holy Skeleton, and even Tsunade being sliced in half by Susanoo. Every single one of those visions had flashed briefly before fading into nothingness.
"I'm not entirely sure," Miroku said carefully, "but I think it means your futures have been changed. You're no longer bound by predetermined fates, so my prophecies can't see you anymore."
"Hmm…" Hikari nodded thoughtfully.
It made sense.
Aside from herself, Eri, Kikyo, and the others were all supposed to die according to their original stories—and soon. Esdeath, for instance, only had a few months left in her original timeline.
But the moment the chat group brought Hikari into the worlds of Inuyasha, Dragon Clan, and Akame ga Kill!, their fates started to shift, intertwining with hers. Under those circumstances, no one could predict what their futures held.
(So, the shrine maiden's prophecies are a lot like the Great Toad Sage's, huh? Both are about observing so-called 'destiny.' I wonder if there's some higher being in this world pulling the strings of fate?)
Hikari mulled it over for a bit before asking Miroku a few more questions. Once she confirmed the prophecy ability was an innate talent that couldn't be taught or trained, she gave up on trying to learn it.
…
After spending about ten days in the Land of Demons, soaking in the local culture and sampling all kinds of unique cuisine, Hikari and her group said their goodbyes and prepared to leave.
Before they left, Miroku solemnly handed Hikari a small bell.
"Lady Hikari, this bell is an heirloom passed down through generations of shrine maidens. It's infused with the spiritual energy of every maiden, including mine. Keep it with you. It might offer some inspiration for your sage technique training."
"…Thank you," Hikari said, raising an eyebrow in surprise before accepting the bell with both hands.
She was still figuring out how to safely absorb natural energy, but she could sense the immense power sealed within the bell. If she could fully absorb it, her strength might skyrocket.
On the flip side, losing the bell would likely weaken Miroku significantly. If Moryo broke free again, she might not even be able to seal it, even at the cost of her life.
For both Miroku and the Land of Demons, this was an incredibly precious gift.
In return, Hikari pulled out a few Senzu Beans, wrapped them in a silk cloth, and handed them to Miroku.
"These are called 'Senzu Beans.' They're miraculous beans that can heal any injury and restore stamina instantly. Consider them my thank-you gift. Also, if Moryo reappears or the Land of Demons runs into any trouble you can't handle, just send me a letter. If I've got the time, I'll swing by."
"?!"
Miroku's eyes widened slightly. After politely declining a few times, she accepted the beans with heartfelt gratitude.
Meanwhile, Tsunade gave Hikari a skeptical look. "Those beans… are they really that miraculous? Healing any injury? That sounds like my Creation Rebirth technique."
"Pretty much," Hikari replied.
In her opinion, Creation Rebirth was a step below Senzu Beans.
You'd need something like Hashirama Senju's passive healing or Karin and her mother's "Healing Sacred Body" to even compare.
At that moment, Miroku, Shion, and Endo Sakumo stood together, watching as Hikari and her group walked off into the distance.
When they were nearly out of sight, Hikari turned to Tsunade. "So, Tsunade, have you decided where you're headed? Wanna swing by my research institute? That thirty-million-a-year offer's still on the table, you know. And if you do well, there's a bonus in it for you."
"…Gulp."
The word "bonus" made Tsunade swallow hard. She coughed and said, "That's a big decision. I need to think it over… But when it comes to treating Eri, I promise I'll give it my all. If needed, I can exchange letters with Orochimaru to discuss our research progress."
For Tsunade, who was now millions in debt, thirty million a year was tempting.
But working with Orochimaru, a rogue ninja, gave her pause. So, she settled on collaborating only on Eri's condition. Compared to her flat-out refusal a few days ago, though, this was progress. With a bit more time, she might lower her guard even further.
Hikari wasn't worried about Tsunade disappearing—she'd already left her mark.
At a fork in the road, Hikari stopped and waved goodbye to Tsunade.
Tsunade, with Shizune in tow, headed off in one direction.
Hikari turned to Kikyo. "What about you, Kikyo? Got any plans? Wanna come hang out at my place? Think of it as a chance to unwind."
"…Sure," Kikyo said after a brief pause, nodding.