Sakura Haruno stepped across the water's surface toward the stone monument on the small patch of land at the center of the pool. With a swift motion, she brushed aside the dense tangle of ivy, revealing intricate runes that came into view.
"What's this?" Naruto, ever the curious child, stared at the incomprehensible scribbles.
"It's a sealing technique from the Uzumaki clan," Sakura explained.
"It looks like a pretty advanced one, too," Karin added, prompting Naruto to fall into thought.
Uzumaki, huh? That's my clan.
Beyond the runes that left Naruto baffled, Sasuke discovered an inscription on the back of the monument, detailing its history.
Year 654 of the Warring States Period: Senju, Uzumaki, and Sarutobi clans sealed an Uchiha weapon here.
To those who come after: stay far from this place. Should it break free, the consequences will be dire.
Sealers: Senju Tobirama, Uzumaki Mumei, Sarutobi Mayu.
"These three were probably the clan leaders at the time," Sakura remarked from behind Sasuke.
She didn't recognize Uzumaki Mumei or Sarutobi Mayu, but the name Senju Tobirama—infamous and full of quirks—had crossed her path multiple times.
"So, do we open it or not?" Sasuke hesitated. He had initially planned to retrieve what he thought was the Uchiha clan's ultimate weapon, but this inscription didn't sound like it described a mere sword or tool.
It felt more like something alive.
Especially that phrase: should it break free.
Could it be something like a Tailed Beast?
"We're already here," Sakura said dismissively, waving her hand. "Open it."
Others might not know what was inside, but how could she not? A so-called "hundreds-of-years-old" Uchiha great-grandma who was, in truth, only twelve.
Seeing Sakura's nonchalant attitude, Sasuke's resolve solidified.
Let's do this!
Even if it was a Tailed Beast, what was there to fear with him and Sakura around? Sakura could pummel a Tailed Beast into submission, and he had just awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan. Even if it was the Eight-Tails they'd encountered before, Sasuke was confident they could take it down together.
"Let's dig!" Naruto shouted, pulling a prepared shovel from his sealing scroll.
Each of the four—Sakura, Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin—grabbed a spade and began digging around the monument. Unfortunately, none of them knew Earth Release techniques, so they had to resort to this primitive method. Though Sakura possessed Earth Release chakra, the only technique she'd learned from Hiruzen Sarutobi was Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall. To avoid damaging the "Uchiha great-grandma," she hadn't planned to use ninjutsu from the start.
As the four dug deeper, the monument began to loosen. Karin made a copy of the sealing runes, and Sakura tossed the monument into the pool with a splash.
Clang!
A metallic sound rang out as Naruto's shovel struck something hard. The group's eyes lit up, and they quickened their pace.
As their efforts intensified, an iron coffin gradually came into view.
"A coffin?!" Naruto exclaimed, stunned.
"Is something weird gonna pop out of this?" Karin muttered, adjusting her glasses instinctively.
"Zombies!" Naruto yelped, his face turning green. "A centuries-old zombie!"
"What are you scared of?" Sasuke scoffed at Naruto's overreaction. "It's just kids' stories. Even if there is a zombie, you think it could beat us?"
Sasuke dismissed the idea of a mere iron coffin being anything special. His earlier hopes of finding a divine weapon were dashed—clearly, this was no blade or tool.
It was highly likely a person was inside.
But after centuries, even the mightiest warrior would be reduced to bones. Sasuke's excitement waned.
Sakura, ignoring Naruto and Sasuke, was eager to open the coffin. They'd come all this way in the middle of the night to dig up a coffin—knowing what was inside didn't dampen her anticipation.
My little Hikari-chan, let your big sis pinch those cheeks!
A cryptic smile played on her lips as she pushed open the coffin lid with her unparalleled strength.
The figure inside was revealed to everyone.
Cascading black hair, delicate features with a hint of baby fat, and a navy-blue Uchiha clan outfit… Moonlight streamed into the valley, illuminating the girl's serene sleeping face, a stark contrast to the mud-caked, dirt-smeared faces of Sakura's group.
"She's… beautiful," Naruto murmured, staring at the "centuries-old zombie." He reached out, wanting to poke her cheek.
Smack!
Karin swatted his hand away. "What do you think you're doing?!" she snapped, glaring at him. Taking advantage of a sleeping girl? Despicable!
"I just wanted to see if she's still alive!" Naruto whined, looking wronged.
Sakura's sharp eyes noticed something: as the coffin opened, the Uchiha girl's chest began to rise and fall steadily.
This coffin is special!
As a top-tier medical ninja, Sakura could tell at a glance that this Uchiha Hikari was just an ordinary human. If she was a regular Uchiha, the secret to her centuries-long survival had to lie in the coffin itself.
What a treasure! I'm taking this coffin back with me!
At that moment, the girl's long eyelashes fluttered slightly, causing Sasuke to hold his breath.
A clan member. A living clan member!
In that instant, Sasuke desperately hoped she would wake up. He was so lonely, despite his teammates. Every time he returned to the desolate Uchiha compound, that oppressive silence and solitude clung to him like an unshakable shadow.
Just then, Naruto, in his infinite wisdom, piped up: "Sasuke, can I borrow her for a couple of days?"
What?!
"You looking to die?!" Sasuke's murderous glare shut Naruto up instantly. He'd just blurted it out without thinking.
"Who… are you?" The girl in the coffin finally opened her eyes.
It was as if she'd awakened from a long dream.
Her father, her mother—dead. She had awakened the legendary power of the Uchiha, only to have her clan forcibly transplant her dojutsu. The surgery was excruciating, yet the usually kind clan members showed no mercy.
She was thrown onto the battlefield.
Kill, kill, kill.
Endless killing.
Blood soaked her, madness consumed her heart. All she knew was to swing her blade, again and again.
Then three people sealed her away…
Darkness enveloped her, loneliness her only companion…
Now, the dream was over.
"You… are you an Uchiha too?" Sasuke's voice trembled as he spoke, reaching out to touch her, to feel her warmth, to prove he wasn't alone anymore. The Uchiha clan wasn't just him now…
"You…" The girl's attention shifted to Sasuke's unusual behavior.
"Filthy Uchiha brat!" she spat suddenly, sitting up and lunging for his throat.
Thwack!
Before she could finish, a precise chop from Sakura landed on the back of her neck. The newly awakened Uchiha Hikari collapsed limply in less than a second.
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