Spring turned to summer, summer to autumn, autumn to winter.
Two full years had passed since the complete relocation of Fuji Village.
During these two years, with Konoha's assistance and the geographical advantage of bordering the Land of Fire, Nadeshiko Village rapidly completed its reconstruction. Large numbers of local vagrants and refugees were absorbed, and the village's population quickly surged past fifty thousand.
However, due to the short amount of time, the number of trained shinobi had not increased proportionally—only around three thousand.
But that was already enough.
After all, the Land of Fire itself was their strongest backing.
After Tsubaki and Jiraiya confirmed their feelings by the river that night, Jiraiya remained in Nadeshiko Village for a long time. He took responsibility for border security along the Land of Fire and assisted with village construction.
The only problem was that the man simply couldn't control his eyes.
From time to time, he would be distracted by other female ninja in Nadeshiko Village—and every single time, he would be rewarded with Tsubaki's iron fist (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻.
During these same two years, Uchiha Hikaru traveled throughout the ninja world, making use of various extreme environments to further refine his abilities.
At this point, aside from Yin–Yang Release, he could freely wield all other chakra natures.
Not only that—he simplified the techniques and passed them on to Konoha's top combat forces, including Tsunade, Kabuto, Kakashi, Itachi, and others.
Jiraiya had once tried to learn them as well, but quickly discovered that they conflicted with the natural energy of Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode, making it nearly impossible to use both simultaneously. He eventually gave up.
Another person who abandoned the training was Orochimaru.
That man had used the remains of Ōtsutsuki Urashiki, transplanting the cells into his own body. He was already showing signs of awakening the Rinnegan, and—much like when Hikaru's eyes first evolved—he kept them covered with a ribbon.
As expected of Snake Uncle.
Men who mastered core technology were truly built different.
As for Uchiha Hikaru himself, he was currently in the territory of the Land of Snow, together with his Second Uncle, Senju Tobirama.
"Second Uncle, how is your research on the chakra armor coming along?"
Inside the laboratory, Tobirama—his Impure World Reincarnation body requiring neither food nor rest—was focused on modifying the armor laid out on the worktable.
Only then did he stop, remove his protective goggles, and toss the tools aside.
"It's basically complete," Tobirama said calmly.
"I never imagined someone capable of creating such a device would appear in the Land of Snow."
"It's a pity the original design was still too crude. Even so, the core alone allows a Chūnin to reach Jōnin-level combat power—without relying on curse marks or external seals."
Hikaru glanced at the heavily modified chakra armor behind him, its original appearance completely unrecognizable now, and shook his head regretfully.
"The original inventor was killed by Doto Kazahana."
"He was afraid that once others obtained this power, they'd believe themselves invincible just by wearing the armor."
Tobirama sighed quietly, mourning the loss of a rare scientific genius.
"Using the original core, I integrated Uzumaki sealing techniques and modified curse formulas."
"This armor can either use specialized chakra ore or pre-store chakra inside its sealing array."
"The more chakra stored, the greater the enhancement."
Hikaru frowned slightly.
"That's still too vague."
"Using Kakashi as a reference—how much chakra can it store?"
Tobirama paused, thinking.
"Kakashi… Hatake Sakumo's son?"
"If we use him as the benchmark, the limit of this mass-production version is roughly equivalent to three Kakashis."
Hikaru froze.
"…What?"
Three Kakashis' worth of chakra?
And this was the mass-production version?
"Mass-production?" Hikaru asked reflexively.
Tobirama turned and patted the armor.
"Yes. This is the first-generation universal model. The manufacturing process is actually simpler than Konoha's assembly lines."
"I stored three 'cards' worth of chakra—roughly one will be lost during combat."
"Most of the seals are B-rank, with only one A-rank curse formula. Any competent sealing team could replicate it."
"I plan to design several restricted versions using forbidden-level seals."
"Of course, that requires far better materials—otherwise the armor won't withstand the strain."
"When that day comes…"
"I will personally step on Uchiha Madara and grind him into the ground."
Tobirama clenched his fist, old resentment flickering in his eyes.
Hikaru could only sigh inwardly.
This white-haired ghost was truly born hostile to Uchiha.
Even now, he still couldn't let go of the fact that Madara's soul had escaped sealing and returned to the Pure Land.
What a sin.
After storing the laboratory equipment inside sealing scrolls, Hikaru and Tobirama went to meet the current daimyo of the Land of Snow—Koyuki Kazahana.
Inside the daimyo's residence, Koyuki wore a light green and blue kimono. The loose fabric concealed much, yet still hinted at her graceful figure. Sadness lingered faintly in her eyes.
"President… Nidaime Hokage," she said softly.
"Are you preparing to depart?"
Hikaru nodded.
"The Land of Snow has stabilized. The Ninja Association system is already in place."
"After we return, Konoha will send personnel to assist with long-term operations."
"Please rest assured, Your Highness."
Koyuki forced a faint smile.
This wasn't what she wanted to hear.
As a ruler, she was grateful for her country's peace.
But as a woman… her heart ached.
Was it possible that Uchiha Hikaru truly felt nothing for her at all?
He was, after all, the strongest shinobi alive. Rumors already circulated about his ambiguous relationships with powerful women.
Perhaps someone like her was simply insignificant.
She watched silently as Hikaru and Tobirama departed.
Only when they reached the gates did Hikaru pause and turn back.
"Ah—one more thing, Your Highness."
"Since the Land of Snow has joined the Ninja Association, please remember to attend next year's Chūnin Exams."
"They'll be held in Konoha mid-year. We'd be honored to have you observe."
Koyuki's tears stopped mid-fall.
She laughed softly.
"I will be there as promised, President."
On the merchant ship's deck, gazing out over the sea, Tobirama suddenly glared at Hikaru.
"How does a naturally evil Uchiha brat like you leave romantic debts everywhere?"
"The Uchiha are supposed to love obsessively—single-minded to the extreme."
"I truly don't understand how your Mangekyō awakened."
Hikaru stared at the floating icebergs.
"Second Uncle, that just means you don't understand Uchiha enough."
"You see only the iceberg above the surface."
"There's far more hidden below."
Tobirama frowned.
"You can say my strength is inferior to my brother's or Madara's—but don't say I don't understand Uchiha."
"No one understands them better than I do!"
Hikaru chuckled softly.
"Then you should understand this."
"The Uchiha love more deeply than anyone."
"And that depth can destroy us."
"So I divided my heart—so it wouldn't collapse into obsession."
"Coincidentally…"
"Each piece was picked up by a different woman."
"Ah~ I can't help it. I love too deeply."
Tobirama nearly kicked him into the sea.
Despicable. Shameless.
He stormed into the cabin and slammed the door shut.
Three days later, Hikaru and Tobirama returned to Konoha.
That very day, Tobirama reported Hikaru's shameless philosophy to Tsunade.
That night—
After finishing physical training with Uchiha Saya, Hikaru lay down to rest when something heavy suddenly pressed onto him.
Moonlight revealed Tsunade's face.
"A heart divided into petals, hm?"
"Let me count them."
"Tonight—either you die, or I do."
An unprecedented duel erupted.
It lasted until dawn.
And even Uchiha Hikaru, watching from the sidelines at first, was dragged into the chaos (╯﹏╰).
"I'm dying… I'm dying…"
"Let me breathe… I surrender, okay?!"
In the end, the battle concluded with the defeat of the Fifth Hokage.
Uchiha Hikaru—
Truly was the strongest man in the ninja world.
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