Naturally, Uchiha Su could not fully understand the methods Uzumaki Ashina was using either.
From Su's perspective, the old patriarch simply formed several hand seals, closed his eyes briefly, and then began walking slowly in a specific direction. His movements appeared calm and deliberate, as though he were following an invisible path that only he could sense.
The rest of the group followed him without question.
After walking for several minutes through the quiet wilderness, they arrived at a small hill covered with sparse grass and scattered stones. The place looked ordinary and unremarkable, with no signs that anything significant lay hidden beneath it.
Uzumaki Ashina stopped at the foot of the hill.
He placed one hand on his chin and looked thoughtfully at the ground before finally turning toward Uchiha Su.
"I can sense it," he said slowly. "Your Uchiha ancestor should be sealed somewhere beneath this hill."
Uchiha Su nodded slightly.
"I understand."
He glanced casually toward Uchiha En and the members of the Kaguya Clan.
"Well then," Su said lazily, stretching his arms. "Now it's time for you all to be useful."
He pointed toward the hill.
"Dig it up."
The command was simple and direct.
Uchiha En immediately took two fellow clan members and began performing earth-style ninjutsu to break apart the ground. Meanwhile, the members of the Kaguya Clan had little choice but to assist.
Although they were powerful shinobi, they found themselves acting like construction workers under Uchiha Su's tyrannical supervision.
Chunks of soil and stone were rapidly removed as ninjutsu shook the ground. The once peaceful hill began collapsing layer by layer under the relentless excavation.
Meanwhile, Kaguya Takuma stood behind Uchiha Su with a solemn expression.
The young boy held the Kusanagi sword "Shimizu", which was taller than he was. His small hands gripped the weapon tightly as he kept his eyes fixed on Uzumaki Ashina.
Even though Ashina appeared calm, Takuma clearly considered him a potential threat.
Uchiha Su noticed the tension but did not comment on it.
Instead, he turned his attention back to the Uzumaki patriarch.
"What sealing technique did your ancestor use?" Su asked curiously.
His interest was genuine.
After all, Uchiha Hikari had been sealed for hundreds of years, yet her body and appearance had remained unchanged. Such a technique must have been incredibly advanced.
What kind of sealing method could freeze time itself?
Uzumaki Ashina's expression immediately stiffened.
"No comment," he replied flatly.
Su shrugged.
"Fine. If you don't want to say it, that's your choice."
He folded his arms.
"Honestly, I wasn't that interested anyway."
Ashina merely snorted quietly.
The excavation continued.
After nearly two hours of relentless work, the entire hill had been leveled.
At the center of the exposed ground, something finally appeared.
A girl.
She lay peacefully within the earth as if sleeping.
Her eyes were tightly closed, and she wore a blue dress that looked strangely pristine despite the centuries that had passed. Metal shackles remained fastened around her ankles, their chains embedded deep within the soil.
Her appearance was that of a young girl no older than eleven or twelve.
Uzumaki Ashina stared at the sight in disbelief.
"So small…" he murmured.
"Is this truly an ancestor of the Uchiha Clan?"
For a moment, the old patriarch felt his face grow warm with embarrassment.
Was it really necessary for three powerful clans—the Senju, Sarutobi, and Uzumaki—to cooperate in order to seal such a young girl?
Uchiha Su smiled faintly.
"She's the real thing," he said.
"Now do you understand why I mentioned atonement earlier?"
Ashina shivered slightly.
He stepped forward with a solemn expression and began forming hand seals rapidly.
His fingers moved with extraordinary precision.
"Sealing Technique… Release!"
The final seal snapped into place.
A faint surge of chakra spread through the ground.
Slowly, the girl opened her eyes.
For the first time in centuries, sunlight touched her face.
The sudden brightness made her squint instinctively. She raised a hand slightly as if to shield her eyes, blinking repeatedly while adjusting to the light.
After a moment, her gaze began to move.
She carefully observed the figures standing around her.
First, she noticed an elderly man wearing the crest of the Uzumaki Clan.
Next, several tall ninjas stood nearby, each bearing two red markings on their foreheads.
Then she saw something that caused her body to tense instantly.
A young boy stood directly in front of her.
He wore the deep blue, high-collared robe characteristic of the Uchiha Clan.
Behind him stood another child, nervously holding a long sword that was taller than his own body.
Behind that boy were three more ninjas wearing the same Uchiha robes.
In an instant, countless possibilities flashed through the girl's mind.
Yet her face remained completely expressionless.
Uchiha Su stepped forward calmly.
He stopped beside her and spoke gently.
"Should I call you Nanashi… or Hikari?"
The girl slowly closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, a powerful chakra surged through her pupils.
The Mangekyō Sharingan appeared instantly.
Its pattern resembled three strange road signs arranged in a triangular formation.
"Mangekyō?!" Uchiha En gasped.
The other Uchiha ninjas stared in disbelief.
They looked at Uchiha Hikari.
Then they looked at Uchiha Su, who also possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan.
For a moment, they felt as though all the years of their own lives had been wasted.
Meanwhile, the girl finally spoke.
"Call me Nanashi."
Uchiha Su smiled warmly.
"Welcome back, Hikari."
He extended his hand toward her.
"In my capacity as the Uchiha Clan Head, I welcome you back to the Uchiha family."
His tone was gentle, and his gaze held a sincere warmth that was difficult to describe.
For a brief moment, Hikari hesitated.
Almost unconsciously, she began reaching out her hand.
But the moment she heard him mention that he was the Uchiha Clan Head, she instinctively tried to withdraw it.
Unfortunately, Su was faster.
He grasped her hand before she could pull away.
Hikari's eyes narrowed slightly.
Chakra began stirring within her body.
However, after being sealed for centuries, the chakra remaining inside her was extremely limited.
"Don't worry," Su said softly.
"The Uchiha Clan is currently under my command."
"As for those stubborn elders… well, they all stayed behind in Konoha. They chose not to leave with us."
His voice became increasingly gentle.
"So you don't have to worry anymore."
"From now on, the clan will not treat you as a weapon stripped of its name."
Hikari stared at him silently.
It was difficult for her to believe such words could come from the mouth of an Uchiha Clan Head.
And this clan head was just a child.
Her gaze drifted toward a flower blooming nearby.
"If I cannot serve as a weapon," she asked quietly, "what purpose is there for me to live?"
Su paused briefly before answering.
"Life itself may not have an inherent meaning."
"But as long as you continue living, you will eventually encounter things that interest you."
He gestured toward the flower.
"Perhaps it's discovering a flower."
"Or perhaps it's meeting someone new."
"Like you meeting me."
He delivered the words with perfect composure, borrowing the philosophy that Orochimaru would someday use to recruit Kimimaro.
Hikari remained silent.
However, someone else reacted strongly.
"Lord Su!" Kaguya Takuma shouted excitedly.
"Those words are incredibly philosophical! Even if I were to die right now, I would have no regrets!"
Uchiha Su turned around with a strange expression.
Did such speeches have a special effect on members of the Kaguya Clan?
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Su replied.
"A miserable life is still better than a glorious death."
"Besides, how old are you to be thinking about dying already?"
Takuma immediately straightened his posture.
"Yes, Lord Su!"
Su turned back to Hikari.
"So," he said gently, "would you like to come home with me first?"
"If staying there doesn't suit you, you're free to leave anytime."
"I won't stop you."
Hikari lowered her head.
Her gaze fell upon a light purple hyacinth swaying gently in the wind.
The breeze carried its fragrance through the air.
For a moment, she remembered something.
Her mother had once told her that the hyacinth symbolized rebirth—the rekindling of life's flame.
Yet strangely…
She could no longer remember her mother's face.
Nor could she clearly recall her father's appearance.
She remembered their voices.
She remembered their warmth.
But their faces had faded from her memory.
After a long silence, Hikari finally spoke.
"I will go back with you."
Uchiha Su smiled brightly.
"Welcome home."
At that moment, a system notification echoed quietly within Su's mind.
[Mission Completed: Save Uchiha Hikari]
[Mission Reward: Summoning Beast – Justice Colossus Galio]
Su immediately felt the new power within him.
He could summon Galio at any time—even without forming hand seals.
Just like Hashirama, he only needed to clap his hands.
Then Su looked up at the sky.
The sun had begun descending toward the horizon.
"It seems we can still return to Uzu Shio Village before nightfall," he said thoughtfully.
"We should arrive with two or three hours to spare."
Uzumaki Ashina's expression darkened slightly.
"Aren't you supposed to return to the Hidden Mist Village to seal the Tailed Beast?" he said dryly.
"If you arrive too late and someone else captures it first… that would certainly be quite an amusing situation."
His tone clearly indicated that he did not particularly welcome these unexpected visitors to remain in his village for long.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)