A small river, more than a hundred li away from the Uchiha clan compound.
Yamanaka Shinno sat cross-legged in front of a campfire, skillfully turning two golden roasted rabbits and four fat, sizzling fish over the flames.
Uchiha Hikari squatted nearby, hugging her knees.
Her face was still expressionless, but the occasional gulp of saliva and the way her eyes refused to blink betrayed the hunger in her heart.
...
Back when they arrived at the Uchiha clan's dungeon—
To avoid disrupting the future timeline, Shinno had left behind three Sage Art Wood Clones. Two were assigned to read the memories of the corpses and continue impersonating them. The last one took on the role of Uchiha Hikari inside the dungeon.
Given Shinno's current level of Sage Chakra—infused with natural energy—these clones could last for months unless engaged in prolonged high-intensity combat.
According to the memory seal Hikari had left in Yahiko, in about twenty days, the Uchiha would be targeted by a joint operation from the Senju and Sarutobi clans. That was when she'd be sealed away by the two clans working together.
Crossing the river of time, all for a reunion in the distant future...
Thankfully, in a sealed state, Hikari's consciousness would be completely halted. She wouldn't experience the passage of time, nor feel loneliness, emptiness, or despair.
If that weren't the case...
Shinno shook his head, brushing aside the wandering thoughts.
From his infinite arsenal, he pulled out some spices specifically for roasted meat and fish, then evenly sprinkled them over the now perfectly grilled fish.
Under the heat of the flames, the special seasoning released an irresistible aroma.
Hikari turned her head toward Shinno, eyes burning with silent plea—when could she eat?
"The rabbits need a bit longer. Be careful, it's still hot—and watch for bones."
Shinno handed over a skewer of roasted fish.
Still in the form of a young girl, Hikari accepted it carefully. She gulped hard, blew on the steaming fish, and finally took a small, cautious bite.
Crispy skin, tender flesh, flavors she'd never tasted before...
Without a word, she buried her face in the oversized fish that was nearly the length of her forearm, devouring it with remarkable speed.
The tiny bones that annoyed most people posed no challenge for her. With each neat bite, she effortlessly spat the clean bones to the side while swallowing the succulent meat.
In less than five minutes, the entire fish was gone. Like a small beast waiting to be fed again, she turned her gaze back to Shinno.
"If you're full, you should stop. Three meals a day—you won't go hungry."
Shinno glanced at his own fish, barely a quarter eaten, and with the tone of someone coaxing a child, handed over the remaining two skewers.
"...Mm."
Hikari gave a soft reply.
Shinno raised an eyebrow and smiled.
Not bad!
She finally made a sound!
That meant true communication without barriers probably wasn't too far off.
...
After finishing all the roasted fish and the two fat rabbits, as expected...
Uchiha Hikari—trained all her life as a weapon and never accustomed to real food—overate.
She now sat slumped against a large stone by the river, holding her slightly rounded belly with a strained expression.
She stared dazedly at the clouds drifting across the sky.
A gentle breeze ruffled her hair, carrying the faint scent of grass and trees.
The sound of flowing water blended with birdsong, slowly easing the tension in her body.
"Hoo... Hoo..."
With calm, even breaths, she drifted off into a peaceful sleep—the first sweet dream she'd had in who knew how long.
"Good night. Sweet dreams."
Shinno let a mandrake bloom silently in his palm. The flower wilted almost instantly, turning to fragrant dust that scattered on the breeze.
A hallucinogenic plant, triggered through Sage Art: Wood Release, induced sleep via scent-based genjutsu. It allowed her to rest without the mental pressure of direct genjutsu and let her body truly relax.
He walked over and gently picked her up in a princess carry.
Activating flight through Sage Mode, they soared swiftly toward the nearest city.
...
They made a quiet stop at the daimyo's vault—robbing the rich to feed themselves.
For the next month, Shinno and Hikari wandered the Warring States Era of the shinobi world.
They strolled through markets, played games, and explored the customs of the era—enjoying a carefree life, free from ninja conflict.
Hikari became visibly more cheerful by the day.
A week ago, the major battle between the Uchiha, Senju, and Sarutobi clans had finally ended.
After heavy casualties on all sides, the Senju and Sarutobi succeeded in sealing the Uchiha's strongest weapon—"Nanashi."
With that, Shinno and Hikari concluded their journey and slowly began their return.
...
"Drip drop goes the rain outside the window... the storm's still falling down~ Are you scared inside your heart? After all these years, still haven't found a home..."
Hikari hummed a song Shinno had taught her, skipping along and plucking bright, colorful wildflowers from the roadside.
When her arms were full, she bundled them together with a vine and held the bouquet up to Shinno.
"They're beautiful. Thank you."
Shinno accepted the bouquet, inhaled its light fragrance, and his eyes curved into a smile.
Across two lifetimes, he had only ever given flowers to others—this was the first time someone had given him flowers.
...
"How long will I sleep?"
"The seal they used is pretty decent. For you, it'll probably feel just like a normal nap."
"When I open my eyes... will I see you?"
"You'll have to wait a little. A guy dressed in black will probably be the one to unseal you. He'll ask for your help controlling Kirigakure... and then, well, we'll probably have to fight, me and you."
"Troublesome."
"Yeah, a little. But some friction is necessary—only then can the shinobi world become truly united."
"Fish, rabbit, deer, pork, lamb, beef..."
"Alright, alright. I'll prepare them all for you. You'll have your fill."
"You... swear."
"What happened to trust between people?"
"Gone. Vanished when you made me wear those weird clothes."
"Click—fine, fine. I swear, once the war between Konoha and Kirigakure ends, I'll prepare a feast for Uchiha Hikari. If I break my promise, then—"
"Then I'll beat you. Beat you real good."
She cut him off before he could finish his oath, delivering her threat with an adorably serious expression.
Shinno couldn't help but chuckle.
"Deal."
He reached out and ruffled her hair.
Hikari stepped forward and leaned against his chest, eyes closed, whispering softly.
"...Thank you. Thank you."
She had never imagined that someone like her could one day bask in sunlight—free to breathe, free to run, free to chase after dazzling colors...
"Here."
Sage Chakra surged through Shinno's body as he extended his index finger. A miniature wooden clone, no larger than a thumb and topped with a tiny flower, bloomed from his fingertip.
After he used Flying Thunder God to swap her sealed body with this one, this clone would exhaust its energy and turn into nothing more than a wooden sculpture.
"I'll wait for you. A hundred years, a thousand years... however long it takes, I'll keep waiting."
Hikari cradled the tiny clone in her palm. As a light floral scent wafted up, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
"I'll find you as soon as I can."
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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