Naruto: Drop System

"This direction... it doesn't seem to lead to Konoha, does it?"

In the Land of Fire, Yagyu and Uchiha Sasuke are walking slowly.

Although it's been three years since he last visited the Land of Fire, Sasuke quickly realizes they aren't heading toward Konoha.

"No, we're not going to Konoha. We're heading to a sealed location to find you an ally."

Holding a scroll in his hands, Yagyu scans its contents, smiling cryptically. "You're going to like this ally a lot."

"Pointless."

Unlike Naruto, Sasuke doesn't show any curiosity, instead scoffing, "The Sarutobi and Shimura clans, along with a few aging elders—if you don't interfere, I could still kill them all on my own. I don't need any allies."

Since awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan, Sasuke's personality has changed drastically.

Although he hasn't yet used his unique ocular abilities, the vast power granted by the Mangekyo Sharingan makes Sasuke feel as though he's invincible, capable of anything.

If not for his respect and gratitude toward Yagyu, he would be itching to challenge him, just to see who's stronger now.

The skies have cleared, the rain has stopped… Sasuke feels on top of the world once again.

"When you meet this ally, you might feel differently."

Knowing Sasuke's character, Yagyu doesn't take his arrogance personally.

Putting the scroll away, Yagyu turns to Sasuke and says, "The power of the Mangekyo Sharingan needs to be activated step-by-step. First, you'll need to master the unique abilities of each eye. Once you're proficient, you'll unlock a hidden third ability, the Susano'o Itachi used to block your lightning technique."

"But using those unique techniques and Susano'o will rapidly drain your ocular power, causing you to lose your sight over time."

"Though you can replace your eyes with Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan to gain the Eternal Mangekyo, I recommend you first master the Mangekyo Sharingan, including its advanced genjutsu, ocular powers, and Susano'o before moving on to eternal power."

"That way, you won't lose yourself to the power of the Eternal Mangekyo. Otherwise, you'll end up like those who have fallen into the abyss of forbidden jutsu."

"Every jutsu and kekkei genkai, even the Sharingan itself, is simply a tool for battle. We shouldn't become prisoners to these tools."

If anyone else were saying this, Sasuke would likely feel irritated and resistant.

But Yagyu's words sink in, prompting Sasuke to reflect.

In retrospect, he realizes how vast the gap between him and Yagyu truly is—not only in strength but also in mentality.

Yagyu awakened his Wood Release at seven, but he kept it hidden until the Fifth Hokage's succession.

In contrast, Sasuke became arrogant as soon as he could activate his Sharingan on his own.

After mastering the Chidori and using lightning chakra to stimulate his cells, he couldn't help but revel in his power.

Reflecting on his fight with Itachi, he now realizes how many times Itachi held back.

Yagyu and Itachi are both masters of their power.

Sasuke, however, had been consumed by his power.

Is this why he fell short?

Contemplating this, Sasuke nods and says calmly, "Understood."

Though expressionless, it's clear Sasuke has taken Yagyu's advice to heart.

Seeing this, Yagyu smiles, feeling satisfied.

In his eyes, Sasuke is the ideal candidate for the position of Anbu leader.

Unlike the carefree Naruto or the rational Itachi, Sasuke, the reincarnation of Indra, is a deeply loyal, dedicated individual with a fierce capacity for love and hate.

In the original story, after Naruto became Hokage, Sasuke spent most of his time investigating the Otsutsuki clan. When he returned with crucial information, his first priority was to report to Naruto rather than seeing his wife and daughter. Often, he would leave the village immediately if more urgent matters arose, sometimes not even greeting his family.

As a result, his daughter Sarada went many years without seeing him, and when they finally met, Sasuke nearly mistook her for an enemy.

Such a loyal, selfless person with no ambition for power, someone who places his duties above personal relationships, is the perfect subordinate for Yagyu.

This is why Yagyu didn't hesitate to preempt Obito's influence, reveal the truth of the massacre to Sasuke, and offer to help him take down the Konoha leadership and their clans, in turn resolving Sasuke's inner demons and securing his loyalty.

Sacrificing the Sarutobi and Shimura clans—people who would still hold sway over him even as the Sixth Hokage—in exchange for an ultra-powerful ally who could reach Sage of Six Paths-level strength, was a worthwhile trade.

Yagyu had indeed struck a good deal!

But one ally wasn't enough. Yagyu also wanted to use the Konoha elders and their clans to secure another loyal "guard dog," one with power and potential second only to Sasuke.

A day later, Yagyu and Sasuke arrive before a large mountain, the kind seen all over the ninja world.

They circle the mountain and find a particular rock face.

"These are… the clan symbols of the Senju and Sarutobi clans!"

Seeing the timeworn symbols barely visible on the mountainside, Sasuke recognizes them immediately.

"Yes, this is one of the sealing sites from the Warring States period."

Taking out the scroll again, Yagyu unrolls it, and Sasuke notices the title on the seal: Warring States Sealing Records.

Realizing what this means, Sasuke asks, "This sealing site holds someone from the Warring States period?"

"Yes…"

Yagyu nods, smiling, "And it's one of your Uchiha clan members."

Hearing this, Sasuke's eyes widen, filled with excitement and anticipation.

Other than himself, 'Uchiha Yusuke,' and the mysterious masked man, could there really be another Uchiha in this world?

Looking at the Senju and Sarutobi clan symbols on the mountainside, Sasuke asks again, "Was he sealed by the combined forces of the Senju and Sarutobi clans? What is his name?"

"Well, I only found out about it by chance when I was going through the Forbidden Jutsu archives," Yagyu nods. "Her name is Uchiha Nameless. Does that mean anything to you?"

Sasuke thinks for a few seconds, then shakes his head.

Since the clan massacre when he was seven, Konoha's higher-ups confiscated everything of importance from the Uchiha estate, leaving only a few basic scrolls.

In a way, this greed worked in Sasuke's favor; without the Izanagi and Izanami scrolls, he might have resorted to using those techniques against Itachi, potentially sacrificing his vision.

"Uchiha Nameless was the ultimate weapon of the Uchiha clan during the Warring States period," Yagyu explains. "It's said her power was immense, so overwhelming that it forced the Senju clan to ally with the Sarutobi clan to finally seal her here."

"As for the specifics, I don't know much more."

This was a lie.

Yagyu indeed knew her true name and abilities.

Her name was Uchiha Hikari.

A unique character not from the manga or anime but from the official game, Uchiha Hikari became wildly popular. In the "Boruto" story arc of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Bonds, a Konoha scientist who felt undervalued betrayed the village, defecting to an organization called "Zero."

The "Zero" organization, founded by rogue ninjas from the Hidden Rain Village, sought to carry on Pain's ideals. Among the items the scientist stole was the "Warring States Sealing Records" scroll, the very one Yagyu held.

Through this scroll, Yagyu learned of Uchiha Hikari's existence.

In this world, it appeared that events from the original manga, anime-exclusive episodes, movies, and even game narratives all held a basis in reality.

Instead of being alarmed, Yagyu felt a thrill.

Uchiha Hikari, the ultimate weapon of the Uchiha clan, was truly one of a kind.

While other Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan typically held two unique ocular abilities, Hikari not only had her own unique ability but also three additional transplanted powers.

These abilities were none other than Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, and Kagutsuchi, which Itachi and Sasuke both possessed.

Her own unique ocular ability, Yachihoko, was even more versatile and potent than Shisui's Kotoamatsukami. It allowed her to mark targets, enabling her to control others' minds, absorb their chakra from any distance, or transfer her chakra to others—a combination of control and absorption at the highest level.

When Yagyu stumbled upon the Warring States Sealing Records, he knew he had to break Uchiha Hikari's seal and recruit this ultimate weapon from the Warring States era.

However, Hikari's heart would undoubtedly harbor deep hatred.

The Senju clan was no more, but the Sarutobi clan remained.

Using the families of Konoha's elders to appease Hikari and Sasuke's hatred—and remove obstacles to his future as Hokage—was the perfect solution.

Yagyu activated his red-eye vision, locating a specific spot on the mountain wall, then quickly formed a seal with one hand and struck it.

Instantly, black runes spread out, and with a rumbling sound, a door-shaped crack appeared on the mountainside and began to sink into the ground.

A dark cave appeared before Yagyu and Sasuke.

"Let's go in and take a look."

Yagyu and Sasuke stepped inside.

As they walked, Yagyu formed seals with one hand, causing vine-like branches to grow, purifying the air and absorbing the cave's toxic gases, releasing fresh oxygen.

He then spit out a small flame.

The flame, like a will-o'-the-wisp, darted around, igniting candles along the way.

The pitch-black cave soon filled with candlelight.

As they walked further, a staircase leading downward appeared before them.

Descending the stairs, they reached an underground chamber about the size of an average living room.

In the center stood an altar similar to the one used to seal Moryo's physical form, with a sealed stone coffin atop it.

Both the coffin and altar were covered in black sealing symbols.

"This is a composite sealing technique!"

Sasuke, his three-tomoe Sharingan now activated, looked on with a heavy expression.

Even after so many years, the chakra within the symbols was still faintly pulsing.

Yagyu wasn't surprised; sealing techniques were known to be that impressive.

For instance, the Flying Thunder God seal remained effective even after its user's death, making it even more durable than a tattoo.

"There are eight types of sealing techniques combined here. That's quite a rare setup," Yagyu remarked.

"Can you break it?" Sasuke asked.

"Piece of cake."

With a confident smile, Yagyu quickly formed seals with both hands and slammed his palm onto the ground.

Instantly, numerous runes spread, connecting with the altar and stone coffin.

A flickering red glow began to pulsate.

Soon, the runes, resembling tadpoles, gradually faded.

The sealed stone coffin began to crack, revealing the coffin lid.

Yagyu stepped forward, grabbing the heavy lid with one hand and tossing it aside.

Looking inside, Yagyu couldn't help but be captivated.

Inside lay a girl who appeared no older than twelve, perhaps fourteen at most.

She had long black hair held back by a headband and wore a blue battle robe. Her features were delicate, her small face smaller than Yagyu's palm—she was extraordinarily beautiful.

Even in her slumber, she exuded an aura of cold nobility, like a sleeping princess awaiting a prince's kiss.

This was Uchiha Nameless, whose true name was Uchiha Hikari. At just twelve, she had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan and had once overpowered the Senju clan so fiercely that they had to ally with the Sarutobi to seal her.

Yagyu gently lifted Hikari's hand, checking her pulse.

He nodded.

It appeared that the Senju, distant relatives of the Uzumaki clan, had cast the seal.

Despite the passage of years, Hikari's body was in perfect condition.

Sealing techniques, capable of even binding the ancestor of chakra, had both absurd limitations and potentials.

Though Hikari's body was unharmed, Yagyu placed his hand a few inches from her forehead, releasing a green glow to heal her.

Moments later, Hikari's eyelids fluttered as she slowly opened her dark eyes.

Her blurry vision gradually cleared, revealing a silver-haired boy with red eyes and a black robe similar to her own.

Unlike the fierce and cruel expressions of her clan, he wore a gentle smile, stretching out a hand to her like her long-gone parents might have.

"Welcome back, Uchiha Hikari," he greeted.

The use of her real name immediately dispelled the wariness in her heart.

He hadn't called her Uchiha Nameless but Uchiha Hikari!

He knew her name!