--------------------------------------------------
Manji began searching the Pure Land for Uchiha Hikari.
He found her near the farthest edge of the realm, at the boundary itself.
"Pretty capable," Manji murmured. "She managed to open up this much space on her own..."
With a thought, he arrived there.
At the end of the Pure Land stood a small, thin figure. The girl wore an ordinary Uchiha outfit, faded pale from countless washes, and her whole body looked dusty from work. She was holding the pickaxe Manji had once given her with both hands, standing on her tiptoes as she swung it with all her strength at the invisible wall before her.
It was Hikari—
"Bang."
Again and again, the pickaxe struck the unseen barrier that marked the Pure Land's edge. Each blow chipped away at that invisible wall, widening the realm by a small amount.
"..." Manji hovered quietly in the air behind her. He stayed silent and simply watched, careful not to interrupt.
After a while, Hikari's movements gradually slowed. She seemed tired, so she stopped pushing herself and sat down where she was. Leaning back, she lifted her head and gazed at the Pure Land's clear, unchanging sky.
Once she recovered a little strength, she picked up the tool again and returned to work.
She repeated that cycle over and over.
Manji was most surprised by how much healthier she looked now than when she was alive.
Back then, her eyes were dull and tired, always showing quiet endurance and a sadness that never left. Her face looked pale and worn, like a flower battered by wind and rain until only a thin stem was left.
Now her eyes were bright. She was still thin and fragile, but she seemed more alive than before. The emptiness she once carried was gone.
"Bang. Bang. Bang."
The sound of the pickaxe rang out clearly along the quiet edge of the Pure Land.
Suddenly, the space around Manji seemed to ripple. He appeared behind Hikari without a sound, as if he had always been there.
"You seem to enjoy it here..."
His voice was calm and gentle, free of its usual pressure.
That was just the way Manji was. Around good people, he always acted like a wise sage.
"..." Hikari froze mid-swing. Her small hands tightened around the pickaxe handle, and for a moment, her whole body went still. Then she suddenly turned around, her hair lifting lightly with the movement.
She looked up and saw Manji floating in the air.
He sat cross-legged in the air, holding the Six Paths staff. A gentle light shone from the staff, his robes shifted even though there was no wind, and the Truth-Seeking Orbs floated behind him.
"THE SAGE OF SIX PATHS!!"
Hikari cried out in shock.
Flustered and almost overwhelmed, she quickly released the pickaxe. It fell to the ground with a clatter, but she had no time to care about it. She straightened at once, knelt down, and bowed with careful reverence, afraid of showing the slightest disrespect.
Manji raised a hand.
"No need for that."
He looked down at the small girl below, and his voice became even gentler. "How has life in the Pure Land been these past five years?"
Hikari slowly lifted her head. The tension on her face eased, and a pure, sincere smile gradually appeared.
"It's been good. This place is really good. Thank you, Great Sage."
After saying that, she bowed deeply again.
This bow was different from before. It was not out of fear or habit. It showed her deep gratitude, serious and sincere, coming from her heart.
Manji watched her for a moment, his expression turning more serious.
Then he asked, "You don't resent me for killing you?"
Hikari shook her head without hesitation.
"No. I don't resent you. I'm grateful." Her voice trembled slightly, but her eyes remained clear.
"Thank you for ending that sinful, miserable life for me."
She gripped the edge of her clothes and lowered her gaze. There was no hatred in her expression, only relief. "When I was alive, I had no parents, no companions, and no life that belonged to me. I was never treated like a real person. I was only a tool the Uchiha Clan could use however they wanted..."
"They forced me to kill. They controlled and bound me with jutsu and seals. Every day was pain and fear. I wasn't even allowed to have my own Will."
As she spoke, she put a hand over her chest. A small, relieved smile appeared on her face.
"But after I came to the Pure Land, all the Uchiha seals that restrained me disappeared. They can't control me anymore. They can't hurt me anymore."
"I'm free now!!"
"There's no fighting here. No one controls me. I don't have to kill anyone, and I don't have to live in fear. I can be at ease. This is the safest and most peaceful life I've ever had."
"..."
Manji listened in silence. He looked calm, but inside he felt a quiet sigh.
After a long silence, he asked again, "But you're still so young. You were at the best age of your life. There are so many good things in the world you never saw and never experienced. If you stay in the Pure Land like this, won't you regret it?"
Hikari's smile slowly faded.
She lowered her head. Her long lashes hid her eyes, and she fell silent.
She stood alone at the edge of the Pure Land, looking especially lonely against the empty, endless border.
Maybe, in calm moments, she had wished for the modest delights she never had. Maybe she had dreamed of a normal girl's life. But those wishes were buried deep under her past suffering, so deep that she no longer ventured to hope for them.
Manji noticed her dusty clothes and her small hands, thin and rough from hard times, still gripping her sleeves tightly.
For a moment, his thoughts wandered back to memories from his past life.
He remembered children born in poor, war-torn places.
Girls Hikari's age, if born in peaceful places, could grow up safely with their parents... They could travel, fall in love, visit favorite restaurants, take photos at dream spots, and enjoy the simple joys of youth.
But girls born into war and poverty were trapped from the start.
Some spent their whole lives in small villages, never seeing the world beyond. Some had their marriages arranged by their parents. For some, even a full meal was rare. Others suffered so much that just surviving was hard.
The same age.
The same innocence.
Yet their lives were worlds apart.
After a long while, Manji looked at Hikari, who still had her head lowered.
"You're too young to spend your whole existence here," he said softly. "If you stay in the Pure Land, you'll miss out on so much. Would you like to leave with me and start a new life?"
Hikari froze.
Then she lowered her head even further.
"Thank you, Sage," she said softly. "But I think I still prefer staying here. It's been five years. I'm already used to it..."
Manji could see her hesitation.
It made sense. Hikari had never lived like a normal person. She had never known what an ordinary girl's life was like, so she couldn't imagine it.
Still, Manji was not asking her to face the world alone.
He only wanted her to keep Kaguya company.
With Kaguya to guide her, Hikari might slowly learn to be like a regular girl. She could watch dramas, learn about clothes, and drink iced black tea, just like any happy girl with time to spare.
——————————
~ Every 200 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~ 15 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)