Chapter 21: Breaking the Seal
The surrounding water was bone-chillingly cold, and the White Fang in his hand was humming.
The ever-present natural energy had triggered the chakra-metal mechanism of the White Fang. At the same time, an unknown suction force was pulling the sword—the one Kakashi had spent his entire fortune and gone 20 million Ryō into debt for—from beneath the silt.
Right now, he had two choices. Let go of the sword and return to the surface to report to Jiraiya.
Or, hold onto the White Fang, which, in this situation, could mean that any resistance he offered might destroy the sealing jutsu on Uchiha Hikari.
After all, the jutsu was 500 years old. Even if the seal was intact, time would have corroded it, and even the strongest jutsu would become weak.
But...
Kakashi's eyes were sharp.
If he retreated at the slightest obstacle, how could he face the future?
The shinobi world already had no future.
And he didn't have a second White Fang.
It was just like Kamui. That was an eye that 'ran away,' awakened when Obito witnessed Rin's death.
If he ran away from this difficulty, the misty path he had just managed to cut open would be shrouded once again.
The day his Kamui was pierced, Kakashi had lost his path of retreat.
It's just one Uchiha Hikari...
He, Kakashi, holding the White Fang, had cast aside Kamui. He would forge a path to the future all the same.
The pull from the White Fang grew stronger. Kakashi didn't hesitate.
An arc of electricity flashed on the blade, and then the bottom of the pool exploded with light!
Countless bolts of lightning burst from Kakashi!
Kyokko: Raikiri! (Sunrise Tiger: Lightning Blade!)
Using the suction force, Kakashi plunged the White Fang, now raging with electricity, deep into the bottom of the pool. The violent lightning seemed to trigger some mechanism, and an invisible shockwave spread out from the sword!
The surrounding natural energy was instantly dispersed by this shockwave!
As the energy scattered, the silt at Kakashi's feet was pushed away by the pulse, revealing the glint of metal.
It was...
An iron coffin!
The coffin was bound to the bottom of the pool by several thick, black iron chains. Kakashi's strike had landed on the exact core of the chains.
Before his eyes, the chains began to crack and shatter. Even the coffin lid began to show fissures.
This...
Kakashi's heart tightened. He was about to reach out and try to hold the lid down, to stop whatever was inside from getting out.
But...
As a corner of the coffin broke off, Kakashi saw, through the opening, a single, scarlet eye slowly opening.
That was...
A Sharingan!
Kakashi didn't have time to think. He was pulling his hand back to leave when another hand burst through the crumbling coffin lid and, fast as lightning, grabbed his retreating wrist!
The person inside the coffin was now fully visible to Kakashi.
Long, flowing black hair, a beautiful, sharp face with a hint of heroic spirit, and wearing the Uchiha clan's traditional uniform. She looked no older than twelve or thirteen.
Uchiha Hikari! No, Uchiha Mumei!
The moment she broke the seal, Uchiha Mumei's Sharingan stared at Kakashi, whose mental alarms were screaming. Without hesitation, she tightened her grip on his wrist and shot straight up toward the surface!
[Emotional Fluctuation from Uchiha Mumei +1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1...]
[Chakra +1%+1%+1%+1%+1%+1%...]
A stream of notifications flooded Kakashi's mind, but he had no time to be shocked. They covered the distance in an instant. Just as they were about to break the surface, a large figure shot toward them!
It was Jiraiya, who had sensed the commotion from Kakashi's Raikiri and had dived in to help!
Uchiha Mumei's and Jiraiya's eyes met. When Jiraiya saw Kakashi being held by a strange girl, his expression immediately became dangerous.
The moment Jiraiya showed hostility, Uchiha Mumei's eyes turned sharp. In an instant, the water around them burst into flames!
That's right!
Flames, underwater!
Black flames!
Amaterasu!
Countless black flames surged toward Jiraiya under Mumei's control!
Jiraiya's lips thinned. He pulled a scroll from his robes at top speed and unrolled it in front of him!
Fūka Hōin! (Fire Sealing Method!)
This was a sealing jutsu he had prepared before they even left.
According to Fugaku's intel, this Uchiha Mumei possessed four Mangekyō techniques. Jiraiya would never have come unprepared.
This Fūka Hōin was prepared for exactly this emergency!
The endless black flames swirled like a vortex into the sealing scroll. In an instant, the Amaterasu that had filled the water was gone!
Uchiha Mumei's eyes narrowed. She tried to dodge past Jiraiya and get to the surface.
But how could Jiraiya let her go? She was holding Kakashi hostage. She had to be stopped!
The Uchiha were masters of Katon (Fire Style); being underwater was the perfect place to limit them!
A blue sphere of chakra formed in his hand. Jiraiya, holding the Rasengan, charged at Uchiha Mumei!
Mumei quickly dodged to the side, and as she did, she pulled Kakashi—who was still trying to figure out how to escape—behind her, out of the way.
This stunned Kakashi.
Is she... protecting me?
That's right...
No matter what, Uchiha Hikari had been sealed for 500 years. He was the one who let her see the light of day again.
From what little Kakashi remembered from the Ultimate Storm game, Uchiha Hikari was, more or less, one of the main characters.
If that's the case... this is much easier...
Kakashi grabbed the hand that was holding his wrist. Mumei turned to look at him, a slight frown on her face.
Kakashi said nothing, just shook his head at her. He then looked at Jiraiya, who had just passed them and was correcting his trajectory, and gave him a meaningful look.
Jiraiya had also seen Mumei protect Kakashi. It made him realize this person might be different from what he'd expected, so he had held back his attack.
Kakashi pointed up at the surface, signaling for them to talk up there. Jiraiya, after a moment's thought, dispelled his Rasengan and swam for the surface without hesitation.
Uchiha Mumei, seeing this, finally realized Kakashi and Jiraiya were on the same side. She immediately let go of Kakashi's wrist and followed.
Kakashi, not daring to be careless, followed right behind them.
Uchiha Hikari was free. Sealing her again would be extremely difficult.
Since he couldn't solve this problem, he would have to try to bring her over to his side.