Hikari Uchiha in Animeverse

The reason it's called "burning" is because the edges of the talisman have marks that look like they've been scorched by flames, yet no ashes fall.

And in the short time the two of them are staring at it, the talisman continues to dissolve at a slow, steady pace.

"Miko, can you still see those spirits?" Uchiha Hikari asks.

Miko nods. "Yeah. Miss Hikari, there's one right behind you, about four or five meters away. It seems spooked by Miss Kikyo's talisman and isn't coming closer for now. There are also two on the chair to your left-front…"

"?"

Uchiha Hikari turns to look, but sees nothing.

She closes her eyes, then opens them. The three-tomoe Sharingan activates.

Then the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Still nothing.

"…Looks like we need a professional for this."

**[Nameless has started a group live stream]**

**[Nameless @Kikyo: Miss Kikyo, can you see what's going on over here?]**

Uchiha Hikari isn't surprised that her Mangekyo Sharingan can't see malevolent spirits. In the *Naruto* world, most people can't directly see spiritual entities. It only happens in specific cases—like when an Edo Tensei is undone or in certain mental realms.

But.

The *Naruto* world isn't helpless against spirits. There are methods: Yin-Yang Release and sealing techniques.

Truth-Seeking Orbs, based on Yin-Yang Release, can destroy the souls of Edo Tensei reincarnations, preventing their bodies from regenerating. In theory, they could even obliterate a soul entirely. High-level sealing techniques and barriers can also restrain spirits—like Minato Namikaze's *Reaper Death Seal* or the *Four Violet Flames Formation* used by the Sound Four and later by Choza Akimichi and others in the Fourth War to trap Dan Kato.

Uchiha Hikari's plan to deal with Naraku hinges on sealing techniques as well.

Meanwhile.

On a carriage heading to Hitomi Castle.

Kikyo, meditating with her eyes closed, opens them to look at the live stream window floating in the air.

**[Kikyo: …I can see it.]**

**[Kikyo: There are quite a few malevolent spirits gathered around you, Miss Hikari, and Miss Miko. I can see them clearly. If you want to see them too, you can place this talisman on your forehead.]**

As she speaks, Kikyo opens the wooden box beside her and pulls out two talismans.

A dozen seconds later.

Uchiha Hikari places Kikyo's uploaded *Spirit-Sight Command Talisman* on her forehead. As the talisman dissolves into invisible light and sinks into her body, it feels like a third eye opens on her brow. The world around her transforms.

At the bus stop, faint, blurry silhouettes wander aimlessly.

They're dense, grotesque, looking like someone tossed a bunch of people into a mill, ground them up, then carelessly scooped out a lump of flesh and slapped it together. A single glance is enough to make your sanity take a nosedive.

Right now, they've formed a circle, all staring hungrily at Uchiha Hikari and Miko, muttering in a low, eerie gibberish. It's not any human language, yet somehow, it's understandable.

"Can you see?"

"Can you see?"

"…This wasn't in the original plot, was it?"

Uchiha Hikari's lips twitch slightly, a bit exasperated.

The malevolent spirits in Miko's world have a bit of a "rule-based horror" vibe. As long as you "can't see" them—even if you're just pretending—you can coexist peacefully. But the moment you show you *can* see them, they swarm like sharks smelling blood, ready to tear you apart.

Like right now.

The *Exorcism Talisman* and Uchiha Hikari's presence have thrown Miko off her usual game. Instead of staying calm and pretending she can't see, she's been pointing and talking about the spirits. This has basically screamed "I have spirit vision!" to them, drawing every nearby spirit in. The closest one is already two or three meters away.

They're not getting closer because of the *Exorcism Talisman*.

Under the effect of the *Spirit-Sight Command Talisman*, Uchiha Hikari can clearly see a faint glow radiating from the talisman in Miko's hand. It forms a transparent light barrier around them. Whenever a spirit gets too close, the barrier triggers, creating invisible, colorless flames that burn the spirit's body.

But…

"Miss Hikari, Miss Kikyo's talisman seems to be burning up faster. What do we do?" Miko says nervously.

**[Kikyo: …Do you need me to come over?]**

**[Nameless: Not yet. I want to try my own abilities first.]**

Under Miko's watchful gaze.

Uchiha Hikari first checks that there are no cameras around—Japan's surveillance system isn't as tight as China's, and even in a place like Tokyo, plenty of spots lack cameras. Then she forms hand signs, takes a breath, and exhales softly: "*Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!*"

A massive fireball erupts above the street.

"!!"

Yotsuya Miko's eyes widen in shock.

But…

The impressive flames have zero effect on the spirits. They just collide with the rain, kicking up a cloud of white steam that obscures everything. Good thing it's dark and rainy with no one around, or some passerby might think they stumbled into a ghost story.

Next, the black pinwheel in Uchiha Hikari's right eye spins: "*Amaterasu!*"

"*Tsukuyomi!*"

After a series of moves, Uchiha Hikari starts to piece things together: regular ninjutsu are completely useless against these spirits, even if she can see them.

Whether it's a Great Fireball or a Rasengan, the attacks pass right through them, like slicing through smoke. At best, they scatter the spirits' forms briefly, but it's not actual damage. The moment the attack stops, they reform.

*Amaterasu* and *Rengoku no Jutsu* have a slight effect, seeming to cause the spirits some burning or binding pain, but it's negligible.

Only *Tsukuyomi*, while unable to drag them into an illusion space, can leave a mark on them.

But when Uchiha Hikari tries her strongest, most hidden eye technique—*Yasakani*—to manipulate those marks, something unexpected happens.

Strands of gray-black energy, drawn by her eye's power, are pulled from the spirits' bodies and absorbed into her eye sockets!

As the energy flows in, Uchiha Hikari feels a cold, dark emotion flood her mind. Yet her eyes experience a strange, soothing comfort, like getting an eye spa treatment. Even her vision seems to sharpen slightly.

Uchiha Hikari's eyelid twitches.

"*Yasakani*… it can absorb spirits?!"

"No… it's probably absorbing the mental energy that makes up these spirits?!"

**(End of Chapter)**