They could not believe that their daughter, whom they could only watch on the Sky Screen moments ago, was now standing before them in the flesh. For a time, they could not distinguish whether this was reality or a hallucination born of excessive longing.
"It's me, mother, father."
Looking at her parents who had appeared before her once more, Uchiha Hoshi's heart was filled with complex emotions.
Instinct urged her to throw herself into their arms, but another set of memories from an adult made her more mature. Thus, she did not lunged into her parents' embrace like a child, nor did she cry; instead, she wore a smile.
When you don't know what expression to make, just smile.
Such was the case for Uchiha Hoshi right now.
After all, she didn't know a better way to express her affection.
Looking at Hoshi, who wore a beautiful and magnificent Herrscher Armor and a smile like a princess.
Uchiha Hoshi's parents showed expressions of heartache.
"My daughter, you must have suffered a lot these past few years."
Uchiha Tsukika pulled Uchiha Hoshi into her arms. The joy of reunion made her want to shed tears, but an Edo Tensei body has no tears.
"I'm sorry, we failed to protect you."
Thinking of the massive scar decoration on the chest of Uchiha Hoshi's armor, a shadow flickered in Uchiha Suzuri's eyes.
His daughter had almost died from that single blade!
How could he not harbor a grudge over this?
Being held by Uchiha Tsukika, Uchiha Hoshi's small body suddenly became stiff. She buried her face in her mother's cold embrace, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Seeing this, Uchiha Suzuri opened his mouth but ultimately did not speak his next words.
Uchiha Tsukika held Uchiha Hoshi lovingly, carefully feeling how her daughter's body had grown during the years she had been gone.
But having no sense of touch, she could only perceive that her daughter had grown taller.
"Father, mother, please wait a little longer. It won't be long before I can resurrect you."
"When that time comes, what you use will no longer be these bodies molded from clay, but genuine flesh and blood."
After a long while, Uchiha Hoshi finally pulled away from Uchiha Tsukika's embrace. Aside from her eyes being slightly red, she showed no further signs of abnormality.
Uchiha Suzuri and Uchiha Tsukika exchanged a look, both showing doubt in their eyes.
"But, if we are resurrected, will we become a burden to you?"
They worried that if they were resurrected, they would become a weakness others could use to blackmail their precious daughter.
If that were the case, they would rather choose not to be resurrected.
"..."
Uchiha Hoshi also suddenly realized that the number of schemers in the Ninja World was indeed high.
If she wasn't careful, her parents might indeed encounter accidents.
However, looking at her companion Honkai Beast—Star Eater—who was wandering aimlessly through the ruins nearby, Uchiha Hoshi's gaze became firm again.
"No, I will give father and mother powerful strength, even strength that surpasses a ninja!"
Resurrection was not such an inconvenient thing!
Uchiha Hoshi decided she would create a Honkai Beast body for them. At that time, they would not only be safe, but those who wanted to use them to blackmail her would feel only despair!
And changing into a Honkai Beast body was nothing to her!
"If that's the case, then we'll leave it to you."
Uchiha Suzuri and Uchiha Tsukika looked at each other and then spoke gently.
If they could continue to stay by Uchiha Hoshi's side, they were naturally unwilling to return to the Pure Land.
And if they could help Uchiha Hoshi and protect her by her side, that would be for the best.
Even though... Uchiha Hoshi had already become stronger than them and could protect her parents.
"Father, mother, please sleep for a while. I will wake you up again very soon."
"Then, father and mother will wait for your good news."
"Hoshi has become truly remarkable; father is proud of you."
Uchiha Hoshi created two empty shells of Herrscher Cores. They contained no Authority or Honkai Energy, but they possessed the ability to carry consciousness.
She gathered her parents' consciousness into the cores.
As her parents' souls left the Edo Tensei bodies, the two forms immediately crumbled, revealing the sacrifices within.
Uchiha Hoshi didn't even look at these two sacrifices she had projected; she turned to begin constructing her own laboratory.
After all, she had already turned her future laboratory and various technologies into reality and stored them in her core; she needed to digest them properly.
Of course, there wasn't actually much to digest. Relying on the miraculous nature of her ability and the power of the Herrscher Core, she had long since understood them completely.
However, this knowledge did not include the technology to create new bodies using the Meta-Morph Activator, so she still had to research that herself.
Of course, she could also utilize the Sky Screen.
Uchiha Hoshi looked up at the Sky Screen, a look of contemplation flashing in her eyes.
"I almost forgot one thing."
Looking at the Sky Screen, she suddenly remembered that the Second Herrscher she had chosen did not have a Herrscher Core yet.
Though she could choose not to give one—and since that was something that happened in the "future," no one would be surprised even if there was no Herrscher Core or if she died early, as she was from the future.
But considering that all products after turning falsehood into reality were under her control, she didn't need to worry about any backlash even if she gave it away.
And most importantly, she needed to increase her influence!
The abilities of the Herrscher of Reason were not suited for roaming about in the early stages. Therefore, she needed to assert her presence early on and announce to the world what the true power of a Herrscher was!
Time passed quickly, and three months flew by in an instant.
During these three months, the landscape of the entire Ninja World underwent massive changes.
First and foremost was the appearance of the Second Herrscher!
In a forest on the border of the Land of Fire.
Ninjas from multiple ninja villages had discovered traces of Kazahana Koyuki. Following the trail, they confirmed she had hidden in the forest and began their search.
After all, that was the Second Herrscher, the Second Herrscher who controlled the power of space. Who wouldn't be tempted?
Even if the current Kazahana Koyuki had not yet become the Second Herrscher, who could truly ignore the videos on the Sky Screen?
Regardless of whether she was the Second Herrscher now, finding her first was always the right move.
Whether it was to control her, eliminate her in advance, or use her to achieve something, it would allow them to seize the initiative.
Although Kazahana Koyuki and Sandayu had been careful enough, they were still not enough when facing professional ninjas. Their methods of hiding their tracks were, in the eyes of these ninjas, actually very obvious markers.
Even the traces they intentionally left behind to lead them elsewhere appeared quite laughable.
And so, unsurprisingly, within a few days, Kazahana Koyuki was found.