Chapter 196: The Establishment of the Ninja Corps System
"An alien from a world of hyper-advanced technology..."
"Most of the population is migrating toward the ocean's secret treasure world..."
"Different power systems. Different paths of evolution..."
At the heart of the Hyuga compound stood the clan's grand meeting hall—an austere chamber reserved for the most critical discussions. Today, its seats were filled by ninjas holding key positions within the clan.
On the high platform, Hiashi Hyuga stood tall, eyes sweeping over the room with calm authority. Behind him, Hinata and the clan elders stood in silent solidarity, signaling their approval of the coming plans.
"Everyone here should have some level of awareness regarding the information I just revealed," Hiashi began. "Whether through previous search missions, brief contact, or rumors gathered during operations, all of you should have formed a basic ideological understanding by now."
Though the hall was not crowded, every person present held weight within the Hyuga hierarchy. They were the elite—handpicked through rigorous trials, occupying key roles across the clan.
Before this meeting, many of them had been dispatched to search for secret treasures in other realms, or to track and interact with individuals from those worlds—like the well-known three-person-and-one-dog team of the Yorozuya, who were currently still residing in the Land of Iron.
Therefore, no one was surprised by Hiashi's words. Mentally, they were already prepared.
"It is foreseeable that the appearance of these outsiders will bring great upheaval to our world. If any of them are overwhelmingly powerful, they may disrupt our order—perhaps even invade."
Hiashi's voice was firm, his gaze unwavering.
The crowd responded with silence, some faces showing worry, others deep thought—but none panic. The Hyuga clan was renowned for its ability to conceal true emotions. Status didn't matter; the higher one rose, the deeper and more restrained one's nature became.
Those who hide well often think deeply.
This wasn't an ironclad rule, but it held true more often than not.
"The news of the other world hasn't spread through the ninja world just yet," Hiashi continued. "Though it concerns the survival of the entire ninja world, I have no intention of sharing this information with other clans or forces for now."
He paused briefly.
"This is a high-risk, high-reward situation. The risk lies in the unknown—we can't gauge the strength of these otherworldly beings. But the reward… every secret treasure, every alien world system they carry could dramatically shift our future."
"If we Hyuga can ride this wave, the benefits are self-evident. I don't need to explain them further."
Hiashi looked out across the room, meeting the eyes of each clan member.
"In response, I've convened multiple strategy sessions with the elders. We've explored several paths forward."
"Yes, there are dangers. Yes, there are opportunities. But there is no need to panic."
"We Hyuga are not new to hardship. Ours is a clan of over a thousand years—rich in history. We've seen glory, and we've seen decline..."
Suddenly, Hiashi shifted his tone.
"But the name Hyuga—it's more than a title. It is given to us at birth, and it follows us even in death, carved into our gravestones."
"Remember this—it is us!"
He raised his hand toward the gathered clansmen. His voice resonated through the chamber.
"We share the same blood. The same skin. We are born into Hyuga—and we wear that name with pride."
"It shelters us, empowers us, and grants us strength and talent. And we, in return, must fight for the glory of our clan!"
"Even if we leave Konoha, we are still Hyuga. Even beyond the Land of Fire, we remain Hyuga. But if we leave Hyuga... then we become nameless, rootless!"
His words were blunt—perhaps even aggressive—but none in the chamber took offense. Instead, they nodded, moved by a sense of deep resonance.
This was a truth long hidden in the clan's core: to be in Konoha was secondary. To be Hyuga came first.
As clan leaders, none present were ignorant of the true stance toward Konoha. They never saw the village as their true home—only a place to abide until they grew strong enough.
They had hidden their intentions well to avoid the fate of the Uchiha, but now...
"Everyone here is vital to our future. You all understand the strength we now possess."
"In combat power alone, the Hyuga have surged in recent years. We boast over twenty jonin—the highest among all Konoha clans. Countless chunin and genin swell our ranks."
"In economics, thanks to Jonin Souji's diplomacy, our businesses flourish across the Land of Fire. With help from our commercial allies, we've even expanded abroad into other nations."
"As for land—we now own more territory across the Five Nations than some small countries."
"This is the legacy of Hyuga. The wealth we've preserved through centuries."
Hiashi straightened with pride as he spoke. He had been through war, earned medals, and stood in front of the Hokage himself—but nothing compared to this moment.
"But!"
He raised his voice, cutting through the proud silence like a blade.
"These are just our advantages. Our tools. They set us apart from other clans—but they are not our greatest strength."
He glanced at the audience meaningfully.
"You already know what is."
"Ryosuke-sama!"
The cry came unbidden from the crowd—raw and fervent. A voice nearly trembling with devotion.
Hiashi's lips curled into a rare, almost smug smile.
"Yes! The future of our clan—Hyuga Ryosuke."
He allowed the words to hang in the air before adding, proudly, "He is also my son-in-law. Hinata's husband."
The hall erupted with energy—not wild cheering, but something stronger. Unified belief. Determined loyalty.
Hiashi had never felt so alive.
Even when he was decorated in the wake of the Ninja World War—even when he was praised before all of Konoha by Hiruzen Sarutobi himself—it hadn't matched this.
"Although Ryosuke is young, his talent and strength are unmatched in the thousand-year history of our Hyuga clan. His potential even surpasses that of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha — legends whose names are still whispered with awe across the ninja world!"
"Today, Ryosuke couldn't attend this important meeting due to his intense training. I hope none of you mistake his absence for arrogance or disrespect."
"Ryosuke's tireless trainijg is all for the sake of the Hyuga. He is our clan's shield, our greatest guardian. As long as he lives, the Hyuga will never fall!"
These claims were undeniably bold, but no one present voiced dissent or raised objections.
Because they were true.
The identity of Ryosuke as Hinata's husband had long since been accepted. What started as quiet whispers had grown, spreading from a handful of clansmen to the majority, until now it echoed throughout the entire Hyuga family.
"Ryosuke is the future of our clan, but we cannot place the entire weight of that future on his shoulders. Each of us must rise and take responsibility."
Finally, Hyuga Hiashi moved to the true purpose of the gathering.
"As fellow Hyuga, whether you're the clan head or a simple shinobi, we cannot allow ourselves to become dead weight that Ryosuke is forced to carry."
"I refuse to be a burden. Our family must walk beside him, not drag him down. Don't you agree?"
He cast a firm gaze toward the crowd.
"Of course!"
"My strength is nowhere near Lord Ryosuke's, but I will give everything I have!"
"Me too!"
The crowd responded with unified fervor.
Whether out of genuine belief or the momentum of the moment, every person shouted with conviction. The energy surged — spirited and contagious.
"Good."
Hiashi smiled, satisfied. But his expression quickly hardened as he continued solemnly, "Recently, the clan underwent a massive reform. While it resolved many old problems, it also opened up several new vulnerabilities."
"And now, with the possibility of another world's invasion shaking the ninja world, the elders and I have decided it's time to refine and strengthen our internal structure once more."
"Hyuga Iroha, Hyuga Hoshicai, Hyuga Karado, Hyuga Takashi..."
Hiashi called out the names of several respected jonin who had contributed greatly to the clan.
"From today forward, you will each lead a corps named after you: the Iroha Corps, Hoshicai Corps, Karado Corps, and Takashi Corps."
"We will discard the old shinobi village rank structure and return to a Warring States-style system. Each corps will have officers, vice officers, commanders, and standard members."
"In the coming days, you may recruit willing clansmen into your corps. These forces will become our new external defense line — the shield that protects the Hyuga."
"For Ryosuke. For Hinata. Eliminate any threat before it touches them!"
---
As autumn approached, the scorching summer heat began to retreat.
At sunset, the air cooled to a perfect balance — neither too hot nor too cold.
In the tranquil inner courtyard of the Hyuga compound…
Though Hiashi claimed Ryosuke was diligently training for the clan, in truth, the boy was unapologetically slacking off.
After all, real training couldn't be rushed.
Ryosuke leaned back against one of the load-bearing pillars, lounging on the wooden corridor with a book in hand. The wind rustled gently through the leaves, and the soft scent of freshly brewed tea wafted from the low table beside him.
Serene. Idyllic. Perfect.
"Boss, anything I should watch out for on my first mission?"
To Ryosuke's left sat a chubby gray-furred cat — a ninja cat, clearly, given its ability to speak.
"Just follow orders. Your team leader is an experienced jonin. He'll also serve as your temporary instructor."
Ryosuke flipped a page, speaking casually. "Your Taijutsu is impressive — arguably beyond most jonin in certain aspects. But you're lacking in too many others. He'll help you fill in those gaps."
The old cat, sprawled comfortably, listened intently.
Having recently awakened the ability of full transformation — a power granted by his mythical beast devil fruit — he could now shift freely between cat and humanoid form. That evolution had brought him closer to the 'godly' ideal that such fruits embodied.
It was during a near-death battle that he'd unlocked this ability. Ever since recovering from his serious injuries, the transformation had come naturally.
"What's he like? Is he easy to get along with?" he asked nervously. "I've barely talked to anyone outside your family. What if I mess up? Will he hate me? Kick me out? Or—"
"He's a loyal Hyuga subordinate."
Ryosuke cut him off, closing the book and leveling a calm yet unyielding gaze.
"He won't disobey my orders. Not even a little."
"I assigned him to mentor you — to protect you. And he'll fulfill that mission without hesitation."
"Even if you're foolish, rebellious, or just plain annoying, he'll still guide you seriously. He won't abandon you."
His voice was firm. Final.
The old cat swallowed hard and gave a small nod. He wouldn't dare question Ryosuke's confidence in him.
But Ryosuke wasn't finished.
"However… if you use your connection to me to bully others or cause casualties, then once the mission ends, I'll personally hold you accountable — with consequences based on what actually happened."
"When you were just a cat, no one expected anything from you. You were free to do as you pleased, chasing whatever moved."
"But now, you're starting to walk the path of a human. And that means you need to follow human rules — and take responsibility."
Trial?
The word struck a nerve. Old memories flickered in the ninja cat's mind. He quickly nodded again.
"Don't worry, Boss. I'll work hard. I won't let you down."
"Just do your best. No need to overdo it."
Ryosuke returned his focus to the book. "This mission isn't simple, but your role is more about learning than fighting. Others will handle the critical parts. You just need to observe, assist, and understand what being a ninja means."
"I got it."
The old cat licked his paw, then asked cautiously, "So… when do I meet the others? My team? The jonin?"
"Wait for my father's arrangements. A few days from now," Ryosuke replied, already absorbed again in the life records of Hashirama Senju.
The cat, understanding the boy's desire for quiet, lay down beside him without another word.
The moment lingered — wind whispering through the courtyard, the fragrance of tea drifting gently between them — a rare, peaceful interlude before the storm.
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