Chapter 279: Game
In this game constructed by countless worlds, no one knows who will win or lose, who will rise or fall.
But if you hesitate—afraid to take that crucial step, clinging to comfort—then failure becomes inevitable.
Those who leave no retreat, who fear to move forward, who look back even as they step ahead—such people are not Hyuga.
Though cautious by nature, he has never lacked courage. Many of the strategies he devised since his rebirth had placed his own safety at risk—each time personally participating in battle.
Yet without exception, each gamble turned danger into safety through careful planning and resolve. Those efforts laid the foundation of his power, culminating in him unknowingly rising to become the strongest figure in the ninja world.
"You don't sharpen your blade on the battlefield," Ryosuke said solemnly, his gaze sweeping across the hall. "The great nations are wounded. Barring the unexpected, we're likely entering a long period of peace."
"Besides the threat of enemies from other worlds, we won't need to worry about attacks from within the ninja world. But that also means… we currently lack a proper training ground."
"So now, we must turn our attention outward."
"One month from now—if the space-time gate appears as predicted—I will intercept it."
"And when that moment comes, I will select over a hundred elite warriors from the clan to accompany me into the new world for our first expedition."
"No matter how dangerous it may be, I'll lead them myself."
His voice carried a fierce determination. He had waited for this moment for three years—ever since before the Hyuga migrated.
For reasons he couldn't explain, Ryosuke was never one to stay idle. When free, there was always a voice echoing in his mind—pushing him, urging him toward new ideas and goals. Staying busy was the only way to silence it.
"No!"
The chorus of protest came instantly—countless voices rising in the hall.
The loudest belonged to Hinata.
Normally calm and composed in her seat at the head, she now shouted hoarsely—abandoning all formality, her voice cracking as she stood.
"Even if we're truly going to step into another world, we need scouts first," she said, forcing herself to breathe slowly and regain composure. "You absolutely cannot be one of the first to enter."
"Have you ever seen a commander lead the charge on foot? Maybe once, but this is different."
"We know nothing about what lies beyond that gate. If something happens to you… what are we supposed to do?"
Her tone was firm—unyielding.
"But among the Hyuga, I'm the strongest. If anything goes wrong, I'm the one most capable of handling it," Ryosuke replied, looking at her with a hint of guilt. "Yes, it's not ideal for the leader to fight on the front lines. But I'm also the only one who can quickly assess and adapt to the other world's environment."
He understood how much Hinata worried. But he wanted to be the first to experience what it truly meant to traverse time and space.
Though proficient in time-space ninjutsu, he had never crossed dimensions on such a large scale. He needed to test it—understand the gap between his own abilities and the threshold of that gate.
"No."
Hinata remained adamant and turned to address the rest of the clan.
"I don't think anyone here agrees that you should be the first to pass through the space-time gate."
"…Perhaps," an elder offered cautiously, "we could send outsiders in first?"
"There are several among them with greater individual power than our own shinobi."
"And, considering their wishes to return home, they might not object to serving as pioneers."
"Rejected."
"Not appropriate."
"I disagree."
The objections came quickly and firmly.
"Our goal has always been to truly integrate these outsiders into Hyuga. We want to build something beyond a family—something like a nation, or a shared belief."
"If we don't trust them now and use them as disposable tools, that vision dies before it begins."
"Besides, how can we be sure they'll come back once they leave?"
The elder who made the initial suggestion nodded slowly, realizing his oversight.
"But if we want them to feel they belong," another voice said, "why are they being excluded from this meeting in the first place?"
"This is only the beginning."
The meeting coordinator responded promptly.
"At present, neither side fully trusts the other. That's the reality."
"Among them, only Sakata Gintoki and a few others have worked closely with us. The rest—Shanks, Eren—they aligned with us because of Ryosuke's power."
"So while we're preparing to include non-clan members in future meetings, we'll start with someone like Gintoki. He may look disheveled, but he's capable and experienced."
…
They deftly shifted the topic—avoiding Ryosuke's plan to lead the expedition—and began discussing the selection process for the first scouting party and how to gradually integrate outsiders into the clan structure.
Most knew Ryosuke well. Once he made up his mind, it was near-impossible to sway him. Persuasion had to come from those closest to him—like Hinata.
This wasn't a matter for debate during a clan meeting. It would be addressed between the two of them… privately, later.
Ryosuke knew exactly what they were doing.
He had long since developed the ability to perceive people's true thoughts. Unless someone vastly surpassed him in spiritual or soul power, he could read them effortlessly.
But instead of impatience, he felt… satisfaction.
Though he had already thought through most of their concerns, it made him genuinely happy to see his people sitting together—arguing, suggesting, building something for a shared goal.
Among their voices were perspectives he hadn't considered—ideas he hadn't foreseen.
Just as Hinata said: they were all working hard to catch up.
If something seemed too big to solve alone, why not bring it to the table?
If one person couldn't find the answer—then maybe a hundred, a thousand minds could.
…but—
"But please wait a moment."
Just as the discussion grew increasingly animated, Ryosuke raised a hand, hesitating slightly before interrupting.
The room quieted.
Those who had been speaking froze, their faces tensing. Some assumed Ryosuke was about to insist on joining the first wave of explorers.
But instead, Ryosuke spoke calmly.
"Everyone still remembers I said I wanted to synchronize three pieces of information with you, right?"
He continued slowly, "The second was about the confirmed time and location of the space-time gate. While critical, that's still a month away."
"The third piece of news," he said, his tone deepening, "concerns the present—and another world."
Ryosuke's next words sent a chill through the room.
"According to the intelligence I've foreseen, there's already a world that has made contact with our ninja world. They possess a fixed space-time gate that links to our realm."
That statement was heavier than everything he'd said earlier combined. It instantly silenced the room.
More than a dozen clan members, not yet steady in their mental state, jumped to their feet in shock. Their chairs scraped back with audible bangs.
"In fact," Ryosuke continued, "based on the timeline, they're likely hiding somewhere in our world even now."
He glanced around. "Do you all remember… the masked man once believed to be Uchiha Madara by the Akatsuki?"
"Uchiha Obito," Hyuga Neji responded.
Ryosuke nodded. "Yes. Obito."
"You should recall from battle reports that Obito left the Land of Water under Nagato's orders before the main war escalated. He then launched an attack that crippled Iwagakure. That's part of why Kumogakure and Iwagakure eventually allied."
"But after that, he vanished from the battlefield completely."
Hizashi raised his hand.
"In recent years, there's been growing speculation around him. At the same time, we've noticed that space-time gates have been appearing more frequently. People vanish—sometimes powerful shinobi, sometimes civilians."
He continued, "We've compiled records of these events from across nations. But because the gates vanish quickly, no village has drawn solid conclusions. Most blame Uchiha Madara or Obito, since only a madman would tamper with space-time so carelessly."
"But," Hizashi said with emphasis, "we know better. Obito has been missing far too long."
Indeed, if Ryosuke hadn't uncovered the memories of those otherworlders early on, even he would've mistaken the incidents for deliberate chaos caused by space-time jutsu.
Who could've imagined that on the other side of those gates… was another world entirely?
Ryosuke nodded in acknowledgment. "Obito isn't missing. He's dead."
That sent another wave of shock through the room.
He revealed what he had seen. "During the Land of Water war, Obito was killed by that group of outsiders. That's why he vanished before the war's climax."
"I don't know the exact level of their power," he admitted. "But based on what I saw on the battlefield, they're extremely cautious of our world."
"They've been hiding in remote areas—or returning to their own world altogether."
"More importantly, they took Obito's body. They've been studying chakra and our techniques ever since."
Ryosuke's eyes narrowed slightly. "This isn't like Sakata Gintoki's group. These people didn't stumble into our world by accident."
"They're organized. Disciplined. And they came prepared."
"They concealed themselves within our world and only surfaced two months ago when they failed in an attempt to steal secret techniques. That's when they truly entered our radar."
The weight in the hall grew heavy.
Uchiha Obito's strength was undeniable. Even with only one Mangekyō Sharingan, he was formidable—bolstered by Hashirama's cells and capable of Wood Release.
At minimum, he was on par with the Five Kage. And his space-time ability made him even more dangerous.
Yet he had been killed—by people from another world.
"So… how much do you know about them?" Hinata asked, her voice calm but focused.
"Very little," Ryosuke admitted. "From what I've gathered, their abilities resemble something like… supernatural powers."
Seeing the confusion in their eyes, he clarified.
"They're similar to kekkei genkai—awakening unique powers. These can be used for offense, defense, support… even illusions."
"They don't rely on chakra or techniques. Some don't even train. Their powers can be activated by thought alone."
"Even weak individuals can wield enormous energy."
He paused.
"Unless the user loses control, they can withstand that power despite having fragile bodies—and still change the battlefield."
Ryosuke frowned slightly. "I couldn't identify their origin. Even knowing their names and affiliations didn't help. I couldn't match them to any anime, manga, or film I remember."
But that didn't surprise him.
There were far too many stories in existence. It was only natural that he wouldn't recognize every world.
Still, he had observed the abilities used by their leader.
"Telekinesis," he said. "A relatively common ability across various fictional universes. But terrifying when developed properly."
"You're telling us… they killed Obito with powers they didn't even train for?!"
Voices in the hall grew panicked. Many were already considering retreat strategies.
Ryosuke spoke again, steady and clear.
"Awakening superpowers requires specific conditions. The probability is low."
"Not everyone in that world possesses powers. Some are martial artists. Others rely on high technology. It's diverse."
"And remember—after the Water Country conflict, they retreated. That proves they're still wary of us."
"At least… their strongest members don't feel confident enough to face me, Uchiha Madara, or Ōtsutsuki Kaguya."
A silence fell. The clan digested what this meant.
This was a highly developed alternate world—possibly modern-day in nature.
Everyone nodded. They were already familiar with Uchiha Madara, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, and even the Hyuga's own ancient history, thanks to Ryosuke's transparency before the Water Country War.
"So…" Hinata stepped forward again, cutting to the heart of the matter.
"You—or perhaps the future version of me—what actions were taken from this point?"
"Based on your logic… you plan to reverse-track the space-time connection, right? Create a stable gateway to their world."
"Did we succeed?"
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