Chapter 8: Good! Very Good!
"For this infiltration, the Hidden Cloud Village will provide material compensation to both the Hyuga clan and the village. The Third Hokage hopes this matter can be settled peacefully and quietly."
By the time Ryosuke returned home, Hyuga Hiashi had already come back from the emergency meeting at the Hokage building.
Father and son went straight to the study—this was a conversation for men.
Technically, Hinata, as the future head of the clan, should've been present for discussions like these. But she was still young, and since she had only recently decided to change, Ryosuke didn't ask her to join.
As for Hiashi, he had long since stopped placing much hope in his eldest daughter.
Now, all his attention was on Ryosuke.
In his eyes, this son-in-law represented the true future of the Hyuga clan.
---
"You don't seem surprised by the outcome," Hiashi said, seated behind his desk with his eyes half-closed, watching Ryosuke across from him. "Did you already see this future? Did you know how the meeting would go?"
Despite sitting in a large chair, Ryosume small frame meant only his head peeked above the desk. Still, his presence was as sharp as ever.
As the clan head, Hiashi couldn't afford to place absolute trust in anyone.
Ryosuke had claimed his Byakugan could glimpse the future. Hiashi believed him… about seventy percent. That belief came not just from Ryosuke's identity or potential—but from certain ancient records within the Hyuga Shrine.
---
"This foresight ability of mine isn't something I've mastered yet," Ryosuke replied calmly. "It works sometimes, and fails other times. I'm still figuring it out. But I plan to master it soon."
"As for the outcome of this matter, I didn't see it—I simply predicted it. I believe, Father, you had also guessed how the meeting would turn out before you went."
He leaned forward slightly, voice composed.
"After all, the Third Hokage is getting old."
"You gave me full access to the clan's intelligence network, so I've gotten a good read on the personalities of key figures in Konoha—and even some from other villages."
"Based on the intel we've gathered, since the end of the Third Great Ninja War, the Sandaime's decisions have grown more cautious—even tolerant. Gone is the boldness he once showed in his youth."
"Konoha is weak right now. The Sannin have left, the Fourth Hokage died young, and there aren't many who can carry the village's banner in a war."
He paused, then concluded:
"So clashing with the Hidden Cloud Village now… would be unwise."
"But," Ryosuke added, "we already have witnesses, and the culprits have been captured. We can't just sweep this under the rug. I believe the Sandaime's approach in the meeting was to push blame onto Kumogakure, and demand compensation."
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Hiashi slowly applauded, his eyes full of approval.
"A sharp analysis. You're right. I had also predicted as much."
"If the Hyuga clan had suffered casualties—or if Hinata had really been taken—the Sandaime might've considered war to calm our outrage."
"But no one was hurt. So he'll do anything to avoid dragging Konoha into another war."
Ryosuke nodded silently.
"But tell me," Hiashi said, narrowing his eyes. "In the future you saw—what was the outcome? If no precautions had been taken, would Hinata really have been kidnapped last night?"
"And... did Kumogakure end up uncovering the secrets of our Byakugan?"
His tone was firm. Judging from the strength of the intruders last night, it was clear they would've succeeded—if not for the Hyuga clan's preparedness.
"They did take Hinata," Ryosuke said softly. "But they didn't make it out of the village."
"Not that it matters anymore. What's important is that we stopped it from happening."
"Why won't you tell me?" Hiashi frowned. "Is it because… there are limits to what your eyes can see?"
"I just don't think feeding your mind with unnecessary information is helpful," Ryosuke replied with a faint smile. "The future I see isn't guaranteed to happen."
"For example, in one future, the Sandaime is a noble hero—selfless, willing to sacrifice everything to preserve Konoha's dignity."
"But in reality? He's a hesitant, aging man, unsure of himself."
"So, Father, should I believe in the idealized future I saw—or the real man I'm facing right now?"
Hiashi fell into thought.
"…That's something only you can decide."
"Exactly," Ryosuke said. "When the time comes, I'll make judgments based on what's in front of me. But if I let too much irrelevant future knowledge cloud my mind, I might hesitate."
"Is his personality closer to the one I saw in the future? Or the one I see now? What will he do next? Is he a threat? Or a potential ally?"
He sighed.
"That kind of overthinking can be dangerous. Intelligence is only valuable when it's useful. Drowning in unnecessary data will only slow me down."
The truth was… the secret of the Byakugan had already been cracked by Kirigakure.
Someone there had even successfully transplanted one.
The reason the Hyuga clan guarded their bloodline so fiercely was to protect the purity of the Byakugan.
But Ryosuke didn't intend to reveal all that—at least not yet.
Just as he once said to Hiashi: human fate is unpredictable.
Even with knowledge of the original plot, Ryosuke couldn't predict everything.
He had no way of knowing exactly when, where, or who might appear—or disappear.
Because now, this world had an anomaly.
Him.
And the moment he arrived, everything had already begun to shift.
Until he could truly grasp the ability to see the future, the stories he remembered were just that—stories. Nothing more than reference material.
Not gospel.
Not truth.
Not anymore.
Hiashi stared at Ryosuke for a long time, eyes half-closed.
Finally, he spoke in a low voice. "…Are you warning me?"
"I'm talking about myself," Ryosuke replied quickly. "I've realized that in the past, I relied too much on gathering intel and analyzing events. I believed that knowing both ourselves and our enemies would ensure victory every time."
"But now I see… even if you know everything, you still might lose. I was too naïve. Too idealistic."
His smile didn't falter, but the atmosphere in the study turned heavy.
Time passed quietly.
Hiashi stared at him.
Ryosuke met his gaze, calm and composed.
Then, suddenly—
He laughed.
The stiff, unfamiliar sound of it filled the room.
"Good. Very good. You're right—it was naïve. But that mindset… doesn't belong to a child."
"Maybe I shouldn't just expect one grandchild from you."
The smile was awkward—but genuine. He simply wasn't used to smiling.
"But, Father," Ryosuke said, his expression unchanging, "I did find something that I think you should know."
Unlike Hiashi's rare smile, Ryosuke's was subtle and practiced—so natural it was impossible to tell if it was real or not.
"The Sandaime may be more wary of the Hyuga clan than you realize."
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