Chapter 204: The Upcoming Trend
Red-Haired Shanks.
One of the Four Emperors of the Sea in the One Piece world. Master of the three types of Haki, swordsmanship, and taijutsu...
For most people, Devil Fruits are incredibly tempting. But Shanks? He deliberately avoids them refusing to shackle himself or invite any weaknesses.
He is a top-tier warrior with immense combat power and unshakable willpower, constantly striving to improve in every way.
Though the power systems between worlds differ,
Ryosuke could still analyze him based on what he remembered from his past life.
Shanks' impeccable physical skills and swordsmanship, which balanced offense and defense, combined with Armament Haki, made his close-combat capabilities vastly superior to someone like Blueno.
What Blueno lacked was resistance to ninjutsu and illusion it was partially compensated by his awakened Observation and Conqueror Haki.
Even with a missing arm,
Ryosuke held Shanks in high regard before they'd even met.
And now… he was eager to confirm his suspicions.
"But... your time is almost up."
Hinata had listened silently to Ryosuke's explanation. She realized that tracking this outsider using only Hyūga Hoshicai and the others would be difficult.
"No matter if that person truly is who you think he is, and regardless of how powerful he might be..."
"Your time is almost up."
She stressed it once more.
Of course, she was referring to his transformation.
"…Right."
Ryosuke, who had been excited and preparing to verify the man's identity, now remembered the looming issue.
A full year had passed, and the progress bar in his mind was nearly complete.
Every time this period arrived, he would calmly prepare to avoid any sudden transformations during crucial moments transformations that could endanger his life.
That was his routine, born from his cautious nature. And this year would be no different.
"Are they planning to just sit back and do nothing about this?" he asked quietly.
Hinata breathed a small sigh of relief when he finally agreed. She'd feared he might risk going out at such a critical moment.
"Send them a message," Ryosuke said after a moment's thought. "If you're discovered, approach them with goodwill. No tricks."
"Be sincere. Emphasize that sincerity when delivering the message."
"If the other party senses our goodwill and is willing to talk, then leave your family name, Hyūga. Invite him to come when convenient."
"But if the other party shows hostility, then withdraw. I'll handle it myself later."
Since he couldn't be there in person, the task's instructions had to change.
If the mysterious figure really was Red-Haired Shanks, then with sincerity and goodwill, there should be no immediate conflict.
Once Ryosuke completed his current affairs, he could go meet him himself.
Hinata nodded from her place beside him then hesitated and shook her head.
"Wait... but what if the man isn't who you think he is?"
She looked at Ryosuke, brows slightly furrowed, puzzled by what seemed like a rare misjudgment from him.
"Even if people are from different worlds, it's not impossible for two individuals to share similar abilities, personalities, and even appearances. Especially since we only have his appearance and this involves another dimension."
Her tone grew more serious.
"Your current plan assumes that this outsider is the Red-Haired Shanks you remember. But that's only your speculation. What if you're wrong?"
Hinata's eyes narrowed slightly. "Even with limited intel, simulations can help, but... this time, your decision seems a bit too hasty."
"Executing a mission, especially one meant to probe a target's identity is always a risk."
Ryosuke didn't flinch. He was never one to hide his reasoning.
"I'm not omniscient. Most of my judgments rely on access to superior intelligence and analyzing it properly."
"As for this mission, something involving a visitor from another world, I'm completely in the dark. I don't know who he really is."
"I never imagined things like Devil Fruits or the Marine Six Styles would appear in the Shinobi world. If I hadn't told you this myself, would you have believed people from other dimensions could travel across space and time?"
"What's been happening lately is too bizarre to be explained by logic alone."
He paused, then said solemnly, "The only thing I can promise right now is our family's safety. That's all I can guarantee."
Ryosuke had never been arrogant.
Whether it was the ordinary Shinobi world or one entangled with foreign powers, conflict was inevitable.
And conflict meant life and death. Risk and reward.
Hinata was taken aback at first.
Then, countless thoughts swirled through her mind only for her to settle on one, calm and precise.
"You're right."
She nodded. "I'll have the message delivered."
Maybe it was because Ryosuke had always seemed so flawless. So prepared.
She had fallen into the illusion that he could never make a mistake.
But in truth, no one in the world could predict everything. No one was perfect.
All predictions carried risks, no matter how intelligent or well-planned.
Every mission had its dangers.
"Then, there's news from Captain Iroha."
As Hoshicai's report concluded, Hinata brought up another letter.
"Their team has linked up with the Land of Fire's delegation. They're preparing to head toward the Land of Rain. They're expected to arrive before the other nations."
"That's pretty fast," Ryosuke remarked, setting the letter aside. He picked up another document on the table. "I thought having more Genin would slow their pace."
"But the key is... they found Uzumaki Naruto among the group."
Hinata's tone sharpened. "Even though his presence was well-hidden, one of our clan members spotted him."
She paused before voicing her concern.
"Sending Naruto, the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, on such a dangerous mission, and letting him leave the village? It feels like Konoha has another goal in mind. Their purpose for this trip doesn't align with ours."
"No wonder I haven't seen him in a while. That possibility can't be ruled out."
Ryosuke gave the letter a cursory glance before setting it down.
"Honestly, you don't have to worry too much about it. But as the next clan head, the decision is yours to make."
Compared to the message delivered by Hoshicai, Iroha's words felt relatively ordinary.
"I'd like to hear your advice."
Hinata hesitated. "Naruto is your friend. I still want to hear your thoughts on this matter."
"…Alright."
Ryosuke nodded. "Then my opinion is simple: don't worry too much about it."
He elaborated calmly, "From what I understand of Naruto's position in the village, I don't think his departure has any complicated motive. It's likely he just accepted a mission nothing more."
"He hadn't taken on any missions outside the village until now. After his rampage back then, the higher-ups questioned his loyalty. His feelings toward the village were unstable, and the elders didn't trust him."
"Later on, with his lack of strength, he simply stayed behind. Naruto himself didn't complain about it."
"But I sparred with him not long ago. His combat level is already among the best at this stage. He's grown, and his training in the village has reached its limit."
"In that kind of bottleneck, he can't be caged here forever. After Hiruzen Sarutobi passed away, his master Jiraiya became Hokage, and Tsunade now serves as his advisor."
"With both of them backing him, and with so much time having passed since his last rampage, Naruto's mastery over the Nine-Tails has steadily improved. Given his current strength, no one can stop him from heading out into the world and taking part in a mission."
What Ryosuke didn't say out loud was this: if Naruto had really been sent on a special mission, he would've informed Ryosuke and said goodbye. He wouldn't have just disappeared.
Perhaps Naruto left on impulse.
Or maybe... Konoha sent him out in response to the size of the Hyuga squad, sending an elite of similar caliber to balance things. After all, their team included many Genin. It was a move worth considering.
But those were just Ryosuke's speculations. He still couldn't be sure if he would have had the chance to meet Naruto before he left.
"Give Iroha some advice too."
Ryosuke hesitated, but finally decided to speak.
"If Naruto encounters any danger during the operation, we Hyuga should be willing to support him. Likewise, if our team runs into trouble, they should feel comfortable seeking help from Naruto."
"His overall strength isn't inferior to Jiraiya or Tsunade. What he lacks is experience. In an emergency, his power will be a great asset to the team."
"With his status, if he makes any requests, the Konoha forces will listen."
Hinata thought for a moment, then nodded. "I'll make the arrangements immediately."
She quickly finished writing her replies to the two letters and stood up, heading out of the room.
Once she left, only Ryosuke remained.
He walked to the window and gazed out at the vast white world blanketing the land in snow.
Time flew by. Unknowingly, it was finally time again to activate the limiter.
If the meeting with the man who looked like Shanks had stirred his curiosity…
Then this, activating the limiter was something Ryosuke truly looked forward to.
His face remained calm, his breathing steady, but beneath the surface, excitement simmered like a volcano.
This transformation, this accumulation, would surpass anything he had achieved before.
The Navy's Six Styles had refined his body.
Exploring the potential of the Byakugan gave him new techniques, like the Eighty Gods technique and the ability to absorb chakra.
More recently, he had mastered Sage Mode.
All of it, every ounce of growth was the result of three years of relentless effort.
What did the limiter mean to Ryosuke?
It was his golden finger. A tangible system that turned hard work into explosive power, doubling the rewards from his training.
Each time he gained a new ability or broke through a barrier, he would wonder:
"What will happen when I open the limiter next?"
This visual feedback, this conversion of sweat into strength was more satisfying than any abstract promise of power.
For someone like Ryosuke, who treated training as an obsession, that sense of reward was intoxicating.
"Maybe this time... I'll awaken the Teinseigan."
He murmured the words, his voice full of anticipation.
From the standard Byakugan, to a variation already beyond the limits of the Hyuga, and now approaching something closer to the Tenseigan... Ryosuke could feel it. He was getting close.
Perhaps… just one step away.
Tenseigan, this had been his goal from the moment he arrived in this world and became part of the Hyuga clan.
Based on his conversation with Black Zetsu, it seemed the Otsutsuki clan didn't even record the existence of the Tenseigan.
It wasn't a pure-blood inheritance, it was a mutation, born from the union between Otsutsuki and those of this world.
Analyzing what he knew, Ryosuke believed the Tenseigan stood on equal footing with the Rinnegan that emerged from the fruit of the God Tree.
To be honest, when he fought Nagato.
And found himself pushed to the limit by the powers of the Rinnegan.
He had felt envy.
Ryosuke always claimed that a ninja's strength came down to the user, not the ability.
But when two users were equal…
Then the ability became the deciding factor.
Everything mattered. Every link in the chain.
Even someone with average talent could become a monster with the right ability just look at the Logia Devil Fruits from the world of One Piece.
Once someone ate a Logia-type fruit, they could turn into elements.
Unless they encountered a natural counter, seastone, or a skilled Haki user, they were almost untouchable.
"I just hope it happens soon… Even Red-Haired Shanks has made an appearance."
His voice grew quieter, laced with urgency.
"I don't want to miss any of the battles that are coming."
He wasn't afraid of the pain that would come with the transformation.
What Ryosuke feared was something far more cruel.
That his enemy would be right in front of him…
And he would be powerless to fight back, or worse.
Powerless to enjoy the thrill of battle.
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