Chapter 294: Take Down
The method of extracting chakra was no longer a precious secret of cultivation.
Refining chakra had become one of the most basic requirements for determining whether people in this world were eligible to join Hyuga.
Once upon a time, Sakata Gintoki and the others had trained for years but still failed to extract chakra. Now, thanks to the gradual adaptations implemented by Hinata, the method had become applicable to people of all worlds. As long as one possessed spiritual and physical energy, chakra could be refined successfully.
The tens of thousands of new ninjas currently charging into battle under Hyuga's banner were all official recruits who had passed that threshold.
Some among them, blessed with talent, had already begun to master techniques—ninjutsu, genjutsu, and more.
But... they were not from the shinobi world. They had never seen a tailed beast, never experienced the soul-crushing terror of true chakra warfare. Compared to that, even the most dangerous creatures of this world paled in comparison.
So it was only natural for them to fear the towering imperial weapon—the so-called Supreme Teigu.
Still, there were brave ones among them. People whose resolve didn't waver at the sight of the mecha's overwhelming presence.
The Night Raid veterans, for example. Hardened by years of bloodshed, their minds had long since been tempered like steel.
Their performance—alongside the tens of thousands of new ninjas and even the hundreds of thousands of ordinary warriors—was silently recorded by hidden Hyuga observers.
After all, reserve status and active duty were just stepping stones. True recognition from Hyuga required more.
Eventually, those who stood out in battle would be handpicked—formally welcomed into the Hyuga clan, joining the ranks of true "Outsiders" like Shanks, Eren, and others.
Only then would they gain the right to participate in Hyuga's true missions: the conquest and cultivation of other worlds.
"The Supreme… Imperial Weapon?"
Ryosuke's figure slowly rose into the sky.
King versus king. Ace against ace.
Originally, he thought his role would only come into play near the end. But it seemed the enemy's king had grown impatient and thrown down their strongest card at the start.
"Who is that?"
"It's Ryosuke-sama!"
"…Is he finally going to make a move?"
Excited whispers spread through the rear legions. General officers quickly barked commands to suppress the chatter, but curiosity burned too brightly to be contained.
To the rebel army, Hyuga Ryosuke was a living myth.
Their memories of him were vague at best—based solely on that one day, three years ago, when the Hyuga uprising was declared.
They had heard his name. They had felt the weight of his words.
But they had never seen him fight. Never seen him lead.
Most had never seen him at all.
Only a select few from the imperial capital had ever met Ryosuke in person. To everyone else, he was a ghost... a symbol.
And now, they were watching him float toward the enemy—alone.
"Is he going to face that thing by himself?"
Someone from the Imperial Army asked quietly from across the moat.
No one answered.
The answer was already obvious.
Even Esdeath, the general famed for her iron will, felt her confidence falter.
Her eyes narrowed as she unconsciously shifted into a combat stance. Her muscles tensed, breath slowed, every nerve alert.
The man floating toward the sky—he hadn't done anything yet.
But her instincts screamed at her.
This man is dangerous.
Even she, with her beast-like intuition and unparalleled killing intent, felt it.
If I face him head-on… I might lose.
"I remember you," the little emperor's voice snarled from inside the towering mecha. "Three years ago… it was you who disgraced me at the city gates."
Ryosuke's ascent was slow. Calm. There was no pressure, no violent aura. He floated with ease, like a feather riding the wind.
His thin figure looked laughably small compared to the colossal dragon-shaped mecha.
He was a man facing a steel mountain—a hundred-story iron titan.
"So, in your eyes, that was a 'disgrace?'"
Ryosuke's voice was steady.
"Funny. I was just thinking—this should be our first formal meeting."
"But I didn't expect you to act so directly."
In most wars, the duel between commanding generals came at the end. But here… the battle began at its peak.
Not that it mattered.
The ending would be the same. Only the process changed.
"I admit, I'm a little impatient."
The emperor responded coldly as he raised the mecha's arm—thick as a locomotive.
"I've waited long enough to wipe away the stain your rebellion has left on my throne."
His tone carried the remnants of imperial majesty. But his movements were sluggish, as if age had finally caught up to him. The grandeur collapsed into something pitiful.
---
"You'll pay for your arrogance."
A red glow lit up in the palm of the mech's raised hand.
"Energy cannon?"
Ryosuke stared at the weapon with mild interest.
"I was planning to destroy this thing completely—use it to show the recruits what true Hyuga strength looks like."
"But now… that won't do."
He stepped forward in mid-air.
"I'll take your toy back to the clan. It might be useful for future research."
"You—how dare you!"
The emperor howled.
But then—he froze.
Completely.
A voice—no longer distant—whispered in his ear.
"Did no one tell you? I can travel across space."
Ryosuke's words were calm. Crisp.
And when the emperor turned his head—
He was already inside the cockpit.
Standing just inches away.
The sudden presence, the long, silver-white hair drifting in the cabin like serpents—it crushed all his composure.
The burden of controlling the imperial weapon had already strained his body and mind. And now... this monster was here, face-to-face.
The fear drowned out all thought.
He took a panicked step back.
The anger vanished.
Only terror remained.
He never imagined this man would bypass the entire exterior of the Supreme Teigu and appear directly inside.
"Your Majesty," Ryosuke said softly.
"It's over."
And with that—
The last emperor of the Empire closed his eyes forever.
Outside, the soldiers and spectators—expecting an epic clash—stood stunned.
The mecha in the sky slowly lowered its raised arm. The energy cannon dimmed.
Then, Ryosuke slowly descended from the air and landed in the moat, water rising up to his calves.
"The emperor is dead. All troops, hear my command—take the Imperial Capital!"
Above the colossal dark dragon mecha, Ryosuke—who had vanished moments earlier—appeared once more.
And in his hand... was the lifeless body of the emperor, still dressed in ornate robes.
Yet no one moved.
Not a single rebel soldier nor imperial guard lifted a weapon. Silence engulfed the battlefield.
Everything had happened so suddenly. In the blink of an eye, the war was over—without a single clash.
None of them knew how Ryosuke had done it.
But the fact remained: the thousand-year-old royal bloodline had ended in an instant, crushed in a way none could have imagined.
And the towering imperial weapon—once hailed as indestructible—now seemed like a hollow joke.
"All units! Take the Imperial Capital!"
The first to recover was, of course, Hizashi, who had already anticipated such an outcome.
Even with preparation, even suspecting how Ryosuke had done it, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of disbelief.
The so-called "Supreme Teigu," considered by countless military advisors as the greatest obstacle to victory, was destroyed without resistance.
It turned out that if one bypassed the nearly indestructible exterior, the user inside was no more than a fragile human.
But that was easier said than done. Among all the rebel forces, only Ryosuke could transcend space without seals, summoning, or technique.
"Go!"
"For Hyuga! For the people!"
"For the light of tomorrow!"
With Hizashi's rallying cry, the rebel army surged forward across the moat, their eyes burning with fanaticism.
The imperial army—just moments ago bold enough to march out of their own walls—now found themselves hesitating.
"Wait!"
A commanding voice rang out.
Crack—!
A sharp, freezing sound echoed as a towering ice wall rose directly from the moat, like a fortress forged of winter, cutting off the rebel charge.
Standing on the opposite bank, leading the imperial army, was none other than the Empire's strongest general—Esdeath.
"General?!"
Riva—one of her Three Beasts—leapt forward, followed closely by his two companions.
They broke formation, rushing toward her.
"Esdeath?"
Hizashi narrowed his eyes, tense, ready to activate his Rebirth Technique at any moment.
Standing atop the fallen mecha, Ryosuke didn't move. He simply watched.
This woman… was different.
Among everyone he had faced—Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, Madara Uchiha, even Shanks—Esdeath was unique.
He couldn't see through her heart.
"Imperial Army, surrender!"
Esdeath's voice cut through the air.
Firm. Clear. Without hesitation or shame.
"General?!"
Her men froze.
The soldiers of the Imperial Army and her three beasts looked at her in disbelief.
This proud, battle-hardened warrior—declaring surrender without even drawing her blade?
"The weak are naturally eliminated."
Esdeath raised her chin, proud and unyielding.
"And by the look of things, the royal family has lost."
"Continuing to fight now would only lead to needless deaths. Accept reality. The Empire has a new ruler."
She showed no trace of defeat—only practicality.
To her, it wasn't about loyalty or politics. It was about facts.
And facts didn't lie.
"A wise general with a kind heart!"
Hizashi laughed.
Though he had hoped for a final clash to bring closure to the rebellion, this was better.
Clean. Swift. Efficient.
But then—
"You don't seem like someone who's surrendering."
Ryosuke stepped down from the mecha, tossing the emperor's body aside. He walked slowly across the bridge toward the massive ice wall.
Standing just beyond it—Esdeath.
Even without seeing her thoughts, Ryosuke could read her body.
The will to fight. The thrill of the kill. It radiated from her in waves.
"Of course I'm not surrendering."
Esdeath smiled.
As the armies fell silent, she dismissed the ice wall with a wave.
Her heels clicked on the bridge as she stepped forward.
"The Imperial Army may surrender, but I—will not."
"General!"
The Three Beasts moved again, but—
Crack!
The ice wall surged back up behind her, sealing off the army.
This was a duel.
One on one.
Her high heels clacked sharply on the stone bridge.
Eyes locked on Ryosuke, her smile widened. Excitement burned behind it—almost like affection.
"You're strong. Exceptionally strong."
"I am."
Ryosuke didn't deny it.
"You want to fight me. But you'll lose."
"Still, you're not like the other Empire generals. If you surrender and atone, Hyuga is willing to give you a chance."
This rebellion had never been driven by hatred.
It was about growth—liberation—for this world, and for Hyuga's vision of a unified multiverse.
Some could be spared.
People like General Budo, who had earned genuine respect among the people, had been offered the same chance.
But he refused.
Esdeath, however... was different.
Her strength. Her obsession with combat. Her adaptability.
She could be invaluable in opening new worlds.
If she accepted, Hyuga could rewrite her story—give her a new name, a new life.
It all depended on her.
"I've always said," Esdeath stepped forward, her tone rising with exhilaration, "that the weak should submit to the strong."
"But when I am the one who is weak—"
She grinned, eyes alight with madness and thrill.
"—I find that I absolutely refuse to submit."