Chapter 188: Grasping All the Tailed Beasts in Konoha's Hands
Light knocking shattered Hyuga Ritsu's muddled dreams. He opened his eyes to find his room shrouded in darkness. The bedroom window faced west, with evening sunlight falling on tightly drawn curtains.
Hyuga Ritsu threw off the blanket, rose, and walked to the window. He pulled back the curtains, allowing the faintly warm evening glow to fall on his body. Bathing in this gentle, non-glaring light, he stretched his arms overhead in a satisfying yawn. His entire being felt refreshed, his condition unprecedentedly excellent!
Frontline life hadn't been harsh. At the frontline, he'd held a position second to one, above thousands—treatment undoubtedly of the highest class. Whatever good things existed, he'd received his share.
However—
"Home is still most comfortable!"
Hyuga Ritsu sighed contentedly, squinting at the scenery outside the window he'd viewed for over ten years without growing tired. He felt time passing peacefully and beautifully.
Until the knocking sounded again.
"Ritsu, get up and eat!"
His mother's voice came from outside the door.
"Mom, I'll be right down."
Hyuga Ritsu answered verbally but still dawdled two minutes before changing into clean white clothing. Descending to the dining room, he found his family assembled. His taciturn father stared blankly at the rice before him. Mother and Aunt Midoriko spoke in low voices. His cousin Hyuga Akiba slouched with her chin resting on the table, looking as if she were starving to death.
Seeing Hyuga Ritsu descend the stairs, Hyuga Akiba instantly perked up. "Ritsu-nii, hurry, hurry! I'm starving!"
Hyuga Ritsu's mouth twitched. Looking at his impatient cousin, he revealed a smile. "Akiba, what were you doing? Why so hungry?"
"Training!"
"Training? Speaking of which, how's Rin doing now?"
"Pretty well! Since Kushina-senpai got pregnant, plus with you away this whole time, Ritsu-nii, Rin temporarily suspended training to control the Tailed Beast. These days she's been concentrating on studying medical ninjutsu."
"I see! That's good."
Hyuga Ritsu pulled out his chair and sat in his designated seat.
His father sitting in the head position spoke. "Let's eat." Everyone began using their chopsticks. The three elders ate slowly, while Hyuga Ritsu and his cousin Hyuga Akiba swept through their favorite dishes like gluttons.
Hyuga Ritsu ate fastest, but even after the others had all set down their chopsticks, he continued eating.
The evolution of his superpower Physical Regeneration and the continuous awakening of his Otsutsuki bloodline brought changes not only external but also internal. For instance, his appetite had increased considerably. He could now consume up to five servings of food in one meal.
If he hadn't specifically notified Mother upon returning, reporting his bottomless-pit appetite in advance, preparing dinner according to previous portions would have definitely left Hyuga Ritsu unsatisfied.
"Ritsu-nii, is your current appearance really okay?"
Watching Hyuga Ritsu clean his plate, Hyuga Akiba's gaze focused on the pair of horns atop his head. Just as Uchiha Shisui and other friends and juniors were full of curiosity about his current appearance, his family was naturally also filled with curiosity and concern about such drastic changes.
Hearing Hyuga Akiba finally ask this question everyone cared about, Father froze mid-tea-sip, his breathing instantly dropping to minimum volume. Mother and Aunt Midoriko's conversation halted abruptly. Both turned to look at Hyuga Ritsu simultaneously, ears perked as if capable of catching ultrasonic waves in this moment.
"What problems could there be? Speaking of which, Akiba, you've seen that ancestor's portrait stored in the shrine, right? This is just atavism. Nothing to make a fuss about."
Hyuga Ritsu picked up his plate, sweeping the remaining food into his bowl.
"Portrait?"
Hyuga Akiba froze momentarily. Relevant information unconsciously surfaced in her mind. Her face showed sudden realization. "That's right! The ancestor in the portrait also has horns on their head... So Ritsu-nii, have you become as powerful as that ancestor now?"
"Still far from it!"
Hyuga Ritsu finished the food in his bowl, set down his chopsticks, and pulled out a napkin to wipe his mouth. "Right now I've only grown horns. I'm still quite far from that ancestor's realm."
"That's still amazing! Ah, when will I become as powerful as you, Ritsu-nii?"
"Don't aim too high. First completely master Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists, then we'll talk about other things. I recently finished developing a technique very suitable for our clan. When you've fully mastered Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists, I can teach you this technique."
"Really?"
Like a donkey tempted by a carrot, Hyuga Akiba's eyes lit up. "Ritsu-nii, what kind of technique is it? Is it hard to learn? How powerful is it?"
Hyuga Ritsu smiled without answering. Instead, he said, "I'm going out to execute a new mission. Can't say exactly when I'll return."
"Ritsu-nii, you just got back and you're leaving again?"
"This is what they call working the capable harder."
"Then... stay safe!"
After bidding farewell to his family, carrying their blessings, Hyuga Ritsu went directly to the Hokage Building. As he reached the Hokage's office, a wild-looking girl with a white ninja dog appeared before him.
"Hyuga Clan Head, please follow me!"
The girl's name was Inuzuka Chou, a genius from the Inuzuka clan and one of the Fourth Hokage's Shadow Guard members.
Inuzuka Chou led the way.
She guided Hyuga Ritsu to the conference room door.
Inuzuka Chou pushed open the conference room door, speaking softly. "Hyuga Clan Head, please enter. The Hokage is inside."
The spacious conference room already held quite a few people. Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato sat in the head position, with advisor elder Akimichi Torikaze and jonin commander Nara Shikaku beside him.
Kakashi sat alone against one wall of the conference room. Opposite him sat three Sand ninja from Sunagakure.
Seeing Hyuga Ritsu enter, Minato's face revealed a smile. He beckoned. "Hyuga Clan Head, come sit here."
The three Sand ninja's gazes had locked onto Hyuga Ritsu from the moment he entered. Especially when seeing that pair of horns on Hyuga Ritsu's head, their expressions nearly wrote the word "curious" on each cheek, left and right.
Hyuga Ritsu walked over and sat in the empty seat beside Nara Shikaku. He looked left and right without spotting Uchiha Shisui's whereabouts and asked aloud, "Hokage-sama, hasn't Shisui arrived yet?"
Before Minato could answer, the conference room door opened again. Uchiha Shisui rushed in hastily. Seeing Hyuga Ritsu and Hatake Kakashi already seated, his face immediately showed embarrassment. He quickly bowed apologetically. "I apologize, Hokage-sama! I'm late!"
Minato smiled and waved his hand. "Not late. I told you to arrive before six-thirty. It's only six-twenty now. Quickly sit down!"
"Yes."
Uchiha Shisui sat beside Kakashi.
Then—
Minato looked around, cleared his throat, and said, "Everyone's here. I won't waste words. Hyuga Clan Head, Shisui, Kakashi—these are three envoys from Sunagakure: Yura, Baki, and Yashamaru."
Hyuga Ritsu raised an eyebrow.
Good grief—all three Sand ninja Sunagakure sent were "acquaintances." If he remembered correctly, Yura with the little mustache was Sasori of the Red Sand's spy left in Sunagakure. Baki was the future Fifth Kazekage Gaara's instructor teacher. Yashamaru was Fourth Kazekage Rasa's brother-in-law, Fifth Kazekage Gaara's uncle.
Shisui and Kakashi nodded slightly toward the three opposite.
Minato continued. "Gentlemen from Sunagakure, sitting opposite you are Hyuga Ritsu, clan head of the Hyuga; Uchiha Shisui, the Uchiha clan's foremost elite; and my student Hatake Kakashi. These three will accompany you in hunting Missing-nin Anonymous."
Yura, with a tuft of beard on his chin, immediately frowned and spoke. "Hokage-sama, please forgive my discourtesy, but your side only plans to dispatch three people to accompany us?"
This statement was indeed discourteous, completely dismissing Hyuga Ritsu's trio as inadequate.
Being underestimated like this made even good-natured Shisui frown.
Hyuga Ritsu said nothing, only smiling coldly.
The smile on Minato's face remained unchanged, but his voice lost several degrees of warmth. "Yura-san, to speak truthfully, Hyuga Clan Head's strength now surpasses even mine. Moreover, Kakashi carries coordinates. Once we truly locate Missing-nin Anonymous, I'll arrive immediately."
After receiving Minato's reply, Yura's attitude instantly softened, and he explained, "If that's the case, I have no problems whatsoever. Please forgive my discourtesy. After all, we only have this one opportunity. If we fail this time, the opponent will definitely notice the problem. Next time, trying to track Missing-nin Anonymous's trail will be nearly impossible!"
Hearing this, Hyuga Ritsu became interested and asked aloud, "Speaking of which, how exactly are you tracking Missing-nin Anonymous? From what I know, Missing-nin Anonymous—"
Yura hesitated momentarily but still answered. "We considered long ago the possibility the One-Tail might be lost. For this, we left certain measures on the ninja tool sealing the One-Tail—the Shukaku pot."
He only provided a general outline without explaining in detail what methods they'd used.
However, the Konoha side was satisfied with this answer. They had no interest in prying into Sunagakure's techniques. Simply knowing roughly what means Sunagakure used to locate Missing-nin Anonymous was sufficient.
"I see! Then I have no further questions. When can you depart?"
Hyuga Ritsu asked straightforwardly.
Yura quickly answered. "We can leave anytime. It depends on when your side can manage. My recommendation is the sooner the better. If time drags on, Missing-nin Anonymous might also discover the measures we left on the ninja tool Shukaku pot."
At this point, Hyuga Ritsu looked toward Minato sitting in the head position.
Minato lightly tapped the table with his finger, his gaze also turning to Hyuga Ritsu. He smiled and asked, "Hyuga Clan Head, have you finished arranging clan matters?"
"Nothing needs arranging. The elders are doing fine work. No need for me to boss them around. I can depart anytime."
"I can also depart anytime."
Without waiting for Minato to ask, Uchiha Shisui volunteered.
Kakashi said nothing, but Minato didn't need to ask. Kakashi was alone in the world—his closest relationship in the village was with his teacher.
Minato turned his gaze toward the three Sand ninja, fixing his eyes on Yura at their head. "Yura-san, can you currently confirm Missing-nin Anonymous's specific location? Should we cast the technique now to verify his position?"
Yura immediately answered. "We already cast the technique to confirm location before coming. Missing-nin Anonymous—no, I should say the ninja tool Shukaku pot's current location is to the northwest. Exactly where, we cannot determine. We can only confirm once we approach within a certain distance."
"Northwest?"
Minato narrowed his eyes.
Northwest stretched through three small nations in a line—the Land of Rain, Land of Grass, and Land of Taki. Beyond that lay the Land of Earth.
His mind turned briefly, then he stopped speculating and spoke directly. "Since everyone's prepared, then Yura-san, Hyuga Clan Head—depart now!"
He'd already told Kakashi everything that needed saying. Nothing more required instructions.
Everyone wasted no words, rising to leave. The Sand ninja side took Yura with his little mustache as leader. The Konoha side naturally had Hyuga Ritsu commanding. Minato didn't see them far, merely standing below the Hokage Building watching Hyuga Ritsu and the others depart into the distance.
At this moment, Akimichi Torikaze suddenly spoke. "Hokage-sama, speaking of which—if we successfully eliminate Missing-nin Anonymous this time, how should the final spoils be divided? Didn't the Sand ninja mention this?"
"That Yura-san mentioned it in passing. They only need the One-Tail Shukaku returned to them. They want nothing else."
"Then... will we return it?"
"We'll discuss it then."
Minato didn't provide a definite answer.
When the five great ninja villages were first established, the First Hokage, to achieve long-term peace in the shinobi world, formulated a Tailed Beast distribution plan. He intended the five great ninja villages to use Tailed Beasts to achieve mutual balance, thereby avoiding war's outbreak.
But unfortunately, his plan completely failed. During his lifetime, the five great ninja villages coexisted peacefully because he himself was sufficiently powerful, not because Tailed Beasts possessed significant strategic deterrent force.
Once the First Hokage died, war erupted almost immediately. Even now, with the Third Shinobi World War concluded, everything demonstrated the First Hokage's plan's failure.
So—
There was no need to continue stubbornly adhering to policies the First Hokage left behind, especially policies that had obviously failed—these absolutely warranted revision.
Minato looked up at the sky, his heart involuntarily beginning to consider how exactly to bring longer-lasting peace to the shinobi world. Perhaps... grasping all the Tailed Beasts in Konoha's own hands was a feasible policy?
After this somewhat insane notion appeared in his mind, it immediately took root and sprouted, growing rapidly like bamboo shoots after spring rain.
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