Naruto: Limit Breaker

Chapter 121: A Long-Awaited Meeting

Like an ordinary office worker returning from a long day, Ryosuke soaked in a hot bath when he got home. But afterward, he didn't retreat to his room to rest, nor did he immediately debrief with Hyuga Hiashi about the mission.

Instead, he sat on the corridor of the courtyard, lounging idly as his gaze fixed on the front door.

He was waiting. Not for dinner—but for his wife.

She was close.

Even without activating any chakra-based perception, Ryosuke knew Hinata would arrive soon. Years of understanding her habits made her presence predictable.

"Hanabi, aren't you going to greet your sister?" he asked, turning toward the girl who was quietly helping the housekeeper Aliang with the dishes.

"Didn't you always wait in the courtyard when Hinata came home from the academy?"

Hanabi remained quiet, continuing her work. There was a notable lack of her usual energy. In the past, she would've sat opposite him, pouting and accusing him of stealing Hinata's attention.

Turning to glance at him, Hanabi hesitated. "You just got back from a mission... So I'll let you have her for a day," she mumbled, then quickly turned back to the dishes.

Ryosuke didn't press her. Her voice lacked its usual sharpness, replaced with something that felt oddly lonely.

But before he could ponder further, a familiar figure stepped through the door.

Long lavender hair draped over her shoulders, bangs shadowing her gentle brows. Pure white skin glowing under the crimson sunset. Her innocent, pale eyes shimmered with a quiet nobility, though her cheeks had lost some of their baby fat.

Wearing a loose, pure white kimono, Hinata smiled the moment her gaze met Ryosuke's. No one else existed in that moment. Her footsteps quickened until she threw herself into his arms.

"Ryosuke, you're finally back," she murmured, voice soft and full of longing.

It was the same greeting as before, but the tone was different—more fragile, more dependent. Maybe even a little aggrieved.

"You've grown taller," Ryosuke said with a gentle smile, standing to embrace her without a hint of hesitation, even in front of Hanabi and the housekeeper.

A subtle lift told him all he needed to know—Hinata had been training harder than usual. Her muscles were stiffer, her meridians strained.

Ryosuke never knew how to express care through words. Instead, he monitored her condition like a medic, believing that was the truest form of concern.

When Hinata felt his hand slip across her back—subtle, probing, checking—her face flushed. Her heart thumped. Her temperature spiked.

But she caught herself quickly. She knew Ryosuke's personality well by now.

"I... I've been resting," she said.

"Your body says otherwise," Ryosuke replied, gently pinching her cheek. "You promised to take it easy after training, remember? You said you'd take Hanabi out to play more."

Hinata sighed internally. Her husband always paid attention to the strangest things.

"I did rest. And I did take Hanabi out... sometimes. But..." she paused. "Where's Father?"

"Said he won't be joining us for dinner," Ryosuke replied. "He's got other matters. But he asked us to meet him in the study after. Family meeting. Mostly to talk about the mission and some upcoming plans."

"Why the sudden interest in your father? Don't you see each other every day?"

Hinata simply shook her head. "It's nothing..."

She stepped back, slipping free from his arms.

It gave Ryosuke a chance to look at her more carefully.

Something had changed. Maybe it was pressure. Or maturity.

Her posture, her aura—it had shifted. Hinata wasn't the same little girl pretending to be grown-up anymore. She was beginning to carry herself like an adult, taking on the burdens and responsibilities of her clan.

Even her reaction just now—the way she remained composed despite her emotions—was different. It spoke of someone learning to face the world on her own.

Something had definitely happened in the Hyuga household while he was away. Hanabi's mood, Hinata's silence—they both hinted at it.

But Ryosuke didn't ask. Some trials were meant to be faced alone.

---

Just as expected, Hyuga Hiashi didn't attend dinner.

Hanabi and Hinata behaved the same as always. On the surface, nothing seemed to have changed.

Boom boom boom—

Later that evening, after a short rest, Ryosuke and Hinata stood outside the study.

"Come in," Hiashi's voice called from within.

The study was just as Ryosuke remembered. Pristine. Unchanged.

"Father," Ryosuke greeted respectfully.

Hinata followed a moment later.

"Sit," Hiashi instructed, his tone as firm and measured as always. His eyes shifted between Hinata and Ryosuke. "Tell me what happened. And your personal judgment."

Straight to the point—just how Ryosuke liked it.

He nodded and began recounting everything: what he had seen, heard, and deduced. The subtle shifts in political power within the alliance, the ripple effects caused by the Fourth Raikage's death, and how the tides had begun to shift in the shadows.

Hiashi listened in silence, his expression unreadable.

"So," he said at last, "you believe Sarutobi Hiruzen will begin preparations for the Fifth Hokage's succession after returning to the village?"

He didn't mention the potential fallout between nations. To him, that was peripheral—tools to be used, not outcomes to be feared. What mattered most was Konoha.

The seat of Hokage.

Hiashi's attention was fixed on the future of the village and the subtle psychological shift Ryosuke suspected in the Third Hokage following his defeat. With peace on the table and the alliance finally holding, this was the most valuable gain of all—time. Time for Ryosuke to grow stronger, and time for the Hyuga Clan to solidify its position. Compared to that, the so-called division of interests? Just scraps.

"If nothing unexpected happens," Ryosuke answered honestly, "he's already showing signs of wanting to retire. I think that idea's been there for a while—especially in recent years. His policies and strategic decisions have been increasingly passive."

Hiashi narrowed his eyes, waiting.

"This tells me Sarutobi Hiruzen is well aware that he's no longer at his peak," Ryosuke continued. "He doesn't want to risk staining his political legacy by making a grave mistake in his final years."

Hiashi leaned back slightly, fingers steepled.

"And what do you believe... about the potential candidates for the Fifth Hokage?"

Hinata sat quietly to the side, her posture composed but attentive, taking mental notes just as she had in previous meetings.

"First, there are the obvious names—Tsunade and Jiraiya," Ryosuke replied. "Both are famous across the ninja world and direct disciples of the Third Hokage."

"In terms of strength and reputation, either would be a solid choice. No one in the village would oppose it... except that guy."

Hiashi gave a small nod, signaling for him to continue.

"But they've always seemed reluctant to take the mantle. It's entirely possible Hiruzen won't be able to convince either of them to return."

"If not them, then the next generation comes into play: Hatake Kakashi, Sarutobi Asuma, and Nara Shikaku."

"Kakashi is certainly strong and well-known, but his track record is... messy. And while he's talented, his qualifications are still lacking."

"As for Asuma, he may not want the job, but as Hiruzen's son and a former guardian ninja for the Daimyō, he has the background and the strength. He can't be ruled out."

"And Nara Shikaku?" Hiashi asked.

Ryosuke gave a small smile.

"Honestly, I think he has the best shot among the younger candidates. He's Konoha's premier strategist and has plenty of administrative experience. His only real disadvantage is his clan—not as politically powerful. But even that could be offset if he plays his cards right."

Hiashi considered his words carefully.

"Even if Sarutobi Hiruzen hasn't made a final decision, our clan doesn't need to act just yet. We observe. And when the moment comes, we support the decision that best ensures our interests."

He paused. A faint crease appeared between his brows.

"But if a succession does happen, that guy won't stay in the shadows much longer. He'll make his move."

"Yeah," Ryosuke muttered, frowning. "Danzo is very persistent about the Hokage seat."

His name alone was enough to change the air in the study. The tension thickened.

Logically, Danzo should be neck-deep in his Sharingan experiments by now, probably stitching together an arsenal of Uchiha eyes like a madman. In the original timeline, he only managed to transplant ten.

But this wasn't the same timeline anymore.

Now? Ryosuke couldn't be sure how many he had.

More than ten? Maybe. Fewer? Also possible.

As long as Danzo had enough eyes, his vitality was like a myth—comparable to Hercules. If Hercules had the Twelve Labors to achieve near-immortality, then Danzo had Izanagi. As long as he had Sharingan with enough chakra, he could reverse death itself.

Ryosuke hadn't crushed him yet. And that meant trouble.

"In any case, all we can do now is wait and watch," Ryosuke said.

Hiashi exhaled slowly, a rare flicker of frustration crossing his face. "Danzo's attention isn't on us for the moment. From what our intelligence suggests, we're not his priority."

He hesitated.

"Still... he, too, is a bird in a cage."

The moment he uttered the phrase, silence fell. The atmosphere in the room shifted—tightened.

Their clan knew the meaning of those words better than anyone.

Hiashi didn't continue.

A long pause stretched before he finally spoke again, this time with a more composed tone. "The curse seal protects our people—for now."

Ryosuke nodded, acting as if he hadn't noticed the tension. "Understood."

Hiashi changed the subject swiftly.

"That's all for the Land of Waves. Now let's discuss something that occurred while you were gone. It's important, and I need you fully briefed."

Ryosuke raised a brow. Important? With the Third Hokage out of the village, what could possibly—

"It concerns Uzumaki Naruto," Hiashi said, pulling out a scroll from his desk and passing it to him. "The orphan of the Fourth Hokage. The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."

Ryosuke's eyes sharpened.

"Because he's a weapon of war, details are classified. But this is a high-level internal notice from the Konoha council. Our intelligence network only managed to uncover bits of it."

He tapped the scroll.

"The short version: during a recent A-rank mission, the Genin team led by Hatake Kakashi was ambushed by Kumogakure shinobi."

"In the chaos, Sarutobi Rin died protecting her teammates."

Ryosuke froze.

"Then..." Hiashi continued, his voice steady, "Uzumaki Naruto lost control. The Nine-Tails emerged and annihilated most of the enemy force."

"Kumogakure?" Ryosuke repeated, expression darkening. "When exactly did this happen?"

"About six days ago," Hiashi replied. "Kakashi carried two critically injured comrades back to the Land of Fire alone, then re-entered the village under escort. Everything outside the battle report is under strict lock, but we confirmed that at least one of the enemies was a jonin."

"And Rin's body?"

"Never recovered."

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