Naruto: Limit Breaker

Chapter 122: I Don't Want to Be a Ninja Anymore

The family meeting stretched late into the night.

Once the final details were discussed, Hyūga Hiashi carefully compiled everything into a scroll and locked it inside the hidden compartment behind the bookshelf.

Ryosuke didn't stop him.

He understood—these kinds of records, while potentially dangerous in the wrong hands, were necessary. Not everyone could retain details the way he could, recalling entire conversations and events with perfect clarity. For most, writing was the only way to preserve the truth.

So, he let it pass.

As usual, Hiashi was the first to leave, his footsteps quiet as he retired to his private quarters.

Only Ryosuke and Hinata remained in the study.

The fire crackled softly. Hinata hadn't said a word the entire meeting, listening with a quiet focus that had become her habit in these settings.

Ryosuke turned to her, about to ask if she had any questions, when her voice cut through the silence.

"…This time, I understood everything."

Ryosuke blinked, surprised—but only for a moment. Then he smiled.

Hinata sat upright, her expression calm but resolute. She had taken careful mental notes throughout the meeting, just as she always did, but this time, it wasn't just rote memorization. She was starting to understand the meaning behind the decisions, the strategies at play, the direction of the clan's future.

She was maturing.

Unlike Naruto—whose lonely childhood had sharpened his resilience—Hinata's growth had been slower, sheltered by the clan and shaped by expectations. But since embracing her role within the family, her thoughts had begun to shift. She no longer chased strength for admiration. Now, she was fighting for something greater.

Her family.

"So…" Ryosuke rose to his feet, satisfied. "Looks like tonight's meeting is finally adjourned."

"Wait…"

Her voice stopped him halfway to the door. He turned, curious.

Hinata stood up as well, a faint crease between her brows.

"There's… something else," she said quietly. "Something Father didn't mention. Probably because he didn't think it was important. But I thought you should know."

Ryosuke raised a brow.

"I know you've been watching Uchiha Sasuke."

She stepped closer, her expression serious in the soft glow of the desk lamp. There was a strange weight in her tone, something quietly reminiscent of Hiashi's calm, analytical style.

"Father doesn't think much of him. He's just a recently graduated Genin in his eyes. Uchiha or not, it's not something that would concern him."

"But I know you've had your eye on Sasuke for a while now. You've always seemed... concerned."

Ryosuke said nothing, but his eyes sharpened.

"He hasn't been attending the Academy lately," she continued. "I think he graduated early."

"Graduated?" Ryosuke echoed, surprised. "Did he awaken his Sharingan?"

Given the timing, there weren't many other explanations.

For someone like Sasuke, growth without pain—without the trauma of war or loss—was slower. His environment, while tragic in origin, had since grown too safe. Without outside pressure, breakthroughs were rare.

Unlike Ryosuke, who had access to forbidden knowledge and the power of foresight, Sasuke was still just a rookie. Talented, yes. But inexperienced. Unguided.

"Maybe," Hinata replied, voice unsure. "I don't have concrete information."

"After you left the Academy, Sasuke started taking frequent leaves too. But ever since Mizuki-sensei began tutoring us for the practical courses… Sasuke's been spending a lot of time with him. Or rather—Mizuki has been sticking close to Sasuke."

Ryosuke narrowed his eyes.

"And now Mizuki's disappeared. But a few students saw Sasuke wearing a Genin forehead protector."

"Oh?" Ryosuke leaned back slightly, interest piqued. "So he graduated… but there was no official notice?"

That was odd.

Early graduation usually came with public acknowledgment—an announcement on the bulletin board, a record in the files. When Naruto had applied for early graduation, the whole school had known. Even Sasuke's failed attempt had been logged and displayed.

This quiet, unannounced success didn't sit right.

"Alright. I'll have someone look into it," Ryosuke said. "Something's not adding up."

Hinata nodded. She'd said all she could. She didn't have the authority yet to mobilize the clan's intelligence division, but her instincts were sharp.

Ryosuke glanced at her again.

"…Is there anything else?"

His tone was casual, but it was a loaded question. He wasn't asking about Sasuke anymore—he was asking about her.

For a second, Hinata looked like she might answer.

But then she hesitated.

"No," she said quietly. "You've had a long day. You should rest. Good night."

She stepped down from the chair and walked past him, her footsteps light as she disappeared into the hall.

Ryosuke remained seated, watching the doorway.

She was lying.

Something had happened while he was away. Something she didn't want to burden him with.

Most likely, it had to do with the caged bird seal and her efforts to address it before the upcoming Clan Assembly. She had clearly begun making moves, but the process wasn't going smoothly.

Ryosuke could tell by the way she and Hiashi interacted tonight. The tension. The way they avoided eye contact.

Hinata had always been afraid of her father. Even after she began to grow, that shadow still loomed over her. But tonight… there was a subtle defiance in her demeanor. A shift in their dynamic.

Hiashi, for his part, had withdrawn. He hadn't even joined them for dinner.

It wasn't hard to guess that something had gone wrong.

Still, it was a mission she had chosen to take on alone. They'd agreed on that. So Ryosuke didn't push. Instead, he asked indirectly, offering a lifeline if she needed it.

She refused.

Young as she was, Hinata had pride—and responsibility. She wanted to solve this herself.

But Ryosuke couldn't help muttering as he stood and tidied up the study:

"It's not easy dealing with the seal…"

He turned off the lamp, the room falling into stillness.

This wasn't something that could be solved through strength alone. He understood that. He just hoped she did too.

---

The next morning, Ryosuke had just finished breakfast when a servant knocked lightly at the door.

"Hinata-sama has left for the Academy," the messenger said, bowing. "But… Uzumaki Naruto is waiting at the front gate again."

Ever since the mission went south, Uzumaki Naruto had been coming to the Hyūga compound almost every day, asking to see Ryosuke.

But Ryosuke's absence was a secret.

To the outside world, he was merely on an extended leave, "studying at home." That was the official explanation. So every time Naruto showed up, Hiashi deflected him with carefully chosen words and polite refusals.

Today, though, Ryosuke was finally back.

Hinata watched him in silence, her eyes slightly troubled, as he slipped on his cloak and tied his forehead protector into place.

This time, Ryosuke had no intention of seeing Naruto within the clan's walls.

Too risky.

After all that had happened, there was no telling if surveillance had been reactivated around the Jinchūriki. And with the Third Hokage still away, things were in flux.

Konoha's envoy to the Land of Waves had taken a longer route. Ryosuke had returned first.

In the meantime, the village was under the temporary leadership of Utatane Koharu and Nara Shikaku. But in the shadows, there was another name to consider—Shimura Danzō.

Between the three of them, Ryosuke only trusted two.

Koharu and Shikaku, though firm in their principles, at least followed a visible path. But Danzō… Danzō played a different game entirely. Quiet. Calculated. Dangerous.

Bringing a Jinchūriki into Hyūga territory while that man was watching would be an unnecessary provocation.

And so, Ryosuke decided to meet Naruto somewhere else.

Because not meeting him? That would leave a scar.

No matter how troublesome Danzō was, Naruto mattered more.

As Ryosuke stepped through the Hyūga gates, he spotted a familiar figure in the shadows.

The morning sun poured over the village, bright and golden—but Naruto stood still, caught in the long stretch of shade against the compound wall. His posture was hunched. His expression hollow.

For a moment, it felt like time had turned back.

Nearly a year ago, just after graduation, Naruto had rushed here full of excitement. Back then, he'd been all sunshine and restless energy, thrilled about his new team, eager to share his joy with Ryosuke.

Now, that brightness was gone.

When he heard footsteps, Naruto looked up. His dull blue eyes flickered—just a little—when they met Ryosuke's.

"…Long time no see, Ryosuke."

They walked in silence, heading toward the mountains that loomed behind the village. Naruto stayed close at Ryosuke's side, subdued.

Just as Ryosuke expected, Konoha's leadership had grown cautious. Naruto's recent loss of control had made them nervous. With the Third Hokage absent, the village had deployed ANBU to watch him.

But in an unexpected move—one that surprised even Ryosuke—they didn't hide it.

Through Hatake Kakashi, they had told Naruto outright: he was being watched. The ANBU would shadow him, keep their distance, and not interfere—unless necessary.

It was, in a strange way, an act of trust.

A rare kind of trust from Konoha's leadership, especially without Hiruzen's direct approval.

"They won't come close," Naruto said, forcing a crooked smile. "They're just watching. No eavesdropping or anything. So… you don't have to worry."

Ryosuke didn't answer right away.

Naruto glanced at him. "I just didn't want this to be weird. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."

His voice wavered slightly.

Ryosuke understood.

Naruto didn't have many people. And after this… he couldn't afford to lose even one.

"I was out of the village," Ryosuke finally said. "Only the clan knew. My father didn't want the truth spreading, so he sent people to speak with you in my place."

Naruto blinked.

"Oh… I thought maybe I wasn't allowed to see you anymore. Because of… what I am." He paused. "Thanks for telling me. I won't say anything."

They reached the summit of the mountain trail.

Behind them, the village's emergency shelter lay hidden within the rock. Before them, the stone faces of the Hokage stretched into the sky, carved into the cliffside like silent guardians.

From here, the entire village lay visible below—bathed in sunlight. Peaceful. Serene.

Naruto stood at the edge and stared out.

"…It's a nice village," he said quietly. "I heard Old Man Third is in the Land of Waves now, finishing the alliance. I hope… after all this, we really get some peace."

His voice softened, almost wistful. "Just a few years. That's all I'm hoping for."

Ryosuke nodded, settling down on the cliff's edge without concern for the dust on his clothes.

"The signs of war have receded," he said. "At least for now."

The silence stretched.

Then Naruto spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper.

"…You heard what happened to me, right?"

Ryosuke didn't answer immediately. He kept his eyes on the village, then slowly turned to face him.

"Yeah. I heard. I'm sorry. But as shinobi… we have to accept that sometimes we lose people."

It wasn't much of a comfort. Ryosuke knew that. He'd never been good at words when he wasn't wearing a mask.

"I know that."

Naruto's voice cracked.

"I know."

But the tears were already spilling down his cheeks.

He turned away, wiping at his face with trembling hands. "Sorry…"

Ryosuke said nothing, letting him speak.

Naruto had held it in too long.

He hadn't cried at the funeral. He hadn't cried in front of Kakashi, or Uesugi, or even Iruka. But here—standing beside Ryosuke, the first person to ever truly accept him—he couldn't hold it back.

"Rin was… Rin was like a brother to me," he whispered. "To both of us. He wasn't like Kakashi-sensei—who acts cold but is kind underneath. Rin was just… warm. Strong. Always smiling. Always encouraging us. Like nothing could ever break him."

(TL: Rin here is his teammate that died )

Naruto's shoulders shook.

"But now… he's gone."

His voice broke completely.

"I watched him die. Right in front of me. He protected me and Uesugi… and I couldn't do anything. I couldn't stop it. I couldn't save him."

He choked, breath catching in his throat.

"For the first time… I really understood what it means to lose someone."

"I've fought before. I've hurt people. Killed. But they were enemies. I didn't feel anything. That's just how it is in war, right? We're on opposite sides."

"But this…"

He buried his face in his hands.

"When it's someone you care about—someone who dies for you—when you see them smile as they fall… it's not the same."

His fists clenched at his sides.

"I'm not ready to take lives. I'm not ready to watch the people I love die."

"…I don't want to be a ninja anymore, Ryosuke."

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