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Chapter 220 The Distance Between Them
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"A dragon is prophesied to destroy Konoha."
The words landed with deliberate weight. Jiraiya looked between Kakashi and Hiruzen, letting the silence do the work for him.
Hiruzen drew in a long, measured breath through his pipe. Smoke filled the room as he exhaled, slow and controlled, the way a man did when he was forcing his temper down rather than letting it surface.
No one could blame him.
Danzo was a constant pressure at his back. Orochimaru was a shadow that refused to stay buried. The other villages were circling like carrion birds. And now this.
"Define prophesied," Kakashi stated. "I want specifics before we start panicking."
"The Great Toad Sage can see fragments of the future." Jiraya paused, then continued more quietly. "Years ago, he foresaw that I'd take on a student who would become either the savior of the world… or its destroyer."
"The Child of Prophecy," Kakashi said.
"Minato told you."
"He trusted me," Kakashi replied simply.
"Well," Jiraiya said, grimacing, "the Sage says the original vision is unstable now. It might still happen, but right now there are other futures that are coming through more clearly."
Hiruzen's shoulders sagged a fraction as he released another breath.
"And one of those is a dragon attacking the village."
Jiraiya nodded once.
Silence settled again, heavier this time.
"When?"
"The Sage doesn't know."
Kakashi frowned. "So it could be tomorrow. Or ten years from now."
"Exactly," Jiraiya said. "Which is about as helpful as you'd expect."
"At least that means we're not on a countdown. Small mercies."
"There's more," Jiraiya added.
Of course there was.
"Fukasaku believes the dragon could be related to the Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave who have long pursued draconic ascension. If Orochimaru succeeds, the prophecy could be referring to him."
Hiruzen's expression darkened.
"I thought the same, but there is another possibility."
Jiraiya turned to the Hatake.
"There's a chance the prophecy isn't about Orochimaru at all," Kakashi said slowly. "Naruto's connection to Lordran complicates things. He's encountered dragons. Fought a hydra. And, whether we like it or not, his physiology isn't entirely human anymore."
"You think the dragon could be from Lordran."
"I think it's reckless not to consider it," Kakashi replied.
"So the threat could be Orochimaru… or something far worse."
Jiraiya nodded, his expression grim. "That's my read."
Hiruzen shifted in his seat. "Anything else to add to our massive pile of problems?"
Jiraiya hesitated. "The elder gave me a prophecy he got from the future."
He glanced between the two of them, then began to repeat the words exactly as the toad sage had spoken them.
When the Darksign burns three times,
And the thrones of the old lie empty and cold,
They shall rise.
The First shall wear the face of a Dragon.
Born from chaos, raised in calamity.
They will know too much, feel too deeply,
And be called monster by those who fear the truth.
Do not lie to the Dragon.
For it sees through all things.
The Second shall wear the chains of the Giants.
Silent, crowned in rust and old echoes.
They will walk the paths of the dead,
And the earth will remember every step.
Do not fight the Giant.
For it has already endured more than war.
The Third shall fall on hollow wings,
An Angel whose tears burn instead of fall.
Where they go, sorrow will burn cities,
And love will leave only ash.
Do not fear the Angel.
For their grief is older than gods.
Three shall rise.
Not born, but forged.
Not chosen, but burdened.
They will pass through fire, through shadow, through loss.
And they will not turn back.
And in their wake, two worlds shall tremble.
One will try to forget.
The other will relive it again and again.
Three times shall the veil between them shake.
And all that was left behind
Shall walk forward once more.
And at the end of all things, when the stars grow quiet,
You, Dragon.
You, Giant.
You, Angel.
Will you not meet again at the ramen stand at the end of the universe?
Kakashi and Hiruzen exchanged a look, then both turned back to Jiraiya as if silently asking whether they had heard him correctly.
"…How likely is it," Kakashi asked carefully, "that the Great Toad Sage has finally gone senile?"
"Respectfully asked and still insulting. Impressive." Jiraiya rubbed the back of his neck. "I know how it sounds. I can't even tell if what he saw was literal, symbolic, or something in between. A future that doesn't quite want to stay still."
"And the prophecy itself is frustratingly vague," Kakashi added. "Almost like it wasn't meant for us to understand cleanly."
Hiruzen frowned, tapping ash from his pipe. "A ramen stand at the end of the universe," he repeated slowly. "That part still bothers me."
All three of them paused.
"…That does sound uncomfortably connected to Naruto."
Kakashi coughed. "Lord Hokage, correlation doesn't equal causation. Just because Lordran has dragons and Naruto has an unhealthy emotional attachment to ramen doesn't mean the prophecy is pointing at him." He gestured vaguely, as if brushing away a bad thought. "We already learned the hard way what happens when we start assuming connections. Especially where Naruto and Lordran are concerned."
"You're right. We can't afford to jump at shadows." Hiruzen straightened in his seat. "For now, we narrow our focus. Whatever this prophecy means in the long term, the immediate concern is a dragon attacking Konoha. We plan for it the same way we would a potential bijū assault. That gives us a framework without chasing speculation."
"What if we tell Naruto?" Jiraiya asked. "If he knows there's even a chance Lordran is involved, maybe he'll stop going there."
Kakashi shook his head without hesitation. "No. He won't."
Both men looked at him.
"That place means too much to him," Kakashi continued quietly. "Minato sensei. Kushina. Oscar. Lordran isn't just a battlefield to Naruto. It's family, memory, and purpose all wrapped together. He won't abandon it over a possibility. And like you said, Jiraiya, the future isn't fixed."
Jiraiya opened his mouth to argue, but Hiruzen raised a hand, stopping him.
"I know you're worried. I am too. But we don't act on fear alone. Lordran is one possible source of this prophecy, not the only one. What we can do is prepare. Prepare thoroughly, and hope that when the storm comes, we're strong enough to endure it."
"Yeah… yeah. Fair enough."
A moment of silence followed.
"Well," Kakashi said at last, stretching his arms behind his head, "if you'll excuse me, I'm going to relax at the hot springs. Now that we're back in Konoha, Naruto can't possibly get into anything insane."
Hiruzen chuckled softly. "Knowing him, he's probably just eating ramen right now."
If only that was true.
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Hiashi wanted to bang his head against the wall.
He didn't, of course.
A Hyūga clan head did not indulge in such vulgar impulses, no matter how tempting. Instead, he sat perfectly straight at the head of the council chamber, hands folded within his sleeves, expression calm and unreadable.
Inside, he was grinding his teeth.
The Hyūga council chamber was filled with tatami mats. They lined the floor in precise geometric patterns. Shoji screens filtered the moonlight into soft blues. Incense burned faintly at the corners of the room.
Seated before him were the elders of the main family, men whose spines were straight despite their age, robes pristine, eyes sharp with calculation.
They had been discussing this topic for the better part of twenty minutes.
"Hiashi sama," Elder Masanori began, "perhaps we are overcomplicating matters. The boy is not unreasonable. Offer him land and coin in exchange. A generous stipend, perhaps a rural estate. Even an Uzumaki would understand the value of stability."
Hiashi's jaw tightened imperceptibly.
Another elder nodded. "Indeed. And we must remind him, gently, that Hyūga techniques cannot be properly utilized without the Byakugan. The Gentle Fist, the Eight Trigrams, all of it relies upon sight that he simply does not possess."
That, at least, was not a lie.
Theoretically, a shinobi could memorize the entire chakra network. In theory, one could strike tenketsu blindly, guided by instinct and experience alone. In practice, it was madness. The human body was not a static diagram, and even a fraction of error meant the difference between a disabling strike and wasted motion.
Without the Byakugan, the Gentle Fist was a shadow of itself.
"How about a compromise?" Elder Jūbei interjected, tapping his fan thoughtfully against his palm. "We petition the Hokage for two A rank techniques from the central archive. A generous offering for a genin. That should appease him."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the chamber.
It was, by the average standard, an absurdly generous offer.
For the average shinobi, access to jutsu was a rigid hierarchy. Genin were restricted to D rank techniques. Chūnin might get C rank. Jōnin alone had routine access to B and A rank jutsu, and even then, it depended heavily on politics, lineage, and contributions. S rank techniques were forbidden outright unless the Hokage himself granted permission.
For the Hyūga clan to leverage their influence to secure two A rank techniques for Naruto Uzumaki was no small thing.
"I cannot believe you're all entertaining this," snapped Elder Rokuhara. "That boy sent the head elder to the hospital. Months of recovery. And we're discussing awarding this boy?"
"Elder Rokuhara, might I remind you that we are in this situation because of the former head elder's actions."
The room stilled.
"The destruction of his Byakugan was a small consequence. Upon recovery, he will be stripped of his formal elder status."
That set the chamber buzzing.
Faces that moments ago had worn carefully neutral expressions now held thinly veiled interest. Some hid their reactions better than others.
Politics was not a game of honor or loyalty. It was a game of timing, patience, and knowing exactly when to look sympathetic while sharpening the knife.
"Very well. Then the question remains. What do you intend to do about Naruto Uzumaki?"
All eyes turned to Hiashi.
"As you are all aware," Hiashi said, "my daughter Hinata shares a close bond with Naruto Uzumaki. One of friendship and admiration."
The elders exchanged glances.
"There exists a high likelihood that Naruto Uzumaki will, in the future, become Hinata's betrothed."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Where moments ago the discussion had centered on safeguarding Hyūga secrets from an outsider, now the framing changed entirely.
A future son in law.
That altered the calculus.
"Ah," Elder Jūbei said thoughtfully. "If that is the case…"
"Then courtesy must be observed," Masanori added. "One does not treat family as one would a stranger."
"Still, we cannot simply hand him our sacred arts."
"Nor is that what I propose," Hiashi replied, leaning forward slightly. "We will offer techniques that can be used without the Byakugan, but whose true potential can only be realized with it."
Silence followed.
"That narrows the field considerably," Elder Shin'emon said at last. "The Twin Lion Fist is the only technique that comes to mind."
"And even that would be… unconventional."
"Unconventional times," Hiashi replied.
Around him, the elders nodded, some reluctantly, others with careful calculation.
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Meanwhile, Naruto sat cross legged at the low dining table with Hinata, Hanabi, and Tsubaki.
Oscar occupied a cushion near Naruto's side, happily gnawing on a strip of meat with crystal teeth that clicked faintly as he chewed.
"I thought Oscar could only eat metal?"
Hanabi slipped another piece of meat onto the small dish in front of the crystal lizard. "But, he really likes it."
"Don't encourage him. He'll start demanding seconds."
Oscar chirped proudly and kept chewing.
"He can eat both organic and inorganic stuff," Naruto explained, reaching for his cup. "But I found out that he mostly absorbs the minerals. The rest just… passes through."
"You figured that out how?"
Naruto was about to say that he'd tossed Oscar's poop into his inventory and read the item description when he took a sip of the milk Hinata had poured for him.
The taste hit him like a punch.
"…What the heck is this?"
Tsubaki covered her mouth with a smile. "That would be fermented horse milk. A traditional Hyūga drink."
"You people drink this on purpose?"
"It's good for circulation," Tsubaki said serenely.
"Right," Naruto muttered. "Horse contract clan. Should've seen that coming."
With a faint shimmer, the cup vanished into Naruto's inventory.
"You stored it?"
"Emergency rations," Naruto said gravely. "For my enemies."
Tsubaki laughed softly. "To use space time techniques that casually at your age… that's impressive."
"Uh, thanks. Though I'm actually sure the inventory is something else."
Something he still didn't fully understand.
Tsubaki's gaze lingered on him for a moment. "So, Naruto," she said lightly, "what's an interesting and mysterious boy like you doing spending so much time with my daughter?"
"M Mother!"
Naruto looked genuinely confused. "Huh? We're friends."
Hanabi smirked. "Sure you are."
Hinata was now actively trying to melt into the tatami.
Tsubaki gave Naruto an amused eyesmile, her attention drifting between the two of them. Hinata sat a little closer to him than she probably realized, shoulders relaxed in a way that spoke of trust.
Affection.
But affection went two ways.
Tsubaki wondered, quietly, what Naruto felt in return.
Dinner wound down not long after, the dishes cleared as the conversation softened into comfortable quiet. The sliding doors opened, and Hiashi entered the room, posture formal, expression composed. In his hands were two scrolls sealed with the Hyūga crest.
"Uzumaki Naruto," Hiashi said, stepping forward. "As promised. Two taijutsu techniques of the Hyūga clan."
Naruto straightened immediately.
"The first is the Twin Lion Fist," Hiashi continued. "The second is the Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm."
Naruto accepted the scrolls with both hands and bowed his head slightly. "Thank you."
They weren't what he would've chosen if he'd had free rein, but they were more than enough for him.
Hinata clasped her hands together, eyes bright.
"Naruto kun, if you'd like… I could help you practice."
"You sure?"
"I don't know them perfectly, but we could learn together."
Hanabi's and Tsubaki's eyes sparkled with mischief.
Hinata knew exactly what was coming later.
"Sounds good to me," Naruto said easily, giving her a thumbs up.
Oscar crawled up Naruto's shoulder and settled on his head like a crystal crown.
Hiashi stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Thank you. For everything."
"Hey, you don't gotta..."
"No," Hiashi said quietly. "I do."
Naruto scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed. "I'm just glad I could help a friend."
Tsubaki rose gracefully. "It's getting late. Why don't you stay the night?"
Naruto hesitated. "I'd like to, but… I have some stuff to do back home."
Hiashi nodded. "Be cautious. News of your return will spread quickly. Many will wish to see the son of the Fourth Hokage."
"Yeah. I figured."
"Why don't I walk you out?"
"Sure."
Hinata and Naruto headed toward the gate together, their footsteps fading down the hall.
Behind them, the rest of the family watched with varying degrees of amusement.
"Big sis is getting pretty bold."
Tsubaki hummed thoughtfully at Hanabi's statement. "Maybe not bold enough."
"What do you mean, Mom?"
Hiashi responded calmly. "Naruto grew up as an outcast orphan. Children learn how to recognize and interpret affection through observation and attachment models, usually from their parents."
Tsubaki nodded. "Naruto never had a secure reference point for romantic or familial love. Praise, concern, kindness, even loyalty, all blur together for him."
Hiashi continued, voice even. "Which means any hints Hinata drops are likely filtered through that lens. To him, it's friendship, trust, and safety. Not romance."
Tsubaki sighed, then shot her husband a sharp look. "And then there's Hinata."
Hiashi winced slightly.
"She waits like she doesn't believe she's allowed to stand beside him yet. Like she has to become 'enough' first."
Her eyes lingered on Hiashi pointedly.
Hanabi waved a hand dismissively. "You two are overthinking it."
They both looked at her.
Hanabi grinned. "Big sis'll figure it out. And Naruto's not as clueless as you think. He's just… slow. Don't worry, Nee chan. I believe in you."
Meanwhile, Naruto and Hinata walked side by side beneath the lantern lit paths of the Hyūga compound, the night quiet except for the soft crunch of gravel under their feet.
"So, what did you wanna talk about?"
Hinata startled slightly. "I… was it that obvious?"
Naruto and Oscar nodded.
"I'm sorry. You just got back to Konoha, and you haven't even had time to rest because of me and my family's troubles."
Naruto waved it off immediately. "Hey, don't worry about that. I can manage." He flexed his arm with exaggerated confidence. "See? Totally fine. So… what's going on?"
Hinata smiled faintly. Naruto always did that. He made things sound simple, manageable, like problems could be solved just by facing them head on. And yet, somehow, she always felt like she was the one struggling to keep up.
"I've been having nightmares," she admitted quietly.
Naruto slowed his steps.
"They're… strange. I wake up scared, but I can never remember them clearly. It's like my mind refuses to hold onto the details. Just feelings of witnessing something horrible."
Naruto's expression darkened. "Shit."
"Naruto… do you know what's going on?"
The boy hesitated, jaw tightening. "Do you remember when we saved Haku from Guren's captivity?"
Hinata nodded at first, then paused. The memory felt… incomplete. Like a page torn from a book. Her brow furrowed, and suddenly pain spiked behind her eyes.
Images flickered of a red mist and a vibrating sound.
She gasped, clutching her head as a migraine slammed into her. "Naruto!"
He was beside her instantly, steady hands on her shoulders, rubbing her back in slow, grounding circles. "Easy. Easy. Breathe."
Tears spilled down her cheeks. "What… what happened? I can see it, but I can't. Why can't I remember?"
Naruto exhaled slowly. "There were a lot of shinobi guarding Haku. I wanted it to end fast. So, I used a magic enhanced wind cloak to kill them all."
Hinata trembled.
"You saw it," he continued quietly. "And it was too much. The violence, the speed… it wasn't something you could process. So I used a Great Heal Excerpt to heal your mind. Guess, the heal didn't fully work."
Hinata swallowed hard, then nodded. "Thank you… for telling me the truth."
They stood there for a moment, the weight of it settling between them.
"I could try again," Naruto offered gently. "Use a stronger miracle. No nightmares at all."
Hinata wiped her tears with her sleeve and shook her head. "No." Her voice was soft, but firm. "I want to overcome them myself."
"Alright. But I'm here. Whenever you need help."
She looked up at him, eyes shining. "Naruto… why are you willing to go so far for me?"
"Because you're my friend."
It really was that simple to him. Healing her mother. Standing against the elder. Protecting her mind from things she wasn't ready to face. None of it had been done for gratitude, obligation, or reward.
Naruto did it because Hinata was his friend.
The knight stepped forward, moonlight catching in his red hair. He looked like someone moving relentlessly toward a future that kept growing larger, brighter, farther away.
Hinata opened her mouth.
She could feel the words pressed against her chest, begging to be spoken.
But they wouldn't come.
The distance between them felt enormous, like a canyon she didn't know how to cross. Naruto's life was changing so fast. His power, his world and his burdens. Sometimes, she wondered if she truly knew him anymore, or if she was just watching him from behind, always a step too slow.
"Goodnight, Hinata."
"…Goodnight," she whispered.
She stood there long after he left, hands clenched in her sleeves, heart aching with things she wasn't brave enough to say.
Hinata looked up at the sky and made a silent promise to herself.
One day, she would be strong enough to stand beside him without... fear.
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[ Personal Note: First off, thanks a ton to all of you for sticking with this story. Seriously, you guys are awesome. Now, if you're interested in supporting me on P@treon, let me just say that over there, I post these massive 15k-word chapters. But heads up, if you're jumping to P@treon, you'll need to start from Chapter 98, since that's where this chapter lines up with the content there.
To everyone here just reading along, please don't forget to leave a comment! Honestly, your comments make my day, and they let me know you're as invested in this story as I am. So yeah, thanks again, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day!