Chapter 32 – Ryosuke Wants Naruto to Choose for Himself
Ryosuke looked at Naruto standing in front of him. There was a fire in the boy's eyes—a blazing determination that had just been ignited. He chuckled softly and shook his head.
From his perception, Sarutobi Hiruzen had already left the classroom after saying his piece. Perhaps the old Hokage believed Naruto wouldn't change much in the short term. Still, it was likely that the boy had piqued his interest—not just as the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, but now also as the deskmate of Ryosuke, the unknown son-in-law of the Hyuga clan.
Ryosuke wasn't entirely sure what the Sandaime Hokage's original intentions had been, but he was confident that the suggestion he gave the old man would be considered a good one.
Whether it was from the storylines he'd seen in his past life or the intelligence he'd gathered in this one, Ryosuke could clearly tell—Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted Naruto to become Hokage. Maybe it was out of guilt for the Fourth Hokage. Maybe it was to maintain his own faction's influence. Whatever the reason, that fact hadn't changed.
Ryosuke believed that while the Sandaime didn't know everything he had done, he likely knew something. After all, Ryosuke had been subtly guiding Naruto—whom most saw as little more than a ticking time bomb—toward the Hokage's camp. And today, the idea he'd planted would probably be interpreted as a gesture of goodwill from the Hyuga clan.
That was exactly what Ryosuke wanted Sarutobi Hiruzen to think.
---
"Naruto! What are you doing? Pay attention to the lesson!"
After Sarutobi Hiruzen left, the classroom returned to normal. Iruka, who had been distracted for most of the day, finally realized he'd been ignoring Naruto. When he looked over, he was surprised to see the boy standing up, smiling as he talked to Ryosuke.
"Sorry, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto quickly apologized, flashing a sheepish grin as he sat back down and turned his attention back to the lesson.
But something had changed. He was more focused now. More driven.
Ryosuke, sitting beside him, watched the scene with a calm smile.
No one else in the class seemed to notice anything unusual—except Ryosuke, of course. He had seen it all. Naruto had been nearly invisible the entire day. And it wasn't because people were avoiding him—it was because of Sarutobi Hiruzen's genjutsu.
As expected of the Professor—the so-called Master of Ninjutsu. Ryosuke was genuinely impressed.
The Hyuga clan specialized in taijutsu. In all his years, Ryosuke had never encountered such a powerful genjutsu firsthand. Sarutobi had cast a subtle illusion that made almost everyone in the room ignore Naruto completely. And when it ended, no one felt anything out of place.
So this is the power of a village's Kage Ryosuke thought. His wariness toward high-level shinobi deepened. But it also made him more certain that the decision he and Hyuga Hiashi had made—to show goodwill to Sarutobi's faction—was the right move.
---
The Hyuga clan's position in the village was awkward. They were on equal footing with the Uchiha clan—who were now almost completely isolated—both competing for the title of the largest clan in Konoha.
At the same time, they acted as a check and balance against the Uchiha, preventing either clan from dominating outright.
If Ryosuke were to think optimistically about what happened to Hizashi in the original timeline, he could imagine that Sarutobi Hiruzen was simply old, weary, and afraid of war. Just a tired man trying to maintain peace until his final days.
But looking at it pessimistically, it was also possible the old Hokage was testing the Hyuga clan—seeing if they would yield to pressure, or become the next Uchiha: isolated, silenced, and forced to submit.
That's why Ryosuke had to be careful. Though the tragedy with Hizashi hadn't occurred in this timeline, he couldn't afford to let his guard down.
He was nearly six years old now, and the progress bar in his mind was almost full—another transformation was close.
Sasuke, too, was almost six.
That could only mean one thing: the Uchiha clan's days were numbered. Their enemies—the Hyuga—would remain.
And when the Uchiha were gone, the Hyuga would undoubtedly become the most powerful clan in the village.
But that spotlight came with danger.
In this altered timeline, without Hizashi's death, Ryosuke couldn't guarantee that the Hyuga would live peacefully as they once did. While the Byakugan made them invaluable reconnaissance shinobi and less likely to be exterminated, they had always maintained their independence. And if they failed to integrate fully with the village system, they would be targeted just the same.
So showing goodwill to the Hokage faction? It was the safest path forward.
---
The day passed quickly. After the short conversation with Naruto, class ended.
Unlike his usual quiet self, Naruto was visibly fired up. He even planned to head to a training ground and spar with others to release his excitement. He didn't mind getting hurt—after all, the Nine-Tails' healing power would take care of that.
"You seem excited about what I told you this afternoon," Ryosuke said softly as Naruto passed by.
Naruto stopped, surprised. "Huh?"
"Do you remember what I said?" Ryosuke chuckled, his voice low. "The real question is—how do you see yourself?"
Naruto blinked in confusion. He remembered Ryosuke's words from earlier… but not clearly.
"Becoming Hokage… is that really your choice?" Ryosuke asked calmly, watching Naruto's expression freeze.
"And one more thing," Ryosuke added. "When I said those things to you earlier… you weren't the only one who heard me. Do you understand what I mean?"
Naruto stared at him, stunned. He didn't fully get it, but there was an uneasy feeling building in his chest.
Without realizing it, Ryosuke had already activated his Byakugan, though it was subtle and quickly withdrawn.
The classroom was mostly empty now. No one was paying attention to their quiet conversation—except Hinata, who was still waiting by the door.
The ANBU who usually monitored Naruto were gone. Sarutobi Hiruzen had left.
This was likely the freest Naruto had ever been in his entire life.
"You…" Naruto began, but the words wouldn't come out.
Ryosuke held his gaze. "Even if you have a big fox sealed inside you, the village has ways to control it. You remember what I told you, right?"
Naruto nodded slightly, unsure of himself.
Ryosuke leaned closer, lowering his voice. "After spending this past month with you, I think you're a good person. So hide yourself. Find your own path, Naruto. The one you really want to take."
He took one step forward and whispered into Naruto's ear, "Stay calm. Stay rational. And if anyone finds out what I just said—forget all of it. I don't want anyone tracing anything back to me."
The white glow of his Byakugan flickered for an instant… then vanished.
"I'll be taking a leave of absence soon," Ryosuke added, stepping back. "When I see you again, I hope you've grown stronger."
Then, just like that, Ryosuke turned and walked toward Hinata, leaving Naruto standing there—frozen, alone, overwhelmed.
---
On the way home, Ryosuke felt an unusual lightness in his chest.
He was… happy.
It was strange. Rarely did anything outside of training bring him this kind of quiet joy.
Why?
Because that day, for the first time in a while, Ryosuke made a choice not based on calculation—but on instinct. On emotion.
His original plan had been to avoid these dangerous people. To keep his distance from those who shaped the story of the world.
But something inside him had changed.
He no longer wanted to just observe.
He wanted to reach out.
To connect.
And as for why he said those words to Naruto?
It was simple.
Unlike Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was trying to mold Naruto into something he could use, Ryosuke wanted the boy to choose his path on his own.
At the very least, he didn't want Naruto to remain the naïve child yelling "I'll be Hokage!" forever.
He wanted to see something different.
Something real.
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