Chapter 228: Grasp
The existence of tailed beasts in the ninja world is akin to nuclear weapons—immense power reserved as a last resort. Each village treats them as ultimate war deterrents rather than active tools of battle. Their true value lies in their presence alone, stationed at the rear to intimidate enemies rather than leading charges on the front lines.
Take the Tsuchikage and Raikage, for example. Both were battle-hardened veterans prepared to die on the field—yet they never unleashed their tailed beasts. That alone says everything.
The tailed beasts are the foundation of what defines a top-tier shinobi force. This fact is universally acknowledged. As long as a village maintains control over one, it retains the potential to unleash catastrophic power when needed. A Jinchūriki working in harmony with their beast can repel nearly any invasion.
The combat strength of a tailed beast is terrifying—most can single-handedly surpass the power of a Kage. Had it not been for the First Hokage, who once brought all nine under his control, and the subsequent seals placed by various villages to contain them within hosts, the mere existence of a single beast could have reshaped the balance of the entire ninja world.
Likewise, to an individual, a tailed beast represents unparalleled transformation. Even someone with average talent can become a force to be reckoned with when empowered by a beast.
---
"You want to become a Jinchūriki?"
Ryosuke had just returned home after a long, exhausting day. The moment he stepped inside, Hinata's voice greeted him—soft but serious.
"Here, this is the latest intel from Konoha."
Instead of explaining further, she handed him a document.
"The news about the Hidden Cloud and Hidden Rock's tailed beasts being captured has finally leaked."
"Hmm…"
Ryosuke casually glanced at the report and quickly lost interest. It was more or less what he had anticipated.
The Akatsuki's actions were no longer in the shadows. After capturing the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki of Takigakure, their activities became impossible to hide.
They moved swiftly.
This marked their fourth known target—after the One-Tail of the Sand, the Two-Tails of Kumogakure, and the Five-Tails of Iwagakure.
Though Takigakure is considered a ninja village, it lacks the backing of a major nation. Its limited population and territory mean it can only be viewed as a minor force in the grand scheme.
Takigakure had survived past wars thanks to its remote location, shrouded in secrecy. But that veil was starting to tear.
Kakuzu, a former high-ranking shinobi of Takigakure and now a member of Akatsuki, had likely exploited his familiarity with the village. Once a traitor of that level turns, secrecy becomes a liability.
Even without the Hyuga Intelligence Division conducting full investigations, the Akatsuki's seizure of the Seven-Tails couldn't stay hidden. Takigakure simply didn't have the information control capabilities of Iwagakure or Kumogakure.
News spread like wildfire.
And as it did, the realization dawned on the major villages: their beasts weren't the only ones being hunted.
The Third Tsuchikage was the first to respond, publicly acknowledging the capture of his village's Jinchūriki. He immediately reached out to Takigakure, seeking to exchange information.
Next came Hidden Cloud and Hidden Sand. As mutual victims, the villages formed a temporary alliance of intelligence sharing, comparing the methods and circumstances of each capture.
That was when the ninja world woke up. The Akatsuki—a group previously seen as just another rogue organization—was now revealed as a relentless predator stalking the greatest weapons in existence.
Their target: the tailed beasts.
Their next move? Obvious. The remaining Jinchūriki.
---
"But what does this have to do with your desire to become one?"
Ryosuke frowned slightly, shifting from observation to curiosity. He wanted to understand what was going through Hinata's mind.
"We're only two-thirds done with the migration plan," she began. "Now that all eyes are on Akatsuki, isn't this the perfect time to speed things up without drawing attention?"
She paused. "And… while tailed beast power has its merits, it also brings risks. You don't need that burden."
Of course, he meant the power's volatility—the danger of losing oneself.
Hinata looked calm, but her words were sharp. "From how you've handled the Akatsuki, it's clear you already know what they're after. You've probably foreseen their movements, haven't you?"
Ryosuke didn't bother hiding it. "...Yeah," he admitted, nodding. "That's why I haven't asked you to intervene or keep close watch. I already understand what they're doing."
He hesitated briefly, then added, "So… are you hoping I'll help you secure a tailed beast once the plan's complete?"
He could feel it from her tone—the intent behind her words.
Hinata's eyes glimmered with something close to hope. "I was planning to ask, but it sounds like you've already considered it."
She nodded. "Yes. I want a tailed beast."
Ryosuke stayed silent, waiting for her to elaborate.
"I'm the future head of the Hyuga clan," she said, steady but sincere. "And sure, like you said, I might not have to fight. Maybe I'll be protected, like Father. Maybe I'll only need to focus on clan affairs and strategy."
"That path alone would make me a capable leader."
"But…" She clenched her fists slightly. "My father had talent. Even though he doesn't train much now, he could return to form if he needed to. I'm not like that."
"I'm… clumsy. If something happened and I had to fight again, I'd need time—time I might not have. And that would interfere with my duties as clan head."
She looked Ryosuke in the eyes.
"I want to ensure I can protect myself and others while still fulfilling my role. The quickest path is to become a Jinchūriki."
She hesitated for a moment, then added quietly, "It may sound shameless… but I believe, as long as your presence exists as a deterrent, I'll be able to control the tailed beast's power. I won't lose myself like others have."
She didn't voice her deeper thoughts—but Ryosuke understood.
Ever since the migration began, and the Hyuga prepared to leave their ancestral home in Konoha, Hinata had been thinking. Not just about logistics or survival, but about identity.
Her future. Her place in the world. Her confidence.
The best way to solve a problem is, of course, to find similar reference points—especially from the people around you. And naturally, the best target to look to is Ryosuke.
Hinata believed that Ryosuke's confidence stemmed from his strength in combat. If that was the case, then perhaps if she had a similar source of strength to rely on, she wouldn't feel so lacking in confidence herself.
After all, fear comes from a lack of firepower.
She no longer naively believed that her work behind the scenes as a military advisor—handling coordination, strategy, and logistics—was enough. That mindset was her old self. She had grown.
Hinata now aimed for a breakthrough in combat ability and began maturing beyond the confines of her previous self.
She no longer demanded of herself to keep up with others by simply trudging forward on foot. Talent couldn't always be made up for through sheer willpower, and there were other ways to contribute, to grow.
So why not seek quicker paths to improvement—like asking for help from the people closest to her?
"You've got quite the idea," Ryosuke said, watching Hinata's serious expression with a small smile. He reached out and pinched her cheek affectionately. "I understand. As for your combat power, I'll find a way to help you strengthen it."
"At the very least," he added, "you'll have the power to protect yourself."
After all, if a portal to another world truly opened one day, should he bring them with him? Or leave them behind, letting the ninja world serve as their stronghold?
If they stayed, could their safety be guaranteed?
Especially Hinata—someone who had never been fond of fighting.
Ryosuke had pondered these questions countless times, but due to the stubborn impression Hinata had left on him as a child, he never brought it up. Instead, he quietly made his own arrangements in the background.
But now… this was good.
Hinata had taken the initiative to ask for his help.
She recognized her limitations and accepted them. She was no longer pushing herself blindly. Instead, she had begun experimenting, trying different methods to grow stronger—without isolating herself.
That made it easier for Ryosuke to step in and support her.
In this world of shinobi, there were many ways to gain power rapidly—not to mention the mysterious existence of Devil Fruits, artifacts not of this world.
After receiving Ryosuke's promise, Hinata nodded. She paused, thinking for a moment before speaking with concern in her voice. "But… you don't have to take my affairs too seriously. Just help when you're free. Your training and responsibilities are more important."
"Are you kidding me?" Ryosuke, who had been in a fairly good mood, suddenly looked helpless. "You're my wife. How could I not take your affairs to heart?"
"But—"
Hinata tried to respond, but Ryosuke had already taken her by the hand and led her back toward the house.
"I'm exhausted today. Let's eat and get to bed early."
He changed the topic with practiced ease, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. "And if you're really worried about disrupting my training schedule, you can always make it up to me with a full-body massage tonight... to help me relax."
...
Meanwhile, far from the Hyuga residence—where most were still preoccupied with the ongoing family migration—an urgent, high-level meeting was underway in the Hokage's office.
Konoha was not sleeping.
The Hokage's office was filled with intensity.
Jiraiya, now the Fifth Hokage of the village, sat at the head of the room. Flanking him were Tsunade, Nara Shikaku, and Utatane Koharu, his trusted advisors.
One by one, the heads of Konoha's major clans filed in. The Hyuga clan, for reasons unknown, were notably absent. Even Mitokado Homura, who had already stepped down from his advisory role, was summoned to attend.
Despite the tense atmosphere, there wasn't a sense of panic among the higher-ups.
Konoha had been aware of Akatsuki's power for quite some time. The growing threat was expected. Their intentions had been slowly coming into focus, and intelligence reports had already given the village a preliminary understanding of their capabilities.
Jiraiya opened the meeting with a grim assessment.
"According to the latest international intelligence reports, Akatsuki currently controls at least four tailed beasts."
The room stiffened.
"And based on the confirmed member list," he continued, "their organization includes the immortal Hidan, the rogue Kakuzu of Takigakure, the defected Hoshigaki Kisame from Kirigakure, Uchiha Itachi—formerly of Konoha—and…"
He trailed off momentarily, letting the implications settle in the minds of everyone present.
"Although we had anticipated this, our preparations are far from complete. Akatsuki's combat power is even greater than we feared. I believe… it's time we form a united front with the other nations."
Outside the window, the village glowed under the fading light, unaware of the storm brewing at its core.
Shikaku, serving as the official military strategist, stood up once Jiraiya finished. "As the most stable of the five great nations, Konoha will take the lead in organizing a Five Kage Summit to address the Akatsuki threat."
Murmurs of agreement and concern spread across the room.
"However," Shikaku continued, "the Land of Water remains in complete isolation. Any attempts at diplomacy have been thwarted. Even our best spies have failed to infiltrate the Mist—every last one was silenced."
There was a moment of silence before he added, "The last verifiable intelligence we received was from years ago—during the Blood Mist purge. Several bloodline families were wiped out, and their internal power structure has been in turmoil ever since."
"In other words," he concluded, "the chances of the Mizukage attending are extremely low."
A head of one of the smaller clans raised his hand. "But… doesn't the Land of Water still hold two tailed beasts? Surely, they can't remain neutral."
He wasn't alone in this question. Many clan heads had the same thought.
However, those from larger families—like the Inuzuka and Yamanaka—already understood the reality.
"In fact," Shikaku said quietly, "those two tailed beasts have long since gone rogue. Hidden Mist has lost control of them. If Akatsuki is as efficient as we think, then slipping into the Land of Water unnoticed would be well within their capabilities."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.
"That means the number of tailed beasts in Akatsuki's possession might already be six."
"Six?!"
Several clan leaders cried out in disbelief.
Even a single tailed beast could devastate a village. Six? That was apocalyptic.
Jiraiya stepped forward at the right moment, his expression calm and composed. "I've anticipated this scenario. That's why we've taken measures in advance."
He swept his gaze across the room.
"As long as the talks proceed smoothly, even if the Hidden Mist chooses to remain uninvolved, the remaining four great villages—along with the support of allied factions and the remaining three tailed beasts—will be enough to stand against Akatsuki."
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Three souls. One destiny.
A genius from modern Earth, the original Aizen from Bleach, and an Aizen born in the Naruto world — three minds merge into a single, transcendent being.
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