Chapter 309: The Girl Who Wants to Change
Unfortunately, the world Uchiha Sasuke had been transported to wasn't the same Ultraman universe Shanks was familiar with.
Apparently, even among Ultraman worlds, there were differences.
Still, Shanks wasn't discouraged. On the contrary, the curiosity only fueled his determination to see it for himself.
As for the development of the Teigu world, Ryosuke chose to set it aside for now—he had more pressing matters at hand.
Sasuke, for his part, didn't leave either. He chose to remain within the Hyuga domain for the time being.
After all, as Hyuga's designated partner, it was only natural that he would not be deprived of the corresponding treatment.
His pace slowed noticeably. Often, when Ryosuke wasn't looking, he would find Sasuke quietly standing atop the city wall, lost in thought, staring off into the distance.
Originally, Ryosuke thought he'd go to Uchiha Madara for guidance—seeking new methods to strengthen himself.
But from the look of things, the words Ryosuke spoke to him that day had taken root. Sasuke was beginning to focus on tempering his mindset...
…
The sound of firecrackers shot into the sky, echoing across the Land of Rain.
A strong scent of gunpowder spread throughout the land and its neighboring regions. But instead of instilling fear, it sparked a festive spirit—vibrant, celebratory, and full of life.
Under the rare sunlight, Ryosuke and Hinata sat within an ornate palanquin carried by eight attendants, followed by a grand convoy of carriages.
The country, usually drenched in endless rain, had been transformed—thanks to Ryosuke's ability to control the weather. For the first time, the skies were clear, the temperature mild, and the air gentle like spring in the Land of Fire.
Their wedding was conducted with the highest of honors. And under Hinata's meticulous direction, it also became a political statement—a declaration of benevolence and power, meant to win the people's hearts.
Starting from the capital, their procession exited the city and made its way toward nearby territories.
Everywhere they arrived, local officials bowed in welcome. In return, members of the convoy distributed gifts and development funds. They paraded through each city with high ceremony, resembling ancient imperial inspections.
Their grand wedding procession encircled the entire Rain in a celebratory circuit.
Finally, they returned to the capital.
Though the carriages were custom-built and the personnel accompanying them were all elite ninjas, the entire journey still took half a week.
Afterward, they crossed the space-time gate from the capital and conducted the wedding rites once again in the Imperial Capital of the Teigu World. Just like in the Shinobi World, they toured the entire country.
The territory controlled by the Hyuga in the Teigu World was far larger than that of the Ninja World. It took them a full month to complete the celebration—one that was witnessed by the world.
This wedding could not have been more high-profile.
With Hinata's tactical brilliance and Ryosuke's absolute strength, there was little need to worry about accidents.
Even during the parade, a space-time gate suddenly appeared and tried to absorb a small group of attendants into another world. Ryosuke instantly seized control of the portal and dismantled the threat.
The confidence born from overwhelming strength gave them the freedom to act without fear.
As for the truth behind the Hyuga "ancestors" being from another world, the civil and military officials of the Teigu Empire had slowly begun to piece it together.
Some even guessed at the deeper plan—perhaps even a quiet takeover of the country—but they pretended not to notice.
Most of the officials handpicked by the Hyuga were people from humble origins. None of them wanted to return to the old days. None wished to see their nation bathed in blood again.
And besides…
After years of quiet indoctrination, Hyuga's ideological influence and spiritual conditioning had reached near perfection.
Even if someone were to voice suspicion, few would stand behind them.
By the time the wedding tour concluded, Hinata had taken complete control of the empire.
…
"In the coming days, you should resume training. Focus on rebuilding your physical strength."
The day after the wedding, inside the inner chambers of the imperial palace.
Ryosuke sat on the edge of the bed, his face awkward as he looked at Hinata—who lay with her back turned, her face pale.
"All the matters regarding the Land of Rain and the Empire were taken care of during the wedding. Officials have been stationed everywhere, and Hyuga clansmen are conducting routine inspections."
"As clan leader, you don't need to trouble yourself with national affairs for now. Focus on your own well-being."
Hyuga bloodlines were known for their fair complexions, but Hinata's face now was almost translucent.
Though Ryosuke possessed high-level medical skills, they were most effective for physical injuries.
Hinata's current condition, however, stemmed from emotional and psychological trauma—something far more delicate.
How could she have fainted... the very first time?
"This... this wasn't how I imagined it!"
Hinata trembled at the memory of the previous night. She kept her back to him, refusing to make eye contact. "I don't care! I'm not doing that again. That was murder! You tried to kill me on our wedding night! You stabbed me with a sword!"
For the first time, she had felt death brush past her.
Not that she feared death itself—but if she were to die in such a way, it would be a truly unjust fate.
"What could I do? It just... slipped in, and I didn't even use any force..."
"Bullshit! I don't want to hear it!"
"What about future children? We can't just—"
"Get out! Get away from me!"
…
A wound to the soul was not so easily healed. Even Ryosuke had no choice but to temporarily retreat from the battlefield of married life.
Thankfully, a few days later, Hinata came to find him.
She wanted to resume training.
"Even though, as clan leader, I may not have to fight on the frontlines... I still want to be prepared."
Hinata's tone was serious as she explained herself. "And just so we're clear, I didn't come to do any more weird things with you."
"Heh…"
Ryosuke chuckled, glancing in the distance where Sasuke and Shanks were preparing to clash.
"Well then, let's head to the training ground in the Teigu World."
He had planned to watch their fight, but it seemed he'd have to catch the replay later by reading the threads of fate.
Compared to their clash, his wife's well-being came first.
The two passed through the space-time gate together, and in the next moment, arrived at Ryosuke's private training ground deep within the imperial capital.
Given his current strength, ordinary training fields were no longer enough.
A large independent training ground had been built directly beside the original royal hunting grounds.
The roars and shrieks of various dangerous species echoed continuously, and a dense, suffocating aura of threat radiated from within—blanketing the entire breeding zone, an expanse the size of three cities.
After Hinata took control of the empire, she had expanded the hunting ground's range and invested in the capture and breeding of more dangerous species from across the world, attempting to artificially cultivate them.
"For now, there are two ways to improve your strength."
Ryosuke's gaze rested on Hinata, who now wore a sleek, combat-ready bodysuit. Under the dim, distant light, she reminded him of the young girl who used to train under the street lamps—quiet, determined, never complaining.
Unknowingly, she had grown up.
And now… she was his wife.
"One of them should be the body trainingh
method you researched, right?"
Hinata guessed easily, her voice calm.
"That's right," Ryosuke nodded. "Compared to other paths, this one requires pure willpower. You don't need to think about fighting techniques. Just endure and feel your body evolve."
"I'll help you secure the massive amount of resources needed, so it'll be easier than it would be for others."
"This is the most suitable path for someone without strong combat talent. But no path is without flaws…"
Unlike others who had to risk their lives hunting dangerous species or complete missions to earn merit points for clan resources, Hinata would receive the best support possible.
If she could persevere, this would undoubtedly become her most efficient path to power.
As for whether she'd end up looking like some kind of muscular war beast afterward... that depended entirely on her control.
If she could manage it as Ryosuke did, then the strength would remain hidden within, not bulging from her body with every movement.
"What about the other way?"
Hinata showed no reaction to the prospect of becoming a musclebound monster. Her expression remained unchanged as she asked.
"The second path is through your bloodline."
Ryosuke raised his palm, holding it out in front of her.
"The Tenseigan is believed to be the result of combining Otsutsuki blood with the blood of this world."
A faintly glowing, pale yellow sphere floated above his palm.
"The Tenseigan…"
Hinata murmured softly, reaching out with a fingertip to touch the orb.
She was already well aware of Ryosuke's lineage and the extent of his evolution. She also knew the Tenseigan was a higher-level transformation beyond the Byakugan.
But she had never come into such close contact with it before.
In truth, it didn't even resemble an eye. It looked more like a smooth glass bead—lacking any of the grotesque traits one might expect from an actual eyeball.
Since childhood, Hinata had known her own limitations in combat. She never obsessed over personal strength. Instead, she followed Ryosuke's early guidance—focusing on leadership and the responsibilities of being clan head.
After rising to that role, she experienced the weight and the allure of power firsthand. She came to understand what Ryosuke had meant when he said personal strength wasn't everything—but still, it had value.
She had never asked him to help improve her strength. Never once probed his secrets. She hadn't even gotten close to the Tenseigan.
But now… now that the political dust had settled, and after everything they'd experienced together, she was ready to seek strength.
True strength.
"How does it feel?" Ryosuke asked quietly.
"…Warm," she said after a moment. "There's a faint sense of blood resonance—but it's weak."
"Maybe our bloodlines are too far apart now."
Ryosuke chuckled. "It's been thousands of years."
He continued, "Awakening the Tenseigan isn't as physically demanding as the body training path. You might suffer less."
"But I can't guarantee how long it will take."
"Awakening the Tenseigan, in theory, only requires sufficiently pure blood and the right chakra to initiate a transformation between the Byakugan and your body. That's when evolution begins."
"But this process hinges on intangible elements—things like perception, sensitivity, spiritual resonance. I can't say for sure whether you'll succeed."
Hinata's bloodline purity wasn't in question. The challenge lay in whether the chakra infusion would be compatible enough with her Byakugan to trigger a true evolution.
To be frank, the time it took her to master Gentle Fist—even with Ryosuke's personal guidance—was only marginally faster than an average Hyuga.
And she had worked harder than anyone.
"Think carefully. Which path do you want to take first?" Ryosuke asked.
"I…" Hinata hesitated. "I want to take both paths."
Her gaze was steady. "If my body can be changed, then why not my talent? Ryosuke… is there a way?"
She wanted strength.
The clan had whispered behind her back, calling her an unworthy leader. And yet, she had led them. She wasn't perfect, but she had earned a quiet pride in her own way.
But as the clan expanded—beyond villages, beyond nations, even reaching other worlds—she knew her presence alone wouldn't be enough.
If she remained weak, no matter how competent she was, no one would truly follow her without Ryosuke by her side.
So she had to be willing to change—even if it hurt.
"You're sure?"
Ryosuke was taken aback for a moment, then his tone grew serious.
"Changing your talent… is nearly the same as defying fate."
"The road you're choosing is steep. You'll have little rest, especially as clan leader."
"Does this mean you're giving up that role, and dedicating yourself to training instead?"
He hadn't read her mind. He never did that to people he trusted.
But Hinata's hunch was right—Ryosuke did have methods to change innate talent. Strength didn't have to be predestined. Even the weakest could break their limits.
That said… changing one's aptitude was a brutal, painstaking ordeal.
To enhance combat talent, one had to fight endlessly—engaging the body in battle until it learned instinctively, adapting through near-death experiences.
As for potential... that was even harder to alter.
"I won't abandon my responsibilities," Hinata said calmly. "But I've decided—I must become strong enough to carry them properly."
Her voice didn't rise. Her tone didn't tremble.
But it was absolute.
Just like years ago, when she'd quietly broken Ryosuke's preconceived notions of her—when she had, through pure effort, risen to the top of her grade.