Chapter 317: Another Year
"I believe everyone here is already familiar with the abilities of the ninja profession."
Inside the GUTS main meeting room, representatives from the United Nations and major world powers had gathered. This conference was critical for the future of humanity.
"Chakra is the foundation of a ninja's power."
At the center of the round table, Hinata stood composed, her tone calm as she addressed the room full of stern faced officials. She raised her hand. "It is a high energy substance composed of physical and spiritual energy. It forms the basis for ninjutsu, genjutsu, and other ninja arts."
A faint blue light shimmered in her palm, pure chakra, condensed and stabilized.
The representatives from various nations stared in stunned silence.
They had known, thanks to Uchiha Sasuke, that there existed methods of training in this world, paths to evolution that allowed humans to gain supernatural abilities.
But seeing it with their own eyes was different. This wasn't an innate superpower, they were witnessing a system that could be learned and trained.
"Ninjas can be created?" one official muttered under his breath.
"Excuse me..." A representative finally broke the silence. "Before Uchiha Sasuke appeared, where did your ninja forces reside?"
"Are there other clans besides the Hyuga?"
"How many ninjas are there?"
"And what exactly are you doing with the monster materials you've been collecting?"
…
As soon as the first question landed, a flood of voices followed.
Hinata was quickly surrounded by a wave of inquiries, the room buzzing with questions and speculation. But she remained unshaken, her expression calm and unreadable.
This wasn't her first time standing before a room full of skeptics and decision makers.
"Regarding the existence of ninjas, and the full extent of the Hyuga clan's operations, I am not in a position to disclose that information at this time."
Hinata waited patiently for the noise to settle before continuing in a composed tone. "As for why we appeared in this world, it is directly tied to a matter concerning the survival of your planet."
She swept her gaze over the silent crowd.
"The initial phase of our cooperation is merely the beginning of our assessment."
She had heard all their questions, but selectively answered only what needed to be addressed.
"The survival of the world? What does that mean?!"
Gasps rippled through the room. Some turned toward Iruma Kei, hoping for clarification, but her equally confused expression offered none.
"This planet, are you implying you're from outer space?"
"When you say 'survival of the world,' are you referring to the monster attacks?"
A few sharp listeners picked up on her phrasing and quickly followed up.
"I'm sorry, I can't give you a detailed explanation at the moment."
Hinata's tone remained steady. "I can only say this: what we're facing is a disaster even greater than the current monster crisis."
"As for whether we are aliens..." She smiled faintly. "That, too, I can't confirm. But I can tell you this, I am a human being, just like every one of you."
"We share the same organs, the same blood, the same cultural depth and ideas."
"All humans have the potential to refine chakra through training. A member of your GUTS team has already achieved this. We are no different from you."
…
One by one, Hinata answered the pressing questions, skillfully avoiding sensitive details about the ninja world.
The truth remained: they were outsiders in this world.
As far as Hinata knew, there were no other foreign worlds currently connected to the Ultraman world. No other time space gates had been discovered, at least not yet.
Which meant, for now, the Ninja World was the only external force.
Revealing the possibility of future invasions or alternate dimensions was pointless, such warnings would only sound like delusions to the current leadership.
In fact, letting them assume she and her clan were aliens was a far safer route.
After all, in this world, the existence of aliens wasn't new. Hostile ones, peaceful ones, even beings classified as monsters had already emerged from the stars.
And Earth's stance toward aliens was generally measured, cautious, but not immediately hostile.
For now, Hinata chose to stand before them as an "alien." As for deeper cooperation, it would come slowly. First, the people of this world needed to see what she could offer, need what she could give, before anything more substantial could be built.
Martial arts, ninjutsu, chakra, physical techniques, refined monster materials...
Hinata had a wealth of knowledge and power to offer.
From the inheritance she'd acquired in the world of Teigu to the vast systems of the ninja world, these resources could drastically elevate this world's potential.
After all...
Humanity here was weak.
If not for their advanced technology, they would be completely helpless in the face of monster attacks.
Given the opportunity, these nations would eagerly accept systems like chakra and martial arts. And once the elites of each country began refining chakra, craving secret techniques, extending their lifespans...
They would inevitably turn toward the Hyuga clan.
And once that happened, this world would belong to Hyuga.
Assimilation.
A slow method, but far more stable than conquest.
Unlike the corrupt world of Teigu, which could be overthrown with brute force, this peaceful world required patience, gentle dominance, not violence.
Behind Hinata, of course, was an unknown force supporting her with a vast amount of supplies.
The leaders of this world, aware of the implications, did not dare provoke her. Instead, they steadily elevated her status.
Time passed quietly.
Before anyone realized it, a full year had gone by.
During that time, Ryosuke had been using the monster materials provided by the Tiga world to refine stronger body tempering liquids.
The more materials Hinata sent back, the deeper her connection with this world became.
A year ago, she was a foreigner watched with suspicion.
Now, one year later, three of the world's most powerful nations had aligned themselves under her leadership.
They openly supported cooperation with the Hyuga clan, showing strong enthusiasm and desire for more resources and knowledge.
These were the first to be told the truth about the other world, the first group of high ranking officials from the Ultraman world to fully join Hyuga.
And soon enough...
The others would follow.
It was only a matter of time before the entire world fell in line, and embraced the Hyuga name.
"These are the materials I collected from the twin headed monster, just as you requested."
Near the GUTS headquarters on a secluded island, Daigu handed a stack of documents to Hinata.
Out at sea, dozens of crew members were busy on a large vessel. Using heavy carts, they were offloading massive monster limbs and parts, remnants of the last battle, now being transferred to Hinata's custody.
"Thank you for your hard work," Hinata said gently, accepting the documents. "The training supplies for GUTS are already loaded on the truck. Just drive it onto the ship later."
"Got it."
Having handled deliveries many times before, Daigu nodded with ease. His gaze shifted toward the island's interior.
"Is Mr. Sasuke staying here right now?"
"He's gone to another world for the time being," Hinata replied without looking up as she flipped through the documents. "But my husband will be arriving shortly. Would you like to meet him?"
Daigu's identity as Tiga was no secret among them. While he had initially hidden it from GUTS, it was laughably ineffective in Hinata's eyes, like trying to hide a bonfire in a cave.
Once he realized they were aware, he stopped pretending. Now, he even visited regularly to seek advice on how to better control his power.
After all, Daigu was still just an ordinary human. Being able to transform into a Giant of Light didn't mean he could wield that power with mastery.
And since Uchiha Sasuke had once fought alongside him, Sasuke naturally became his sparring partner, and, in a sense, his teacher.
Their relationship could be described as both adversarial and friendly.
"So, Ryosuke san will be here too?" Daigu paused.
He knew of Hyuga Ryosuke, everyone in their circle did. In fact, Ryosuke was far more important to Hinata and the Hyuga than he was to GUTS... or even to the world itself.
Daigu had access to classified intel: Uchiha Sasuke, despite his strength, was not formally a Hyuga clan member, merely an ally. Hinata, the woman standing before him, was the current head of the Hyuga clan, and had come to this world alone to train and grow stronger.
That fact alone had long earned Daigu's admiration.
"Yes, he's here to collect some of the monster materials we've recently acquired." Hinata smiled as she raised her head. "Those body training medicines we provided your team with? They were all developed by my husband."
"Huh?!" Daigu blinked. "Hinata's husband is... a researcher?"
"He's..." Hinata's voice carried a trace of pride. "An all rounder, really. There's barely any field I've seen him struggle in."
Then she added with a straight face, "Also, Uchiha Sasuke's strength doesn't come close to my husband's."
"What?!" Daigu exclaimed again, unable to hide his surprise.
"Come on," Hinata said as she gave final instructions to her staff. "I'll take you to him."
With a casual wave, she gestured for Daigu to follow her deeper into the island.
What appeared before them was a sprawling structure, an ancient city, designed with a distinctly archaic architectural style.
The entire complex had been built overnight, following Hinata's decision to relocate from the GUTS base.
That alone made it clear just how formidable this group of ninjas truly was.
If they'd wanted to take over the world by force, there wouldn't have been any resistance.
As they entered the city, Daigu noticed more people with features similar to Hinata's, pale eyes, calm presence, and refined bearing. The Hyuga clan.
With the deepening cooperation between the Ultraman world and Hyuga, Hinata had paused her personal training to redeploy her clansmen and manage external affairs.
From a distance, Daigu spotted Ryosuke standing among several Hyuga members, speaking to them in a composed and almost affectionate tone.
They had never met, but Daigu instantly recognized him.
Why...?
Of course, it was because of Ryosuke's status. Among everyone present, his demeanor alone marked him as the one in charge.
"Daigo, I presume?"
As the two approached, Ryosuke turned to them and spoke as if expecting them. "This is our first meeting, I believe. I'm Hyuga Ryosuke."
"Hello, Mr. Ryosuke!"
Daigo quickly stepped forward and extended his hand.
The white haired man before him looked noticeably younger, yet exuded a quiet pressure, something subtle but impossible to ignore.
It wasn't about aura or killing intent.
It was presence, the psychological weight of a man accustomed to standing at the top.
"Let's take a walk." Ryosuke extended a polite invitation. "There's a place I've been meaning to show you."
"Of course!" Daigo replied instinctively, feeling more like a student addressing a master than anything else.
After exchanging brief farewells with Hinata, Ryosuke led Daigo out of the city and down a winding forest path.
"We haven't spoken before, but I've watched you fight," Ryosuke said casually as they walked. "You shine brightly when enveloped in light. That said, your control over that power is quite unrefined."
"Yeah..." Daigo scratched the back of his head. "It's hard. I'm still trying to master it, but it's not easy to channel that energy using a human body."
He didn't try to put on airs.
These ninjas had trained to fight since childhood. Despite being Tiga, Daigo knew better than to act arrogant.
"Still, I'm really grateful you all arrived."
He continued, "Facing these alien invaders alone… I couldn't take the pressure anymore."
For a long time, he had fought alone.
The monsters only grew more ferocious, and human technology was quickly falling behind. If he failed, the world would be doomed. But no one else could understand that burden, he couldn't even share it.
Only when Uchiha Sasuke appeared did that crushing weight begin to lift.
"People grow through adversity," Ryosuke said softly. "Even without us, you might've been able to protect this world."
Just then, ripples appeared in the air ahead of them, distorting the space like a mirage.
"Besides, you've now gained access to the training system. With training, you'll soon overcome the limitations of your current power."
"What's that...?" Daigo asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the swirling distortion.
"A gate." Ryosuke smiled. "I'm taking you to meet your next opponent, early."
Without another word, he stepped into the ripples and vanished.
Daigo hesitated only briefly before following him.