Chapter 318: The Fate of the Teigu World
The deep sea remained one of the last untouched frontiers of this world—an abyss beyond human reach.
Hidden within it were countless super-ancient beings, creatures that had slumbered undisturbed for millions of years.
Among them was Gatanothor—the Evil God, a dark ruler from a time long forgotten, who once held dominion over the planet in a previous age.
Whether they were primordial terrors from Earth's core or invaders from the stars, one fact remained true: these entities were intelligent.
"What… what is this place?!"
Daigu stood frozen, staring in disbelief at the massive palace before him.
He was now deep beneath the ocean, and yet, somehow, he could breathe. The crushing pressure of the sea, the suffocating water—none of it touched him. It was as if an invisible force shielded his body from the deep.
"This is a super-ancient ruin," Ryosuke said quietly beside him. "Thirty million years ago, the evil god Gatanothor, who destroyed the human civilization of that era, fell into slumber here."
Through Ryosuke's enhanced perception, Daigu saw a titanic being, curled like a mountain in the center of the palace. Its slow, unconscious breaths made the entire structure vibrate, as if the very sea itself bowed to it.
"That... that thing… am I supposed to defeat that with my power?"
When Ryosuke placed a hand on Daigu's shoulder, he temporarily allowed him to peer through the palace's walls—to see the horror that lay dormant within.
One glance, and Daigu instinctively took a step back.
The creature inside was larger than any monster he had ever faced. Its body was wrapped in inky-black armor, and its thick, tree-like tentacles twitched ever so slightly as it slept. A chilling aura radiated from its form, making Daigu's heart clench and his legs weaken.
Just looking at it made his head spin.
It was as if the monster's slumbering mind was pressing against his own—an unconscious psychic pressure that screamed: "Run."
"He's about to awaken," Ryosuke murmured. "His vanguard general has already stirred. I expect he'll leave this palace soon."
He pointed toward another massive beast, sleeping just beyond the palace walls.
And surrounding the structure…
Countless owls.
They stood like silent guards—watchful sentries for their king.
"There's more?!"
Daigu's voice trembled as he saw wave after wave of bizarre, monstrous birds. Though not as massive as Gatanothor, they rivaled the size of the strongest monsters he'd ever fought.
So many of them.
And at the center of it all… that godlike being.
Overwhelmed, Daigu whispered bitterly, "Is this… the disaster Hinata warned us about? The one threatening the world?"
"Of course not."
Ryosuke shook his head calmly. "If the disasters of this world could be solved that easily… I wouldn't still be working to surpass my limits."
There was no pride in his voice—just honesty.
Yes, Gatanothor power level was extraordinary. It could very well destroy the planet beneath it. In some aspects, it even matched Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
But for Ryosuke now?
This creature posed no threat.
Whether physically, spiritually, or in any measurable way—he could annihilate Gatanothor without much effort.
"…Even this thing doesn't qualify as a true disaster?"
Daigu was stunned. "Then what kind of threat are you actually worried about?"
His curiosity flared, pushing aside his fear.
If Ryosuke was that calm… then maybe Hyuga could handle it too.
"You'll find out eventually, so I'll just tell you now," Ryosuke said. "There's no point hiding it anymore. Hinata's practically a pillar in this world now."
He glanced at Daigu, then continued evenly.
"You already know, don't you? That we Hyuga come from another world."
"Yes," Daigu nodded.
While many smaller nations still didn't understand the full truth, the major powers had pieced it together. Their increasing cooperation with the Hyuga had made it unavoidable.
"Then you must also realize—" Ryosuke's tone grew more serious, "We're not the only ones."
"There are many other worlds. Countless civilizations. All with the ability to travel through time and space."
"Their strengths, their goals—we don't know them. Some may seek peace. Others may seek conquest."
Daigu's expression darkened.
Of course, he understood what that meant.
It was just like their first contact with aliens and monsters. Humanity had been cautious. Paranoid. At first, even Hinata had been viewed as a potential threat.
Only after prolonged cooperation had trust begun to form.
But if other worlds weren't like Hinata—if they came with violence and domination in mind...
It would be a catastrophe.
Their planet could become a battleground. Humanity—conquered. Enslaved.
"It's like a game," Ryosuke said softly. "The strong have the right to decide. The weak… can only accept what's given."
"But we, the Hyuga, are a civilized clan. We don't want to conquer worlds through brute force."
"Our goal is to unite civilizations peacefully—to form a powerful interdimensional alliance."
"But we must lead it."
His gaze sharpened.
"Without a central authority, the resulting chaos would destroy everything we're trying to protect."
"So we'll discard all notions of bloodlines, origin, and world. We'll recruit the wise, accept the strong, and expand the Hyuga name—not as conquerors, but as guardians of balance."
His words carried no arrogance—only purpose.
"We're building something that will endure."
He turned back to Daigu, eyes steady.
"And we'd like you to be part of that."
Daigu hesitated, heart pounding.
"…Can I tell others about this?"
"Of course."
Ryosuke nodded. "This was never meant to be a secret. We only waited to avoid causing unnecessary panic. Now that you're ready to hear it… there's no reason to withhold it."
The silence between them deepened.
After a long pause, Daigu spoke again.
"I'll think about it. But before I decide... I want to see the other worlds Hyuga manages with my own eyes."
He understood the weight of what Ryosuke was offering.
This wasn't just an invitation.
It was a test.
One that involved the future of his world.
"Naturally." Ryosuke's reply was relaxed. "After you've dealt with the creature in front of you, you're welcome to request access through the Hyuga stationed here."
"We'll arrange your interworld visit as soon as you're ready."
Daigu fell into a moment of silence, then asked quietly,
"…If I choose to join Hyuga now, can the Hyuga help me eliminate this evil god—for the sake of the allied world's safety?"
He knew future threats might be far worse than the monster before him, but that didn't matter.
Right now, this was the enemy in front of him—and he had no confidence in his ability to win.
Especially after being introduced to the ninja path and witnessing its terrifying scope, Daigu had gained a sobering awareness of his own limits.
"You need to handle this yourself," Ryosuke replied, shaking his head. "Remember what Hinata said—we need to assess whether your world qualifies to enter the alliance."
"This evil god didn't come from an outside world. It's an anomaly that exists within your own planet. That makes it your responsibility to resolve."
He turned his gaze back toward the massive palace beneath them.
"Bringing you here ahead of time—letting you see this thing and prepare mentally—that's already more help than you should've expected."
Ryosuke had considered that this version of Daigu wasn't as isolated and desperate as in the original timeline. Without the same pressure, perhaps he lacked the same death-defying determination.
So Ryosuke had brought him here—to awaken that resolve.
But that was the extent of his intervention.
"Then… what if I fail?" Daigu asked, his tone low.
"If you fail," Ryosuke answered without pause, "then humanity in this world will fall once again under Gatanothor's rule."
"And when that happens, we'll step in at the appropriate time to wipe him out and repurpose this world into a logistical resource base for the World Alliance."
His voice was calm—firm. Not cruel, just truthful.
"That's the harsh reality. And I hope you pass that truth on to your people. The World Alliance isn't something you enter just by asking."
"We, the Hyuga, are not some benevolent saviors who protect worlds out of charity."
Daigu's expression darkened, but he understood.
"If you do join the Hyuga one day," Ryosuke continued, "I hope you'll learn to judge each world on its own merits. We don't have sympathy to spare. It's already a miracle we've been able to protect this world at all."
"It's not that we don't want to help… it's that we can't. Not all the time. Not for everyone."
At least, not at this stage.
Daigu took a deep breath and nodded.
"Let's go, Mr. Ryosuke. I'll prepare to face him."
He understood what that meant.
He would have to fight this alone.
"You might only have two months to prepare," Ryosuke warned as ripples began to shimmer in the air ahead of them. "Maybe less. I can't predict the exact moment he'll awaken."
His voice echoed as they stepped into the rippling gate of space.
"Humanity's hope and belief are the purest forms of light."
"If you can make them believe in you—if they offer the light in their hearts—then maybe, just maybe, you'll gain a power that surpasses everything else."
"And if I told you… that even without the magic transformation stick, a human could still become light with their own will… would you believe it?"
---
Upon returning to the ninja world, Ryosuke immediately noticed something fading.
The traces of power and sensation he had felt in the Ultraman world… were slipping away.
Just like how, in the superpower world, his mental strength would spike dramatically in a short time—each world affected him differently.
It always came back to rules.
Each world had its own.
In the Ultraman world, after watching Daigu's battles repeatedly, Ryosuke had developed a strange realization: he, too, could become light.
With his mastery over soul and body, something ordinary people could only achieve through miracle or accident… Ryosuke grasped with clarity after experiencing it once.
After witnessing Daigu's transformation, he was able to mimic it—to become a being of light, merging with the phenomenon.
It wasn't about genetics or some "light factor." It was something deeper.
It was about belief—about hope.
By truly believing he could become light, that belief manifested into reality. Using Daigu's transformation as a conduit, Ryosuke was even able to enter the body of the Giant of Light and temporarily share control.
But now, after leaving that world, he could feel that power vanishing.
Rules…
Ryosuke rose into the sky, higher and higher.
He passed through the clouds, the winds brushing against him, until he could see all of the Land of Rain... and far beyond it.
The entire ninja world, laid bare before his eyes.
The Tenseigan glowed faintly in his gaze, and his pupil power condensed, straining to pierce through the veil of the world.
He wanted to see something more.
He wanted to understand.
But still… he couldn't see it.
The rule of this world—the hidden mechanism beneath chakra, bloodlines, fate—remained just out of reach.
In the Espers World, it was mental power.
In the Ultraman World, it was light and belief.
But in the Ninja World?
He had yet to grasp it.
He had always believed it was important.
And just like how he had always tried to see the threads of fate, he knew this too was tied to the truth behind all things.
Since the rules here eluded him...
Then what about other worlds?
Without hesitation, Ryosuke stepped through a space-time gate—this time entering the Teigu World.
It had been a long time since he came here.
This world had long ceased to offer him anything meaningful for his personal cultivation, so he rarely visited anymore.
But as he looked down at the familiar empire, at the turning of the planet below...
Something felt different.
He could see it.
The line of destiny.
It flickered across the landscape.
Red threads of fate—thin, yet vibrant—connecting lives, actions, consequences.
Just like in the ninja world.
Ryosuke's eyes widened slightly.
Until now, he had only been able to see the fate lines of individuals in the ninja world. In other realms, that power had always failed him—like his perception had been sealed away.
But now… he could see it.
The fate lines of the Teigu World had revealed themselves to him.
They glowed in his sight—threads of karma stretching from person to person, across time and space.
On instinct, he followed one.
In an instant, he saw that person's past—and the direction of their future.
When he turned his gaze to a Hyuga clan member currently residing in the Teigu World, he was stunned once again.
The fate thread had finally linked.
In the past, whenever a Hyuga crossed worlds, their fate threads would break—replaced by a foreign, garbled tangle that made no sense.
But now?
That Hyuga's thread was seamlessly woven. Everything that happened in the ninja world… and everything that happened in the Teigu World… was connected.
Ryosuke stood in the sky, watching the fates unravel and realign in real time.
What had changed?
He had done nothing.
No technique.
No breakthrough.
No evolution.
And yet… this happened.
The only hint he had was the progress bar in his mind, which remained unchanged—still frozen with one year to go.
Why now?
Why this world?
Ryosuke stared at the red threads drifting like ribbons through the atmosphere, his mind filled with more questions than ever before.