A Hyūga's Gate Between Worlds

Before Madara unleashed his Susanoo and Hashirama summoned his True Several Thousand Hands, the shinobi world had revolved around intelligence warfare.

It could be said that battles between ninjas were battles of information.

The Byakugan and Gentle Fist determined that their main combat style was inevitably close-quarters combat.

However, this type of combat became a major disadvantage when faced with the Op-Op Fruit. As long as one was within the ROOM's range, even an elite jonin from the main house could be taken down with just a single slash.

But there was one key difference between the world of Naruto and the world of One Piece: Ninjas had no sense of honor.

If they could gang up on someone, they would never fight one-on-one.

If they could launch a sneak attack, they would never engage in a fair fight.

If they could use poison, they wouldn't bother with assassination.

The main house wasn't large, but it still consisted of 35 members.

Even if the enemy stood still and let someone with the Op-Op Fruit cut them down one by one, it would still take dozens of uses of the fruit's ability.

The stamina required for that? Completely unsustainable.

Not to mention, the Hyūga ninjas weren't idiots. Even if they lacked battle experience, once they witnessed the Op-Op Fruit's power, they would adapt, gather intelligence, and prepare countermeasures.

If even a single main house ninja survived, one command was all it would take. Under the curse seal, all branch house members would swarm in.

Tanaka was well aware of this.

Both his strengths and his weaknesses.

"Maybe you should go to the One Piece world for a few years first and build up your strength."

"With your current stamina, you can't afford to waste the Devil Fruit's abilities."

The shadow clone, though filled with frustration and resentment, still suggested that the main body take a more cautious approach and lay low in the One Piece world for a while.

"If stamina is lacking, then strategy will make up for it. I can't wipe out the entire Hyūga clan right now, but if it's just the main house, that's a different story."

Tanaka understood that the shadow clone's suggestion was the safest approach, but his own plan was just as foolproof.

"Oh? What's the plan?"

Seeing that the main body wasn't acting recklessly out of hatred, the shadow clone became interested.

Although it had proposed for the main body to go train in the One Piece world, if there was a way to get revenge immediately, it wouldn't hesitate to draw its blade.

"For now, I can't appear in front of the Hyūga clan. So, you'll have to go in my place."

"Bring Hizashi-sensei here."

Tanaka glanced at the Caged Bird on the shadow clone's forehead.

This clone had been created before he removed his own Caged Bird, so the mark was still present on the clone.

"That's easy. Leave it to me." The shadow clone didn't ask any further questions and turned to leave.

Leaning against a tree, Tanaka narrowed his eyes, seemingly formulating a plan in his mind.

---

Meanwhile, with no need to conserve energy, the shadow clone moved at full speed.

Before long, the Hyūga clan's compound appeared within its sight.

"I'm back."

"Tanaka, are you feeling better? Hizashi-sama has been very worried about you."

The guards at the gate, along with the hidden sentries, immediately noticed the shadow clone's arrival.

However, both the visible and hidden guards were all branch house members.

They all knew that he had been branded with the Caged Bird by Hiashi that morning. They understood the despair that came with receiving the seal. Seeing him return late, they assumed he had just gone to clear his mind in the nearby forest.

"I'm feeling much better. Thank you all for your concern. I'll go speak with Hizashi-sensei so he doesn't worry."

The shadow clone forced a smile and casually greeted each branch house member.

"Go ahead!"

Seeing no issue, they immediately let him pass.

Just like that, the shadow clone entered the Hyūga compound without alarming anyone and confidently walked up to Hizashi's residence.

Even as a jonin of Konoha and the branch house leader, his status within the clan was lower than even a single finger of any main house member. However, his living conditions were still decent—at the very least, he had his own standalone residence.

"Hizashi-sensei, it's me."

Standing at the entrance, the shadow clone noticed that the lights inside were still on, so he called out.

Creak.

Upon hearing the voice outside, a set of footsteps approached from within.

Then, the sliding door opened.

Immediately, Hizashi appeared before him.

"It's good that you're back. Come inside first."

He looked at his disciple, and when his gaze swept over the Caged Bird beneath his bangs, a sharp pain struck his heart. Without hesitation, he pulled the shadow clone into his room with concern.

"Tanaka, I know this must be very difficult for you right now, but this is the fate of the branch house."

"If you had been born into the main house, you would surely have surpassed even our ancestors."

Hizashi sighed deeply as he spoke.

"Even without being born into the main house, I can still surpass our ancestors."

Hearing this, the shadow clone dropped his pretense of sadness. His eyes sharpened with determination.

"Good, that's the spirit. As expected of my disciple."

Hizashi saw this and simply assumed that Tanaka had come to terms with reality and had not been completely broken by the branding of the Caged Bird.

"Hizashi-sensei, I'll be honest with you. I'm not the real body."

As soon as the shadow clone said this, Hizashi's expression changed slightly. He immediately activated his Byakugan and noticed that the chakra within the person before him was only half of what he remembered from Tanaka.

"What's going on?"

Though surprised, he did not suspect his disciple of harboring ill intentions toward him—he was merely confused about the purpose of this late-night visit.

"Please forgive my real body for his rudeness. For certain reasons, he cannot return to the clan for now. So, I was sent here as his shadow clone to meet you."

The shadow clone's face showed a hint of apology.

Before awakening his past-life memories, Hizashi had raised the real body since childhood, playing the dual role of both father and mentor.

Because of this, Tanaka had a deep respect for the man standing before him.

"It's alright. If anything, all of this is my fault. I couldn't even protect my own disciple."

Hizashi shook his head.

In his mind, Tanaka's reluctance to return to the clan was simply because he had been branded with the Caged Bird.

Back then, he had felt the same way—except he had stayed away even longer than Tanaka. It took him three full days to accept his fate and return.

This was a normal reaction for any branch house member who had just received the Caged Bird.

"It has nothing to do with you."

The shadow clone shook his head, then got straight to the point.

"Hizashi-sensei, enough with the small talk. My real body sent me here to deliver a message."

He locked eyes with Hizashi.

"Go ahead." Hizashi was intrigued.

"You don't want to see Neji branded with the Caged Bird either, do you?" the shadow clone spoke slowly and clearly.

As one of Konoha's oldest clans, the Hyūga family—whether main house or branch house—did not allow parents to name their own children. The names were predetermined by the main house.

It didn't matter whether the child was a boy or a girl.

In other words, the name Neji had been decided long before the child was even born.

Unless Hizashi never married or had children, the moment he had a son, that child was destined to have that name.

"Neji!"

Just as expected, the moment Hizashi heard that name, his expression changed instantly.