Chapter 298: Homecoming
In the ninja world, there exists the concept of ghosts.
Chakra itself is a fusion of spiritual energy and physical energy. Those who have delved deep into this principle can even use chakra as a vessel for consciousness—allowing them to complete unfinished business after death in a manner akin to a spiritual clone.
The Fourth Hokage couple… the Sage of Six Paths—they are prime examples.
Since the existence of ghosts is acknowledged, it suggests that the underworld may indeed differ fundamentally from the realm of the living.
In other words, legends of ghost towns, ghost gates, and ghost generals might not be just myth.
However… the scope of the underworld may be far vaster than imagined. Its management may not be divided per planet. Otherwise, with everything Uchiha Madara has done on this world, he'd likely have incited another war—this time in the underworld.
But such matters weren't something Ryosuke could unravel just yet.
Though his strength was immense—capable of destroying entire planets at full power—he still hadn't touched upon anything related to opening a ghost gate or traversing into the afterlife.
Maybe he wasn't strong enough yet.
Or maybe he was already strong enough… but lacked the means.
Or perhaps, these abilities had nothing to do with raw strength at all. Perhaps they belonged to an entirely higher dimension of understanding.
After all, even Boros—the former overlord of the universe—had never encountered the afterlife. Reincarnation was a concept he had never even heard of.
"But that doesn't matter. These questions will be answered one day."
Ryosuke closed his eyes and focused on the Ōtsutsuki inheritance Kaguya had passed to him.
Eighty Gods Vaccum Attack.
Heavenly Royal Center.
Hollow Earth Reversal.
All-Killing Ash Bones.
Every technique came with detailed visuals—how the chakra flowed, how the moves were executed, and the outcomes of each technique. All of it flooded into his mind in the form of lifelike images.
Strange faces began to appear one after another, demonstrating the techniques with precise movements. They were members of the Ōtsutsuki clan, and the way they moved made it feel less like battle… and more like instruction.
"…Is this a recorded transmission?"
The instructional visuals were so vivid, so refined, that with Ryosuke's talent and insight, he comprehended the entirety in moments. A few trials, and he'd master them all.
But beyond the power itself, what intrigued him more was this method of teaching—like a living documentary engraved into chakra.
"The Ōtsutsuki pass on their inheritance through these images?"
He turned toward Kaguya, curious.
"Yes," Kaguya nodded. "The Ōtsutsuki do not rely on books like the ninja world. Instead, we pass down knowledge through chakra-encoded images."
"These recorded techniques and knowledge are controlled by the main branch of the clan. As a member of that main branch, I had the qualifications to access and pass them on."
"…Interesting."
Ryosuke pondered. "Would the ancestor be willing to share this technique of recording chakra images with the clan?"
He turned back to Kaguya.
This method of inheritance was rare—eerily similar to the jade slips in ancient cultivation legends. If adopted, it could massively accelerate the Hyuga clan's development.
As for calling her 'ancestor'… it wasn't just a formality.
Though he had refrained from using that word until now, he would only do so once Kaguya let go of her past and truly placed her trust in him.
Kaguya was momentarily stunned by the title.
But almost immediately, her lips curled into a rare, genuine smile. "Of course. Since you're my descendant, I won't be stingy."
And just like that—she had accepted.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki had joined the Hyuga clan.
"Good."
Ryosuke gave a satisfied nod and bowed slightly to her. "Then I'll leave the Hyuga of this world in your care."
"Certainly," Kaguya replied without hesitation.
She had no desire to rule. What she wanted now was peace—something she hadn't tasted in over a thousand years.
As for whether the Ōtsutsuki clan would discover her betrayal and come across the universe seeking vengeance…
She wasn't afraid anymore.
After all, the talent of the boy before her was something she had never seen in all her life within the Ōtsutsuki clan.
Ryosuke was also pleased with her transformation.
The ninja world was finally settled. With Kaguya overseeing the clan, even if Ryosuke left for ten or twenty years, the Hyuga's foundation would not collapse.
With everything now clear and discussed, he didn't linger in the room.
Kaguya was still standing nearby, and honestly, it made it hard to think clearly.
So, Ryosuke turned and opened the door, stepping toward the main estate.
He hadn't yet greeted anyone from the clan, but he knew exactly who was where—his father included.
Kaguya said nothing. She merely followed him quietly.
Under the startled gazes of the servants in the courtyard, Ryosuke calmly brought Kaguya to the main hall.
"…Ryosuke?!"
The moment he stepped in, Hyuga Hiashi—who had been discussing clan matters with Hinata—froze mid-sentence, eyes widening in disbelief.
Neither of them had expected to see Ryosuke now—after three long years.
"Father. Hinata."
Ryosuke stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"…You're back."
Hinata recovered first, reacting with a calm demeanor befitting a clan leader.
Though Ryosuke had been gone for three years this time, unlike his previous months-long absences, the Hyuga clan had always received updates from Hyuga Hizashi in the Teigu World.
So, they were no longer anxious or on edge about his safety. Just quietly relieved.
The real joy was in the implication—if Ryosuke had returned, it likely meant the Teigu World was now secure.
A month ago, Hizashi had reported that the final battle there would conclude within weeks.
Clearly… it was done.
"The Teigu World has reached its final phase. There's nothing more that requires my hand, so I came back ahead of the others."
Ryosuke's voice was quiet, composed. He motioned gently behind him.
"On the way back, I encountered our… ancestor. I brought her with me."
"…Ancestor?"
Hyuga Hiashi turned his eyes toward the figure behind Ryosuke—Uchiha Madara's face, but with an unmistakable aura.
Then realization struck.
Of course.
It was Kaguya Ōtsutsuki—sealed within the moon, now present in the world via Madara's vessel.
"During this time," Ryosuke continued, "I plan to attempt a ritual to free our ancestor from the seal."
He spoke tactfully, without laying everything bare.
"After all… the Hyuga clan in this world will still need someone to watch over it."
As he spoke, he found a seat in the main hall and sat down casually—like he had never left.
Even for Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, a being from ancient times who held great regard for tradition and etiquette, Ryosuke's informal manner brought a rare sense of ease.
He disregarded seating arrangements and ceremonial decorum—not out of disrespect, but because he already saw her as one of his own. There was no need for the stifling formalities of a rigid clan hierarchy.
Across the room, Hyuga Hiashi and Hinata exchanged subtle glances.
Was he trying to formally induct their ancient ancestor into the clan?
After Ryosuke led the Hyuga army to the Teigu World, they'd come to recognize a stark reality: the clan lacked enough high-tier combatants capable of shaking a world's foundation. Ryosuke couldn't be expected to personally handle every crisis.
Originally, their plan had been to cultivate a vast number of elite shinobi from the Teigu World's population, using quantity to offset the absence of top-level Hyuga talents.
But clearly... Ryosuke had already anticipated that problem.
"If there's anything the clan can assist with, please don't hesitate to ask."
Hinata spoke at the right time, her voice steady, firm.
"Our ancestor is also the ancestor of all Hyuga. We will do everything we can."
Her words, though respectful, carried the conviction of a leader. As she finished, her gaze turned to Kaguya, eyes sincere.
Though Kaguya Ōtsutsuki understood well that this acceptance was driven by practical considerations, it was the first time in over a thousand years that she'd been treated with warmth.
Even if it was only surface-level, it still stirred something within her.
She had always resented her two sons for their betrayal. But watching the genuine filial respect from Hamura's descendants, that ancient bitterness began to loosen.
Her sons were her sons… but these Hyuga—these were her descendants.
"Leave this matter to me," Ryosuke said, shaking his head slightly.
"The uprising in the Teigu World just succeeded. The Empire has been overthrown, but there's still much to manage—specifically, how to absorb that massive rebel army into the Hyuga structure."
"As for spreading the spirit and will of Hyuga in that world, I'll be relying on you and Father."
He leaned back lazily.
"I don't have the time to handle everything."
There were greater things demanding his attention.
Now more than ever, he understood that the key to unlocking the fragmented memories of his past and present lives lay in strength.
To become stronger was to uncover his true self.
And he would not waste precious time on logistics.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki listened in silence as they discussed plans to rescue her true body.
She didn't interrupt.
But when they spoke of the Teigu World, her curiosity was unmistakable.
She had long known of other worlds—whether through Black Zetsu's fragmented knowledge or the occasional encounters she had during her wandering years. She had seen the so-called foreigners from those realms.
Their powers were strange, yes—but within the vast database of Ōtsutsuki knowledge, not beyond comprehension.
Different worlds were simply distant planets with different evolutions.
She herself had brought chakra to Earth. It was no surprise that other planets might have power sources akin to chakra.
"By the way…" Hinata shifted her gaze, glancing briefly at Kaguya before focusing on Ryosuke. "What exactly have you been working on these past few years?"
"There's something different about you now. Your aura—it feels strange."
Technically, this kind of sensitive information might be kept from someone like Kaguya, who had only just joined the clan.
But Hinata knew better.
Ryosuke wasn't like the rest of them. Even she had once been a student under him. As his wife, she trusted his judgment.
If there were things he couldn't speak of… he simply wouldn't. But if she asked, he'd speak frankly.
Avoiding Kaguya now would only hurt her. And Hinata, more than anyone, understood the burden Kaguya carried—the betrayal of her own blood, the centuries of isolation.
"She deserves a little warmth," she thought.
"…Some things happened," Ryosuke said casually, "but they've been resolved."
From somewhere on his person, he pulled out a small storage scroll and tossed it to Hinata.
"This contains the body cultivation method and medicine formulas I developed in the Teigu World over the years."
"The techniques from that world are far more refined than the ones we use to train our children. I've combined both systems, streamlined the process, and removed the unnecessary steps. It can serve as the foundation for Hyuga's basic education going forward."
He continued, tone steady and composed.
"As for the medicinal prescriptions, the formulas from Level 1 to Level 5 are mild and safe. When combined with the physical training method, they form the perfect course for standard ninja development after early childhood."
"Levels 6 through 10… well, they'll induce pain—burning pain. They're made from the essence of mid-tier dangerous species in the Teigu World. Best suited for clan members with aspirations for physical advancement."
Ryosuke's voice dropped slightly, almost amused.
"As for the Level 10 tier… the tearing of muscle, the sensation of bones being ripped out, the pain that strikes the soul—it's not something ordinary people can endure. Let's keep that one optional."
He paused.
"Level 20 through 24? Put those in the treasury."
"I'll gather the materials myself and refine the potions. If anyone manages to survive the full treatment and adapt to the effects… they'll gain a divine body, just like mine."
"Only those who've made great contributions to the clan should even be allowed to attempt it."
And with that, Ryosuke succinctly summarized three years of grueling research and refinement—knowledge that, in any other world, would be classified as forbidden technique or legendary art.
If this scroll were dropped into any martial world, it would be considered a heaven-defying scripture worthy of a sacred sect.
After all, Level 24 medicine was made from the essence blood of the super-dangerous Tyrande species, combined with rare materials refined into a liquid so potent it granted near-immortality, regenerative power, and divine vitality.
It was the body of a demigod—sealed within a scroll.
As Hinata listened to his explanation, her hands unconsciously clenched around the scroll.
The moment he mentioned that completing the 24th level would grant one a body like his…
Her breath caught.
Even Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, who had remained calm throughout, turned her gaze toward the scroll.
They both knew how terrifying Ryosuke's strength had become.
If someone truly survived the baptism of that twenty-four-level medicine…
That scroll—so ordinary in appearance—was now a divine treasure, its weight immeasurable.
As for the materials?
Even the rarest, most dangerous species… could be raised. Tamed. Farmed.
With the right knowledge and the right will, nothing was impossible.