A Hyūga's Gate Between Worlds

The ANBU, like emotionless mission machines, delivered the Third Hokage's orders and then disappeared just as swiftly as they had arrived.

"Time to split up!" Tsunade, seeing this, picked up a sake bottle and got up to leave.

"Where are you going?"

Sensing Tsunade's deep resentment toward the Third Hokage, Jiraiya felt uneasy and wanted to mediate between them.

"Of course, I'm going to work on my medical ninja training system. Oh? Thinking about coming to lend me a hand?"

Tsunade looked at Jiraiya with a half-smile, probing his reaction.

"Wasn't that proposal rejected by the old man?"

Jiraiya's gaze flickered, and he hesitated to meet her eyes.

Helping Tsunade meant opposing the Third Hokage.

He wasn't that bold.

"Just because he rejected it, I have to give up?"

"He may be my teacher, but he's not my father. He has no say over me. If you're not going to help, then get out of my way."

Tsunade gave Jiraiya a deep look. Seeing his usual indecisiveness, a barely perceptible trace of disappointment flashed in her eyes.

And from that moment on, the rift between the Sannin grew wider.

"But—" Jiraiya wanted to say something more, but when he saw Tsunade clenching her fist, he immediately backed down.

"A brat from the Hyūga clan can take a day off and take control of the entire main house. You expect me to believe that setting up a medical ninja training system is too difficult for me?" Tsunade snorted coldly and didn't spare Jiraiya another glance.

Establishing a medical ninja training system was something that would benefit not just the present but also countless future generations. Yet, the Konoha Council collectively rejected it with a unanimous vote.

She knew exactly why.

If this proposal were implemented, it would be a blessing to all of Konoha—both civilian and clan ninjas alike. They would owe her a great debt of gratitude.

And with that, as the granddaughter of the First Hokage and one of the Legendary Sannin, wouldn't her position as the Fourth Hokage be all but guaranteed?

How could the council tolerate that?

It was much better to have Minato take the position instead.

"Her conflict with the old man is only getting worse. You've seen it with your own eyes. Orochimaru, don't you plan to do something?We are comrades, after all." After Tsunade stormed out, Jiraiya finally dared to speak again.

"Idiot."

Orochimaru shook his head, turned, and left without saying anything more.

He understood all too well—there were only two ways to resolve the conflict between Tsunade and the Third Hokage.

One was to kill Hiruzen.

The other was to bring Nawaki back to life.

Neither was easy.

Besides, after losing his parents and Nawaki, his mind had already shifted away from the so-called Will of Fire and the Hokage title.

Now, his focus was on the pursuit of immortality and the true nature of the shinobi world.

Why would he waste his precious time and energy on Hiruzen, who had also hurt him?

"Orochimaru, you..."

Watching as Tsunade and Orochimaru left one after another, Jiraiya's expression became complicated.

Did he really not understand anything?

No.

He understood everything.

But he lacked the resolve to bear it all.

Or rather, he didn't choose to side with Orochimaru or Tsunade—he chose to stand with Hiruzen.

As long as Konoha remained stable, no matter what happened, he could always find a reason to convince himself.

"Sigh..."

He let out a long sigh and walked out of the tavern, looking dejected.

With the death of the White Fang, the bond between the three Sannin also crumbled.

---

The former residence of the Hyūga main house's First Elder now belonged to Tanaka.

But that wasn't the only thing that had changed.

With the downfall of the main house and the rise of the branch house, many formerly overlooked geniuses of the branch house began to emerge.

Especially those who had followed Tanaka on the night of the main house's extermination—they had now become the most influential figures within the Hyūga clan.

Among them, Homon, Tetsu, and Iroha stood out the most.

Even with the Caged Bird restraining them, they had always possessed the potential of jonin.

Looking at the entire Hyūga clan, aside from Tanaka, they were the most talented individuals of their generation.

Now, not only had they broken free from the Caged Bird, but they also had access to secret taijutsu techniques that were previously reserved exclusively for the main house. While reaching Kage-level might be unlikely, they were at least guaranteed to become elite jonin, with a real chance of reaching a power close to Kage.

At this moment, these rising young stars of the Hyūga clan were all kneeling before a single boy, paying their respects.

And they weren't the only ones.

Another person was also kneeling.

That was none other than the former head of the main house—Hiashi.

"Tanaka-sama, all of the secret taijutsu techniques passed down within the main house are here."

"They have been carefully reviewed and organized by Hizashi-sama and the elders to ensure nothing is missing."

Tetsu placed a stack of scrolls on the table and then respectfully reported to Tanaka.

"You've worked hard, Tetsu. And all of you as well."

Tanaka didn't even glance at the mountain of taijutsu scrolls on the table. Instead, he looked at the three kneeling before him with a warm and appreciative expression.

This was his authority within the Hyūga clan.

With just a single word, all the secret taijutsu techniques of the former main house had been compiled into scrolls and presented before him for his perusal.

"This is our duty."

Seeing the pile of invaluable Hyūga techniques in front of them, yet realizing that Tanaka was more focused on them rather than the scrolls, Homon and the others couldn't help but feel warmth in their hearts. They felt truly valued.

Suddenly, a voice broke the solemn atmosphere.

"Tanaka, I have given you the main house's secret taijutsu techniques as you requested. Now it's time for you to fulfill your promise."

"Give me back my body."

The speaker was "Tokuma," standing to the side. His tone carried not a shred of respect—on the contrary, it was filled with arrogance, as if he were the true head of the Hyūga clan.

"You think the Hyūga clan is still that rotten, decayed family of the past?"

"Allowing a former clan leader guilty of heinous crimes to keep on living is already an act of mercy. Instead of being grateful, you dare to speak rudely to Tanaka-sama?!"

Enraged by Tokuma's disrespectful words, the kneeling "Hiashi" could no longer contain his fury. He immediately stood up and berated him fiercely.

Yes, Tokuma, who had participated in the extermination of the main house, was being disrespectful toward Tanaka.

Meanwhile, Hiashi was wholeheartedly defending Tanaka.

To an outsider, this scene would be utterly bewildering—an unbelievable reversal of roles.

However, to Tetsu, Homon, and Iroha, this was nothing surprising at all.

"I appreciate that you've brought me the Hyūga clan's secret taijutsu techniques," Tanaka said, glancing at Tokuma.

"But I don't like your tone. I promised Hizashi-sensei that I would spare your life. But how you live that life is up to me."

"Spending the rest of your days in a dog cage is life. Living out your years within the Hyūga clan is also life."

"What do you think, Hiashi?"

The moment those words fell, Tokuma's expression changed drastically.

He recalled the not-so-distant past when he had been turned into a dog and kept in a cage by Natsu.

That's right.

He wasn't actually Tokuma—or rather, he was Hiashi trapped inside Tokuma's body.

Meanwhile, the man kneeling reverently before Tanaka, was actually Tokuma inside Hiashi's body.

Their minds and bodies had been swapped by Tanaka using the power of the Op-Op Fruit.

That was why, back in the Hyūga shrine, Hiashi had performed a ceremonial abdication of his position.

And that was also why, just moments ago, Tokuma had spoken rudely to Tanaka while Hiashi had defended him so fiercely.

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