Malphegor
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HGBW: Ch. 52
🕑 Added 2025-03-06 02:12:47 +0000 UTCAfter bringing back a Sea King from the One Piece world and entrusting the carefully cut Sea King meat to his most trusted companion, Natsu, for cooking, Tanaka began his intense training regimen.
Before reunion with Rosinante, he decided not to return to the pirate world and instead followed a strict daily routine.
In the morning, he molded his chakra. In the afternoon, he developed the abilities of the Op-Op Fruit. And in the evening, he practiced the Gentle Fist.
With four meals a day, all consisting of Sea King meat, it was as if he had granted himself a double experience buff.
Whether it was chakra molding, fruit ability development, or Gentle Fist training, this double experience buff provided a significant enhancement.
Additionally, he occasionally sparred with the Hyūga clan's jonin—some specialized in ninjutsu, some in genjutsu, and some were all-rounders.
In just ten days, his overall strength saw a tremendous leap.
Compared to before he brought back the Sea King, his comprehensive power had more than doubled.
One morning, after waking up and enjoying a meal carefully prepared by Natsu—made with Sea King meat, rare medicinal herbs, and premium seasonings—he sat cross-legged as usual and began molding his chakra.
After an hour and a half, he used his Byakugan to observe that his chakra reserves had increased by a few more grams since before training. This gradual but steady progress left him quite satisfied.
That was right.
After ten days of continuously consuming Sea King meat and maintaining his rigorous training, he had extended his chakra molding time from just one hour to an hour and a half.
Although the progress wasn't drastic, small increments over time would accumulate into something astonishing. In just a year or two, the growth would be frightening.
Especially as he grew older and his body matured, his spiritual energy, physical strength, and chakra reserves would all experience an explosive increase.
After molding his chakra, he didn't immediately move on to other training. Instead, he chose to meditate and enter a state of deep concentration.
Once his body and mind had fully recovered, he stood up and headed to the training grounds.
To maintain secrecy, whenever he developed and trained with his Op-Op Fruit abilities, he made sure to clear the training grounds, set up barriers to block sensory techniques and Byakugan surveillance, and ensured that the area was heavily guarded.
Around the training grounds, numerous Hyūga clan members, both in plain sight and hidden, kept a watchful eye.
With so many Byakugan users on guard, it was impossible for anyone to sneak in undetected, whether by flying, burrowing, or using invisibility.
However, just as Tanaka was about to begin training with his fruit abilities, a figure dressed in loose white robes entered the training grounds.
It was none other than Hizashi.
"Tanaka, your training might have to be put on hold today," he said upon arrival.
"It's fine, Hizashi-sensei. Is there something important?"
Tanaka stopped his preparations and showed no sign of frustration at the interruption.
A student knows their teacher best.
He understood his teacher's character well. If it weren't for something truly urgent, Hizashi would never disrupt his training.
After all, ever since the implementation of the Caged Bird, no Hyūga had ever reached Kage-level strength—except for the clan's founding patriarch.
And after more than a century of internal strife between the main and branch houses, the Hyūga clan was more desperate than ever for a Kage-level powerhouse.
In the era of ninja villages, only a clan with a Kage-level powerhouse could speak with authority.
Tanaka was already a guaranteed future Kage-level powerhouse. Naturally, he had become the clan's greatest hope.
Even if it were Hizashi himself, if he interrupted Tanaka's training for no good reason, the clan elders would have him beaten and thrown out.
"The village is holding a high-level meeting. I want you to attend with me."
Hizashi got straight to the point.
"….."
Tanaka was momentarily stunned.
What?
Konoha was holding a high-level meeting, and Hizashi was inviting him to attend?
If he remembered correctly, he was only eight years old this year!
And now, he was supposed to sit in a meeting with a bunch of scheming old foxes?
"You are already part of the high-level leadership."
Hizashi glanced at his student's expression and immediately knew what he was thinking.
"Alright, then."
A glimmer of realization flashed through Tanaka's eyes.
So, I'm already considered high-level leadership.
At that moment, everything clicked for Tanaka.
It made sense after all.
Even though only half a month had passed since he awakened his past-life memories, he was undeniably one of Konoha's top figures now.
He might not hold titles like the Konoha Council, ANBU captain, or jonin commander, but his position as Hyūga's heir was something he had earned through bloodshed—stepping over the corpses of the entire main house.
The Hyūga were one of Konoha's most prestigious clans, and he was their true heir, with unmatched strength and potential.
If he wasn't considered part of Konoha's upper echelon, then barely anyone else in the village could claim that title.
"Normally, ninja clans only have a single clan leader—there's rarely such a thing as an heir. After all, leadership is often based on strength."
As they walked, Hizashi began explaining things to his newly inducted high-ranking student.
"Take the Uchiha clan, for example. Their current leader is Fugaku, but that doesn't mean his son will automatically inherit the position. Even if he has children, they won't be recognized as clan heirs."
"Of course, if his son awakens the Mangekyō Sharingan, that's another story."
Hizashi continued, "Because of certain historical issues… For meetings of this level, the heads of the ninja clans don't attend alone—they always bring a companion."
"First, as a bodyguard, in case of unexpected incidents. Second, as an aide, to assist with note-taking during long discussions."
"For example, my elder brother—when he used to attend meetings at the Hokage building, he would always bring a main house elder with him. Occasionally, he even brought me along."
After Hizashi's explanation, Tanaka understood.
Rather than a privilege for ninja clans, this was more of a defensive measure. It was just a sign of distrust toward Konoha's leadership.
Ever since the Konoha Council took power, they had abandoned the friendly policies established by Hashirama and Tobirama.
Instead, they pursued a full-scale suppression of the major ninja clans.
Just look at what the council did to Tobirama's own Senju clan—they completely wiped them out.
If they could do that to their own teacher's family, then no one could guarantee that attending a "meeting" at the Hokage building wouldn't turn into a death trap instead.
Still, Tanaka was curious—what exactly were these "historical issues" that led to this level of mistrust?
"Uchiha."
Before Tanaka could even ask, Hizashi sensed his curiosity and answered with a single word.
"I see."
A sharp glint flashed in Tanaka's eyes.
That explains everything.
Given the history between the Uchiha and the Senju clan, and their current tensions with the Konoha Council, only a fool would meet with them alone.
Unless they were prepared to have their eyes gouged out at any moment.
Just look at Shisui—he was the perfect example.
