Malphegor
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HGBW: Ch. 75
🕑 Added 2025-03-08 01:16:23 +0000 UTC"It was so difficult to escape from the cage, yet now, I'm about to step into another one."
Facing Hizashi's continuous praise, Tanaka glanced at the Konoha forehead protector in his hand but did not put it on his forehead.
"Another cage?"
Upon hearing this, Hizashi was momentarily stunned, then his gaze fell upon the Konoha forehead protector in the other's hand.
"Don't you think it looks similar, Hizashi-sensei?"
"In my view, the Konoha forehead protector is the second cage placed on the heads of the Hyūga clan."
Tanaka's words were shocking.
"Tanaka, watch your words."
Hizashi's expression changed drastically upon hearing this.
Was this something that could be said out in the open?
Such words could only be spoken within the Hyūga clan's territory!
"Don't worry, Besides you and me, no third person will hear this."
Seeing Hizashi's extremely cautious demeanor, Tanaka couldn't help but chuckle.
The Konoha of the Second Great Ninja War was not the same as the Konoha of the Twelve Guardian Ninja era.
At this moment, the entire Konoha was covered by a barrier. Whether in the streets and alleys or within the clans, they were all under surveillance by ANBU and Root.
Sensor-type ninjas were everywhere.
Understanding how strong Konoha was now, whenever he talked about sensitive topics, Tanaka would first activate ROOM to confine the sound within its range.
"Let's talk when we get back."
Even though Hizashi had witnessed Tanaka's ability to isolate sound, he still did not dare to discuss such topics in broad daylight on the streets of Konoha.
Tanaka just smiled at that.
The two stopped talking and walked side by side.
Because the Hyūga clan had recently undergone too many changes, they were lost in their own thoughts.
Twenty more days... Rosinante will arrive at Minion Island.
For now, I'll focus on developing the Op-Op Fruit and training in Gentle Fist. Once I obtain Haki, I'll attempt to train in the Eight Gates.
Tanaka highly valued the Eight Gates.
In his heart, this forbidden technique was second only to the Op-Op Fruit.
However, considering the dangers of the Eight Gates Released Formation... plus the fact that his body hadn't even reached puberty yet, let alone its peak, he didn't plan to start training in it immediately.
Instead, he would focus on research and theoretical learning.
Ideally, he could use Tsunade's knowledge, experience, and medical ninja expertise to his advantage. With these skills, combined with the Op-Op Fruit and the Byakugan, he would be able to fine-tune the Eight Gates.
Even if he couldn't completely eliminate its side effects, he would at least ensure that the backlash from opening the gates remained within a controllable range.
As for Sea King meat, aside from providing it exclusively to Hizashi-sensei, Natsu, and the others, it will also be open to the Hyūga clan. However, strict regulations must be in place.
From the chefs who cook it, to its transportation, and finally to the clan members consuming it—everything must be strictly monitored.
If done right, before the war resurfaces, the overall strength of the Hyūga clan will have improved significantly.
Although the current Hyūga clan was essentially under his and Hizashi's control, and no one would dare to object to this decision, he understood the responsibilities that came with power.
Having just invested half of the Hyūga clan's wealth into Tsunade, even if Hizashi praised him and fully supported the decision, as a future leader, he couldn't just keep taking from the clan without giving back.
Sea King meat was the best way to give back to the Hyūga.
Normally, whether it was the Uchiha or the Hyūga, their upper limit was elite jonin or higher—the first through awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, and the latter through evolving the Byakugan.
Unless one was an exception like Madara or Hashirama, who were essentially reincarnations of the Sage of Six Paths' sons, elite jonin was the limit.
Don't be fooled into thinking that the members of major bloodline clans only could reach this level. Elite jonin actually formed the backbone of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. But unlike civilian or non-bloodline ninjas, they had a higher base level.
For the Uchiha, as long as one awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan and trained seriously, they were guaranteed to reach jonin before 25 and elite jonin before 30.
In other words, for an Uchiha with three-tomoe Sharingan, elite jonin was both their limit and their baseline.
The same applied to the Hyūga. Without the Caged Bird restricting them, if they develop the Byakugan and train in secret Hyūga techniques, they are guaranteed to reach jonin before 25 and elite jonin before 30.
Now, if you add Sea King meat to the mix, it would provide a significant advantage to the Hyūga. With their specialization in Gentle Fist, the Byakugan, and taijutsu, their limit would no longer be just elite jonin.
Take Hizashi as an example.
Coming from the branch house and never having learned secret clan techniques, he still managed to reach jonin solely through talent and personal effort. If he had access to secret techniques and the enhancement of Sea King meat, he wouldn't just stop at elite jonin level, he might even be able to challenge actual Kage-level strength.
In other words, with Sea King meat, the Hyūga clan would never lack elite jonin in the future.
The Hyūga's limit would no longer be elite jonin—it would rise to close to Kage-level.
Tanaka, having personally consumed Sea King meat, understood its effects better than anyone.
Especially considering that the meat he ate came from a small Sea King. If, in the future, large Sea Kings become a staple in the Hyūga diet…
Reaching Kage-level for every member might be unrealistic, but above elite jonin? That would be completely achievable.
---
Even with the missions at the Hokage Building, the Hyūga clan can still muster around 150 available shinobi.
100 of them will be sent to Lady Tsunade to learn medical ninjutsu, while 50 will stay to guard the clan and maintain daily operations.
The number of clan members… is barely enough.
Hizashi carefully calculated every available clan member, making sure each one was used efficiently, yet he still felt the manpower was insufficient.
If only Tanaka had been born a few years earlier, before the outbreak of the Second Great Ninja War. Back then, the Hyūga clan had nearly a thousand members.
Thinking about how the war had halved their numbers, his heart ached.
Especially after just learning in the meeting room that Sakumo had committed suicide.
Hizashi had no doubt... Once news of the White Fang's death spread across the shinobi world, the Four Great Nations would definitely stir. Suna and Kumo, in particular, would not remain idle.
By then, the war that should have ended would inevitably reignite.
And what path should the Hyūga take?
This was where Tanaka and Hizashi differed.
For the upcoming war, the former was ambitious, carefully planning his strategies, while the latter felt powerless, merely going along with the tides.
The two walked in silence, deep in thought, until the gates of the Hyūga estate came into view, pulling them back to reality.
"Orochimaru-sama, we've arrived."
Tanaka suddenly halted at the entrance, speaking without turning his head.
"Orochimaru-sama?"
Hizashi, who had already stepped into the compound, tensed upon hearing this. Lost in his thoughts, and with Tanaka staying silent, he had instinctively deactivated his Byakugan.
Now, alerted by Tanaka's words, he reflexively reactivated it.
"Nothing?"
Scanning his surroundings, he initially saw no trace of Orochimaru. But then, as a sudden realization struck him, he quickly directed his gaze downward.
What he saw made his blood run cold.
Directly beneath the ground where they were standing... about 30 meters deep, was a familiar figure.
As if sensing his gaze, the hidden Orochimaru slowly tilted his head upward.
It was as if he was staring directly at Hizashi, through layers of earth and stone.
