NOVEL WEB Chapter 15: Chapter 15
Among all the clans present, the Uchiha and Hyuga reacted the most strongly.
The Hyuga clan head's eyes flickered, brows tightly knit like a twisted rope, but soon his expression relaxed again.
Uchiha Madara remained expressionless, unmoved by the revelation, but young Uchiha Kitajima couldn't contain his reaction. Shocked, the boy was practically bouncing on the spot, his fingers trembling with disbelief.
"C-Clan Leader… Another dojutsu bloodline limit!" he stammered.
Madara gave him a flat look and said nothing. His silence left Kitajima stunned and embarrassed. The boy eventually quieted down, though inside he couldn't stop thinking:
"What is the Clan Leader even thinking? How can he be this calm in a situation like this?"
After Haru Hoshikawa awakened the Eye of Time, his perception expanded dramatically — as though someone had ripped away a veil from the world. Every subtle movement around him became as clear as day. He scanned the area carefully, then his eyes landed on a specific spot on the ground. A faint smirk curled at the edge of his lips.
"Got you," he muttered.
With that, he raised his palm and spun it outward in a circular motion. A radiant burst of blue light rippled from his hand.
Gasps filled the air. The crowd that had moments earlier buzzed with murmurs fell completely silent, stunned by the sudden surge of power.
"Stop," Haru Hoshikawa said softly but clearly. He then formed hand seals with practiced ease and began to sink into the ground.
Earth Style – Hiding Like a Mole Technique.
This was the same jutsu Hideki Senju had used to disappear beneath the battlefield. But Haru not only knew it — he mastered it far beyond Hideki's level.
Moments later, the earth rumbled.
Two figures erupted from the ground and landed firmly on their feet — one standing, one limp in his arms.
Haru gently placed Hideki down and casually walked toward Hashirama, his breathing calm but his posture noticeably fatigued.
In any other situation, someone might have scolded him for acting so relaxed. But right now, no one said a word. They were still processing what had just happened.
Hideki lay like a mannequin, stiff and unmoving, though oddly, his lips curled into a smug smile — making the scene even stranger.
The older clan leaders, however, quickly saw through it.
Yamanaka Kyosuke finally broke the silence, his voice thick with shock and awe.
"This… This is… A space-time bloodline limit?!"
He blinked as though trying to convince himself he wasn't hallucinating.
There was disbelief in his voice. Why? Because nowhere in the ninja world had there ever been mention of a space-time kekkei genkai.
As the weight of his words sank in, the crowd collectively sucked in a breath.
Even Elder Naoki — who had previously been full of confidence — was speechless.
"I-It's impossible… This can't be real!"
His voice was barely a whisper, but no one dared to challenge the possibility now.
Uchiha Madara narrowed his eyes, his expression serious, even slightly intrigued.
"Space-time, huh…" he muttered. "I wonder how it compares to my Sharingan."
He wasn't dismissive — on the contrary, those three simple words had stirred a fighting spirit in him.
The term space-time wasn't just a fancy phrase — it held weight in the shinobi world. Even the Flying Thunder God Technique created by Tobirama only scratched the surface of the space domain, without even touching time.
The clan leaders understood this. The younger shinobi, meanwhile, could only stand there in awe.
No one felt this shift more than the Uchiha and Hyuga.
Uchiha Kitajima managed to keep it together thanks to Madara's composed presence.
But Hinata Sho from the Hyuga clan looked visibly shaken. As a veteran, he knew the limits of the Byakugan — excellent for surveillance and perception, yes — but nowhere near the strategic potential of time-space manipulation.
Hashirama grinned ear-to-ear and gave Haru a thumbs up.
"Well done."
He could barely contain his relief. He'd been thoroughly annoyed when Elder Naoki demanded this duel in front of everyone. But now, with Haru's complete dominance on full display, Hashirama felt vindicated.
"In a word: satisfying."
Hideki, meanwhile, snapped back to reality only a few seconds after being laid down.
"Wh—What the hell…? You—Why are you over there?!"
He had no idea what had just happened. Moments ago, he was underground, creeping toward Haru. Then, in the blink of an eye, something disconnected. The next thing he knew, he was on the surface, frozen in place.
"How…?" he thought in a panic. "What did he do?!"
Haru didn't bother explaining. He simply turned away, uninterested.
Naoki approached silently. Seeing his grandson's confusion and fear, he looked toward Haru with a deeply conflicted expression, then let out a long sigh and gently led Hideki away.
As the reality of his loss set in, Hideki's eyes reflected a raw and unfamiliar emotion — fear.
Not of pain or humiliation, but of power — true power. Power he couldn't understand.
"Elder Naoki," Hashirama said warmly, though his words had a bite of irony. "Hideki has remarkable talent. To have reached that level at his age is no small feat."
On paper, it sounded like praise. But Naoki could taste the subtle condescension. His expression darkened, and after a long pause, he bowed his head slightly.
"Hokage-sama has great vision. I… was out of line."
Hashirama let out a hearty laugh. "Well then, I suppose this little competition is settled."
He turned his attention back to the clan leaders. His smile returned — friendly, but firm.
"Let's not forget… the real business is just getting started."
His words immediately sobered the mood. The clan leaders exchanged serious glances.
The youthful crowd remained rooted to the spot, not sure whether to stay or leave.
Haru looked over at the other kids, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"Oh, that must be Nara Shikaku's father. Looks just like him."
"And that one? He's gotta be Uchiha Fugaku's dad. That grumpy face is unmistakable."
"The Hyuga, the Yamanaka, the Akimichi, the Sarutobi…"
"Huh. Practically every major clan in Konoha is here."
Haru, though technically the youngest in the group, studied them all like a teacher grading a classroom. The irony was completely lost on him.
Meanwhile, back at the Konoha Council chamber, the atmosphere had grown heavy.
What they had just witnessed wasn't just a flashy display — it was a message.
A calculated, surgical show of force.
And everyone in that room — political veterans, clan heads, and strategists — knew exactly what it meant.
Hashirama looked around, let the silence stretch, then cleared his throat.
"All right, time to get serious. Konoha has existed for five years now, but our structure is a mess. Overlapping responsibilities, unclear authority — it's becoming unmanageable."
His gaze sharpened.
"I've heard reports of clans getting into physical fights over turf and duties."
Hashirama may have had a kind heart and an open smile, but he wasn't naive. When it came to protecting the foundation of Konoha, he could be absolutely ruthless.
His words were calm, but everyone in the room understood the warning.
Some of the more aggressive smaller clans squirmed in their seats — though none dared to speak.
Then, as if tossing a stone into still water, Hashirama turned to Elder Naoki.
"Elder Naoki, surely you agree this reflects the current state of things?"
Caught off guard, Naoki looked up, only to find Hashirama's penetrating gaze bearing down on him like a weight.
"S-Surely… I do," Naoki stammered, sweat forming on his brow.
He realized instantly what was happening — Hashirama was using him as a political scapegoat. After pushing so hard for the duel earlier, it was only natural that Hashirama would strike back now.
Naoki lowered his head, effectively conceding.
Hashirama smirked slightly, then shifted his gaze to the rest of the room.
In that moment, the aura of the God of Shinobi fully emerged.
It wasn't about yelling or threats — it was the overwhelming pressure of a man who could back up every word with unstoppable force.
And all the clan leaders felt it — down to their bones.