Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 190: This World Operates by the Will of the Powerful

"And how did he achieve that? Through his strength!"

Hyuga Fuji answered his own question: "Whether it's you, me, or Senju Hashirama, all we've ever done is use our power to force the world to operate according to our will!"

"This world is shaped by those who hold power, not by those who win hearts and minds. It has always operated according to the will of the strong!"

"You're dissatisfied with the future I created and want to change everything using your strength. That alone proves that you want the world to conform to your will, Naruto."

If one was satisfied, they would not interfere.

But if dissatisfied, even returning to the past to erase that future seemed justified.

That was no different from Hyuga Fuji's own actions.

Both sought to control the future with their own strength. In fact, Naruto and his allies' actions were even more extreme—going so far as to return to the past to negate everything. From this perspective, they had no right to criticize him.

"We didn't seek anyone's opinion or care about their will. We decided the direction of the world's future unilaterally, imposing our own desires on it with our strength."

Hyuga Fuji stared at Naruto, whose eyes widened as he stared back in shock. Calmly, he continued: "The man you revere, Senju Hashirama, also tried to force his vision of peace on the entire world. But as you've seen, when he died, that peace disappeared. And yet you want to follow the same path as him."

On top of the giant Buddha, Kitsuchi noticed the shifting expression on Naruto's face and quickly raised a hand to block in front of him. "Naruto, don't listen to him. Our thoughts and his can never align."

Though he himself couldn't fully understand Naruto's ideals—some of which seemed absurd to him—Naruto was still his teammate and a necessary force to change this era. He couldn't allow Hyuga Fuji to sway him.

Naruto snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at the future Kitsuchi beside him without responding.

"Naruto? Naruto!"

Seeing that Naruto still hadn't reacted, Kitsuchi tried to assert authority. "Don't forget the mission! I'm the captain right now, and you just need to follow my orders. Don't overthink it. Take down Hyuga Fuji—he might not be your match in his current state!"

Kitsuchi thought invoking his authority as captain would snap Naruto out of it, but what the Konoha ninja muttered under his breath almost made him explode with frustration.

"But if I use my power to force others to accept my views, doesn't that make me the same as him? Doesn't that mean I'm no different from Hyuga Fuji?"

Naruto murmured, his voice trembling.

Due to his lineage and talent, Naruto had always lived a relatively smooth life without facing significant setbacks.

The power of Wood Release and the Nine-Tails had allowed him to overcome countless challenges. Thinking back, he realized he had never once persuaded someone with opposing views without defeating them first.

No matter how noble his intentions sounded, wasn't he just imposing his ideals on the weaker party?

Kitsuchi wanted to yell that Naruto was indeed that kind of person—that most strong ninjas in the ninja world operated this way. But afraid that Naruto wouldn't be able to handle it, he softened his words: "Not everyone can understand each other. You and Hyuga Fuji are just that kind of mismatch."

"…"

Naruto remained silent, staring at Kitsuchi's expression.

What truly crushed him wasn't Hyuga Fuji's words.

It was the realization that, for the first time, when he expressed his true beliefs, none of his comrades supported him.

To his left, Captain Kitsuchi was speaking in circles, refusing to directly validate his ideals. He had even shown an awkward expression earlier.

To his right, Kakashi and the other Konoha ninjas looked at him with strange eyes, offering no approval at all.

And in front of him, Hyuga Fuji and his subordinates watched him coldly, unshaken.

Naruto couldn't understand. Where was the flaw in his values?

The nations of Fire, Lightning, and Earth had indeed set aside their hatred!

As if seeing through Naruto's thoughts, Hyuga Fuji floated into the air, meeting Naruto's gaze from atop the Buddha. "You claim the three great nations have come to understand each other? Yet on this battlefield, it's the nations of Lightning and Earth helping the Wind Nation. And the reason? Because the Fire Nation is too strong. So, why did your three nations unite in the future?"

Because Hyuga Fuji was too strong.

Everyone understood this truth. Even Naruto couldn't refute it—the initial reason the three nations allied was to oppose Hyuga Fuji.

Otherwise, why would they have come here?

But to admit that the alliance was formed out of fear of Hyuga Fuji, out of external pressure, would invalidate all the efforts made for peace.

Naruto took a deep breath. "Perhaps my explanation is flawed, but your ideology is nothing but twisted logic!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Naruto chose not to argue further—or rather, he dared not listen to Hyuga Fuji's words anymore.

Just as his comrades had warned him, Hyuga Fuji's words were like the whispers of a devil, designed to corrupt. This was a man who had tempted thousands to abandon the Land of Fire and even earned the loyalty of several Kage. He couldn't allow himself to be swayed.

Naruto resolved to leave this debate for another time, in the future, where he would have the chance to prove his beliefs.

With that thought, the giant Buddha beneath him began to move. The ground shook as hundreds of massive wooden arms surged toward Hyuga Fuji.

"So, you've chosen to feign ignorance?"

Hyuga Fuji chuckled softly and shook his head. A flash of green light appeared in his eyes as massive spatial portals materialized—one before him and another above Naruto's head.

"!!!"

Naruto's attack, just inches from striking Hyuga Fuji, now emerged from the portal above him, narrowly missing his ally Kitsuchi.

Kitsuchi's face turned pale as he realized how close he'd come to being crushed by his comrade's own technique.

"Spatial Dojutsu…"

Naruto glanced at the portal above him, cold sweat running down his back as he stared at Hyuga Fuji.

He had momentarily forgotten that while Hyuga Fuji wasn't as strong as his future self, he was far from powerless against the Buddha.

"If this were the True Several Thousand Hands, I might be concerned. But this diluted version of Wood Release? Surely you can do better."

Compared to the True Several Thousand Hands of Senju Hashirama or Asura, Naruto's Buddha was significantly weaker.

Hyuga Fuji knew the reason—the lack of sufficient chakra.

Hashirama's chakra rivaled that of the full Nine-Tails, and Asura's was even greater. Compared to them, Naruto's innate chakra reserves fell short.

But given that Naruto's Asura chakra had been awakened through Hyuga Fuji's own research theories, he should have gained more than just Wood Release. After all, Asura had inherited much more due to the Sage of Six Paths' favoritism…

Watching Naruto silently maneuver his Buddha for another assault, Hyuga Fuji's eyes gleamed.

Naruto concentrated fully on controlling the Buddha, directing attacks from multiple angles to avoid all the arms falling prey to the spatial portals.

Kitsuchi, meanwhile, used a communicator to send a message. Noticing two figures rapidly approaching from a distance, he smiled in relief and decided to join the battle.

"Don't forget about us! Earth Release…"

But before he could finish, Hyuga Fuji's cold gaze swept over him. Kitsuchi froze, and in the next instant, his body was sent flying through the air, crashing into the ground with a thud.

(End of Chapter)

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