A Hyūga's Gate Between Worlds

"Four hours to exterminate an entire clan?"

When Natsu heard these words, her eyes contracted sharply, and she felt a chill spread from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

Such a thing should have been considered impossible in her understanding. Yet, coming from Tanaka's mouth, she couldn't help but believe that the boy who had saved her from dire straits might actually be capable of it.

"Is that... possible?"

Hizashi also felt his scalp go numb upon hearing it.

The main house had 35 members—they weren't just 35 noobs to be slaughtered.

As a jonin and a master of the Byakugan, he had already seen through the situation.

Whether it was a space-time ninjutsu similar to the Flying Thunder God, a sword technique capable of cutting through even the Revolving Heaven, or a technique that could swap minds and bodies—each of these abilities placed a significant burden on Tanaka.

They didn't consume chakra, but they were highly exhausting physically.

If the main house remained unaware of the Op-Op Fruit, Tanaka might be able to handle five or more jonin before his stamina ran out.

However, if the main house learned about the Op-Op Fruit and formulated countermeasures, the situation would become even more dire.

"How many people are in the main house?" Tanaka asked instead of answering. This was of course a rhetoric question.

"28 are capable of fighting. In total, 35." Hizashi replied without hesitation.

"And the branch house?" Tanaka continued.

"Including the three of us, a total of 382."

As the head of the branch house, Hizashi naturally knew the numbers by heart.

"Hizashi-sensei, between removing the Caged Bird from 382 people and killing 35 people, which do you think would take less time?"

"In four hours, which one would be easier to accomplish?"

Tanaka looked at Hizashi.

"..."

Hizashi opened his mouth but remained silent.

382 people.

Even if, in the next four hours, the entire main house were blinded, allowing the 382 members of the branch house to line up and have their Caged Bird removed, there still wouldn't be enough time.

Not to mention, he was well aware that removing the Caged Bird would also consume Tanaka's stamina.

For an eight-year-old child, such a strain was simply unbearable.

And sure enough—

"Hizashi-sensei, to be honest, removing a single Caged Bird isn't much easier than killing someone like Hiashi."

Tanaka shook his head.

He had already compared the two: using the Op-Op Fruit to defeat Hiashi or to remove a single Caged Bird—the stamina consumption was at most twice as much.

In other words, the energy required to defeat one Hiashi was only enough to remove two Caged Birds.

And if he had to face five opponents at Hiashi's level simultaneously, his stamina would be completely depleted.

The Op-Op Fruit was, ultimately, a massive drain on stamina.

Or rather, he was simply not like Kaido or Big Mom—those monstrous beings born with immense physical strength.

At just eight years old and having consumed the Op-Op Fruit for less than a day, where would he get the stamina to waste so recklessly?

That being said, the Op-Op Fruit consumed only stamina, not chakra. But his ability to cut down jonin instantly, treating the main house's leader like a mere cake, was entirely due to the fruit's overwhelming power.

Once his stamina ran out and only chakra remained, he would instantly revert from a jonin-slaying powerhouse to an ordinary chunin.

At best, an elite chunin.

That level of strength was nothing special among the branch house.

Once the main house is dealt with, I must go to the One Piece world and obtain Life Return, Tanaka made a silent vow to himself.

The Op-Op Fruit didn't rely on mental energy, chakra, or Haki—it only drained stamina.

And if one wanted to increase their stamina, it required years of training and battles. However, if it was just about accelerating stamina recovery, that was a much simpler task.

The ultimate answer lies in the combination of Life Return and Sea King meat from the One Piece world.

They were the perfect partners for the Op-Op Fruit.

Especially Life Return.

One of CP9's members, Wanze, could use Life Return to rapidly digest food within seconds and absorb its nutrients.

In Tanaka's view, as long as he had food made from Sea King meat and mastered Life Return, even if the Op-Op Fruit drained him completely, he could restore his stamina in a very short time.

There was no need to learn the all types of Haki from the One Piece world, nor the swordsmanship that could split the heavens and earth—but Life Return was a must.

If stamina couldn't keep up and growth was slow, then the best solution was to maximize the recovery speed first.

"Do you have a plan?"

Hizashi looked at Tanaka. Seeing his composed and calm demeanor, completely free of anxiety or panic, he felt much more at ease.

"He is the best tool to help us wipe out the entire main house." Tanaka smirked slightly and glanced at Hiashi, who, after having his mind swapped with that of a small dog, was now crouching on the ground, panting with his tongue out like an actual dog.

Before Hizashi could ask, Tanaka had already raised his kunai and swung it down.

"ROOM · Amputate."

The moment the blade fell, Hiashi's face was sliced off and floated mid-air.

"You're planning to swap my face with my brother's!"

Hizashi's pupils shrank as he instantly grasped Tanaka's plan.

Paralyzed by Natsu's acupuncture, Hiashi also realized Tanaka's cruel scheme. Yet, he could only widen his eyes in rage and regret—powerless to do anything.

"That's right."

Tanaka nodded slightly.

Since he could swap Hiashi's mind with a dog's, he could naturally swap Hiashi's face with Hizashi's.

This was the terrifying nature of the Op-Op Fruit.

Whether it was swapping minds or transplanting limbs and organs, everything fused seamlessly without any rejection.

It was as if it had always been that way.

I see now. So this is why, upon returning to the Hyūga clan, his first move was to go after my brother.

Not even hatred could cloud his judgment?

Hizashi was utterly shocked.

At first, he thought Tanaka was simply young and impulsive, unable to endure any grievances, which was why he insisted on attacking the main house tonight—striking down Hiashi first, the very person who had branded him with the Caged Bird.

But now, he finally understood, from the moment Tanaka decided to exterminate the Hyūga main house, he had already formulated a complete strategy.

And it was a strategy made with a clear mind, without being blinded by rage or vengeance.

A cold, calculated plan to bring about the collapse of the main house.

Then, executing it step by step.

Starting by taking down Hiashi.

Not out of hatred, but because he was the key to making the plan work.

Only by taking control of the clan leader could they ensure that the main house would be pushed into irreversible ruin in a single night.

Had this been an elite jonin with experience in war, Hizashi might have simply been impressed rather than utterly shocked.

But Tanaka was only eight years old.

He wasn't even an adult yet—he hadn't even stepped onto a battlefield.

Perhaps... this is fate!

If my brother had broken the rules and not branded Tanaka with the Caged Bird, neither he nor the main house would be facing this catastrophe. But instead, everything happening today... is the main house's own doing.

The one who destroyed the main house was not Tanaka, but their own arrogance.

These thoughts filled Hizashi's mind.

At that moment, his resolve became even firmer.

When the heavens bestow an opportunity, failing to seize it invites disaster.

He understood this principle well.

Since the fate had sent Tanaka to the branch house, he had to grasp this opportunity.

Just as his brother Hiashi often said: Everything is for the Hyūga clan.