Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 208: Height Determines Perspective, Perspective Determines the Path

Kitsuchi had initially thought they could change the future, but everything had been ruined by Madara!

Now Jigen had already entered Hyuga Fuji's line of sight, and far earlier than what Kitsuchi had experienced in the future.

There was no chance for a comeback anymore...

Glancing at Kitsuchi's expression, Hyuga Fuji spoke words that made his heart sink even further. "Do you think I was unaware of Jigen's existence?"

He knew?

When had he found out?

Jigen had claimed that no White Zetsu had ever monitored him. Hyuga Fuji couldn't possibly have been born with this knowledge, could he?

Kitsuchi's face darkened as he stared at Hyuga Fuji, hoping to catch a flaw in his expression. "You're lying to me!"

Hyuga Fuji shook his head. "What purpose would lying serve? Compared to you all, I'm far more interested in the technology Jigen can bring."

Future technology, Ōtsutsuki technology.

Combining the two could accelerate the ninja world's development.

That aligned perfectly with Hyuga Fuji's vision.

"And among the powerful individuals I'm aware of, the people you could turn to for help upon returning are already limited."

Madara would stubbornly stick to his own plan. Among others, the Sage of Six Paths couldn't interfere right now. That left Jigen and Ōtsutsuki Shinichi as the only viable candidates.

Considering that Jigen was concealing his true identity and motives, he was, in every respect, a safer bet than Shinichi.

After all, Shinichi had utterly ruined the Land of Wind, plundering countless puppets and then abandoning the country to fend for itself, leaving it in shambles. Partnering with someone like him required substantial mental preparation.

"..."

Failing to find any flaws in Hyuga Fuji's demeanor, Kitsuchi felt a growing sense of despair.

The Jigen they had pinned so much hope on had long been within Hyuga Fuji's scope of awareness. Moreover, judging from Hyuga Fuji's words, he seemed to be actively facilitating cooperation between Jigen and the other nations...

What, then, had they even accomplished by coming back?

"There's no need for such a grim expression, Lord Kitsuchi. I've never said that Jigen poses no threat to me. On the contrary, there are a handful of individuals in the ninja world, including him, who could potentially threaten me."

Hyuga Fuji's smile remained. "Without the right amount of pressure, even I might grow complacent."

Kitsuchi's expression soured further. "What is your goal? Why go to such lengths to push the advancement of each nation's technology?"

"A stronger ninja world makes me stronger."

Kitsuchi's eyes twitched. His tone grew heavy. "Isn't that the essence of your Alaya Plan? You've already started preparing for it, haven't you? Creating a collective subconscious for humanity's survival—do you really intend to become something like that?"

Hyuga Fuji didn't answer directly. Instead, he smiled and said, "Chakra can influence emotions, which means peace could theoretically be a technical issue."

"If we could broadcast emotions from a single source of positive chakra to the entire ninja world, it would suppress the birth of malice."

"But doing so would strip humanity of many possibilities. Everything has two sides—many negative emotions are stepping stones for human growth."

Pausing, Hyuga Fuji continued, "But the subconscious is a different matter. If we can influence everyone's subconscious to a certain extent, it would help shape peace and alter the ninja world's atmosphere."

"This subconscious influence would act as a baseline. It wouldn't affect individual personalities; it would simply ensure that people naturally adhered to certain rules."

"Heh," Kitsuchi scoffed, his voice laced with mockery. "But you're the one making the decisions. In that era, you'd essentially be a god. How can I trust that you won't impose something like a rule forbidding rebellion against you?"

"That's why I've given you the opportunity to resist. Otherwise, in this era—while I don't yet have the military strength to rule the entire ninja world—do you think it would be hard for me to eliminate all potential threats?"

The chilling words made Kitsuchi's entire body tense.

Hyuga Fuji shifted the tone of his voice, speaking calmly. "Besides, nations already have laws. I would merely be engraving some of those laws into everyone's minds."

"Behaviors like human trafficking or cannibalism could be completely eradicated, improving the moral quality of humanity across the ninja world."

"The moral quality of the entire ninja world?"

Kitsuchi snapped out of his shock, muttering those words. Suddenly, he realized the fundamental gap between them.

—Perspective!

Height determines perspective, and perspective determines the path.

Hyuga Fuji's goal was the entire ninja world. No matter how difficult the circumstances, that goal remained unchanged.

In contrast, the great nations prioritized regional dominance and self-preservation.

And others acted solely for personal gain.

When laid out this way, the differences in scope and strength were glaringly obvious.

The gap is immense.

Kitsuchi sighed.

Hyuga Fuji had always been focused on the ninja world as a whole, while they were focused on their individual nations. Perspective determined mindset.

In their eyes, Jigen's strengthening of various nations posed a threat to Hyuga Fuji. But to him, it likely meant raising the foundational strength of the entire ninja world—a ninja world that would ultimately belong to him in the future!

At this moment, Kitsuchi was certain: Jigen's early inclusion in the alliance was undoubtedly part of Hyuga Fuji's plan.

At the same time, Kitsuchi realized that their prior fears of Hyuga Fuji completing the Alaya Plan to become an eternal god were completely misguided.

The man before him had a vision far beyond such narrow ambitions.

With this in mind, Kitsuchi couldn't help but ask, "Are you raising the moral quality of the ninja world to leave it behind?"

Claiming it was just for the ninja world's betterment sounded far less plausible than Hyuga Fuji wanting to become an eternal god.

Hyuga Fuji replied, "Of course. The moon, the faraway stars—when the ninja world has accumulated enough resources, it's only natural to explore beyond. And once we've ventured out, internal conflict would be laughable."

He added nonchalantly, "For now, I don't mind the fighting. War drives technological development and has its uses.

"But once we leave the ninja world and step into the stars, we'll need to stand united. If we're still dragging each other down and scheming against one another at that point, what's the point of unification?"

Completing the Alaya Plan would raise the baseline quality of humanity and eliminate certain internal conflicts at the subconscious level, paving the way for leaving the ninja world.

This plan was non-negotiable.

"Lord Kitsuchi, is it not tiresome to bicker in such a small pond, in such a tiny corner of the world?"

"..."

Kitsuchi stared into Hyuga Fuji's calm eyes, his expression complicated.

After speaking with him, Kitsuchi could faintly see the outline of a grand plan.

Abolish the one-nation, one-village system. Throw outdated practices into the trash.

Nations fight one another, fostering the rise of powerful individuals and advanced technology.

Complete the Alaya Plan, unify hearts and minds, and step beyond the ninja world.

Hyuga Fuji's goal had always been in plain sight.

But no one had considered it, nor dared to.

While others focused on gaining more benefits within the ninja world, Hyuga Fuji worked to raise its collective strength, preparing to escape this small world. He might have even accounted for enemies beyond the ninja world.

The gap in perspective was so vast that no one could comprehend it.

Did those predecessors sense Hyuga Fuji's goal, and is that why they followed him?

Recalling Tobirama and others, Kitsuchi fell into deep thought.

(End of Chapter)

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