Chapter 88: Seeing the Future Again
"Sir, those Konoha ninjas seem very familiar with our Chamber of Commerce."
"The leader, Hyuga Hizashi, said he's seen you before—he even described your appearance clearly. I had to use our Chamber's secret protocols and come up with an excuse to cover it up."
"Also, I don't think we can keep viewing an ancient clan like the Hyuga as just ordinary ninjas. They're clearly business-savvy. They even offered multiple suggestions for the development plan you drafted..."
...
Everything was blurry.
No context. No transition.
Only a vision.
Ryosuke stood under the bright sun, on a stretch of green lawn, staring blankly at the three men in front of him.
One of them was Gato—the same Gato he met in the Land of Waves.
The second was a short, overweight man reclining under a large parasol. He wore black sunglasses and looked elderly, with gray hair and a bloated frame that made it seem like he might crush the lounge chair beneath him.
A maid stood beside him, tending to his needs, while Gato stood nearby, giving a report.
"So that's how it is?" the fat man murmured, swirling a cigar between his fingers. "Seems I shouldn't be showing my face anymore. Very well—I'll leave all affairs concerning the Land of Waves in your hands."
He turned his head slightly, staring at Gato with a sharp gaze. Despite his leisurely appearance, there was undeniable authority in his voice.
"This plan is vital. If we can pull off this business alliance, our Shipping Chamber of Commerce won't just be another merchant group anymore."
"With the protection of shinobi and our business acumen, we could create something unprecedented—a business empire. A nation run by merchants."
He leaned forward slightly, the cigar glowing faintly.
"I'm giving this task to you. That means I respect your ability. But remember—two competitors are eyeing your position. If you want the name Gato to be yours for real, you can't afford a single mistake. Do you understand?"
...
Back in reality.
Ryosuke lay in a guest bedroom inside a wooden seaside villa. The sound of the ocean breeze drifted in through the window. It was a beautiful setting, but the moment felt heavy—like a dream he couldn't quite shake off.
His head throbbed faintly as he woke up. It wasn't the kind of restful sleep that left him refreshed.
Knock, knock, knock—
Someone rapped on the door.
"Ryosuke, time to get up. We've got fifteen minutes before we head back to the village," came Hyuga Hizashi's voice.
Still groggy, Ryosuke rubbed his temples and forced himself upright. "Yeah, I'm up," he replied.
He got out of bed, quietly assessing his physical state.
There was no doubt about it—he had seen another vision of the future in his sleep. Just like before, it had happened unconsciously, without any trigger he could identify.
That was the frustrating part. He couldn't control it. He couldn't choose whose future he wanted to see. The ability came and went like a storm he couldn't predict.
Still foggy-minded, he headed to the bathroom.
As he stared at his reflection in the mirror, a pale and exhausted version of himself stared back. His eyes looked sunken, his skin dull. Not good.
Seeing the future drains vitality. That much he'd learned the hard way.
"Gato..." he muttered under his breath.
The scene from his dream played back in his mind. The man under the parasol—the real Gato. That short man in black sunglasses.
From their conversation, it seemed the vision wasn't of some far-off future. It was something that would happen shortly after Ryosuke left.
And from the setting, Gato wasn't in the Land of Waves. Judging by the luxury and coastal environment, the most likely place was the Land of Hot Springs—a country known for its booming entertainment industry. A favorite destination for wealthy nobles and businessmen to indulge and relax.
But... seeing Gato's future didn't actually matter much to Ryosuke.
Whether the man in the Land of Waves was the real Gato or not—it didn't change his objective.
What mattered was the plan.
If this multinational alliance based on shared interests succeeded, the entire ninja world would undergo a seismic shift. Other major powers would likely follow suit, forming alliances of their own.
And that would change everything.
Wars would become much harder to start. Any conflict would threaten the shared profits of the alliance, which meant entire nations couldn't be mobilized on a whim like they could now.
Even the Akatsuki would have a hard time throwing the world into chaos.
The timeline was already off-track. Completely broken from the original.
Originally, the entire plot followed Naruto's growth. But now? Naruto graduated early. Sasuke's story would have to change too. Nothing was guaranteed.
Ryosuke didn't know if he'd have the time he needed to grow strong enough. If the final war broke out too early—before he was ready—he doubted they'd even be able to seal Kaguya again.
So he had to take matters into his own hands.
Buy time. Change the future.
After finishing his routine, Ryosuke stepped outside, fully dressed and composed. The rest of the Hyuga team was already waiting.
The weather was perfect—sunny, breezy—but Ryosuke's mood didn't match. He was exhausted, inside and out.
Of course, he didn't let it show.
"Master Ryosuke, did you not sleep well?" asked a soft voice.
It was Hoshicai, walking toward him with concern etched across his face. He'd barely left his side since the mission began.
From a short distance, Hyuga Hizashi observed Ryosuke closely. He stepped forward, frowning. "Is this because of yesterday's ability?" he asked, his tone vague but knowing.
Hizashi believed Ryosuke's power was a secret Byakugan ability—something only he understood.
In truth, there was one other person who knew the truth.
Hoshisai.
"I'm fine. Let's move," Ryosuke replied, brushing off their concern.
He didn't like being the center of attention. It made him feel exposed.
But despite his attempts to downplay everything, all eyes were on him.
Every Hyuga, every merchant, and even Gato, who had come to see them off, had their attention locked on him.
Gato, in particular, looked curious.
He hadn't paid Ryosuke much mind during the meeting yesterday—Hyuga Hizashi's performance had been so dominant that Gato only remembered him.
But today, something was different.
Gato noticed how the rest of the Hyuga subtly shielded Ryosuke, always placing him in the safest positions.
They tried to hide it, of course, but from the way they moved—how they sat, how they stood—it was clear.
They were protecting this boy.
And that told Gato everything he needed to know.
Ryosuke... wasn't ordinary.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Check my Pâtreon for (40) advanced chapters
Pâtreon .com/Fanficlord03
Change (â) to (a)
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Discord Link Here:
https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9