Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Game
Chapter 216: Game
The time-space gate could remain, but certain conditions had to be met.
It was suspected that the requirement was to launch a successful attack on the gate within a specific time limit.
This offensive seemed like a test, one meant to prove that the world it appeared in was worthy of connecting with others.
Once someone passed this test and obtained qualification and permission, the gate would stay permanently at its location.
It would no longer disappear.
Everyone who passed through a certified time-space gate would find rules about it automatically engraved in their minds, like memories forcibly implanted deep within.
And those who traveled to other worlds through the gate would gain the ability to reawaken it, allowing them to return to their original world.
It was no longer a one-way journey with no path home.
This was all the information Shanks had shared. Still, he admitted he couldn’t confirm its truth, as he had never personally traveled to another world through a gate where he had earned such authority.
The gate he encountered had stopped at the Navy Headquarters, the sworn enemies of pirates.
But that gate was now tightly controlled by the World Government and the Marines.
He had no opportunity to approach it, let alone investigate further.
---
"A world full of warriors... a world of celestial beings who’ve explored beyond their own planet?"
Late at night, the living room was eerily silent.
No servants from the Saki family mansion dared approach.
Two young masters of the Hyuga clan were inside. Who would be so foolish as to try eavesdropping? That would be a death wish.
Sitting opposite Ryosuke and the others, Shanks scratched his head helplessly.
"It seems there really are countless worlds tied to these time-space gates. I don’t even know if I’ll ever get the chance to return to my own world."
His voice remained composed, but worry lingered in his eyes.
If he couldn’t return...
He didn’t dare let the thought fester.
What would become of the Red Hair Pirates without their captain? What fate awaited his comrades?
---
"That sounds... a lot like a game!"
Unlike the nostalgic Shanks, Ryosuke was energized.
"But the rules of this ’game’ seem pretty unfair. Some worlds don’t value individual power. If they don’t have someone like Whitebeard who can just punch the gate into staying, then they’ll never qualify to reach other worlds. They’d have to just accept things passively."
The fog that had weighed down Ryosuke’s mind for days began to clear.
The news Shanks brought felt like a remedy. It dulled the constant inner voice that asked whether he was truly the "protagonist" of his own story.
For a while now, he had felt as if someone, something, was targeting him. As if an invisible hand guided his fate, pushing him down a path he didn’t choose.
He began to question everything.
His identity.
His past.
Even the very reality around him.
But now, it wasn’t just him.
It wasn’t just the Shinobi World being invaded.
Even the Pirate World had already been pulled into the game.
Maybe they were just lucky to have qualified earlier.
Though... luck might not be the right word.
If someone was pulled into the gate and truly had the strength, they wouldn’t have gone down without a fight.
If that had been him, he likely would’ve reacted like Whitebeard, instinctively throwing a punch.
After all, his strongest technique right now was the god-level taijutsu: Eighty God Vaccum Strikes.
In that light, this method of obtaining permission made some sense.
But then—
Who created this "game"?
The thought barely surfaced before Ryosuke crushed it.
He wasn’t going to get lost in another spiral.
Not tonight.
Still... he felt a little lighter inside.
---
"I think there are loopholes in these rules," Shanks admitted. "But unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to pass through a gate I had permission for. If I had, I could probably explain all this more clearly."
He nodded as if agreeing with Ryosuke’s earlier point.
"Like you mentioned, in the world where Sakata Gintoki lives, I doubt they could gain access by their own strength."
"The gate only appeared for a moment. They never had the chance to deploy their so-called space battleships to stabilize it."
"Even I didn’t have time. I couldn’t even react before I was pulled in."
As one of the Four Emperors, Shanks recognized that there was a gap between him and Whitebeard
But it was a gap in peak strength.
Whitebeard, even in his later years, with his body riddled with injuries, was still overwhelming.
And yet, despite that, he had the power to preserve the Space-Time Gate.
Shanks, though missing an arm and past his physical prime, believed he was still in his prime mentally and strategically.
Compared to the Whitebeard of old age, he wasn’t far off.
---
"The old man was aiming to punch Akainu, one of the Navy’s three admirals," Shanks recalled bitterly.
"But by sheer coincidence, that time-space gate intercepted the punch meant for Akainu."
He clenched his fists in frustration.
"And me? I had just finished a shower and was putting on my clothes in the captain’s room. I didn’t even have time to draw my sword or throw a punch before I got sucked in."
"In that instant, everything was tested, your strength, your speed, your reflexes."
"If I hadn’t been relaxing on my own ship...
If I’d been in battle mode, with my instincts sharp, I might have made it out.
I wouldn’t be stranded here now."
---
"Remember this," Shanks said seriously, looking Ryosuke in the eye.
"If people from other worlds are appearing here, it means your world has also been chosen."
"You, especially, have a high chance of being pulled into another world."
"Wherever you are, stay sharp. Whether you qualify or not, try.
Don’t end up like me, dragged into another world before I could do anything, with no way back."
His memories of that moment, the panic, the helplessness, the strange pull had etched themselves deep in his mind.
More than anything, he wanted to return to his own world. To his crew.
But no one could say whether time flowed the same in all worlds.
What if he returned...
Only to find tombstones?
Names of comrades, carved in stone?
He would never forgive himself.
---
"Why don’t we have a fight?"
Ryosuke, completely unbothered by Shanks’ inner turmoil, grinned.
Suppressing his growing excitement, he stood up.
"If leaving the time-space gate really requires a certain level of qualification,
then why not test if I’ve got what it takes?"
"Perhaps we can use a battle to test whether I have the qualifications to leave behind a space-time gate!"
After a pause, he added, "It’s just a test. We’ll stop there—it won’t affect our friendship."
People’s emotions aren’t always the same. Ryosuke simply wanted to use this opportunity to spar with Shanks.
To prove his strength.
To learn from each other’s abilities.
"...Let’s just forget it."
Shanks shook his head and declined Ryosuke’s invitation.
"I have things to handle right now, so I can’t leave the city with you. And if we fight here in the city..."
Avoiding battle wasn’t his style.
In his world, he was the type to walk into major strongholds, fight and drink with their leaders like it was second nature.
But at this moment, the relationship between him and Ryosuke hadn’t reached the point where exchanging blows was natural.
If he won, things would be fine. At least he could trust that the so-called "friendship" would survive.
But if he lost...
Would Ryosuke truly stop, as he claimed?
Would he still uphold the agreement and preserve their budding alliance?
Shanks couldn’t confirm that, not after such brief contact.
It was wiser to keep some distance for now.
Compared to proving who was stronger...
Going home was far more important.
"Oh well..."
Ryosuke sighed, a bit disappointed that the fight he’d long awaited wouldn’t happen.
Shanks’ rejection was firm, and Ryosuke had just made a promise to uphold their relationship
So of course, he wouldn’t push it.
Still, it was a shame.
This trip hadn’t been in vain though.
Not only had he gained critical information, but also Shanks’ friendship—
That alone was a priceless gain.
Now, the priority was to send this intel back to the clan.
To speed things up.
Since it was now confirmed that a space-time gate could be left behind.
And that gaining permission would grant them access to participate in the "game"
They needed to prepare quickly.
For more interdimensional invasions.
And for the eventual departure from this world.
"In that case, we’ll take our leave now."
Ryosuke stood up.
"Captain Shanks, when you’re done with your affairs, I’ll send someone to escort you to the Hyuga."
"By then, we’ll discuss how to help you return home."
Shanks stood as well and nodded.
"No need. Once I finish here, I’ll head to Konoha myself."
He had already revealed so much, all for the sake of finding a suitable ally.
As for whether this could backfire
Whether inviting outsiders might bring disaster
As a pirate, he didn’t care.
Just like how his Red Hair Pirates protected a portion of the New World and accepted offerings,
If someone had the strength and guts to replace them.
He’d accept that too.
You reap what you sow. And he was someone who could afford to lose.
He’d experienced enough ups and downs in the first half of his life.
But Ryosuke, standing across from him, shook his head.
"I’ll still send someone to the Saki family to pick you up. The Hyuga might not be in Konoha by then."
Oh?
Shanks raised an eyebrow.
Hinata, standing beside Ryosuke, frowned.
She looked surprised at his words.
Shanks no longer refused.
"If that’s the case, I’ll stay with the Saki family and wait for your arrival."
Without lingering, Ryosuke and the other man exited the room.
They went straight to the main hall to bid farewell to the Saki family head, who had been waiting patiently
Then hurried out of the house.
As soon as they stepped outside, Hinata, who had been silent all this time finally spoke up, her voice impatient.
"Isn’t this too sudden? There are still so many things unarranged in the clan. Some village families haven’t even been contacted!"
She was referring to what Ryosuke had said just before they left.
"We can’t wait any longer," Ryosuke said, shaking his head.
"Compared to winning over foreign forces, the Hyuga themselves aren’t stable yet. It’s not easy to execute multiple plans and try to take over a major country at the same time."
"Spread the word. Gather all nearby Hyuga clan members.
We’ll issue orders from here
Mobilize everyone scattered across the ninja world."
After a brief pause, he added with a trace of regret:
"I think... we may have to activate the second plan and change our target."
The Hyuga clan had always aspired to establish their own nation—
Just like the Uzumaki once did.
A sovereign Hyuga country.
With a powerful enough nation backing them.
With a group of retainers managing logistics and affairs.
Whether their ambition was to dominate the ninja world or conquer another world,
They would have the support and resources they needed.
Originally, their target had been the Land of Fire.
It was, after all, one of the wealthiest countries in the ninja world.
But stealing a country wasn’t as simple as having the biggest fist.
They also wanted to change the nation’s entire system.
To make all ninja clans and nobles recognize Hyuga as the ruling house.
Ryosuke certainly had the strength to force the Land of Fire into submission.
He could say, "Obey or die," and many would bend the knee.
But what would be the cost?
The timid might submit.
But the brave would rebel.
And the Land of Fire would collapse into war.
Its fertile lands, its well-managed systems, its large population.
All of it would be gone.
To prevent such an outcome, the Hyuga had been carefully making allies:
Winning over Konoha families, building ties with the Land of Fire’s officials and nobles
Even forming alliances abroad.
The Gato Chamber of Commerce had long been a secret Hyuga partner.
Given time, neither Konoha nor the Tokugawa family would have been able to stop their rise.
But now...
It seemed there was no time left to conquer the Land of Fire.
Still—
With sacrifice comes gain.
And the Hyuga never bet everything on one plan.
As the saying goes
"A cunning rabbit has three burrows."
For a clan that had thrived for over a thousand years,
There was no such thing as a single path forward.
"Bang!"
Suddenly
A thunderous explosion shook the ground.
Ryosuke’s words cut off mid-sentence.
And in a flash, his body vanished from beside Hinata!
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