Though the Hyūga clan avoided annihilation, Kaguya's arrival still profoundly impacted them. Neither Hinata nor any other Hyūga clan member had previously realized that the Byakugan wasn't their exclusive kekkei genkai.
Despite their unbroken lineage, no one in the clan knew they descended from Hamura Ōtsutsuki. The clan's historical texts rarely mentioned even Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths, let alone Kaguya.
In present-day Konoha, only three people knew Kaguya's true identity: Richard, Tsunade, and Yugao. Beyond these three, no one else understood who she truly was.
Though ignorant of her identity, Konoha's villagers all recognized the arrival of a beautiful woman with immense power, an arrogant personality, and somewhat eccentric temperament.
During the past month, Kaguya spent considerable time wandering through Konoha. After Richard's intervention, she abandoned her plan to subjugate the Hyūga clan and ceased troubling them. Nevertheless, the clan still approached Richard directly.
Though they didn't know Kaguya's identity, they recognized that Richard had brought her to the village. Moreover, the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack she'd employed while beating Hiashi had sparked intense interest within the clan.
When assaulting Hiashi, Kaguya had restrained her full power. Otherwise, he would have perished instantly. In the original timeline, Kaguya's full-strength Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack shattered Sasuke's complete Susanoo—enhanced by his Rinnegan—within seconds and instantly destroyed several of Naruto's shadow clones.
Though Hiashi's strength, at elite jōnin level, wasn't insignificant, compared to Kaguya, he might as well have been a civilian. Despite this vast disparity, he'd recognized similarities between Kaguya's technique and the Hyūga clan's Gentle Fist. Both required concentrating chakra in the palms and releasing it to strike opponents—though with dramatically different power levels.
This observation led Hiashi to an inevitable conclusion: the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack represented an enhanced version of the Gentle Fist.
His assumption wasn't surprising, but he had the relationship backward. The Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack wasn't an enhanced Gentle Fist—rather, the Gentle Fist was a degraded derivation of Kaguya's original technique. The reason the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack appeared superior stemmed from the current Hyūga clan's severe decline from their ancestors' prowess.
At Richard's residence, Hiashi sat respectfully on the living room sofa, facing Richard opposite him.
"The Hyūga clan wishes to exchange all our taijutsu knowledge for Kaguya-sama's Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack. I wonder if you, Richard-san, might help facilitate this arrangement."
Though clan head and considerably older than Richard, Hiashi still addressed him respectfully. His village status wasn't insignificant, but he wasn't foolish enough to display arrogance before Richard.
Hearing Hiashi's request, Richard responded slowly: "It's not that I'm unwilling to help. Kaguya's Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack isn't a taijutsu technique that the Byakugan alone can perform. Even if she wished to teach you, you couldn't master it."
Though superficially a powerful taijutsu technique, the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack actually represented a kekkei mōra. Neither Hiashi nor anyone else could learn it from Kaguya. Richard himself couldn't learn it unless he killed Kaguya and plundered her kekkei mōra.
Hearing Richard's response, Hiashi immediately frowned. After several seconds, he continued: "Following Lady Kaguya's visit, I consulted with several clan elders. If Richard-san and Kaguya-sama wouldn't object, the Hyūga clan would willingly send a member to serve Lady Kaguya."
Serve Kaguya?
Richard regarded Hiashi with surprise, though he quickly deduced the clan's intentions.
"Who do you propose to send?" Richard inquired.
"If acceptable, I plan to have my eldest daughter, Hinata, serve Kaguya-sama," Hiashi replied without hesitation.
Hinata?
Richard's expression reflected genuine surprise. Though Hinata was Hiashi's firstborn, he had long since given up on her, focusing instead on training her younger sister, Hanabi. Not only Hiashi but the clan elders also favored Hanabi.
"Born with power surpassing her sister!" This was how Hiashi and others described Hanabi.
After brief consideration, Richard asked: "Lord Hiashi, are you certain about this decision?"
"Absolutely," Hiashi confirmed immediately.
"In that case, send Hinata here, and I'll ensure Kaguya guides her appropriately," Richard replied. "However, Lord Hiashi, you should prepare yourself—Hinata may never return to the clan. Kaguya might take her beyond Konoha to other regions."
Richard spoke with deliberate seriousness. Though he intended to bring Hinata back to the Marvel Universe, he wouldn't disclose this to Hiashi. As for when he would return to the Marvel Universe, he hadn't yet decided. The time flow ratio between the Marvel Universe and the Naruto world was 1:100—even if he remained for three to five more years, only half a month would pass in the Marvel Universe.
Hiashi nodded, indicating he'd already mentally prepared for this possibility.
After brief further conversation, Hiashi bid farewell and departed.
Following his exit, Kaguya emerged from her room. "I don't need anyone serving me," she declared flatly.
"Yes, you do," Richard responded, his expression serious.
Seeing his gravity, Kaguya rolled her eyes and continued: "Didn't you only prefer mature women? When did your tastes change?"
"Who told you I only liked mature women? I appreciate all beautiful women," Richard replied.
"That Hiashi only wants to use you to teach his daughter. I have no interest in this arrangement."
With that, Kaguya left the living room.
That afternoon, Hiashi delivered Hinata to Richard's residence. Along with her, he provided all the Hyūga clan's taijutsu scrolls. Though not exceptionally powerful, these techniques contained valuable insights. Richard accepted them without objection, storing everything in his system space.
Time passed swiftly. Before anyone realized, a year had elapsed.
During this period, Richard either remained in Konoha, accompanying Tsunade and Yugao Uzuki, or traveled the world with Kaguya and Hinata.
Now, in Richard's residence near the Uchiha district, Kaguya, Yugao Uzuki, Tsunade, Konan, Mei Terumi, Hinata, and Ino sat in the living room, regarding Richard with varied expressions.
Except for Kaguya, all six had engaged in intimate relationships with Richard. After Hinata and Ino reached adulthood, Richard had brought them into his circle as well.
Glancing at Kaguya and the others, Richard spoke slowly: "Before leaving this world, I offer one final reminder. Once I depart, I cannot guarantee when—or if—I can return. If anyone has reconsidered, speak now. I won't force anyone to accompany me."
Though no one else knew he came from another universe, Richard had previously disclosed the truth to Tsunade and the others, asking if they wished to leave with him. After careful consideration, all had chosen to accompany him. Nevertheless, before opening the dimensional gateway to the Marvel Universe, Richard wanted to confirm their decisions one final time.
"I've arranged for Kakashi to become the Sixth Hokage," Tsunade responded immediately. "Once I depart, Jiraiya will support his ascension. Regarding whether you might return in the future—I'm not particularly concerned."
Though she had previously chosen to return to Konoha as Fifth Hokage, that decision stemmed from her unwillingness to witness the decline of her grandfather Hashirama's legacy.
As Tsunade finished, Mei Terumi spoke: "Before leaving Kirigakure, Chōjūrō had already succeeded me as Sixth Mizukage."
Following her, Yugao Uzuki and Konan also expressed their thoughts.
Then, all six women turned simultaneously toward Kaguya.
Beyond Tsunade and Yugao, both Konan and Mei now knew Kaguya's true identity as mother of Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths. Moreover, they recognized that, except for Richard, no one in this world could restrain her. If Richard departed without her, Kaguya could easily dominate the entire world.
Noticing their collective gaze, Kaguya responded quickly: "How fortunate you all are to be this man's women. Regardless of my preference, he won't allow me to remain behind. Unlike you, I lack the privilege of refusal, so please stop staring at me like that."
Despite her words, she didn't genuinely object to leaving this world. The Ōtsutsuki clan had long identified this dimension's coordinates. They would inevitably dispatch more clan members here at some point. Though these emissaries might not individually match her power, their numbers remained unpredictable.
As Kaguya finished speaking, Richard said: "Since no one objects, let's proceed."
Rising to his feet, he activated his magical energy, enveloping all seven women. Then, the dimensional gateway opened.
Under their watchful gaze, a pitch-black sphere—three meters in diameter and resembling a black hole—materialized in the living room. Upon its appearance, it generated tremendous gravitational pull.
Protected by Richard's magic, Tsunade and the others felt the sphere's power without being affected by it. Richard first directed his magic to guide Tsunade and the others into the black sphere. When he alone remained in the living room, he entered the sphere himself. As he did, the floating black orb vanished instantly, as though it had never existed.
Marvel Universe. Silver City Palace.
A jet-black sphere, three meters in diameter, suddenly materialized in Richard's private training room constructed of vibranium.
After the sphere appeared, Richard, Tsunade, and the others were "expelled" in quick succession.
Finally back!
Surveying his surroundings, Richard inwardly sighed with relief. Like him, Tsunade, Kaguya, and the others examined their new environment.
"Is this room made of vibranium?" Tsunade inquired immediately.
"Yes, this is my personal training facility," Richard confirmed.
After answering her question, he continued: "Tifa, come out!"
"Good afternoon, sir!" Tifa's holographic projection immediately appeared before Richard.
"Let me introduce you all—these are Tsunade, Kaguya, Hinata, Konan, Ino, and Mei Terumi," Richard said, indicating each woman.
"Good afternoon, ladies. I am Tifa, Mr. Richard's artificial intelligence assistant. A pleasure to meet you," Tifa responded promptly.
Artificial intelligence assistant?
Though Tsunade and the others didn't comprehend the concept, they still returned Tifa's greeting politely.
"Grant them appropriate access permissions," Richard instructed. "Also, inform Emma and the others that I've returned."
"Right away, sir," Tifa acknowledged.
After issuing these directives, Richard addressed his companions: "Come, I'll introduce you to Emma and the others."
Tsunade, Kaguya, and the group nodded in unison.
In one of the palace's drawing rooms, Tsunade, Kaguya, and the others observed as Emma Frost, Clarice, and several others entered sequentially.
Though Richard had previously informed Emma and the others that he would be utilizing his private training room for an extended period, after several days without emergence, Scarlett, Jessica, and Emily—whom he'd brought from the zombie universe—had suspected he'd ventured to another dimension.
Before returning to the Marvel Universe, Richard had described Emma Frost and Clarice to Tsunade and the others, so they weren't particularly surprised to meet them now. Similarly, though Emma and her companions were startled to see Richard return with seven unfamiliar women, they maintained composure.
Richard had always been carefree regarding relationships—they'd recognized this long ago. Though he'd returned with numerous women this time, they found the situation within acceptable parameters.
After facilitating introductions between Tsunade and Emma, Richard requested that Tifa arrange for staff to escort Tsunade and the others to their allocated palace accommodations for rest.
Soon, only Richard and Emma remained in the drawing room.
"Which universe did you visit this time?" Emma asked softly, settling beside Richard.
"A world of ninjas," Richard replied simply.
Ninjas?
Emma's expression registered genuine surprise.