Chapter 18 — What the Heck? A Clan from the Moon??
The moment the Hyūga Clan Head, Hiashi, looked at the woman before him—especially at that pair of Byakugan—his entire body froze as if turned to stone.
What… was this feeling?
The instant their gazes met, it felt as though an immense mountain had crashed down upon him, pressing against his very being, suffocating him.
It wasn't just pressure—
It was suppression that seemed to originate from the soul itself.
Thud!!
Hiashi's legs gave out, and he dropped to the ground without warning. His breathing became ragged, his chest rising and falling rapidly as his heart pounded uncontrollably.
The sudden turn of events shocked everyone present.
"Father!?"
Hinata and Hanabi immediately rushed forward, helping him up in panic. Neither of them could understand what had just happened.
Why had their father collapsed like that?
"Clan Head Hiashi, are you alright?" Kakashi asked, his tone laced with concern.
"I'm fine… I'm fine…" Hiashi muttered, allowing his daughters to support him as he slowly stood back up.
But even as he regained his footing, the shock in his eyes remained.
Those eyes…
That Byakugan…
The feeling was unmistakable.
It was the pressure of something superior—like a descendant standing before an ancestor… no, something even more absolute.
Just who… was she?
"May I ask this young lady's name?" Hiashi spoke again, but this time, both his tone and demeanor had changed completely.
This was someone he could not afford to offend.
"My name is Ōtsutsuki Kaguya," Kaguya replied calmly.
Hearing that name, confusion immediately surfaced on Hiashi's face.
Ōtsutsuki… Kaguya… Ōtsutsuki…
For some reason, the word felt familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before—in the Hyūga Clan's ancient records.
Ōtsutsuki…
Why couldn't he remember clearly?
"Father, what's wrong?" Hinata asked anxiously. Even little Hanabi, standing nearby, wore a worried expression.
"Clan Head Hiashi, do you have any clues about Kaguya?" Kakashi asked.
Hiashi fell silent for a moment before speaking in a grave tone. "May I ask… where exactly did you find her?"
"This…" Kakashi hesitated, unsure how to explain.
"We met Kaguya in a bamboo forest! She's super amazing—she came from the sky!" Naruto blurted out without hesitation.
"The sky?"
Not just Hiashi—even Hinata and Hanabi were stunned.
The sky… Ōtsutsuki…
Ōtsutsuki Hamura!?
In an instant, realization struck Hiashi.
The Hyūga Clan's ancient records did contain references to a figure named Ōtsutsuki Hamura.
According to those records, their ancestor had once led a portion of the clan away to the moon, while those who remained eventually became the present-day Hyūga Clan.
Over the course of more than a thousand years, much of that history had faded. Some records had even been lost entirely due to war.
But if she had truly come from the sky…
Then could it be…?
"Could it be… that you are a descendant of the branch of clansmen that Ancestor Hamura led to the moon?" Hiashi asked, his voice filled with shock.
"Hamura?"
This time, it was Kaguya who was confused.
Who was that?
The name was completely unfamiliar to her.
As for the moon… was that the massive object that appeared in the sky every night?
Naruto had mentioned it before.
"That must be it! I never imagined your people were still alive. This is incredible… truly incredible!" Hiashi said, unable to hide his excitement.
To think that in his lifetime, he would actually encounter clansmen from the moon.
"Clan Head Hiashi, do you know something?" Kakashi asked, still trying to piece things together.
Even Hinata and the others were curious now.
A clan from the moon?
People could actually live there?
Naruto was just as stunned.
"To be frank, the Hyūga Clan's ancient records mention an ancestor named Ōtsutsuki Hamura. He led part of our clan to the moon. As for Miss Kaguya, my guess is that she is a descendant of that branch," Hiashi explained with a smile.
Ōtsutsuki Hamura?
Everyone present wore expressions of confusion.
"To think it's real… to think it's real…" Hiashi muttered, his face filled with emotion. "I never imagined your people still existed—and that you would even come to the shinobi world. What about the others? Are the rest of your clansmen well?"
"Yes, they're doing very well," Kaguya replied instinctively, without thinking.
"Her Byakugan is the orthodox form. No—its purity far surpasses that of our Hyūga Clan, even compared to those recorded in history. It perfectly matches the descriptions in the ancient texts!" Hiashi said, turning to Kakashi.
Kakashi, however, looked completely lost.
He hadn't understood most of it.
Ōtsutsuki Hamura?
The Hyūga Clan had this kind of history?
"So the Hyūga Clan's lineage goes back that far…" Kakashi murmured.
"The records span more than a thousand years. Though many were lost, some remain. One thing is certain—the moon truly does house a clan. Or more accurately… it should be called the Ōtsutsuki Clan," Hiashi said with a sigh.
"You bear the name Ōtsutsuki. That alone is enough to prove you are one of them."
Kaguya frowned slightly.
How was she supposed to explain this?
Yes, she was from the Ōtsutsuki Clan—but not from this so-called "moon branch."
"Miss Kaguya, since we are of the same origin, how about you stay with the Hyūga Clan from now on?" Hiashi suggested.
Kaguya's brows furrowed.
Naruto was startled.
"That way, we can look after each other. And regarding the moon, there are matters I would like to ask you about as well," Hiashi added.
But Kaguya simply shook her head, then pointed at Naruto.
"No need. I'll stay with him."
One sentence sent ripples through the entire hall.
With… Naruto Uzumaki?
The Nine-Tails' jinchūriki?
T-this was too absurd!
"How could that be acceptable? You are a noble member of the moon clan. How could you possibly live with the Nine— him?" Hiashi said, his brows tightening.
Hinata stood frozen in place.
Living with Naruto-kun?
This woman… was living with Naruto-kun?
That meant… staying under the same roof…
Her face gradually turned pale, and an inexplicable pain pierced her heart, as though something important had been taken from her.
"Why can't I?" Kaguya asked, frowning as she looked directly at Hiashi.
Hiashi was momentarily at a loss for words.
How was he supposed to answer that?
Was he supposed to forbid it outright?
"Naruto Uzumaki's status is… special. If the two of you live together, it could harm your reputation if word spreads," Hiashi explained carefully.
Naruto immediately frowned.
"I see. But why not?" Kaguya replied calmly, her pale Byakugan fixed on him without the slightest fluctuation.
"This…" Hiashi found himself unable to respond.
Naruto Uzumaki was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki. That identity alone was enough to make the Hyūga Clan wary—even their Clan Head.
So cool, Kaguya! Naruto cheered inwardly.
That's right! Why not? Exactly!
Hanabi, on the other hand, stared at the scene with a confused but curious expression. She didn't understand any of this talk about the Ōtsutsuki Clan or the moon…
But one thing was clear.
This big sister was amazing.
Even Father seemed wary of her.
But why did she want to live with that idiot?
"I'll live with whoever I want. That's my decision. It's not something you people get to control," Kaguya said calmly.
Her eyes slowly opened wider—
—and in that instant, a crushing pressure descended upon everyone present.
One by one, the Hyūga clan members instinctively lowered their heads.
So this… was a clansman from the moon?