The moment Deidara heard that Hyuga Gakuya was heading out to capture a Tailed Beast, his eyes lit up.
"I'm coming too! This is the perfect chance to witness your art in action—that power that reshapes entire canyons!"
Gakuya glanced him over from head to toe.
"Are you sure you're up for this?"
Deidara nodded enthusiastically. "Come on! Capturing Tailed Beasts is a responsibility I can't just sit out on."
"Alright then," Gakuya replied with a small nod. "Just try not to get yourself killed."
He didn't stop Deidara from tagging along after that.
As the two stepped out of the base, they ran right into Itachi and Kisame heading their way.
"Out on a mission?" Gakuya asked, coming to a halt.
Kisame grinned wide, revealing his shark-like teeth.
"The Three-Tails has resurfaced. We're heading out to capture it. Weren't you two just on a mission? Where are you off to now?"
"We're going after the Five-Tails' Jinchūriki," Gakuya replied. "Good luck with yours."
With that, he and Deidara took their leave.
According to the original timeline, the scramble for the Three-Tails was going to be intense. Gakuya figured multiple factions would undoubtedly get involved.
Still, he wasn't particularly worried. With Itachi and Kisame on the job, it should go smoothly enough.
Just as the two of them boarded a puppet falcon, Gakuya received a message from Kabuto.
The intel stated that three major forces were converging on the Three-Tails: Kirigakure, Konohagakure, and Iwagakure.
More importantly, Uchiha Sasuke was involved as well—along with the three subordinates Gakuya had personally handed over to him.
Apparently, Sasuke had requested information about the Akatsuki from Kabuto, suspecting they'd make a move on the Three-Tails.
He intended to use this opportunity to locate them—and more specifically, to find Uchiha Itachi.
But Gakuya knew the truth: Sasuke was about to walk right into a perfect setup.
The ones Akatsuki had dispatched to capture the Three-Tails were none other than Itachi and Kisame.
This would be the first reunion of the Uchiha brothers since the beginning of Shippuden.
A long-awaited confrontation.
And with Naruto still chasing after Sasuke, there was no doubt he'd show up too.
Naruto, Sasuke, Itachi... the Nine-Tails, Three-Tails, and Five-Tails... three Jinchūriki, three beasts.
This was shaping up to be one hell of a show.
Gakuya smirked. "Things are getting more interesting."
"What is?" Deidara asked, looking puzzled from the side.
"My informant told me that the Jinchūriki we're after—the Five-Tails—is actually on another mission."
"What mission?"
"Capturing the reawakened Three-Tails. And apparently, the Konoha rogue ninja, Uchiha Sasuke, is heading there too. He's hoping to find traces of our Akatsuki—and follow the trail to Uchiha Itachi."
Deidara's eyes sparkled. "Oh, now this sounds fun!"
"I was thinking," Gakuya continued, "instead of ambushing the Five-Tails halfway, we let this all play out. Might be fun to watch it unfold."
"Exactly what I was thinking!" Deidara clenched his fist and slammed it into his palm.
A battle between the Uchiha brothers? Who wouldn't want front-row seats?
"Let's join the party. Next stop… the Land of Tea." Gakuya gave a sly smile.
The Land of Tea lay beneath the eastern peninsula of the continent, adjacent to the Land of Fire.Surrounded by ocean on three sides, it was best known for its tea plantations.
And it was also where the Three-Tails had resurfaced—ground zero for the clash of powerful factions.
...
Meanwhile…
After leaving Sunagakure, Neji returned to Konohagakure with Team Three.
But his first obstacle wasn't rest or welcome—it was Tsunade's scrutiny.
After all, Neji had been gone from Konoha for three years.
Who was to say he hadn't been turned into a sleeper agent?
Worse yet, they'd discovered that Hyuga Gakuya was now part of the Akatsuki.
And Neji had been taken away by Gakuya. Three years later, he suddenly returns and even disrupts Akatsuki's plans?
Suspicious didn't even begin to cover it.
...
Inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade slammed her palm on the desk with a loud bang after listening to Team Three's report.
"You joined the Akatsuki and still dared to come back to Konoha?! Guards!"
Immediately, several ANBU agents appeared and surrounded Neji.
"Take him to the interrogation division. Hand him over to Morino Ibiki!"
The ANBU moved in without hesitation, trying to restrain Neji.
Tenten and Lee immediately jumped in front of him.
"No, Lady Hokage! Neji isn't one of them!" Tenten cried.
"Neji defeated an Akatsuki member with his own hands!" Might Guy added firmly.
But Neji raised a calm hand. "It's fine, everyone. Let me speak."
He stepped to the front of the group, locking eyes with Tsunade.
"Even if I was a member of the Akatsuki… so what? My brother trusted me to return here. He gave me contingency plans for this exact moment."
"Do you really think you can keep me here? Or do you think you can withstand my brother's wrath?"
"If he gets angry… I fear Konoha might not survive."
These words didn't come from Neji's own gentle nature—they were taught to him by Gakuya.
Because in this world, in these great nations, only strength commands respect.
This was the rule of the shinobi world. And Gakuya had learned that the hard way.
"You dare threaten me?" Tsunade's voice shook with fury.
She had never liked Gakuya to begin with—he exploited her hemophobia the first time they met and drained two full pouches of her blood.
But this only confirmed what Gakuya had taught him. Neji sighed inwardly.
Before he'd returned, Gakuya had rehearsed this exact scenario with him.
And reality was unfolding just as predicted.
...
"I wouldn't dream of threatening the Hokage," Neji said with a gentle smile, casting a reassuring glance at Tenten.
"I'm simply stating the facts."
"I've only come back to do a few things. Once I'm done, I'll be traveling across the shinobi world.If you don't trust me, you're free to send someone to monitor me."
Lies don't hurt people. The truth does.
With the level of power Gakuya had displayed, even if the entire village moved against him, they'd be no match.
He once killed 2,000 elite shinobi from Kumogakure in a single strike.
The wisest move would be to treat Neji like a living god—pamper him, earn Gakuya's favor.
If it were Hiruzen Sarutobi still in charge, he would've done exactly that.
But Tsunade… her pride wouldn't allow it.
She wanted to assert her authority, intimidate Neji into submission.
But Neji wasn't just some teenage ninja anymore.
Even if Gakuya hadn't trained him personally, Tsunade would still be hard-pressed to shake him.
Now, she was stuck. Cornered by her own pride.
A bit of strength, a bit of softness—and just like that, she was left without options.
She coughed awkwardly, and her tone softened slightly.
"I'll have someone watch you. Don't try anything foolish."
"Then I'll take my leave," Neji said with his trademark calm smile.
He ignored the ANBU still in the room and pushed open the office door without hesitation.
That smile… was unmistakably Gakuya's.
"Um… Lady Hokage? Can I go now too?" Tenten asked timidly.
Tsunade rubbed her forehead and waved her off. "Go, go."
"Thank you, Lady Tsunade!" Tenten quickly chased after Neji.
She caught up to him and grabbed his hand mid-run.
"Come on! You're staying at my place. I'll set up a room for you!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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