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As Neji's group finally secured the battlefield, the clash between Naruto and Gaara entered its final act two broken souls trading blows not for power but for meaning.
---
Meanwhile, in the Hidden Leaf...
The death of the Third Hokage didn't bring silence it brought an awakening.
From the shadows, the village roared back to life.
ANBU swarmed across rooftops, blades flashing under broken skies.
But not a single Root agent stirred.
Danzo remained absent. Watching. Waiting.
Hiashi stood amidst fallen Sand shinobi unshaken. Dozens surrounded him, yet none could breach his defenses. The true might of Konoha's oldest clan made itself known.
Inoichi, Shikaku, and Choza, the legendary Ino-Shika-Cho, appeared like ghosts. Shadow possession techniques locked enemies in place, massive expansion jutsu crushed them, and invasive mind control left entire squads in disarray.
Shino's father arrived just in time to save his son, insects swarming to neutralize toxins.
Hana Inuzuka and her mother led snarling packs of ninja hounds through enemy lines like hunters in the mist.
Under Asuma's command, Hinata and Tenten pulled Shikamaru from danger—Konoha's gears turning once more.
What once seemed a losing war… now looked like a village reborn.
---
Back in the forest.
Neji finally released a long breath as the cursed mark on Sasuko's neck dimmed under his palm.
"It's suppressed... for now."
Sasuko frowned, still grimacing from the pain.
"Why... did you help that Sand girl? She was the enemy."
Neji didn't answer immediately.
Then—quietly—
"Sometimes, the enemy in front of you… isn't your real enemy."
His voice was low, steady. Experienced.
"This world... it's dirty. What you see isn't always the truth. Someone who tried to kill you yesterday might save your life tomorrow. Don't judge the whole game just because of one round."
Sasuko blinked, stunned by the weight of those words.
Neji stood.
"Let's go. Naruto might need backup."
Sasuko hesitated, but nodded.
"…Fine."
"And you're carrying Sakura."
She glared at him but said nothing hoisting her unconscious teammate over her shoulders.
As they ran, a quiet chime in Neji's system lit up the EXP reward granted.
Not enough for a full level-up… but close.
He clicked his tongue.
'Assist XP again? Tch. If I had landed the finishing blow on Shukaku, I'd be forty-one already…'
The EXP grind post-Level 40 was brutal. Standard missions felt like tossing pebbles into a canyon.
Only S-rank threats gave real rewards now.
---
Soon, they reached the battlefield center.
Temari and Kankuro were already there, kneeling beside a collapsed Gaara and Naruto.
"Let's end this… Uzumaki Naruto."
Gaara's weak voice broke the stillness.
Naruto looked up in surprise his Talk-no-Jutsu had landed.
Kankuro was quiet. He had never seen his brother look so… human.
He silently lifted Gaara over his shoulders.
"…Alright."
Temari watched them go. For once, her usual sarcasm was gone replaced by something soft. Hopeful.
As they vanished into the trees, she glanced back at Neji.
He wasn't looking at her.
He was kneeling beside Naruto, hands glowing with green chakra, stabilizing him.
Temari bit her lip.
Then turned and left without another word.
---
"Just exhausted," Neji muttered. "Used up all his chakra. Idiot."
Sasuko watched him curiously.
"You really at your limit?"
He didn't respond.
Her eyes narrowed. She didn't believe him.
He's still a monster. Even after all that.
---
Elsewhere…
On the distant wall surrounding Konoha, two cloaked figures stood silently in the rain.
Their red-clouded cloaks fluttered in the wind.
Across their headbands—slashes through their village symbols.
Missing-nin.
"Even if it wasn't destroyed... it's been gutted," the taller one said.
"Once proud. Now pitiful."
Kisame showed his sharklike grin, glancing sideways.
"Didn't expect you to get nostalgic, Itachi. Missing your old village?"
"…No."
The red glow of the Sharingan lit beneath his straw hat.
"Did you see that boy?"
Kisame's grin faded.
"Yeah. That Hyuga… brutal."
They had watched everything Neji suppressing a tailed beast like it was an unruly pet.
That wasn't something easily forgotten.
They turned and vanished like shadows on the wind.
---
Two days later.
Rain fell softly across the Hidden Leaf.
The village gathered on the Hokage Tower rooftop, dressed in black.
Raindrops mixed with tears as Konoha mourned.
The Third Hokage had fallen.
At the front, Konohamaru wept.
No one spoke.
What could they say?
The funeral ended in silence.
---
Later, in the Hyuga Compound…
Neji sat cross-legged across from Hiashi.
Rain tapped gently on the wooden floors outside.
Two figures, Hanabi and Hinata, peeked from behind a screen.
Hiashi opened his eyes.
"You've always been gifted, Neji. But I never imagined…"
He paused.
"You've grown beyond what even I believed possible."
Neji remained silent.
Hiashi continued.
"There are truths you already suspect. I won't insult your intelligence. But the future of the Hyuga now lies with you."
He placed two objects before Neji.
A scroll.
And a sealed container inside it, two white Byakugan.
Neji's eyes widened.
"…Those are…"
"My eyes," Hiashi confirmed.
"I took them long ago. Now, they're yours."
Neji's breath caught in his throat.
"…Clan head…"
"Call me uncle."
The word froze him.
But after a long pause—
"…Uncle."
Hiashi smiled faintly.
He'd waited years to hear that.
"The rest is your decision now, Neji. The clan is yours to lead or leave. No more cages."
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