Through the surveillance, Naruto heaved a sigh of relief as he observed the unfolding events.
It was clear that Neji was initiating a reform within the Hyuga Clan. While internal conflicts like these were troublesome, they posed no significant threat as long as Hinata remained unharmed.
However, one question puzzled Naruto, 'Why was Neji choosing this moment to act?'
Neji's strength, while formidable, hadn't yet reached its peak, and he still had considerable room for growth.
Moreover, rallying the branch family to his cause should have taken a significant amount of time.
The longer Neji waited, the better his chances. So Naruto wondered why was he in such a rush.
Unable to figure it out, Naruto could only rely on Sandaime's crystal ball to watch the duel about to unfold.
…
Meanwhile, at the Hyuga Clan's compound.
Hinata and Hanabi stood among the crowd, their fists clenched tightly as they nervously observed the central courtyard.
On the left stood Hiashi, and on the right, Neji.
Hiashi was the first to speak, "Neji, do you realize what you're doing?"
Neji responded firmly, "What I want is change. We are all Hyuga, bearing the same bloodline. Why must there be a division between the main family and the branch family? All I ask for is fairness. Only through equality and unity can the Hyuga Clan truly prosper!"
Though his face was calm, Neji's heart was racing with unease.
Just as Naruto suspected, Neji wasn't fully prepared for this confrontation.
But he couldn't afford to wait any longer. And his urgency stemmed from an encounter five nights prior.
…
Ever since Naruto and Sasuke left, the Team 3's training grounds had been relatively quiet, with only Neji, Tenten, and Lee continuing their daily routines. The monotony provided a sense of peace.
One night, after finishing training, Neji dragged his tired body homeward. That was when a figure appeared in his path.
"Who?"
Neji narrowed his eyes. The stranger's presence felt familiar, but the overwhelming aura made him hesitant to believe his instincts.
As the figure approached under the moonlight, Neji finally saw the face clearly and gasped in shock, "Sasuke, why are you here?"
That's right, the person who appeared in front of him was none other than Uchiha Sasuke.
Sasuke wasted no time and got straight to the point, "Neji, I'm heading to kill Danzo. If you don't hear news of Danzo's death by tomorrow, it means I've died. If that happens, find Itachi and kill him!"
"What are you talking about?"
Neji was stunned.
He barely knew of Danzo, let alone why Sasuke wanted him dead. He also couldn't comprehend why Sasuke would ask him to kill Itachi.
All Neji knew was that Naruto's abduction by Itachi had been a staged act to spur Sasuke's growth… a matter that had nothing to do with him.
Sasuke sighed and said in a deep voice, "Naruto is dead, killed by Itachi. According to my investigation, Danzo is someone who may know where Itachi is."
"How is this possible?!"
Neji frowned slightly, though his heart remained calm.
In his mind, Naruto's strength was far too great for him to be killed by Itachi. Moreover, Naruto had willingly gone with Itachi, and even Itachi had played along in the staged act.
Neji estimated that Sasuke must have misunderstood and this story was concocted by Naruto to fuel Sasuke's own anger.
But then, something changed.
Neji's expression shifted drastically as he noticed Sasuke's eyes. The sharingan in Sasuke's grief-stricken gaze was no longer the two-tomoe he remembered but a unique pattern.
'No wonder Sasuke's aura was so strong… It must be the Mangekyo Sharingan!'
Naruto had once explained to Neji that awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan required intense emotional pain. Now that Sasuke had achieved it, the notion of Naruto still acting as part of some ruse seemed highly unlikely to Neji.
'Could it mean that Naruto had truly... met his end?
Without thinking any more, Neji stepped forward a few paces, his unease growing.
'No! How could there be nothing!'
He and Sasuke are both Naruto's servants, and they have a special sense when a servant is close to them, but now… there is no such sense.
"This... this can't be real!"
Neji refused to believe it.
Sasuke said gravely, "I assume you've already confirmed it. There's no trace of our servant sensing anymore."
"Naruto!"
Neji felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if his heart were being wrenched apart,
'I had vowed to repay Naruto's kindness for the rest of my life, but now...'
Sasuke's eyes burned with murderous intent, "Neji, I've never asked anything of you before, but this is the one thing I beg of you. If I die, you must continue investigating. Find Itachi and kill him. Avenge Naruto!"
"Thud!"
Neji collapsed to the ground, utterly powerless. At this moment, the sequence of events no longer mattered. What mattered was the cold, cruel reality: Naruto was dead. Naruto was truly gone.
"Uchiha Itachi, I, Hyuga Neji, swear this oath: If I do not kill you to avenge Naruto, may I be struck by lightning and perish miserably!"
After his anguished roar at the sky, the toll of physical exhaustion and mental anguish overwhelmed him. Neji's eyes rolled back, and he fell unconscious.
"Remember what you've sworn today." Sasuke said, glancing at Neji before disappearing into the shadows.
…
At noon the next day, Neji shot upright from his bed, shouting Naruto's name.
But he found himself not on the grassy training grounds, but in his own room.
"Neji-nii-san, you're awake!"
A delighted voice sounded from beside him… it was Hinata.
"How did I get back?" Neji clutched his aching head.
Hinata explained, "When you didn't return home last night, I prepared breakfast to take to the training grounds as usual. But I found you unconscious on the way and brought you back. Were you training too hard?"
"No."
Neji replied, shaking his head. He seemed to remember something and suddenly grabbed Hinata by the shoulders, "Hinata, has anyone in the village been talking about someone named Danzo being killed?"
Hinata frowned slightly at the sudden grip but quickly responded, "No, I haven't heard anything like that."
"Nothing?"
Neji's body trembled, 'Could it be that Sasuke had failed?'
Bloodshot veins appeared around his eyes as he activated his Byakugan, trying to steady himself. He hesitated before asking again, "Then... has anyone been discussing Sasuke?"
Hinata shook her head. "No, nothing about Sasuke either."
Hearing this, Neji couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
'Perhaps Sasuke hadn't acted yet. Or maybe the village had sealed off information. Either way, nothing was certain.'
Determined to find answers, he leaped out of bed and dashed out of the room. For the first time, Neji actively sought out Hiashi.
…
At Hiashi's house.
"Neji, what brings you here?"
Hiashi was practicing his strikes in the courtyard when the anxious Neji arrived.
Taking a deep breath, Neji bowed slightly and said, "Hiashi-sama, do you know someone named Danzo?"
"Danzo?"
Hiashi narrowed his eyes slightly, "Danzo is the leader of the Root. Why do you ask?"
"Since you recognize him, please tell me where he lives, Hiashi-sama."
Neji didn't expect that Danzo's status was so high, 'He must be very powerful. No wonder Sasuke said that to me.'
Neji decided to go to Danzo's residence and check it out himself.
However, Hiashi waved his hand and said, "Residence? He no longer has one."
"What do you mean?"
Neji asked in confusion.
Hiashi explained, "From what I've heard, Danzo was ambushed last night, and his residence was completely destroyed."