Shikamaru looked at Asuma in front of him and recalled what Naruto had told him that night.
"Really, is that okay?"
Naruto nodded. "Yes, of course. But there's still one thing I'm not certain about. It's related to whether I can acquire this ability on a larger scale. It seems... the time hasn't come yet."
Shikamaru looked at Naruto, smiled faintly, then sighed. "Naruto, time flies so fast. In the blink of an eye, we've become adults. This world is really beginning to change because of us."
Naruto patted Shikamaru's shoulder. "Get Asuma-sensei's sealed body secured. This war is nearly over."
Then, Naruto turned his gaze toward the distance. "You've wrapped things up here. I'm heading to another battlefield. Things aren't resolved there yet."
With that, Naruto disappeared in a flicker.
Meanwhile...
Hyuga Hiashi was battling his reanimated twin brother, Hyuga Hizashi.
Hyuga Hinata and Hyuga Neji arrived on the battlefield in a flash. The moment Hizashi laid eyes on Neji, tears welled up.
"You... you are... Neji!"
When Hizashi had died, Neji had still been a young boy, far from the shinobi he had become.
Neji's eyes softened. "Father."
"Uncle!" Hinata called out warmly.
Hizashi turned to her and smiled. "Hinata-sama."
Then he looked at the both of them, eyes trembling with emotion. "You've both grown up so well."
Neji and Hinata's tears fell. Especially Hinata, whose emotional nature caused her to sob openly.
Hiashi stepped forward. "Hizashi, Neji has grown strong. Since your passing, he's trained hard to prove himself. He once believed the branch house existed only to sacrifice for the main family. But no longer. Clan and branch house are one. We are all of the Hyuga Clan. Your sacrifice wasn't for the main family alone. It was for our comrades... for the village. Neji is proud of you."
Hizashi shed tears, turning to his son. "Is that true, Neji? You truly feel that way about your father?"
Neji wiped his eyes. "Yes. I understand your nindō now. I've let go of the 'caged bird' ideology. I'm a member of the Hyuga Clan. You sacrificed yourself for our clan and for the village. That choice—to give your life willingly—was not weakness. It was courage. You're my role model."
Hizashi looked skyward, tears streaming down his face. He had never expected to be understood. That his son had come to accept and honor his sacrifice was more than he had ever hoped for. Father and son, reconciled at last.
Neji continued, smiling. "I once felt trapped by fate. But someone beat that feeling out of me with his fists. He made me realize that instead of complaining, it was better to grow stronger and change things myself. To challenge the world's assumptions... and begin to forge my own path."
Hinata smiled warmly, her admiration for Neji evident.
Hizashi tilted his head. "Who was it?"
Hiashi smiled knowingly. "That boy truly is a miracle of Konoha. Even though he's done some outrageous things, in hindsight... some of Naruto's actions were calculated steps in a greater plan."
With a sharp hiss, Naruto appeared on the battlefield.
"I heard someone praising me?"
Naruto grinned.
"Naruto!" Hinata exclaimed.
Neji snorted and looked away in annoyance. Seeing his sister so starry-eyed over Naruto irritated him.
Hizashi stared at Naruto in disbelief. "Who are you...? How do you have the Rinnegan?!"
Naruto smiled. "It's a long story."
Hiashi stepped forward. "Neji, Hinata, Naruto—let's seal Hizashi."
Hizashi smiled, tears still glistening. "Yes. Stop me. I'm so grateful I got to see you all again. My son recognizes me. My dream has come true."
Naruto clapped his hands. "Alright then! Let's handle Uncle Hizashi and clean up this battlefield."
Just as they prepared, Neji stepped forward. "Wait, Naruto."
"Hmm?"
Neji locked eyes with Naruto. "Let the Hyuga Clan resolve its own matters."
Naruto met his gaze, then nodded. "Alright."
Neji turned to Hiashi and Hinata. "Let's do it together!"
Hiashi nodded. "Of course, Neji. But... it would be more affectionate to call me 'Uncle' from now on."
Hinata giggled. "Yes, Brother Neji. You haven't called me 'Sister' in ages."
Neji's heart warmed. In that moment, he truly felt like part of a family. Clan and branch house no longer mattered.
Wiping his eyes, Neji turned serious. "Let's go, Hinata!"
"Here I come, Brother Neji!"
Hinata and Neji flanked their father from both sides.
"Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm!"
BOOM—Hinata and Neji struck with precision.
Hizashi smiled. "Well done. But now... Rotation!"
Spinning, Hizashi unleashed the Eight Trigrams: Rotation. But just as he came out of it, Hiashi launched his counter.
"Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Wall Palm!"
Chakra surged from his palm, targeting Hizashi's tenketsu. Hizashi was knocked backward.
"Now, Neji!"
"Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!
Two palms! Four palms! Eight palms! Sixteen palms! Thirty-two palms! Sixty-four palms!"
THWACK! Hizashi was struck in rapid succession and sent flying. His chakra points were sealed.
Naruto winced. He remembered how painful that technique had been during the Chūnin Exams.
Neji turned. "Hinata!"
"Soft Step Twin Lion Fists!"
Hinata charged forward, her chakra molding into two roaring lions.
BAM! The attack hit squarely.
Hiashi gave a proud nod. "Excellent! Sealing Team, now!"
The Sealing Corps arrived swiftly, binding Hizashi with the Cloth Binding Technique.
Hizashi looked at Hinata and Neji, eyes full of peace. "Neji... Hinata... I'm proud of you both."
Neji took a deep breath. "Let's go, Father."
Naruto approached Neji and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll see him again."
Neji frowned. "What do you mean?"
Naruto grinned. "You'll understand when the time comes."
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