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A few days after Neji returned, Team Kakashi straggled back as well, and word hit that the Fire Temple had been attacked.
Neji was in the training yard running Hinata and Hanabi through brutal drills. When both sisters were panting on the ground, he got the summons.
"You two rest. I've got business with the Hokage."
Hanabi thumped a fist into the dirt, scowling. "He's reading us like a book, sis. Every setup we try, he steps exactly where it hurts."
Hinata nodded, cheeks still flushed from exertion. "It's like he knows where I'll guard… and touches the weak spot every time."
"Exactly!" Hanabi snapped at the empty air, shadowboxing. "It's infuriating. I can't… get it out."
Hinata laughed softly and then fell quiet, already planning how to crack their cousin's guard next time.
…
On the Hokage Tower roof, twenty squads stood in formation: gatekeeper duo Izumo & Kotetsu, Asuma's trio with Ino–Shika–Cho, and more. Tsunade laid out the situation: Fire Temple hit, intruders at large.
"Any questions?" she barked.
Asuma raised a hand. "Guard Twelve's Chiriku should be stationed there. His status?"
The monk beside Tsunade bowed his head. "Lord Chiriku… has fallen."
Asuma's fingers curled into a fist.
"We find them," Tsunade said, voice hard. "If they won't be taken alive, erase them. Do not let them escape Fire Country."
She slashed a hand down. "Move!"
The rooftop emptied in a blink, dust curling in their wake just as Neji dropped from above, watching them scatter. So the Fire Temple arc still fires… but no 'Sora' this time. Asuma… we'll see.
"Sensei," he said as Tsunade turned, "you called."
"I did." Her eyes were tired, angry. "Walk."
In her office, with Shizune escorting the monk away and the door shut, Tsunade got straight to it.
"Naruto's back on assignment. The Temple hit changes the risk profile. Also, he's training his nature transformation with Kakashi. Kakashi's still not at full strength, and Yamato had to push his limit suppressing the Nine-Tails. I want you there. Watch Naruto. Backstop Yamato."
Neji bowed. "Understood. Where?"
"Out at the village edge. They've built a practice waterfall for nature change. If you want to refine yours, ask Kakashi. He's annoyingly good at it."
"On my way."
Tsunade stared out the window as he vanished. Akatsuki's closing the net. Time to tighten ours.
…
At the outskirts, wood and earth jutsu formed a clattering man-made waterfall. On a timber bridge above it, rows of Narutos yelled at the torrent, slapping water into halves that snapped back together.
Below, wooden posts smoldered where Yamato knelt, hands raised, feeding suppression to Naruto's seal. Kakashi leaned against a railing with an orange book.
A footfall behind him. Kakashi glanced back. "Neji. To what do we owe the pleasure?"
"Tsunade-sama sent me to train alongside and spell Yamato-taichō."
"Perfect." Kakashi cupped a hand to the bridge. "Oi! Naruto! Neji's here. If you don't split that stream soon, he's going to make you do his training."
Every clone on the bridge panicked into overdrive. Water slabs started cleaving twice as often.
Neji sighed. Great. I'm a motivational poster with legs.
"Jiraiya-sama likes the same trick," he told Kakashi.
"Oh?" Kakashi shut the book. "Then I won't feel bad about it."
Deadpan Neji. He doesn't feel bad anyway.
"Since you're here," Kakashi said, producing a chakra paper, "humor me. Let's see your affinities."
Neji pressed chakra into the sheet. It crumpled, split, turned damp, shattered then the scraps caught fire.
Yamato's eyes widened. Kakashi's visible eye actually opened. "All five natures. Rare."
Yamato nodded, impressed. "Incredible. Though… a shame."
Kakashi echoed, "A shame."
Neji's mouth twitched. Here it comes.
Wow, five elements?! Monster.
Oh—you're a Hyūga.
Never mind.
He said nothing just looked up at the roaring water while Naruto's clones screamed and the bridge rattled, and Yamato kept that seal steady like a dam against a rising sea.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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