At that moment, Uchiha Kirin no longer held onto the idea of breaking his shackles.
What he sought… was true power.
Neji, having succeeded in breaking his own shackles, could already sense the winds of war approaching. Around the same time, Mifune arrived with urgent news.
After a brief discussion among the three, they decided that the now-liberated Old Sword Saint would stay behind in the Land of Iron to guard the home front.
Meanwhile, Mifune would lead the newly appointed Sword Saint, Neji, to rally the samurai army and join the Allied Shinobi Forces—to stand against the enemy that threatened to plunge the world into war!
...
Upon reaching Allied Headquarters, Neji ignored the advice of Mifune and the many friends he'd made in the Land of Iron. He went straight to the Sensory Unit.
Some things are always better dealt with sooner rather than waiting for a scandal to explode later.
Upon seeing Hyuga Hiashi and the main family elders surrounded by tightly guarding Branch House protectors, Neji burst out laughing.
"All these years, and the Main House is still just as useless."
He then asked directly if any members of the Branch House wished to leave with him. He promised that anyone who truly wanted out, he would personally lift the Caged Bird Seal from their forehead.
But words alone meant nothing. Besides, the Branch House members chosen to serve as Main House guards were already those whose minds had been broken long ago—slaves to their bones.
At the signal of the Main House's Grand Elder, one Branch House member feigned allegiance to Neji.
As soon as he got close, he struck—aiming for Neji's vital point. If the attack had landed, it would have been a fatal blow!
A flash of steel later, the attacker screamed as his arm was severed and he collapsed in agony.
The Grand Elder tried to threaten Neji while simultaneously activating the Caged Bird Seal, attempting to seize control of him.
But it was already too late.
Neji had long since shattered that humiliating slave brand on his own.
"One life for another. Back then, you betrayed my father—bowing your head to Danzo and the Third Hokage. Now that those two are dead, I've come to collect your life in return!"
Neji's voice was emotionless, every word slicing like a blade. These were truths he'd learned from childhood—hidden away in Root's archives and secret letters.
"Wait! You're not allowed to use weapons! Dare to fight me in a one-on-one Gentle Fist duel?!"
Facing death, the Grand Elder still tried to manipulate him with empty words no child would believe—hoping Neji would abandon his sword and rely solely on the incomplete Branch House Gentle Fist.
Neji just smiled and calmly unfastened his weapon.
At that moment, Hiashi finally stepped forward as Neji's uncle.
"Don't do something foolish. Return the sword style to the Hyuga clan. Kneel, admit your mistakes, and allow us to reapply the Caged Bird Seal."
"If you do, we'll forgive your past betrayal. The wanted notice will be revoked, and you'll be welcomed back to the clan unharmed."
"With me here, no one will hurt you…"
Neji looked at the familiar yet foreign face, smiling faintly as he stepped forward and took a pouch from his robe.
He tossed it into Hiashi's face.
"This was the price I paid for the food and shelter you gave me after my father died."
"Now I return it a hundredfold in coin. We're even."
...
As Neji strode toward the Grand Elder with unwavering determination, everyone around him—Branch House or Main House—pleaded for him to reconsider.
But nothing could stop him now.
Seeing Neji approaching, several Branch House guards stepped forward to defend the Grand Elder.
They were confident. Trained in a Gentle Fist far beyond what ordinary Branch House members knew, surely they could defeat Neji now that he was weaponless. Then, they'd bring his head to the Main House for higher status and rewards.
"Alright. Come at me together, then."
They all charged at once—but couldn't even withstand a single blow.
Their attacks hit Neji like punches into air, vanishing without a trace.
His counterattack, on the other hand, landed like a mountain crashing down—unstoppable and overwhelming. One by one, the guards collapsed.
"All of you—attack now! Don't let him escape!"
The Grand Elder roared, calling on the Main House elders to join in.
Nearly ten blasts of Gentle Fist air palms surged toward Neji. Even the Raikage, known for his brute strength, wouldn't walk away unscathed from that.
This was the Hyuga Main House—the number one taijutsu clan of infamy—proud of its savage might.
"He blocked it?!"
The blinding white light faded.
From the heat-distorted air walked out a figure in white, completely unharmed.
This was the power Neji awakened after breaking his shackles: a strength that allowed him to absorb and repurpose any energy-based attack, so long as it didn't exceed a certain limit.
BOOM!
With a single palm strike, the Grand Elder vanished into a burst of light, as if he'd been obliterated by Dust Release—his body reduced to vapor without even a scream.
Compared to the branded slaves of the Branch House, this end was actually… merciful.
Rotation!
Neji unleashed the surging force within him, spinning a dome of energy with the Gentle Fist technique he once took pride in.
But not for defense—for offense.
The violent vortex swept through the room, tearing through over a dozen Main House elders and Branch House enforcers alike.
When the whirlwind finally settled, they all lay sprawled on the floor. Though alive, their internal injuries were devastating. Even if healed, they'd never wield the Gentle Fist again.
"Neji, stop this!"
"Neji-san!"
Behind him came Hiashi's heartbroken voice, and Hinata's desperate plea—having just arrived.
"I'm no longer a bird in a cage…"
Neji didn't even glance back as he walked slowly out of the Intelligence Center, leaving only a solitary silhouette behind.
The grudge was over.
From now on, he would still fight to protect the ninja world, still stand with the Allied Shinobi Forces—even cooperate with the Hyuga clan, if needed.
But that bond… was severed forever.
...
Meanwhile—
Hoshigakure had also volunteered to join the Allied Shinobi Forces.
They offered to provide free basic ninja tool support and repair services to all members during the war.
The Mountain God had just been born, with his chakra-infused metal statue as his vessel.
That massive body was now hidden in the nearby mountain ranges by the Pangolin—ready to respond if chaos broke out during battle.
They also offered assistance in sealing reanimated shinobi and identifying White Zetsu infiltrators.
In this way, every move made by Uchiha Kirin had logically, flawlessly become part of the Great Ninja War.
Even if his strength remained unchanged from before, the other Sages—bound by pride and rules—had no choice but to acknowledge that he had earned a share of the spoils, second only to the Sage of Six Paths.
And now, his power had grown to the point he could flip the table if he wanted to.
He simply chose not to—yet.
For now, he remained hidden, avoiding civil strife or inner conflicts.
After all, the Sage of Six Paths had sat atop the ninja world for so long… Being suddenly surpassed might make even him act irrationally.
Kirin would wait for the moment of maximum harvest.
And only then—
He would strike.