"Let's put on a show for them."
Neji's voice was calm, but his eyes carried a sharp glint that made even seasoned shinobi uneasy.
"Uncle Tsuchida, arrange for a medical team to conduct thorough physical examinations for all active jōnin. If they find something suspicious, that's good. If they find nothing…" He paused, his lips curling into the faintest of smirks. "Once the dust settles, I'll leave the village on a mission. That will create the perfect opportunity for Root to reveal themselves."
The room grew heavy with tension.
The Fourth Raikage's thick brows furrowed at once. The idea of Neji leaving the village unsettled him deeply.
If something went wrong—if Root managed to strike while he was away—the consequences would be unbearable for the Hidden Cloud.
"It's too dangerous for you to go alone," the Raikage declared, his tone carrying the weight of final authority. "I'll have Yugito accompany you."
"But…" Neji rubbed his temple, his mind already spinning with contingencies. "What if we alarm Root?"
The assassination attempt had already failed, and the framing had failed with it. It was almost certain that the next move from Root would be far more meticulous. If Neji had Yugito by his side, the enemy might decide not to risk anything at all.
The Raikage's lips curved into a rare smile. "Neji, don't you have the Amber Purifying Pot? Put Yugito inside. No one will know she's there."
For a moment, Neji blinked. Then he slapped his forehead. "How could I forget that?"
The Amber Purifying Pot was no ordinary tool. It created an independent space capable of sealing away tailed beasts—or even people. He hadn't thought to use it before, mainly because in the original timeline it had barely appeared, its existence almost forgotten.
Now, however, it was the perfect solution.
Neji's mind turned to another matter. The Tongue Curse Seal. Danzo's twisted insurance for Root operatives. If he wanted to recruit the Wandering Priestess—Yakushi Nonō—he needed a way to break that seal.
"Raikage-sama," Neji said seriously, "I want to learn some sealing jutsu."
The Raikage's thick arms crossed over his chest. Then, without a word, he strode over to the far wall. With three deliberate knocks, he triggered a hidden mechanism. A panel of the wall slid open, revealing a secret room shrouded in shadow. Without hesitation, he disappeared inside.
As Neji waited, Tsuchida gave him a worried look.
"Are you planning to remove the Tongue Curse Seal and recruit the Wandering Priestess?"
Neji nodded lightly.
Tsuchida's eyes hardened. "Neji-sama, Root shinobi are machines—emotionless weapons shaped by years of indoctrination. Yakushi Nonō may have been abandoned by Danzo, but whether she's truly let go of her loyalty to him remains to be seen."
He spoke earnestly, his voice steady.
"That woman has been a spy for years, wandering across the Five Great Nations, stealing intelligence. She's skilled in disguise, and more skilled still in manipulating emotions. Don't underestimate her."
His gaze sharpened. "Listen to me, Neji-sama. You cannot handle Yakushi Nonō. If you're wise, you'll cut ties immediately."
Neji was silent.
On the surface, Tsuchida's words sounded like prejudice. But Neji knew they were born from reason. Root's brainwashing was absolute—even Yamato, who had endured much, was never free from its shadows.
And yet, Neji had knowledge that Tsuchida lacked. He knew Yakushi Nonō wasn't loyal to Danzo. She wasn't a machine. She was a woman who had been forced into the shadows, yet still carried kindness in her heart.
"Uncle Tsuchida, I'll take your advice into consideration."
His words were serious, but in his heart, he had already dismissed them.
At that moment, the Raikage returned, carrying a scroll in his large hands.
"Neji," he said, his voice booming, "this is the Iron Armor Seal scroll. I had intended to pass it down to you later, but given the situation, you should have it now."
Neji accepted it reverently and slipped it into his ninja tool pouch.
The name sounded unimpressive, like a second-rate sealing technique. But Neji knew better.
The Iron Armor Seal was the very technique the Hidden Cloud had once used to bind the Eight-Tails into Killer B. While not quite as absolute as the Reaper Death Seal, it rivaled the Four Symbols Seal in power.
If he could master it, Neji would be able to remove the Tongue Curse Seal—and recruit Yakushi Nonō to his cause.
---
After leaving the Raikage Building, Neji didn't head home. Instead, his steps carried him toward the residence of Kana and her daughter.
The building stood three stories tall, more ornate than Samui's house, with delicate decorations and polished woodwork. Samui was wealthy but humble, her family still paying off debts. Kana's residence, in contrast, spoke of stability and comfort.
Neji mused quietly. In the future, perhaps Kana and her daughter should live with Samui. It would be better for all of them.
When he knocked, the door opened to reveal Kana herself.
"My lord," she greeted, her eyes lighting up with a mixture of joy and relief.
Since Neji had arranged their residence, he hadn't visited. Alone in a foreign village, Kana and her daughter had felt insecure, uncertain of their place. Seeing Neji again was like sunlight breaking through the clouds.
"Has anyone bullied you or your daughter these past few days?" Neji asked gently.
Kana shook her head quickly. "No, everyone here has treated us with respect."
Yet even as she spoke, her delicate features carried a hint of unease. In her heart, she had thought often about why Neji had saved them. She had already resolved herself—if sacrifice was required to secure her daughter's safety and their new life, she would pay that price.
Neji reached into his pouch and withdrew the Iron Armor Seal scroll. He handed it to her with deliberate care.
"Copy this later," he instructed. "Study it thoroughly."
Kana accepted it with surprise, unrolling it slowly. Her eyes widened in shock.
"The Iron Armor Seal?"
"Yes," Neji confirmed with a nod. "The Iron Armor Seal."
Kana's hands trembled slightly as she held the scroll. The sealing arts were the pride of her clan, the Uzumaki. To be entrusted with such a technique stirred emotions she could hardly describe.
"Can I… really learn this?" she asked in disbelief.
Neji's lips curved faintly as he looked at her. Her cherry-colored lips parted in astonishment, her eyes shining with innocence. Something in her expression tugged at him unexpectedly.
He remembered something he had once read—cute aggression. The strange impulse to act roughly when faced with overwhelming cuteness. Not out of harm, but as the brain's way of balancing emotion.
Neji, who always restrained himself around Samui, found Kana's innocence stirring that very impulse.
He reached out, brushing her bangs aside and tucking them neatly behind her ear. His fingertips lingered, twirling a strand of her soft hair playfully.
"What, you don't want to?" he teased lightly. "Besides, this seal has ties to your clan's legacy."
Kana's cheeks flushed pink. She lowered her head shyly, but her voice carried determination. "My lord, I will study diligently. I won't disappoint you."
"When I speak to you," Neji said firmly, his finger lifting her chin, "you must look directly into my eyes."
Timidly, Kana raised her gaze. She found herself staring into his sharp yet youthful features, a fierce expression contrasting with his still-boyish face. Instead of fear, she felt an odd flutter of warmth.
"My lord… I remember."
"From now on, call me Neji," he ordered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "And I'll call you Madam. Understood?"
"Mmm… Ne… Neji."
Her voice was soft, hesitant, yet filled with sincerity.
Neji's hand cupped her smooth cheek, his thumb brushing across her lips. They were warm, soft, and slightly trembling. At that moment, he finally understood a little of why men like Cao Cao—"Boss Cao"—were so easily tempted.
Kana's blush deepened, spreading from her cheeks to her ears. Yet she didn't pull away. Neji was her savior. He was young, just a boy compared to her. What harm could come from his teasing?
Just a child messing around, she thought. Karin often behaved mischievously too.
But deep down, she knew Neji was no ordinary child. And that made her heart beat faster.
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