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Days had passed since Neji immersed himself in spatial ninjutsu research until Shikamaru came knocking.
"Neji, Sasuke has gone rogue. Lady Tsunade is assembling a trusted team. We need your strength."
"Is this an official mission?"
Shikamaru hesitated. "Yeah… it is."
"Then let's go."
Neji shut the door behind him with the kind of calm that made Shikamaru blink. Just before stepping off, Neji glanced back.
"What? Don't tell me you're not in a hurry?"
"Uh—yeah! Of course!"
"Then move."
Shikamaru trailed behind, uneasy. Something about Neji's response didn't sit right with him.
But he couldn't put his finger on it.
---
Soon after, Shikamaru gathered Kiba, Naruto, and Choji. Lee was still recovering from injuries, and Shino Konoha's "undefeated tactician" was away on a mission. That left just the five of them.
After briefing the team, an emotional Sakura rushed in and clung to Naruto, tears streaming down her face.
"Please… bring Sasuke back."
Even if Sasuke had changed, even if she was now… different, Sakura's feelings hadn't wavered.
Naruto grinned reassuringly. "I'll bring her back. No matter what."
Because no matter what anyone said a girl alone out there was in danger.
He couldn't let that stand.
"Let's move," Neji said, his tone like steel.
"Right!" Naruto shouted, full of fire.
As the team departed, Lee and Sakura watched their silhouettes fade into the forest.
---
Elsewhere, the Sound Four had already crossed beyond Konoha's reach, Sasuko traveling with them. Sakon, the leader of the squad, turned to her.
"This should be far enough. We've exited Konoha territory."
Sasuko frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
They'd fought before she knew she wasn't strong enough to take them all on. Each bore the Curse Mark, and they'd told her there was a second stage more powerful, more dangerous.
Sakon gave a dark smile. "Lord Orochimaru gave us one task."
"And that is?" Sasuko's tone was guarded.
"To help you... die."
Sasuke stiffened, confusion in her eyes.
"Not truly," Sakon clarified, pulling out a small vial. "This is the Awakening Pill. It'll unlock the second stage of your Curse Mark. But it's… intense. The pain will kill you—briefly."
He explained further: the seal would consume her if not controlled. Their barrier jutsu would simulate death, allowing her to survive the transition. A dangerous gamble.
Still, Sasuke didn't hesitate.
She swallowed the pill.
Moments later, darkness took her.
The Sound Four quickly formed a seal, enclosing her body in a coffin-like container.
"Four Flames Formation!"
"Seal: Black Binding!"
With the ritual complete, Sasuko lay in a state of suspended death. They hadn't gone far before they were intercepted by Konoha's reconnaissance shinobi.
Genma and Raido.
The clash was immediate and brutal. Outnumbered and outmatched by the second stage, Curse Mark, Genma, and Raido fell hard.
With reinforcements too far and resources stretched thin, the others made the difficult choice to retreat.
---
Shikamaru's team continued pursuit, relying on Kiba's keen sense of smell to track their enemies. As they closed the distance, Shikamaru stole a glance at Neji, his thoughts spinning.
"…You knew Sasuke would defect, didn't you?"
Neji didn't even look his way. "Yes."
Shikamaru's gut sank. He was right.
"Then why didn't you stop her?"
"I couldn't."
Shikamaru stopped in his tracks. "Then why help us chase her down?"
Neji's gaze remained cold. "It's a mission."
"…Seriously?" Shikamaru stared at him. "You really mean that?"
After a long pause, Neji finally said, "As a friend… I respect her choice."
Shikamaru fell silent.
"…Neji, sometimes being a friend means not letting someone destroy themselves."
With that, he walked off, his pace quickening.
Neji watched him go, quietly. They saw things differently.
If Sasuke truly had a choice… she wouldn't have chosen Orochimaru. She wouldn't have abandoned Konoha.
But now, stopping her wouldn't save her.
Delaying Orochimaru's plan might.
Neji had his reasons: extracting DNA samples from Sakon and Kimimaro for research, gaining field experience—and most importantly, buying Sasuko time.
If Orochimaru succeeded in taking her body, it was game over.
And that, Neji would never allow.
---
Eventually, they entered enemy territory. Shikamaru stopped Naruto just before he could trigger a trap.
Neji scanned the field with his Byakugan. "They're close. Resting. Vulnerable."
The Sound Four were camped, still recovering from their earlier battle. The second stage had taken a heavy toll.
Sakon cursed under his breath.
"Damn it. We're wasting time."
"We needed to go all out to take down two Jonin," one replied. "Without full strength, we'd be dead."
Silence fell. They needed rest, whether they liked it or not.
On the other end, Shikamaru finalized a battle plan.
But it was too late.
As soon as he peeked through the branches, the enemy knew they were there.
Neji's voice cut through the tension.
"No point hiding. They've spotted us. Sasuko's in that coffin."
With a flick of his finger, Neji deflected a kunai laced with three explosive tags just before it detonated nearby.
Sakon narrowed his eyes at the intruders.
"Well well… looks like we've got some real opposition."
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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