"Neji, come with me for a moment."
As soon as he returned to the Hyuga compound, Neji was summoned by Hiashi Hyuga.
There was no need to guess the reason. Neji already knew Hiashi was going to reprimand him. In a setting like that, every move he made reflected on the entire Hyuga clan. Confronting Danzo so brazenly, regardless of the Hyuga's prestige as Konoha's top clan, would make things difficult for them politically.
After all, compared to the village leadership, even the strongest clan was insignificant. The Uchiha's tragedy was the clearest warning of that.
"Neji, your actions this time lacked proper consideration," Hiashi said heavily.
Just as expected.
Neji had realized, even at the time, that exposing himself to Danzo too early was unwise. But he'd had no choice.
Danzo had already taken notice of him. If he let Danzo become Hokage, his own future would be plagued with constant trouble. If he were ever captured, he might not die, but he'd definitely lose a good portion of his skin.
To put it bluntly, all this was really that lecherous old man Jiraiya's fault. Even with the village in ruins, he still hadn't shown up. What kind of research was so captivating?
The more Neji thought about it, the more annoyed he became.
"Jiraiya… Naruto… what a fine master and disciple," Neji muttered bitterly to himself. Those two had disrupted his plans not once, but twice. He'd definitely remember that.
But then, to his surprise, Hiashi's tone softened, almost admiring.
"Though it was reckless… you did well."
"…Hmm?" Neji lifted his head, puzzled.
"Danzo is a sinister man," Hiashi said slowly. "He's always been hostile toward bloodline clans. If he were to become Hokage, the Hyuga would likely follow in the Uchiha's footsteps before long."
"But with your outburst today… Danzo? Hmph. He can forget about ever becoming Hokage."
Hiashi gave a cold laugh.
Danzo thought he'd hidden his actions well, but Hiashi had been watching him for a long time.
During the past Cloud Village negotiations, the so-called "kidnapping" of Hinata had never sat right with Hiashi. It was just a jōnin who had supposedly infiltrated the Hyuga estate undetected slipping past both the clan's defenses and Konoha's elite. That had always been suspicious.
Only recently had he found clues that pointed to the true mastermind behind it all Danzo.
"He's always coveted the Byakugan," Hiashi thought to himself grimly.
Of course, he didn't voice this to Neji. After all, Hizashi had died because of that very incident.
Neji nodded. His confrontation had indeed sullied Danzo's name completely. Everyone, except maybe Naruto, could see through him now. Danzo's collusion with Orochimaru in the Third Hokage's death was a stain that couldn't be washed clean.
From now on, Danzo's influence in Konoha would be crippled. He would be watched from all sides.
"Still, you were too brash," Hiashi continued with a frown. "Danzo now bears a grudge against you, and Koharu Utatane isn't one to easily forgive either."
He spoke with concern. Neji had offended two of Konoha's elders in one move. They would surely cause trouble for him in the future, sabotaging his path at every turn.
"I'm not afraid of them," Neji replied calmly.
Worst-case scenario, he'd just send them on their way permanently.
Though Danzo and Koharu were powerful, if he truly wished to kill them, Neji had more than enough methods. If it came down to it, he'd use his All-Killing Ash Bones and reduce them to dust.
Hiashi sighed. "You… You carry too many secrets. Fine, I won't ask further. But are you really planning to find Tsunade?"
"I am," Neji answered simply.
Hiashi hesitated for a moment, then said in a firm tone, "If that's your decision, then go without worry. I'll support you however I can."
"Understood."
And with that, Neji turned and left. His next goal was to find Tsunade. Konoha was in turmoil and desperately needed her strength to stabilize the village.
Watching Neji's departing figure, Hiashi let out a quiet sigh.
He had originally intended to push Neji to vie for the position of Hokage.
From what he had seen that day, many people in the village seemed to admire Neji. With the full backing of the Hyuga clan, even if Neji lacked the strength for it now, he still had a chance to compete for the title.
But Neji clearly had no interest in such things. Hiashi could only let the idea go.
After parting ways with Hiashi, Neji immediately headed toward Tanzaku Town. If he moved quickly, he could arrive within a day.
"There was more to Hiashi's words than he let on," Neji thought to himself as he walked. "What's he planning?"
Normally, when a clan member made a serious mistake, especially one that could implicate the entire family, Hiashi would punish them publicly as a lesson. Yet this time, he'd let Neji go with barely a word.
Neji couldn't guess what Hiashi was really thinking, but since it hadn't affected him negatively, he didn't dwell on it.
As he stepped beyond the Hyuga compound, a shadow in the trees nearby flitted away. Neji paused for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"Danzo… I'm counting on you."
When he reached the village gates, the sound of a violent clash rang out nearby, accompanied by several aggressive chakra signatures.
Someone was fighting.
Neji glanced in that direction, eyes glinting with intrigue.
The Akatsuki sure moved fast. Not only that, but they were tireless in their pursuit of their goals utterly efficient, like a model organization.
Even in his past life no, no matter the era or world that level of discipline and effectiveness was rare.
"What a pity," Neji sighed. "In the end, they let Black Zetsu manipulate them like puppets. Their original mission twisted beyond recognition."
It was well known in the shinobi world that there were three greatest genjutsu of all time:
The so-called Will of Fire Naruto had suffered years of cold stares and scorn, yet still risked his life to protect the village. That was its own kind of illusion.
Then there was Black Zetsu's Grand Manipulation Technique a thousand-year-long scheme, all to resurrect his mother. He had deceived the entire ninja world for centuries. If he hadn't exposed himself at the end, who knows how long the charade would have continued?
And finally, the most powerful illusion of them all Naruto's Talk-no-Jutsu.
It didn't matter if you had the Mangekyo, the Rinnegan, the Byakugan, or even the Tenseigan. Against that overwhelming barrage of heartfelt speeches, everything else was nonsense.
Neji chuckled. He had long given up. "Forget it. Maybe I'll find time to 'talk-no-jutsu' the rest of the Akatsuki too… After all, even their weakest members are elite jonin. Would be a waste not to recruit them."
He paid no attention to the skirmish behind him and strode confidently out of the village. Even if Jiraiya wasn't back yet, those two intruders wouldn't gain anything from Konoha.
Not with Itachi holding back, and certainly not with Danzo around. There was no way Danzo would let Naruto a weapon he already couldn't fully control fall into someone else's hands.
"Old man," Neji murmured. "Go ahead and show me your final act."