“Who killed Ao?”
“Neiki?!”
Listening to the surrounding Kirigakure ninjas recount the previous battle, i Terumi frowned, her expression turning grim.
Since the Fourth Great Ninja War outbreak, the infamy of Neiki, the chief culprit, had spread far and wide.
The tales of Neiki’s deeds had been passed down by every witness from Konoha, echoing throughout the ninja world.
So said he was audacious, daring enough to hold the entire Konoha hostage with explosive tags.
Others thought he was ruthless, capable of slaughtering his own Hyuga kin.
So believed he was shrewd, using the Uchiha clan's rebellion with the Nine-Tails as a smokescreen for his ticulous sches, each step seemingly insignificant but ultimately decisive, leaving Konoha no room to retaliate.
His grand strategy, deep intellect, and unparalleled cunning made him an extrely dangerous and ambitious figure.
i Terumi didn't know why Neiki appeared at this ti, simultaneously opposing both Konoha and Kirigakure. Was he truly so confident just because he mastered the Flying Thunder God technique?
Regardless, Ao was an important subordinate of hers and a senior Jonin of Kirigakure. His death would undoubtedly lead to consequences upon her return to the village.
With this thought, i Terumi couldn’t help but beco furious.
This mission had yielded nothing and resulted in significant casualties. As the planner of this operation, she would inevitably bear the brunt of the responsibility.
“Should we avenge Ao-sama?” Chojuro, still an ordinary Genin, recalled Ao’s long-standing care for him. Standing among the crowd, he mustered his courage, raised his head, and asked with red eyes.
i Terumi glanced at him without answering. Instead, she continued to watch the Konoha forces in the distance and suddenly asked:
“What is Konoha planning to do?”
“They’re likely going after Neiki for revenge too,” answered Hoshigaki.
“Hmm.” i Terumi pondered for a mont, feeling that retreating so disgracefully was indeed too humiliating. If she could return with the coveted Byakugan that all Kirigakure ninjas desired…
She looked at Chojuro, who had spoken earlier, and her friendly smile made the young boy’s face turn red.
i Terumi slowly said:
“Do you want to avenge Ao, Chojuro?”
“Yes!” Chojuro nodded vigorously.
“Then go tell those Konoha folks over there that we will cooperate from the outside to hunt down Neiki together!!”
Chojuro’s eyes lit up:
“Right away!”
“Will Tsunade agree?” Watching Chojuro’s departing figure, Hoshigaki couldn't help but ask.
“No,” i Terumi said confidently, then turned to the other Kirigakure ninjas, “Everyone, prepare for battle.”
Although Konoha and Kirigakure had temporarily ceased fighting, they had been killing each other just thirty minutes ago. Despite their common hatred for Neiki, it couldn't erase their mutual grievances and conflicts.
Cooperate against Neiki?
Don't be ridiculous. They'd be lucky not to sabotage each other.
Tsunade wouldn’t agree because she knew that Kirigakure’s so-called cooperation was a guise to seize an opportunity for themselves. But Tsunade would also realize that i Terumi wouldn’t care about her disagreent, so it was very likely that Tsunade, upon hearing the news, would angrily send people to chase them away before dealing with Neiki.
Hence, i Terumi sent Chojuro to inform Tsunade—because this kid was a fool, and even if Tsunade was furious, she probably wouldn’t kill him on the spot…
…
Contrary to i Terumi’s expectations, Tsunade, although angry upon hearing Kirigakure’s intent to “cooperate,” did not send people to attack them, nor did she trouble Chojuro.
Carrying the bodies of their fallen comrades, they remained silent, like a mournful army, quickly heading towards the original battlefield.
Halfway through, Tsunade suddenly rembered sothing and asked:
“Where’s Neji?”
“There.” Shikajuno pointed to a distant figure.
Neji’s shackles had been removed. He was carrying an injured ninja with broken legs at the back of the group.
Tsunade frowned because the ninja Neji was carrying was the special Jonin she had assigned to protect and monitor him—Miyamoto Zawa.
“Was it Neiki who did this?”
“No,” Shikajuno shook his head, his chubby face wobbling like waves, “It happened during a fight with the Kirigakure ninjas.”
“They were caught in a Genjutsu and separated from our team. They were then discovered and attacked by a Kirigakure ninja.”
“Zawa used his body to block the enemy’s jutsu, successfully protecting Neji. Neji then managed to eliminate the Kirigakure ninja during the battle. Unfortunately, Zawa’s legs were severely injured and he won't be able to serve as a ninja anymore…” Shikajuno recounted the scene, sighing.
“I see…” Tsunade looked at Neji. The young boy, despite his age, wore a determined expression. He was talking to the injured Miyamoto Zawa on his back, occasionally laughing, a stark contrast to the dark and brooding aura he had on the boat earlier.
In the face of life and death, he understood the value of life, felt the significance of comrades, and carried their hopes forward…
How similar was it?
Tsunade’s lips curled slightly. In Neji, she saw the shadow of another Konoha ninja.
His na was Kakashi Hatake.
“Should we continue to monitor… protect him?” Shizune asked.
“No need. He looks capable of handling himself well, protecting others and himself.” Tsunade blinked and smiled.
“And the upcoming fight with Neiki…” Shizune trailed off.
Tsunade’s face darkened, shaking her head: “All the deceased Hyuga clan mbers had their eyes gouged out. Neiki has a habit of collecting Byakugan. He spared Neji, not out of sentint, but likely because Neji’s Byakugan hasn’t matured yet.”
A similar case was Hinata.
“He should stay out of the fight, remain in the rear, and avoid being discovered by Neiki.” Tsunade said, then suddenly halted.
Ahead lay the previous battlefield between Konoha and Kirigakure, but why was there such a strong sll of blood??
A bad feeling rose in her heart. She left the others behind and swiftly moved through the dense forest to the site of the battle, her expression darkening upon arrival.
Right before her eyes.
Neiki, covered in blood, held a pitch-black long sword, thrusting it into Hayama Byakumo’s chest, then withdrawing it, spraying blood into the air like a thin rain.
The raindrops mingled with the blood, turning the once green land into a bloody hell.
Severed limbs were scattered everywhere, and so unrecognizable jutsu had leveled the entire forest, leaving an oddly vast, empty space.
So were beheaded.
So were vertically sliced in half.
So had no remains left, only blood splatters and the lingering scent of explosive tags in the air, marking the grueso end of that Konoha ninja’s life.
Nara Suzaku’s body lay just two steps away from Tsunade, a clear sword wound running through his skull. He seed to have died not long ago, his eyes still full of confusion and shock.
As Hayama Byakumo was killed before their eyes.
Tsunade looked around. In the vast field, Neiki was the only one left standing.
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