章 235: 235: No, you didn't… (1)
Chapter 235: No, you didn't… (1)
—
The Akatsuki members have projected their consciousness inside a dark cave where they were holding a meeting.
"Hidan and Kakuzu…?"
"And Hidan's severed head was taken for interrogation, you say?"
"Ugh, I knew those two were good for nothings!"
The Akatsuki members argued amongst themselves after Pain let them know of the recent incident. Now, only six members remain in Akatsuki. Pain & Konan, Itachi & Kisame, and White Zetsu & Black Zetsu. There was also a new recruit, Tobi.
"Konoha has grown, it seems," Itachi said, his tone light. "Who was it this time?"
Last time it was mostly Neji alone who defeated Sasori and Deidara, and even killed the fucking One-Tailed Beast. Zetsu had seen the incident happening and reported it to the Akatsuki. That's why Itachi, along with the others, were naturally curious about who it was this time.
"Might Guy and his protege, Rock Lee, were behind the incident this time." Pain said, watching everyone's reaction.
Though everyone was surprised, Kisame was the most shocked. "What?! Green Beast, that weakling? Just how weak were Hidan and Kakuzu?"
Pain was about to tell Kisame to shut up, but Itachi spoke first. "They were not weak. There is a reason why I told you to be careful with Guy the last time we met."
Pain had to agree. The Eight Gates was a fearsome technique, even for his standard. However, as expected, Kisame wasn't buying it. Kisame and the others chatted on the topic for a bit more before Pain decided to interrupt.
"We need new teammates." He said, watching them turn to him. "The two-tailed beast capture was a failure because Might Guy stopped Hidan and Kakuzu just when Hidan was doing his prayer."
"That goddamned idiot!"
Pain continued while ignoring Kisame. "So we need another team to go fetch the two-tailed beast, and also hunt Chiriku, one of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi, for his bounty. With Kakuzu gone, we need another person to look after the finances of Akatsuki. Any volunteers?"
As expected, "Tobi" raised his hand first. "Oh, oh! I wanna go! If Hidan and Kakuzu managed to defeat the two-tailed beast, I am sure I can too! Let me go!"
"Alright, Tobi will go." Paid nodded.
"Yay-"
"But." Pain interrupted the fake manchild's cheer. "You're going to recruit another member before you go. Akatsuki always moves in a two-member team, I can't send you alone."
"Awww." Tobi sighed. "Fine, who is it?"
"Hey, is it really okay to let Tobi recruit someone?" Kisame butted in. "Like, are you sure?"
Pain held back a sigh. That's what he would think too if he didn't know who "Tobi" really was. "Yes, I am sure. In any case, Tobi, you'll go to the Land of Iron, and recruit Hiruko, a Konoha missing-nin, for your team."
The room fell silent.
Itachi looked at him with his Sharingan. "Is that really a smart thing to do? Hiruko, according to the rumours, isn't someone who would work with us."
"We know a secret that'll make him work." Pain said, dismissing the matter. "On another matter, Itachi, I believe you'll like this one." Pain looked into Itachi's Sharingan. "Your brother, Sasuke Uchiha, has unlocked his Mangekyo Sharingan."
There was a hint of surprise in Itachi's eyes before he quickly covered it. Haah, as expected, this incident was big enough for even Itachi Uchiha to show surprise, something he didn't do in all the years he had spent in Akatsuki.
"Who…" Itachi trailed off. "Who did he kill?"
Of course, that's what he would ask.
Pain opened his mouth.
—★—
Neji wanted to spend more time with his tower girls, but sadly he couldn't. He had a tight schedule.
["I would think you'd ask me why I didn't count the people inside that dimension, even though many in that place worship you as their God. But you didn't."]
He heard Lady Luck's voice beamed in his mind as he stepped out of a blue portal and found himself back in his room in the Hyuga compounds.
'I would think you'd not be able to see what's happening inside the [Tower] but you actually can. Who would have thought?' Neji asked back. In the eight months he had spent in the Arcane Place while being in the MHA world, Lady Luck never once contacted him while he was inside. The few times she did, she could only reach out to his Bees that were in the outside world.
["Because, back then, I couldn't see what's inside, dear. That's the domain of the Gamer, and somehow it blocked a Class-2 Abstract like me. But now that you're an agent of Luck, I can follow you anywhere~"]
That made sense. "Well, whatever. As for the thing you just said about the Arcane Plane people worshipping me, that's a good point. Why didn't I think of that? Now, M'lady, why don't you-"
["Shut up, shut up, shut up! Stop pretending! Stop trying to make me feel dumb! You knew about this already."]
Neji shrugged and sat down. "Okay, fine, I knew. I was just joking. In any case, I suppose you still can't read my mind even if I am your agent? That's good to know. Because if you could, you'd already know the answer."
["Tch."]
"Tch to you too, darling." Neji kissed the air. "Anyway, stop playing with yourself while watching me, dirty girl. I will get busy now." Neji waved his hand in the air, muffling out her following yells, and rather walked outside.
Not even a minute after that, an Anbu jumped down in front of him.
"Neji Hyuga," the woman clad in black said. "Hokage-sama summons you."
"Right now?"
"No. She said to take your time." Miss Anbu said. "But you should meet her before evening."
"Understood, Yugao-senpai." Neji said to her as she froze before sighing.
"You know it's a punishable crime to unmask or/and call their real name while they're on duty? Yet you keep doing this every time we meet." Yugao said, looking at him through her cat-like mask.
Neji pulled up his blindfold to reveal one glowing eye. "That is because I can't just help but look at your beautiful face every time we meet. Not my fault you are so irresistible, is it?"
"...Doesn't mean you have to refer to my real name. Also, we aren't even that close."
"Close enough. Also, it's not like anyone's listening." Neji shrugged. "In any case, how've you been? Still mourning over Hayate's death? It's been three years."
"That's none of your business." The girl turned to leave. "Let's not get personal while on duty."
"Alright. Then do I come to meet you on the weekend?" Neji asked, hearing her click her tongue as she jumped away.
"Do whatever you wish." She vanished.
Oh wow, Neji was just saying hi, yet look how mad she got. 'Girls these days.'
Yawning, even though he wasn't sleepy, Neji took Toga out of his inventory, her appearance a tad bit different than before she went into the dungeon, and then went to eat before leaving for the Hokage's office.
—-
-Knock Knock
"Come in."
After the usual permission to enter, Neji walked inside the office. He found Kakashi and Shizune already present in the room. Kakashi waved at him while Shizune frowned and excessively focused on her paperwork, a soft blush over her nose.
"You are here, Neji." Tsunade said, looking at his blindfold. She didn't smile this time, and looked rather grumpy. "Congratulations on learning the Eight Gates."
"Hmm?" Kakashi blinked at that. "Neji? You learned the Eight Gates?" Neji nodded. "Fascinating. Pretty sure Guy warned you already, but be careful with it. It can be a double-edged sword if you aren't cautious."
Neji gave him a fist bump at that. "Thanks, but it turns out my eyes provide some sort of internal defence that allows me to use the Gates without sustaining any internal injury, though I have only tested it until the 7th Gate."
Kakashi, countering his fist bump, raised an eyebrow. "...Haah, cheaters everywhere. Oh well, be careful with the Eighth Gate then, it might still cost your life even with your strong body."
"He's right, Neji. No need to experiment with it. Only use it when your life is in severe danger." Tsunade said, finally smiling. "Now let's cut to the chase. I wanted to summon you before, but knowing that you were training I didn't interrupt you. First to congratulate you on learning Eight Gates, and also to heal our Kakashi here with Kurai's help."
Neji looked at Kakashi. "Hmmm…"
"As you can probably see, he is mostly healed. But it's still better to fully heal him, that's why I called you here." She looked at him. "Uh, don't worry I will not be calling you regularly like this, I just thought you wouldn't mind since you and Kakashi are pretty close. Though you would have to help me if there's anyone in an emergency that is beyond my scope, okay?"
"Sure, Tsunade-sama." Neji replied with her name, watching her release a relieved sigh under her breath that he was pretty sure only he noticed. "Now, Kakashi. Let's do this." Neji placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder.
"Huh? What about Kurai?" Tsunade asked in curiosity and confusion, as Neji gave her a grin.
"Kurai is running around the Land of Fire, the village bores her now. But worry not, I gained a few of her powers as our contract got stronger. It works kind of like the Inuzuka clan, just better. Anyway," Neji turned to Kakashi. "A small one would probably do, but let's use a bit of power. [High Heal]."
He was lying about the source of this power. He had, in the last five days, learned a few spells from Yue, Raven, and Kurai respectively. Not many, but enough for now.
Green light rose from Neji's hands and enveloped Kakashi's body entirely. A few seconds later, the light died out as Kakashi blinked with his open visible eye.
"Surprised?" Neji asked.
"...Surprised, yes. But because of something bigger." He pulled up his headband, revealing his other eye… that was black now, with no Sharingan present. "...My vision is normal, so I suppose you guys don't see the Sharingan?" He said, and turned to a mirror, getting his answer.
"What?!" Tsunade jumped from the table to look at Kakashi's eye, and even Shizune focused on the incident.
"Ah…" Neji scratched the back of his neck. "This is awkward."
Kakashi chuckled, "No, it's fine. I don't think you made my normal eye return." Kakashi's left eye spun, as his pupil turned red and three black tomoe came to be. "Instead, it seems the Sharingan has merged with my body entirely. It's… a part of me now, as if I am an Uchiha."
Meaning, he could turn it on and off at will.
"Oh." Neji smiled. "You are welcome."
Kakashi did seem grateful as his eyes closed and he gave Neji his infamous eye-smile. "Thank you."
"But why isn't the scar over your eye healed?" Shizune asked from the side.
"No idea. Maybe because it looks cool and the world doesn't want it to change?" Neji replied with a playful laugh, followed by Kakashi's own.
"Ahem," Tsunade cleared her throat as she turned to Neji. "Kakashi, Shizune, can you two leave for a minute? I want to check his Jutsu out. Neji, can you use the Jutsu on me?"
Neji didn't see any reason not to, and rather found an idea. 'Actually, since her true body looks like a skeleton since she overused the ‹Strength of a Hundred› technique, should I go with a [Major Heal]? She will probably regain her lost vitality.'
Kakashi and Shizune exchanged glances and Shizune sighed. With the excuse Tsunade used, she had no choice but to leave. However, before any of them could actually leave, the door burst open.
"Granny Tsunade!!" Naruto yelled as he ran inside, a bloody Sakura in his hand.
"Hokage-sama, I am sorry for barging in like this but this is serious!" Another man — Team Seven's substitute Sensei, "Yamato" – said as he followed behind Naruto, sweating, filled with worry.
Those in the room had understood their worry the moment they looked at Sakura in Naruto's arms. Her eyes were closed, her body was still, and a bloody hole was on her left chest.
"...Chidori." Kakashi said, looking at Sakura's body with wide horrified eyes, as his Sharingan activated on its own. "That Sasuke…"
The room fell into deadly silence, with Naruto yelling at Tsunade, whose eyes were shaking profusely, while Shizune ran to check on Sakura.
"S-she's still alive." Shizune yelled. "B-but I don't think we have time for surge-"
"Move." Neji softly pushed her away, crouching down beside Sakura.
"...Neji?!" Naruto snapped his head at Neji, his eyes suddenly gaining hope. "This is great! Quick, do something! Revive her like-"
Naruto couldn't finish his words as Neji used his telekinesis to shut his lips. He felt a fierce chakra that didn't belong to Naruto to try and fight his telekinesis, but he just gave 'it' a glare for it to shut up before it 'chuckled'. Or at least Neji got that impression from the fox.
He looked at Sakura instead.
[Sakura Haruno - Mid Tier 7]
The text box was still hovering over her head, meaning Shizune was right. She was alive. Neji quickly put a hand over the hole in her chest and took a deep breath in.
[Major Heal]
Green light gained a hue of gold as a calm tranquil energy covered Sakura's hold body, and Neji watched her wound closing under his hand.
The process was long, almost a minute, and Neji was almost out of his Chakra, but at last it ended.
"M…mhmm… Sasuke…"
The little bitch was still dreaming about Sasuke after pretty much dying by his hands.
Tsunade fell back on her chair, a massive sigh leaving her. Kakashi also looked relieved, though he was still frowning. This incident probably gave him a flashback of his unpleasant past.
Naruto was hugging Neji, starting to cry, but Neji didn't push him away.
Neji took out a handkerchief and placed it under his hand before withdrawing his hands away from her chest, to cover her ripped clothes. He poked two of her acupuncture points and turned to Shizune.
"Bring her to the infirmary. She won't wake up for a while, and I think it's for the better." He watched Shizune nod before she carried Sakura outside, though it didn't seem she was a gorilla, unlike her Master.
After a few minutes, Naruto was calm as he sat on the couch with his head lowered.
"Naruto," Kakashi asked, his tone cold. "Tell me everything that happened."
It seemed he was truly angered at Sasuke Uchiha this time.
Neji leaned against the wall and listened to the story as well.
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