Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece-Chapter 163. Descent: Golden Thunder Tiger

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Neji steadied his breath as he hovered over the still surface of the lake. With the Tenseigan’s vision piercing through the water, he spotted it instantly.

Lying motionless at the lake’s bottom the Three-Tails, Isobu.

A massive, slumbering beast. For now.

"Lazy turtle... poor thing doesn’t even know it’s on someone’s hit list."

A flicker of pity crossed Neji’s face, but only for a moment.

"Karin, deploy the barrier. Contain everything inside."

The command echoed through the comms built into their masks.

Karin, positioned at the lake’s edge, formed the core node. The others Zabuza, Haku, Kimimaro, and Izumi stood at the points of a star-shaped formation.

All of them formed hand seals simultaneously.

[Five-Point Star Seal]

An original formation developed by Neji himself. A massive, glowing pentagram expanded and sealed the entire lake in an invisible dome.

Isobu’s eyes snapped open deep below the surface.

It had sensed the disruption.

The water rippled violently. Skies that had been clear moments ago now darkened under a thick veil of clouds.

The breeze turned sharp, the humidity so dense it felt like breathing through a soaked cloth.

CRACK!

Lightning streaked across the sky.

BOOM.

Thunder rolled across the mountains like an avalanche of sound.

Then came the rain fat, heavy drops hammering the lake like pearls striking a drum.

The team maintaining the barrier all flinched slightly, feeling the immense chakra rise from beneath the lake.

This... was the power of a Tailed Beast.

All eyes turned to the lone figure standing on the water’s surface.

Would Neji face it alone?

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Neji stood calmly, wind whipping through his white hair, rain sliding off his cloak.

"Who would’ve thought... a wild Tailed Beast just sitting here."

He narrowed his Tenseigan-enhanced eyes, locking onto Isobu’s form beneath the water.

From the lakebed, the Three-Tails began to move.

Three massive, shrimp-like tails broke the surface first, followed by the armored dome of its monstrous body, lifting water like a tidal wave.

The creature rose, casting its bulk into the storm. It was less like a turtle and more like an oversized crustacean brutal and bizarre.

"Weird-looking, but kinda... ugly-cute," Neji muttered. "And I remember... its partner is Samehada. Better play this safe."

[Chakra Shield]

A glowing orange barrier formed around him and rapidly expanded outward until it nearly filled the barrier dome.

Inside the lake, Isobu’s single eye narrowed. This chakra felt alien something it hadn’t seen before.

And dangerous.

It had known peace down here.

But now?

It would have to fight for its freedom.

The three massive tails snapped through the storm, creating roaring shockwaves and slicing rain from the sky.

But Neji didn’t move.

Repel.

With a simple glance, the air warped.

The tails froze mid-motion, then cracked audibly repelled by an invisible force. The shock sent Isobu reeling.

CRASH!

The beast crashed back into the lake, sending waves erupting into the sky.

Yet Neji stood unmoved, hovering calmly on the surface.

"Isobu. I haven’t even introduced myself and this is how you greet me? Rude."

The beast groaned in irritation, its voice booming.

"You came to seal me, didn’t you? Then you’ll have to earn it. I won’t be caged again."

Neji’s gaze sharpened.

"Fair enough."

Torrents of water spiraled upward twisters shaped by Isobu’s chakra.

Massive whirlpools erupted across the lake as the Tailed Beast prepared to strike.

"So that’s how you want it..."

"Time to see if this power works as well in practice as it did in theory."

Electricity crackled along his arms, golden arcs jumping between his fingers.

Isobu felt it a primal warning.

Something terrifying was about to descend.

In response, it launched its attack.

Multiple whirlpools surged forward, twisting into spear-like limbs of water, all aimed at Neji.

"Descend Golden Thunder Tiger."

[Chakra Beast: Judgment Tiger of Golden Lightning]

A torrent of golden chakra exploded from Neji’s body.

The water struck but was instantly drowned in light.

A sigil spread across the lake’s surface complex, alien, glowing with divine force. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Golden runes shimmered in midair. The rain itself seemed to pause as if time had bent to Neji’s will.

Then came the roar.

ROOOOAR!!

The lake trembled.

The whirlpools burst.

From the sigil emerged a monstrous golden tiger, wreathed in lightning, cloaked in flame-like chakra. It stood upon the lake, colossal and majestic, eclipsing even Isobu’s bulk.

And standing atop its head Neji, calm as ever.

Isobu froze. Even it a Tailed Beast could feel it:

This thing was made to destroy monsters like him.

Outside the barrier, the others watched in stunned silence.

Karin’s mouth hung open, eyes spinning with hearts.

Izumi stood wide-eyed, cheeks flushed.

Zabuza, Haku, and Kimimaro clenched their fists in silent awe.

"So this... is our BOSS," Zabuza whispered.

Neji looked down at Isobu.

"Sorry, Isobu. This ends now."

The Golden Thunder Tiger let out a final roar, laced with sonic chakra, bursting outward like a lion’s roar amped through a thousand amplifiers.

The lake cracked. Water rose in dozens of geysers.

Isobu was flung backward.

But Neji didn’t give it a second to recover.

The tiger crouched lightning surged around its paws.

Then—bang!

It launched.

A streak of gold tore across the lake.

Isobu barely had time to brace. It trusted its shell it always had.

The tiger’s claw descended like divine punishment.

BOOOOM!!

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