Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece-Chapter 88. Death is Necessary

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"Hm? So he really didn't fall for the genjutsu that easily."

Kabuto, still disguised as an ANBU, narrowed his eyes at Neji but made no move. He'd expected this much from someone like Neji.

Meanwhile, Sakura was surprised to see someone else awake. But when she recognized who it was, she relaxed.

Of course, Neji is the ever-dominant final boss type. Nothing to worry about.

"Hey, girl! This isn't the time to zone out and you Smell shit!" said Pakkun, Kakashi's tiny but sharp-eyed summon, glancing up at her.

"What?!!"

That snapped her out of it. Sakura rushed to Naruto's side and began working to dispel the genjutsu.

Pakkun trotted over and casually bit down on Shikamaru's leg.

"Agh! That hurts!" Shikamaru cried, jolting up.

Sakura shot him a glare. "You weren't even under the genjutsu, were you?"

He sheepishly scratched his head and tugged on Pakkun's face. "Tch. I didn't wanna get involved in all this chaos. Neji's around, anyway..."

Chomp!

"OW! Again?!"

Pakkun, not one to tolerate laziness, gave him another bite his own form of discipline for would-be freeloaders.

While their side had descended into comedic chaos, Neji's side was quiet and composed.

He stood slowly, and so did Tenten and Hinata who had taken shelter behind him. Their cheeks were slightly flushed from the close contact, but they quickly positioned themselves at his back, alert and ready.

"Stick close. Things aren't looking good," Neji said calmly.

He kept sensing Kabuto's presence nearby, but with Kakashi and Guy going all out, the enemy had no room to act just yet.

"...Understood," the two girls said softly, staying in formation. With no Jonin to guard them, Neji's lead was their only shield.

Strangely, Kabuto didn't seem interested in attacking them. Neji narrowed his eyes.

Is Orochimaru that confident I'll come to him on my own?

---

Boom!

Elsewhere, Guy slammed a Sound ninja into a wall, leaving deep cracks.

"Fast..." one enemy murmured.

"It's not just speed," Guy growled, and with a burst of chakra, shattered the wall and crushed his foe.

Kakashi turned to the squad.

"Listen carefully. This is your mission: head through that breach, catch up to Sasuke, and stop him. Once you do, wait in a safe zone for further orders."

Naruto, now fully awake, snapped to attention.

"What?! What happened to Sasuke?"

Sakura cut him off. "I'll explain on the way. We don't have time!"

Without hesitation, she grabbed Naruto and jumped through the exit.

Shikamaru groaned. "Why do I have to go too? Isn't Neji enough?"

But even as he complained, his legs carried him forward his body proving more honest than his words.

Guy flickered to Neji's side, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"You go too. Leave this battlefield to us."

Neji nodded. He glanced toward the tower he could feel it. The real battle had begun.

But Gaara's presence was growing more unstable. That's where he needed to be.

With Tenten and Hinata in tow, Neji vanished into the opening.

Guy returned to Kakashi, standing guard over the breach and protecting the unconscious.

"Kakashi," Guy said firmly, "don't worry. Neji is strong. Stronger than even I fully understand."

Kakashi managed a smile. When did Guy start reassuring me?

"I'm just... uneasy. That chakra around Gaara doesn't feel right. I hope I'm just being paranoid."

Still... with Naruto there, maybe things would turn out differently.

---

Inside the Four Violet Flames Formation...

The Third Hokage stood firm and donned a lightened battle uniform. Though his body was aged and hunched like a monkey's, his aura radiated power.

Orochimaru taunted him. "You know you're going to die today, don't you?"

Hiruzen remained silent.

Orochimaru chuckled, almost fondly. "Who would've thought I'd get to fight you one last time?"

There was nostalgia in his tone... but no hesitation. That moment had passed when he drove a kunai through his own hand.

Outside, the ANBU observed the barrier, their voices tight with urgency.

"We can't breach it from this side. But if the Hokage can take out even one of the four controlling it, we can break through."

The Sound Four sneered and began chanting again.

"Time to seal things up in here, too."

With swift hand signs, they created protective triangles around themselves strengthening the barrier from within.

Inside, the Hokage grimaced. freёnovelkiss.com

It won't be easy to escape now...

"Why so gloomy, old man?" Orochimaru mocked. "If they get inside, it'll only distract you."

He still knows me better than anyone... the Hokage thought. And I underestimated him.

Their battle began.

Hiruzen launched a shuriken and his hands became a blur.

[Shadow Shuriken Clone Technique]!

A storm of spinning steel rained toward Orochimaru, forcing him to defend himself.

Orochimaru smirked. His own hands flew into seals.

[Summoning Jutsu: Reanimation]!

Two coffins burst from the ground. Their lids bore characters First... and Second.

The Third's face fell.

'Damn it. I have to stop the third one from emerging whatever it is!'

He unleashed a barrage of shuriken to stop the next summoning.

But Orochimaru watched, unbothered.

So the third coffin failed? No matter. Two are enough.

When the dust settled, the doors creaked open.

Hiruzen's heart sank.

"Long time no see, Sarutobi..."

"You've aged, monkey."

He slowly lowered his hands, recognizing the figures.

"To meet you both again like this... what a tragedy."

"Prepare yourselves... First Hokage. Second Hokage."

Outside the barrier, the ANBU gasped.

The First and Second Hokage?!

Tobirama, ever the analytical one, turned to Orochimaru.

"So you're the one who used Edo Tensei to summon us? Impressive... for someone your age."

---

Far away, Neji felt the tremor through his Observation Haki. He sensed the two reanimated titans.

And at last, he understood.

He'd done everything to maintain the timeline not because of fate, but for this moment.

If the Third Hokage doesn't die... Konoha will never change.

He is the withered branch. If he refuses to fall, the tree cannot flourish.

"Where the leaves dance... the fire will burn. The fire's light will continue to shine upon the village and help new leaves grow."

That proverb summed it all up.

If the dead never step down, the living will never rise.

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