Father and Son Reunited

Naruto had guessed that the Third Hokage might summon Jiraiya and Tsunade back to the village. Over the past few days, he had deliberately adjusted his taijutsu training route, taking a detour past Konoha's hot spring inn every day. Unfortunately, he never caught sight of that lecherous white-haired old man.

In fact, Jiraiya had returned once, appearing directly at the hospital through Mount Myōboku's Reverse Summoning Jutsu. But he had only briefly visited the recovering Third Hokage. After the two spoke in private for a while, Jiraiya hurriedly left Konoha again. As for Tsunade, in her current utterly despondent state, she probably would not return unless Konoha was truly destroyed.

Naruto was in no hurry to take Neji to the Land of Hot Water to find Hizashi. With matters having blown up this much, it would be safer to wait until the turmoil settled down a little before acting.

It was rather absurd. The incident planned by Hidden Cloud involving the Byakugan, the spark that had set off a conflict powerful enough to shake the entire Ninja World, had left Hizashi Hyuga—the true victim—completely forgotten.

Before a madman with destructive power who claimed to stand for stopping war, the life or death of a mere Hyuga branch family member seemed utterly insignificant. The gap between an individual's fate and the broader state of the world was simply too great.

Naruto had originally prepared himself. According to the original plan, Konoha would likely use Caged Bird to execute Hizashi in order to give Hidden Cloud an explanation. But now, under the deterrence of Menma's absolute strength, both Hidden Cloud and Konoha had tacitly forgotten that Hyuga clansman in some corner—neither side dared act rashly, afraid that one misstep would invite the wrath of that terrifying existence.

This unexpected development left Naruto at a loss. He had planned to rush over at any time with Flying Thunder God and try using Crazy Diamond's ability to break the Caged Bird death Curse Mark. Now, he had no chance to use it at all.

Though Konoha's villagers had gone through a brief period of panic, life still had to go on. Just as when facing an irresistible natural disaster, people quickly returned to their daily routines. Those who farmed continued farming, and those who ran shops continued running shops. Fear certainly remained, but since there was nothing they could do, why live in constant dread every day? Life was already hard enough. Why add more suffering for themselves?

As the shocking giant crater outside the village neared completion, the fear in the villagers' hearts gradually subsided as well. At last, Naruto could begin making good on his promise.

At midnight, the Hyuga branch family estate was shrouded in deathly silence.

Four-year-old Neji curled up alone on the cold tatami mat. Tears silently streaked down his face, soaking the cloth beside his pillow.

In the Hyuga clan, where the Main Family and branch family system divided people by status, blood ties had long been replaced by cold rules. To lose his father was, for this child, to lose his only family.

The outside world was being shaken by earthshaking events—the mysterious Menma, an anti-war madman capable of destroying a village, the appearance of the Ember Organization, the Raikage's near death... But none of that meant anything to Neji. At this moment, only one simple and cruel fact filled his heart: his father might never return.

Though he was only a child, one could not survive in this unreasonable world without maturing early. From the servants' whispered conversations, Neji had already pieced together the truth. His father had become the Main Family's scapegoat.

Father... where are you... What... am I supposed to do...

Hatred? Resentment? Fury? Those feelings would slowly ferment during the lonely days to come. But for now, what filled this young heart was the purest and cruelest emotion of all—grief.

The tears beneath the moon were like this child's shattered childhood, silently fading away into the endless night. Then, in that quiet midnight...

"Yo."

The sudden voice made Neji's entire body tremble. He shot to his feet and looked toward the sound. On the moonlit windowsill sat a figure that had appeared at some unknown moment, dressed in a black robe and wearing a Fox Mask that completely concealed his face.

Of course, this was Transformation Jutsu.

"You are—!"

"Shh." The masked man raised a finger. "Don't make a sound. Making a big fuss won't do you any good."

Before Neji could react, the figure before him suddenly vanished. The next second, a pair of hands gently settled on his shoulders.

"What... when..."

Cold sweat slid down Neji's back. Only then did he realize that if the person before him wanted to take his life, it would be effortless.

"You... what do you want..." Neji asked, his voice carrying suppressed terror.

"Good grief..." Naruto spread his hands helplessly. "Don't be so scared. I mean you no harm. If I wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead."

"!"

"...I... I'm only a Hyuga branch family member..."

Neji forced himself to endure his fear, but instinctive tears still rolled down his face. "If you want the Byakugan... the Main Family will use Caged Bird to execute me..."

Hearing the fear-filled yet earnest attempt to communicate in Neji's voice, Naruto had only meant to tease him a little, but now he felt somewhat guilty.

"How should I put this? My purpose may be even more childish than you think." Naruto chuckled and placed his hand back on Neji's shoulder. "Anyway, come with me first. You'll understand afterward."

Come with him? Was he going to kidnap me?

Neji's heartbeat suddenly accelerated. Just as he was about to say something, the scene before his eyes abruptly twisted.

This was not the blur caused by high-speed movement, but a genuine displacement through space. The world spun and reassembled before his eyes, as though he had been tossed into a kaleidoscope.

What is going on? Where am I now?

So I really was kidnapped...

There's... no way to call for help now...

When his vision finally refocused, a powerful wave of dizziness hit him. Neji endured the discomfort and mechanically looked around. This seemed to be the interior of some residence. Ordinary Japanese-style corridors stretched along both sides, while a plain sliding door stood before him.

"Alright." Naruto removed his hand from Neji's shoulder. "Open the door and go inside. Cherish this opportunity. You won't have one again for a long time."

Neji nervously looked up at the Fox Mask. The eyes hidden behind it were impossible to read. Though he did not understand what those words meant at all, he truly had no other choice now.

At least... this doesn't look like a prison...

His small hand trembled as it reached for the sliding door. Neji took a deep breath and slowly pulled it open—

"Father...?!"

His childish voice trembled with disbelief. Before him was the face he had believed he had lost forever, never to see again.

Hizashi Hyuga sat kneeling in the center of the room. The moment he saw his son, warmth rippled through those eyes that had always been stern. This man, who had walked through death's door, had finally fulfilled his greatest wish after being reborn.

"Neji."

That simple call contained too many emotions that could not be spoken. The father who had once been so stern now revealed an unprecedented expression of tender love.