Beginning (3)

"Who goes there?!"

Neji was startled by the sudden voice and immediately activated his Byakugan.

As Chakra, the veins around his eyes bulged, and in an instant, he took in all the sights within a 359-degree field of vision, but found no trace of anything.

The Byakugan has extremely strong reconnaissance and support capabilities. Due to the presence of the Caged Bird Curse Seal, Branch Family ninjas will have a 1-degree blind spot.

However, it can still see the flow of Chakra in the surrounding environment, and has the ability to see into the distance and see through things, and can see the opponent's meridians, nerves and acupoints.

By utilizing Chakra to amplify the power of the eyes, the Byakugan can see things within a radius of one kilometer, while a high-purity Byakugan can see even further.

However, because the Byakugan possesses the ability to see through objects, the Hyuga clan members generally do not activate Byakugan in the village unless they are on a mission or during a battle.

After all, each clan in the village has its own unique secrets, and casually casting Byakugan could easily offend others.

Of course, while the Byakugan possesses the ability to see through objects, only a small elite of the Hyūga clan can truly control the distance of Byakugan observation and see meridians and acupoints. Naturally, these people would not use the Byakugan to do anything immoral.

Although Neji was only 8 years old, he was exceptionally talented, and his use of the Byakugan even surpassed that of many adult ninjas.

Even Hiashi, the head of the Main Family, felt it was a pity. He believed that if Neji had been born into the Main Family and his Byakugan purity had not been affected by the Caged Bird Curse Seal, the Main Family would definitely have produced a Peak Kage Level powerhouse comparable to the Warring States period.

Therefore, Neji can at most become a bodyguard who follows Hinata in the future.

"How is this possible?!" Neji's gaze swept from near to far, until he had seen through the entire house where he lived, but he still couldn't find the source of the sound. However, the sound just now came from beside him, so that person must still be in the yard.

"Answer my question, Neji."

A steady voice rang out from the backyard, and a ninja shrouded in black robes suddenly appeared on the veranda. He gently lifted the hood covering his head, revealing a white, Uzumaki mask.

The visitor was none other than Hizashi Hyuga, who had come to Konoha following Shiraha's orders. After discussing with Hyuga Hideto, he felt that it would not be easy to get the Hyuga Branch Family back on its feet.

Because many members of the Branch Family have been brainwashed over the years, they have developed a servile mentality and dare not resist the authority of the Main Family.

Although Shiraha taught Hizashi and Hideto the technique to break the Caged Bird Curse Seal, they needed to break the seal one by one, which made it easy for them to be exposed.

To liberate the Hyuga Branch Family, they must achieve great things in one fell swoop. This is also a test for Shiraha and his team. So, at the beginning, Hizashi and Hideto decided to proceed cautiously and start with the younger generation of the Branch Family.

After all, young people have a fighting spirit, and the time they are under the Caged Bird Curse Seal is relatively short.

Therefore, Hizashi immediately thought of his son Neji.

Neji displayed astonishing talent when he was three years old, which made Hizashi angry and regretful. If it weren't for the damned Caged Bird Seal and the Main Family's Branch Family system, or if Neji been born into the Main Family, he would have had a completely different future.

The special Chakra contained in the Caged Bird Seal Cursed Seal combines with the brain nerves, and the longer it lasts, the greater the damage to the Byakugan. Therefore, Hizashi could foresee that Neji's talent would be wasted as he grew older.

Unfortunately, he had just developed ill will towards Hinata when he was tortured to the point of wishing for death by the Caged Bird Seal, so he was unable to resist. In the end, when the Kumogakure Delegation launched an attack, he chose to die in pursuit of ultimate freedom.

"Who exactly are you?"

Neji's voice trembled slightly. Although the mysterious person in front of him had completely covered his face, he was all too familiar with that long-lost, familiar voice and the tall figure he remembered.

Neji, however, was not sure if the person in front of him was his father.

The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

"It's only been a few years, and you can't even recognize my voice anymore, Neji?" Hizashi said slowly, removing the white Uzumaki mask from his face, revealing a smile.

"Father!" Neji exclaimed in disbelief, "Is it really you?"

The fact that his father, who had been dead for almost five years, had come back to life left Neji completely stunned, his mind going blank.

"Neji, I'm back."

Hizashi said.

Neji into tears of joy and rushed forward to hug Hizashi tightly. Only when he touched Hizashi's body did he truly believe that Hizashi had not died.

"Father! It really is you!"

Hizashi gently patted Neji's back. Although he was happy inside, he kept a serious expression on his face. "Now is not the time to cry. My son should not be like this."

"Yes, Father!" Neji quickly released Hizashi, wiping away his tears haphazardly with the back of his hand, and then asked, "Father, back then, didn't you already... even the Caged Bird Curse Seal lost its connection to you? Could it be..."

"I died, but now I'm alive again! I chose to die for freedom, and now I've embraced freedom again. So, I'm back." Hizashi said, "All of this is thanks to Shiraha."

Then, Hizashi continued, "Now answer my question: are you willing to continue like this, and one day die in place of the Main Family because of a mission or war?"

"I'm not reconciled, but what can I do?" Neji clenched his fists, then stared wide-eyed at Hizashi: "Father, you have a way, don't you?!"

"As expected of my son. I would be very disappointed if you were content with the status quo." Hizashi said with satisfaction, reaching out to pull off the white cloth wrapped around his forehead, revealing his clean forehead.

"The Caged Bird Curse Seal has disappeared?!" Neji exclaimed in surprise.

Hizashi nodded. "This is why the Main Family thought I was dead. Shiraha has already broken the Caged Bird Curse Seal."

"The Caged Bird Curse Seal can actually be broken?" Neji found it hard to believe, because in his mind, only death could release the Caged Bird Seal from its bondage.

"I've come here to liberate all the oppressed ninjas of the Branch Family."

There was a fire burning in Hizashi's eyes.

Parallel World.

Valley of the End.

The valley, originally formed by the battle Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara, expanded several times over during Naruto and Sasuke's final First Shinobi World War.

In the years immediately following the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War, people from various countries would often come to visit this enormous valley, which seemed to have been created by a miracle.

More than a decade has passed, and now the Valley of the End has been re-covered with vegetation. Due to the steep terrain formed by the battle, the center of the valley is rarely visited.

However, this valley, which had been silent for many years, has become lively today.

Naruto and Sasuke stood in the center of the valley.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

One after another, giant beasts the size of small mountains slowly walked towards the center of the valley from all directions. Although their movements were very light, they still produced a series of loud noises.

A large, tanuki-colored raccoon with a tail made of many spikes and its entire body covered in sand, One-Tails Shukaku.

It has two blue flame-shaped tails and its whole body looks like it is burning with blue flames. It is the Two-Tails Matatabi.

A gray turtle with three crayfish-like tails and multiple sharp horns on its body, known Isobu.

A red-haired ape with four dinosaur-like tails, a headband, and two large canine teeth, known as the Four-Tails Son Gokū.

The Five-Tails Kokuō is a white steed with five pure white tails, composed of a dolphin's head, deer antlers Kazuma's body.

A Katsuyu with six milky-white tails, a body covered in mucus, and seven pores on its chin that release dissolving liquid, also known as the Six-Tails Saiken.

The six Tailed Beast converged on Naruto and Sasuke from all directions in the center of the valley.

In the sky, a beetle with a blue upper body, an emerald green lower body, six wings and a long tail flew swiftly in— Seven-Tails Chōmei.

On the other side, a nimble figure moved swiftly through the forest. Before he even arrived, his powerful rapping voice could be heard. "Yo~ yo~ Long time no see, the Tailed Beast reunite!"

It was Killer B, the younger brother of the Fourth Raikage Kumogakure. After so many years, he was already over fifty years old and looked much older, but he still looked like a rapper full of youthful energy.

"Shut up, Bi!"

An embarrassed voice came from Eight-Tails Gyūki Killer B's body.

After all, it was already used to Killer B's annoying rap, but it still felt a little embarrassed in front of so many Tailed Beast companions.

Especially after more than a decade, Killer B's rapping skills have declined rather than improved.

Killer B leaped up and landed steadily in front of Naruto, then raised his Naruto in greeting. "Yo! Naruto! Long time no see!"

"Long time no see, Uncle Bi." Naruto smiled and extended his fist.

"Yo, Sasuke! Long time no see!" Killer B then looked at Sasuke beside him and raised his fist at him.

Sasuke's face twitched slightly, but he didn't exchange punches with Killer B.

Of course, Sasuke's main reason for not holding a grudge was that he had absolutely no interest in rap, not because he was beaten up by Killer B when he was young.

"Yo~!"

Killer B raised his fist again.

Sasuke looked helpless, extended his left hand, and bumped fists with Killer B.

"Your left arm?" Killer B asked in surprise, even his strange tone becoming somewhat normal.

"It was re-transplanted because we need to deal with the Kara and the possibility of encountering Otsutsuki Clan Member."

Sasuke explained.

"Is it that troublesome?" Killer B's body echoed with the voice of the Eight-Tails Gyūki, and it couldn't help but recall the scene when Momoshiki Otsutsuki descended.

If it hadn't severed its own tail and given up a large amount of Chakra, it and Killer B might have been captured by Urashiki and turned into Chakra Pill pills.

Even someone as powerful as Momoshiki Otsutsuki was defeated by the combined forces of Naruto and Sasuke. Now Sasuke looks like he's facing a formidable enemy, which suggests that the Kara and the new Otsutsuki may be even stronger.

One-Tails Shukaku, crouching not far away, said, "I knew today wasn't a party."

"You stinky raccoon, don't make such pointless jokes at a time like this!" Kurama inside Naruto scolded. He wouldn't bother saying anything if it were any of the other Tailed Beast, but he couldn't stand Shukaku at all.

"You stinky fox, do you want to fight?" Shukaku retorted. Although its Chakra reserves were not on the same level as Kurama's, it was not going to tolerate Kurama.

Chakra, whose Shukaku has sealing abilities, isn't actually that afraid of Kurama. Besides, Kurama has been arguing with it for so many years that it's become a habit, and they haven't really fought many times.

Seeing this, the other Tailed Beast couldn't help but laugh out loud and started watching the spectacle.

"Shukaku, Kurama, stop arguing. This meeting must be about something important."

The Eight-Tails Gyūki advised.

"Hmph!" Kurama and Shukaku each snorted coldly, giving the Eight-Tails Gyūki face.

The other Tailed Beast became serious. To ordinary ninjas, these Tailed Beast were powerful beings, like natural disasters. However, to the Otsutsuki Clan Member who possessed abilities similar to those of the Sage of Six Paths, they had little power to fight back.

If we're talking about truly capable opponents, the only ones are the Kurama, whose Chakra reserves are equivalent to eight of theirs, and Shukaku, Chakra possesses sealing abilities.

"Naruto, why did you tell me to come in my true form?" Four-Tails Son Gokū stepped forward and asked. It was the first Tailed Beast besides Kurama to trust Naruto, so it had a good impression of Naruto.

Upon hearing this, Naruto said seriously, "The reason we notified everyone to come here is because, according to Sasuke's investigation, the Kara is very likely related to Ōtsutsuki Isshiki."

This Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's strength should be no less than Kaguya's, and stronger than Momoshiki and Urashiki, so I hope to get everyone's help.

"Do you need more of our Chakra?" The Four-Tails Son Gokū quickly realized why Naruto had solemnly summoned them all even though he already possessed a small amount of their Chakra within him.

"No problem, this is no challenge for us."

"You don't need to worry about the Chakra."

The other Tailed Beast also spoke up.

Seeing Naruto's hesitation, Sasuke explained for him, "To be precise, we hope that you can enter Naruto's body and merge with Kurama, making him Ten-Tails Jinchuriki for a short time. This will greatly increase our chances of defeating Isshiki."

As he spoke, Sasuke's dark eyes suddenly opened, revealing the ordinary Rinnegan in his right eye and the Six-Tomoe Rinnegan in his left eye.

"Although my other eye has also evolved into the Rinnegan, my chances of defeating Isshiki are slim, so I need your help to Naruto."

Sasuke's words plunged the Tailed Beast into a brief silence.

They were once absorbed into Kaguya's body, so they know just how terrifying Kaguya's power truly is.

Naruto and Sasuke are clearly not as strong as they were back then. If Isshiki's strength is similar to Kaguya's, he really doesn't have much of a chance of winning.

However, they had only just regained their freedom and enjoyed more than a decade of peaceful life. Now, they were about to merge back into the Ten-Tails, which they deeply resisted.

"Can't we give you a little more Chakra?" Two-Tails Matatabi asked.

"If it's not all of Chakra, it won't play a decisive role in improving Naruto's strength." Sasuke shook his head and said that during the battle at the Valley of the End, he extracted the Chakra of eight and a half Tailed Beast and only managed to fight Naruto to a draw. If he had sealed all eight and a half Tailed Beast into his body at that time, Naruto would never have been able to defeat him.

Because Sasuke only extracted the Chakra of the Tailed Beast temporarily, they would still slowly recover through their original source. Therefore, only by sealing them into his body and fusing all the Tailed Beast could his physique undergo a qualitative change.

Naruto said earnestly, "I know this is a tough task for everyone, but I can promise you that once we defeat Isshiki, I will set you all free."

After Sasuke captured Amado, Victor, and Delta, he obtained a large amount of information about the Kara from them. Out of fear of Jigen (Isshiki), the two decided not to delay and wait for Isshiki to be resurrected through the Vessel, but to take the initiative and completely eliminate Isshiki.

"It seems there's no other choice. If you lose, our fate will be even worse," said the Four-Tails Son Gokū, then looked at the other Tailed Beast: "I believe in Naruto, what about you?"

"OK."

"I agree."

"I also believe in Naruto."

"It's just a temporary fusion."

The other Tailed Beast spoke up one after another.

At this moment, only the Eight-Tails Gyūki remained silent, because if he left Killer B's body, even if Naruto became the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki after fusing with them and was able to use Yang Release to save Killer B's life, his lifespan would be drastically reduced due to losing himself.

Killer B was already close to sixty years old and could only live for another thirty or forty years at most, so Gyūki was very reluctant to let him go.

"Absolutely no problem, it's all for the sake of the Shinobi World. Gyūki, you go to Naruto's place too!" Killer B said seriously, then began his clumsy rap. "Yo~ I'm human, short-lived, you're Tailed Beast."

"Shut up, stop talking." The Gyūki's deep voice rang out.

"Uncle, without the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, I cannot become a true Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, so I only need a portion of Gyūki's Chakra."

Naruto quickly explained from the side.

Although he improved his physique by transplanting Urashiki Cells after losing the Six Paths Yang Power, he did not undergo a qualitative change. Without the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path as a vessel, he was indeed unable to withstand all the Tailed Beast Chakra.

Because the Eight-Tails has the second largest amount of Chakra after the Kurama, even half of its Chakra is more than the Chakra of other individual Tailed Beast.

The Gyūki quickly replied, "Okay!"

Next, the Gyūki separated most of its Chakra, and then the eight Tailed Beast entered Naruto's body one by one.