Parallel Ninja World.
Uchiha Compound.
Neji Hyuga stopped and looked down at the bedraggled Kakashi.
His pure white eyes filled with contempt and disgust.
Back in the Empire.
Kakashi Hatake was the commander of the Empire's Anbu, and his strength had reached peak Kage level.
Even Shisui Uchiha willingly served under his command.
What an imposing pillar of the Empire he was!
But this Kakashi from the parallel world?
He wallowed in the pain of his past, unable to escape, pathetically weak-and he had even pleaded for a bloodstained traitor!
He was utterly weak, utterly spineless!
Chakra surged inside Neji Hyuga, and icy killing intent radiated from his body.
But a few seconds later.
Neji Hyuga gave a cold snort and slowly let his killing intent dissipate.
Whatever else he might be.
This piece of trash was still the parallel counterpart of the Empire's Anbu commander.
Killing him on a whim might cause unnecessary trouble once the Empire's army arrived.
"What a revolting bond."
Neji Hyuga spat out those words coldly, then turned and walked back to the group.
"Hey!"
"Sasuke."
"Time to leave, right?"
Shikamaru Nara called out lazily, his hands tucked into his pockets.
The chakra around Sasuke subsided.
The Susanoo that blotted out the sky dissolved into countless motes of purple light.
His Mangekyō Sharingan, patterned with six-pointed stars, swept coldly over everyone present.
Whether they were members of the Uchiha Clan, Sarutobi Hiruzen, or ninja from the smaller clans...
Every one of them instinctively lowered their head when that gaze fell upon them.
"Shadow Gathering Technique: Shadow Veil."
The shadow beneath Shikamaru's feet suddenly expanded, completely engulfing all five of them: himself, Sasuke, Neji, Kabuto Yakushi, and Temari.
Whoosh!
Space trembled slightly.
All traces of the five vanished from the spot, as though they had never