Postwar Deliberations (I)

Neji's gaze shifted back to Orochimaru. The founder of Sound Village was standing where the golem had been, his hands in the pockets of his white lab coat, his golden snake eyes fixed on Neji with interest, as if observing a recently completed and incredibly successful experimental specimen.

"Resume the Impure World Reincarnation of the four Hokage, Lord Orochimaru," Neji said, his tone filled with respect—not feigned, but genuine. Three years had passed. Whatever Orochimaru's initial intentions, no matter how painful or cruel those experiments were, without this man's knowledge and resources, he could not have reached this point.

Orochimaru licked his lips, his gaze lingering on Neji's Tenseigan for a few seconds before turning to the four Hokage Reanimated Body.

Orochimaru formed a hand seal with both hands.

"Impure World Reincarnation - Release".

The bodies of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju; the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju; the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hiruzen Sarutobi; and the Fourth Hokage Hokage, Minato Namikaze —began to change. The grayish-white color of their Impure World Reincarnation faded, replaced by a semi-transparent, almost ethereal state. The control talismans on their foreheads spontaneously combusted, turning into wisps of blue smoke. Their empty eyes regained focus—though still numb, still bound by Orochimaru's techniques, at least they could "see" the world before them.

Puff--

Four soft sounds, like bubbles bursting. The bodies of the four Hokage simultaneously transformed into four wisps of white smoke, within which their faces in life could be vaguely seen— Hashirama's gentle smile, Tobirama's cold profile, Hiruzen's kind gaze, Minato's warm eyes—then, the white smoke rose and dissipated in the morning light.

Impure World Reincarnation, Dispelled.

The souls of the four Hokage returned to the underworld, back to the place where they were meant to rest.

After doing all this, Orochimaru didn't even glance at the six allied soldiers who were gathering in the distance. His gaze returned to Neji, his golden snake eyes gleaming with the thirst for unknown data unique to scientists.

"Neji," Orochimaru's voice still carried that playful tone, "I need to examine your current physical data. The power of your evolved eyes, the degree of fusion with the Ten-Tails Chakra, the changes in your meridians after the Caged Bird Seal was broken, and... your current strength level."

He paused, then added, "After you've dealt with these tedious things, go back to base on your own."

After saying that, Orochimaru's body began to transform into countless small white snakes. These snakes slithered across the ground, gathered together, and finally merged into the soil, disappearing from sight. The entire process took no more than three seconds, leaving only a patch of slightly disturbed soil in place, proving that someone had indeed been standing there.

Neji looked at the spot where Orochimaru had disappeared and shook his head helplessly.

This personality is really...

As always.

It's probably for the best. Orochimaru really shouldn't be present for what's to come. Those questions about his "undercover identity," "why he didn't act sooner," and "his relationship with Orochimaru" would likely escalate into conflict if Orochimaru were there. Neji, even though he now possesses the Tenseigan and has reached the Six Paths Tier, doesn't want to be an enemy of the entire Shinobi World, nor has he ever considered it.

Neji withdrew the light of his Tenseigan, and his azure-green pupils returned to ordinary white—or rather, an ordinary-looking white. Upon closer inspection, the whites of his eyes were still purer than those of an ordinary person, and faint azure-green starlight flickered deep within his pupils, but at least, it was no longer the divine eye that had previously inspired awe and fear.

He turned and walked towards the six people who were gathering in the distance.

Tsunade, Kakashi, A, Gaara, Kurotsuchi, Darui.

Six people, six different expressions.

Tsunade's face showed weariness and grief— Jiraiya's death had hit her too hard—but more than anything, it held a complex, indescribable scrutiny. Her gaze lingered for a long time on Neji's smooth forehead, where there had once been a blue Caged Bird Seal, but now there was nothing there, only smooth skin, as if the curse that had bound the Hyuga Branch Family a thousand years had never existed.

Kakashi's Sharingan was activated, the Mitsudomoe slowly rotating. He looked at Neji, at this young man who had once been a Konoha Genin, then a missing-nin, and now returned in this manner. His eyes held confusion, wariness, and perhaps even a hint of... surprise that he himself didn't realize?

Ai's expression was the simplest—anger, suppressed anger. His eyes were fixed on Neji, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. If he hadn't still had his senses, if he hadn't just witnessed Neji's power that transcended comprehension, he might have already charged forward.

Gaara remained relatively calm, but there was a scrutinizing glint in his pale blue eyes. The sand behind him moved without wind, forming a miniature defensive circle—not an offensive posture, but an instinctive act of self-preservation.

Kurotsuchi and Darui stood together, both with solemn expressions. There was still a trace of blood at the corner of Kurotsuchi's mouth—it was from the shock of Neji's aura earlier—but she gritted her teeth and didn't wipe it away, just staring at Neji with those stubborn eyes that belonged to the Iwagakure Ninja.

Neji stopped five meters in front of the six people.

The distance was neither too close nor too far, neither too provocative nor too fearful. He stood very straight, his black ninja uniform fluttering slightly in the morning breeze, the wisps of hair on his forehead being blown by the wind, revealing his overly calm eyes.

"Lady Tsunade," Neji spoke, his voice calm and devoid of any emotional fluctuation, "The crisis of this war has been temporarily averted."

Tsunade stared at him, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately said nothing. What could she say? Question Neji about his betrayal? Ask him why he colluded with Orochimaru? Ask him why he didn't save Jiraiya sooner?

But those problems all seemed pale and powerless in the face of the absolute power Neji displayed in that battle just now.

Moreover, she noticed that Neji addressed her as "Lady Tsunade" instead of "Lord Hokage." This conveyed a subtle sense of distance, an implication that "I respect you, but I am not under your jurisdiction now."

Tsunade a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She was the Hokage, one of the highest commanders of the Allied Forces in this war; she couldn't lose her composure.

But just as she was about to speak, Neji suddenly raised his head and looked in the direction of Konoha.

Although his Tenseigan had dimmed its light, his senses remained. Within Konoha, several familiar auras were rapidly approaching—one of them, vast and warm, carrying the Nine-Tails' characteristic frenzy and sorrow, was Naruto. The other, calm and sharp, carrying the Uchiha Clan's characteristic coldness, was Sasuke.

There were others, including Shikaku, as well as advisors and elite Jonin from various villages.

"Sasuke and Naruto are also gathering here," Neji said, turning his gaze to Tsunade. "If possible, let's find a quiet place and sit down to talk."

He paused, then added, "Of course, that's on the condition that you're all willing to listen to my explanation."

This was said very politely, but there was an undeniable confidence within that politeness.

Tsunade was silent for three seconds, then nodded.

"Good."

She turned to look at the other five. Ai wanted to say something, but Tsunade to stop him.

"Return to Konoha first," Tsunade's tone regained the Hokage's authority. "Arrange for the treatment of the wounded, the retrieval of the bodies, the repair of the barrier, and the rotation of troops for rest. Assemble in the conference room on the top floor of the Hokage Office Building in one hour."

She looked at Neji: "Is it okay?"

Neji nodded. "Okay."

Konoha, when the sensing department reported that "the enemy has withdrawn," the tense atmosphere in the command center finally eased slightly.

But Naruto didn't breathe a sigh of relief.

He stood before the tactical map, his hands gripping the edge of the table, his knuckles white from the force. The Nine-Tails Chakra overflowed uncontrollably from his body, his golden robes appearing and disappearing, and his azure eyes were bloodshot.

He sensed it.

The aura of Jiraiya- sensei has vanished.

It's not leaving, it's not hiding, it's a complete and permanent disappearance.

It felt like when Iruka-sensei was almost killed by Mizuki, like when Sasuke left Konoha, like... like something important had been forcibly ripped out of my heart.

"Uncle Shikaku..." Naruto's voice trembled, "Let me out."

Shikaku stood beside him, his expression equally grave. He had already learned of the situation outside through the communication network— Jiraiya had died in battle, Mei Terumi had died in battle, Obito had escaped, and two-thirds of the Ten-Tails 'Chakra had been stolen, and the thief was Neji Hyuga.

Too much information, too much shock, too many things that need to be dealt with immediately.

But looking into Naruto's eyes, which were almost breaking down, he finally nodded.

"Go," Shikaku said, "But don't act rashly. The situation is... complicated."

Naruto didn't answer and rushed out of the command center.

Shikaku watched his retreating figure, took a deep breath, and then began issuing orders. "The sensory team continues monitoring, the medical team focuses on treating the wounded, the logistics team prepares food and water, the Barrier Team prioritizes repairing the damaged area in the southeast corner... Also, notify the staff officers and key personnel of each village to assemble at the Hokage Office Building in one hour."

He paused, then added, "Also, send someone to invite Hyuga Hiashi clan head... never mind, I'll go myself."

The Hokage Office Building, top-floor conference room.

This is a large conference room that can accommodate fifty people. High-backed chairs are placed on both sides of a long conference table, and portraits of the Hokage of Konoha from the First to the Fourth Hokage are hung on the wall. Every pair of eyes seems to be watching the people in the room.

At this moment, there were fewer than twenty people sitting in the conference room.

Konoha's side: Tsunade, Kakashi, Shikaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and -- Uzumaki Naruto.

Cloud Village: Ai, Darui, Xi.

Iwagakure Fang: Kurotsuchi, Kitsuchi.

Sand Village: Gaara, Temari, Kankuro.

Mist Village direction: Green.

And, the Sound Village —or rather, those who don't belong to either side— Neji Hyuga, Sasuke Uchiha, and the three members of Taka standing behind Sasuke: Suigetsu, Jugo, Karin.

The atmosphere was so oppressive it felt almost frozen.

Naruto sat to Tsunade's left, his head bowed, his golden bangs obscuring his eyes and his expression. But judging from his clenched fists, slightly trembling shoulders, and the unstable Chakra fluctuations around him, he was on the verge of a breakdown.

Sasuke sat opposite Neji, arms crossed, his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, his crimson pupils fixed on Neji. Behind him, Suigetsu carried the Kubikiribōchō, yawning listlessly; Jugo closed his eyes to rest, but Natural Energy flowed around him; Karin stared intently at Sasuke, her red eyes behind her glasses filled with worry.

Everyone else, whether sitting or standing, had their eyes fixed on Neji.

This boy, who was once Konoha S-Rank Missing-Nin, but was actually Konoha spy, later became Akatsuki spy, and has now returned in this manner, is currently the most mysterious and dangerous existence in the entire Shinobi World.

As the host, Tsunade spoke first.

"Well," her voice was a little hoarse, but still steady, "Everyone's here. Neji, you can begin your explanation."

All eyes were now focused even more intently.

Neji sat in the chair, relaxed, his hands clasped on the table. He didn't look at anyone, only at the table in front of him, as if organizing his thoughts.

But he wasn't the first to speak.

It's Ai.

The Raikage slammed his hand on the table, cracking the solid wood surface. He stood up, his eyes fixed on Neji, his voice like thunder:

"Sake—no, Neji Hyuga! What exactly was that gift you gave Obito Uchiha? Why did he act like he was possessed after seeing it, and not even bother to hide?!"

This question reflects the sentiments of most people present.

Neji raised his head and looked at A, his blue-green pupils devoid of any emotion.

"Inside the gift box," he said calmly, "Is Crow capable of activating Kotoamatsukami."

There was a moment of silence in the conference room.

Then, gasps of astonishment rose and fell.

Kotoamatsukami.

That legendary Genjutsu of Shisui Uchiha, the ultimate Dōjutsu capable of permanently altering another's will without their knowledge—the vessel for that technique is actually in Neji's hands? And he used it on Obito?

"What are the effects?" Kakashi asked in a deep voice, his Sharingan fixed on Neji.

"It will transform the Uchiha Clan members," Neji's voice remained calm, "From being enemies of Konoha to loving Konoha."

He paused, then added, "It was originally prepared by Itachi Uchiha for Sasuke, to prevent Sasuke from going to complete destruction after learning the truth about the massacre of his clan. But the current Sasuke... doesn't need it anymore."

These words caused Sasuke to twitch slightly.

The patterns on the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan spun faster. He stared at Neji, his lips moved, but he ultimately said nothing.

The others were so shocked by the information that they were speechless.

Kotoamatsukami... if used on Obito... if successful, Obito would become a Konoha who loves Uchiha Clan?

That war...

"Since you have such a trump card," Ao's voice suddenly rang out, filled with suppressed anger and grief, "Since you are a spy for Konoha, why didn't you act sooner?! If you had used Kotoamatsukami to control Obito earlier, the Mizukage wouldn't have died! Lord Jiraiya wouldn't have died! The Allied Forces wouldn't have suffered so many casualties!"

This question is more pointed and gets to the heart of the matter.

All eyes turned to Neji once again, awaiting his answer.

Neji slowly turned his head to look at Ao. His gaze was calm, but within that calmness lay a cold indifference that made Ao's heart tremble.

"When to make a move," Neji said slowly, each word as clear as an icicle, "Is my choice."

He paused, his voice growing even colder:

"Furthermore, if I choose not to intervene, the Shinobi World Allied Forces... will suffer far more casualties than just this."

The temperature in the conference room instantly dropped to freezing.

A's fists clenched tighter, Gaara's sand began to flow uneasily, Kurotsuchi's face turned ashen, and even Tsunade's brows furrowed.

That statement is too cold-blooded, too arrogant, too... disregard for human life.

But Neji was telling the truth.

If he hadn't intervened, hadn't brought Kinkaku Ginkaku as substitutes, hadn't brought Kotoamatsukami Crow, hadn't kicked Obito at the crucial moment, and hadn't stolen the Ten-Tails Chakra to evolve the Tenseigan with Orochimaru's help—

Then, Obito will become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, reach the Six Paths Tier, launch the Eye of the Moon Plan, and plunge the entire Shinobi World into the illusion of Infinite Tsukuyomi.

When that time comes, it won't be just two Kage who die, or thousands of ninjas.

It applies to everyone.

But this fact does not make those who have lost their companions feel any better.

Tsunade a deep breath, knowing she couldn't let the atmosphere remain tense. She looked at Neji, her voice softening slightly—not ingratiating, but a calculated compromise.

"Neji," she said, "How is Obito doing? Has the crisis of war truly been resolved?"

That's a clever question.