Neji Was Going to Cry Himself to Death

At the border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Fire, atop an unnamed mountain.

Neji stood on an eagle-beak outcrop, his black robe swaying slightly in the morning breeze. From here, he could take in all of Konoha—the faces of past Hokage carved into Hokage Rock, the shinobi patrolling the streets.

But his gaze did not linger on those surface details.

Through his Byakugan, Chakra flow was crystal clear. Konoha's defensive barrier was active around the clock, a pale blue Chakra membrane covering the entire village like an overturned bowl; the Barrier Team rotated shifts at every node, their Chakra rising and falling with rhythmic regularity; ANBU patrol routes formed an interwoven net without a single blind spot; all civilians had been evacuated, leaving only shinobi in the village.

Tsunade truly was preparing for the worst.

Neji's fingers unconsciously brushed the Flying Thunder God kunai in his ninja tool pouch. He had already sent out three. He still had five in reserve.

"What are you thinking about so intently?"

The voice came from behind him, soft, carrying that peculiar texture somewhere between plant and animal.

Neji did not turn around. Zetsu had informed him through the ring that it would come before he began setting up the barrier—Zetsu slowly emerged from the ground, its half-white, half-black body looking strange in the morning light. White Zetsu wore a cheerful grin, while Black Zetsu's eyes were as deep as black holes.

"Senior Zetsu." Neji bowed slightly, maintaining the respect expected of a lower-ranking Akatsuki member. "I was observing Konoha's defensive arrangements. If Lord Pain intends to launch a direct assault, which direction would be the most suitable point of entry?"

Zetsu walked to his side, its sharply divided black-and-white body casting a warped shadow over the rock. Its eyes swept over Konoha below as it clicked its tongue in admiration. "Nice place you picked, Sake. The view is wide open. You can see every building in Konoha at a glance, and it's far enough away—even if Nagato scouts with the Rinnegan, he won't notice this place."

"Thank you for the praise, Senior Zetsu." Neji lowered his eyes. "I merely did what I should."

He paused, then raised his gaze. "May I ask why Senior Zetsu came personally? I should be enough to monitor Lord Pain on my own."

White Zetsu clapped its hands—or rather, made a clapping motion with that white arm. "Of course I came to watch with you! And besides..."

Black Zetsu took over in a low voice. "We also came to share some good news."

Good news? Neji's heartbeat skipped. Within Akatsuki, "good news" usually meant another Tailed Beast had been captured.

Zetsu did not keep him in suspense. "The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer B, has already been captured personally by Lord Madara."

The air froze.

There was no change in Neji's expression behind the mask, but his mind went blank for a second. The Eight-Tails had been captured? Now? Obito had acted personally? According to the original story, the Eight-Tails should have been captured much later, and Killer B should have fooled them with a substitute made from an octopus tentacle. But now Zetsu said Obito had "personally captured" him...

"Sake?" Zetsu tilted its head. "Aren't you happy? Only the Nine-Tails is left, and then the Ten-Tails can be revived."

Neji abruptly came back to himself. He forced a reaction—his body leaned forward slightly, and his voice carried the right amount of surprise and reverence. "Lord Madara's strength is extraordinary. If he acted personally, success was inevitable. I simply... did not expect it to happen so soon."

Yet inwardly, he was roaring like mad:

Obito, are you insane?! You went after the Eight-Tails now?! In the original story, you hid until Pain died before personally stepping in! Why are you in such a hurry to gather all the Tailed Beasts? Are you trying to start the war early? Are you bringing the Fourth Shinobi World War forward? My damn plan isn't even ready yet!

His plan, the carefully crafted plan, had originally gone like this:

First, infiltrate Akatsuki, gather intelligence, and increase his strength.

Second, use his god's-eye view to ensure the key plot points did not deviate too much—especially Nagato being talked down by Naruto and dying after using the Reincarnation Heavenly Life Technique.

Third, hide near Obito during the Fourth Shinobi World War and wait for the Ten-Tails to be revived.

Fourth, the instant Obito became the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and was overwhelmed by its power, losing his reason—the moment in the original story when Naruto's words shook him—launch a surprise attack and seize control of the Ten-Tails.

Fifth, use the Ten-Tails' massive Chakra to evolve the Byakugan into the Tenseigan, break into the Six Paths Tier, and shatter the Caged Bird Seal in one stroke.

Sixth, join Naruto and Sasuke in cleaning up the aftermath, achieve fame and success, and travel the Shinobi World.

Perfect, elegant, and manageable in risk.

But now?

The Eight-Tails being captured early meant the Ten-Tails would be revived much sooner. That meant the Fourth Shinobi World War might erupt early. That meant he might not have a chance to seize the Ten-Tails Chakra.

More importantly—if Obito became the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki early, what could Neji use to fight him? The current him had no problem facing Kage Level experts, but against a Six Paths Tier Ten-Tails Jinchuriki? That was suicide on a whole different level.

The entire plan was ruined. Completely ruined!

"Sake?" Zetsu called again, this time with more suspicion in its tone.

Neji drew a deep breath—no one could see his expression beneath the mask. He forced himself to calm down and smoothly changed the subject. "Didn't Sasuke join the organization as well? Did he not participate in the operation to capture the Eight-Tails?"

At the mention of Sasuke, Zetsu's mood visibly lifted. White Zetsu gestured wildly. "He did, he did! That kid Sasuke, seriously, he fought like his life depended on it!"

Black Zetsu continued in the tone of someone telling an amusing story. "He fought Fourth Raikage A alone. You know the Fourth Raikage—the pinnacle of taijutsu and speed in the Shinobi World. Sasuke had only just awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, yet he dared to face him one-on-one."

Neji: "..."

Second Pillar, damn your ancestors!

The transmitter in his mind began broadcasting frantically again:

You just awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and you're already this reckless?! That was the Raikage! The biggest brute in the Shinobi World! He was faster than you, stronger than you, and had a hundred times more combat experience! What the hell were you going to fight him with?! If Obito hadn't been there, you would've been beaten into meat paste! And Jugo, Suigetsu, Karin—wait, where were those three idiots?

Zetsu kept talking. "As for the result... Sasuke was beaten half to death. His whole body was fractured, his internal organs ruptured, and he nearly went blind from overusing the Mangekyō Sharingan. But he also burned off the Raikage's left arm with Amaterasu, so I suppose... they both suffered?"

They both suffered my ass! The Raikage cut off his own arm to survive! He could still beat you to death with one hand missing!

Neji's fingers clenched beneath his sleeves, his nails digging into his palms. Jugo, Suigetsu, and Karin—those three were people he had secretly drawn to his side, hidden pieces on his board. Such a major operation, yet they had not sent him a single word?

Damn it. When he had the chance, he would make them suffer a little. He would let them know who the real boss was.

The truth was that the three had not failed to report; they simply had no opportunity. Obito's Kamui was too absurd. In the blink of an eye, he had jumped from the base to the Cloud Village, and after the battle, he jumped back just as quickly. Jugo and the others had probably not even figured out what was happening before it was over. Sasuke had been badly injured and fallen unconscious. They were surely busy saving him—how could they spare a thought for sending a message?

"Lord Madara plans to transplant Itachi's eyes into Sasuke." Zetsu tossed out another bombshell. "The Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. Once Sasuke recovers, his strength should rise by quite a bit."

Neji's heart sank again.

The Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan... in the original story, that was power Sasuke only obtained during the Fourth Shinobi World War. He was getting it now? Wasn't this progress bar moving way too fast?

"Then... that is wonderful." Neji heard his own dry voice. "The stronger the organization becomes, the faster the plan can be realized."

Zetsu nodded in satisfaction, its black-and-white body turning toward Konoha below. "That's why this operation is so critical, Sake. Once Pain captures the Nine-Tails, the Ten-Tails can be revived, and the Eye of the Moon Plan can begin. Then there will be no war, no pain, and everyone will live in happy dreams..."

Its voice carried a sort of fanatical devotion.

Neji did not respond. He silently took four specially made kunai from his ninja tool pouch and formed hand seals with both hands.

"Barrier Technique: Four Symbols Concealment."

The kunai flew in four directions and embedded themselves in the rock. An invisible barrier spread from them, forming a hemispherical transparent dome that enveloped Neji and Zetsu. The inner walls of the barrier were like one-way glass—from within, they could see outside, but from outside, this was merely an ordinary rock. Sound was completely sealed as well; not a trace of their conversation could escape.

Zetsu watched the barrier form with great interest. "Heh, Sake, your barrier techniques are getting more and more exquisite. Nagato really had a good eye when he brought you into the organization."

"Thank you for the praise, Senior Zetsu." Neji lowered his gaze. "I hope Senior Zetsu will guide me more in the future."

Guide your damn ass. Once my plan succeeds, you'll be the first one I beat into a vegetable and send back for remanufacturing.

He cursed inwardly, but his face still had to remain respectful. Neji now understood—in a place like Akatsuki, acting skill was more important than strength.

The barrier fully closed. Now, they were like passengers inside a transparent observation sphere, looking down upon Konoha below. Zetsu stopped speaking. Its sharply divided body went still, its eyes fixed firmly in Konoha's direction as it waited for something.

Neji also looked toward Konoha, but his mind was no longer here.

His brain ran at high speed like an overloaded computer, frantically recalculating every variable and reworking every path.

The Eight-Tails had been captured, and the Ten-Tails' revival was moving forward. The Fourth Shinobi World War might erupt early. He was not strong enough; he could not keep hiding until the critical moment and act according to the original plan.

Then... what was the new plan?

He closed his eyes and listed every known condition in his mind:

1. Obito had already captured the Eight-Tails. His next target would definitely be the Nine-Tails.

2. Nagato would attack Konoha soon. Naruto would most likely succeed in talking him down, and Nagato would die.

3. Obito would reclaim Nagato's Rinnegan and become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki.

4. Sasuke would obtain the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, then seek revenge against Konoha.

5. Kabuto... right, Kabuto! In the original story, Kabuto had sought out Obito on his own and joined forces with him, participating in the war with an Impure World Reincarnation army. But if Kabuto could be controlled in advance, or Orochimaru revived, then Obito's source of Impure World Reincarnation troops could be cut off.

6. Without the Impure World Reincarnation army, Madara Uchiha could not return. Without Madara Uchiha, Obito alone would be much easier to deal with.

7. Naruto and Sasuke would receive power-ups from the Sage of Six Paths when the time came—this should not change, since they had protagonist luck.

8. And him... he needed the Ten-Tails Chakra to evolve the Tenseigan.

So the new plan should be:

First, make sure Nagato died according to the original story and the Rinnegan fell into Obito's hands. This was necessary; otherwise, the Ten-Tails could not be revived.

Second, immediately after Nagato's death, find Kabuto and control him so he could not join forces with Obito. The only way was to revive Orochimaru early—with Orochimaru around, Kabuto would not lose control.

Third, approach Sasuke. He had only just awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and had nearly been beaten to death by the Raikage. He was at his most confused and vulnerable. Beat him up, knock some sense into him, then pull him to Neji's side. Obito could not be allowed to keep manipulating him.

Fourth, join forces with Sasuke and help him eliminate Danzo first, resolve his emotional knots, and form an alliance.

Fifth, after Obito became the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, join Naruto and Sasuke against him, three against one. Naruto and Sasuke would have their Six Paths power-ups, while he had timing and foreknowledge. Their odds of winning... should be fifty percent.

Sixth, seize control of the Ten-Tails before Kaguya was revived, evolve the Tenseigan, and shatter the Caged Bird.

Seventh, clean up the aftermath, achieve fame and success, and travel the Shinobi World.

Perfect... was it?

Neji opened his eyes. Konoha's outline was reflected in his Byakugan.

No, it was not perfect. There were too many variables. Would Kabuto obey? Could Sasuke be persuaded? Would Orochimaru have other plans after being revived? How powerful exactly would Obito be after becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki? Would the timing of the Sage of Six Paths granting power change?

But there was no other choice. The original plan no longer worked. He could only take a new road.

He glanced at Zetsu beside him. That black-and-white monster was still staring intently at Konoha, waiting for Pain's arrival.

Pain... Nagato...

Neji shook his head, tossing aside those stray thoughts. This was not the time for sentimentality. He was Neji Hyuga, the man who would break the Caged Bird, the man who would control his own fate. He respected other people's choices and sacrifices, but he would not be shaken by them.

"They're here," Zetsu suddenly said.

Neji followed its gaze.

In the distant sky, six black dots were approaching.

The Six Paths of Pain had arrived.

Inside the barrier, Zetsu murmured excitedly, "The show is starting."

Neji watched in silence.

He would not interfere in Konoha's battle, nor could he.

But after this battle... he would have to begin acting.

Stay steady, Neji. Follow the new plan.

You can definitely win.

He told himself that, then took a deep breath.

In the morning light, the Six Paths of Pain fell toward Konoha like six black meteors.