Renegade Ninja Neji

Konoha Village's mornings had always been lively, but in recent months, that liveliness had been mixed with something else.

At Team Three's training ground, Rock Lee was wildly punching a wooden post, every blow tearing through the air with a howl. He had been training nonstop for six hours, and sweat had turned his green jumpsuit dark.

"Rock Lee, take a break." Tenten handed him a water bottle, concern hidden in her eyes.

"Tenten, I can't rest yet!" Rock Lee did not take the water. His teeth flashed white in the morning light. "Neji must be training hard somewhere too! As his teammate, how can I slack off!"

Not far away, Might Guy leaned against a large tree, watching his disciple train like mad. For once, he did not make a "declaration of youth." His rugged face was tightly furrowed.

Neji had been missing for more than two months.

The day after the failed mission to retrieve Sasuke, Guy had applied to Tsunade for permission to search outside the village. He had taken Rock Lee and Tenten along the mission route again and again, even risking a covert entry into the borderlands of the Land of Grass. But the Byakugan user had vanished as though he had evaporated from the world, leaving behind no trace.

"Guy-sensei." Tenten walked over to him and spoke softly. "Could Neji really...?"

"No." Guy interrupted her, his voice unusually firm. "That boy Neji would never do something as betray the village. There must be some hidden reason."

But his clenched fist exposed the unease in his heart.

At the same time, in the Hokage's office.

Tsunade set down the document in her hand and rubbed her temples. A confidential report that had just arrived lay open on her desk—an official reply from the Hyuga Main House.

"Shizune," she said. "File this document. S-rank encryption."

"Yes." Shizune held Tonton as she accepted the document, unable to stop herself from asking, "Lady Tsunade, the Hyuga Clan..."

"Hiashi has been very cooperative." Tsunade looked out the window, her gaze distant. "He is more sensible than I expected."

A week ago, she had personally visited the Hyuga Main House. That secret meeting had lasted three hours, and no one knew what had been discussed. But when Tsunade emerged from Hiashi's study, her steps had been noticeably lighter.

Shizune hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping herself. What she truly wanted to ask about was someone else—the boy who had led the pursuit two months ago, only to disappear alongside Sasuke Uchiha.

"About Neji..." Shizune finally said.

"The time has come to announce it." Tsunade took out a document she had prepared long ago from a drawer and stamped it with the Hokage's seal.

The next day, a crowd packed the space before Konoha's notice board.

A new name had been added to the latest list of rogue ninja: Neji Hyuga, former Konoha Chunin, defected, danger rating A. Note: dead or alive. Any village may execute him. Bounty: five million ryo.

The crowd erupted.

"Neji? That Hyuga genius?"

"He defected? How is that possible!"

"I heard he went to Orochimaru with Sasuke Uchiha..."

"Even the Byakugan... The Hyuga Clan has really disgraced itself this time."

At the edge of the crowd, Tenten covered her mouth. Rock Lee stared fixedly at the notice, his teeth grinding with a creak. Guy pressed a hand onto his disciple's shoulder, gripping hard enough to make Rock Lee's shoulder ache.

"Guy-sensei..."

"Believe in him," Guy said softly, though it was unclear whether he was speaking to his disciple or to himself.

Far away atop Hokage Rock, Tsunade stood with her arms folded, silently watching the restless crowd before the notice board. In the shadows behind her, a masked ANBU knelt on one knee.

"Proceed according to the plan."

"Yes."

After the ANBU vanished, Tsunade looked north, toward the Land of Grass.

"Kid, don't die."