Neji's Ambition

The barrier around the Uzumaki Shrine closed again, and the candlelight cast flickering shadows on the stone walls. Neji stood at the edge of the barrier, watching Sasuke slowly walk toward the four Hokage souls suspended in mid-air. That figure, which had been burning with the flames of revenge not long ago, now seemed to bear the weight of the entire Uchiha Clan's destiny.

"Flying Thunder God Technique"

Space distorted slightly, and the two had returned to this ancient shrine from the Sound Village Base. Neji wasted no time— Obito obtaining the Rinnegan meant the Eye of the Moon Plan was entering its final countdown. Every minute and every second was precious.

Sasuke raised his head, the purple light of his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan appearing exceptionally profound in the dim space. He looked at the souls of the four Hokage in turn: Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage; Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Second Tobirama Senju; Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage; and Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Minato Namikaze. Four pairs of eyes were also watching him, containing scrutiny, expectation, worry, and... a kind of sorrow that had been foreseen.

"Let's begin." Sasuke's voice was calm, so calm it didn't sound like him.

Hashirama's spirit spoke first. The God of Shinobi's tone lacked the arrogance of his lifetime, instead carrying a heavy sense of remembrance. "Uchiha Clan boy, what do you want to know? The origins of the Uchiha Clan? Or the founding of Konoha?"

"Everything," Sasuke said. "From the feud between the Uchiha Clan and Senju Clan, to the founding of Konoha, to everything my brother Itachi Uchiha did, to the truth behind the Uchiha Clan Massacre. Everything."

For the next three hours, the only sounds in the ancestral hall were the narrations of the spirits and the soft crackling of the candlelight.

Hashirama recounts the bloodshed of the Warring States period, the generational feud between the Senju Clan and Uchiha Clans, and the complete story of his relationship with Madara, from their initial acquaintance to their eventual falling out. When he speaks of the final battle at the Valley of the End, the First Hokage's voice trembles with a rare intensity. "I killed Madara. But now it seems that that battle was planned from the very beginning."

Tobirama's narrative is colder and more realistic. He bluntly admits his fear and wariness of the Uchiha Clan, explaining the political considerations behind relocating the Uchiha Clan to the edge of Konoha, and the seemingly honorable but actually isolating arrangement of the Konoha Military Police Force. "Trust takes time, and time is too precious for a ninja," the Second Hokage's spirit says, his sharp eyes fixed on Sasuke, "But I must also admit that my actions sowed the seeds of disaster."

Hiruzen's account was filled with contradictions and pain. This longest-serving Hokage, in his spirit form, was finally able to confess his mistakes: the delay in dealing with the Uchiha Clan problem, the indulgence of Danzo's forces, and the failure to find a mutually beneficial solution at the last moment. "I gave Itachi that cruel choice," the Third Hokage's voice was old and weary, "Protect Konoha, or protect the Uchiha Clan. I made him choose the former... and then he carried the burden of sin for a lifetime."

Finally, there was Minato. The Fourth Hokage's soul was the youngest, yet his words were the heaviest. "On the night of the Nine-Tails Rebellion, when I saw the Sharingan controlling the Nine-Tails, I suspected the Uchiha Clan. But I didn't investigate further—because Konoha at that time couldn't afford another internal strife." He paused, looking at Sasuke, "Your parents, Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto, they tried to find a peaceful solution until the very end. But time... wasn't on their side."

Sasuke listened in silence. He didn't interrupt, didn't question, and didn't even show any emotion. Only the Tomoe in his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan spun at varying speeds, as if digesting this overwhelming amount of information.

After the four Hokage finished speaking, the shrine fell into a long silence.

Neji stood at the edge of the barrier, his Byakugan silently observing Sasuke's Chakra flow. He could see how that information stirred up a storm within Sasuke's heart: anger, sorrow, confusion, enlightenment... all sorts of emotions were like spilled paint, mixing into unrecognizable colors. But the most fundamental change was that Sasuke's Chakra was gradually warming up from its extreme coldness.

That's not forgiveness, not letting go, but something more complex: understanding.

I understood the Uchiha Clan's pride and obsession, Konoha's struggles and compromises, Itachi's pain and sacrifice, and I understood that in this decades-long entanglement of grudges and entanglements, there was no pure black and white, only the grayness woven from countless unavoidable choices.

Finally, Sasuke spoke. His first words were addressed to Hashirama:

"First Hokage, if Madara hadn't left Konoha back then, if you could have found a way to coexist... would the fate of the Uchiha Clan have been different?"

Hashirama remained silent for a long time. "I don't know," he finally said honestly, "But what I do know is that Madara and I both made mistakes. I was too naive, and he was too extreme. And true peace... requires finding that narrow path of balance between naivety and extremes."

Sasuke nodded, then turned to Tobirama: "Second Hokage, you fear the power of the Uchiha Clan, so you use systems to restrict them. But if you used a different approach, trust instead of suspicion, would the outcome be different?"

Tobirama's soul trembled slightly. "Trust requires a foundation. And back then, the Uchiha Clan and Senju Clan only had centuries of blood feud as their foundation." He paused, "But I admit, my approach was too pragmatic. I saw the threat posed by the Uchiha Clan, but I overlooked their potential."

Then came Hiruzen. Sasuke looked at the former Hokage, who had served the longest term, and asked the most pointed question, "Third Hokage, you clearly knew Danzo's plan, you knew the Uchiha Clan's predicament, why did you choose to do nothing?"

Hiruzen closed his eyes. "Because of weakness," he admitted frankly. "I was afraid of civil war, afraid of Konoha splitting apart, afraid of making that bloody decision. So I delayed, I compromised, I hoped for a miracle... until the miracle didn't happen, and the worst outcome was irreversible."

Finally, it was Minato. Sasuke's question was simple, "Fourth Hokage, if you were still alive, what would you do?"

Minato thought for a moment and gave a typical "Fourth Hokage-style" answer, "I will try to communicate, try to understand, and try to find a way for the Uchiha Clan to reintegrate into Konoha. But more importantly—I will give the Uchiha Clan a future, not just let them see the hatred of the past."

Four questions, four answers. Sasuke fell silent again after hearing them.

This silence lasted even longer. Long enough that the candlelight was about to burn out, long enough that the light of their souls began to fade—their time was running out.

"I understand," Sasuke finally said. He didn't say "I forgive," nor did he say "I accept," he simply said "I understand."

Then he turned around, his back to the souls of the four Hokage, and walked towards Neji. "Take me back."

There were no thanks, no farewells. But the souls of the four Hokage looked at each other and saw the same thing in each other's eyes: this descendant of the Uchiha Clan had made a decision.

Six hours had passed since Sasuke and Neji's duel ended at the Sound Village Base's arena. Suigetsu, Jugo, and Karin had been arranged by Orochimaru to rest in other areas, leaving only Neji, Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, and Sasuke standing in the center of the arena, gazing up at the cave ceiling.

He stood there, motionless, like a stone statue. Neji didn't urge him, and Orochimaru observed him with great interest. They both wanted to know where Sasuke Uchiha would go after learning the whole truth.

Should we continue our revenge, directing our anger towards Konoha High Command? Or should we understand everything and choose forgiveness? Or... a third path?

When Sasuke finally turned around, the confusion and rage in his eyes were gone. Instead, there was a calm, cold, and resolute light.

"I want to be Hokage."

Five words echoed in the empty cave.

"I want to revolutionize the Shinobi World."

Six words, spoken with resounding force.

Neji's lips finally curved into a genuine, relaxed smile. He had succeeded. The most difficult part was complete—not defeating Sasuke, but helping Sasuke find a goal that transcended hatred.

"I will help you achieve your wish," Neji said, his tone more sincere than ever before.

But Sasuke's reaction surprised him.

Those Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan suddenly turned towards Neji, the purple light not filled with gratitude or agreement, but rather... deep suspicion and a hint of barely perceptible fear.

"Neji Hyuga," Sasuke's voice was cold, "Why are you helping me?"

In that instant, Neji understood the unspoken message in Sasuke's eyes: You, a Konoha missing-nin, an Akatsuki member who defected to the Hyuga Branch Family, an Orochimaru spy, after saving me, helping me deal with the spores, defeating me, and letting me know the truth, now you say you want to help me become Hokage and revolutionize the Shinobi World? What are you after?

Oh my god, Sasuke, what kind of look is that? Neji almost collapsed internally. You don't think your brother's lusting after your body, do you?! I just want to survive until I reach Six Paths Tier, what do you take me for?!

But upon calming down and thinking about it, Sasuke's suspicions are actually quite reasonable. From Sasuke's perspective: Neji defected during the "Retrieve Sasuke" mission and joined Orochimaru with him; both of them were pursuing power. Then, during the Danzo incident Neji saved him, took him to see Orochimaru, dealt with the spores, defeated him, and helped him understand history. Now, Neji says he'll help him achieve an almost impossible ideal—this series of actions, without a reasonable explanation, does indeed seem like some kind of meticulously planned conspiracy.

That's true, we can't blame Sasuke overthinking. Neji suppressed his inner turmoil and quickly adjusted his thinking. He needed to give Sasuke an acceptable reason, a reason that conformed to the "logic of the ninja world."

He paused, then said in a tone so calm it was almost indifferent:

"Your ideals and my goals do not conflict. In fact, I need your help to achieve my goals. We are collaborators who mutually benefit each other, nothing more."

This statement is straightforward, pragmatic, and very "ninja-like." Yet, Sasuke can understand this reasoning.

As expected, Sasuke's suspicion lessened slightly, but his wariness remained. "What is your goal?"

Neji didn't answer directly. He raised his hand, pointing to his forehead— the Caged Bird Curse Mark was still glaringly obvious. "Break free from the shackles, reach the pinnacle of power. For that, I need to deal with certain... impending threats."

He didn't say "Ten-Tails Jinchuriki," "Tenseigan," or "Six Paths Tier." But he knew that Sasuke, with his intelligence, could understand the unspoken meaning.

Sasuke stared at Neji for a long time. Finally, he nodded—not out of trust, but out of temporary acceptance of this "mutually exploitative" relationship.

"So, collaborator," Sasuke said, "What's next?"

"Wait quietly." Neji knew he had been away from Amegakure for too long, Obito had definitely already obtained the Rinnegan.

Time is running out.

"I need to return to Konoha." Neji quickly made the decision. "I need to send the latest intelligence on Akatsuki to Konoha."

He paused, looking at Orochimaru. The owner of the golden snake eyes was smiling, waiting for him to continue.

"Lord Orochimaru," Neji said, "I need your help again."

"Oh?" Orochimaru's interest was piqued. "You mean...?"

"Kinkaku and Ginkaku," Neji said, "Let's summon them using the Impure World Reincarnation. Since Obito needs to replenish his Tailed Beast Chakra, and Uzumaki Naruto isn't so easy to capture... let's help him gather the other parts."

Orochimaru let out a low laugh, "Interesting."

"Just necessary preparations," Neji said calmly, though his mind was on Kotoamatsukami, the eye of Shisui Uchiha, the strongest Genjutsu capable of rewriting will. He had originally intended to use that Crow on Sasuke to stop him from destroying Konoha. But now the plot had changed, so he'd leave that Crow for Obito Uchiha. After all, even Obito, at the Six Paths Tier, still only Sharingan in his right eye—and Kotoamatsukami, theoretically, could work on any Sharingan user.