Neji Hyuga

Root's base had always been dark and frigid. Its master disliked sunlight, and the burning candles cast flickering shadows that lent the place a hint of eerie strangeness.

There was never any shortage of wailing here. Atrocities occurred every day. Shimura Danzō was currently seated upright upon his throne. Though he had nominally been stripped of his authority as Root's leader, Root still regarded him as its master.

In the confrontation with Kumogakure, Hiruzen Sarutobi had, unsurprisingly, chosen to compromise. However, the one held responsible was not the Aburame, but Shimura Danzō.

Unlike the Hyuga of the past, the Aburame stood with the Hokage's faction. Furthermore, Torune Aburame's corpse was in Kumogakure's hands, and Kumogakure had likely already obtained the Nano Venomous Insects. Hiruzen Sarutobi could not possibly make the Aburame surrender their secret technique, so it was naturally Danzo's turn to serve a purpose. After all, Torune Aburame had originally been a member of Root.

Danzo had been forced to shoulder every bit of blame. Sending Torune Aburame to attack Kumogakure became his personal act, unrelated to Konoha or the Aburame. The Third Hokage revoked all of Danzo's authority and put him out to pasture, which counted as an explanation to Kumogakure.

On the surface, the matter seemed to end with a whimper. Even Konoha's so-called "explanation" was painless and perfunctory. Yet the private conflict was no less intense. Hiruzen Sarutobi had governed for years and was no fool. Since Kumogakure kept pressing forward step by step, he simply struck at Kumogakure's home turf.

The Nano Venomous Insects were an Aburame secret technique. Although few clan members could successfully control them, breeding them and allowing the uncontrollable insects to spread into a disaster was no difficult task.

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not need to concern himself with the process. He merely had to relay his intentions to the Aburame through Danzo. Kumogakure was now suffering an insect plague, so naturally it had no mind to continue extorting anyone. Instead, it had to find a way to deal with the rampant Nano Venomous Insects. It might even have to ask Konoha for help.

There had been some gossip afterward, but with the higher-ups' capabilities, it could be dealt with in minutes. They had even nearly traced the matter back to Neji, but fortunately, he had promptly redirected the clues to Hyuga Hiashi.

Within the Hyuga District, unwillingness flashed across Neji's face. "My apologies, Ancestor. I underestimated the Third Hokage's methods. The Hokage truly is not so easy to deal with. If the Third were really as kind and weak as he appeared, he likely would have lost that position long ago."

The strange phantom calling himself an ancestor of the Hyuga Branch House sat across from Neji, speaking unhurriedly. "You are still young. Reaching this point is already quite impressive."

"Didn't Sasuke Uchiha want to see me? Then I'll meet him. Perhaps we can work together." In truth, Neji had little interest in Sasuke. He did not know Sasuke well. In his previous understanding, Sasuke had merely been a rather prideful young master, the same sort of second-generation ninja as Hinata Hyuga.

The Uchiha massacre might have earned Sasuke some humanitarian sympathy from Neji, but no more than that. To Neji, Sasuke was now just a cub that had lost its protection, leaping about in a hurry to make his voice heard and prove his strength, all to hide the unease in his heart—Neji himself had once been the same way.

Although Neji did not particularly like Sasuke, his ancestor was interested in Sasuke, so Neji naturally had to follow his lead.

The youths of the two dōjutsu clans "happened" to meet.

One day after school, Sasuke spotted two people leaving a ninja tool shop he was passing by. One was a pretty girl with two buns in her hair, while the other was a long-haired boy with pale gray pupils and bandages wrapped around his forehead.

"Tenten, please have the ninja tools I ordered ready as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, Neji. I'll give you twenty percent off."

"Thank you."

Sasuke took the initiative to approach them. "Hello, Senior Brother, Senior Sister."

"Hm? You are... an Uchiha?"

"Neji, he's Sasuke Uchiha. He's the top student a year below us. I heard he's an impressive genius too."

"Sasuke, did you need something?"

"Oh, I heard that you're very strong, so I wanted to ask for some pointers."

"I have no interest." Maintaining his aloof persona, Neji turned to leave.

"Senior Sister Tenten, I'll be taking my leave." Sasuke smiled and nodded to Tenten before chasing after Neji.

Watching their backs, Tenten wore a gratified expression. "Neji just needs to make a few more friends."

Along the way, no one knew what Sasuke said to Neji, but the two suddenly turned and headed toward the training grounds. It looked as if Sasuke had persuaded Neji to agree to a spar, and everything appeared perfectly natural.

The truth, however, was that Neji had activated his Byakugan to check for Kikaichū, ninja hounds, or unfamiliar people following them. Only then did the two head side by side to the training grounds and genuinely exchange blows.

"The techniques you used don't seem like the Hyuga's Gentle Fist," Sasuke said between breaths.

Neji stroked his chin. "What about the Uchiha's Sharingan and Fire Release?"

They hurt each other in turn, yet neither felt the slightest ripple within. They had both accepted unknown power, and they both knew that mysterious person's intentions were far from pure. Having their lives controlled by another could not make them submit, but if they wished to break the shackles of fate, they truly needed to borrow this external power.

Sasuke did not want to be brainwashed into becoming Konoha's guardian, and Neji did not want to die taking a blade for someone else.

After their spar, Sasuke invited Neji to his home. Though they were merely two children, they seemed like middle-aged men weathered by countless hardships.

Neji suddenly asked Sasuke a question. "What exactly do you think 'sacrifice' is? Why do some people always speak of 'necessary sacrifices'?"

Sasuke thought for a moment. "I don't know what 'sacrifice' is. I only know that I'm perfectly willing to let others make sacrifices, but if it's my turn to be sacrificed, then I absolutely won't accept it."

Neji chuckled. "You really dare to speak the truth. Most people probably think the same way. As for the small number of heroes truly willing to sacrifice themselves, they have likely long since become cold symbols on the Memorial Stone."

The setting sun painted the sky red. Sasuke looked toward the courtyard and softly sighed. "Wherever the leaves of Konoha dance, fire endures. The Third Hokage is already over sixty this year, isn't he? What an impressive age."

"After all, he is the strongest Hokage. He has contributed so much to the village; a long life is only natural." Neji's words seemed rather unrelated, as though they carried some hidden implication.

Those who understood, understood.

Sasuke had tried to seize the initiative in their conversation, but he was soon defeated—and his composure shattered. In the course of their talk, he realized that the mysterious being treated Neji better, and that Neji had learned more as well.

Neji was already accustomed to this. According to him, as long as one was willing to cooperate, that person was quite generous.