Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece

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Amegakure – Rain Village

At the top of the tower, the endless rain beat against the glass. Pain stood in silent contemplation, his Rinnegan eyes gazing into the storm. Beside him, Konan waited, her expression emotionless, her presence quiet but firm.

"Konan," Pain said at last, his voice low. "What do you make of Zetsu's report?"

She didn't hesitate.

"The Three-Tails has been captured," she answered. "And its whereabouts are unknown."

"That alone is troubling but even more so is how the enemy knew exactly when Isobu would resurrect."

She paused, then added, "They intercepted the Seven-Tails. Then the Five-Tails. The first time might've been coincidence. The second… wasn't."

"They have a surveillance network stronger than ours. Stealthier too. Even Zetsu can't trace them."

It was a rare admission. Akatsuki had built its power over years, using Zetsu's omnipresence to dominate the intelligence game.

And yet… this so-called D-Organization had eluded them entirely.

"From what little we've gathered," Konan continued, "they operate in teams of four. Codenames so far: Mind, Blade, White, and Prince."

"More recently, we've also heard rumors of others using Shikotsumyaku despite the extinction of the Kaguya clan. It's possible Orochimaru was involved. But he's no longer with us."

Pain's face didn't move.

"They're interfering with our mission," he said.

"The time has come. We've located all the Tailed Beasts. We're ready."

He turned from the rain.

"No more delays. Begin full-scale capture operations. Convene the others."

He paused, then added, "And find whoever took the Three-Tails. It must be reclaimed."

Konan bowed. "Understood."

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Land of Waves – D-Organization Base

Back at the D-base, a palm-sized version of Isobu sat on Neji's desk, locked in a quiet (and humiliating) standoff.

They stared at each other.

Big eye vs smug smirk.

"Human—" Isobu began.

Poke.

"Human, you—!"

Poke again.

"Don't—don't push your luck—"

Flip!

The great Three-Tails rolled onto its shell, legs flailing.

Neji chuckled. Izumi leaned in, her face close to the desk, curious.

"This… is the same Isobu you fought earlier?" she asked, eyes wide with amusement.

"He is," Neji said casually. "I sealed most of his chakra inside me. This version's just a projection one part body, one part consciousness."

Isobu, mortified beyond words, gave one last desperate wiggle then slumped.

He couldn't even flip himself over.

He had become a turtle trapped on his own back.

Izumi giggled. "He's… given up?"

Neji grinned. "Self-destructed from shame."

He gently flipped the turtle upright.

Instantly, Isobu tried to bite his hand.

CLANG!

His jaws snapped onto something hard Neji's arm, now covered in invisible Armament Chakra.

"…Metal?" Isobu muttered, dazed.

Neji calmly flicked the turtle's forehead with his other hand, also reinforced with chakra.

DONG!

The recoil sent the turtle spinning. Its eyes whirled, tail limp.

Neji shook his head. "You're done. Just accept it. You've been reduced to a desk ornament."

Izumi, amused but serious, finally asked, "So… what are you planning to do with him?"

Neji's eyes flicked toward her.

"I originally planned to give him to Zabuza let him become a Jinchūriki. He's the oldest and weakest of our group. It would've balanced things."

"But not anymore?"

"No," Neji replied simply. He reached forward and summoned Isobu back with a flick of gravity, pinching his tiny shell and spinning him like a fidget spinner.

The turtle's muffled whimper filled the room.

"D's goals now overlap with Akatsuki's," Neji said. "But while they want to gather the Tailed Beasts for one reason… I want them for something else."

Izumi blinked. "You're not planning to give them up?"

Neji stopped spinning the turtle.

"No. I'll help them if it gets me what I want. But I won't let them have anything."

"Why?"

"Because they're chasing a lie."

He placed Isobu back on the desk. The turtle promptly collapsed again, dizzy and grumbling.

Izumi lowered her voice. "You mean the Moon's Eye Plan?"

Neji nodded.

"They want to cast Infinite Tsukuyomi. Create peace by trapping the world in an illusion. But it's a fool's peace. And worse—"

"They don't even know they're being manipulated."

Izumi raised an eyebrow. "By who?"

"Pain thinks he's the leader. But he's just a puppet for Obito. And Obito's been strung along by Madara."

"Who… was being used by someone even worse."

Izumi frowned. "That's…"

"Yeah. One giant pyramid scheme of deception."

Neji smirked.

"And at the bottom? Black Zetsu. A walking sob story with mommy issues."

He stood up, gaze turning colder.

"I've seen this plot before. It's a classic: two perfect older siblings seal away their mother. And the neglected youngest child spends a thousand years trying to free her."

"Now it's my turn to rewrite it."

He turned back to Izumi.

"We're heading to the Cloud."

Her eyes widened. "Yugito Nii?"

"Exactly."

"As for Gaara," Neji added, "I'm not interfering. He needs to become Kazekage. That arc plays out as it should."

"But the Cloud?"

His voice dropped a note.

"The Cloud… needs correcting."

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