Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece

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Neji's eyes narrowed.

He didn't hold much affection for the Hidden Cloud Village. If anything, his disdain ran deep. The root of a tragedy… came from there.

So when it came to Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki he wouldn't be holding back.

He was just about to map out his approach when a ripple pulsed through his mind.

A memory returned.

His clone in the Leaf was dispelled.

Naruto... had come back.

"Neji?" Izumi blinked. "What's wrong?"

Neji's gaze snapped to her, then softened. "Naruto's returned."

He stood.

"I'll be heading back to Konoha for a bit."

His eyes landed on the desk on the woozy mini-Isobu sprawled there like a knocked-out cartoon character.

"As for the Three-Tails… he's yours for now. He's just going to sit in a dark little cage inside me anyway. Let him entertain you."

"Huh? Uh, sure."

Izumi glanced at the limp turtle. Isobu's eyes were still spinning from Neji's earlier "punishment." She shrugged.

If Neji dared to leave a Tailed Beast behind without worry, then even a Bijuu probably wasn't much of a threat to them.

Neji nodded and vanished.

Izumi poked the turtle's shell with a curious smile. "You're kinda cute like this..."

There was warmth in her voice. But there was also a trace of mischief.

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Konoha – Hidden Leaf Village

Neji returned to his lab in Konoha first. With a flicker of thought, he scanned for any movements from the Akatsuki.

Nothing immediate. Even if they were heading to the Hidden Cloud, it'd take them time to act.

And when they did?

He'd swoop in, take the prize, and let Akatsuki take the blame.

Double the rewards. No consequences.

He adjusted his outfit slightly, ran a quick check over his systems, and, still with his eyes closed, teleported.

After all these years, he'd learned how to walk blind through the world. Literally.

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At the Village Gate

Naruto stood at the edge of Konoha, staring at the village he had once called home.

So much time had passed nearly two and a half years.

The wind felt the same. The gates, unchanged. But deep inside, he knew: he was different.

Jiraiya clapped a hand on his shoulder, grinning.

"Go on."

They stepped forward. Naruto's eyes darted around, soaking up every familiar rooftop, every memory-filled street.

He couldn't help himself. Dropping his bags, he leapt up onto a telephone pole and opened his arms.

"Ahhh! Konoha still feels the same!"

His gaze traveled up to the mountain.

There it was Tsunade's face carved into the Hokage Monument.

He laughed. "She really got up there, huh?"

"Long time no see," came a lazy voice.

Naruto froze.

That voice…

He turned.

A masked man leaned casually against a wall, a familiar orange book in hand.

"Yo," said Kakashi, raising one hand in greeting.

"Kakashi-sensei!"

Naruto lit up, bounding over to the rooftop in a flash.

"You haven't changed at all!"

Kakashi's deadpan eyes blinked slowly. "And you've gotten taller."

Then Naruto pulled out a wrapped book.

"I brought this back for you!"

Kakashi peeked inside and his hand trembled.

"This is… This is…!"

Naruto grinned widely.

"Yup. The latest Make-Out Paradise sequel. Jiraiya-sensei gave it to me personally!"

Below, Jiraiya gave an exaggerated sigh. "Brat. You don't appreciate true art."

Kakashi reverently flipped through the pages. "It's beautiful. The writing… the tension… It's just right."

Then he tucked the book away and gave Naruto a rare smile.

"Thanks. That's… the best gift you could've brought."

"You should go see the others," Kakashi added with a lazy wave. "I'll be… busy."

Busy.

Reading.

Naruto laughed, then ran off. "Let's go eat ramen!"

The two mentors followed behind him slowly.

Jiraiya exhaled. "He's your student now. I've done what I can."

Kakashi looked over, a frown forming beneath his mask.

"You're leaving already?"

"I have a feeling Akatsuki's on the move. I'll gather intel."

But before Kakashi could respond—

"Wait—is that… Sakura?"

Naruto's voice rang ahead.

Sakura turned around, blinking in surprise.

"Naruto?"

His grin practically split his face. "It's really you!"

Sakura looked him up and down. Taller. Stronger. A little more handsome than she remembered.

She smiled playfully and pointed to herself. "What do you think? I've… changed a little, right?"

Naruto gave a thumbs-up. "Still the same!"

Tsunade groaned under her breath. "He really doesn't get women…"

Neji, standing just beside her, gave a soft smile. "Naruto is… still Naruto."

At the sound of Neji's voice, Naruto turned and immediately froze.

"Ne-Ne-Neji?! What happened to your hair? And your height—?!"

"Didn't recognize me?" Neji smirked. "I don't blame you. Your eyes were glued to Sakura."

Naruto scratched the back of his head, laughing nervously.

Neji's long white hair shimmered in the sun, and his presence was utterly different now calm, powerful, and unreadable.

Naruto was home.

But the world… had changed.

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