Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece

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Everything Naruto and the others were doing was unfolding clearly in the projection before them.

Sasori watched in silence. The more he observed, the more unsettled he became. The D-Organization's level of surveillance bordered on omnipotent. This wasn't some basic reconnaissance technique. No, it far surpassed anything he had ever seen.

Only by setting up large-scale barriers or chakra sensors could one typically achieve this kind of vision perhaps a crystal ball technique at best. And even modern tech, like surveillance cameras, couldn't reach this level of clarity.

What he didn't know was that the projection wasn't chakra-based or mechanical it was from a satellite. Something beyond even the understanding of this world.

It could see the number of hairs on your body if it wanted.

"I assume you want me for puppet-making," Sasori muttered at last, eyes still glued to the screen.

Neji chuckled beneath his mask.

"Not quite. Your puppets are outdated. I'm not interested in them. What I want is your craftsmanship the techniques behind your creations."

That blunt dismissal stung more than Sasori expected.

Outdated? The man who stood at the pinnacle of puppet mastery is being called obsolete?

But even as the insult settled into his chest, he found his interest piqued. Because if his creations were considered primitive, then just what kind of advanced puppetry did this masked man have access to?

"…Then I look forward to being impressed."

Neji nodded. "Then we're in agreement."

"You say that like I had a choice."

"You didn't," Neji replied, pleased.

And to confirm it, Sasori slowly pulled off the red ring of the Akatsuki and tossed it off the cliff.

That act sealed his defection.

The moment the ring left his finger, the Neji beside him shimmered subtly just a clone. His real body was elsewhere.

Back in the projection, the scene had taken a dark turn.

Naruto was now fully engulfed in crimson chakra, two tails of the Nine-Tails forming behind him. The fox's features were starting to overtake his own. His fingernails, his eyes… his stance. He was becoming more beast than human.

On all fours, snarling, red chakra pulsing wildly, he was a danger to everyone around him.

Kakashi reached into his vest and pulled out a seal tag, the kanji for "Suppress" etched boldly at its center. He knew what had to be done.

But before he could move, a white figure appeared before the rampaging Naruto.

"Neji?" Kakashi said, stunned.

Without a word, Neji pressed his palm against Naruto's stomach.

Boom.

A burst of chakra surged inward. The Nine-Tails cloak flickered, then dissolved. The tails vanished. Naruto dropped to the ground, gasping for air as the violent energy left his body.

Kakashi rushed forward. "What did you—?"

"I was prepared for this," Neji replied calmly. "Sensei anticipated a partial transformation. I came equipped with a suppression seal tailored specifically for him."

That made sense. Neji's skill with sealing jutsu far exceeded Kakashi's, and the Hokage wouldn't have let Naruto join this mission without contingencies.

Kakashi nodded. "Good. I was about to use my own seal, but yours was… faster."

Neji said nothing, though his mind was elsewhere.

Fragments stirred within his consciousness shards of information coalescing in his mental archive. Clues about a greater mystery… but still incomplete.

One portion of the mental map remained infuriatingly blank. Why? What was missing?

As his thoughts churned, he sensed movement behind the nearby brush.

Neji turned.

[Eight Trigrams: Air Palm]!

The blast of chakra tore through the foliage. Startled, the others turned to see a shadow leaping out—

Deidara.

Dust-covered and grinning, the blonde bomber tumbled to his feet.

"You knew I was hiding there?"

Neji smiled. "Of course."

"Then why wait?"

Before he could answer, two spiky-haired figures landed behind Deidara.

"Because he was waiting for us!"

[Leaf Hurricane]!

Might Guy and Rock Lee unleashed synchronized spinning kicks, both slamming into Deidara's shoulders.

BOOM.

The ground cratered under the force, and Deidara collapsed to one knee.

But he was smiling.

Kakashi's eyes widened. "Everyone get back! It's a trap!"

Indeed, Deidara's hand, though bloodied, was pressed against the remains of his clay bird. The squelching sound of chewing echoed faintly as his palm-mouth devoured the clay.

Chakra surged within him, warping his body grotesquely.

"This is my ultimate performance," Deidara grinned, eyes wild. "Art… is an explosion!"

He detonated.

BOOOOOOM!

A wave of pure destruction ripped outward until Kakashi's Mangekyō Sharingan snapped open once more.

Time slowed.

Space twisted.

The explosion vanished into a swirling vortex, sealed within the dimension of Kamui.

Beside him, Neji's [Chakra Barrier] shimmered both men acting in tandem: one absorbing the blast, the other shielding the team.

Guy clenched his fist with pride. "As expected of my eternal rival… and my student!"

Neji gave no reaction.

But deep down, he agreed.

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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter

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