Naruto: The Tale of Neo

Outside the barrier,

Two ninja from the Hidden Cloud surrounded Setsuna Uchiha from the front and back.

Seeing Moroi gain the upper hand, the two exchanged a glance and nodded.

Ramii provided support from the rear with Lightning and Earth Release to harass and distract, while Tsuchidai attacked from the front, using his Bull Lightning Heat Cutter in conjunction with Lava Release: Lava Fist to press Setsuna Uchiha.

Setsuna Uchiha desperately sought an opportunity to use a Genjutsu to control one of them, then trade that life by activating Izanagi.

But the Hidden Cloud ninja were careful, constantly changing positions and refusing to fight him head-on. Their engagements were brief and calculated.

It was clear they were stalling, intending to delay until Moroi killed Neo Uchiha and returned to finish the job.

This left Setsuna Uchiha overwhelmed, unable to find a single opening.

The expression on Setsuna Uchiha's face grew heavier, and his anxiety deepened.

At this rate,

Not only would he fail to save Neo Uchiha, but he himself would die here, killed by the three opponents.

The situation was grim!

But then,

The tide of the battle suddenly shifted—

"Hoh hoh hoh… hahaha… AHAHAHAHAHA~!"

A manic and uneven burst of laughter erupted from within the barrier!

Moroi's face twisted in terror as he formed seals to alter the barrier, allowing sound to pass through both ways.

"Ramii-senpai! Tsuchidai-senpai! Quickly, retreat!"

Moroi's panicked voice followed the mad laughter.

"What?!" Ramii froze upon hearing it, turning his head to look inside the barrier.

What he saw shocked him—

Neo Uchiha stood shirtless, his body covered in countless explosive tags arranged in dense patterns.

Neo gripped one of the tags at his chest, his face full of disdain and a cold smile as he advanced step by step toward Moroi.

"What the hell is this?!" Ramii's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Seeing Neo Uchiha covered in explosive tags, Ramii felt his scalp tingle. He couldn't help but shudder as a chill ran down his spine.

Just one glance was enough to clear his aged, cloudy vision.

"This brat's insane!"

"That many explosive tags could blow this entire village sky-high!"

Tsuchidai, standing nearby, swallowed hard.

As one of the Third Raikage's trusted lieutenants, he had seen his fair share of reckless warriors.

But this? This was different.

Using explosive tags as clothing?!

Even the Hozuki Clan of Hidden Mist wouldn't dare to try something this outrageous!

This wasn't recklessness; this was pure madness!

Outside the barrier, all three of them stopped moving simultaneously, turning their gazes toward the chaos within.

Setsuna Uchiha, however, was furious and on the verge of breaking down.

Looking at Neo Uchiha's appearance, dressed like a walking explosive device, he feared Neo might stumble and accidentally trigger the tags on his body.

And then,

BOOM!—In an instant, the newly minted Uchiha prodigy of the Hawk Faction would vanish into thin air.

"Neo Uchiha, what are you doing?!"

Setsuna Uchiha bellowed, sweat pouring down his forehead, his heart pounding with overwhelming dread.

Neo Uchiha, holding the explosive tag over his chest, turned his head calmly and replied,

"Elder, you've seen it yourself. This is the only way. I have no other choice."

Setsuna Uchiha's throat bobbed as he swallowed nervously. Struggling to maintain composure, he tried to reason with Neo.

"Neo, calm down!"

"Take off those explosive tags right now! I'll find a way to get you out of here!"

"Trust me—these weaklings won't stop me!"

"No." Neo Uchiha shook his head firmly, his voice steady as he took another step toward Moroi.

"Elder, we both know the truth of the situation."

"If I stop resisting and let this man leave the barrier alive, then the three of them will join forces, and you will undoubtedly die here!"

"And if you die, the clansmen in Hell Valley will soon face an attack from the Two-Tails Jinchuriki!"

"When that happens, the Uchiha will suffer catastrophic losses!"

"And not just in manpower," Neo said, exhaling deeply before continuing solemnly.

"With the Blood Pool Clan freed and the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning's commission a failure, the reputation of our clan will be severely damaged."

"If we lose our external funding, and with the Hawk Faction leader gone, internal chaos and division within the Uchiha are inevitable."

"Meanwhile, outside forces like Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura—those old dogs—will never stop plotting against us!"

"This is a moment of internal and external crisis—a time of life and death!"

Neo Uchiha's eyes gleamed with determination as he took a large step forward, yanking at the explosive tag on his chest.

"I finally understand my purpose for standing here!"

Moroi scrambled backward in terror, clawing at the ground as he screamed,

"What do you mean you understand?! Stay away! Get out of here!"

"What are you doing?! Stop! Don't move another step!"

"Don't pull those! It'll blow! IT'LL BLOW! AAAAAHHHHHHH!"

"Stay away! Don't come any closer!"

Outside the barrier,

Elder Setsuna Uchiha clenched his fists so tightly his blade hand trembled uncontrollably.

Everything Neo had said—he knew it was true.

But he hadn't realized—

Neo Uchiha possessed such insight, as if he stood at the pinnacle of the clan, seeing everything clearly.

This... This…

Neo Uchiha wasn't just a genius—he was a genius with unparalleled foresight!

No wonder. No wonder he had volunteered for such a dangerous mission.

He had already seen all of this coming.

This fledgling eagle hadn't leaped off the cliff in a desperate bid to fly.

He had done it because he foresaw the collapse of his clan!

It was his fear of the future—the fate of the clan falling into ruin—that drove this young man to plunge into the abyss at an age when he should have been enjoying peace and honing his skills.

And because of that, Setsuna Uchiha's heart ached so much he could barely breathe!

"Neo!"

His normally cold and emotionless face now trembled with emotion.

Setsuna Uchiha gripped his blade tightly, his Sharingan glowing faintly red as his gaze turned razor-sharp.

He swept his eyes over the three Hidden Cloud ninja, his fury blazing like a firestorm.

Setsuna Uchiha took a deep breath and roared,

"Neo Uchiha! That's enough!"

"Stop this at once!"

"The Uchiha don't need your sacrifice!"

Neo Uchiha's lips curved into a faint smile. His cold, indifferent expression softened as he turned to look at Setsuna Uchiha.

"Elder, there's no need to persuade me."

"An eagle must soar with the pride of an eagle!"

"This is farewell!" Neo said with a smile.

"After this mission, don't forget me. Next year, burn some offerings for me at the memorial stone."

"That'll be enough for me!"

Setsuna Uchiha felt a jolt in his heart, raising his head abruptly to speak again.

But before he could, Neo Uchiha turned to him with a soft question:

"Elder, you don't regret choosing me, do you?"

For a moment, Setsuna Uchiha was lost in thought.

Neo Uchiha's figure reflected in his Sharingan, overlapping with the image of the reckless boy from that fateful clan meeting.

The elder's face twisted with regret as he thought back to his own rash decision to send Neo to the battlefield.

His expression crumbled, his heart sinking with guilt.

Had he known Neo was such a genius, how could he have sent him to war?!

And worse, he had intended to use Neo as a pawn in a political coup.

But now, seeing Neo Uchiha fighting to the death to buy him a chance at survival…

Setsuna Uchiha wanted to slap himself.

He was the one who deserved to die!

Setsuna Uchiha's lips trembled as he looked at Neo Uchiha, his eyes filled with reluctance and sorrow.

"Neo!"