Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece-Chapter 87. Neji, Stop Hiding. I Know Who You Are!

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Amidst the chaos and abrupt escalation of the Chunin Exams, Sasuke, still wounded, was struggling to process everything.

One moment it was a tournament. The next, the Hokage had been seized by the Kazekage, and Sound Ninja had stormed the arena.

"What the hell is going on?!"

"Sorry, the Chunin Exams are over," Genma said calmly, holding off Baki. "Go after Gaara. That's where you're needed."

"You've long surpassed the level of a Chunin. If you're a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf, then go and do something meaningful."

Sasuke scowled but didn't argue. Deep down, he was satisfied with the acknowledgment.

"Tch... unbelievable," he muttered.

Surveying the battlefield, Sasuke quickly pieced together what was happening and sprinted in Gaara's direction without further questions.

From the shadows, others observed this shift Kakashi, Orochimaru, and Neji among them.

Orochimaru, still disguised as the Kazekage and standing beside the Third Hokage, let out a low chuckle as he watched Gaara retreat.

"What a waste. Gaara didn't deliver as expected."

The Third Hokage's face fell as he realized the grim truth. Sweat formed on his brow.

"They brought a Jinchuriki..."

"You see it now, old man," Orochimaru whispered, his smile dark. "Your blind trust has made the Leaf vulnerable. I've already won."

"Hmph," the Hokage replied. "Have I taught you nothing? The outcome means nothing until the battle is over."

"Orochimaru!"

With the illusion broken, Orochimaru tore off his disguise, revealing his reptilian eyes and true form. The Hokage's eyes narrowed.

"I always knew this day would come... but don't think you'll take me down so easily."

Orochimaru scoffed. "You should've chosen a Fifth Hokage sooner."

"Because you're going to die here, old man."

His tongue flicked across the edge of a kunai, gleaming with poison.

---

Down below, Kakashi spotted trouble brewing.

"Nine hostile signatures... and they're not backing off," he muttered.

"There's more," Guy warned. "Look at the observation tower."

Kakashi glanced up at an intricate barrier glowing above.

"A Four-Seal Barrier...?"

"Look inside, carefully."

Though his vision wasn't as sharp as the Sharingan, Kakashi squinted and his expression darkened.

"Orochimaru..."

As Kakashi reeled from the realization, two Sound Ninjas lunged at Sakura, who was only pretending to be unconscious.

With barely a flicker of movement, Kakashi intercepted them. Two kunai buried themselves into their skulls, dropping them instantly.

"Sakura, stay here. I'm going to thin out the enemy."

With a blur, he vanished into the melee, joining Guy against the invading Sound forces.

Back-to-back, the two elite jonin fought fiercely.

"I'm worried about the Hokage," Guy admitted between breaths.

"He'll hold his ground," Kakashi replied calmly. "Don't forget, he's the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf."

A chill went down Neji's spine, not from fear but from the unshakable sense that something irreversible had begun.

---

Inside the barrier, Orochimaru stared at the Hokage, his body trembling slightly... but he was laughing.

The Third Hokage noticed. "You're smiling... what's so funny?"

Shink!

Blood splattered across the floor, not from the Hokage but from Orochimaru, who had stabbed himself clean through the palm.

"You're about to kill your own mentor," Hiruzen said, stunned. "And you still feel sorrow?"

"...It's strange. That actually made me feel better," Orochimaru said, shaking as he wiped a tear from his eye.

"That's not sorrow," he insisted. "Just... a yawn. Nothing more."

"Heh... I knew you'd say something like that," the Hokage chuckled. "You haven't changed. You still have a soul."

Orochimaru turned his back on him.

"You always told me I needed a reason... a purpose. Maybe I have one now," he mused. "Watching things break... that's what excites me."

He reached up and pulled off the Kazekage's ceremonial hat.

"Things that don't move are boring. But sometimes... even stillness can surprise you."

"That's why I'm going to blow a wind strong enough to make the Leaf spin... and burn."

The Third Hokage smirked. "Still the same twisted child..."

They both shed their outer robes, preparing to fight.

---

Back in the arena... fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

"Sakura! Looks like teaching you genjutsu during that survival training paid off," Kakashi called out.

"Huh?"

"Everyone else is unconscious, but you're still awake. That proves you've got talent."

He gestured toward Naruto and Shikamaru.

"Wake them up. They're going to need your help."

"Wait... is this a new mission?" Sakura asked.

"Yes. It's been a long time since your last A-rank."

Her eyes widened. "A-rank?!"

Kakashi nodded, fending off another attack. "After the Land of Waves, you haven't had a challenge like this."

"Then why not wake Ino and Choji too?" she asked.

"You'll have a backup," Kakashi promised.

He glanced at Guy and Neji before slicing his palm and slamming it into the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A small pug appeared with a poof.

"This is Pakkun. He'll track Sasuke using Gaara's scent trail."

Meanwhile, Guy launched a Sound ninja into the wall and then turned to shout.

"Neji! Enough pretending. I know what you're capable of it's time to embrace your fire! Let it burn!"

Neji sighed, sitting up.

"Geez~ Can't a guy just play dead for once?"

He stood.

"Fine. Got it."

(And no, I don't want you to understand me. Seriously, stop.)

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