Mid-January, Konoha Year 61 – River Country Canyon Forest
The campfire crackled merrily. Haruno Sakura stared absently into the brightly burning flames, slowly rotating a wooden skewer threaded with fish over the heat.
Karin sat silently to the side, eating a piece of cooked fish. Even the ferret seemed to sense the heavy atmosphere, quietly nibbling on the piece of fish Karin had roasted for it.
"So, that's why you believe so strongly that a person's fate is predetermined?" Sakura murmured thoughtfully.
"Yes," Neji replied. Having poured out all his grievances earlier, his emotions had returned to a state of calm. "My father died for the Main Branch. Perhaps one day, I too will die for the Main Branch... That is destiny. Something decided from the moment of birth..."
Neji shook his head with self-deprecation. He didn't know why he had confessed all this to Haruno Sakura. They weren't close, their relationship wasn't particularly good, they had barely even spoken more than a few sentences. She definitely wasn't someone he would normally open his heart to.
Perhaps it was because she, a mere commoner, had managed to become the Hokage's disciple. That fact had perhaps shaken his conviction that destiny was immutably fixed by heaven. In a way, her destiny should have been mediocrity as a commoner, yet she had broken through that fate. This stirred the rebellious thoughts against destiny that lay dormant within Neji's own heart.
"You could actually look at it from another angle," Sakura tried, attempting to shift Neji's perspective. "Do you truly hate Hinata?"
Hearing Sakura's question, Neji's mind flashed back to memories: meeting Hinata when they were children, interacting with her before his father's death, and just recently, during the New Year, Hinata timidly offering him the food box...
Finally, after a long silence, Neji slowly shook his head.
"Besides being from the Main Branch, Hinata is also your cousin," Sakura pressed gently, trying the angle of kinship. "As her older cousin, the one closest to her by blood, isn't it natural that you should protect her?" Sakura wasn't heartless. If she had no connection with Neji, it wouldn't matter. But since they had interacted, she felt she should help if she could.
Neji stiffened, then shook his head again. "My father had to die in Lord Hiashi's place because he was born into the Branch Family. Lord Hiashi is Lady Hinata's father. I... cannot do it..."
That... Sakura hadn't considered that aspect. The crux of Neji's complex feelings lay in his father's death.
"Facing Lady Hinata, I cannot see her as I used to," Neji said, his eyes looking distant. "Haruno Sakura, regardless, thank you..."
With that, Neji fell silent once more.
Although Neji hadn't resolved his inner conflict and still believed one's path was predetermined, confronting his own resistance to fate through Sakura's words had forced him to look inward. He was fighting against destiny.
Watching Sakura illuminated by the campfire, something suddenly stirred within Neji. If destiny is truly fixed from birth... then I will be the one to change the fate of the Hyuga Branch Family.
Sakura had no idea that while she hadn't directly persuaded Neji, by pointing out his true underlying thoughts, she had forced him to confront himself, ultimately leading to a shift in his ideology. If before, Neji's actions rebelled against fate while his thoughts constantly paralyzed him, forcing him to submit, now Neji had broken free from those mental shackles. His thoughts would now align with his actions in resisting fate.
Sakura noticed Neji staring at her and felt a bit awkward. She touched her face. "Is there something on my face?"
Neji retracted his gaze, his entire aura shifting abruptly. "Nothing. Thank you, Haruno Sakura."
He was still Neji, but Sakura sensed a distinct change in his presence. If before he carried an air of deep-seated bitterness and oppression, now Neji felt much calmer, more... composed. Hmm, perhaps not 'calm,' but more like... conserving his strength, hiding his brilliance while biding his time.
"You're welcome," Sakura replied, sensing that this 'thank you' was much more sincere than before. She stood up and addressed both him and Karin. "Let's head out now. We need to reach that village in the Land of Wind as soon as possible. The caravan might arrive tomorrow."
"Mm," Karin agreed. Having eaten, drunk, and rested for a good while, her stamina had recovered.
They extinguished the campfire. Sakura confirmed their direction, then led the way towards the village marked on the map.
Although it was night, the darkness didn't impede their progress in the slightest. With a sensory ninja and a ninja possessing the arguably number one reconnaissance dōjutsu in the world, how could it?
Crossing the suspension bridge high above the River Country Canyon, the trio officially entered the territory of the Land of Wind. While Sunagakure was currently allied with Konoha, given Suna's history of sudden betrayals, all three remained vigilant.
After running for some time, they drew closer to the target village.
Suddenly, Neji, who was leading the way, came to an abrupt halt. Seeing him stop, Sakura and Karin also paused.
"What's wrong, Neji?" Sakura asked.
"Something's not right," Neji stated, veins bulging around his eyes as he looked ahead.
Sakura followed his gaze, but without the Byakugan, all she saw were trees upon trees.
"What do you see?" Sakura asked, her voice low and serious.
"There's thick smoke rising from the direction of the village," Neji reported, then adjusted his gaze, scanning other areas.
"Smoke?" Sakura paused. "No one should be cooking at this hour."
"Exactly," Neji nodded gravely. "So, it's highly likely something has happened to the village."
Sakura nodded in agreement. "That's certainly possible. Neji, can you see what's happening inside the village?"
"I'll try," Neji said, forming hand seals to channel more chakra to his Byakugan. After a moment, he shook his head. "It's too far from this distance. I need to get closer to see finer details."
"Wait," Sakura called out as Neji was about to move forward.
"What is it?"
Sakura closed her eyes, thinking for a moment, then opened them. "I'll scout ahead alone. You two follow behind and maintain distance." Before leaving, Tsunade-sensei had implicitly made her role clear – protection. This situation called for reconnaissance, and it was her responsibility.
"No! I'm going with you!" Karin immediately objected, grabbing Sakura's arm tightly.
"Karin, don't be willful!" Sakura snapped, frowning sternly.
Startled by Sakura's sharp tone, Karin's grip loosened involuntarily.
"It'll be fine. It might just be bandits," Sakura softened her expression, seeing Karin's hurt look, and offered some reassurance. "Neji, Karin is counting on you. You two follow me slowly, keep your distance, don't get too close."
"Alright," Neji agreed readily. From his perspective, Sakura's proposal made tactical sense. It provided room to maneuver if she encountered opponents they couldn't handle. Sakura going alone also meant she wouldn't be distracted trying to protect Karin if things got dangerous. Remembering her near-death encounter with Hanzo, Sakura knew caution was paramount – if something happened, she'd regret it forever. This wasn't impulsiveness; it was the responsibility of a team captain.
In a flash, Sakura disappeared from their side. Neji watched the direction she vanished with his Byakugan active.
"Aren't we following yet?" Karin asked anxiously, seeing Neji still hadn't moved.
"Wait a little longer. She's still within my Byakugan's range," Neji replied calmly.
Karin had no choice but to comply...
Sakura moved swiftly through the forest alone. While her sensory abilities weren't as extraordinary as Karin's, they were more than sufficient for navigating at night.
Closer now. Sakura could smell the distinct odor of something burning. Ahead, she could see the black smog staining the night sky.
Just as she was about to dash forward, a flash of light caught her peripheral vision. She reacted instantly, twisting her body and leaping sharply to the left.
"Who's there?!"
Sakura landed steadily, staring at the spot she had occupied moments before. An armored figure now stood there. Taking advantage of the moonlight, Sakura carefully observed the sudden arrival: a helmet that obscured the eyes, silver-white armor covering the body, and a short sword held in hand.
The longer she looked, the stranger it felt. Why does this outfit look so much like a medieval knight...?
She took off her forehead protector, examining the engraved Konoha leaf symbol. Yep, definitely the Naruto world...
But... why the heck did a medieval knight suddenly appear?! Don't tell me I transmigrated again?!
The sound of thump thump echoed as the knight charged towards her, sword raised high, bringing it down with immense force.
"Wait! Brave warrior, where is this place?!" Sakura called out, still half-convinced she might have somehow crossed worlds again after separating from Neji and Karin.
However, the knight seemed to have no desire for conversation. After its first strike missed, it immediately swung the short sword at Sakura again.
"Hold on! Let's talk this out! Who are you? Where are we?" Sakura dodged the knight's attacks with ease. The offense looked fierce, but truthfully, even Naruto probably wouldn't get hit by such clumsy movements.
"Hey, don't force me to get rough! My patience has its limits," Sakura warned, executing a backflip after dodging another attack, creating distance between herself and the knight. "Who are you really? Why are you attacking me?" she demanded, staring intently at the eyes hidden beneath the helmet.
Perhaps realizing the short sword couldn't reach the agile girl, the knight flicked the hilt. With a shnk shnk sound, the blade unexpectedly extended, transforming into a longsword.
"Hehe, looks like I'll have to knock you down first," Sakura sighed, seeing the knight's action and knowing communication was futile.
"Ninja Art: Hardening Technique!"
Visibly, Sakura's hands grew rougher as the hardening jutsu covered them. She didn't intend to kill the knight, fearing her Monster Strength punch would be lethal, but also worried that ordinary attacks might be ineffective against the armor. The Hardening Technique seemed like the perfect middle ground.
Against enemies, strike first. Seeing the knight already charging with its longsword, Sakura instantly focused chakra into her feet. Surging chakra erupted beneath her.
Striking second but arriving first, Sakura appeared before the knight in an instant. No fancy moves – just a straight right fist aimed directly at the knight's chest.
Although the knight couldn't hit Sakura, its defense wasn't slow. It brought the longsword horizontally across its chest, right hand gripping the hilt, left hand supporting the blade, bracing for the girl's thunderous blow.
Even without using Monster Strength, Sakura's enhanced physical power slammed into the knight's longsword. An overwhelming, irresistible force traveled through the blade. The knight could no longer maintain its stance, stumbling back several steps, thump, thump, thump.
A moment later, a short distance from Sakura, the knight halted its retreat. When it looked at the girl again, the eyes beneath the helmet held a newfound seriousness.
Raising the longsword once more, the knight gave it a gentle swing. Something astonishing occurred.
The longsword was instantly enveloped in a green, flame-like energy. The knight's entire aura shifted, becoming completely different from before.
What stunned Sakura was the green, fire-like substance coating the blade. That thing... it felt incredibly, inexplicably familiar, yet Sakura was absolutely certain she had never encountered anything like it before.
This intense feeling of déjà vu was profoundly unsettling...
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