Chapter 552: Ao's Self-Rescue
Kakashi didn't notice the change in Ao.
Mainly because Ao was wearing a mask.
Earlier, he had deliberately separated from the group because he had spotted a member of the Hyuga clan on Might Guy's team.
As the only person in the ninja world who possessed a Byakugan taken as spoils of war from the Hyuga main family, he had proactively found and put on a mask that could block the Byakugan's x-ray vision to preserve the friendly relations between Konoha and Kirigakure.
That way, there wouldn't be any unnecessary conflict.
With the mask on, Kakashi couldn't read Ao's expression. Without being able to see his face, no matter how sharp Kakashi's observational skills were, posture and body language alone weren't enough.
Even if Kakashi noticed something unusual, he'd probably assume Ao was simply afraid of Neji.
"You don't need to worry. I'll go ask him. Maybe it's just a misunderstanding."
As Kakashi spoke, his confidence suddenly weakened.
He had just remembered a rumor.
It was said that Hyuga Neji had once secretly watched Boruto examine Naruto's physical condition.
And in the Limited Tsukuyomi world, wasn't Neji a complete pervert who loved peeping with his Byakugan?
Could it be...
Was the Limited Tsukuyomi world subtly influencing reality?
Thinking of that, Kakashi hurriedly shook the thought out of his head.
Impossible.
It had to be a coincidence.
At the very least, the ninja world hadn't yet developed the tradition of seeing Tailed Beasts as hot furry girls.
Neji surely wouldn't...
"Stop!"
Kakashi was lost in thought when a voice suddenly rang out from beside him.
Neji had somehow approached without anyone noticing.
Meanwhile, Ao, afraid that Kakashi had ill intentions toward him, had been preparing to sneak away, only to be stopped by Neji.
"You two have gone too far! Kirigakure has treated you as honored guests, yet you...!"
Seeing this, Ao assumed Kakashi and Neji had planned everything together.
His face turned pale as he instinctively moved both hands behind his back, remaining on guard against Kakashi's Thousand Years of Death sneak attack.
"Please don't misunderstand! Neji, what exactly is going on? Hurry up and explain yourself!"
Kakashi felt like his head was about to split in two and hurriedly urged Neji to explain.
But Neji seemed not to hear him.
His Byakugan bulged with veins as he stared fixedly at the masked man before him.
All Kakashi could do was worry.
He knew exactly what kind of person Neji was.
After all, Guy was his best friend, and Neji was Guy's subordinate.
Kakashi firmly believed that Neji was an upright and respectable person.
If it were Naruto sneaking a peek, Kakashi could accept that.
But Neji? Absolutely impossible...
"Dad!"
Neji suddenly shouted those two words.
Kakashi's train of thought came to an abrupt halt.
His brain completely froze.
Ao's did too.
After his mind locked up for a moment, a wave of chills and nausea swept over him.
"Don't come any closer! If you two keep acting this shameless, I'll scream!"
Ao felt despair.
Because he instantly realized that even if he screamed his lungs out, it would be useless.
Among the Kirigakure shinobi nearby, there was only Chojuro.
As for Kurosuki Raiga, he had only recently returned to Kirigakure.
Even if Ao cried for help, the somewhat slow-witted Chojuro would definitely be stopped by Kurosuki Raiga, who would assume this was some special Konoha shortcut for helping Ao awaken Sage Mode.
He'd think of it as just another form of training.
"You hesitated! I guessed right, didn't I? Take it off! Hurry and take it off!"
Seeing Ao's reaction, Neji became even more convinced and kept advancing toward him as though possessed.
In reality, Neji hadn't awakened some strange fetish or developed a habit of calling random people "Dad."
He genuinely suspected that the masked man was his father, Hyuga Hizashi.
Neji had heard Kakashi and Obito's story from Guy.
Even Uchiha Obito, a war hero everyone had believed died years ago, had somehow turned out to be alive, gone rogue, and hidden behind a mask.
So...
Could his father still be alive too?
Then, on the very day they arrived in Kirigakure, Neji saw someone wearing a mask.
A mask that even the Byakugan couldn't see through.
Anyone who understood the Byakugan well enough to create equipment specifically designed to counter it had to possess a Byakugan themselves.
Although Ao's mask blocked the Byakugan, it naturally had a small viewing hole.
Otherwise, Ao himself would be blind.
The eye visible through that opening was Ao's normal eye.
But by adjusting his angle, Neji had still managed to lock onto the other eye hidden beneath the mask.
It was almost exactly like the Obito in Kakashi's story.
A mask.
One exposed eye.
And living in Kirigakure.
After everything that had happened, Hyuga Hiashi had shown Neji the letter his father had left behind.
It said that he hadn't died for the main family, but for his brother.
Viewed through the lens of a conspiracy theory, however, Neji felt that his father had written those words against his true feelings so Neji wouldn't seek revenge.
But...
The first person to say something like that had been Hanabi during the Chunin Exams.
She had declared that she was willing to sacrifice herself for her sister, Hinata.
Although Neji didn't think Hanabi had actually sacrificed anything, she seemed perfectly happy following Shiromo around, it did prove that affection between siblings was real.
Maybe his father had truly loved Clan Head Hiashi the same way Hanabi adored Hinata.
That was what Neji had believed.
He had already made peace with it.
But after hearing Kakashi's story about Obito, those thoughts resurfaced.
If Kakashi's former best friend, the war hero everyone admired, someone as bright and cheerful as Naruto, could become a dark villain...
Then perhaps his father had gone down the same path.
Neji had already imagined an entire story in his head.
His father had been betrayed by the village and by his beloved elder brother.
On the verge of death, he activated some forbidden secret technique.
Maybe the Hyuga clan's Byakugan also possessed an ability similar to Izanagi, sacrificing one eye in exchange for survival.
His father survived by clinging to life.
Then, just like Obito, he hid in the shadows of the ninja world, waiting for the chance to take revenge on Konoha and the Hyuga clan.
Or perhaps he intended to overthrow the entire ninja world and create one where brothers would never again have to be sacrificed to appease enemy villages.
"Neji! Calm down! Don't make a mistake you'll regret!"
Kakashi roared, finally stopping Neji from continuing toward Ao.
Ao was terrified beyond words.
When Neji shouted "take it off," he was referring to the mask.
Ao had no idea why Neji used "take off" instead of "remove."
But to Ao's ears, those words were unbearably sharp.
Like a steel pitchfork stabbing straight into his ass.
Ao racked his brain desperately, searching for a way to save himself.
Suddenly, inspiration struck.
He thought of the legendary stratagem: using a tiger to devour a wolf.
"Stop! I'll tell you the truth!"
"I'm in love with Kakashi!"
"I know Kakashi already has someone he loves, but I'm content just watching him from afar. I'd rather remain alone for the rest of my life than accept anyone else."
"So stop trying to persuade me!"
After forcing himself to calm down, Ao cleared his throat and spoke to Neji with complete seriousness.
(End of this chapter)