That foolish, straightforward Naruto… how could he possibly say something like that?
Neji's fist clenched tightly. His pale Byakugan locked onto Naruto, his voice trembling with emotion.
"Naruto! Do you even hear yourself?!"
"It was you who told me on that arena floor that destiny could be changed!"
"You shattered my fatalism with your fists! You said that if we want to break free, we fight for it!"
"And now… now you're the one saying this nonsense?!"
Neji's words were a desperate attempt—to pull back the Naruto who once burned with conviction.
For a fleeting second, Naruto froze when Neji mentioned the past.
Then he let out two hollow, dry laughs.
"Neji… sorry."
He stepped back, avoiding Neji's intense gaze. His tone turned distant—almost polite.
"Maybe I'm just tired lately. Talking nonsense."
He lifted his head and gave Neji one last complicated look.
"Sorry to bother you."
Then he turned and left—almost fleeing—leaping down from the broken ruins and vanishing into the smoke and shadows.
Neji remained alone.
His expression shifted from anger to confusion, then to deep, ominous concern.
That night, Neji returned to the Hyūga compound, restless.
He shut himself in his room and sat by the window until dawn, staring at the dark outline of the ruined village.
Naruto's words echoed endlessly in his mind.
He could not understand them.
Nor accept them.
What had happened?
Was Jiraiya's death that devastating?
Or had something else occurred during the battle that no one knew about?
At first light, Neji made up his mind.
He would find Naruto and demand answers.
But the moment he stepped out of the Hyūga gates—
A sharp hawk's cry tore through the morning air.
Neji looked up.
A messenger hawk streaked across the sky, a red scroll tied to its talons—the highest emergency signal.
That signal meant only one thing:
All Jōnin were to assemble immediately.
Neji's expression changed.
Had another enemy attacked?
Or had something within Konoha erupted?
There was no time to seek Naruto now.
As a Jōnin, responding to the summons was his duty.
He immediately redirected course and rushed toward the temporary Hokage command center.
By the time he arrived, nearly every Jōnin in the village had gathered inside the massive tent serving as a meeting hall.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Uneasy whispers filled the air.
Neji quickly located Naruto near the front.
As Konoha's hero, Naruto—though still technically a Genin—had been granted special permission to attend.
He stood quietly, expression blank.
Neji felt an urgency settle in his chest.
Naruto couldn't be left alone with his thoughts.
Thinking too much… led to trouble.
He would speak to him afterward.
Neji noticed something else.
Uchiha Sasuke was absent.
Given Sasuke's temperament, he likely had no interest in political assemblies.
But what truly unsettled Neji were the figures seated near the dais.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, despite his missing arm and pale complexion, wore the Hokage's robes once more.
Beside him stood Shimura Danzō.
And next to Danzō—Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.
The old guard.
The so-called "Konoha F4."
Neji's pulse quickened.
Tsunade was critically injured and comatose.
Shikaku Nara, though capable, lacked senior authority.
Were the old power brokers making their return?
Neji stepped beside Naruto.
Naruto tilted his head slightly toward the dais.
His blue eyes seemed to say:
See? This is reality.
Neji had no reply.
On the platform, Hiruzen cleared his throat.
The tent fell silent.
"As you all know," Hiruzen began, voice weary but still dignified, "the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, has collapsed from chakra and mental exhaustion while stabilizing the village. She remains unconscious."
A murmur passed through the Jōnin.
Konoha's pillar had fallen.
"During her recovery, reconstruction, defense, and diplomatic affairs cannot be left unattended," Hiruzen continued.
"Therefore, we must appoint a temporary leader—someone experienced, respected, and capable of stabilizing Konoha until Tsunade awakens."
The meaning was obvious.
A proxy Hokage.
Neji felt the air grow heavier.
The old era was not finished yet.
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