"Neji… do you know what they're talking about?"
"Atsukara, do you understand what that is?"
Genya's face was full of surprise, his eyes locked on Neji, filled with disbelief.
In the past, he had trained alongside Neji but had never revealed a single detail about Atsukara.
And now, during their time in the underground lab, Neji somehow already knew about Atsukara.
This situation made Genya serious, and his tone involuntarily grew heavy.
"I know!" Neji's expression was solemn. He nodded earnestly, his gaze firm on Genya as he spoke seriously. "I already know. I hope you'll give me a chance to join Atsukara. I will never betray you…"
Neji's words were as resolute as steel, his determination plain for all to see.
"Alright. Tomorrow I'll bring you the mask. At that time, you'll still have one chance to back out!" Genya didn't say more.
He gently placed his hand on Hinata's shoulder, and in an instant, his figure flickered and vanished from the underground lab like a phantom.
"It really is the Flying Thunder God's space-time ninjutsu!" Eighth Elder, who had been standing aside, finally realized from their conversation that Genya was the leader of Atsukara.
This realization sent waves of shock through him, leaving him deeply astonished.
Uchiha Genya's usual method of hiding his true strength was simply too clever.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi had likely never seen through his real power. The depth of his concealment was truly awe-inspiring.
"Old man, I'm taking you somewhere nice!" As Eighth Elder's expression darkened and his thoughts churned, a black shadow appeared before him like a ghost.
Before Eighth Elder could react, the shadow grabbed both him and Hyuga Sosuke, who were still conscious, and carried them toward a room thick with the strong smell of disinfectant.
Upon entering, they saw three members of the Hyuga main family tightly bound.
"Choryū?" Eighth Elder immediately recognized the bound man with hollow, lifeless eyes. His voice trembled instantly—that was his own son.
Hyuga Sosuke also saw the eyeless man, his voice shaking uncontrollably. "Father… Father?"
Bound, Hyūga Chōryū heard those two familiar voices. His previously empty and dazed eyes turned toward the direction of the voices.
A flicker of hope instantly appeared on his wooden, expressionless face as he shouted, "Father! You've come to save me? It's Neji and Uchiha Genya who did this to me! You must avenge me! Avenge me!"
Chōryū's emotions surged, and he kept repeating his call for vengeance, as if he had grasped at his last lifeline.
Yet, the two main family members beside him remained silent, their faces filled with despair.
Seeing even the Eighth Elder captured by Neji shattered the last of their hope.
"Neji, what have you done to him? What about Chōryū's eyes?" At that moment, the Eighth Elder, who had been struggling to stay calm, finally lost control, his voice trembling violently.
He had always believed Chōryū was dead, but he never imagined his son was trapped here, suffering such cruel torment.
"He tried to kill me. I didn't kill him out of respect for our shared Hyūga lineage…" Neji's lips curled into a cold smile as he spoke calmly, without hurry.
Konoha Village…
Genya walked slowly into Konoha, with Hinata by his side.
The moment they stepped in, they sensed several probing eyes like needles at their backs.
"Genya… so many people are watching us!" Hinata tensed slightly. With her Byakugan activated, she scanned lightly and accurately pinpointed their positions, unable to help but report to Genya.
"Don't mind them. They are just inconsequential pests," Genya said calmly, soothing Hinata with a quiet voice.
"Genya, Hinata… you're back!" At that moment, Shino Aburame came running down the street, his face brimming with excitement.
Behind him, Kurenai slowly approached.
Genya gave a slight nod to the two of them, then turned to Kurenai and asked, "By the time we arrived, the Hyūga situation was already resolved. I just encountered Sarutobi Hiruzen…"
Kurenai then recounted every detail of what had happened afterward.
"Heh… as expected, it was Sarutobi Hiruzen's scheme!" Genya's lips curved slightly into a meaningful smile as he listened.
Everything had unfolded exactly as he had anticipated.
"Genya, don't act rashly…" Seeing Genya now, Kurenai's heart tightened. He feared Genya might act out of anger and strike directly at the Sarutobi clan.
"Don't worry, sensei. I'm not the kind of person who acts without measure or cunning," Genya said with a faint smile. Yet, his eyes instantly turned cold as he added in a chilling tone, "But what he did to me… I will make him pay back double in the future!"
Kurenai nodded and looked at Genya, who seemed slightly annoyed, hesitating before asking, "How are Neji and his mother doing?"
The moment Neji and his mother were mentioned, Kurenai's mood became particularly heavy.
"Neji's mother has been treated and should wake up soon," Genya replied with a smile. "As for Neji… the next time you see him, you might notice he's even stronger!"
"Neji's mother? She's okay?" Kurenai's eyes widened in shock at his words, disbelief written all over her face.
She had heard Kakashi explain everything in detail—Neji had gone on a rampage because of his mother's death.
But now, Neji's mother was unharmed. At the time, everyone had assumed she wouldn't survive.
"Someone treated Neji's mother. Without that… she would have had a hard time making it through," Genya explained simply.
"This time, we owe Genya a lot…" Hinata echoed from beside them, her pale eyes shimmering with deep blue light, making her look especially beautiful.
"Hinata, your eyes!" Kurenai finally noticed the unusual look in Hinata's eyes.
As their conversation grew more engaged, Asuma Sarutobi arrived with a team, rushing toward them.
As he approached, he saw Genya and Hinata. His pupils constricted in shock.
Indeed, Uchiha Genya and Hyuga Hinata had returned alive!
The people from the Land of Lightning were incompetent—they had even returned the Byakugan to them!
Realizing this, he dropped the cigar from his mouth and walked straight toward Genya.
****
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