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Kimimaro fell into silence.
So… the truth was stranger than expected.
The D-Organization's shadowy mastermind, the masked tactician codenamed [Nian]… was none other than Neji.
Neji caught the hesitation in her expression and offered a smirk. "What? Regretting it already?"
"…No," Kimimaro said softly, shaking her head. "Just surprised."
Expected. He was full of surprises, after all.
Neji reached into his storage pouch and pulled out a new pendant one of his signature chakra-infused identity tokens. With a flick of his fingers, he infused it with chakra, transforming it into a white mask etched with the character [君] (Kim).
"Here," he said, tossing it her way. "This is your new identity. You're one of us now."
The mask flashed midair and reverted into pendant form. Kimimaro caught it. Her fingers trembled as she studied the small, weighty trinket.
A moment passed.
Then, silently, she looped it around her neck.
"…I won't fight against Lord Orochimaru," she said.
Neji raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. "That's fine. I won't ask you to."
He didn't need her to. If things went according to plan, it wouldn't even come to that.
"Get some rest," Neji continued. "You'll deploy in a few days. You'll be going to the Land of Bears. Mission objective: extract the meteorite core from Hoshigakure. You'll go with Zabuza and Haku."
Kimimaro nodded. "Understood."
Simple. Loyal. Direct.
Neji liked that about her.
The star Hoshigakure's so-called 'Celestial Stone' was likely a chakra-infused remnant from the Ten Tails' Seed, a meteorite fragment carrying dormant divine energy.
The strange ability their shinobi used, the Peacock Technique, mimicked tailed beast chakra. That wasn't a coincidence.
If he was right, securing it would provide a massive power spike for his long-term plan.
But that was a matter for later.
---
Days passed. Kimimaro made a full recovery and departed for Hoshigakure with her new squad. The lab's command was left in Izumi's capable hands, and Karin remained in training.
Neji?
He returned to Konoha.
Because Tsunade was looking for him.
---
Sunlight warmed his face as he emerged from the lab's subterranean depths. Neji stretched, letting the sea breeze wash over him.
"Been a while since I felt sunlight. Maybe too long."
He stopped by a food stall, grabbed a skewer, then made his way to the Hokage Tower.
---
In the Hokage's office, Tsunade looked ready to commit murder.
Piles of paperwork, mission scrolls, and village records towered in front of her. Shizune, ever the loyal assistant, scribbled beside her in exhausted silence.
Neji strolled in casually.
"You called for me, Lady Tsunade?"
Tsunade looked up like a bear disturbed from hibernation. Her brow twitched.
"You remember you have a teacher?"
"I wouldn't dare forget. I simply didn't want to disturb your endless piles of reports," Neji replied, ever so polite.
She huffed. "I told you to come learn from me. Instead, you disappear."
"I've been improving my research."
BAM!
Tsunade's palm slammed the desk.
"Your research? You little—"
She stood, grabbed Neji by the chin, and yanked his face upward.
"…Open your eyes."
Neji blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Let me see them! You've been healed for weeks. Why are you still walking around like you're blind?"
With a resigned sigh, Neji opened his eyes.
Tsunade stared into the pale brilliance of the Byakugan. Their gaze locked her expression unreadable.
"…Beautiful eyes. Don't waste them."
Neji sighed again. "I've just grown used to keeping them closed. Sensory control."
"Excuses." She pinched his cheek.
Shizune laughed behind her clipboard. Typical Tsunade.
"And while we're on the topic," Tsunade said, backing off, "I've taken a new student."
"Sakura?"
Tsunade blinked. "How'd you know?"
"Educated guess."
"…Tch. Smart-ass."
She leaned against her desk. "Well, since you already know, here's the deal. You and Sakura will train under me for two hours per day. Starting now. Medical ninjutsu."
"I respectfully decline."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Say that again?"
"I've already mastered medical ninjutsu. Observe."
He formed a single seal, and a glowing Chakra Scalpel shimmered to life across his fingers.
Tsunade blinked. Shizune's pen froze.
"…Since when?"
"While you were busy with paperwork," he said with a straight face. "Also, I've been tutoring Sakura a bit. Her foundation in chakra control? That was me."
Tsunade blinked again. She had noticed Sakura's rapid improvement…
"…Fine. Then you teach her."
"…Wait, what?"
"Don't play dumb. You're my student. She's my student. You're qualified, and I'm too busy."
Neji opened his mouth. Closed it. His mind raced.
No. Nope. I don't have time for this.
"Lady Tsunade," he said with an innocent smile, "you've been working too hard. I think what you need is… assistance."
She raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
"Shikamaru. He's a genius. Tactical thinker. Excellent at delegation. You should have him help with the office."
'Sorry, Shikamaru~'
---
Elsewhere in the village…
Shikamaru, quietly playing shogi with his dad, sneezed.
"Something terrible just happened," he muttered.
"Checkmate," his dad said.
"…Troublesome."
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