In Konoha village, Neji was training as usual. Since the last mission, having witnessed Sakura Haruno's overwhelming strength and the infamy she bore, Neji deeply felt his own insignificance. The title of "strongest genin" felt like a joke compared to what she had experienced.
The wooden training posts in the courtyard thudded under Neji's strikes. His palm thrusts became faster and fiercer, the afterimages of his hands creating explosive cracks as they violently rubbed against the air.
"Hah!!" With a final palm strike, Neji directly snapped the thick wooden post.
Panting heavily, Neji relaxed his stance and took a few deep breaths. Suddenly, he spoke, "You've been watching for so long. Aren't you coming out?"
The wind rustled the leaves on the trees, but no one appeared. Neji turned and looked directly at the treetop. "Before these eyes, you have nowhere to hide. Come out!" Veins bulged around Neji's eyes; he had clearly activated his Byakugan.
The person in the tree, seemingly realizing they could no longer hide, made a few rustling sounds and jumped down from the canopy, wearing an animal mask.
"ANBU?" Neji frowned slightly. His Byakugan could see chakra flow, but he could only make out a vague outline of clothes and a face.
"Hyuga Neji!" the ANBU operative said, then removed their mask. "It's me."
"Sasuke?" Neji was slightly stunned to see Sasuke. He hadn't expected it to be him.
"Mhm, I have some things I want to ask you about," Sasuke said, his voice somewhat cold.
A cold sneer tugged at Neji's lips. "Hmph, why should I listen to you? Since you've taken off your mask, it proves that what you want to ask is a personal matter. If that's the case, I have only one thing to say: no comment."
Hearing Neji's reply, Sasuke's expression changed, a flash of anger crossing his face. But thinking about the purpose of his visit – it concerned her – he suppressed it. His tone softened slightly as he said, "If my actions have angered you, I apologize. But there's something I absolutely must ask right now."
Hearing Sasuke's much softer tone, Neji fell silent for a moment. "I accept your apology."
With that, Neji sat down on the veranda and picked up a teacup. "Go on, what do you want to know?"
Sasuke looked at the veranda, an inexplicable anger rising within him. As if sensing Sasuke's gaze, Neji looked up and saw Sasuke's eyes filled with fury. "Angry with me? It seems your sincerity isn't that great after all."
Neji put down his teacup, preparing to ignore him. Seeing this, Sasuke quickly stepped forward and explained, "No, I was just reminded of some unpleasant things. Please don't misunderstand."
Seeing Sasuke's expression, which seemed slightly more sincere than before, Neji said, "If you have something to ask, ask quickly."
"I heard you abandoned your last mission." Sasuke also sat on the veranda, resting his arms on his legs. "Can you talk to me about it?"
Neji looked at Sasuke, a plan forming in his mind. "You want to know about her, don't you!"
"That's right." Sasuke didn't try to hide it and spoke directly. "I heard you encountered her on your last mission."
Hearing Sasuke's words, Neji was silent for a moment before saying, "It's not convenient for me to talk about this." He glanced sideways at Sasuke and added, "This mission has been classified as top secret. Given your status, you must have looked into it. You know what that means, right?"
"I know. That's why I came to ask you," Sasuke nodded.
Neji fell silent again. Sasuke didn't speak either, waiting for Neji's reply. Only the rustling of leaves in the wind could be heard.
"Where did you hear about it? You shouldn't have access to a mission classified as top secret," Neji finally broke the silence.
"I can't say," Sasuke replied.
"In that case, there's nothing more to say." Neji stood up. "I cannot betray the village!"
"What if the village is about to betray you?!" Sasuke shot up, blocking Neji's path, and hissed through gritted teeth, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Neji. His Sharingan was already activated.
Seeing Sasuke's state, Neji instantly activated his Byakugan as well, unafraid. "What, you want to fight?"
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the courtyard filled with killing intent. It seemed the two might attack each other at any moment.
Sasuke took a deep breath and deactivated his Sharingan. "I didn't come here to fight you."
Neji also deactivated his Byakugan. "I can't grant your request. As an ANBU member, you should be well aware of confidentiality agreements. Showing your face to me already violates ANBU's confidentiality protocol. If there's nothing else, please leave."
Sasuke looked at Neji's departing back, gritted his teeth, and said, "I overheard the advisors arguing with the Fifth Hokage in the Hokage's office. The content was about how to deal with Sakura. Your last mission was mentioned, but the mission details were encrypted; I couldn't access them."
Neji stopped, paused for a moment, then turned his head slightly to look at Sasuke. "You were eavesdropping, weren't you!"
"I've told you. So please, tell me about that mission," Sasuke said, his expression unchanged, showing no embarrassment at being called out.
Neji sighed. "Follow me. It's not convenient to talk here."
Then, Neji walked towards the inner room, with Sasuke following closely behind. After reaching the inner room, Neji first activated his Byakugan to scan the surroundings before inviting Sasuke to sit down.
"I need to know what you heard!" Neji said. "I need to know what information you have before I make a decision."
"Are you going back on your word?" Sasuke said, slightly angered by Neji's words. "I've already told you where I got my information."
"I don't believe I promised to tell you if you told me," Neji said unhurriedly. "If you want to obtain this top-level intelligence, then tell me what you know."
Sasuke looked at Neji's unyielding expression and gradually calmed down. He closed his eyes and thought for a moment before saying, "I understand. I was preparing to report a mission to Lady Hokage when I heard arguing from inside the office. It sounded like the advisors' voices. They were discussing capturing Sakura. You and Anko were also mentioned."
"Although an arrest warrant has been issued for Sakura, the ANBU, under pressure from the Fifth Hokage, are not in a hurry to capture her. But now the advisors suddenly want to apprehend her, so I think something must have happened. Later, I asked Lady Hokage, but she didn't tell me. That's all I know," Sasuke finished explaining the cause and effect in one breath.
Neji nodded in understanding. "I understand why Lady Hokage didn't tell you. If it were me, I wouldn't have told you either."
Seeing Sasuke's already angry expression, Neji added, "If you can't remain calm, telling you might not be a good thing. I originally thought only Naruto was that reckless fool. Have you been infected by him?"
Ugh... Sasuke's expression turned awkward. Thinking about it carefully, it seemed that ever since Sakura was framed and left the village, he had been in an agitated state. Master Third had told him many times that his mind was restless, but Sasuke had never taken it seriously.
However, when it came to matters involving Sakura, Sasuke couldn't remain calm at all. He didn't know when it started, but Sakura had gradually come to occupy a certain place in his heart.
Heh, Naruto, that idiot. How could he understand my pain? How could he understand me? Although Sakura hasn't experienced what I have, and even said she doesn't understand, her actions... she seems to be the one who understands me best.
When did it start? Perhaps it was the punch she gave him after that night, or perhaps the beating she gave him in the Tower of Death. Although he had been beaten both times, Sasuke increasingly felt that she was someone he could open up to and confide in.
Sasuke took a deep breath, composing himself. "Please tell me now."
Seeing the change in Sasuke's demeanor, Neji said, "She assassinated the Fourth Mizukage. Kirigakure is hunting her. If I'm not mistaken, based on your information, the advisors probably want to eliminate her first to avoid giving Kirigakure any leverage."
In an instant, the air in the room seemed to freeze. Sasuke's eyes instantly transformed into the Sharingan, and a violent aura surged from him.
Neji watched Sasuke calmly and asked, "What are you planning to do? Take out the Hokage or the council of advisors?"
Sasuke's violent aura faltered at Neji's question. He was silent for a moment. "Thank you for the information."
Getting up, Sasuke bid Neji farewell. Neji asked, "What do you intend to do?"
"That's none of your concern!" Sasuke said.
"None of my concern?" Neji sneered. "If it were none of my concern, do you think I would reveal such a classified mission to you?"
"I don't want to involve you," Sasuke said.
"I owe her my life," Neji stated. "If she hadn't risked her life to save me on that mission, I probably wouldn't be sitting here right now."
Sasuke glanced at Neji in surprise, hesitated for a moment, then said, "I understand. What's your plan?"
Neji said, "Do you have any way to contact her?"
"No. The only one who can contact her is the Fifth Hokage. Their summoning animal is the same slug, Katsuyu," Sasuke said after thinking for a moment.
"Then we can only wait and see what the village decides to do," Neji said.
"I'll notify you if there's any news," Sasuke said.
Sasuke was naturally happy to have another ally, but their strength was still too weak. Even with one more person, if the village made a decision, the strength of two people would be futile. What should I do...