The sauna was enveloped in a dense mist of hot steam that made the figures around them only indistinct shadows. The smell of damp wood and minerals from the hot springs permeated the air, creating an atmosphere of forced relaxation after weeks of constant tension.
Li Shang leaned against the wooden wall, a white towel wrapped around his waist, his muscular body defined by the faint light that cut through the steam. His eyes were closed, but his divine consciousness monitored every person present.
"So it's really true?"
Naruto's voice broke the contemplative silence. The blonde sat directly opposite Li Shang, his blue eyes shining with barely contained curiosity. He had only returned a few days earlier with Jiraiya, and was clearly still processing all the news he had missed.
"You really defeated that scary old man from the council?"
"Danzō Shimura."
Shikamaru corrected lazily from the corner where he was sprawled. His towel covered half his face, but his astute eyes observed everything.
"And yes, Naruto. It's true. My father hasn't talked about anything else for days."
"Too troublesome, if you ask me."
Li Shang opened one eye, a smile touching his lips.
"It was just a matter of the right circumstances. He was arrogant, I was prepared."
"Modesty doesn't suit you, Neji."
Kiba laughed loudly, patting Akamaru's shoulder, who was lying beside him, panting in the heat.
"Half the village is talking about it! They say you summoned giant demons!"
"They weren't demons."
Li Shang replied calmly.
"They were summons. Fenrir and Alduin."
"Summons..."
Sasuke murmured from the other side of the sauna. He sat with his arms crossed, his Sharingan occasionally flickering to life before fading again. Sasuke had become more introspective.
"Summons that rivaled Bijuu in size and power, according to reports."
"You read reports about it?"
Sakura asked, surprised. She sat beside Ino, both wrapped in larger towels. Her pink hair was tied in a high bun to avoid the heat.
"Sasuke-kun reads everything."
"Knowledge is power."
Sasuke replied simply, his black eyes fixing on Li Shang.
"And it seems Neji has discovered a source of power that no one else had access to."
The tension subtly increased in the room. It was a veiled accusation, an unformulated question.
"Hey, hey!"
Naruto stood up, water dripping from his body.
"No creating a heavy atmosphere! We're here to relax, remember? Besides, Neji is from the village. He protected Tsunade-obaa-chan!"
"Naruto is right."
Hinata spoke softly, her face already flushed from the heat but turning even redder as she spoke. She sat beside Tenten, her hands nervously adjusting her towel.
"Neji-nii-san has always protected the village."
Li Shang watched his cousin with a gentle smile. Their relationship had significantly improved in recent months.
"Thank you, Hinata-sama."
"But you have to admit it's strange."
Ino leaned forward, her blue eyes studying Li Shang with an intensity that had nothing to do with suspicion and everything to do with... something else.
"I mean, you've always been strong, Neji. But this? This is a completely different level."
She bit her lower lip, a gesture that went unnoticed by no one in the room.
"It makes a girl wonder what other secrets you're hiding."
"Ino!"
Sakura nudged her friend with her elbow, but there was a smile on the pink-haired kunoichi's lips.
"Be more subtle, at least!"
"Why?"
Ino retorted, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder.
"Everyone here is thinking the same thing. I'm just honest enough to say it."
"Actually, I was thinking about the strategic implications of having summons of this caliber available to Konoha."
Shino said, his voice monotonous as always. Even in the heat of the sauna, he kept his dark glasses on.
"The insects get agitated near you, Neji. They feel something... different."
"Different how?"
Choji asked between bites of chips he had somehow managed to bring into the sauna.
"Like different chakra?"
"Different like power."
Shino replied simply.
"Power that doesn't fit the normal patterns we know."
Li Shang sighed, deciding that some level of honesty would be necessary.
"My eyes have evolved. The Byakugan can evolve, just like the Sharingan. What you are feeling is the result of this evolution."
"Evolved into what?"
Rock Lee asked, leaning forward with genuine interest. He sat beside Tenten, his thick eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
"If the Byakugan can evolve, then there is hope for anyone to become stronger through hard work!"
"Tenseigan."
Li Shang replied, opening his eyes completely. The blue glow illuminated the steam around them, creating an ethereal aura.
"It's called the Tenseigan."
The silence that followed was broken only by the sound of dripping water and hissing steam.
"Wow."
Naruto finally said, his eyes wide.
"That's amazing, Neji! Your eyes are blue now! Like, really blue! Like mine!"
"Not exactly like yours, Naruto."
Li Shang laughed.
"But yes, the color has changed."
"So beautiful..."
Ino murmured, her eyes fixed on Li Shang. Then, realizing she had spoken aloud, she cleared her throat.
"I mean, it's interesting. Scientifically speaking."
"Sure."
Sakura rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.
"Scientifically."
"But wait."
Shikamaru sat up, finally showing genuine interest.
"If the Byakugan can evolve, does that mean other Hyuugas can achieve this too?"
All eyes turned to Li Shang. It was a crucial question, one that had enormous implications for the balance of power in Konoha.
"Theoretically, yes."
Li Shang replied carefully.
"But in practice? It's extremely difficult. It requires specific conditions, significant sacrifices, and even then there are no guarantees."
"What kind of conditions?"
Sasuke asked, his voice sharp. There was something in his tone that suggested more than casual curiosity.
"That, Sasuke-san, is something I prefer not to discuss in detail."
Li Shang replied, his voice polite but firm.
"Just as I'm sure you have secrets about your own path to power."
Sasuke stared at him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. It was a mutual acknowledgment of limits.
"But you can teach other things, right?"
Lee asked, hopeful.
"Techniques? Training methods? I want to get stronger, and if you defeated someone like Danzō..."
"Lee has a point."
Tenten agreed, adjusting her towel.
"You've always been one of the best in our generation, but now you're on another level. Sharing knowledge would strengthen the entire village."
"Haven't I already shared some things?"
Li Shang said thoughtfully. And the group that had received training from him before nodded.
"The specific path I followed... it's not for everyone."
"Why not?"
Kiba challenged.
"We're all Konoha shinobi, right? If you have secret techniques, you should share them!"
"Because not all power is free of costs, Kiba."
Li Shang replied, his voice growing more serious.
"Some paths require sacrifices you may not be willing to make. Others may be incompatible with your own natural abilities."
He swept his gaze across the room.
"Each of you has your own unique talents. Naruto has his massive chakra and determination. Sasuke has his Sharingan and instinctive understanding of ninjutsu. Shikamaru has his strategic intelligence. Lee has his dedication to Taijutsu that no one else matches."
"And Ino?"
The blonde asked, leaning even further forward, giving Li Shang a view she clearly intended to offer.
"What's my special talent, Neji?"
'This girl has no subtlety at all.'
Sakura thought, shaking her head.
"Ino has her sensory ability and mental techniques from the Yamanaka clan."
Li Shang replied diplomatically, but his eyes betrayed amusement.
"And apparently a talent for making situations uncomfortable." Sakura said.
The room erupted in laughter. Even Sasuke let out something that could be considered a half-smile.
"Hey!"
Ino protested, but she was laughing too.
"I was just being friendly!"
"Is that what you call it?"
Choji laughed, almost choking on his chips.
"Friendly?"
"Very friendly."
Naruto agreed, nodding.
"Like, super friendly!"
"You're all impossible."
Ino grumbled, but her smile didn't falter. She looked at Li Shang through her eyelashes.
"But seriously, Neji. If you want to train together someday, I'd be... interested in learning your techniques."
"I'll make a note of that."
Li Shang replied dryly, making Shikamaru snort with laughter.
"But seriously."
Naruto leaned forward, his expression growing more serious.
"Neji, do you think more threats like Danzō are out there? I mean, if he was doing forbidden experiments and working with Orochimaru..."
The atmosphere in the room changed instantly. The previous lightness gave way to something heavier.
"Undoubtedly."
Li Shang replied honestly.
"The shinobi world is changing. Organizations like the Akatsuki are moving in the shadows. Threats we don't fully understand are emerging."
"That's why we need to get stronger."
Sasuke said, his voice low but intense.
"All of us. We can't just rely on a few powerful individuals."
"I agree."
Shikamaru said, surprising everyone. He rarely agreed with Sasuke about anything.
"Troublesome or not, we need to prepare. The next threat may not give Konoha the luxury of individual heroes."
"Then we train together!"
Lee exclaimed, his energy returning.
"As a team! We will all become stronger, and we will protect the village together!"
"Lee is right."
Hinata said softly, but with conviction.
"Together we are stronger." Naruto stated.
"Together, huh?"
Ino looked around the room, her eyes stopping on Li Shang with a knowing smile.
"I like that. Especially if it means spending more time with certain people."
"Ino, please."
Sakura pleaded, but she was laughing.
"You have to stop."
"Never."
Ino declared dramatically.
"A kunoichi must be persistent in her... missions."
Laughter filled the sauna again, the steam enveloping everyone like a warm embrace. And as they joked and laughed, there was an underlying understanding among them all.
Hard times were coming. The world was changing in ways they could barely comprehend. But at that moment, in that sauna full of steam and friendship, they were just young shinobi sharing a moment of peace.
"Ne, Neji."
Naruto said after the laughter died down.
"Thank you. For protecting Grandma Tsunade. For protecting the village."
"It's my duty."
Li Shang replied, but there was warmth in his voice.
"And it's also my pleasure. Konoha is my home."
It was a simple admission, but it meant a lot coming from someone who had once been so isolated by his own bitter fate.
"Friends!"
Naruto shouted, raising a fist.
"That's right! We're all friends, and we're going to protect each other!"
"How troublesome."
Shikamaru murmured, but he was smiling.
[N/A: I thought about making this chapter with everyone together, remembering the episode where everyone gathered to cheer up Naruto. And about talking about the Tenseigan, I see no reason to keep it a secret. After all, Neji's eyes changed so much that only an imbecile wouldn't notice.]