The time for farewell eventually arrived. Neji's emotions finally burst forth; though he desperately bit his lip, tears still flowed uncontrollably.
"Father…" His voice choked, "Can you… please don't leave me…"
Hizashi gently wiped away his son's tears. "I'm not leaving you, it's just… a temporary separation. Even if we're not in the same place, I'll always be watching you, keeping an eye on you."
Watching this tear-jerking scene, Naruto, leaning against the wall, suddenly sighed.
"If you really don't want to be separated," he interjected casually, "then just stay."
Hizashi and Neji both froze simultaneously, as if a pause button had been pressed.
"After Neji stays, I'll go have a word with the Hyuga Clan Head. With my current 'reputation' in the Ninja World, he won't have any objections."
This was the most direct solution; Naruto hated unnecessary tragic drama. With Menma's current deterrent power, even if he went directly to the Third Hokage and said he wanted to take a child from the Hyuga Clan, the Third Hokage probably wouldn't dare say a single 'no'.
However, after a brief silence, Hizashi gave an unexpected answer. "Menma-sama, please take Neji back to Konoha."
Neji sharply looked up, his eyes wide with disbelief. A wave of grievance washed over him; was his father… actively abandoning him?
Fortunately, there was no cliché 'I'm doing this for your own good, but I won't tell you why' scenario, and Hizashi didn't let the misunderstanding linger. He looked his son in the eyes and began,
"Neji, it's not that I'm abandoning you… Menma-sama gave me a second life, and I've already sworn allegiance to him. But you're still too young; you're not suited to follow me and live a life of hiding."
"Only in Konoha can you find new bonds. Your life shouldn't be confined to my side. In the future, you'll make friends, meet teachers, and even… meet someone you like. These precious bonds can only be gained through your own experiences."
Neji's tears still flowed, but he understood the deeper meaning in his father's words. This wasn't abandonment, but a way to let him have a broader future.
Hizashi finally hugged his son tightly and whispered in his ear. "Remember, no matter how far apart we are, you'll always be my proudest son."
------
As dawn broke, inside the Hyuga Branch Family's estate,
The faint glow of the Flying Thunder God flashed, and Neji's figure quietly appeared in his room, without alarming anyone. After Naruto confirmed he had returned safely, he casually waved his hand.
"Alright, work hard from now on, Kana~"
He turned to leave, but— "…Please wait! Menma-sama!"
Neji suddenly called out to him.
Naruto paused, turned his head, and saw the small Neji clenching his fists, his Byakugan still showing traces of unshed tears, but his gaze was exceptionally firm.
"Thank you… thank you… very much…" Neji's voice was a little choked, but he spoke each word clearly, "I… I don't know what to say…"
Naruto dismissively waved his hand. "It's nothing, just a small favor, and saving your father benefits me too."
Neji took a deep breath, his small chest heaving. "I… I'm too weak… I can't repay you now…" His voice became clearer, "But if one day! You need strength! I will—"
Before he could finish, Naruto suddenly reached out and lightly flicked Neji's forehead.
"Honestly… you didn't listen to a single one of your father's most important instructions, did you?"
Neji covered his forehead, somewhat bewildered.
Naruto said irritably. "I'm not so down and out that I need a child's help."
"No! This isn't help! This is lo—"
"Loyalty is also unnecessary."
"Eh?"
Neji's eyes widened slightly, looking at Menma in confusion. Why? Why would he refuse his gratitude? Was it because he was too weak? His small hand unconsciously tightened its grip on his clothes.
Are all children in the Ninja World so precocious?
Naruto, behind his mask, sighed helplessly in his heart. Although his actual age was only three, one year younger than Neji, his mental age had long surpassed twenty. Recalling his own silly appearance at the actual age of four, and then looking at this precocious and heartbreaking child in front of him, he couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.
"Because of a near-death experience, your father's wish changed. Initially, he might have hoped you could be a genius of the Hyuga Clan, an heir to the family. But now—he just wants you to grow up safely."
He leaned down slightly. "Don't waste his painstaking efforts."
Neji's pupils trembled slightly. After a moment of silence, he asked softly: "Father… was he really on the verge of… can the Branch Family not choose why they live, but only why they die?"
He looked up, his pure Byakugan directly meeting the mask. "Menma-sama, do you think… the fate of the Branch Family can only be changed by this method?"
Naruto straightened up, his black robe gently swaying in the morning breeze. "No." His answer was crisp and firm, "Changing fate through death is too tragic."
Neji held his breath, listening quietly.
"I believe there is no misfortune in this world that cannot be reversed—as long as the person involved possesses enough strength, they can change everything."
The morning breeze swept through the courtyard, rustling the leaves.
"Ultimately, this is a world where the strong prey on the weak. Konoha fears Kumogakure provoking war, the Hyuga Clan cannot defy Konoha's orders, and Hizashi, as a member of the Branch Family—is even more unable to resist the Main Family's decisions."
Neji's fists unconsciously tightened.
"But, I changed your father's fate." He reached out and gently placed his hand on Neji's head.
"The reasoning is simple—Kumogakure, whom Konoha fears, fears me, and Konoha, likewise, fears me. Because I am stronger than all of them, that's all."
"Stronger than anyone…"
Neji murmured, "Can I… also change fate?"
"Who knows?" Naruto shrugged casually, but then continued. "Whether you can break the shackles of the Main Family and Branch Family with your own strength? That's up to you."
"However… within the current Hyuga Clan, you indeed inherited the most outstanding talent, no one can deny that."
Neji was slightly startled, a flicker in his eyes. "Father… also said something similar…"
Watching Neji lost in thought, Naruto turned again to leave. Just then—a small hand suddenly tugged at his sleeve.
Naruto turned around and saw Neji's face, filled with unwillingness. Stubborn flames burned in his Byakugan.
Sure enough… Naruto sighed in his heart. "Is a kindness that asks for no repayment still hard for you to accept?"
Neji nodded heavily, his voice as firm as a child of four's shouldn't be. "Yes! I know… I'm too weak now… I can't repay you at all…"
His small hand clenched tighter.
"But that doesn't mean in the future! I will definitely become a powerful ninja! Menma-sama! Please give me a chance!" Neji almost shouted, "This isn't because of my father! This is the path I chose myself!"
"…You're impossible."
Naruto said softly, slowly turning around. Neji felt the sleeve in his hand gently pulled away, and his heart suddenly felt empty.
Just then—an object suddenly flew towards him. Neji instinctively caught it, looked down, and his pupils sharply contracted. "This is…!"
In his hand was Menma's iconic fox mask.
Neji sharply looked up, but saw Menma already with his back to him. The true face that the entire Ninja World wanted to uncover was now openly displayed before him.
But Neji didn't look.
"If in the future—you have the confidence to stand before me."
"Then bring this and find me."
"At that time…"
The morning sun bloomed behind him, coating him in a dazzling halo. It pierced deep into Neji's heart.
"Let me see with my own eyes the true caliber of the so-called Hyuga Clan genius."
Neji stared blankly at the retreating figure.
The morning light poured down, coating the entire world in white. The dazzling light made Neji squint, and when he rubbed his eyes and opened them again—there was no one there.
"…Menma-sama!"
Neji called out in a hurry, his voice echoing in the empty room. The experiences of this night were too dreamlike, making him almost believe it was a dream.
The next moment, the cold touch in his hand told him that all of this was real; the fox mask that struck fear into the entire Ninja World was now lying quietly in his palm.
Neji looked down at the mask, then looked up at the rising sun on the horizon.
The seed of a dream took root and sprouted at this moment. In the morning light, an unprecedented glow ignited in the child's eyes.
From today onwards, Hyuga Neji—began a brand new life.