Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece

Chapter 115 - 115. Tensions Ignite

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Day Three.

Neji fled the inn.

He'd slept for a full day and night in her bed, no less.

Worse still? Tsunade had smiled and suggested he stay longer. Shizune had even giggled and told him it was "no big deal."

No big deal?

He wasn't a kid!

They treated him like one, but the trauma... was real.

---

Back in the boys' room, Jiraiya yawned and waved lazily as Neji limped inside.

"Yo. Finally up, huh? Tsunade said not to disturb you you were totally out. Must've been one hell of a treatment."

Neji didn't respond.

This old perv absolutely heard me call for help... and ignored it.

"Where's Naruto?"

"Out training. Probably still trying to pop that balloon."

After getting to Naruto's location, Neji turned to leave, stretching his stiff limbs.

Jiraiya called after him, a bit more seriously.

"Hey, Neji. You convinced Tsunade, didn't you? So why'd she say she'll wait until you're fully healed before deciding?"

Neji paused at the doorway.

"...Maybe she's just still hesitating."

"I see," Jiraiya murmured, rubbing his chin. Still caught up in the past, huh?

Neji said nothing more. He had chakra to rebuild and instincts to sharpen.

But in the back of his mind, he already knew—

Tsunade was planning to confront Orochimaru herself.

---

The days passed quietly.

Well... for everyone except Naruto, who was getting run into the ground by Jiraiya's unorthodox training.

Neji didn't interfere.

He deserved it.

---

Day Seven.

The deadline had arrived.

The day Tsunade and Orochimaru were meant to meet.

Last night, Tsunade had once again shared drinks with Jiraiya.

This time, she slipped something into his cup.

By morning, Jiraiya could barely walk straight chakra sluggish, gut in knots.

And Shizune? Knocked out cold.

She never even made it to breakfast.

Naruto and Neji? Nowhere to be found. As usual, training independently.

Tsunade, alone and resolute, made her way to the appointed meeting site.

Elsewhere, Neji sensed her chakra stir and sighed.

So she really went through with it...

Why are all would-be Hokage such hopeless fools?

---

Meanwhile, Jiraiya had recovered just enough to realize what had happened.

Alongside a groggy Shizune and an anxious Naruto, he rushed toward Tanzaku Town.

He gritted his teeth.

"Damn it, Tsunade... I can't let him get his hands back."

Even with poison dulling his chakra flow, he pressed on.

---

In the ruins of Tanzaku Town...

Orochimaru stood before Tsunade, a twisted smile on his face.

"So... you came after all."

His bandaged hands trembled with anticipation, barely able to move.

Tsunade said nothing, her gaze cold. Her hands began to glow with medical chakra as she stepped forward.

The moment her hands neared his—

THWIP!

A kunai stabbed into the ground between them.

Both leaped back instantly.

On the nearby wall stood Kabuto, Leaf village protector band scratched a symbol of betrayal.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes.

Kabuto leaped beside Orochimaru, ignoring his master's glare.

"You betrayed me," Orochimaru hissed. "Now of all times?"

Kabuto calmly replied, "I was trained in medical ninjutsu. Her chakra reeked of killing intent. She was going to murder you, Lord Orochimaru."

"...I see."

Orochimaru's lips curled into a disappointed sneer. "I trusted you, Tsunade. I gave you everything you wanted your loved ones... a chance to bring them back."

Tsunade's hands trembled.

"I wanted to believe you," she whispered. "To see them again... to hug them one last time..."

Tears welled in her eyes, but her voice grew firmer.

"But the moment I truly believed it was possible, I realized... I'm no different from those idiots who died chasing impossible dreams."

"I'm a fool. Just like them."

"Shizune, Nawaki, Dan... they may be gone, but their dreams aren't."

"They wanted peace. They wanted hope. They believed in this village. I... I can't betray that."

Her hands clenched into fists. Her chakra flared.

Orochimaru's expression darkened.

"Then negotiations have failed."

"Indeed."

"Prepare yourself."

"Gladly."

Tsunade shot forward, chakra surging through her limbs. She leaped high into the air, twisting as she brought her foot down.

CRACK!!

The ground exploded beneath her heel.

Dust and debris shot skyward. A massive crater split the ruins apart.

Orochimaru and Kabuto barely dodged in time.

Standing atop the wreckage, Tsunade radiated power the true strength of a Sannin unleashed.

"She's strong," Orochimaru muttered.

Kabuto adjusted his glasses, unfazed.

"I told you she's potent medicine... but bitter to swallow."

Tsunade pointed at them.

"No more words."

"Let's finish this."

---

Back on the road—

Jiraiya heard the blast echo through the hills.

His face hardened.

"She didn't go there to heal him. She went there to end him."

He turned to Naruto. "We need to move. Now."

"Where's Neji?" Naruto asked.

Jiraiya shook his head. "No idea. He's been training alone the last few days."

Naruto frowned. "You think he already knew?"

"...Wouldn't surprise me," Jiraiya muttered. That kid sees more than he lets on.

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