Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece

Chapter 119 - 119. The Moment the World Lost Its Color

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Kabuto grinned as he faced Neji, his tone laced with sarcasm. "I've been looking forward to this."

Swoosh!

Neji vanished.

Kabuto's pupils contracted. Fast!

Lightning-imbued reflex enhancement?

He immediately scanned the faint electric pulses flickering across Neji's glowing tattoos. As a former medical corps elite, Kabuto could tell Neji's physical performance had been amplified through precise chakra activation via those markings.

He twisted, narrowly avoiding a thunderous tiger strike, lightning crackling past his cheek. His glasses flashed as stray hairs were scorched into ash.

Definitely lightning nature transformation... and deadly precise.

Neji came in again with a feint and a shifting angle. Kabuto moved fast [Chakra Scalpel] slicing across Neji's wrist.

What...?

His expression faltered. He felt resistance Neji blocked it!?

Before he could process it:

"Gentle Fist Art: Tiger Hunt!"

Neji lunged, calm face unreadable, eyes closed. His arm arced back, the chakra around his tiger-shaped gauntlets roaring with electricity.

Kabuto's instincts screamed. I can't dodge this!

He focused all his chakra into his forearm, reinforcing it completely.

BOOM!

A thunderclap echoed across the battlefield as Neji's fist connected. The shockwave blew dust and debris outward as Kabuto was launched through the air, crashing spine-first into a massive rock. Cracks spiderwebbed behind him deep, jagged tiger-claw grooves etched into stone.

Kabuto coughed blood. His arms shook, clothes torn and scorched from the impact.

He smiled bitterly. "I underestimated you... That power... you're a monster."

He triggered [Yin Healing Wound Destruction] just in time, his injuries mending as smoke curled off his skin.

Inside the protective [Chakra Shield], Shizune gasped behind her hands.

So that's the same man who exhausted me that night...? What kind of monster did I heal?

Naruto, arms crossed and grinning wide, shouted proudly, "That's Neji the Demon King! Total beast always has been!"

Shizune didn't quite follow his metaphor, but she felt it. "Thank god... he's with us."

Neji stepped back, breathing steadily, not pressing the advantage.

Then his eyes flicked toward Tsunade.

"Lady Tsunade," he said calmly, "Are you still afraid of blood?"

That single question froze the group. Tsunade flinched. Her eyes instinctively locked onto the crimson puddle nearby, and her body began to tremble.

"Neji, don't!" Shizune snapped. "You know her condition—don't force it!"

But Neji's voice remained even. "She's not afraid."

"She can't be afraid."

Naruto blinked. "Neji, what are you what are you trying to do?"

Neji took a slow step forward, unwavering.

"Lady Tsunade," he said again, louder this time, "Answer me!"

"I... I..." Tsunade's eyes dulled as old memories flooded her blood. Corpses. Loss.

Neji felt it through his Observation of Haki her fear, her guilt. He sighed internally.

A Hokage with hemophobia... I can't bring her back like this.

"Forgive me... Lady Tsunade."

[Tiger-Dragon Roar]—Cancel.

The markings faded. And with them, the strength holding Neji together.

Blood exploded from reopened wounds as he collapsed.

"Neji!"

Shizune dove forward, catching his limp body as it hit the ground.

CRACK!

The protective [Chakra Shield] shattered into a thousand shards behind them.

Kabuto, stunned, tried to process what just happened. He used that last strike knowing it would break him?

Tsunade stood frozen, eyes wide as she stared at Neji's bleeding form.

"How is he!?" she whispered.

Shizune checked him, voice shaking.

"All his wounds reopened... If we don't treat him now, he'll die!"

Tsunade staggered. The image of Dan's and Nawaki's lifeless bodies clawed through her mind.

"Nngh..."

Naruto grabbed her arm. "Old lady, you have to save him! Please you can!"

His voice cracked. His eyes pleaded.

Tsunade stared at him. 'Is this what I looked like back then...? So helpless?'

She clenched her fists.

"Shizune... bring him here."

Her legs trembled. Her lungs burned. But her hands, those legendary healer's hands, moved.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade!"

But as Shizune lifted Neji—

"I don't know what's going on..."

A shadow loomed over them.

Kabuto.

[Chakra Scalpel] raised.

"But this is the perfect time to finish you."

Shizune turned, eyes wide.

Too fast!

"Die."

The blade came down.

"NO!" Tsunade screamed.

WHUMM!

The air went still. A pressure slammed into the battlefield.

Kabuto froze mid-swing. His blade hung inches from Neji's neck.

He felt... watched.

His vision darkened. His mind echoed with the glare of a pair of domineering, icy eyes.

Then—

"NEJI!!!"

SMACK!

Naruto burst into action, roundhouse-kicking Kabuto across the clearing.

Shizune bolted, clutching Neji and sprinting to Tsunade.

Tsunade stared at the boy bleeding before her. Her hands shook.

But she clenched her jaw.

"Not this time."

She forced one hand over the other, steadying her fingers.

And reached for Neji.

"I'm not losing another one."

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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter

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