Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece

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Back with his main body, Neji kept a low profile, blending into the background with ease except for the occasional run-in with Temari. Fortunately, Tenten intercepted her most of the time.

The two kunoichi seemed fated to clash. Ever since Tenten had upgraded her gear and refined her fighting style, she was no longer at a disadvantage against the woman who had once countered her so effectively.

Sparks sometimes literally flew whenever they locked eyes, leaving Neji blissfully ignored.

That allowed him to focus entirely on what his shadow clone was doing elsewhere. Returning to Sunagakure and handling various matters there was already consuming enough of his attention.

---

Land of Waves Base

Neji and Sasori emerged from the teleportation chamber, Neji leading the way straight toward the testing grounds.

The terrain was rugged and expansive an underground arena the size of the entire Land of Waves itself. Massive iron pillars, some linking multiple levels, rose from the bedrock, serving both as structural supports and conduits between different laboratories and facilities.

Gone were the days when this base was just a crude stone bunker. Under Neji's direction and with the labor of countless "tool men," it had been completely rebuilt. This third and deepest level was dedicated entirely to experimentation.

The chamber was over a hundred meters tall, and that height might grow as testing continued; it wasn't unusual for the floor to be blasted several meters deeper during intense trials.

Sasori followed Neji down from the first level by elevator. The shift from pristine corridors to a raw, natural battleground gave him pause.

"Boss, is this our headquarters?"

"No. This is just the testing ground… and sometimes a training arena when we want to fight without holding back."

The third level was divided into five zones, each centered around one of the main support pillars: North Rock, East Wind, South Flame, West Water, and Central Dual Balance.

They were currently in a corner of North Rock, surrounded by jagged stone spires like the broken tips of giant pencils.

Neji stepped forward, unrolling two scrolls. One released a swarm of black shadows; the other produced ten figures.

Dozens of Sasori's puppet creations hung in midair, each with a unique, sometimes grotesque appearance. Impressive in number, but already outdated in Neji's eyes.

"Sasori, how much combat strength do you think your puppets can muster?"

Sasori's gaze hardened. Once, these puppets had been enough for him to wipe out an entire nation.

"Strong enough. Under my control, each is on par with a jōnin. Even a Kage-level opponent could fall to them."

Neji nodded slightly.

Without another word, he triggered the control seal on his mask. From the glowing storm clouds above, five dark shapes plummeted like meteors, striking the ground with explosive force.

Through the dust strode five armored figures, each one unique in color black, red, white, green, and yellow. Their armor designs hinted at animal motifs, though hard to place exactly.

"And these are…?"

"My own creations."

These five puppets, if one could even call them that, were unlike anything Sasori had seen. Their armor gleamed with menace, and their presence radiated raw power.

"You want to test them against mine?"

Sasori's tone was calm, but inwardly he dismissed the idea. Five against his hundred, plus ten elite units? Impossible.

"Consider it a welcome display," Neji replied evenly. "You joined us so I'll show you why it was worth it."

Sasori fell silent. Truthfully, he was curious about the mysterious [D-Organization]. His puppets were the pinnacle of his craft yet Neji had chosen to challenge him on his own turf.

Neji gave a single command:

"Begin."

The hundred red-cloaked puppets surged forward in ten squads, each led by one of Sasori's elite. They split up, charging the five armored puppets.

A chaotic battle erupted below. Neji casually summoned a plush-looking sand-island sofa behind him and gestured for Sasori to sit.

"No thanks," Sasori muttered, eyes locked on the fight.

Neji sat back without concern. These five were his ultimate models, crafted from rare materials enough for only one set.

---

Black Armor moved with fluid precision, manipulating Water Release like a master. Amid combat, its water techniques shifted seamlessly into Ice Release, forging weapons mid-battle.

Surrounded by eleven enemies, it remained untouchable, even pressing the advantage.

Red Armor was pure destruction a berserker wreathed in roaring flames. One punch reduced a stone pillar to molten lava. Any puppet that got too close was burned or blasted apart by a storm of firebombs.

White Armor was an impenetrable fortress, its skeletal plating impervious to poison, blades, or projectiles. Sasori's attacks barely scratched it.

Green Armor moved faster than the eye could follow, slicing the air with razor-sharp wind blades. The terrain was littered with fresh gouges, and Sasori's puppets were forced into desperate defense.

Yellow Armor specialized in Earth Release but fought unpredictably often leaping high into the air before smashing down with seismic force.

One thing was clear: these five were far beyond the reach of ordinary jōnin. Even Kage-level shinobi would need to take them seriously.

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"Ice Release… Shikotsumyaku… the others aren't ordinary either. Are they… human puppets?" Sasori finally asked.

Neji hesitated briefly.

"You could say that. But not exactly. They're… half-flesh, half-metal cybernetic shinobi."

Sasori's eyes narrowed.

"They're strong. Very strong."

For the first time, he understood why Neji looked down on his own puppets. The gap was undeniable.

Behind his mask, Neji's display lit up with combat data. He glanced at Sasori.

It was time to talk business.

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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter

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