Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece

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Sasuko's reappearance after three long years was devastating in its simplicity fast, overwhelming, impossible to ignore.

Naruto's body still trembled from the lingering current of her lightning, the numbness sinking all the way into his heart.

Barely pushing himself up, his fingers brushed against the necklace that had fallen beside him. With his restraints broken, something darker began to stir inside him. His nails sharpened, marks spread across his cheeks, and his pupils slitted into bestial lines.

The growl that slipped past his lips drew Sasuko's eyes. Her three-tomoe Sharingan pierced into him and in an instant, she was staring into Naruto's inner world.

There he stood before the great sealed gate, his expression grim.

From the depths, malevolent red chakra seeped out like mist, bubbling and gathering into the massive head of a fox demon.

"You want my power, don't you?" the Nine-Tails rumbled. "Come. Tell me who you want to kill?"

Naruto clenched his fists. "Stay out of this!"

"What are you afraid of?" the fox sneered. "You know you can't win on your own."

"I don't need you!" Naruto snapped.

The fox bared its teeth in a mocking laugh. "Every time you're in trouble, you call for me. And now you tell me to shut up? Hmph. Hypocrite."

"Release the seal. Do that, and I'll give you everything."

(From the peanut gallery above, Neji's inner commentary: "Classic. When you're desperate, he's your savior. When you're not, he's trash. In short — Nine-Tails is calling Naruto a two-timer.")

But Naruto saw through the trick instantly. "No. Get lost!"

The Nine-Tails snarled, but before it could push further, another figure stepped forward. Sasuko, inside his mind, her hand pressed firmly against the fox's nose.

The beast's eyes narrowed. Recognition flashed, along with rage. Those eyes… the cursed Sharingan! Memories of being bound, humiliated by Uchiha Madara, seared through its mind.

"You… an Uchiha!"

Naruto gasped. "Sasuko?! How did you—"

She ignored him, her Sharingan blazing. "So this is your secret, Naruto. I can see it now. That's the source of your power."

A twisted satisfaction curled through her chest.

The fox snarled. "That gaze… and your chakra…You remind me of Madara. You disgust me."

But Sasuko only smirked, tightening her grip. The fox's giant head shattered like smoke, bursting apart into nothingness.

"Sorry," she whispered coldly. "I don't know the man you're talking about."

Even as the fragments dissolved, the beast's voice rumbled one last warning.

"…Don't… kill… Naruto… Or you'll regret it…"

And then it was gone.

Above it all, phantom azure eyes the Tenseigan flickered, observing quietly.

Neji, lounging in the sky, chuckled. "The Nine-Tails itself telling her not to kill him? That's the strongest assist I've ever seen. Basically: 'Naruto's important. Touch him and you'll regret it.'"

…

Back in reality, the exchange had lasted only a heartbeat.

Yamato seized the opening, forcing his wounded body into motion. Wood burst from his shoulder wound, wrapping around the Kusanagi blade, branches rising all around to trap Sasuko.

Her brows furrowed. She slashed once, lightning flashing across her sword, and the wooden restraints crumbled. In an instant she was above them again, looking down coldly.

"…Too close."

Naruto clenched his fists, anguish twisting his voice. "Sasuko! Don't you get it? Orochimaru's just waiting to steal your body! He wants to use you!"

His voice cracked. Why won't you come back? Why can't you see we're only trying to save you?

But her response was ice.

"And what if he does? If it gives me the strength to kill Itachi, then I'll gladly give him my body. Revenge is all that matters."

Her words struck him harder than any blade. Naruto staggered, eyes wide.

"Revenge is everything to me. I don't care what happens to me. I don't care what happens to the world. As long as I can kill my brother."

Naruto's chest burned. He couldn't understand or maybe he refused to.

Even Sakura faltered, doubts flickering across her face, but her voice stuck in her throat.

Above, Neji shook his head. Classic case of being too close to see clearly. When your heart's involved, logic is the first casualty.

Yamato finally stepped forward, grim resolve etched into his face. "Enough. I didn't want it to come to this in front of you two, but… Naruto, Sakura, stand back. I'll deal with her."

Sasuko's lips curved in disdain. "So you weren't serious before? Hmph. Pathetic."

Hands flying into seals, she raised her arm high, chakra crackling. "Fine then. Let me show you real power. All of you disappear!"

But just as the jutsu flared, a pale hand clamped gently over hers.

Orochimaru.

His golden eyes gleamed with a strange fondness. "Now, now, Sasuko. Don't waste that technique here."

His voice was almost tender, indulgent.

And just like that, the battlefield froze.

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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter

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