Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece

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While Akatsuki's movements shifted into high gear, Neji had already returned to the Wave Country base.

He pushed open the door to the monitoring room, where Izumi sat waiting. A strand of hair slipped across her brow, and her eyes lifted toward him.

"I'm back," Neji said quietly.

"Welcome home."

Her soft smile made his throat dry. He forced his gaze away, steadying himself. "How's surveillance? Any new moves from Akatsuki's teams?"

Izumi brushed her hair aside, her lab coat swaying lightly over her violet dress. With a few taps on her tablet, the lights dimmed and a massive holographic map of the shinobi world appeared. Red markers glowed, each pulsing faintly with life.

"These two…" She tapped. The map zoomed in to show Kakuzu and Hidan heading toward the Fire Country. "The so-called Immortal Duo. Their destination matches what we pulled from Kakuzu's bounty map the Fire Temple."

Neji frowned. So "Sora" may exist in this world after all. He nodded silently.

Izumi slid her finger again, opening another red point over the Land of Water. A projection showed Deidara and Tobi mid-argument, which quickly escalated into a wrestling match.

"The new partners," she said dryly. "Annoying, but oddly effective."

Neji exhaled, half amused, half exasperated. "Those two clowns…"

She shifted to another point. In the Land of Earth, Itachi sat silently on a stone, eyes closed, while Kisame kept watch nearby. Izumi's expression softened almost imperceptibly.

"They've already tracked the Four-Tails. It won't be long."

As if on cue, Itachi's eyes opened, his gaze sharp. "Something feels… off," he murmured. Kisame stiffened, scanning the treeline. "Stay cautious. Do you sense the jinchūriki?"

"…Yes. Let's finish this quickly."

The two disappeared into the forest.

Neji's gaze flicked toward Izumi. Itachi — her first love. He could read the faint shift in her expression, no matter how well she hid it.

"Of course, Itachi would notice our surveillance," Neji said softly.

Izumi shot him a sideways look, tugging him closer until his face was in her hands. Her eyes locked with his.

"Look. What do you see?"

"…You."

She pulled his head against her chest, letting him hear the steady rhythm beneath. "Listen. What do you hear?"

"…Your heartbeat."

Then she eased him down into her lap, her hand stroking his hair.

"I'm here. My heart's here. You've been beside me all this time. And I've already decided I'll stay with you, wherever you go."

She bent slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Idiot. Did you really need me to say it first?"

Neji gave a crooked smile. How could I have known? In my last life, assuming she cared was what ruined everything.

But now… now she was his.

He leaned closer, catching the scent of her skin, his breath unsteady. She blushed at the warmth of his breath against her collarbone.

"…Face the other way," she muttered, trying to push him back only for his hand to catch her wrist.

"You lit the fire," he said with a grin. "Don't blame me when it burns."

Before she could reply, Ai-chan's voice chimed in the room.

[Boss, I've locked the doors, dimmed the lights, and expanded the sofa into a full-sized futon. Enjoy yourselves.]

"…Ai-chan…" Neji muttered.

The floating sofa flattened into a wide, plush bed. The room grew warmer, softer, private.

…

Much later, Neji reclined against the tilted edge of the cloud-sofa, sipping fruit wine, his expression contemplative.

"Izumi," he said suddenly, "if one day I left this world… would you follow me?"

She stirred beneath the sheets, propping herself against his chest. Her voice was steady. "Yes. You saved my life. If that path is with you, then I'll walk it. No regrets."

He smiled faintly, stroking her hair. "That's not what I meant. I wasn't speaking of death… but of other worlds. Beyond this one."

Her brow furrowed slightly. "Other worlds… with life?"

"Chakra's origins weren't from this planet," Neji explained. "The Ōtsutsuki came from beyond the stars. If such beings exist, then so must other worlds, other lives."

Izumi nodded without hesitation. "If you wish to go, then I'll be there. Wherever you are, that's where I belong."

Neji's eyes softened. For all his grand plans and hidden rage, here was the anchor he couldn't lose.

But Ai-chan wasn't finished.

[Boss, I also prepared clothing options for Izumi. Please choose: Bunny girl, Cat outfit, School uniform, Maid, Bride gown, Secretary…]

The wall slid open, revealing an entire rack of costumes.

Neji froze. "…Ai-chan."

Izumi's eyes narrowed as she turned to him, amusement dancing across her lips.

"…Care to explain?"

"I-I just asked for normal clothes!" Neji stammered.

Her smirk deepened. "Well then, which one should I wear first?"

His throat went dry. "I… uh…"

Izumi leaned closer, eyes glinting with playful mischief.

"Today," she whispered, "you're not leaving this room."

Neji swallowed hard. Ai-chan… you betrayed me.

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