"Then how do you explain what happened in Kumogakure? Huh?" Karin snapped, glaring at Suigetsu, "Use your brain for once!"
"As soon as we entered Kumogakure, Yondaime Raikage came out with almost all his men, just to kill us invaders?"
"In that short amount of time, what important item could we have stolen? It’s like using a cannon to kill a mosquito. Was it necessary? It felt as if we’d killed his father!"
"So many unreasonable things are happening one after another. Is your brain filled with water?"
Suigetsu shook his head, looking at Karin in surprise. His brain was indeed filled with water, and it wasn’t that he was stupid… he just didn’t want to think about those things.
"That’s not important. Anyway, we’ve moved to a new location. If something’s off, we’ll find out soon enough." He spread his hands and said, "We haven’t run into any trouble along the way, and this time, we’re not even entering Kumogakure."
"You!" Karin was furious.
"Alright! Stop arguing!" Sasuke was annoyed, "What Karin said makes sense. Suigetsu’s approach is also valid. We’ll see what happens once we enter the Land of Water."
…
"Which way should I go?" After Naruto left the rain forest, he quickly ran towards the direction of Kirigakure.
"What a shame. Without Sasuke's help this time, I probably won’t achieve the same results as I did in Kumogakure."
Naruto muttered to himself, shaking his head in regret. What he didn’t know was that Sasuke, who had narrowly escaped death in Kumogakure, was now approaching the Land of Water.
Naruto's plan was to use the Transformation Technique to sneak into Kirigakure to find out the situation and gather information on Chojuro's daily routine. Then, he’ll steal Hiramekarei when he was alone.
‘Well, it’s time to start my plain old Villager A plan again.’
…
Konoha.
After drifting on the sea for several days and nights, Neji and Lee finally ended their journey and safely returned to Konoha. They spent the next two days resting at home.
The next day, Team 3 gathered to celebrate their safe return from the mission. It was an unspoken rule among, as whenever they completed a dangerous mission, they would meet up.
Guy was still on his way to the island of Land of Whirlpools to pick up Tenten. With communication delays, he didn’t know Tenten had already returned.
But even if he knew, he would probably be on his way back now. There was no way he could attend Team 3’s gathering.
After a few rounds of drinks, the three of them ate some food to fill their stomachs.
"Tenten, how did you get back so early?" Leeput down his chopsticks and asked curiously.
Hearing this, Tenten realized that Lee and Neji probably didn’t know about Naruto’s mysterious teleportation gate. Naturally, she wouldn’t spill the secret.
"Well, maybe it was just luck. Naruto had a boat." She said casually, "He dropped me off on the shore and then left again. I don’t know where he went."
"That’s so strange. The distance was so far, but Naruto seemed to get there instantly." Lee scratched his head and looked at Neji.
"Neji, did I remember the timing wrong?"
"No, it’s probably because Naruto has other methods."
Neji wasn’t particularly curious about Naruto. Ever since Naruto had effortlessly removed the Caged Bird, Neji had understood the extent of Naruto’s abilities.
"Is that so?" Lee scratched his head and didn’t think too much about it.
"By the way, Neji, when are you getting married?" Tenten suddenly brought up the topic and looked at Neji with a smile.
Hearing this, Lee also perked up with interest.
"Yeah, yeah, Neji, when’s the wedding?"
"Soon, probably in the next few days." Neji nodded "I’ll send you invitations with the specific date. No need for gifts, though."
"How can we not give gifts?" Tenten shook her head, "When Shikamaru and Choji got married, we all gave gifts, so we can't not give gifts when you get married."
"Alright." Neji forced a smile, "My intention was to keep it simple. In fact, all Hyuga Clan’s weddings are usually like this."
"By the way, Neji, are you the Clan Head of the Hyuga Clan now?" Lee looked at him and asked.
"yes."
"That’s amazing!" Lee showed an expression of astonishment and praised sincerely.
"It’s not a big deal. It’s just…" Neji explained briefly, his words were sincere, "The conflict between the Hyuga Clan’s main family and the branch family Neji has been going on for a long time. It can only be resolved slowly..."
Tenten sat nearby, listening attentively while eating and sipping her drink.
Neji was slowly explaining the details of the wedding arrangements, and Lee listened with admiration.
As she drank, Tenten suddenly realized that Neji getting married wasn’t so hard to accept after all. As his teammate, she should support him in the path he had chosen.
"Congratulations on your marriage, Neji!" Tenten raised her glass with a smile.
"Me too!" Lee quickly raised his glass.
Hearing this, Neji’s face softened into a gentle smile and he raised his glass and clinked it with his teammates.
He had found the path he would dedicate his life to, the way out of his struggles.
The Caged Bird wasn’t just a mark on his forehead… it was a mental shackle. He wanted to change that. As the first branch family’s member to truly stand up and say no, he had already made significant progress.
"Why do you look unfamiliar?" A member of the Kirigakure’s Hunter-nin stopped Naruto and looked him up and down.
Naruto immediately broke out in a cold sweat, and his heart was racing. He thought to himself, ‘Why is Kirigakure so paranoid? I used a Transformation Technique. How did they recognize me?’
"I’ve always looked like this!" Naruto said, forcing himself to stay calm.
"Still lying? I can tell at a glance that you’re not from Kirigakure!" The man frowned, pointing at Naruto and scolding him sternly.
"Who are you?"
"I’m talking to you! Don’t look away! You! How dare you ignore me? Are you looking for death?"
The man's voice faded into the distance, and Naruto couldn't help but look at the madman in the Hunter-nin’s clothes chasing after another villager. His expression was complicated.
‘Is Terumi Mei even competent? How does she manage her subordinates? Even lunatics are running around!’
Naruto wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. For a moment, he had thought his Villager A plan was doomed.
He couldn’t believe his Transformation Technique had been seen through by some nobody. That would be too ridiculous.
As he walked forward, he didn’t notice a pair of eyes watching him from a third-floor window down the street.
It was Terumi Mei.