Becomes a Rebel Ninja After Annihilating the Hyuga Clan

Nara Suzaku turned around to find the eyes of every Konoha ninja on him. With Tsunade absent, he was now the highest-ranking officer in the Konoha unit.

Strategy, planning, and assessing situations were what the Nara clan excelled at. Facing Neiki and the Kirigakure, the Konoha ninjas wanted Suzaku to tell them whether they could still fight, and if so, how.

The supposedly trusting gazes carried an underlying urgency, weighing heavily on Suzaku's mind.

By now, more than half of the 200 Konoha ninjas were dead or injured, most of the casualties from the chaotic battle with the Kirigakure ninjas. The actual number of ninjas killed by Neiki wasn't that high.

However, in the ninja world, casualty statistics are considered more than just numbers. The gap in strength between a Genin and a Jonin was so vast that casualties had to be evaluated based on the ninjas' ranks to reflect the battlefield situation accurately.

The Kirigakure inflicted more casualties on Konoha than Neiki, primarily because the fight against Kirigakure lasted longer. Also, most of the fallen were weaker Chunin and Genin, who were considered expendable in any ninja village.

It's not that the villages didn't value their lower-ranked ninjas, but the harsh reality was that inexperienced ninjas were always the first to die. Konoha only needed to ensure their expendable forces were lost at a slower rate than the enemy's.

Neiki, on the other hand, was different. Alone, he hadn't killed many, but his targets were always high-ranking Konoha ninjas. Lower-ranked ninjas couldn't even get close to him without being effortlessly cut down.

So far, Neiki has killed more than half of the Jonin on this mission, a painful loss. Although they still had the strength to suppress Neiki, his mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique made direct confrontation nearly impossible.

As long as Neiki remained elusive, their numerical advantage was meaningless. Suzaku and the other Konoha ninjas could foresee being slowly picked off by Neiki if they continued this way.

They had prepared to counter Mei Terumi and the Kirigakure ninjas, but not for Neiki with the Flying Thunder God Technique.

"Regardless, we have accomplished our mission," Suzaku exhaled, looking towards the Kirigakure with a complex expression.

Hearing his words, everyone felt slightly relieved. Looking in the same direction, they found some comfort.

Compared to Konoha, Kirigakure was in a worse state.

During the chaotic battle, Konoha steadily pushed back Kirigakure and suffered heavy losses. Even after Neiki disrupted the battle, Kirigakure was powerless against his assaults, moving clumsily and fearfully.

They lacked effective countermeasures against Neiki, relying solely on Ao's Byakugan for limited resistance. Neiki's unrestricted movements within their ranks led to even more casualties among the Kirigakure than the Konoha.

As time passed, many Kirigakure ninjas began to fear Neiki more intensely.

Ao's Byakugan could detect hidden Flying Thunder God seals, but the effectiveness was limited. With seals seemingly everywhere, managing defenses became an enormous challenge. Ao lacked the authority and charisma to organize and lead effectively against such a pervasive threat.

The seals put immense pressure on the unprepared Kirigakure ninjas. Even until Neiki unleashed his terrifying Judgment Sword, they believed they had a chance for revenge. They had the numbers and strength to overwhelm Neiki but needed an opportunity to catch him.

However, when Neiki brought down the Judgment Sword, obliterating the area around Ao with divine thunder, the surviving Kirigakure ninjas' morale shattered. Their last vestiges of hope crumbled with Mei Terumi absent and Ao dead.

Led by Fusaku, the remaining seventy or so Kirigakure ninjas exchanged looks and then turned to flee.

They headed towards where Tsunade and Mei Terumi were fighting.

It was clear they weren't running out of cowardice but strategic retreat. They hoped to regroup and potentially help Mei Terumi defeat Tsunade, which might still turn the tide. �

Such a retreat wasn't shameful but strategic, understanding their current disadvantage.

Konoha had prepared thoroughly to crush them, and Neiki had toyed with both Konoha and Kirigakure. The Kirigakure was now the weakest faction on this battlefield.

Their initial plan to exploit Konoha's weakness had failed miserably.

Even if the Konoha forces had been weakened by Uchiha's defection and the near-destruction of the Hyuga clan, Kirigakure still couldn't realistically hope to annihilate Konoha. They didn't want to see Kumogakure gain too much power either.

This mutual balance meant that even if Kirigakure had planned against Konoha, it was all within a calculable range. Their strategy had been to showcase strength and negotiate benefits, not total war.

However, the first phase of their plan had already collapsed.

They hadn't defeated this Konoha unit or Neiki.

Instead of showing strength, they had been humiliated, and repeatedly outmaneuvered by Konoha and Neiki.

Their strategy to force Konoha into concessions was now nothing but a pipe dream.

As the seventy Kirigakure ninjas retreated, their elaborate plans and hopes disintegrated.

The rain continued to pour, dripping from hair tips.

The Kirigakure ninjas were retreating, using smoke bombs and Hidden Mist Jutsu. Severely injured comrades who couldn't move were killed by their allies, while lightly injured ones were carried along.

Neiki didn't pursue it. He turned his attention to the Konoha ninjas watching him intently.

"Handa-san, please lead the others to support Tsunade-sama," Nara Suzaku said quietly.

Handa nodded, reminded Suzaku to be careful, and led the team towards where the Kirigakure had fled.

Neji was among them, unable to speak but glaring at Neiki with hatred, pain, and confusion. Since Neiki's appearance, a seed of distrust had taken root, growing into a towering tree.

As Neji's brother, Neji had been immediately restrained by a Konoha ninja designated by Tsunade for "protection." It was unclear whether it was protection or suspicion.

Konoha hadn't given him a chance to speak with his estranged brother.

"I survived this long. I want to know the truth. Can you tell me?" Such words never left Neji's mouth.

Despite Neiki killing so many Konoha ninjas, Neji noticed Neiki never once looked at him.

Neji recalled a performance at the Konoha theater, where he sat among thousands, watching a play about brothers turning against each other.

Neiki was the villain, but Neji wasn't the hero capable of stopping his brother.

On and off stage, Neiki always stood in the spotlight while Neji remained in the audience, hoping his brother would notice him and give him an answer.

…

Distance grew, beyond Neji's Byakugan's ability to see through obstacles.

The wound Neiki left on his abdomen throbbed, reminding him their next encounter might be far off.

He looked at the "protector" carrying him, feeling increasingly desperate. A voice seemed to whisper in his ear:

Take this chance to find Neiki and ask your questions.

Do you really want to go back?

Back to Konoha, to live like a street rat?

Don't forget.

You're surrounded by hostile villagers.

By the Inuzuka clan who hate you.

By greedy ninja clans.

By indifferent Konoha leaders.

By Tsunade-sama, who pretends to care but keeps you under surveillance.

…

Neji didn't know.

…

A new question emerged.

"What would Neiki do in this situation?"

…

He looked up again.

The scene changed.

The theater again, before the disaster.

But this time, only Neji remained in the audience, and Neiki alone on stage.

This time, Neiki looked at him.

This time, Neiki smiled and said calmly:

"Of course."

…

"Kill."

…

Neji's eyes snapped open.

Yes.

Just kill.

Why go back to Konoha?

Why return to a place doomed to destruction?

Becoming a rogue ninja, why not?

If Neiki could do it, why couldn't he?

Neji looked at the man carrying him.

No one else was around.

This "protector" clearly didn't care.

Neji took a deep breath, his right hand forming a hand chop.

Ninja academy taught this.

Aim for the back of the head.

Control the force.

Just one strike.

…

"What did you just do?" Nara Suzaku asked Neiki, frowning.

He sensed something strange about Neiki's eyes.

"Nothing, just giving someone a choice," Neiki said, smiling, looking at the remaining dozen Konoha ninjas. "Is this your rear guard?"

Suzaku and Shirakumo exchanged a confident glance. Shirakumo drew his sword and said:

"No, it's a team to try and kill you."

"With opponents like you, numbers aren't an advantage. We had many chances to catch you, but you used the Flying Thunder God Technique to escape to the Kirigakure. Even if we marked all your seals, those Kirigakure fools wouldn't let us intervene, causing us much frustration," Suzaku said, voice weary but full of fighting spirit.

Neiki understood.

"Saito and Aso are dead. I need your head to give their families closure. Will you lend it to me?" Suzaku asked.

Neiki laughed. "Why trouble? I'll return to Konoha and send their families to join

them."

Hundreds of people dragging each other down couldn't do it, but a dozen coordinated people might. This was Suzaku's confidence.

"I must repeat, your Flying Thunder God Technique isn't as good as the Fourth Hokage's…"

The words had barely left his mouth.

The next second.

A shadow pierced through the rain, rushing towards Neiki.