Neji walked out of the Hyuga clan's main gate. A sudden sense of relief washed over his heart.
Turning his head, he cast one last glance at the Hyuga compound behind him. His eyes flickered slightly, then he lifted his foot and walked resolutely forward.
The first place Neji needed to go now was the meeting point for Team 3.
On the other side, Sasuke similarly walked out of the Uchiha clan's gate. The empty Uchiha district held nothing worth lingering over for him.
He had originally planned to pack some things before leaving. But remembering the current state of Konoha, Sasuke abandoned that idea.
Having experienced two attacks, even with Hashirama Senju's Wood Style repairing most of the village, all the ninja in Konoha still remained on edge. At a time like this, any unusual movement would likely attract attention.
Sasuke thought for a moment and headed toward Team 7's meeting spot. It wasn't that he was reluctant to leave Kakashi and the others behind.
He simply knew that even if he could slip out of Konoha right now, he probably wouldn't get far before being discovered. After all, except for special circumstances, genin would gather at fixed times every day to receive their assigned missions.
Especially in Konoha now, with the recent war, while external missions had dropped to a minimum, tasks within the village were unusually numerous. Finding lost items, repairing houses, cleaning up war-damaged streets, and so on.
Therefore, if Sasuke failed to appear at the appointed time, someone like Kakashi would surely come looking for him. By then, Sasuke likely wouldn't have gotten far before being found.
As usual, before long, Sasuke arrived at Team 7's prearranged meeting point. When he appeared, Sakura and Naruto were already there.
Seeing Sasuke's arrival, Sakura, who had been listening to Naruto with an annoyed expression, lit up and immediately trotted over.
As for Naruto, seeing this scene, he pouted. "Sasuke, you're late, man."
Sasuke's expression remained cold. He paid no attention to the approaching Sakura, nor did he respond to Naruto.
He simply walked to one side and stood in a corner, quietly waiting for Kakashi's arrival.
Seeing himself being completely ignored, Naruto's face showed dissatisfaction. He lifted his foot and headed toward Sasuke's direction.
But after just a few steps, Sakura raised her fist and slammed it onto Naruto's head.
"You! Don't bother Sasuke." Sakura wore a fierce expression, speaking with clear dissatisfaction.
"Ow... ow..." Naruto held his head, grimacing in pain.
Watching the bickering Naruto and Sakura, the old Sasuke might have felt annoyed. But for some reason, he now felt surprisingly calm.
Just then, footsteps approached from the distance. Kakashi, hands in his pockets, with a leisurely expression, walked toward the three of them.
"Kakashi-sensei, you're late again!" Sakura turned to look at Kakashi, her voice tinged with dissatisfaction.
"Sorry, I helped a lost cat on the way here." Kakashi scratched his head, showing not a trace of genuine apology in his voice.
Sakura and Naruto both gave him skeptical looks. Clearly neither believed him.
After confirming all three had arrived, Kakashi led Sasuke and the others toward the mission assignment hall. As usual, Kakashi accepted a D-rank mission: cleaning a section of river in Konoha village and collecting all the nearby trash.
Seeing another mission like this, Sakura and Naruto both sighed deeply. They cast resentful glances at Kakashi.
They were sick of doing these kinds of missions!
Kakashi spread his hands helplessly, took the mission scroll, and led Sasuke and the others outside. As he watched the three walk ahead, Kakashi's gaze discreetly lingered on Sasuke for a moment.
Kakashi had always paid special attention to Sasuke. While Sasuke usually behaved with characteristic coldness, today Kakashi sensed something different about him.
If he had to put it into words—it was calmness! Normally, when receiving missions like this, while Sasuke wouldn't complain outright, he would show signs of impatience. But today, he was much calmer.
Though he didn't understand what had happened, Kakashi considered this a good thing. At least it was better than Sasuke's anxious state from some time ago.
"Didn't expect to run into Team 7 here! Morning, Kakashi!" Not long after Kakashi and his group had walked out, an enthusiastic voice called out from nearby.
Hearing this familiar voice, Kakashi's expression darkened involuntarily. Might Guy's Team 3 now appeared in his field of vision.
"Bushy brows!" Naruto couldn't help but shout upon seeing Rock Lee and Might Guy.
Guy and Lee didn't take offense. Both simultaneously gave thumbs up, flashing their gleaming white teeth.
At this moment, Neji's gaze shifted toward Naruto. He couldn't pretend he didn't care about the dead-last who had defeated him.
Naruto naturally felt Neji's gaze as well. His expression paused briefly.
Just as Naruto was about to speak, Neji withdrew his gaze. If we meet again, I won't lose next time!
Neji lifted his foot and walked directly toward the mission hall. Tenten, standing behind Neji, quickly followed.
As Neji passed by Sasuke, for some reason, he suddenly stopped and glanced at Sasuke. At that same moment, Sasuke also turned his head to look at Neji.
The two gazed at each other silently for a moment, then simultaneously withdrew their gazes. As the two geniuses of Konoha, each saw unwillingness in the other's eyes.
Seeing Neji and Tenten walk past him to get their mission, Guy initially showed a dejected expression. But in the next second, he reinvigorated himself.
"That's Neji and Tenten for you—not a moment's hesitation! That is YOUTH!!" Guy shouted enthusiastically, grabbing Lee in a hug.
Both of them chased after Neji and Tenten's direction.
Kakashi covered his forehead with his hand and said to Sakura and the others. "Let's go."
Time passed quickly. Unknowingly, the sun that had risen in the east was now beginning to set.
Evening was approaching. The previously cluttered riverbank was now completely cleaned.
"Finally done!" Sakura rubbed her wrist and exhaled heavily.
At this moment, Kakashi, standing to the side, put away his little book. He looked up, briefly assessed the sky, and spoke softly.
"Let's call it a day. I'll collect your mission payment for you. Oh, and you can rest tomorrow."
"Really?!" Naruto's eyes lit up with surprise.
Sasuke, standing nearby with an indifferent expression, also showed a slight flicker in his eyes.
Kakashi nodded, and with a single flash, he disappeared.
Seeing Kakashi leave, Naruto turned to Sasuke with a joyful expression. "Sasuke, want to train together tomorrow?"
"No." Sasuke replied flatly, then turned and walked toward the Uchiha compound.
Hearing Sasuke's response, Naruto's eyes showed disappointment. But he didn't mind—it was expected after all.
Naruto turned to Sakura. Before he could even speak, Sakura also waved her hand.
"I don't want to either!" With that, Sakura turned and left as well.
"Fine, I'll just train by myself then." Naruto said dejectedly, seeing himself rejected by both.
Suddenly, Naruto's eyes brightened. He remembered what Hashirama had once told him—that if he ever needed help with training, he could come find him anytime.
"Hey, maybe I should find Hashirama-san. He's so strong, he could probably teach me some amazing jutsu." Naruto thought aloud. "He'd definitely be more reliable than Pervy Sage."
"Nah, Hashirama-san is probably busy. I shouldn't disturb him." Naruto shook his head gently and walked toward his home.
Since meeting Hashirama Senju that last time, Naruto had felt that Hashirama treated him specially. There was none of the Hokage's usual airs about him.
That day after eating ramen together, Hashirama had even walked part of the way home with him. Though Hashirama kept foolishly grinning the whole time, which made Naruto want to look down on him a bit.
But Naruto could still feel that Hashirama treated him differently from others. It was the same kind of feeling he got from Iruka-sensei.
However, Naruto guessed this probably had something to do with the fox inside him. Since meeting Hashirama, whenever Naruto entered his mindscape, he discovered that the fox was no longer sleeping.
Though the Nine-Tails was still impatient with him, Naruto had managed to get a bit of information from it. Hashirama Senju had known the Nine-Tails many years ago.
On the other side, Sasuke walked his usual route home toward the Uchiha compound. But halfway there, his originally black eyes turned blood red.
He quickly scanned his surroundings and, finding no traces of anyone, flashed away. He changed direction toward another path.
That direction led to Konoha's main gate.
As the former Konoha Military Police Force, many regulations had been established by the Uchiha clan. While Sasuke didn't know most of them, he was aware of the basic ones.
Sasuke moved quickly. After avoiding some conspicuous areas, he rapidly approached Konoha's main gate.
But just then, Sasuke's figure suddenly stopped. Standing not far ahead of him was another figure.
"Sakura? Why are you here?" Sasuke's heart sank, and he couldn't help but frown.
"I don't know why exactly, but I know you've always been obsessed with getting stronger." Sakura paused, looking at Sasuke with hopeful eyes. "Yet today during the mission, you were so calm... so you're leaving, aren't you?"
As Sakura's words fell, the scene fell completely silent.
After a long moment, Sasuke softly inhaled and muttered to himself. "Troublesome woman!"
Coincidentally, in another direction, Neji stood with an indifferent expression. He looked at Tenten, who had her arms spread wide, blocking his path.
"How did you know I would take this road?" Neji fell silent for a moment, then spoke slowly.
"There may be many roads leading to Konoha's main gate." Tenten's hands clenched slightly as she gazed at Neji. "But from the Hyuga compound, there's only this one path that leads there."
Hearing Tenten's words, Neji was momentarily stunned. He hadn't noticed that detail.
"But how did you know I was leaving?" Neji looked at Tenten, asking with further confusion. "Even though Guy-sensei is quite oblivious, he's actually very perceptive. I shouldn't have shown any openings."
"You should know my family runs a weapon shop." Tenten bit her lip and spoke softly. "Last night, I heard from a ninja customer that Hiashi Hyuga has woken up. I know the Caged Bird seal on your forehead has been removed."
"So I guessed you would make a move within these two days." She continued. "I was planning to wait here for you this whole time."
Neji fell silent. During the chunin exam, in the rest room, Tenten had been the first person in Konoha to learn—and the only one who knew—that his Caged Bird seal had been removed.
Originally, Neji had been somewhat guarded around Tenten. But after all this time, Tenten hadn't revealed this information to anyone.
Deep down, Neji still had complicated feelings toward Tenten.
"You should know what I'll face if the Main House discovers this." Neji looked at Tenten with complex emotions in his voice.
Tenten nodded gently. She naturally knew the rules of great clans, especially one as ancient as the Hyuga.
But she didn't want Neji to become a missing-nin!
Neji lifted his foot and slowly approached Tenten. Seeing Neji's movement, Tenten involuntarily stepped back.
But then, gritting her teeth, she stood her ground again.
Neji stopped only when he reached Tenten. Seeing the slight nervousness on her face, Neji suddenly spoke.
"After being teammates for so long, this is the first time I've realized—you're actually pretty smart, Tenten."
Tenten's face flushed red. Just as she was about to speak, Neji suddenly struck the back of her neck with his palm.
As Tenten was about to lose consciousness, a barely audible voice reached her ears. "I'm sorry, Tenten. I want to be selfish just this once."
Thud. Seeing the unconscious Tenten, Neji lifted his foot and walked resolutely forward.
In another direction, Sasuke similarly walked resolutely past the unconscious Sakura.
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