132. The Hyuga Clan’s Sage Body!

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Neji hadn't expected this.

Apparently, Orochimaru had injected feminizing hormones into Kimimaro. At first glance, the now-lithe figure looked uncannily like Kaguya herself.

Disturbing resemblance.

Absolutely terrifying.

Oh—right. It's "Uncle Orochimaru" now. Gotta respect your master's old colleagues.

Still, Neji was almost impressed.

Orochimaru hadn't wasted the experimental hormone batch Neji gave him he'd actually used it on Kimimaro. Which also meant…

The healing formula had worked.

Kimimaro was no longer dying.

That changed everything.

Neji's lips curved faintly as he skimmed his item storage. If Kimimaro's condition had stabilized… she would have just become prime research material.

---

Elsewhere, in a creeping tangle of pitcher plants, a strange duo was watching.

"...Mom?" the black-faced side of Zetsu murmured.

"What was that?" asked the white side, blinking.

"Nothing."

"Sure didn't sound like nothing."

The black half said nothing more. But internally, Zetsu was reeling.

Someone from that clan had returned. And she was stronger than expected.

---

Neji rushed forward, chakra light trailing behind him. He passed the remnants of Shikamaru's battle, catching wind of Temari's windstorm and ripping apart the enemy's genjutsu-based sound attacks.

"Always lands the perfect counter," Neji mused. Temari was good at what she did.

Across the battlefield, Tayuya gritted her teeth. With her genjutsu sounds swept away by slicing gales, she had no way to regain control. And now—

They were both looking up.

She blinked.

"What are they—?"

WHAM!

Neji dropped like a meteor, landing his [Falcon Drop] directly on her.

He didn't hold back. Vision impaired, emotions neutral he never pulled punches when fighting women.

The crater said it all.

Tayuya lay unmoving at the bottom.

Neji launched from the crater with the second burst of his technique, vanishing into the trees again.

Temari scowled. "Do all Leaf ninjas casually kill people mid-flight like that?"

Shikamaru leaned against a tree, exhausted.

"We're… not all like him."

"Neji?"

"Yep. So don't blame us."

Temari clicked her tongue.

---

At the forest's edge, in a clearing of grass, the coffin containing Sasuko pulsed.

Kimimaro paused mid-step, gaze locked.

"It's happening."

With a burst—

BOOM!

The coffin shattered.

Sasuko emerged.

The Curse Mark faded from her body, sealing itself away.

"Naruto!"

He stumbled to a stop. "Sasuke?!"

No response only a quiet, unsettling laugh.

It made Naruto's skin crawl.

"Why?! Why'd you go with these freaks? You had us! You didn't need to join him!"

Sasuko didn't reply.

She turned her back.

"Get back here! Sasuk—!"

A whisper at his ear:

"Too late."

Kimimaro stood behind him, bone blade ready to strike.

[Shunpo] – [High Kick]!

CRACK!

Neji's kick slammed Kimimaro through a tree.

He landed beside Naruto. "Go. She's yours to deal with."

Naruto blinked, stunned. "Right. Got it!"

He took off after Sasuko.

Kimimaro rose slowly, brushing off the dust. She locked eyes with Neji.

"I see… I'll have to kill you first."

"You can try."

"Name?"

"Neji."

In a flash, their fists collided raw taijutsu vs. refined form.

Kimimaro was fast and lethal. But Neji was smoother, fluid. Every jab Kimimaro threw was answered with a counter. At every angle she tried, Neji redirected her flow.

It was like punching into a web of flowing water.

She was trapped.

She knew it.

No good. I'm losing rhythm.

Years of killing instinct screamed change tactics!

She backed off and switched forms.

"Dance of the Camellia!"

Her bones extended into sharpened blades, thrusting and spinning with pinpoint speed.

But Neji only smiled.

So this is the Kaguya bloodline…

If the Uchiha and Senju represent the "Eyes and Body" of the Sage then Hyuga and Kaguya are the mirror match: the Eyes and the Flesh.

And this? This is the piece we're missing.

He stepped forward.

[Six Powers: Kami-e]!

His body moved like drifting paper—light, effortless. Kimimaro's strikes passed through the air, hitting nothing.

He was no longer dodging—he was dissolving.

Her blade missed again.

And then—

[Gale Combo]!

A shoulder crash. A spinning elbow to the gut. A crushing palm to the chest.

Kimimaro flew back, rolling across the grass.

Her chest heaved. Her lungs barely caught air.

So strong…

She coughed.

He's not normal.

Neji cracked his neck, flexing his fingers.

"You're good."

He stepped forward.

"But you're not ready."

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