boyutpedia Chapter 35 Father and Son Meet
Chapter 35 Father and Son Meet
Naruto probably anticipated that the Third Hokage would recall Jiraiya and Tsunade to the village, so he deliberately adjusted his taijutsu training route these past few days, making a detour past the Konoha hot spring inn every day. Unfortunately, he still didn't see that lecherous white-haired old man appear.
Jiraiya did indeed return once, appearing directly at the hospital using the Reverse Summoning Jutsu from Mount Myōboku. However, he only briefly visited the Third Hokage who was recuperating, and after a short private conversation, Jiraiya hurriedly left Konoha. As for Tsunade, given her current state of utter despair, she probably won't return unless Konoha is truly destroyed.
Naruto wasn't in a hurry to take Neji to the Land of Hot Springs to find Hizashi. With the situation already so escalating, it would be more prudent to wait until things calmed down before taking any action.
Ironically, the true victim of this conflict that shook the entire ninja world—the Byakugan incident orchestrated by the Hidden Cloud Village—has been completely ignored.
Faced with the sudden appearance of a madman in the ninja world possessing destructive power and whose sole purpose is to prevent war, the life and death of a mere member of the Hyuga branch clan seems utterly insignificant. The gap between individual destiny and the global landscape is simply too vast.
Naruto had already made preparations. According to the original plan, Konoha would likely execute Hizashi using the Caged Bird Seal to give Kumogakure an explanation. But now, under the intimidating power displayed by Menma, both Kumogakure and Konoha tacitly forgot about this Hyuga clansman—neither dared to make a move, fearing that a single careless act would incur the wrath of that terrifying being.
This unexpected development left Naruto completely bewildered. He had planned to use the Flying Thunder God Technique at any moment to try and break the Caged Bird's death seal with the "Crazy Diamond" ability, but now he had no chance to use it.
Although the villagers of Konoha experienced a brief period of panic, life had to go on. Just like facing an insurmountable natural disaster, people quickly returned to their daily routines. Those who needed to farm went to farm, and those who needed to run shops went to run shops. Fear was present, but since there was nothing they could do, why live in constant anxiety? Life was already difficult enough; why add to their suffering?
As the horrifying crater outside the village neared completion of repairs, the villagers' fear gradually subsided. Finally, Naruto could begin to fulfill his promise.
------
At midnight, the Hyuga branch family's mansion was shrouded in deathly silence.
Four-year-old Neji curled up alone on the cold tatami mat, tears silently streaming down his cheeks, wetting the fabric beside his pillow.
In the Hyuga clan, where hierarchy is determined by the main family and branch families, blood ties have long been replaced by cold rules. For this child, losing his father meant losing his only family member.
The outside world was reeling from earth-shattering events: the mysterious Menma, the anti-war madman capable of destroying villages, the emergence of the [Jin] organization, the Raikage's near-death experience... But none of this mattered to Neji. At this moment, only one simple yet cruel fact occupied his mind: his father might never return.
Although he was just a child, in this unreasonable world, one couldn't survive without being precocious. Neji had pieced together the truth from the servants' whispers: his father had become the scapegoat for the main family.
Father...where are you...what should I do...?
Hatred? Resentment? Resentment? These emotions will slowly ferment in the lonely days to come. But right now, what occupies this young heart is the purest, and also the cruelest—sadness.
The tears under the moonlight, like this child's shattered childhood, silently vanished into the long night. In this quiet, deep night…
"Yo."
A sudden sound made Neji shudder. He jumped to his feet and looked toward the source of the sound. On the windowsill, illuminated by moonlight, a figure had appeared out of nowhere. The person was dressed in a long black robe and wore a fox mask that completely covered their face, and was sitting leisurely on the windowsill.
Of course, this is a transformation technique.
"Who are you--!"
"Shh." The masked man held up a finger. "Don't make a sound. Making a scene won't do you any good."
Before Neji could react, the figure in front of him suddenly vanished. The next second, a pair of hands gently rested on his shoulders.
"Wh...when..."
Cold sweat trickled down Neji's back. He then realized that if this person wanted to take his life, it would be incredibly easy.
"You...what is your purpose..." Neji's voice was filled with suppressed terror.
"Ugh, ugh..." Naruto shrugged helplessly. "Don't be so scared. I mean you no harm. If I wanted to kill you, you would already be dead."
"!"
"...I...I'm just a branch family member of the Hyuga clan..."
Neji suppressed his fear, but tears streamed down his face uncontrollably. "If you want to see my eyes... the main family will execute me with the Caged Bird Seal..."
The voice was filled with fear but also an attempt to communicate. Naruto had only wanted to tease Neji, but the whole thing made him feel a little guilty.
"Well, how should I put it? My purpose might be even more naive than you think," Naruto said with a light laugh, placing his hand back on his shoulder. "Anyway, come with me first, and you'll understand."
Go on a trip? Are you going to kidnap me?
Neji's heart suddenly raced, and just as he was about to say something, the scene before him suddenly distorted.
This isn't the blurriness caused by high-speed movement, but a genuine spatial displacement. The world spins and reassembles before my eyes, as if I've been thrown into a kaleidoscope.
What's going on? Where am I?
So they really were kidnapped...?
There's... no way to call for help anymore...
When his vision refocused, a strong sense of dizziness washed over him. Neji suppressed the discomfort and mechanically looked around. He seemed to be inside a mansion, with ordinary Japanese corridors on both sides and a simple sliding door in front of him.
"Alright." Naruto released his hand from his shoulder. "Open the door and go in. Cherish this opportunity; you won't have another one for a long time."
Neji looked up cautiously at the fox mask, the eyes hidden behind it unfathomable. Although he didn't understand the meaning of those words, he truly had no other choice at the moment.
At least... this doesn't look like a prison cell...
Her small hand trembled as she reached for the sliding door. Neji took a deep breath and slowly pulled the door open—
"Father...?!"
His childish voice trembled with disbelief. Before him stood the face he thought he had lost forever, a face he would never see again.
Hyuga Hizashi knelt in the center of the room, and the moment he saw his son, a gentle ripple appeared in his usually stern eyes. This man, who had walked through the gates of hell, had finally fulfilled his greatest wish since his rebirth.
"Neji."
The simple call contained so many unspeakable emotions. The usually stern father now showed an unprecedented look of tenderness.