The Heaven and Earth Bridge arrangement had come to an end.
The final outcome was exactly as Kimimaro had planned.
Everything had gone smoothly.
Neji successfully returned to Konoha, while Sasuke experienced Naruto's even more ferocious Nine-Tails power.
It could be said that everyone gained something.
Inside the Hokage's office in Konoha.
Hearing that everyone had returned safely, Tsunade let out a sigh of relief.
Clutching the crescent moon pendant on her chest, she murmured softly, "Kimimaro, I knew I wasn't wrong to trust you."
Not long after, Yamato entered the office to report the details to Tsunade.
"Lady Fifth, here's the situation: According to Neji, he and Sasuke spent their time in the Hidden Sound Village focusing on training while also gaining the power of the Cursed Seal.
The power of the Cursed Seal is remarkable. Once activated, it increases strength by about tenfold. Based on what Guy-sensei said, Kimimaro also possesses a similar power, but it's even stronger than Neji and Sasuke's.
Even with the Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates fully opened, Guy couldn't overpower Kimimaro. However, according to Neji, the Cursed Seal has its limits, and it seems to apply to Kimimaro as well. That's likely why he didn't relentlessly pursue us.
Orochimaru was injured by Guy-sensei's Daytime Tiger and also chose to give up the chase.
Under these circumstances, we managed to leave safely. Otherwise, I doubt we'd have been so fortunate."
After reporting the details, Yamato provided his conclusion.
Hearing this, Tsunade fell into thought.
From what she heard, it was almost certain Kimimaro had gone easy on them.
Based on her past knowledge of Kimimaro, his natural talent combined with the power of the Cursed Seal after three years of growth would make defeating Guy, even in the Seventh Gate, not too difficult.
Not to mention Orochimaru was also there.
Daytime Tiger was powerful, but wounding Orochimaru? That seemed unlikely.
As an old teammate, Tsunade knew better than anyone how crafty Orochimaru was.
So, what was their real purpose?
Tsunade couldn't figure it out for the moment.
"You've worked hard. Where is Hyuga Neji now?"
"He's just outside, under the watch of two Anbu members. Members of Team 3 and Team 7 are also present. Hyuga Hinata has gone to notify the Hyuga clan leader and should be here soon."
Yamato explained.
"Let Neji come in first. I need to talk to him."
"Yes, Lady Fifth."
Yamato left the office, and the others quickly gathered around.
"Captain Yamato, what did Granny Tsunade say?" Naruto asked anxiously.
"Lady Fifth wants to talk to Neji alone first."
"Huh? Alone? Is something wrong? Captain Yamato, I'm going in too!" Naruto declared, worried for Neji.
Neji, however, declined Naruto's gesture of support and said, "Let me go alone. This is my mistake to bear, and whatever consequences there are, I should face them myself."
"But—"
"Naruto, let Neji handle it."
Before Naruto could finish, Tenten interrupted him.
"Fine," Naruto relented.
Seeing Tenten's firm stance, he reluctantly stayed quiet.
Neji gave Tenten a small smile before stepping into the Hokage's office.
"Do you think Neji will be okay?" Naruto still sounded worried.
"My master will handle this fairly. Besides, the Hyuga clan leader is on the way. There shouldn't be any issues," Sakura reassured him.
"That's true," Naruto nodded.
Inside the office, Tsunade was meeting Neji for the first time.
The demeanor of this young man in white left a strong impression on her.
No wonder Kimimaro had trained him—he really stood out.
"Lord Hokage," Neji greeted respectfully.
"Come here. Let me see your Cursed Seal," Tsunade instructed.
"Yes, Lady Hokage."
As Neji approached, Tsunade's gaze fell on the pattern of the seal on his neck.
A yin-yang symbol!
Studying the seal closely, Tsunade extended her right hand, placing it over the mark.
"This isn't Orochimaru's work. Kimimaro created it, didn't he?"
Tsunade could clearly sense the power of the Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse) emanating from the seal, confirming her suspicion quickly.
Others might not sense it, but Tsunade had spent two years researching the Shikotsumyaku with Kimimaro, so she was deeply familiar with its energy.
Neji didn't deny it, replying, "That's correct. The Cursed Seal's power in me comes from Kimimaro."
"What's the deal between you and Kimimaro? And why did you return to Konoha?"
Tsunade had already deduced much on her own.
Deceiving others might be easy for Kimimaro, but tricking her? Not likely.
Neji seemed unfazed by her sharp questions, as though he had prepared for them.
Reaching into his pouch, he pulled out a scroll and handed it to Tsunade.
"Lady Hokage, this is from Kimimaro."
Tsunade glanced at the scroll, now certain that the entire outcome at the Heaven and Earth Bridge had been orchestrated by Kimimaro.
That brat had hatched another grand plan without her knowing.
"You little punk! Always scheming without letting me know," Tsunade muttered bitterly, accepting the scroll and unrolling it to read.
Neji watched this unfold with a peculiar feeling.
When Kimimaro had told him about this, he hadn't been convinced. Yet now, seeing how the Fifth Hokage seemed to know Kimimaro well—perhaps even fondly—he couldn't help but feel intrigued.
What was the story between Tsunade and Kimimaro?
It seemed that, while Orochimaru and Konoha appeared to be enemies, things weren't so black and white.
Everything seemed far more complicated than it appeared.
Neji felt like a clueless pawn caught between these seasoned schemers.
Realizing this, he became even more cautious, not daring to let his guard down.
Unaware of Neji's musings, Tsunade focused on the scroll's contents, her expression growing heavier as she read.
The scroll contained a letter from Kimimaro to Tsunade, which could be divided into three main points.
The first addressed Neji.
Neji's return marked the beginning of change for the Hyuga clan, something Kimimaro had discussed with Hiashi Hyuga from the very beginning.
This matter couldn't progress without Tsunade's involvement, which was why Kimimaro had included it in the letter.
Only with Tsunade's support can the reform of the Hyuga Clan proceed smoothly.
Moreover, for Konoha, which is currently lacking talent, this is more of a benefit than a drawback.
Based on Kimimaro's understanding of Tsunade, she would likely agree.
The second part of the matter concerns the Akatsuki organization.
Kimimaro provided considerable information about the Akatsuki, cautioning Tsunade to handle them carefully.
The last part focused on Sasuke and the Uchiha Clan.
Regarding the fateful connection between Sasuke and Itachi, Kimimaro reassured Tsunade with confidence.
In the near future, Konoha will once again have a loyal and powerful Uchiha clan member.
After reading the entire scroll, Tsunade turned away, tears welling in her eyes, moved to the core.
"I never imagined that Kimimaro would plan so much for me. All of this was to ensure I could solidify my position as Hokage and lead Konoha to greatness."
To Tsunade, whether it was aiding the Hyuga Clan or bringing the Uchiha Clan back to Konoha, it was all for her.
This was no different from when Kimimaro dealt with Danzo. It was clear he had given his all for her.
With this thought, Tsunade couldn't help but feel deeply touched.
Now wasn't the time to lose composure, so Tsunade quickly adjusted her emotions and turned to Neji.
"You want to change the Hyuga Clan's system?"
"Yes, Lady Hokage. The division between the main and branch families has cost the Hyuga Clan too much, to the point where we haven't produced a Kage-level warrior in years. Only by changing this system can the Hyuga Clan unlock its true potential."
Neji's gaze was firm and resolute.
"I understand. Once Hiashi comes, we'll discuss it in detail. I'll support you in completing this reform."
"Thank you, Lady Hokage!"
Hearing this, Neji was overjoyed.
He never expected that a single letter from Kimimaro could persuade the Hokage to assist him.
This only made him more curious about the relationship between Kimimaro and Tsunade.
In Konoha, everything was progressing methodically, while Kimimaro had already left the Sound Village to seek Sasori.
For the time being, Suigetsu remained in the Sound Village to assist Orochimaru with various matters.
Once things in the Sound Village were resolved, Orochimaru planned to take the Three-Tails and negotiate a deal with Obito and Zetsu.
In a cave, Sasori had nearly fully recovered.
"Sasori-senpai, it seems you've completely adapted to this new body."
"I never imagined you had such techniques. It's even more remarkable than my puppet arts."
After regaining consciousness, Sasori studied his new body and was amazed at his findings.
This body fully capitalized on the regenerative core's advantages and was brimming with vitality.
"It's still in the experimental stage—not yet perfect."
"What would make it perfect?"
Sasori was intrigued.
"Your body incorporates cells from the First Hokage. However, because your soul isn't strong enough, you can't fully integrate with it.
You'll need a much stronger soul to achieve a complete fusion and become the perfect artificial human."
Kimimaro explained his hypothesis.
"A stronger soul? How can I obtain that? All of my soul's strength is contained in the regenerative core, so increasing it further seems nearly impossible."
Sasori was at a loss, but Kimimaro already had a solution in mind.
"I didn't have a way before, but recently I came across some information that might help you acquire the powerful soul you need."
"What information?"
Sasori was intrigued.
"Have you heard of the Land of Demons?"
Kimimaro didn't answer directly, instead posing a question.
"The mysterious land with the priestess?"
Sasori, being well-read, immediately understood what Kimimaro was referring to.
"Correct. Around three days ago, someone named Moryo released a demon known as Moryo by undoing the seal placed by the former priestess.
Moryo has no physical body, only a soul—and it's incredibly powerful. If you can consume its soul, you should be able to become the perfect artificial human."
"Consume its soul? I don't have the means to do that."
Sasori wasn't overly optimistic, raising a valid concern.
"You don't need to worry about that. I've already added the necessary ability to your regenerative core. As long as you can overpower Moryo's soul, you can absorb its energy and erase its consciousness."
Kimimaro had already planned ahead for Sasori.
Hearing this, Sasori's eyes lit up.
"Good! If that's the case, then there's no problem. When do we leave?"
"Right now. The news about Moryo will spread quickly across the ninja world. Once the Five Great Ninja Villages get involved, it'll be harder for us to act.
Moryo's power is unique, and only the priestess's inherited abilities can suppress it. To ensure everything goes smoothly, we'll need her support."
"It seems you've thought everything through. Let's proceed according to your plan. As long as I gain this power, that's all that matters."
The artificial human project offered Sasori a higher-level power than human puppets, igniting his enthusiasm. At this point, Sasori was ready to follow Kimimaro's lead without hesitation.
"Good. It's settled, then. Let's move."
Kimimaro said with a smile.
"Yes!"
The two immediately departed.
Elsewhere, Zetsu had found Obito.
"You're saying the Three-Tails was taken by Orochimaru's people?"
Obito's face darkened beneath his mask.
"No doubt about it. Traces of Orochimaru's subordinates' chakra remain at the scene."
Black Zetsu said quietly.
"What's Orochimaru trying to do? Is he planning to oppose the Akatsuki? He must have a death wish."
Obito sneered, his voice carrying a hint of killing intent.
"What do we do now, Obito? Should we have Pain attack the Sound Village?"
Black Zetsu asked.
"No, not yet. Nagato has been acting strange these past two years. While he never fully trusted me before, he's now clearly excluding me from the Akatsuki's core.
I suspect he's planning something.
Even when I partnered with Deidara, I sensed his displeasure, though he didn't say anything."
"Could Nagato be planning to turn against us?"
Black Zetsu was concerned.
"It's not impossible. If that's the case, we'll need new allies. Orochimaru might be a good candidate. Before reporting the Three-Tails to Nagato, let's approach Orochimaru and see what we can learn.
If Orochimaru's involved, Kimimaro surely knows something. That guy is a wild card and must be watched closely."
Obito sighed in frustration.
Kimimaro's abilities in sensory detection were so advanced that even Zetsu couldn't monitor him, costing Obito valuable intel.
At that moment, Deidara's annoyed voice called out from a distance.
"Tobi! What's taking you so long? Did you fall into the toilet or what?"
Obito immediately changed his tone, calling back in a lighthearted voice, "Deidara-senpai! I'm at a crucial moment here. Hang on!"
"You're so annoying. Hurry up!"
"Got it, Deidara-senpai."
After placating Deidara, Obito turned back to Zetsu.
"Keep an eye on Orochimaru's movements. If possible, try to track Kimimaro too. Understood?"
"Understood."