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In the forest, Natsu led the group, with Neji carrying Shoyo in the middle, and Sasuke following behind. They leapt gracefully between thick branches.
"Stop."
Natsu suddenly spoke, prompting Neji and Sasuke to halt in unison.
The group descended to the ground.
"Put me down." Shoyo patted Neji’s shoulder. "Thank you, Neji."
"It’s nothing."
Neji set Shoyo down, leaning him against the base of a large tree.
"Neji, Sasuke-kun, this is as far as you need to escort us," Natsu said with a small smile. "Beyond this point is the border patrol’s jurisdiction."
"Will you two be okay on your own?" Sasuke asked, frowning at Shoyo’s limited mobility.
"We’ll be fine. My injuries aren’t severe," Natsu assured him.
"Alright, then. Take care." Neji nodded.
"We will," Shoyo raised his hand in response.
"Oh, Neji." Natsu retrieved a small scroll from her ninja pouch and handed it to him. "The branch family members want to stay in contact with you."
"What’s this?"
Neji opened the scroll.
"A summoning scroll?"
"Yes, it’s a hummingbird summoning scroll," Natsu explained. "These birds are small, with minimal chakra. Even the Byakugan would mistake them for wild creatures. They’re specifically trained for covert message delivery."
"These are the branch family’s secret messengers, passed down through generations!" Shoyo added proudly, giving a thumbs-up.
"Understood."
Neji bit his finger, signed his name on the scroll, and returned it.
"This way, we can keep in touch," Natsu said, putting the scroll away.
"Neji, Sasuke-kun, you should go now." She waved her hand. "I’ll bring my brother back safely."
"Don’t worry about us!" Shoyo smiled brightly. "Neji, you’re free now. I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ll achieve!"
"Yeah, I’ll do my best."
Neji turned to leave.
"Shoyo-nii, Natsu-neesan, I’ll investigate the black market bounty on the Hyuga clan. Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Sasuke echoed, taking the lead as he departed.
"Goodbye, and take care."
Natsu bowed toward their retreating figures.
Without looking back, Neji followed Sasuke.
"Let’s go too."
Natsu turned to face Shoyo, squatting before him and extending her arms.
"Hurry up, clumsy brother. I’ll carry you back!"
"Hehe, sorry for the trouble, Natsu-chan."
Shoyo climbed onto her back.
"So heavy! Like a pig!"
Straining, Natsu stood up slowly with her brother on her back.
"Boohoo, so mean!"
Shoyo pretended to cry.
"Stop fake crying, you idiot!"
Natsu grimaced in disgust.
"Boohoo..."
Shoyo continued to whimper.
"Shut up!"
’Thump!’
Natsu tilted her head back, hitting her brother’s chin with the back of her head.
"Mmmph... @$&#"
Shoyo clutched his mouth, tears streaming down his face.
"Hmph!"
Natsu started running toward the borders of the Land of Fire.
---
Two days later.
Sasuke and Neji successfully left the Land of Rain, crossing through the Land of Grass and entering the Land of Waterfalls.
The two were traveling across an open field when a shadow passed over them.
"What’s that?" Neji activated his Byakugan, spotting a pure white giant bird in the sky. "Akatsuki!"
"Hm?"
Sasuke squinted slightly against the sunlight.
"It’s the same duo who kidnapped Gaara."
"They’ve captured a female ninja," Neji observed the girl clutched in the bird’s talons.
"Possibly the Seven-Tails jinchūriki from Takigakure," Sasuke speculated.
"Should we do something?" Neji asked.
"Leave them be." Sasuke smirked. "My uncle’s plan requires Akatsuki to gather all nine tailed beasts."
Neji looked surprised. "What about Naruto?"
"Hmph, that guy has the Fourth Hokage’s protection. He’ll be fine." Sasuke glanced at the distant bird. "Besides, there are substitutes for Nine-Tails chakra."
"Tch." Neji’s face darkened. "They’re coming back."
Sasuke’s expression shifted as the giant bird suddenly turned around, flying back toward them. He gripped the hilt of his katana.
"In that case, let’s make them regret their decision."
"Hahaha..." Deidara’s excited laughter echoed from above. "Hey, Sasori-san, look who we have here!"
The giant bird descended, stopping ten meters above Sasuke and Neji.
"Hey! It’s you, Uchiha Itachi’s little brother!" Deidara jeered. "What luck, running into you here!"
Sasuke looked coldly at the two figures atop the bird. "What do you want?"
"Hahaha... You’re pretty arrogant, kid!" Deidara bent down. "I heard you defeated Itachi. What happened to him? Did you kill him?"
"That’s none of your business." Sasuke’s face remained expressionless.
"Fine." Deidara straightened, flicking his hair. "Either way, capturing you will answer everything."
"Capture me?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
"That’s right, a mission from the boss." Deidara began molding clay in his palm.
"An Uchiha and a Hyuga—excellent specimens," Sasori rasped. "Be careful, Deidara. Don’t damage them."
"Relax, the boss wants Uchiha Sasuke alive," Deidara said sharply.
"I’ll take the Hyuga, then." Sasori leaped from the bird.
"Fine by me! The Uchiha is mine!" Deidara threw a lump of clay downward.
With a ’bang’, the clay exploded into a four-winged bird that shot toward Sasuke.
’Crackle!’
Lightning sparked in Sasuke’s right hand.
"Chidori Sharp Spear!"
The lightning extended, piercing the clay bird and continuing upward, destroying Deidara’s bird.
"I’ve seen this trick before." Sasuke’s Sharingan spun. "It’s worthless now!"
With a sharp motion, he cleaved the giant bird in two.
"Damn it!"
Deidara barely dodged, jumping in midair.
Meanwhile, Sasori used his tail to retrieve the unconscious girl from the bird’s talons.