Naruto: Get Stronger by Spoiling My Sister

"What kind of game are those two playing?" Neji frowned but didn't act rashly again.

He had stirred up those terrifying tremors precisely to draw them in and expose Danzō's true nature. But now? This wasn't going as expected.

Confused, Neji retreated to the edge of the battlefield, his gaze cold and detached as it swept across the gathered crowd. Most of his attention, however, was focused on the trio of Danzō, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado.

Though Koharu and Homura had no brilliant combat feats in the original story, people often forgot that in their youth, they served as bodyguards to Tobirama Senju himself. Their strength was far from ordinary. According to the lore, both were at least near-Kage level.

Even now, old and gray, they remained formidable. That was the essence of Konoha declining perhaps, but still rich in hidden strength.

"I don't have the ability to take on so many elite opponents alone. Better to watch and wait," Neji murmured, turning his eyes toward Danzō. "As for that schemer… should I expose him now? No… not yet."

Revealing everything now would only force Danzō to make up his mind and activate Izanagi. Neji's lips curled slightly. He had feigned weakness, even staked his life, just to make Danzō believe he was inferior. He couldn't let that be for nothing.

"Danzō, I doubt you'll just walk away from this. My Wood Release should be tempting enough."

"Koharu. Homura. What do you think you're doing?" Danzō's voice was icy as his anger flared.

His Root organization had been annihilated by Neji, its members all wiped out. Now, his old comrades were seemingly ready to let Neji go. That was unacceptable.

More than anything, if he didn't seize this chance now, he might never get another shot at studying Neji's power.

"Danzō, you've seen what Neji is capable of. This is exactly the kind of rising star Konoha needs just like Minato was in his time," Koharu said.

At the mention of Minato's name, Kakashi flinched almost imperceptibly, as if a painful memory surfaced. A faint sorrow flickered in his eyes.

Sensing this, Might Guy opened his mouth, then simply patted Kakashi on the shoulder. "Look toward the future. That's the spirit of youth."

"…Thanks, Guy." Kakashi managed a small smile, voice low and steady.

"But he destroyed Root. He slaughtered nearly all of its members. That's a severe blow to the village's strength," Danzō countered, his narrowed eyes filled with menace. He would never accept this. Letting Neji go was out of the question.

Homura cast him a glance and said quietly, "We're elders of Konoha. Everything we do must be for the village's sake."

It was a reminder for everyone, and for Danzō himself. He, too, was a village elder. Every action should be in service to Konoha.

Hearing this, Danzō bit back his rebuttal. What could he say? He couldn't very well tell them: "Oh, by the way, Neji can use Wood Release, and the village values that even more than the Nine-Tails." If he admitted that, they'd never allow him to lay a finger on Neji again.

Koharu looked reluctant as well. She had a personal grudge against Neji, but she understood the bigger picture. Everything the council did was supposedly for Konoha.

"Short-sighted fools," Danzō muttered under his breath. His gaze turned icy. In his mind, there was only one truth: power was only safe in his own hands. Only with him in control could Konoha rise above the Five Great Nations.

His ambition was far greater than they realized. He trusted no one. Only through strength and absolute control could he suppress the other nations.

"I don't care what you say. I won't agree." Danzō's tone was resolute. With a flick of his hand, he began weaving signs.

"Wind Style: Vacuum Bullets!"

He turned into a human artillery cannon, spitting out orb after orb of high-pressure wind bullets. They shot toward Neji with piercing shrieks.

"Neji, watch out!"

Tsunade reacted instantly. As a Kage-level shinobi, her reflexes were extraordinary. She shouted a warning even before Danzō finished the jutsu.

But Neji had already activated his Byakugan. He darted and weaved, dodging the barrage. Still, the wind bullets were too fast. One grazed his face, slicing open a shallow wound that bled instantly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A rain of wind bullets pummeled the ground. Stone slabs shattered like paper, offering no resistance at all.

Neji's brow twitched. He had wanted to try using Rotation to deflect the attacks, but now he didn't dare. He made up his mind on the spot: Rotation would become a liability in the later stages. When enemies had destructive power on a near-apocalyptic scale, standing still to defend could be suicidal.

"Danzō!"

"This is between me and him. The rest of you stay out of it. Or else…" Danzō shot a glare at Koharu and Homura. He didn't even bother showing courtesy to his old comrades. There was killing intent in his eyes.

Neji's potential shook him. The boy was still young and already this strong. What about tomorrow? And Neji clearly hated him. This couldn't be resolved peacefully. Such a threat had to be eliminated early both for his experiments and for his own safety.

After all, all he really needed was Neji's cells.

"Earth Style: Earth Mausoleum Dango!"

Neji raised his hand. Chakra surged, and a massive slab of earth and shattered stone rose from the ground beneath his feet. The sheer scale of it was staggering.

Compared to the colossal mass he hoisted into the air, Neji looked tiny almost insignificant.

With a flick of his wrist, Neji hurled the enormous stone downward, intercepting Danzō's wind bullets and launching a counterattack.

Rumble!

Crash!

The monstrous slab of earth blocked out everything, blanketing the ruined landscape. In truth, they were already standing in a massive crater. The only light came from moonbeams slipping through the cracks above.

Now, even that light was gone. The massive stone shadow plunged them into total darkness. Everyone around seemed to dissolve into the gloom.

But Neji's Byakugan blazed, seeing everything with perfect clarity.

"Danzō… what will you do now?" Neji sneered, his gaze drifting to the door behind Danzō.

____________________

NEXT CHAPTER : Their Own Agendas

(As Neji unleashes a crushing earth technique, the battlefield plunges into chaos and darkness. Kakashi prepares to strike, but an unexpected retreat by Konoha's elders reveals deeper schemes at play. In the shadows, old power players quietly maneuver, each with their own hidden agenda while Danzo and Neji clash in a deadly, high-stakes showdown that exposes just how far both sides are willing to go.The masks are slipping. And the next move may shatter Konoha's balance forever.)

Want to read 35 chapters ahead? Join me on P@treon, the story is on sale now!

[email protected]/_tey 

Change @ to a.