Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece-Chapter 91. Found You… It Was You All Along

◉◉◉◉◉

The monstrous sand claw cracked and fell apart, its glittering fragments scattering like shards of glass.

The force of Neji's [Lightning Stomp] had not only shattered Gaara's arm but partially crystallized the sand.

Before the dust could even settle, Neji vanished again, reappearing beside Naruto with Sakura in his arms. He gently laid her down next to Sasuke.

"Protect them," Neji said simply.

Naruto's eyes flicked down to Sakura, then back up to Neji. His breath caught at the sight of clawed dragon legs, tiger-head fists, pulsing with raw energy.

"...Neji, you—"

"If I fall, run," Neji cut him off, voice steely. "Take them and run."

"But—" Naruto's words died in his throat.

Neji was already gone.

BOOM!

Gaara's claw came crashing down, but Neji was a blur slipping through every strike like a phantom. Each time, he retaliated with pinpoint strikes, chipping away at the monster's armor.

"You can't stop me!" Gaara roared, his voice twisted and inhuman.

Nearby, Temari watched, horror growing in her eyes.

He's almost fully transformed. He hasn't even used his Sleep Technique yet... If this keeps up, even I—

No. That guy... he's insane.

He's suppressing Gaara.

CRASH!

Another massive tree fell as Gaara's human form was swallowed further into Shukaku's monstrous features. The logic was fading madness was taking its place.

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "His eyes... they're different."

"You damn insect!" Gaara howled. "Quit jumping around! [Sand Shuriken]!"

His body convulsed, launching dozens of deadly, rotating blades made of compressed sand.

Neji leaped from the fallen tree, dodging the barrage with razor precision. The barrage tore through the forest like cannon fire.

'Getting close...' Neji thought. His sand armor is acting like a Tailed Beast's shell now. That chakra... it's replacing him. But not completely. There's still time.

"I'll crush you!"

Gaara's face was now nearly full beast, mouth splitting open as he howled. More [Sand Shuriken] launched skyward.

[Rotation]!

Neji's chakra erupted outward from his palms and tenketsu, forming a rotating sphere midair.

The sand blades were shredded instantly, redirected in all directions. Trees exploded. Earth splintered.

Naruto threw up an arm. "YES! That was awesome!"

Neji nearly sighed. 'You're supposed to summon Gamabunta, idiot... Not spectate.'

Still spinning, Neji rose higher until he aligned perfectly with the sun above Gaara.

The sunlight blinded the beast momentarily.

"Now!"

[Hawk Dive]!

The spin halted midair, and his clawed leg charged with energy. All the centrifugal force from his [Rotation] funneled into one focused stomp.

He dropped.

CRACK!

The tree branch Gaara stood on shattered, followed by the entire forest floor.

A shockwave exploded outward. The wind tore through the battlefield, toppling trees and sending roots flying. Neji's dragon foot crashed into Gaara's head driving him deep into the earth.

Naruto and Temari shielded their faces from the wave of dust and debris. Through the cloud, they saw Neji his leg buried in Gaara's skull armor, crater spread beneath him.

Temari's eyes trembled. 'He broke through?!'

But Neji frowned.

The stomp had hit Gaara's arm he had instinctively raised it to shield his face.

Even now... he's still got survival instinct. But...

"This isn't over."

[Hawk Dive] had a second impact.

The counterforce from the initial stomp surged back. Most would be thrown off. Neji embraced it.

He twisted, absorbed the momentum, and unleashed it as a follow-up strike.

[Thunder Step]!

Lightning crackled up his leg. He launched himself again from above, crashing down like a comet.

BOOM!

A second shockwave obliterated the area.

The ground ruptured in a 30-meter radius. Trees flew like matchsticks. A roar of displaced wind tore through the clearing.

Naruto held on tight to Sakura and Sasuke, chakra anchoring his body.

Suddenly—CHOMP!

"AAGH! My ass!"

Pakkun clamped his jaws on Naruto's rear, keeping him from blowing away.

Naruto flailed. "Why the hell?! That hurt!"

'Man, if Shikamaru were here...' he thought bitterly.

But they'd split up earlier—Shikamaru had stayed behind to draw off another group of Sound ninjas.

Sasuke groaned, staring through half-lidded eyes.

Neji... how did he get this strong?

The envy burned deep in her chest. Neji had cast aside his sight but somehow become even more powerful.

He'll teach me... right? Like before?

---

The smoke cleared.

Gaara, now a half-formed Shukaku, lay facedown in the dirt, unmoving.

Neji stood nearby, panting. His legs trembled [Thunder Step] and [Hawk Dive] had taken a toll.

But his focus was on Gaara.

His senses were screaming.

Now or never.

He raised his arm. The tiger-head fist gleamed fangs bared.

"Let's find out..."

He plunged it straight into Gaara's chest.

"NO!!" Temari screamed.

THUMP!

Power surged. Chakra swirled. A pull began.

Neji's eyes lit up.

A smile crept onto his face.

"...Found you."

So it really was you all along.

◉◉◉◉◉

~Uploading Schedule= 2 Chapters/day

~Support with 100 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter

◉◉◉◉◉

For early access to advanced Chapters on P-atreon:

P-atreon/iamxeno

(Just remove the - hyphen to access Patreon normally)

Thank you so much for your support and for reading!