---
The next day, Sasuke returned to Konoha Village.
At this time, another Chunin Exam had just concluded, and Hinata, along with her peers, had been promoted to chunin.
Outside the exam hall, Sakura excitedly said to Hinata, "Hinata, we did it! We're chunin now!"
Hinata nodded, but her eyes were downcast.
A month had passed since Sasuke's time travel, and Hinata had been worried about him every single day, losing ten pounds in the process.
At only 15 years old, Hinata's body was still growing, and from a side view, she now stood taller than Sakura.
Despite her slender frame, her presence was powerful, yet she seemed unsteady on her feet—her concerns weighing heavily on her.
---
''Outside the exam hall, Kakashi waited patiently for his students.''
This time, Naruto's opponent in the exams had been Neji. Though Naruto emerged victorious, both displayed the strength worthy of chunin.
As Kakashi watched his students exit the hall, his thoughts drifted back to his own days as a young ninja, back when Minato was still alive.
He had become a jonin at an early age, and Rin had passed the first Chunin Exam, while Obito failed due to the written test.
With Rin's encouragement, Obito eventually passed the Chunin Exam on his second attempt. But now, after all these years, Obito's strength far surpassed Kakashi's own.
Kakashi, once known as the Genius Ninja, had seen Obito, once derided as the "Cranetail," surpass him in every way.
He didn't know what Obito had endured over the years, but the scars on Obito's face told Kakashi that his old friend had suffered deeply.
After Kakashi returned Obito's Sharingan, they never crossed paths again. Now, Kakashi longed to see Obito, to understand whether the sacrifice he made for Rin's life had been worth it.
---
''Suddenly, a presence appeared behind Kakashi.''
Sasuke placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder, causing the seasoned jonin to tense. Kakashi wasn't fond of anyone sneaking up on him.
In an instant, Kakashi drew his kunai and stabbed backward, but the blade only struck a stone.
Sasuke had activated his Amenotejikara, a space-time ability with zero-frame delay, allowing him to switch places with objects instantly.
Kakashi hadn't even noticed before his attack landed on the decoy.
"Kakashi-sensei, have your students ever done this to you?" Sasuke teased.
Kakashi's body stiffened in surprise. He turned to face Sasuke, who had grown significantly taller in the past month.
"Sasuke... is that really you?" Kakashi asked, shocked by Sasuke's sudden maturity. "You've grown so much!"
Sasuke nodded, "I stayed in the past for three years. By the way, Kakashi-sensei, where's the Karasuki?"
Kakashi replied, "Fugaku brought it back."
Sasuke acknowledged with a nod.
---
''As Sakura and Hinata exited the exam hall, they spotted someone talking to Kakashi.''
"Who's that with Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked, squinting at the tall figure. The person stood taller than Kakashi, which made her doubt it was Sasuke.
But Hinata knew. Her heart skipped a beat, and her eyes filled with tears. 'That's Sasuke... it has to be!'
Without hesitation, Hinata rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Sasuke from behind, tears streaming down her face.
Sasuke felt her warmth and whispered, "Did you miss me?"
Hinata sobbed softly, "Why did you leave for so long? How have you been?"
Sasuke, realizing how much time had passed, replied, "It's only been a month here, but I spent three years in the past."
Hinata clung to him tightly, as if afraid he might disappear again.
Sasuke gently lifted Hinata into his arms and, using Amenotejikara, they instantly teleported to the Hyuga compound.
---
''During the battle between Neji and Naruto, something unexpected had happened.''
Though Neji fought with all his might, he didn't defeat Naruto.
During the battle, Naruto had knocked off Neji's forehead protector, revealing an unmarked, smooth forehead—completely free of the Caged Bird Seal.
The sight had been brief, but it didn't go unnoticed by the Hyuga clan.
When word spread within the clan, it caused an uproar.
Despite being the son of Hizashi, Neji was still part of the branch family, and the tradition of marking branch members with the Caged Bird Seal was a rule dating back to the Warring States Period.
Rules were rules, and they couldn't be broken. But Neji's forehead lacked the Caged Bird Seal, something that was deemed unacceptable.
---
''In the courtyard of the Hyuga compound, Neji knelt shirtless in the center, his back covered in red welts.''
Hizashi, holding a cane, repeatedly dipped it in water before striking Neji's back.
"Do you understand your mistake, Neji?" Hizashi shouted, his voice full of frustration. "Why did you remove the Caged Bird Seal without permission? Do you think you can take over the main family?"
Neji gritted his teeth, enduring the pain. "Father, I did nothing wrong. Why should I admit to a mistake I didn't make?"
Hizashi's anger flared. "Stubborn as always!"
Neji's voice was firm as he continued, "Father, the world is changing, but the Hyuga clan remains stuck in the past."
"The Caged Bird Seal is a cruel rule that limits our potential. It not only damages my abilities but also prevents the Hyuga clan from becoming stronger."
"I am a person, not a tool of the Hyuga clan. I want to live for myself!"
Hizashi's expression hardened, reflecting the conflict between old traditions and the new world.
"It's ridiculous," Hizashi snapped. "When you were born, your life became dedicated to serving Hinata. If you want to live for yourself, then gouge out your eyes and renounce the Hyuga name!"
But Neji stood his ground. He believed with all his heart that the clan's traditions were wrong.
At that moment, Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga clan, entered the courtyard.
Upon seeing his brother, Hizashi quickly moved to protect Neji. "Brother, I'm disciplining Neji and preparing to reapply the Caged Bird Seal."
Hiashi approached Neji and Hizashi, his expression thoughtful. "I heard your conversation. Neji, you make some valid points."
He paused, considering his next words carefully. "The Hyuga clan's traditions are indeed outdated."
"As the world progresses, so must we. But Neji, you must understand that changing such deep-rooted traditions cannot happen overnight."
Hiashi continued, "The Caged Bird Seal system is deeply ingrained in the minds of the main family. Remember, the Hyuga main family consists of only a small number compared to the branch family."
"Without the Caged Bird Seal, there would be those who would challenge the authority of the main family."
"The Caged Bird Seal cuts off their hope of rebellion. Without it, there would be chaos. I don't know how you managed to remove the seal, but you must accept another one, or the branch family will envy and resent you. I suspect the process of removing it wasn't easy, was it?"
Neji's thoughts drifted back to when Orochimaru had removed the seal. He had endured much to be free, but now he was faced with the harsh reality of his clan's rules.
Here's a revised version of your text with corrected grammar, proper Naruto names, and enhanced emotional depth and clarity:
---
Neji felt conflicted.
He was moved by his father's words, but deep down, he didn't want to be burdened with the Caged Bird Seal again.
He didn't want it for himself, but for the sake of the clan, he felt obligated.
As Neji hesitated, Hizashi shouted, "Neji, how can we protect the clan without the Caged Bird Seal?!"
Suddenly, a voice interrupted, "It's simple—let me help."
Sasuke descended from the sky, holding Hinata in his arms.
He approached Hizashi and spoke with confidence, "Uncle, for the sake of the Hyuga clan's future, I believe we should remove the Caged Bird Seal."
"You don't need to worry about rebellion within the clan. Look at the Uchiha—ever since Madara left Konoha, my father's line has led the clan. After all these years, the Uchiha remain united."
Sasuke's hair fluttered in the wind, revealing the Rinnegan hidden beneath.
Hiashi's eyes widened in shock. 'The Rinnegan!'
As a member of one of the oldest clans in the ninja world, Hiashi was well aware of the Rinnegan's significance and its connection to the Sage of Six Paths.
After a moment of stunned silence, Hizashi gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, Sasuke. I'll follow your advice."
Neji stood there, surprised at how quickly his father had conceded. 'All my struggles... were they in vain?' he wondered silently.
It was a harsh reminder that power commands respect, and Sasuke's words carried weight because of his strength.
Hizashi turned to Neji and asked, "How did you remove the Caged Bird Seal?"
Neji answered, "It was Sasuke who helped me. He took me to Orochimaru."
Hizashi's eyes narrowed at the mention of Orochimaru, a name that brought nothing but unease.
Orochimaru was not only a notorious traitor of Konoha, but he was also responsible for conducting horrific human experiments and the death of the Third Hokage.
Sasuke stepped in, "There's no need to involve Orochimaru again. Konoha still views him as a criminal, and the people can't forgive him for his past actions. Besides, Konoha isn't ready to accept him back just yet."
Hiashi nodded in agreement. "If it involves Orochimaru, it's better to avoid it. For now, we'll find another way."
---
''Meanwhile, in Iwagakure...''
Kurotsuchi donned the maroon robe and diamond-shaped hat that symbolized the Tsuchikage. With determination, she assembled her team and set off towards Konoha.
Her goal was clear: to sign a peace treaty with Konoha and Sunagakure, fostering cooperation among the three great ninja villages.
Kurotsuchi was determined to ensure that the Land of Earth would thrive and that the conflicts between villages would finally come to an end—starting with her generation.
---
''Back in Konoha, at the Uchiha Clan's compound...''
Sasuke discovered that Uchiha Kento had joined the Ninja Academy as a teacher. The news left Sasuke puzzled.
'Kento? A teacher?' Sasuke thought. The name sounded peculiar to him. 'What could he possibly be teaching? How to mess things up?'
Sasuke was wary, unsure if Kento would be a good influence on the students. He was concerned that Kento might cause more harm than good, but he decided to reserve judgment for now.
In fact, Konoha had a special plan in place.
---
''Three days earlier, Tsunade had discussed a new initiative with the Hokage advisors.''
To enhance Konoha's strength, they decided to establish an advanced ninja academy.
After graduating from the regular Ninja Academy and becoming a genin, those who progressed to chunin would be eligible to enter this new institution—if they met the qualifications.
Not every chunin could enter the Advanced Ninja Academy; only those under eighteen and with exceptional potential would be admitted.
The academy would feature the most elite teachers and offer the most comprehensive ninjutsu education available.
Graduating from the Advanced Ninja Academy would essentially guarantee one's promotion to jonin, though it would be no easy feat.
Nara Shikaku, one of the academy's leaders, had agreed to share the Nara clan's secret Shadow Imitation Technique.
Though not a kekkei genkai, this technique had been passed down exclusively within the Nara clan for generations, making the decision to share it difficult.
In addition to the Nara clan's techniques, the Aburame clan would contribute their insect jutsu, the Yamanaka clan would teach the Mind Transfer Technique, and Tsunade herself would offer lessons in medical ninjutsu and chakra control.
The Advanced Ninja Academy would truly become a beacon of Konoha's strength.
Given the stakes, selecting teachers for this new academy was no small task.
Nara Shikaku decided to handpick a few qualified instructors from the existing Ninja Academy to take part in the preliminary tests.
---
''When Nara Shikaku arrived at the Ninja Academy to choose teachers, he encountered several candidates: Kurenai Yuhi, Might Guy, Kakashi, and other respected jonin, along with chunin teachers like Iruka.''
And then, there was Uchiha Kento.
Nara Shikaku felt his head begin to throb at the sight of Kento. The two had always been at odds, their personalities clashing in every way.
Eight years ago, Kento had repeatedly challenged Shikaku, adding fuel to their mutual disdain.
Suppressing his irritation, Shikaku asked, "Kento, why are you a teacher? Weren't you leading a guard squad?"
Kento replied arrogantly, "I can do whatever I want, and I'll go wherever I please."
Shikaku sighed, his patience wearing thin. "Maybe you should stick to your squad leader duties—"
But before he could finish, Kento's face twisted with rage. He shouted at Shikaku, "Who do you think you are? I'm not taking orders from you!"
Kento's sudden outburst caught Shikaku off guard, and before he could react, Kento launched into a swift attack, taking advantage of the zero-frame delay in his movements.
---