The Hidden Leaf Village bustled with life, lanterns swaying from above as vendors called out, selling food, trinkets, and supplies. Kuro's senses were alive with the sights, sounds, and smells that reminded him he was very much in Naruto's world. This wasn't his reality, but there was an energy here—a raw vibrance—that made it all seem just as real as anything he'd known before. They had been wandering for a while now, looking for an inn, when Xero suddenly stopped.
"Xero, what is it?" Reika asked, raising an eyebrow as she followed his gaze.
Kuro looked too, spotting a small group of familiar figures in the crowd. His heart skipped a beat. They were unmistakable: Neji Hyuga with his piercing lavender eyes, Rock Lee in his green jumpsuit, and Tenten, holding a scroll with her usual ease. They were Konoha's Team Guy, one of the most memorable teams from the Naruto series.
"Neji Hyuga, the one with the Byakugan," Xero muttered, his voice filled with an unusual edge.
Reika shrugged dismissively. "Yeah, so what? Let's keep moving. We don't have time for distractions."
But Xero didn't budge. His gaze stayed locked on Neji, his eyes narrow with determination. "I want to challenge him."
Kuro blinked, a surge of disbelief running through him. *Challenge him? This guy can't be serious!* But before he could voice any protest, Xero had already started forward, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword, which he didn't use up until now.
"Xero, no!" Reika whispered harshly, stepping forward. "This isn't the time to—"
But it was already too late. Xero drew his sword in one swift motion, its blade catching the light, and charged directly at Neji. Kuro's stomach twisted in horror as he realized there was no way to stop him now. *What's he thinking, attacking Neji out of the blue? It will be marked as crime or sabotage in broad day light. He will get his ass kick by Konoha shinobi.*
The moment Xero lunged, Neji's eyes sharpened. The boy's movements were quick and precise as he shifted into a defensive stance, his gaze cold and calculating. He wasn't the type to back down from a challenge, especially one as abrupt as this.
Rock Lee's eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly stepped back, glancing at Tenten. "Looks like Neji's got a fan," he muttered, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. Tenten, meanwhile, groaned, muttering something under her breath about "idiots picking fights."
Neji raised an eyebrow, his tone composed but laced with subtle disdain. "I don't know who you are or what your intentions are... but attacking me is a mistake. However, if you're insists..."
With a flash of chakra, Neji activated his Byakugan, his eyes now radiating a piercing, otherworldly aura.
In that instant, Xero swung his sword with a fierce downward strike. Neji sidestepped effortlessly, pivoting with the grace of a dancer, and then struck out with a palm aimed at Xero's chest. The hit landed squarely, sending Xero stumbling backward, but he quickly recovered, spinning his sword back up in a defensive arc.
Kuro's mind raced, his heart pounding. *Do I step in? Try to defuse this? Or do I let them finish it?* He glanced at Reika, whose expression was a mix of exasperation and concern. She looked at Kuro as if to say, *Well, what are you going to do about this?*
"Xero, enough! You will get your butt kick. Neji is strong!" Kuro called, stepping forward. But his words were lost in the intensity of the moment. Xero wasn't listening—his focus was locked on Neji, and he was too wrapped up in the fight to back down now.
Neji, however, wasn't taking this seriously. He dodged Xero's attacks with minimal effort, each movement controlled and fluid. It was as if he was sizing Xero up, analyzing his every motion. To Kuro, it was obvious that Neji hadn't even begun to use his full strength. But Xero either didn't notice or didn't care. He continued to press forward, his strikes growing faster and more reckless.
Finally, Neji seemed to lose patience. With a burst of chakra, he shifted his stance, his expression hardening. His hands moved in rapid, precise jabs as he struck at Xero's chakra points. Each blow landed with a pinpoint accuracy that was as impressive as it was devastating. Xero's movements slowed, his body trembling as the effects of the strikes took hold.
With one last effort, Xero attempted a final swing, but his arm barely lifted before Neji struck one more time, sending Xero sprawling onto the ground.
Neji exhaled, his expression returning to its usual calm as he straightened up, dismissing Xero as though he were nothing more than a mild inconvenience. "You're outmatched," he said simply, glancing down at Xero with cold, assessing eyes. "You should know your limits."
Xero body was bruised, bloodied, barely conscious from the brutal attack. Kuro's chest tightened with a sickening sense of urgency. Xero wasn't moving, and the ruthless precision of Neji's strikes had left him broken on the cobblestones.
Xero chuckled, "Heh! Is that all you've got? Then..."
Kuro's voice rang out, sharp and demanding. "Neji, that's enough!"
Neji's expression remained eerily calm as he looked down at Xero, his lavender eyes flickering with indifference. "Who are you guys! Well, whatever, He lost the fight," Neji said quietly, as if that were explanation enough.
But Kuro could see the subtle shift in Neji's posture—a deliberate step forward, hand raised as if preparing to strike again.
"No," Kuro growled, his blood boiling. "He's done. Don't you dare—"
Without a word, Neji's hand shot out with lightning speed, aiming to land a final blow to Xero's head, and Kuro's heart skipped a beat.
"No!" Kuro roared, throwing himself between Neji and Xero just in time, his shoulder slamming into Neji's arm to block the strike. The impact sent a sharp jolt through Kuro's body, but he didn't flinch. He couldn't.
Neji stopped, his eyes narrowing as he faced Kuro. "You're in my way," he said, his voice colder than ever, the calmness of a shinobi who had no intention of being interrupted.
Kuro's fists clenched tighter. His body was already trembling from the effort of stopping Neji's attack, but he knew he had no choice now. "You're hurting him! He's not a threat anymore, Neji! Stop!"
Neji's gaze flickered, and Kuro could see the slight amusement in his eyes as he took a step back, raising an eyebrow. "You're trying to protect him now?" His lips curled slightly. "How foolish. But very well. If you want to stop me so badly… then you'll have to go through me."
Kuro didn't hesitate. Even though he doesn't know Xero that much, for some reason he is feeling strange attach toward Xero and Reika, as if they are friend for a long time. For some reason. his anger flared into action, his legs pushing him forward, his body moving on sheer instinct. He launched a wild punch toward Neji, throwing everything he had into it, but Neji sidestepped with an effortless grace, his Byakugan activated. He was watching Kuro's every movement, his precise eyes calculating every inch of the fight.
Kuro's momentum carried him past Neji, but he quickly recovered, spinning on his heel to face his opponent. "You want a fight, Neji? Then let's see how far your precious Gentle Fist gets you against a real man!"
Kuro's smile was wild. Neji's face remained impassive as he raised his hand. Without warning, he unleashed a flurry of quick, controlled strikes—each one hitting Kuro with pinpoint accuracy. Kuro barely had time to react before Neji's palm struck his shoulder, sending a shock of pain through his body, and another jab slammed into his ribs. He gasped, the air knocked out of him.
The strikes were fast, devastatingly precise, each one targeting Kuro's pressure points, his chakra network. Kuro's breath grew ragged as the pain in his chest flared and his limbs began to feel like they were on fire.
Neji stepped back, his Byakugan scanning Kuro's movements as Kuro struggled to stand, barely able to keep his footing. "You have no training. You think you can match me with raw strength?" Neji asked, his voice laced with disdain. "You're already lost."
Kuro's muscles screamed at him, but he gritted his teeth and threw another punch, this one aimed for Neji's head. Neji dodged again, his movements fluid and precise, and before Kuro could react, Neji was upon him.
One strike hit Kuro in the side, just below his ribcage, the blow slicing through the air and landing with such precision that Kuro felt his legs buckle beneath him. Pain shot through him like an electric current. He could feel his body beginning to fail—his legs trembled, his arms felt like lead, and his vision blurred.
"Stop..." Kuro gasped, the words barely escaping his lips. His breath was ragged, and every fiber of his being screamed at him to stop fighting, to give up, but he refused. He couldn't let Xero's sacrifice be for nothing.
[Xero's soul- Oi! I am not dead, you fcker!]
Neji's cold gaze never wavered as he stepped closer, his hand moving to strike again. But Kuro wouldn't let him.
With a desperate roar, Kuro lunged forward, throwing everything he had into a wild tackle. It wasn't graceful. It wasn't controlled. But it was all he had left. His body slammed into Neji's, and for a split second, Neji's balance faltered, and Kuro managed to push him back.
The brief moment of success was fleeting. Neji's hands came up to catch Kuro by the shoulders, and with a simple twist of his body, he threw Kuro to the ground, sending him crashing into the dirt.
Kuro lay there, his body wracked with pain, struggling to breathe, unable to move. His vision blurred and his thoughts scattered, but there was one thing that remained clear: Neji had won. He always would.
Neji stood above him, his expression unreadable. "You were brave to try," Neji said softly, his tone devoid of any emotion. "But courage alone is not enough."
Kuro's chest heaved as he gasped for air, his body trembling in defeat. "You... you could've just let him go," he rasped, looking up at Neji, his face pale with pain. "Xero was down... He wasn't a threat anymore."
Neji's eyes flickered for a moment, but his expression remained unchanged. "You may believe that," he said quietly. "But in this world, weakness is a threat in itself. And do not forget he challenge me first, so it is rightful for me to end him..."
Kuro understands that, even though Xero is at fault, he doesn't want to make things more difficult for him. From what Kuro has gathered so far, Xero is a competitive person who thrives on fighting strong opponents. That's why things have escalated to this point.
Neji locked eyes with Kuro for a moment, and Kuro met his gaze without hesitation. Suddenly, Kuro's system message flashed in his mind.
>[Your power has been restored to 40%. Do you wish to merge with your current body? If you do, your remaining abilities will take triple the time to fully restore.]
As Kuro paused, contemplating his next move, Neji turned and walked away, his back now to Kuro as he rejoined his team. Kuro let out a sigh, watching them retreat. They had gotten away this time, but he knew he couldn't let it happen again—especially after seeing just how strong the Konoha shinobi were.