Chapter 3: Miscalculation!

Land of Silence Capital

Shikamaru's team were shown into the capital of the Land of Silence without much incident. Their cover story still held up but like all merchants within the city they were viewed with suspicion. Shikamaru himself counted several of Gengo's own secret police patrolling the area, from Sai's info the 'Enlightened Ones' were what they were called.

Shikamaru glanced around the market and saw the various goods that were being sold. Most of which weren't what civilians or non-shinobi would buy. Instead, there were summoning scrolls, ninjutsu, genjutsu and taijutsu guides, ninja kenjutsu and rows upon rows of kunai and shuriken on display. Even back in Konoha the open selling of ninja weaponry outside the designated shops was discouraged but here…things were out in the open.

And what made things even more unsettling for the Konoha shinobi team was the cult-like atmosphere around the capital. The Enlightened Ones went around and collected money from the citizens who praised Gengo for saving their country-whether it was genuine or not. But Shikamaru noted each time it sounded like a rehearsed, tired and drone-like.

The strange flowers from Sai's report were also around which the Nara strategist noted, and he glanced at the rest of his comrades. Neji put on a pair of concealing sunglasses to activate his Byakugan to scan the area. He tried to find any trace of Tenko but if he was still in the city, it would have to be in an area just of the Hyūga Leader's range, on top of a worrying defense feature he didn't expect.

"They definitely know how to deal with dōjutsu here," Neji said in a whisper. "There's chakra suppression tags throughout all the buildings and other structures to provide perfect blind spots.

"They either have a Hyūga already joined their ranks, or just were extremely prepared," Yamato whispered as he worked on getting more of the 'merchandise' out.

"Neither possibility is ideal," Ro added as he glanced up as more Enlightened Ones walked by.

Hinoko listened to her earbuds to make herself look like a teenage employee who didn't actually want to be there. But she kept track of each potential threat in the area and wondered if she would need to use her secret technique in the future. Hinoko took out a lollipop and put it into her mouth as she leaned back against the chair.

"I don't think they were specifically planning for the Byakugan with the concealment in the buildings Shikamaru," Neji whispered as his vision kept scanning the area. "If I focus, I can see through it. No, I think they were preparing for someone else…."

Shikamaru's eyebrow raised as it clicked in his head. "They were preparing for a Sharingan user potentially. Either believing Kakashi-sensei would be sent or…"

"For Sasuke to be," Neji finished as he kept watch.

"…well, that'd be suicidal," Hinoko muttered under her breath. "Sasuke's on the same level as Naruto-sama, Hinata-san and Sakura-senpai after all."

"Maybe that's why they are allying with Orochimaru," Shikamaru muttered as he watched the street. "He did train Sasuke for three years…maybe Gengo is hoping to find a weakness from Orochimaru's experience."

"Regardless, we should focus on extracting Tenko as soon as we locate him," Yamato said as he put his hand to the ground and from his palm roots began to extend into the ground. Mokuton: Rūto Nettowāku no Kakuchō (Wood Release: Extending Root Network) …

There was suddenly a commotion downtown as the speakers started to whine as the strange calming music was replaced. Hinoko adjusted her earbuds to tune out the high-pitched screech which got nearly everyone's attention.

"Our great leader Gengo-sama is requiring everyone in the city to gather downtown. He will be making a speech about the progress of our great nation in closing the gap with the Shinobi Union and formalizing an alliance with the Land of Sound. I repeat, everyone is required to attend," a sickening sweet voice said over the loudspeaker and Shikamaru scowled. "We'll be glad to see you there! Hail Gengo-sama!"

"Hail Gengo-sama!" everyone around the Konoha ninja repeated what was said in an enthusiastic but drone-like fashion.

"We should head there, we don't want to make a scene," Shikamaru said in a whisper. "Especially with the 'Enlightened' around."

Shortly after they were at the city square where there was a massive crowd waiting to see the dictator of the Land of Silence. There was a large stage set up with lines of the elite 'Enlightened Ones' providing security while the normal shinobi forces had finished setting up for the big speech. Children were being lifted up onto their parents' shoulders and they had little 'Gengo' flags which they were told to wave. The forced patriotism from the civilians was very, very noticeable for the Konoha shinobi.

Neji and Shikamaru noticed more of the strange flowers were being displayed in preparation. Yamato went into his pack and brought out a botanist book he had borrowed from the Yamanaka Clan. The reasoning would be if anyone had any record of that plant it would be Ino's clan after all.

"Things are getting tense," Ro commented as he tried to keep himself inconspicuous, just another face in the crowd.

"Well, the shinobi here seem to be happy, the civilians…not so much," Hinoko observed quietly as she put in her earbuds. If the dictator was going to make a speech she sure as hell wouldn't.

"I'm not seeing any record of those flowers in the Yamanaka's botany book," Yamato muttered as he flipped through the pages. "Either is a species they hadn't discovered, or a new hybrid of native flowers that grow here, far away from the continent."

That could be a problem…damn it I should have asked Ino to come along too. Her knowledge of plants is unrivaled in the Six Great Nations, she would have identified the closest relatives of these flowers and made sure we knew what to expect, Shikamaru thought as Neji eyes scanned the crowd.

With all the preparations done, a band started to play as Gengo himself stepped onto the stage. Shikamaru kept his head low as he watched the Silence dictator head to the podium. People began to clap and cheer seeing him in person as he waved and presented himself as one of them. He was dressed in a formal black shirt with a red trim on its sleaves and down its zipper and wore green pants to complete the look. His hair was done up in a topknot and he had a katana on his hip.

"Thank you for all gathering here to witness the announcement," Gengo started as the crowd kept cheering and clapping. He smirked and started to play it up. "As you all know, the corrupt Shinobi Union has sent spies and assassins into our midst, fear of what our great country is becoming!"

Behind his sunglasses Neji activated his Byakugan. Within the air he began to see during Gengo's speech chakra was being infused into his voice. Genjutsu! He thought, acted fast and disrupted his own chakra flow to break any hold before patting Shikamaru's and Yamato's backs to snap them out.

"What…?"

"Genjutsu, don't react," Neji whispered to them softly. "Make it seem like you're enthused with the speech, Ro is still vulnerable, but I think Hinoko's fine."

Shikamaru nodded and he 'stumbled' forward and laughed. "Man, its good to be in a country like this huh?!"

He charged chakra into his hand and slapped Ro's back. The older ANBU blinked, acting like he was snapped out of a trance, and he shook his head. He glanced at Shikamaru subtly told him to act natural and not cause a scene. Nodding he punched his fist into the air and cheered. Hinoko kept watching as her music drowned out any attempt from Gengo's genjutsu to affect her and Neji could see that he chakra flow didn't change at all.

Good…we made it through the next big obstacle, but we have to keep on our toes, Shikamaru thought as Gengo shook the hands of a few shopkeepers.

Gengo finished playing the crowd and he threw his hands into the air. "And I will inform you that despite these attempts, our nation will stay strong. And we will have a strong ally to assist our own growth as we become more and more powerful!" he said as he offered his hand to the right side of the stage. "Orochimaru, would you like to say a few words in the formalization of our alliance?"

With his Byakugan still active to ward away any more attempts from Gengo to influence his comrades, Neji could see from right side of the stage the vile chakra of the Sandaime Hokage's murderer. Orochimaru had a dangerous smirk as he began to walk up onto the stage and the Hyūga Leader saw the stolen Byakugan within the deranged fallen Sannin's eyes. He had to force himself to stay calm, reminding himself that the snake had managed to find Tenko and Sai with ease despite being undercover.

"Hello, citizens of the Land of Silence," Orochimaru started after he was behind the podium. "As you all know, I was a former Konoha Shinobi. Trained by the Sandaime Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen himself," at that name many former Konoha shinobi that had defected started to hiss and boo. "Yes, yes, I know many of you have our own feelings about my old teacher. And while it still pleases me that I defeated him, the loss of my arms for so many years was such a hindrance it left me vulnerable to assassination by the likes of Uchiha Sasuke…"

At the mention of Sasuke's name there was a round of boos and hisses from the crowd and Orochimaru smiled and waved them off. When the crowd settled down, he cleared his throat so he could continue and Gengo raised his eyebrow.

"My former apprentice has become a powerful shinobi, just under the likes of Naruto so I am happy about that," Orochimaru said with a bit of false congratulations. "However, I do plan on making my next apprentice someone even better."

"Next? Someone would willingly train under that psychopath?" Ro whispered in a bit of disgust.

Shikamaru started to sweat as his mind got to work. A new apprentice…why does it feel like a chill went down my back when he said that? he frowned as the Snake Sannin smirked. Someone from Sound…no he would not announce that here…he'd probably keep it secret for as long as possible…

Neji's eyes darted around as he could see movement from the Enlightened One guards. They're getting antsy…they couldn't have figured out we're here, could they?

From the podium Orochimaru glanced a Gengo a bit knowingly, and the Silence Daimyo walked forward as the crowd cheered again. He lifted his hand to quiet the crowd down and then he settled his gaze right on Shikamaru's group.

"Once again, my people, the Shinobi Union decides to interfere with our politics and send yet another team in to try to kill me!" Gengo announced and the color drained from the Konoha ninja's faces. "Our new friend…Orochimaru's apprentice used his sensing abilities on the crowd before we began speaking…"

At that Shikamaru's group felt a massive amount of killing attempt directed at them and Yamato gritted his teeth. The Enlightened Ones then began to advance towards them as the Mokuton user did several seals quickly as Neji snapped his Byakugan on behind his glasses. Shikamaru scowled as Ro and Hinoko both reached for concealed weapons.

"Which means the infiltrators here in our great Land of Silence will be brought to justice, and hopefully enlightened as he is!" Gengo said as cheers erupted throughout the crowd.

"We need to get out of here, they know we're here," Shikamaru said as his eyes darted back and forth as the missing ninja began rushing towards them through the crowd.

"On it," Yamato said as he finished the seals just as a barrage of kunai and shuriken were tossed right at them from the Enlightened Ones. "Mokuton: Mokujōheki (Wood Release: Interlocking Wood Wall)!"

From the earth pillars of wood rose and bent over their team to form a durable barrier. The projectiles embedded themselves harmlessly into the sturdy wood wall which formed an entire dome over the group. Immediately Rō did his own seals for his concealing technique.

"I'm ready! Chakura Hensō Jutsu (Chakra Disguise Technique)!" Rō uttered as his body glowed blue for a moment and expanded to cover everyone within the dome. To anyone who could sense their chakra or even smell them…everything was erased. "We need to get out of here before they break through the dome too, just concealing our presence isn't enough!"

"Leave that to me," Neji said as he did his own seal. "Doton: Āsuton'neru no Gisō (Earth Release: Disguising Earth Tunnel)!"

With that a shaft opened underneath their feet and as they fell through the hole instantly closed and left no trace of itself. When the wooden dome was finally burst open by the Enlightened Ones, they found nothing there, not even an indent on the street. They looked around in confusion since they thought they had an easy apprehension.

[-]

Silence Capital Outskirts

Thanks to Neji they burrowed through the earth towards the outskirts of the city and popped out on the other side of the river behind several bushes. Hinoko scowled as she got some dirt out of her orange hair.

"Damn it, how did they even know about us being there?" she demanded. "No one said anything at the shop, right?!"

"No, it wasn't that," Shikamaru said calmly as he breathed out. "The new apprentice is a sensor type apparently…but he would have to know our chakra to make such a quick attempt to either kill or apprehend us, correct?"

Neji frowned. "Wait…you can't be considering…"

"Um…lost here, what are you getting at?" Hinoko asked as she crossed her arms.

Yamato pursed his lips. "…it's a serious accusation and I don't want to believe it.

"An accusation to who?!" Hinoko asked tensely, getting extremely annoyed at the conclusion.

"…Tenko is no longer a prisoner of the Land of Silence," Shikamaru uttered as a shadow appeared over his eyes. "He's a convert to Gengo's ideology."

"You can't be serious," Rō said as he breathed out. "He's the son of not only Tsunade-sama but Jiraiya-sama, why would he turn his back on his home?"

"He was left in Gengo and Orochimaru's clutches for quite a while after he got captured," Neji said as he frowned. "And I could tell that the mad Daimyo was casting genjutsu with his voice…he may have used it control his mind. And Orochimaru could have drugged him or worse."

"I don't think its that simple," Shikamaru said with a sigh. "You saw how devoted everyone in that plaza were to Gengo. A genjutsu, no matter how good, would only work so far. He would have to actually convince them without it to a point to keep following him."

At that summarization, the ANBU members looked at their team leader. The Nara Clan Head saw their gaze and he put his fingertips together, trying to calm his nerves. He met Neji's gaze and for a moment he saw a flash back to him as a 13-year-old. Another flash and the rest of his team looked exactly like the Sasuke Retrieval Squad for a moment with Hinoko nearly looking like a young Naruto.

"…so boss," Hinoko started as she fiddled with her phone's music player. "What are our orders?"

[-]

Land of Silence Capital

The commotion had caused a slight panic in people within the crowd but that was quickly calming down to increased presence the Enlightened Ones. Gengo raised his hand and immediately the crowd turned their attention right to him. With the crowd sufficiently calmed the rogue Daimyo cleared his throat.

"As you can see my friends, my people, the Shinobi Union will not leave us alone," Gengo said firmly but calmly to the crowd. "For now, my people, return to your homes. I need to make some plans with our new ally just in case the infiltrators return."

"Yes, Gengo-sama!" the crowd echoed before dispersing in an orderly manner despite the brief battle that had taken place.

"I didn't want them to be attacked," a new voice said from behind the curtain and Orochimaru smirked.

"Oh, come on Tenko, we had to attempt to apprehend them somehow."

Tenko scowled. "Still, I wanted to give them a chance to join us. And if they did there is a chance Naruto could join us too."

"Oh, I doubt that," Orochimaru said as he leaned back. "He's too much like your father, too stubborn…we might have to…"

"Absolutely not," Tenko uttered firmly. "That would not only trigger a full-on hot war which the Sound-Silence Alliance has no chance against, but you'd have Sasuke hunting all of us down."

"Ah…I see," Orochimaru said with a smirk. "You don't see yourself as a traitor, do you? More like…a liaison, a way to keep the peace?"

"I'm not a traitor," Tenko uttered. "Gengo-sama is right, shinobi should be able to step out into the light and not be used like tools by non-shinobi."

Gengo nodded. "Excellent that you agree there, but to your comrades, you are a traitor. After all, you're working with me their target and with the man who killed the Sandaime Hokage."

"Doesn't matter, I'm doing this for everyone back home," Tenko said as he breathed in and thought of Karin. Don't worry, I'll be back soon…hopefully averting any new war…

Orochimaru smirked and he then faded back into the shadows. My new student is still too raw here…but Gengo will be able to get through to him…

With that Tenko and Gengo were left alone, and the former began to use his speech and genjutsu to convince the son of the Sannin that he would eventually need to raise a hand against his comrades if he wanted to turn them to his side. Thanks to him being more susceptible to manipulation from their initial conversations. Because of Gengo's genjutsu, Tenko's pupils turned red as he got further under the Daimyo's control without realizing it.

Team Shikamaru Location

After a few hours of planning, the team had adjusted to the possibility of Tenko becoming a turncoat. However, to Shikamaru the mission remained the same extraction of the young Sage and an attempt to deprogram him. If they could manage that there was a shot that the majority of 'Enlightened Ones' that were under Gengo's control could be broken from his spell. Though Soku still thought the risk was too great and was the only member who argued for the assassination of both Tenko and Gengo.

"As it stands, I still believe that is the right course of action, Shikamaru-senpai," Soku argued as she frowned.

"I get the logic in that, but that'll only be as a last resort," Shikamaru said firmly. "Sometimes the easy way out isn't t he best route."

Neji nodded. "I concur. If we did that Sasuke would have never returned to us."

"You're reacting better than I thought you would on this Hinoko," Rō commented, and the young ANBU member puffed out her cheeks.

"Right, right, don't treat me like a kid. I'll follow my orders," Soku insisted, and she glared at the elder ANBU officer. "And call me Soku, I'm not off duty."

Yamato had a bead of sweat drip down his forehead. Still trying to act older than she is… he then glanced at Shikamaru and Neji. Though they have changed so much since I first met them after becoming the temporary leader of Team Kakashi. I wonder what will trigger Hinoko's maturation…

"If anyone spots Orochimaru however, leave him to me," Neji said as his Byakugan activated. "He stole a pair of my Clan's eyes so I need to find some way to extract them."

"You sure about that?" Rō asked. "Orochimaru killed the Sandaime Hokage, Yondaime Kazekage and from what Minato-sama said his powers have grown since then."

"I don't have much choice and I'll be the best bet fighting him," Neji replied firmly. "And I've gotten much stronger since the War ended."

"If you're sure," Shikamaru said, and the Hyūga leader gave a nod of confirmation. "Very well, I'll let you handle Orochimaru. But if he becomes too much fall back."

"Alright," Yamato said as he glanced around. "We have our orders, lets make sure to execute them flawlessly!"

With that the group broke apart. Shikamaru, Yamato, Rō, and Soku ambushed a few members of the Enlightened Ones and stole their outfits after using a reverse summoning to send them back to Konoha for deprogramming. After they put on their clothes, they used a quick transformation to assume their identities. Neji though went off on his own and tried to make himself a good target for Orochimaru to try to eliminate.

He traveled through the forest and began using hit and runs on several members of the Enlightened Ones. Making sure to paralyze them with Jūken strikes but leave them conscious so word could get to the fallen Sannin and Gengo. One ambush after another Jei made sure he was spotted before nonlethally neutralizing the Silence Ninjas.

And just as Neji thought, Orochimaru was deployed to fight him. Or the Sannin had decided to go anyways regardless of what his ally said. The Hyūga Leader spotted Orochimaru with his Byakugan moving through the shadows in the forests around Silence's Capital. When he was nearly two kilometers away Neji made his move to intercept.

Orochimaru sneered as his Byakugan was also activated. I wasn't expecting them to leave the Hyūga behind. He either insisted on it or broke off on his own. No matter…next to my former test subject he is the most dangerous. I'll be sure to eliminate him.

His eyes then spotted a barrage of kunai and shuriken heading right towards him and he jumped out of the way and landed on a tree branch. He smirked as he spotted a blast of chakra heading towards him and he used a Kaiten to deflect it as he fell back to the ground. Landing gracefully, he then met Neji's gaze as the Hyūga Leader launched himself at him.

"Now this is truly a surprise," Orochimaru commented as he took a taijutsu stance…before he threw his hand forward. "Sen'ei Joshu (Hidden Shadow Snakes)!"

Dozens of highly venomous pit vipers were summoned from Orochimaru's wrist and hey all opened their mouths as droplets of venom dripped out of their fangs. Time slowed down for Neji as he stopped, took a deep breath and unleashed a barrage of jabs at high speeds right at the snake's heads while he dodged them. When he finally stepped forward from the snakes' bodies, they collapsed lifeless to the forest floor.

"You're going to have to do a lot better than that, Orochimaru," Neji said as his hair started to waft in the wind.

"Oh, really now, Neji, was it?" Orochimaru said as one of his snakes tried to lunge at the Hyūga again as a blade of Kusanagi burst from its mouth.

Neji sidestepped it and grabbed the snake by the neck and then burned it up with a burst of chakra. The distraction was enough for Orochimaru himself to directly attack-he did a series of hand seals, and his cheeks swelled.

"Fūton: Daitoppa (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough)!" the Sannin called out and unleashed burst of wind from his mouth that was as strong as a hurricane's.

Neji's Byakugan then saw the chakra points within Orochimaru's ninjutsu and he then slammed his hands into them at high speed just as the attack made contact. And in seconds the blast of wind was utterly dispelled. Orochimaru looked confused but intrigued, his own Byakugan meeting Neji's gaze.

"Impressive…" Orochimaru said with a smirk and his long tongue flicked from his lips. "I did wonder why the Hyūga always were unconcerned about long ranged ninjutsu, you just showed me one method of dealing with it."

"With your level of skill, you'll never be able to do it, Orochimaru," Neji told him flatly and his eyes narrowed. "Stolen skills and techniques, making bastardizations to fill your inadequacies…the Hyūga you took over would have been able to do what I can do…"

"Oh, trying to get under my skin?" Orochimaru asked, not fazed by the taunt as he pulled the Sword of Kusanagi out of his mouth. "Let me show you how powerful I really am!"

The entire forest seemed to turn quiet as the Snake Sannin unleashed a bit of his chakra. The ground shook a little as Neji could see an aura of sickly green chakra surrounding the fallen Sannin. In a split second Orochimaru created a dozen Kage Bunshins without even doing the seals for them and all unleashed a barrage of elemental ninjutsu and snakes right at Neji.

In response Neji's body was bathed in a blue light as he then started to spin. The elemental and snake barrage slammed against his Kaiten and there was a large shockwave from the impact and an explosion that shook the area. But the Hyūga Leader stood at the center unharmed thanks to his ultimate defense, but he was forced to dodge as Orochimaru slashed at him with the rapidly growing Kusanagi blade.

He reached into his pack and then threw a kunai right at the Snake Sannin who smirked and caught the blade. His swing continued and the Kusanagi was now several kilometers long and slammed into and through a small mountain in the distance. It was cut right in half from Orochimaru's swing and the momentum as a few strands of hair fell from Neji's head.

"Careful, Neji-kun, I was really close severing your head from your body," Orochimaru taunted as his Bunshins jumped and attacked Neji again.

Neji gritted his teeth and began to destroy every one of the clones while he fended off the Snake Sannin's own attacks. He slammed his palm into one Bunshin and it exploded into smoke only for him to kick another in the head and made it explode with a burst of chakra. Then he began dodging a barrage of stabs from Orochimaru's Kusanagi. It was even more difficult due to the legendary sword's size changing properties, but he managed to avoid them thanks to his Byakugan.

Orochimaru then leaped at Neji and summoned several elapid snakes from his wrists and they lashed out at the Hyūga Leader. Neji avoided them and got into Orochimaru's guard and began to unleash several palm strikes but the snakes coiled around the Sannin as he jumped back. In response Neji unleashed a Hakke Kūshō right at him, but Orochimaru summoned a giant cobra purple cobra to tank the attack with its hood before it shot a blast of acidic venom from its fangs.

Neji then slammed his hands to the ground and created an earthen wall to block the acid instead of using a Kaiten. Since his Byakugan was still active he could detect Orochimaru attacking from underground this time. He jumped back just as a wave of flame came right up from his feet before he dodged a bolt of lightning after the Sannin shot out from the molten hole he had created.

"Very, very hard to get you off guard with those eyes of yours, isn't it?!" Orochimaru taunted as his cheeks then swelled out and he created a blast of water in the shape of a snake at Neji. "Suiton: Mizu Hebigami (Water Release: Water Snake God)!"

The giant snake of water hissed and lunged at the Hyūga Leader who managed turned to meet the attack. Just like before he could see the chakra points right in Orochimaru's technique. Faster than Orochimaru could see Neji then attacked the jutsu himself and impacted each of its chakra points and disrupted its form. In seconds the powerful attack exploded, and Neji landed, and a small shower of water covered him.

Orochimaru smirked and he rushed forward into melee combat again with the Kusanagi drawn. He then went to stab at the Hyūga Leader who started to dodge each and every strike like before, but Orochimaru was expecting that. He used his own Byakugan to see a weakness in Neji's form and closed the distance, knowing what move he'd use to counter.

"I…expected more…from a Sannin!" Neji grunted as his body glowed again and he then did another Kaiten at point blank at Orochimaru. "You got too close!"

"Oh, did I?" Orochimaru taunted as he used the Kusanagi to shield himself from the burst of Neji's spinning chakra dome and sparks flew off the blade as he was forced backwards. "I've done that technique myself so many times thanks to this body's memories…so I know how long you can keep it up! While spinning you are practically invincible but when you start slowing down…"

As Neji's body slowed from, he spinning a summoning circle appeared under the Hyūga Leader's feet. When it finished there was a massive puff of smoke as a gigantic snake was summoned and swallowed, he Hyūga whole! Orochimaru smirked at that.

"…you're completely vulnerable…which makes you nothing more than food for my pets," Orochimaru taunted, and he deactivated his Byakugan. "Might as well as head back and tell Tenko-kun the baaaaadddd news…"

The giant snake hissed at that as Orochimaru started to turn away. Neji was still alive in the serpent's stomach, but digestive juices were building up and oxygen was quickly running out. Despite that…the Hyūga Leader was completely calm. As if he wasn't concerned about it…as his eyes closed. And when he opened them…the Byakugan now had the taken the Yin-Yang symbol and the Keihatsu had awoken within him!

Immediately a Kaiten burst around his body without him needing to spin and he ripped himself free from the giant snake. There was a large explosion as he freed himself and Orochimaru's head snapped back in disbelief as Neji landed and the Katen receded back into his body.

"What…that's impossible!" Orochimaru said as he stepped back.

"With my eyes, nothing is impossible," Neji uttered as he took a Jūken stance again. "I am still going to take those eyes back, you treacherous snake."

Orochimaru had a brief flash in his memory…remembering when he confronted Itachi all those years ago and lost his arm. Subconsciously he squeezed his hands into tight fists as old frustrations resurfaced. Once more he challenged a genius dōjutsu user and once more…he was coming up wanting. Neji's Keihatsu flashed dangerously much like he late Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan.

No…I'm not going to lose again… Orochimaru thought as he then did several seals. "Quite impressive, that makes you the third Hyūga in history to awaken those eyes?"

Neji didn't reply as the Snake Sannin completed the seal sequence and then he slammed his hands down. Five rock pillars then rose up around the Hyūga Leader. Neji could see the buildup of chakra within them and then from the tips there was a spark of chakra and elemental change that he could see.

"Die you white eyed bastard! Shi no Gogyō no Jutsu (Five Elements of Death Technique)!" Orochimaru uttered as a blast of lighting, flame, water, wind, and sharp earthen spikes launched right at Neji from each pillar.

"Useless," Neji said as his body glowed, and the Eien no Kaiten (Eternal Rotation) spun up around him like a shield and all of Orochimaru's elemental attacks were deflected by the rapidly spinning wall of chakra.

The Snake Sannin jumped back and his own Byakugan could see the chakra levels and potency of the Hyūga Leader. The only two people…aside from the likes of Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke or Sakura he could fathom possessing such might were Uchiha Madara or…Senju Hashirama. Neji's power was in the same league as the founding members of Konoha!

As the pillars crumbled around him Neji then took a stance, putting his right hand low and his left hand behind him while holding it up high. "You're in range of my divination, snake."

"What?!" Orochimaru demanded. "I'm outside your attack range…"

As he said, Neji's skin turned red as he activated the Fifth Gate and a aura of lightning burst around him as he activated his father's technique. With his Keihatsu Byakugan he could extend his range even more…and the speed boost meant that Orochimaru couldn't escape the divination.

"Hakke Hyaku Nijūhasshō (Eight Trigrams One-Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms)!" Neji uttered as he vanished from Orochimaru's enhanced sight.

The fallen Sannin found himself struck twice…then four times…then eight times…then sixteen…then a massive barrage of thirty-two all over his body, then sixty-four. Each hit was like his entire charka network was being obliterated. Then finally the last one-hundred twenty-eight blows smashed right into the Snake Sannin's body and sent him crashing through several trees as Neji finished up his attack with a crushing uppercut instead of a palm strike.

"AHHHH!" Orochimaru cried out in pain as he smashed through several trees, and he felt parts of his body…swelling. "What is this?! My chakra is going crazy!"

"Of course it is, I injected my own into your body. Even though your true form is unique it is still flesh and blood…and Jūken destroys that," Neji replied as Orochimaru's shoulders and torso started to swell and bubble up as if he was about to explode. "You are already dead."

"I…refuse!" Orochimaru said as he used the last of his chakra under his control to open his mouth inhumanly and he used his unique body replacement technique to create a new body. He shot out just in time as his original body exploded in a shower of gore and Neji kept watching.

Orochimaru landed, despite escaping death his body was still…tender and in pain from the Hyūga Leader's attack. He gasped and panted, his own Byakugan eyes reactivating as he saw the tremendous surge of powerful chakra within Neji.

"That was close…I was nearly…" Orochimaru started before there seemed to be a lightning strike on his face as his right Byakugan eye suddenly…exploded in a shower of blood and his shoulder started to swell again. "What is this?!"

"I already told you, Orochimaru, you are already dead. Anything you do now is just prolonging the inevitable," Neji replied as he powered his Inner Gates down. "The sequence of tenketsu I struck and injected with my own chakra will continuously destroy your body no matter how many times you replace it with a new one. This is the Hyūga Clan's ultimate technique."

In response Orochimaru's jaw enlarged and a new body of himself was created but he slumped against the ground. He panted, feeling closest to death that he's ever been since being struck with his old master's Shiki Fuin technique. But while he still had strength, he bit into his thumb…and slammed his palm down.

"If I'm going to die, you'll be joining me!" Orochimaru uttered as blood dripped from his now empty socket. But his left eye was still untouched by Neji's chakra and there was a massive amount of smoke…

And in its place was one of the largest summoned animals in the world. The clone of Manda that Kabuto had created, the draconic, purple serpent hissed as it rose from the ground and towered over Neji. It was at that moment Shin's detachment appeared next to Orochimaru as if it was responding to his distress call and sucked him into a space-time portal leaving the ten-kilometer-long serpent to finish the fight.

Land of Sound, Base 44

A screaming Orochimaru landed in one of his secret labs back in the Land of Sound. Shin rushed over to his master to try to assist him, but he was pushed back as the Snake Sannin who was forced to replace his dying body with another one. Just as he did, the old shell of his former body exploded in a shower of blood and gore.

"There…isn't' much time…I was hoping to wait another year…" Orochimaru panted as he tried to force his body to stop self-destructing. "Bring me our strongest fighter! NOW!"

"Y-Yes Orochimaru-sama," Shin uttered as he rushed out of the room.

The Snake Sannin vomited out another body of himself to make sure he could get ahead of the effects of Neji's jutsu. I need to hold out just long enough for Shin to bring in our strongest test subject…

A few minutes later Orochimaru's assistant dragged in the latest test subject. A tall, muscular man with tanned skin that was covered in scars from the Snake Sannin's experiments. On his neck was a Cursed Seal-one of the newer 'Cursed Seal of Hell' that he had developed. And finally, he wors white pants and a purple rope-like belt much like what Sasuke used to wear.

"I've brough Onigumo in, my lord," Shin said with a bow.

"Let me go!" Onigumo demanded. "I didn't sign up to be Orochimaru's flesh puppet!"

"Silence," Shin uttered as his Sharingan glowed and Onigumo struggling ceased. "He is now ready, Orochimaru-sama."

"…excellent…" Orochimaru said as he was forced to leave his deteriorating body and assumed his true form.

A massive white snake made of thousands of smaller snakes with Orochimaru's head was launched from his shell as it exploded. The test subject Onigumo suddenly was possessed by the White Snake before Orochimaru himself could die. There was a loud scream as the man thrashed and fell onto the ground as if he was fighting both Orochimaru and the effects of Neji's jutsu.

After several moments Onigumo stopped moving as his body started to shrink down to Orochimaru's scale. His tanned skin turned white as his hair grew out and resembled Orochimaru's style. And his eyes…one was the left was still the Byakugan, but the other had reconstructed itself as Orochimaru's original pupil. He panted as he lifted his hands up and flexed them.

"If you were a few seconds slower, Shin, I'd have died right then and there," Orochimaru said as he slowly got back up.

"My lord…you have only one Byakugan left."

Orochimaru put his hand on his face, and he frowned. "No matter, though I suppose I should do tests to see if the Hyūga's jutsu will linger even in a brand-new body."

"What of Gengo, sir. Should I go in your stead?"

"…yes, but only after we finish these tests. Keep your little demon in the area for quick extraction of our esteemed Daimyo ally," Orochimaru replied. Shin started to wrap his new body in bandages to facilitate the full merger with Orochimaru's soul and Onigumo's body.

With that done the Snake Sannin left the room with his assistant. They passed the cloning area where Orochimaru's spawn was growing in tubes…alongside Shin's own. The Uchiha wannabe had gotten permission to test the limits of cloning technology and had already started to create a new genetic line of Uchiha. So when these new clones of himself were finished gestating…they would naturally possess a Sharingan and the ability to evolve it.

Then Shin knew…he would have his trump card to overthrow his master. And get the Land of Sound under his control…

Land of Silence, Capital

Back at the Capital of the Land of Silence, the entire city was in awe at the scale of the battle that raged just outside the gates. Enlightened Ones left their posts to observe from the battlements or place bets on how much Orochimaru would win against his would-be assassin. The chakra from both the Snake Sannin and Neji were so strong and, in such quantities, it could be seen visually even from the palace. So, it was the perfect opportunity for the rest of the team to infiltrate the city again.

Shikamaru, Yamato, Soku and Rō all made their way through the city, heading directly to the palace. Thanks to stealing the uniforms of the Enlightened Ones they didn't attract any attention, even from those within Gengo's organization. They could also feel the shock waves of the battle but so far it felt like Neji had things under control so they could focus.

"Rō, you still sense Tenko in the palace?" Shikamaru asked as they left the ground level to start running on the rooftops.

"My sensing abilities aren't as sharp as my cloaking, but yes I can detect him Shikamaru-sama," Rō replied as they rushed forward.

"Any enemies with him?" Soku asked as a shock wave from Neji and Orochimaru's battle kicked up a large gust of wind that messed with her hair and blew away the pollen from the flowers that was permeating throughout the area.

"…some. Chakras of people from all over the Five Great Nations," Rō replied. "…Gengo is also there too."

"Great," Soku said as her bloodlust spiked momentarily.

"Geez, get a grip Soku," Shikamaru said as he landed and took out a small pair of binoculars. He glanced at the battlements on the palace's walls to try to find the best opening for entry. "I've found our way in, keep up."

With that the four jumped and landed on a battlement before they rushed into the nearest gate house. Just as they did there was another gust of wind from Orochimaru and Neji's battle which gave them enough cover to get in without being spotted. Once they were inside, they rushed down the hallway further into the palace.

"We're going to need to keep the distraction going," Shikamaru glanced at Soku. "Hinoko you're up for that."

"Call me SOKU," she demanded, and her eyebrow raised. "Distraction how?"

"We know that Gengo's genjutsu is auditory based, right?" Shikamaru pointed out as a smirk appeared. "Well, why not disrupt that by putting that music you listen to onto the entire capital's communications through the radio signals that are transmitted through the palace?"

She blinked for several moments before the young ANBU kunoichi gave a smirk. "Now that's a plan I like. Turn this entire city into nothing more than a rock concert? I can do that no problem."

"Good, we'll split up. Rō will accompany me so he can erase our chakra presence while Yamato goes with you Soku to be your backup," Shikamaru said as they huddled behind a corner. "With any luck we'll be able to extract Tenko and get out of here if Neji manages to finish off Orochimaru or at least drive him off."

"I assume you want me to hold back lethal intent?" Soku asked and Shikamaru nodded.

"The ninja here are being controlled by Gengo's genjutsu so they are as much victims as Tenko are," Shikamaru said as he finished up the game plan.

"Shikamaru, I think that may be too optimistic," Yamato said as the young Nara clan leader looked up. "Words are powerful, they can sway the hearts of whoever hears them after all. Gengo's genjutsu could open the door or he uses it later, but there's a chance he manages to convince his followers before they are subjected to his control."

"…the thought has crossed my mind," Shikamaru admitted. "But I'm hoping that the genjutsu is doing more of the heavy lifting now that those doors have been opened. Disrupting that will still cause some effects after all."

"…can't fault that logic," Yamato conceded. "Just be careful, Tenko might not be…"

"Yeah, I know. After how we were spotted in the crowd earlier that is always a possibility now," Shikamaru said. "Regardless, you have your orders."

They nodded and when the coast was clear, the four split in opposite directions down the hallway. Soku was thinking of the perfect songs that would work on disrupting Gengo's control and Shikamaru had a pensive look on his face. The notion that Tenko really did betray them didn't sit well for him. Especially after everything that had happened with Sasuke.

Sasuke I can somewhat get considering what happened to him…but Tenko? The only way he'd turn against us is if he was being controlled…

To be continued…

Author's Notes:

Sorry it took so long to get his chapter out from getting inspiration for my Himawari story to work and other IRL events it just kept distracting me. Chapter 4 should be up at a far quicker rate though since it's the finale to this story then I can start working on my version of The Last and finally Sakura Hiden.

Anyway, how did you like the big centerpiece battle this chapter? Neji vs Orochimaru is one of the main reasons why I had Neji be part of the team and deal with Orochimaru taking over Ko's body after he 'resurrected' himself after defeating the Sword of Totsuka's sealing technique.

I wanted to show off how powerful Neji had become since the War and show off skills that the Hyūga have that make ninjutsu hard to use against them. Specifically, the skill they are learn-seeing chakra points/tenketsu in not only people but ninjutsu themselves. We see this in action firsthand during Itachi's novel: Itachi and Shisui together were nearly killed by a rogue ANBU named Mukai Kohinata. This guy was distantly related to the Hyūga so he inherited one Byakugan he could activate and reactivate at will and he was strong enough to nearly kill both Itachi and Shisui at the same time.

Neji himself is now as powerful as Hashirama and Madara even before he awoke his Keihatsu. The Gates on top of his full mastery of the Byakugan and Hyūga hidden techniques had put him on that level, and after he masters the Keihatsu Byakugan? Well, if this was canon, he'd be a right below the likes of Ten-Tails Jinchūriki Obito. In the Bijuverse it makes him the fifth most powerful ninja on the entire continent, just under Naruto, Hinata, then Sasuke, then Sakura.

Orochimaru is no slouch himself, he's at a level where he's comparable to the Konoha Founders but still weaker overall. If this was the Warring States Era, he'd be around the fourth or fifth most powerful ninja of that time frame. But what is holding him back is the fact he just tries to keep getting stronger and stronger bodies…without training what he already has. If he had fully mastered Ko's Byakugan the battle against Neji would have been far closer after all and he could have defended himself from Neji's ultimate technique.

Speaking of that? While it is inspired by the anime only technique, he used against Kidomaru, I added another flare to that making it a tribute to Kenshiro's 100 Crack Fist of the North Star. Anyone whose watched or read Fist of the North Star/Hokuto no Ken knows what I'm talking about. And Neji basically crippled Orochimaru even worse than Hiruzen sealing his arms. Orochimaru's time between new bodies is going to keep shrinking, first by a month…then by six months…until he'd be in a constant state of either using other means to keep his existing body together or keep cycling through bodies. Neji's chakra is acting like a poison that, no matter how many times he changes bodies it'll keep breaking him down.

By the time of Himawari's rise he's not going to be in good shape at all and he's trying to find any means of saving his own life then, all his research taking a back seat to try to survive.

And now as for Tenko…well we'll see what happens next chapter. I look forward to also showcasing Shikamaru's skills too as well as letting Soku cut lose with her play list. Heh already looking into some songs to use!

Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you'll take some time to visit my P_a_t_r_e_o_n. The website won't let me link it so please search 'Bijuverse' to subscribe, you'll get previews of my chapters before they are up and can take part in discussions and polls!