Chapter 234: In a World That No Longer Recognizes Itself

Running lightly into the women's prison, Tenten moved with practiced familiarity until she found the person she was looking for.

The illness from that day had barely passed. Ever since then, Ajisai had developed an unusual sensitivity to cold, her body temperature remained persistently low. No matter what Tenten tried, nothing improved it. She could only help within strict limits. If she went too far, Hyuga Neji would personally send her back to Konoha without hesitation. So her actions were always restrained. Painfully so.

A thick blanket covered Ajisai. She remained in the same spot, beside the same woman, Toki, whom Tenten casually called "Toki-senpai." There was also another woman who could be spoken to, Karin.

Karin naturally gravitated toward leadership among the prisoners. So when Tenten arrived, Karin immediately noticed. Tenten spoke softly, directing her words toward Karin. "There's been a change. The Red-haired interrogator, Anko, has been reassigned. I don't know who's replacing her."

"Really?" Karin's tone sharpened with suspicion.

Tenten nodded and handed over something she had brought. "I saw her leave before coming here. I also brought this from the village." It was a slightly crumpled, oversized piece of chocolate. Honestly, finding something like this in a post-war Amegakure was almost impossible. The place had already been swept clean twice, once by the Allied Shinobi Forces, and again by Konoha's occupying ANBU. This was nothing short of luck.

But Ajisai did not respond. She didn't look at Tenten. Didn't accept anything. Didn't acknowledge her presence at all. Her expression was cold. Her gaze was distant. As if Tenten simply did not exist. Or maybe she knew I existed and simply chose to erase me.

No one here even knew her name, not Toki-senpai, not Karin. Only that there was a quiet ANBU woman without insignia who didn't act like the others. Whether Ajisai knew Tenten's name, no one could tell.

A faint disturbance came from outside. Tenten's eyes sharpened immediately. "Someone's coming. I'll leave first. I'll come back tonight." She lowered her voice further. "As long as the ANBU supervisor is gone, the remaining guards won't act too extreme. Don't worry. No one here will be worse than Anko."

That statement turned out to be far too naive. War changes people. Or maybe it just reveals what they already were. Tenten wasn't sure anymore. But some people stayed the same. Neji was still Neji. Sasuke was still Sasuke. Naruto was still Naruto. Lee was still Lee. So what changed? Or what broke?

The replacement supervisor for Anko was someone Tenten knew very well. Too well. She had long black hair, soft and neat. A beautiful face. Pure white eyes.

Hyuga Hinata was gentle, soft-spoken, and calm, so calm that it felt wrong for her to stand in a place like this. A place soaked in filth, fear, and despair. Even when she asked for something, she looked apologetic, almost innocent. Which made it worse.

Hinata looked toward the guard. "Um, could you please, take that child's eyes out?"

The guard, code-named "Rat," felt his spine go cold. Not fear of violence. Fear of how calmly she said it. He followed her gaze. A small girl. About twelve. Bright eyes. Clear, lively, full of life. Why does she want those eyes?

"I-I, Hinata-sama, this is my duty," the guard stammered, stepping forward. He didn't hesitate morally. He was ANBU. Hesitation wasn't part of the job. But something about Hinata's tone made his skin crawl. As if spring wind had brushed his back, yet left frost behind.

"Wait!" Tenten's voice cut through the air.

The guard stopped. Hinata turned slightly.

Tenten removed her mask. "Hinata, what are you doing? Why would you order something like that?"

Hinata blinked. "Oh, you are." She looked surprised, like she'd been gently startled awake.

Tenten quickly masked herself again. "Why? She's just a child! She's innocent!"

That word landed. Innocent. Hinata's expression softened, then changed. Not into anger. Into stillness. "I know."

"Then why?"

"Hanabi is also innocent." A pause. Then she continued. "My father was innocent. My clan members were innocent. The elders, the branch family, everyone I've known, they were all innocent." Her voice remained gentle. But something inside it had already frozen. "So tell me, who wasn't innocent?"

Silence. The weight of the Hyuga Clan Incident filled the room without needing explanation. Tenten couldn't respond.

A second voice entered. Calm. Familiar. Hyuga Neji leaned against the doorway. Boom. Just his presence alone changed the atmosphere. Tenten felt relief for a split second. Then it vanished. Because Neji didn't look like Neji here. He looked aligned with something colder.

"Don't like it?" Neji said lightly. "Then just kill her. It's not a big deal, Hinata-sama."

Hinata shook her head. "If she dies, it would be meaningless." "I'm sorry, Neji-niisan. I caused trouble again."

Neji smiled softly. "That's fine. You're still getting used to it." He turned. "Let's walk."

"Okay. Thank you, Brother Neji."

They left together. Like siblings. Like something almost peaceful. But not quite human anymore.

Before leaving, Neji paused. "Tenten. If something like this happens again, you should go back." And then he was gone.

Tenten grabbed the guard's arm. "Please, I'm begging you. Don't do this. Neji didn't order it. Just, let it go. Maybe Hinata will forget tomorrow. I'll do anything. Please."

The guard looked like he might cry himself. "Miss, please don't do this to me. I'm just a worker. I'm terrified of Hinata-sama. Even Anko wasn't this bad. Please, don't put me in the middle."

Tenten's voice broke. "Please, I'm begging you."

The guard exhaled hard. "Damn it." "If it happens again, you'll be sent back." "So think carefully." "Do you want to stay here, or do you want to change how this ends?"

Tenten cried. And no one had a good answer for her. Not anymore.