Chapter 528: Time to Settle the Accounts, Don’t You Think?

Chapter 528: Chapter 528: Time to Settle the Accounts, Don’t You Think?

After hearing Shinichi’s words, an overwhelming sense of disappointment filled Sasuke’s heart. He pursed his lips, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "What about him?"

Following the direction Sasuke was pointing, Shinichi looked toward Neji before shaking his head. "His life is something I can’t guarantee."

To Akatsuki, an ordinary child from the Hyuga branch family like Neji had neither any value as a bargaining chip nor any potential worth cultivating. After all, the Caged Bird seal had already been engraved on his forehead. The moment he betrayed the clan, the Hyuga main family could easily take his life.

Sasuke hurriedly pleaded, "Big Brother Shinichi, please! He’s my good friend! You have to protect him!"

Although Sasuke possessed the arrogance and conceit characteristic of the Uchiha clan, he was still an innocent and kindhearted child. Moreover, Neji was the only companion he could open his heart to and talk with during their current predicament.

Shinichi shook his head indifferently.

He could still justify protecting Sasuke by arguing that they belonged to the same clan and that Sasuke possessed extraordinary talent worth nurturing. But when it came to Neji, a member of the Hyuga branch family, there was nothing he could do.

Hearing Sasuke repeatedly plead with Shinichi, Neji, who came from a prestigious clan himself, spoke with considerable backbone.

"Sasuke, stop begging him! My sensei will come and save me!"

"Who’s your sensei?" Without waiting for Neji to answer, Shinichi chuckled and continued, "Even if the Hokage himself came, he wouldn’t be able to save you."

Neji opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but ultimately chose to remain silent.

Such a pointless war of words was utterly meaningless. His pride as a member of the Hyuga clan would not allow him to engage in something so ridiculous.

Shinichi gave Neji an appreciative glance before rising to his feet and heading toward the door.

As he walked, he said, "From the moment you were abducted from the village, your fates were no longer yours to decide."

After hearing Shinichi’s words, Sasuke felt an inexplicable sense of dread. By now, he was no longer so certain that his father and older brother would be able to rescue him.

He quietly asked Neji, "Neji, is that sensei of yours, Hyuga Kagami, really such a powerful shinobi? Will he come to save you?"

Shinichi, who had already stepped out of the room, suddenly whipped his head around and stared at Neji in astonishment.

"Your sensei is Hyuga Kagami?"

...

Konohagakure.

Controlling his Fire Release clone, Kagami returned to the village from across the sea without taking much time.

This time, however, he made no attempt to sneak in. Instead, wearing a black cloak with gold trim and a mask bearing a flame pattern, he openly appeared before the main gate of Konoha’s outer wall.

The moment they spotted him, the Konoha shinobi guarding the gate immediately gathered around.

After experiencing the previous battle, the rank-and-file Konoha shinobi had reached the same conclusion as Akatsuki: the village must have secretly formed an alliance with Kamigami. Otherwise, Kamigami would never have gone to such lengths to help the village resist Akatsuki.

Therefore, upon seeing the appearance of Kamigami’s ’Homura,’ the shinobi guarding the gate were quite courteous. Unlike when Kamigami had previously been wanted by the village, they did not launch an attack without asking questions.

Before long, two Konoha ANBU arrived at the gate. They bowed respectfully to Kagami and said with great courtesy, "Your Excellency, Lord Hokage requests your presence!"

"Mm."

Kagami responded indifferently before following behind the two ANBU.

Avoiding the districts currently undergoing reconstruction and the ordinary villagers busy at work, Kagami quietly followed the two ANBU to the newly rebuilt Hokage Building.

Along the way, the guards who saw Kagami dressed as ’Homura’ were all momentarily stunned. They then nodded toward him, displaying considerable goodwill, as though the village had never issued a warrant for Kamigami in the first place.

Kagami, meanwhile, maintained his aloof and arrogant persona, remaining silent throughout the journey.

"No, your analysis is wrong!"

"Earth Release of that level won’t be able to withstand it..."

"You’re being far too pessimistic, and you’re seriously underestimating our Aburame clan’s kikaichu!"

As soon as Kagami entered the Hokage Building, the sounds of a heated debate drifted into his ears from the conference room on the first floor.

Beneath his mask, the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.

He was no stranger to such debates. After all, he had participated in one himself not long ago.

This was a research conference attended by elites from Konoha’s ANBU, Jonin Corps, Intelligence Division, Sealing Team, and the village’s various shinobi clans.

Naturally, the subject of their discussion was the various dojutsu, ninjutsu, and taijutsu displayed by Akatsuki and even Kamigami during the previous battle, along with the corresponding methods of countering them.

This was simply how a major shinobi village operated. Collecting and analyzing intelligence left behind by the enemy had practically become second nature to them.

During his previous participation in the conference, Kagami had subtly disclosed the various abilities of the Rinnegan from the perspective of an observer.

And because he was a member of the Hyuga clan who possessed the exceptionally perceptive Byakugan, the village attached great importance to the information he provided.

They had even begun using his information as a framework to analyze the Rinnegan’s abilities one by one.

At the same time, Kagami knew that a similar research conference was also taking place at Konoha Hospital.

The Asura Path, which Rei had instantly destroyed using the Tenseigan’s ocular power that Kagami had sealed within her left eye, was currently lying quietly in a secret dissection room inside the newly constructed Konoha Hospital.

Although the Asura Path’s remains had been reduced to a pile of fragments by the Wheel of Will, it was still the only body belonging to an Akatsuki member that Konoha had managed to capture directly—assuming it could even be counted as one.

Meanwhile, the black rods left behind in its remains had become the primary focus of the Medical Division’s research.

After passing the conference room on the first floor, Kagami followed the two ANBU straight to the Hokage’s office on the third floor.

Inside the Hokage’s office.

The Third Hokage sat behind his desk, calmly smoking his pipe. Beside him stood the captain of the Shadow Guard, while Utatane Koharu, Konoha’s other advisory elder, sat on a nearby sofa with a serious expression.

After the two ANBU who had escorted Kagami withdrew from the office, the Third Hokage turned to Kagami, who was dressed as ’Homura,’ and asked, "Your Excellency, Homura, would you mind removing your mask?"

The Third Hokage’s intention was obvious. He wanted to verify the identity of the ’Homura’ standing before him.

After all, they couldn’t simply assume that anyone who threw on a black cloak and wore a mask was a member of Kamigami.

Kagami understood the Third Hokage’s intentions, but instead of removing his mask, he activated his Susanoo.

In an instant, a golden projection emerged from within his Fire Release clone, transforming into a series of skeletal ribs that enveloped and protected him.

Looking at the dazzling golden skeletal projection before them, the Third Hokage and Utatane Koharu no longer had any doubts.

The color of a Susanoo could not be faked, so they no longer questioned his identity.

At the same time, they had once again confirmed that Kamigami indeed possessed two members bearing the codename ’Homura,’ both of whom wielded the Mangekyo Sharingan.

At that moment, Kagami spoke calmly.

"Lord Hokage, isn’t it about time we settled our previous accounts?"