Naruto: Get Stronger by Spoiling My Sister

Neji's eyes narrowed slightly as Kimimaro stepped aside to clear the path for him.

So Orochimaru predicted my move?

Neji didn't like that thought. Dealing with someone as sly and calculating as Orochimaru always left a bad taste in his mouth.

But it didn't matter. Tricks and foresight were meaningless in the face of overwhelming power.

"Tayuya, aren't you coming with us?" Tayuya turned back to ask.

Kimimaro didn't look at her. "You know I don't have much time left. I'll stay here to delay the enemy. This is my final offering to Lord Orochimaru."

It was as if fate enjoyed mocking him he had just spoken those words when the barrel on Tayuya's back suddenly burst apart with a loud crack.

From the debris emerged a figure with blood-red eyes.

"He's already mastered the second stage of the Cursed Seal," Kimimaro said, expression calm and unchanged.

Sasuke burst out laughing the moment he laid eyes on Neji, but there was nothing warm in his laughter only a chilling undertone.

"Hyuga Neji, huh." Sasuke turned, crimson eyes narrowed with scorn.

Neji felt the intent radiating off him, and even with his calm exterior, a few metaphorical lines of irritation crept across his face.

"What? You think you're ready again?"

Whoosh!

A kunai suddenly came slicing through the air, aimed directly at Neji.

He didn't even flinch. When the kunai made contact with his body, the flesh it struck immediately hardened into stone. A brief flash flared before the blade clattered uselessly to the ground.

"…Huh?" Kimimaro glanced at Sasuke, visibly confused. Was this guy brain-damaged?

He couldn't understand what made Sasuke confident enough to challenge someone like Neji.

Idiot. Tayuya cursed in her heart. She shot a quick glance at Neji and, seeing he wasn't angry, let out a silent sigh of relief.

So long as he doesn't kill him, a beating's fine.

"Not bad. Now I can go all out."

Dark markings from the Cursed Seal began to crawl across Sasuke's body. His skin turned a deep ochre, his head grotesquely extended like a hedgehog, and with two loud cracks, a pair of webbed, claw-like wings sprouted from his back.

He had fully entered the Cursed Seal's second form. A menacing current of lightning surged in his hand.

"Come on! I'll let you make the first move!" Sasuke taunted.

Kimimaro and Tayuya silently turned away. They didn't want to witness the beating that was about to unfold.

"Sure." Neji cracked his knuckles, the bones in his hands popping like dry twigs. He smiled kindly.

Bam. Bam. Bam. Bam.

Blows rang out, followed by a faint scream. A moment later, Neji tossed a battered forehead protector to Kimimaro.

"Give this to that blond brat. Tayuya, let's go."

"…Alright." Tayuya turned and glanced at the collapsed Sasuke. His face was so swollen it barely resembled a human being. She sighed.

Acting tough gets you the worst beatdowns.

After some time, Neji and Tayuya finally arrived at the edge of Orochimaru's base. The air was thick with dampness and decay, and the oppressive aura in the environment made Neji deeply uncomfortable.

"This is where you guys usually live?" he asked, glancing at Tayuya.

"Yeah," she replied quietly. "I'll go open the door."

"No need."

Neji stopped her with a raised hand. A blinding white light gathered in his palm. The next moment, a deafening roar echoed as the base's entrance exploded inward. Dust and debris scattered as the stone wall crumbled apart.

"Eight Trigrams: Mountain-Crushing Strike."

Neji pulled back his hand and stepped forward. "That works just fine."

This was his first visit, so he had to make a statement. A show of dominance.

He wanted the previous owner to understand starting now, he was the one in charge.

Tayuya opened her mouth, then quietly closed it, silently following him inside.

The moment they stepped into the base, Neji sensed Orochimaru's presence.

"Well, well, what a rare guest," Orochimaru said, licking his lips. He smiled, but there was no warmth in it only a creeping chill.

"Cut the act." Neji casually tossed the unconscious Sasuke onto the floor. "Didn't you already know I'd be coming?"

Orochimaru didn't respond. His snake-like eyes dropped to Sasuke's swollen, bruised body and he frowned.

"…Who is this deformed pig supposed to be?"

"Uchiha Sasuke," Neji replied, strolling around as if he owned the place. "Isn't this the perfect vessel you've been dreaming of?"

"You really do know me well, Neji." Orochimaru's gaze turned sharp and dangerous. He snapped his fingers, and several subordinates came forward to drag Sasuke away.

The sight of him beaten to a pulp was too much to look at even Orochimaru felt mildly annoyed.

"Likewise," Neji said. He turned, and his pale Byakugan met Orochimaru's slit eyes head-on. A strange pressure filled the space between them, radiating heat and tension. The air began to stir, as though a storm was about to erupt.

The sheer force of their presence was overwhelming. Even Kabuto and Tayuya instinctively stepped back. The candles flickered violently.

Finally, Orochimaru withdrew his aura first. He let out a breath. "What do you want?"

Neji's lips curled. "Your jutsu."

The room froze. The silence was absolute.

Then Orochimaru burst out laughing.

"How amusing," he said. "The boy the old man wanted as Hokage is here to study my techniques. How ironic. Don't you think so, old man?"

Neji ignored the mockery. He formed a quick hand seal, and the entire base began to tremble violently. It felt like the structure was seconds away from collapse.

"Earth Style: Rock Shelter Collapse."

Neji looked at Orochimaru, expression cold. "Now are you ready to listen?"

Orochimaru's face stiffened. His expression flickered through several phases in an instant. Neji had struck a nerve this base housed too many of his experiments, too much irreplaceable data.

Neji released the technique with a calm smile. Orochimaru exhaled silently in relief.

"But think carefully," Orochimaru said, tone turning serious. "Most of my techniques are rejected by the Five Great Nations. If you study them, you'll become a target."

He wasn't bluffing. Whether it was Reanimation or Living Corpse Reincarnation, these forbidden techniques were all branded as evil in the shinobi world neither morally nor politically acceptable in the eyes of the major powers.

"I understand." Neji nodded. "But I'm not interested in following their rules."

Then he glanced sideways at Orochimaru. "And I'll pay you well."

As he spoke, he reached into his robe and pulled out his bargaining chip.

"If you agree, these two things… are yours."

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