After taking over the snake uncle's foundation, Sasuke came to surrender on his own initiative.

Zabuza stepped forward and walked towards Kakashi.

He uttered a low hum of emotion.

“Huh… Being able to push me to this point, that thick-browed man must be very proud.” He raised his head slightly and looked down at Kakashi proudly. “Don’t be so surprised. It was just me. Otherwise, any ninja facing that attack just now would definitely end up being turned into powder!”

Zabuza took a deep breath and spoke quietly. "Such a poor chakra control ability, but such an extreme physical skill. This thick-browed man must have a passion for physical skills, right? It's a pity... hard work can surpass genius, but in front of the blood power of the ancestor of chakra, any effort is just a dream!"

"Now it seems that I have to take back my previous words. Although this thick-browed ninja's outfit and behavior are a bit strange, a ninja with such a strong heart is definitely not a fool!"

"..." Kakashi lowered his head and looked at Kai who was breathing weakly in his arms, his face silent for a moment.

Slowly, the corners of his mouth, which were covered by the mask, pulled slightly, silently bending into a beautiful arc. "Kai, your efforts are now recognized even by the enemy..."

Zabuza stopped at the bluestone steps ten meters away from Kakashi, with a gleam in his eyes.

His current condition is actually not very good. Although his physical injuries have fully recovered, his pupil power has been greatly depleted and there is not much chakra left.

Thinking of this, Zabuza's eyes turned and his gaze fell on Kimimaro behind Kakashi. Then he tilted his head to the side of himself.

Kimimaro also understood immediately and glanced at Kakashi warily. Then he quickly walked around him and stood beside Zabuza, then he lifted the curse seal.

He heaved a sigh of relief, the fatigue in his eyes flashed away, and after calming his breathing, Kimimaro turned to look at Zabuza and asked calmly, "How are you?"

"It's no problem dealing with one Kakashi."

"I understand." Kimimaro nodded, then turned around without hesitation and rushed towards the rooftop where Karin and the others were.

Ningji hasn't returned for a long time, which makes him a little worried.

......

Before approaching the rooftop, Kimimaro immediately spotted Neji's figure.

The other person was standing by the rooftop railing with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.

Kimimaro's pupils shrank slightly, and his pace slowed down. "This guy...did he kill his uncle?"

Although he had no concept of family affection, since the word "father" was included in the address, Kimimaro felt that the other party must be one of Neji's closest blood relatives in the world, right?

Having experienced extreme hardships since childhood, Kimimaro was unwilling to see his good friend end up being as lonely and miserable as himself.

"Don't be impulsive, Neji..." His expression tightened slightly and he rushed forward faster.

pat-

With a leap and several steps on the wall, Kimimaro quickly climbed to the third-floor terrace and slowly came to Neji's side.

"I heard that you went to deal with Kakashi, how was it?" Neji turned his head to look at him and smiled faintly.

Kimimaro was slightly stunned when he didn't expect Neji to speak up. He had already prepared a draft in his mind, but he forgot it all at once.

"Although that guy doesn't have the same amount of chakra as Gaara, he is very strong and I am no match for him." He shook his head.

Neji showed no surprise on his face, nodded without comment, and said softly, "After all, he is a Konoha genius who became famous at a young age. It is normal that he cannot be defeated. Even if I go, I am not completely sure."

"Hmm..." Nodding silently, Kimimaro glanced at the expressionless Neji, a hint of hesitation appeared on his face, "You..."

"I didn't kill him." Ningji suddenly spoke, a complex expression flashing in his pupils, and he murmured as if he was talking to himself, "If killing him could bring back my father's life, I would definitely do it."

"Unfortunately, that's not possible." Neji sighed slightly, "And my father... probably wouldn't want me to do that. He doesn't want to be a bird in a cage, but in this life, he loves and hates his brother..."

After all, Neji is a kind person at heart.

Not only did hatred not lead him down the path of evil, but it made him mature precociously and strong.

He raised his head slightly, put his hands on the railing, and looked at the white clouds and clear sky in the horizon.

That was the direction of the Hyuga clan's territory, and he had just returned from there after paying homage to his father Hizashi's grave.

The moment he appeared, several members of the Hyuga branch families surrounding Hyuga Hiashi all excitedly called him "Hizashi-sama"!

The grave of his father was almost covered with white lilies and bottled sake, which was Hizashi's favorite drink during his lifetime, as a sacrifice.

that moment.

The hatred that had been accumulating in Ningji's heart for many years was finally released with the breeze.

It turned out that his father was not forgotten by his tribe.

Most members of this clan, at least the branch families, remember everything his father had done for the family.

Neji slowly clenched his fists and swore in his heart. "Father...when Lord Ototake helps me open those eyes, I will tear the thing you have hated so much in your life...into pieces with my own hands!"