C18 Before the Night

"Wow! Wow!"

As soon as Neji arrived, the crow on his shoulder cawed twice and took flight, vanishing into the sky. Itachi turned to face Neji, his expression serene yet his eyes betrayed a profound sorrow.

"You've come."

"Yeah, I'm here. You look like you're in pain. What happened?"

"Could you tell? My close friend... he died right before my eyes."

Hearing this, Neji had a good idea of the situation, but he feigned ignorance, reacting with exaggerated shock.

"Holy crap! What are you saying? I've got this eerie chill down my spine. Don't start anything crazy, man. I'm not even married yet."

A faint smile broke through Itachi's grief.

"I have more than one friend. He's gone now, and it wasn't by my hand."

"So, I'm not the one you're after? Then why did you want to see me?"

"Neji, my father must have sought you out, right? I'm looking to peacefully resolve the tension between the village and my clan, but it's too much for me alone. You, though, might have a solution, don't you think?"

Neji let out a weary sigh and shook his head before sitting down on a nearby rock.

"Itachi, you're more aware than anyone of the current state between Konoha and the Uchiha. It's reached a point where the efforts of just one or two people won't cut it. Plus, I'm not Uchiha—I don't have any standing in this."

Disappointment flickered across Itachi's face, his voice tinged with a sense of loss.

"That's just it... you don't have a stake in this..."

"Come on, don't be like that. I may not have a stake in resolving your clan's issues with the village, but as a friend, I'm here for you. If there's anything else I can do, I'm more than willing to help."

"Something else? Understood. Thanks, Neji."

In the 58th year of Konoha, eight-year-old Neji sat cross-legged on his bed, tallying his collection of cards.

He had amassed over thirty unique cards representing the five basic nature transformations—Earth, Lightning, Water, Fire, and Wind Release. Counting duplicates, the total exceeded fifty. Including other assorted cards, his collection had grown to well over sixty.

After tallying the cards, Neji glanced at the calendar, then pushed open the door to let in a gust of wind. He couldn't resist a fleeting look towards the Uchiha compound.

"Today's the day, isn't it? Itachi, would you make the same choice? You better not let me down at the crucial moment. This is my only shot..."

"Caw~ Caw~ Caw!"

A crow suddenly swooped overhead, its cries echoing as Neji looked up, then turned to walk down the path.

The place was as familiar as ever, and Itachi stood there just as he always had, though now his presence felt utterly transformed.

As soon as Neji approached, Itachi locked eyes with him, his bright red Mangekyo Sharingan warping the surroundings. In an instant, Neji and Itachi were standing suspended in a crimson world.

"This is my Tsukuyomi realm, where I control time and space. Neji, I trust you, and I have a request."

Neji surveyed his surroundings, closed his eyes for a brief moment, and then opened them again.

"Itachi, I'm aware of what you've been through and what's on your mind. Has it really come to this?"

"The rift between the village and our clan is irreparable. Today, I will put an end to it all. Neji, I'm entrusting Sasuke to you."

Itachi paused, and a crow alighted gently on Neji's shoulder. One eye was ordinary; the other bore the Mangekyo Sharingan. Neji gave the crow a glance before refocusing on Itachi, who resumed speaking.

"This is Waterseal's eye. I've sealed the most potent genjutsu, Izanami, within this crow's eye using a technique called Transcription Seal. I will be the object of Sasuke's hatred, and ultimately, he will kill me. This will be useful to you in the future."

Neji offered a faint smile and a casual shrug, prompting the crow to take flight.

"Itachi, you've been planning for quite some time, even considering what happens after your death. So in the end, you've decided to side with the village?"

"Yes, I will thwart the Uchiha coup in my own way."

Itachi's fists suddenly tightened, and his eyes blazed with a terrifying bloodshot fury. Neji inhaled deeply, slowly shaking his head in response.

"Itachi, are you certain? Can you truly bring yourself to kill all of your clansmen? Your parents and your beloved are among them, you know."

With his eyes closed, Itachi couldn't stop the tears from streaming down his face.

"I'll shoulder all the guilt. Every sin will be mine alone, not the Uchiha's. The Uchiha will remain a great clan."

"If you're that resolved, I won't try to stop you. But I'm sorry, Itachi, I can't help you with Sasuke. Instead, I have a favor to ask. Take me with you."

Itachi looked at Neji, his expression one of stunned disbelief.

"What? Take you with me? You want to leave? Why?"

Neji gave a nonchalant shrug, a stark contrast to Itachi's intensity.

"Yeah, I want out. Or more accurately, I've wanted out for a while now, it's just..."

Neji removed the bandage from his forehead, revealing the caged bird seal etched into his skin.

"This is the Hyuga branch family's curse. With this seal, I don't even have the chance to flee. Itachi, whatever your reasons, once you act, you'll likely have to live as a rogue ninja, right? So, what's one more Hyuga branch child in the grand scheme of things, especially compared to annihilating a clan?"

"But the place I'm headed..."

"Akatsuki, right? I know about it. As your friend, I could come along. Sounds good, doesn't it?"

Itachi's already clenched fists shook with the force of his grip. Overwhelmed, his emotions erupted, and he wept openly.

"For someone like me... is it worth it? Is it really worth it, Neji?"

"Hey, we're friends, aren't we? Since you haven't turned me down, I'll take that as a yes. Anything else? Let me out."

The world around them warped once more. Neji stepped out of the Tsukuyomi, leaving behind Itachi's tearful breakdown. Yet in the real world, Itachi's face remained dry, betraying no sign of his inner turmoil.

"See you tonight, then!"

With those words, Neji gave Itachi a wave and turned to head off.

Upon reaching his cottage, Neji found Hyuga Togashi waiting anxiously at his doorstep. Spotting Neji's return, Togashi quickly approached him.