C19 The Night of the Annihilation

"Neji, where have you been? The clan leader has given strict orders for everyone to stay inside tonight. He specifically asked me to pass the message to you."

Neji was aware that the annihilation of the Uchiha clan was instigated by Danzo and ultimately decided by the higher-ups of Konoha. He hadn't expected that Hyuga Hiashi would be in the know as well. Nonetheless, he feigned ignorance.

"We can't go out tonight? Why? Has something happened in the village?"

"Just do as you're told and remember my words!"

"Alright, I understand. If there's nothing else, I'm heading inside."

Neji's response was nonchalant, as if the matter was of no consequence to him. But Hyuga Togashi wasn't concerned either, since Neji was typically a homebody. Aside from eating, he seldom left his house during the day, and even less so at night.

Togashi figured that even without his reminder, Neji wouldn't venture out tonight. But given the unusual circumstances, he felt it prudent to make sure Neji was informed, just to be safe.

Once inside, Neji began to pack. He started with a change of clothes, then gathered his money and various other items.

After organizing everything neatly, Neji unfurled a blank scroll and with a loud shout, all his belongings were absorbed into it.

This was the first—and only—ninjutsu Neji had mastered, using the Summoning Technique to store items in another dimension. Tenten had taught him this skill, which took him two whole days to learn.

With his possessions secured, Neji lay on his bed, a grin he couldn't suppress spread across his face.

"The day has finally arrived. Three long years I've waited, Itachi! Do you have any idea what these years have been like for me? I... No matter, I should get on with my diary."

Neji rose, retrieved the pen and notebook he had prepared, and began to write. The initial entries were trivial, but the final one captured his true intent: Today, I met with the ever-busy Itachi. He seemed off, and though he wouldn't explain why, he warned me that something significant would happen tomorrow and to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. I sense Itachi is poised to act, and I must find out what it is. Tomorrow, I will seek him out, come what may!

After finishing the entry, Neji backdated the diary to yesterday's date.

Once that was done, he sat in silence, letting time slip by in the solitude of his room.

At nightfall, Neji donned his black stealth attire and headed straight for the Uchiha compound. Even before he arrived, the acrid scent of blood assaulted his nostrils.

With a slight furrow of his brow, Neji activated his Byakugan, scanning the strewn corpses for any residual signs of chakra flow. He approached each body that showed traces, seeking contact.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, Genjutsu: Shackling Stakes, Genjutsu: False Surroundings Technique, the Uchiha bloodline...

From these barely alive "corpses," Neji collected a hefty stack of cards.

Beyond the repeated Fire Release and Genjutsu cards, his greatest find was three Uchiha Kekkei Genkai cards.

After scavenging what he could, Neji ascended to the rooftop of the clan head's residence, watching the entrance intently.

Before long, Sasuke stumbled out of the house, collapsing to the ground not far from the door, with Itachi following at a measured pace.

"No, please, don't kill me! I'm begging you, spare me!"

Terror was etched across Sasuke's tear-streaked face as he pleaded with Itachi, who remained cold and unyielding, closing the distance with deliberate steps.

Sensing his cue, Neji leapt from the rooftop, landing squarely between Sasuke and Itachi, confronting the latter with fury in his eyes.

"Itachi! Is this your doing? What have you done?"

Itachi cocked his head, his sneer dripping with contempt.

"Ha! Neji? You, a Hyuga, dare to interfere with Uchiha affairs? Why such rage over me killing my kin? I'm merely testing my limits. See these eyes? This is the true might of the Uchiha!"

"Enough with the jokes! You've lost your mind! Itachi, he's your brother! Could you really kill him too?"

"Brother? Ha! Ridiculous! I had no intention of dealing with you, but since you've come here today, I might as well take care of you as well."

Itachi's Sharingan began to whirl in his eyes. Neji had played his part to the end; with a roll of his eyes, he collapsed to the ground.

Itachi's gaze once again settled on Sasuke, who by now was ashen-faced and lacked the strength to even rise.

"Brother Neji, no, Brother Neji!"

With Neji slumped on the ground, Itachi hoisted him onto his shoulder and regarded Sasuke with an icy stare.

"I can't fathom why Neji would step in to protect someone like you, who isn't even worth killing. My foolish brother, if you wish to kill me, then loathe me, despise me, and... live on in your ugliness!"

"Ah!"

Sasuke, in a state of collapse, mustered the energy to rise and stumbled away in retreat. Itachi watched Sasuke's retreating figure but did not pursue. His chilling words lingered in Sasuke's ears.

"Run with all your might, cling to life with all you have!"

In his desperate flight, Sasuke finally escaped the confines of the encampment. Suddenly, his foot struck a stone, sending him lurching forward, but instead of hitting the ground, he was steadied by someone—it was the Third Hokage.

Along with the Third Hokage, a contingent of more than a dozen ANBU members approached with an air of urgency, as if on a serious mission.

"Sasuke?"

"Lord Hokage, Itachi, he... he killed everyone, even Brother Neji..."

"What did you say? Neji?"

The Third Hokage quickly turned to the ANBU behind him. Two vanished instantly and soon returned to report.

"Lord Hokage, we found no sign of Neji at the Uchiha compound."

"Lord Hokage, Neji wasn't in his house either, but we found this there. Please, have a look."

An ANBU handed a small notebook to the Third Hokage, who began to leaf through it, his brow furrowing slightly at the first page.

"Is this... a diary?"

Initially, the Third Hokage perused the trivial entries with a measure of detachment. But as he reached the final entry, his expression darkened sharply.

"What! Ne, Neji, he actually...! Sasuke, did Neji truly come here?"

Tears streaming, Sasuke nodded affirmatively.

"Yes, Brother Neji tried to protect me and fell before Itachi, who then took him away."

"This..."

The turn of events had surpassed even the Third Hokage's expectations. Even he, with all his knowledge, was now visibly rattled.