Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece-Chapter 60. “Sasuke… What’s Happening to You?!”

◉◉◉◉◉

Back at the temporary hideout, Neji's mind spread outward like a radar net.

His Observation Haki scan confirmed that Tenten and Lee were still out on task, setting traps, gathering firewood. With a flick of his fingers, Neji formed a string of seals.

[Shadow Clone Jutsu]!

POOF!

The clone appeared, immediately sitting cross-legged in Neji's place.

"Hold down the fort," the original said calmly.

"You got it, boss."

Neji gave his clone a subtle nod. Then, his expression shifted. His facial muscles tightened, his hair reshaped into three curling tufts atop his head.

[Transformation Jutsu]!

In a flash, his clothing and hair color changed. Even Izumi, standing face-to-face, wouldn't have recognized him. From his inventory, he pulled out a small mirror and adjusted his look.

A quick spritz of cologne courtesy of the Inuzuka Clan, and the illusion was perfect.

Then he vanished, slipping into the shadows.

Tenten and Lee, absorbed in their tasks, didn't sense a thing.

---

Elsewhere in the Forest of Death...

Team 7 had just driven off a surprise attacker. But before they could regroup, a second 'Naruto' emerged from the trees.

It was almost effortless. Naruto, being who he was, had wandered off. Again.

But when the imposter flawlessly recited the passcode, something felt... off.

Because if there was one thing Naruto couldn't do, it was remember a ten-line passphrase.

"That was too easy," Sasuke said coldly. "You slipped."

"What gave me away?" the clone asked, revealing a sinister smile.

With a puff of smoke, the fake Naruto disappeared.

In his place stood a Grass ninja, one with slitted eyes, pale skin, and an unnatural calm.

"I saw you underground, listening in," Sasuke said. "That code? I said it loud on purpose. Naruto would never memorize it."

"You're a fake."

The ninja chuckled darkly, pulling off his hat.

"So you're the cautious type. Good. Makes this much more fun."

---

Far away, a shadow flitted through the forest, silent, swift.

Neji leapt through the branches, [Observation Haki] heightened, and Byakugan active. His senses gave him near-omnipresent awareness.

"Already going after him?" he muttered. "You really are obsessed with that body."

Then came the scream.

A tortured, blood-curdling cry ripped through the trees.

The battle had begun.

Neji's eyes sharpened. He landed on a branch just in time to hear the swish of kunai.

A clawed hand shot from the ground below, but Neji stomped it flat with a cold sneer.

CRACK!

The enemy howled in pain. Two more shinobi emerged, trying to rescue their fallen teammate, only to find Neji already locked onto them.

Perfect. They carried the scroll that Team Guy needed.

No hesitation.

"I could've taken the scroll and walked away. But no, you had to show up with three bodies."

The trio lunged forward, but Neji was already gone.

"Sorry," his voice echoed behind them. "I've got more important things to do."

Their eyes went wide, blood burst from their mouths as they dropped to their knees, collapsing.

All three died before they hit the ground.

Neji stood casually, slipping the scroll into his inventory, not sparing a glance at the bodies.

Then, just to be safe, he flicked three senbon into the corpses' heads, destroying their brains. No trail. No secrets. Orochimaru's presence couldn't be revealed yet.

---

Meanwhile...

Naruto had already been taken out, and Sasuke was now left to face the monster alone.

Neji landed high in a tree, watching from afar.

He had no plans to interfere. Not yet.

This scene had to happen. Orochimaru's encounter with Sasuke, the Curse Mark it was all part of the story. A necessary evil.

Because for Neji, Orochimaru wasn't just a menace, he was a tool. One that would remove the old regime.

The Third Hokage...

Too passive. Too entrenched in outdated ideals. Neji had shown too much, said too much. If the Third survived, Neji's freedom would remain an illusion.

Konoha under Tsunade's rule will be far better for his goals.

He turned his focus back to the scene.

Orochimaru had baited Sasuke perfectly. And now... freēwēbnovel.com

Sasuke was fighting back.

It was a fierce battle. Rage and desperation collided.

Orochimaru licked his lips.

"This boy's potential... It's exquisite."

But when Sasuke finally landed a strike that shattered the disguise [Jutsu], Orochimaru smiled.

"I'm Orochimaru. If you ever want to see me again..."

"...you'll have to survive this exam."

"Defeat my three Sound ninja."

Nearby, Sakura pulled herself to her feet, body trembling.

"Y-You're insane! We don't want anything to do with you!"

"Oh, but that's the fun part."

Orochimaru's neck extended like a snake, fangs gleaming.

With terrifying precision, he sank his teeth into Sasuke's neck.

CHOMP!

A strange black fluid was injected from a hidden needle. Orochimaru's tongue twirled around the syringe, swallowing it whole.

His head retracted, voice low and rasping.

"Sasuke will come and find me. Because only I can give her what she wants..."

"...and bring her back."

---

"AHHHH!"

Sasuke let out a scream of pure agony.

The Curse Mark flared, forming a tomoe on the back of his neck.

His chakra surged violently... but that wasn't all.

His scream changed.

From masculine to feminine.

His Adam's apple faded. His hair grew longer. His voice was sharper, lighter.

His body convulsed, muscles reshaping.

Sakura reached out, frozen mid-motion.

"Sa...Sasuke?!"

Her eyes widened in horror as the transformation finished.

There, kneeling on the forest floor, was a girl.

A stunningly beautiful girl with sharp features, flushed cheeks, and long flowing hair.

Still breathing heavily. Still trembling in pain.

But unmistakably... not the Sasuke she knew.

Orochimaru, half-submerged in the earth, licked his lips.

"[Curse Mark], enhanced with the [Estrogen Hormone] sequence. A perfect vessel."

"Thank you, D-Organization... especially you, 'Nian.' Without you, I never would've unlocked this."

"Gender? Irrelevant."

"A perfect body is all that matters."

Sakura's trembling hand hovered in the air.

"Sasuke... what... what happened to you...?"

No one answered.

But deep in the trees, Neji narrowed his eyes.

Now the real chaos begins.

◉◉◉◉◉

~Uploading Schedule= 2 Chapters/day

~Support with 100 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter

◉◉◉◉◉

For early access to advanced Chapters on P-atreon:

P-atreon/iamxeno

(Just remove the - hyphen to access Patreon normally)

Thank you so much for your support and for reading!