Chapter 173: Different Time

Chōza Akimichi squinted as he gazed ahead, his expression serious. The reason he instinctively uttered that name wasn't just because of the "red hair." It was also due to the fiery, spirited demeanor.

"No, that's not Kushina," Minato Namikaze shook his head decisively. Although there was a resemblance, it was like night and day.

"No forehead protector," Kakashi noted as he reached for the short sword on his back. "Her identity is unclear."

His tone was serious. For a ninja, lacking a "symbol" was a sign of danger. Moreover, this person was very strong. Her chakra was vast, and her movement speed was extremely fast.

"Stop right there!" Shibi Aburame extended his hand, and a dense cloud of parasitic insects poured out of his body, forming a barrier in front of the squad. "State your intentions."

The red-haired figure halted.

"No need to be so tense," Karin raised her hand, cheerfully greeting them. "I mean no harm. I'm just here to meet some old acquaintances."

She smiled, her gaze fixed on the blonde man. The atmosphere grew tense and strange. The rest of the team followed her gaze, landing on Minato Namikaze.

He raised his hand, pointing to himself. "We've met before?"

"You don't know me yet," Karin replied in a light-hearted tone.

"Not yet?"

What did this "conditional phrase" mean?

Minato Namikaze looked past her, towards the bustling city, beginning to suspect something.

"As expected of the future Fourth Hokage," Karin followed his gaze, looking back with him. "Already forming ideas?"

"Are you saying you're someone affected by the Dragon Vein's power, sent back from the future?" Minato asked quietly.

Karin nodded. "That's right."

"Are you heading to Rōran?"

"Why not go together?"

She extended the invitation.

Minato considered it briefly. "Is that so? Then let's go together."

Everyone else on the team frowned. Minato smiled warmly at Karin, his voice gentle. "Could you wait a moment? I need to discuss something with my teammates, if you don't mind?"

Karin nodded and stepped back to give them space.

"Minato, letting a stranger join our team?" Chōza Akimichi shook his head.

"And that story about coming from the future," the Hyūga clan member also spoke up, expressing doubt. "Isn't that a bit too far-fetched?"

Minato looked at him and spoke softly, "Hizashi-sama, it's not far-fetched. In fact, when I discussed this matter with Jiraiya-sensei and the Third Hokage, we basically confirmed that the two people who appeared in Rōran are members of the Hyūga clan who came from the future."

Hizashi Hyūga was taken aback.

"The reason I didn't tell you earlier was that anything involving 'time' might cause irreversible disturbances to the future," Minato continued. "So we all agreed that the fewer people who know, the better."

"After this mission, I will seal the memories of myself, you, Jiraiya-sensei, and the Third Hokage, so they won't be unlocked until after these events occur."

The other four responded, "Understood."

"As for that girl..." Minato couldn't help but glance back at Karin. "I feel a certain closeness to her."

Chōza Akimichi nodded, speaking earnestly, "The moment I saw her, I almost mistook her for Kushina."

"She might be my child," Minato said with a shy smile.

Kakashi was surprised. Hizashi Hyūga was moved.

"It's quite possible," Shibi Aburame agreed. "Should we ask her?"

Minato shook his head. "Let's not. After all, she's from the future and not of our time. As a father, there's nothing better than seeing your child growing strong and cheerful in the future."

He paused for a moment, his expression turning slightly serious. "Moreover, having her join our team could be beneficial for the mission. Since we can't confirm whether she really is from the future, nor can we confirm her true intentions, keeping her within our sight at least makes her presence controllable."

Shibi Aburame nodded. "Understood."

Minato waved his hand, signaling the team to form up. "Let's go," he said, walking over to Karin, his voice gentle.

Karin tilted her head. Even without activating her "Mind's Eye of the Kagura," she could still sense a small insect landing on her shoulder. She smiled at Shibi Aburame. "Let's get moving."

In the city of Rōran, in a quiet room, a maid knocked on the door and, after receiving permission from inside, entered.

"Neji-sama, we've spotted the blonde-haired ninja you predicted within the city," the maid's voice was soft.

The man meditating inside opened his eyes and looked up. "Is that so? Where is he now?"

The maid replied, "As you instructed, we avoided any conflict with him. He's very amicable. He's currently being escorted to the conference room. Someone has also gone to notify Hinata-sama."

Neji Hyūga stood up, taking long strides as he left the room and headed towards the conference room. He passed through corridors and courtyards, pushing open the heavy door. Sunlight streamed through the large windows into the room.

"Neji," the blonde-haired boy inside grinned when he saw him. "Should I say 'long time no see?'"

Two brightly colored foxes lay in the sunlight. One was using the other's tail as a pillow, while the other rested its head on the first's tail, both dozing.

"Long time no see, Naruto-kun," Neji replied, his voice showing a hint of emotion.

Footsteps approached from behind. Hinata ran into the room, but her steps slowed and became heavy as she entered. "Long time no see, Naruto-kun."

"When did you arrive?" Naruto waved them over.

After they sat down, Neji answered, "Four years ago."

"That long?" Naruto was a bit surprised. He had thought the time difference might be only a few months, but it turned out to be four years.

Neji shook his head. "I don't know why."

"Can you tell me what happened?" Naruto asked.

Neji nodded, carefully choosing his words, and began to recount their story from the beginning.

He and Hinata had arrived in Rōran four years ago. The country wasn't as prosperous as it is now. For four years, they searched the entire "Rōran Kingdom," but they couldn't find Naruto and Karin, nor could they locate Lee and Tenten, realizing that they might have been displaced in different timelines due to the Dragon Vein's power.

They didn't want to return to Konoha, fearing they might miss Naruto. So they stayed in "Rōran." Four years ago, Neji was already at jōnin level, and while Hinata wasn't as strong, she was still a capable chūnin with her Byakugan. With them around, Rōran's trade flourished, and the country gradually became prosperous, eventually being built into what it is now.

"Have you found Lee and Tenten yet?" Naruto nodded, thoughtful.

"We haven't found Karin Uzumaki either," Hinata added quietly.

Naruto looked at her. "Then it must be a matter of time. They might arrive later."

Neji hesitated, his emotions fluctuating. After a long pause, he said, "Naruto, since they haven't appeared yet, then I... I have a request."

As he spoke, he got up from his seat, knelt before Naruto in a deep bow, and spoke sincerely and solemnly, "I've heard that you are highly skilled in sealing techniques. I hope you can help me remove the 'Caged Bird' seal on me."

Naruto's tone was calm. "The Caged Bird?"

He remembered the "seal" clearly. He had shown it to everyone during the Joint Chūnin Exams.

"Yes," Neji responded.

"Let me take a look." Naruto reached out his hand.

Neji stood up, walked over to Naruto, and knelt down again, removing the decoration from his forehead. In the center of his forehead was a green "cross" mark, with mirrored wave-like lines extending from either side.

Naruto extended his hand and gently touched it. It was a technique completely different from the "Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques." It was an extremely dangerous time bomb, incredibly fragile. Even just examining it caused it to "tremble," as if it might shatter at any moment.

Of course, this "curse mark" was still within the "ninja" knowledge framework, though it involved some aspects related to the "soul." When it broke, it would immediately destroy the brain, destroy the eyes, and destroy the soul.

"Quite a tricky seal," Naruto said softly.

Neji took a deep breath, his tone inevitably somber. "Even for you, Naruto..."

"It's not that I can't break it," Naruto shook his head. "It's not that complex. It's just... your body and soul are both fragile, so my concern is how to undo the seal without harming your physical and spiritual form."

Neji was overjoyed. Even without pupils, his Byakugan could still express such brilliant emotions.

"Naruto-kun..."

Neji's voice was shaky, his entire being unstable with excitement.

"No, Uzumaki-sama. I beg you to remove the curse mark on my forehead. I'll accept any price. From now on, Neji Hyuga's life will be yours."

Naruto gently touched the "Caged Bird" mark. "If you're just trying to escape from one cage into another... what's the point of breaking it?"

Neji was stunned.

"I don't want your life." Naruto's fingertips pulsed with the power of the soul. "Let's make a deal instead. I'm going to establish an organization called 'Seireitei.' While you're alive, do whatever you want. When you die, become a member of my organization. How about it?"

He wasn't trying to break Neji's seal; he was just copying the "curse mark" and then summoning a scroll to store it fully.

"After death?" Neji was taken aback.

"I don't want to repeat myself," Naruto looked into the distance. "But will you serve me after death?"

"Of course," Neji bowed his head in submission. "I already belong to you, Uzumaki-sama."

Hinata's eyes showed envy. She too wished she could say those words.

"I'll study this curse mark over the next few days," Naruto pointed his finger. "But there's something else that might need your attention. It seems Karin has found some interesting people."

Neji looked up. "Karin-sama has appeared?"

~~~

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