Naruto: This Genius is Somewhat Ordinary-Chapter 408

After the Toneri incident...

Under Sakura’s steady hands, Hanabi Hyūga finally opened her eyes again.

From that day on, she quietly became someone the Hyūga elders watched far more closely.

After all, her eyes had once awakened the Tenseigan.

Even though they had since reverted to ordinary Byakugan, no one knew what subtle changes might still be hiding inside them.

And in a world like this...

That alone was worth betting on.

Even if the gamble failed, it wouldn’t matter much.

Hanabi had always been Hiashi Hyūga’s chosen successor anyway.

Speaking of Hiashi...

Not long after Neji had left for the moon, the Hyūga clan head had stumbled back into Konoha alone, barely alive.

It was his Byakugan that nearly got him killed.

As the main family head, Hiashi had never been sealed with the Caged Bird Seal, which meant he didn’t dare accept help from unknown shinobi.

The Byakugan was still one of the most coveted kekkei genkai in the world.

Unlike the Sharingan, it had far fewer transplant side effects and absurdly high compatibility.

So imagine what a malicious shinobi would do if they found a gravely injured Hyūga main-branch member wandering alone.

By sheer luck and stubborn caution, Hiashi made it back to Konoha by himself.

All things considered...

Everyone walked away alive.

Time moved on.

And before anyone quite realized it, wedding season arrived.

A lot of weddings.

On the same day.

Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura

Uzumaki Naruto and Hyūga Hinata

Akimichi Chōji and Karui

Nara Shikamaru and Temari

Hyūga Neji and Tenten

Almost all of the former Konoha Twelve chose the same date.

The ones who weren’t married yet were already engaged.

Someone had casually suggested it at first.

Then everyone realized it was actually perfect.

The only real regret was that Fujimoto Tōma and Yamanaka Ino had already married earlier.

Otherwise, they probably would’ve joined the group ceremony too.

Three of the Five Great Villages attended.

It was basically a geopolitical wedding summit.

The only real shame was that no one had managed to win over Terumi Mei.

Or Kurotsuchi.

Yes, Kurotsuchi was already Tsuchikage now.

Ōnoki had stepped down early.

Not because the position was too demanding...

But because he’d lost all interest in politics.

These days, his only obsession was mastering Tōma’s "nature path."

If he failed?

He’d die of old age before he ever broke through.

Konoha was drenched in celebration.

But the atmosphere at the wedding hall stayed... strangely restrained.

Because Fujimoto Tōma was present.

No matter how festive the day was, people still straightened their backs around him.

After offering his gifts and congratulations, Tōma quietly left.

Only then did the hall truly relax.

Even Kakashi, who’d been hosting, let out a visible sigh of relief.

A few days later...

Neji stood in front of Tōma again.

"So?" Tōma teased lightly.

"Freshly married and already sneaking out on secret missions?"

Neji flushed faintly.

"Tenten knows. And this matters too much to delay."

Tōma nodded, satisfied.

Good.

He hadn’t lost his edge just because he’d found happiness.

"You figured out why I sent you to the moon, didn’t you?" Tōma asked.

Neji nodded.

"The Tenseigan."

"Correct. With your talent, the nature path alone could take you to Kage level.

Maybe even Super-Kage if you live long enough."

Neji stiffened.

He hadn’t expected that kind of evaluation.

"But that timeline’s too slow," he said quietly.

"And I’m afraid time will sand down my will before I ever get there."

Tōma handed him a scroll.

Neji opened it.

Then his eyes widened.

It was a sealing technique.

Structurally similar to the Caged Bird Seal...

But without the brain damage, vision loss, or control function.

A clean version.

"I prepared it for you," Tōma said casually.

"Took about ten minutes."

Neji’s hands trembled.

This wasn’t a gift.

It was salvation.

"Ready?" Tōma asked again.

"Yes."

Tōma handed him two things.

A prisoner transfer order.

And a location.

"Take Toneri there. And don’t be surprised by what you find."

Neji bowed and left.

Hours later...

Neji arrived alone at a hidden underground facility.

Toneri was bound and unconscious.

After confirming no one was nearby, Neji opened a concealed entrance and led him inside.

The deeper he went...

The more surreal it became.

This place was packed with the most advanced tech he’d ever seen.

"...What is this place?" Neji whispered.

Then a soft, cold voice echoed behind him.

"Took you long enough."

Neji spun around.

"Orochimaru."

Alive.

Smiling.

"You’re supposed to be dead," Neji said sharply.

"I let Jiraiya think he killed me," Orochimaru replied calmly.

"The old me did die. This is a newer, better version."

Neji finally understood Tōma’s mysterious smile.

If this got out...

The world would lose its mind.

Orochimaru led him deeper inside.

Kabuto was there.

So was Kisame.

Zabuza.

Even more familiar rogues.

Then Neji saw the holding rooms.

And the test subjects.

"You’re still doing human experiments?!" Neji snapped.

"Death-row inmates," Orochimaru replied flatly.

"And only in final-stage testing. Tōma forbade live human trials."

"...Good," Neji muttered.

Orochimaru smirked.

Progress had slowed.

But it was worth it.

Then Orochimaru’s gaze locked onto Toneri.

Pure hunger.

An Ōtsutsuki specimen.

The holy grail.

"I know why you’re here," Orochimaru said softly.

"But even for me, recreating a Tenseigan won’t be easy."

"I can wait," Neji replied calmly.

Orochimaru extended his hand.

"Then welcome."

Neji hesitated.

Then shook it.

"One more thing," Neji asked.

"What’s this place called?"

Orochimaru smiled.

"Not an organization. A research institute."

"...And the name?"

"...Akatsuki."