Changing the River of Time

Do the Wave!

Neji turned out to be a brother to him, once the fate stick was yanked from his ass. Loyal and intelligent and a close confidant within the group. And by 'group', Naruto meant the Rookie 9, Team Gai, the Sand Trio, and their respective teachers. Neji was as protective as Naruto and Kiba- which was actually impressive considering the boys' respective upbringings and differences.

But of course, Neji had to go and sacrifice himself. He wouldn't do anything else to save his precious people- or the people his people found precious. And in this world, where every life was worth more than gold and soldiers dropped like flies, someone saved was another thousand Zetsu dead. Not to mention, Yuki was supposed to have been at the camp, doing a surprise, routine sweep of the inhabitants. Because Yuki was an Uzumaki sensor and could tell when someone was a Zetsu without using Sage Mode.

When Naruto or Tsunade (who was alive but in awful mental condition at that point) were too busy to check the camps, Yuki often volunteered. Along with Shikamaru and Sakura, she created a system to tell who were Zetsu clones and who was truly who they said they were. The first and most accurate, was for a Sage or Yuki to verify. But if they couldn't be trusted, then the memory seal was used. If there weren't any left or if they were in a hurry, the people in question told a story only them and someone who was there would know.

It was a false SOS that took Neji's life. The camp had already been raided and destroyed when the team got there and had been dead for a while. No sign of Yuki- no signs of battle or kidnapping or death. Not that anyone knew- they still got reports from that camp till then and left no tracks of suspicious activity.

Not until a call for help was issued. The call was legitimate- that's what made Naruto's blood boil later. The call was for real. Just delayed thanks to Zetsu. They received it weeks- maybe months- after the camp was destroyed.

Neji was the first to realize this when not even a trace of chakra could be found anywhere. "Scram," he screamed, dropping into the Gentle Fist starting stance.

"It's a trap!"

Tens of thousands of Zetsu clones came out of nowhere, quickly overwhelming the squadron. Neji weighed the costs and options and decided on a course of action.

"Leave! I'll catch up with you!"

... Everyone who heard that sentence (no matter the context or who said it nowadays) knew it was a lie, but no one argued or addressed it. No one would, except Naruto, Shikamaru, Gaara, Sasuke, Sakura, Tsunade, or Kakashi. But by that time, nearly half of them were already dead. And Neji knew what his team saw had to reach Naruto- had to break the news that yet another precious person was missing and another camp demolished.

Unheard to anyone, Neji said his final goodbyes under his breath, hoping someone would deliver them eventually. He didn't think it would happen, but he still held hope- one of the few left to do so. And even then, it was a cautious hope.

"Naruto... Thank you. Protect Lady Hinata in my place."

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"Team 7, as your first C-rank, you will act as bodyguards to the land of Waves." If anyone noticed how strained the red-head's smile became, no one mentioned it. Probably for the best, as Aki didn't want to have to explain why. "Please come in," the Third Hokage said after ignoring the genin's comments.

In walked a burly, drunk man that immediately started insulting Team 7. Aki's team. That won't slide, not with my family. With a near-feral grin that was more teeth than emotion, Aki approached the bridge builder in slow, steady strides. "My team here is the best suited for your... situation, Tazuna, master bridge builder from the Waves. And I recommend not insulting us, then trying to play the pity card if your mission turns from a C to an A rank." Aki let just a bit of Kurama's chakra to give him fangs escape, and shifted his lips to show it in some form of a sneer. "We are the ones putting our lives on the line, after all."