It's an homage, and she looked awesome doing it, it's all good.
I guess I somehow missed last chapter that injured neiji and murderer neiji weren't the same neiji. That writing tactic feels kind of cheap, or just not well done. The OPness of white Zetsu's transformation technique does infuse some much needed sense of impending doom for the "good guys", and seems like Shikamaru will have another chance at being brilliant, throwing us a bone in the process.