Interlude

A cool breeze was blowing, and the sun was shining brightly.

On the platform of a tall building in Konoha.

Kakashi was leaning lazily against the wall, basking in the warm sunlight.

"Lord Jiraiya, it's been a long time! You haven't been back to the village for several years, have you? What brings you here?"

Jiraiya leaned against the railing, overlooking the scenery of Konoha. In the gentle breeze and warm sunshine, Konoha seemed like a languid and elegant woman, leisurely stretching her supple figure.

"To be precise, I'm not here to see you," Jiraiya paused, "But rather that child..."

Jiraiya turned his head and looked intently at Kakashi.

"Kakashi, leave Naruto... to me!"

Kakashi was taken aback.

"... Lord Jiraiya?"

"You're going to focus on coaching Sasuke from now on, so I'll take care of Naruto for the next month before the third exam!"

"Phew..." Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief, "Is it just temporary protection for Naruto?"

"That depends on how things change. I'm worried that things might get so complicated that even you won't be able to handle it... Kakashi, you should know that I've been traveling around the world since I left Konoha, gathering a lot of intelligence..." Jiraiya said in a deep voice.

"I've discovered an organization called 'Akatsuki,' which harbors many dangerous and highly skilled wanted criminals, including Itachi... They're gathering information about the Tailed Beast everywhere, and seem to be harboring malicious intentions!"

Jiraiya explained the information he knew to Kakashi in detail.

"You mean, they might target Naruto?"

"That's exactly what I'm worried about. After all, the Nine-Tails is the most powerful source of Chakra in history..." Jiraiya said heavily, "Naruto will one day understand the destiny he bears, and until then, I hope he has the power to protect his own life. So, if necessary... I will take Naruto away. I want to teach him myself!"

Jiraiya glanced at Kakashi.

"Naruto has grown rapidly under your tutelage, but I'm better suited to mentor him from now on. After all, your path is quite different from Naruto's. You should keep an eye on Sasuke..."

"I understand." Kakashi nodded solemnly, agreeing to Jiraiya's suggestion.

"If that's the case... could you please take care of another child?"

Are you Sakura Haruno from your group?

"Yes, I'm sure you've heard something about her situation. To be honest, I also feel powerless to guide her!"

"I've heard of it, a genius ninja who could develop powerful Water Release at the age of ten..." Jiraiya smiled faintly. As a strong person who grew up from being the worst student, he didn't really care about those titles of genius.

He has seen too many so-called talents perish on their path to adulthood, or fade into obscurity as adults.

Jiraiya truly acknowledged only two talents. One was his disciple, the Fourth Hokage.

And another one...

That was Orochimaru, one of his former teammates and one of the Sannin Orochimaru.

Even someone as talented as Kakashi, who graduated from the Ninja Academy at five, became Chunin at six, and a Jonin at twelve, was still a step behind Jonin Jiraiya's eyes.

He had seen far too many so-called talents like Sakura, so he naturally paid them no heed.

Moreover, based on what he knew about Sakura Haruno, he did not believe that this female ninja had the potential to become Kage Level ninja.

Jiraiya wasn't interested in Sakura.

However, since Kakashi had made such a serious suggestion, Jiraiya would not easily dismiss it. Not only had he just snatched a disciple from Kakashi, but Kakashi's character alone was enough for Jiraiya to take it seriously.

"What's going on? A simple Ninjutsu is giving you a headache, Kakashi?" Jiraiya teased Kakashi.

"It's not just ordinary talent for Ninjutsu... You'll know once you've seen her Ninjutsu; she already independently developed Minato-sensei's Wind Release: Rasengan Release: Rasengan a while ago." Kakashi spoke with a hint of pride, "Not to mention the two Water Release she created herself."

"Oh?" Jiraiya raised an eyebrow.

Independently developed Wind Release: Rasengan?

Jiraiya knew what the Rasengan represented. It was a very difficult and powerful Ninjutsu, which the Fourth spent three years creating, and its difficulty level was A.

And the Wind Release: Rasengan...

It is Ninjutsu with a difficulty level of S, which only existed in the Fourth Hokage's concept and was never actually completed even by Minato...

How could such Ninjutsu have been developed by a mere, inexperienced girl?

Jiraiya was speechless.

"--A talent like Orochimaru?" A sinister figure involuntarily popped into Jiraiya's mind.

"No," Kakashi shook his head, "If I had to say, she's more like Minato-sensei. In some ways, she's even a carbon copy of him!"

"Minato- style talent... Jiraiya felt a sense of goodwill towards him."

"I'm not suited to mentor someone as talented as Kakashi," Jiraiya straightened up. "However, perhaps there is someone more suitable to mentor her."

"You mean... that lady? But she's not in the village."

"You'll see her soon, I promise." Jiraiya winked at Kakashi. "Alright, I'll go check on Naruto first!"

Jiraiya waved his hand without turning his head and Body Flicker Technique disappeared from the stage.

On the other side of Konoha, at the Hyuga residence.

Thump, thump, thump--

A tall, slender figure and a delicate, petite figure are engaged in a battle of Gentle Fist against Gentle Fist in the Hyuga Clan's training ground!

The tall, slender figure with flowing long hair and delicate features was none other than Neji Hyuga had just been defeated by Sakura.

Her graceful figure and delicate features Hinata Hyuga who had just advanced to the Chunin Ninja Exams.

Hey, ha!

Fists flew and palms clashed, figures advanced and retreated, dodging and weaving. Amidst the fierce confrontation, the two could be heard shouting, sometimes clear and sometimes deep.

The siblings, both using the same Gentle Fist techniques, used almost identical moves, as if they were fighting another version of themselves.

Unlike other boxing styles, the Gentle Fist used by the two men appear light and effortless with each punch and palm strike, but in reality, they contain hidden strength that is concealed and not released. Once a strike lands, its power is immense!

Knowing how terrifying the Gentle Fist is, the brother and sister, facing each other's seemingly probing attacks, were both on tenterhooks, walking on thin ice!

Bang!

After a tentative exchange, the two finally clashed head-on. Neji's long palm pressed against Hinata's slender hand, and the two hands, one large and one small, contained equal punching power. The intense collision of Chakra unfolded in their palms and then exploded!

The brother and sister were both forced back a step by the force of the outburst.

"Hmph!" "Ugh!" A muffled groan and a suppressed moan escaped from their mouths.

Whew Neji let out a long sigh.

Hinata walked to the sidelines, took down two clean white towels, patted one on her face, and handed the other to Neji.

"Neji, take a break and wipe your sweat!"

Neji paused for a moment, then took the towel from Hinata's hand, which still carried a faint scent of soap.

Training in Team Might Guy doesn't offer such good treatment. They have towels prepared at home, energy drinks, and professional training facilities, etc. -- These are just the tip of the iceberg of the Konoha's rich heritage as a powerful clan in Hyuga.

More importantly, there's also a gentle, lovely, and highly skilled younger sister to spar with.

Neji looked at his sister, who was completely unguarded in front of him, and thought to himself.

His life and his thoughts have recently changed.

After a fierce battle with Sakura Haruno in the preliminary rounds, in which Neji was evenly matched at the start but ultimately ruthlessly crushed, Neji admitted that some of his deeply ingrained beliefs had been shaken.

The words of the strong are always more convincing than those of the ordinary.

Neji was even more moved by the story of a girl who grew from an ordinary girl into a powerful figure and her defiance of fate.

Then, that very evening, the sight of the Hyuga Clan, the high-ranking head of the Hyuga Main Family and the head of the Hyuga Hiashi, kneeling deeply before him, caused Neji's thoughts to change even further.

Perhaps Hiashi's kneeling was partly acted. However, the Hyuga Hiashi and Neji's father, Hizashi, was one of genuine brotherhood—a bond so strong that they were willing to die for each other.

And this sincerity truly reached Neji.

Neji, who had always resented the Main Family and the clan Hyuga Hiashi because of his father's death, finally let go at this moment.

My father died for my brother.

Perhaps there are still many things Neji could resent, but Neji let go of them.

There is still a lot of sorrow, pain, and dissatisfaction in my heart, but I have let go of hatred, let go of my knots, and let go of my stubbornness.

The shackles have been removed.

Neji, whose mind was liberated at this moment, looked back at his past self, who was filled with narrow-minded thoughts, and couldn't help but laugh at himself. Now, he finally understood what it meant to have the magnanimity to become a strong person.

The so-called strong person is not one with great strength, but one who can control their own mind.

After recovering from his injuries, the next morning, he stepped into the Hyuga training ground, a place he hadn't visited since his father's death.

Hinata was Hiashi with her father, Hiashi, when Neji seemed to see himself as a child practicing Hizashi Gentle Fist with his father.

The morning sunlight shone through his shoulders onto the two men on the field, warm and gentle.

Like a father's warm, large hand.