For the next period of time.
Hagoromo practically restricts all disciples to training only within the training grounds.
At other times, however, they are mostly tutored in more theoretical knowledge.
Even the classroom rewards were intentionally taught by Hagoromo in the direction of acquiring Chakra.
The gains have been pretty good; at least recently, little by little, I've gained another two thousand points of Chakra.
"The Seal of Confrontation."
On the training field, Hagoromo spoke to Naruto and Neji.
Naruto and Neji raised their hands, waiting for their teacher to give the order to begin.
"Battle begins!"
As soon as Hagoromo finished speaking, Naruto took a deep breath.
"Gentle Fist!"
Neji launched the first attack, as this was his first time challenging Naruto.
"Inch Power Eight Gates - Spread Hands!"
Naruto rapidly circulated his Chakra to block Neji's attack.
The next step is, the right hand!
The contact of Chakra allowed Naruto to sense Neji's next move, and he immediately changed his attack to block.
Bang!
Neji's Vacuum Palm strike was caught by Naruto, and the ground behind him was directly shattered by the missed Vacuum Palm.
Neji frowned slightly; the Inch Force actually somewhat restrained the Gentle Fist.
Naruto then quickly attacked Neji with Sun-Character Straight Punch.
Although I hate to admit it, Neji Hinata.
As Naruto continued his attacks, the two sides gradually became locked in a stalemate, exchanging blows.
Bang! Bang!
Naruto and Neji seized the opportunity to exchange palm strikes, and instantly the two were sent flying by the force of their respective palms.
"That guy reacted so quickly!"
Naruto had stopped in his tracks, looked at Neji in disbelief at the moment of his final attack.
Neji was initially being overwhelmed by him, but unexpectedly, he seized an opportunity.
Neji wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth; that palm strike was a counterattack he had forcefully broken through his meridians to retaliate.
I can't use my Chakra for the time being.
"The outcome is decided, Naruto wins!"
Hagoromo then raised her right hand to announce the result.
"You're very strong, at least in terms of Taijutsu, you're stronger than Sasuke."
Naruto walked over and spoke to Neji.
Neji raised an eyebrow but did not answer.
Sasuke, on the other hand, was getting a little fed up. Did Naruto really have to keep mentioning his name?
"Alright, Neji, come here and let me help you heal."
Hagoromo then addressed Neji, saying, "Are all the kids these days so reckless?"
Neji nodded and followed Hagoromo.
Naruto, on the other hand, blinked, somewhat confused about what was going on.
"Naruto-kun, Neji's last attack was actually forced, which injured his meridians."
Hinata nearby, came over to help Naruto treat his arm. Seeing Naruto's confusion, she spoke up.
"Huh? It's just a battle, isn't that unnecessary?"
Naruto was stunned upon hearing this, and said with an expression full of disbelief.
Hinata frowned as well, but she didn't know what to say.
Neji, who was following behind Hagoromo, had his head down, reflecting on his actions just now.
Was he in too much of a hurry, or was there some other reason?
Arriving at a certain place, Hagoromo stopped, turned around, and reached out to cover Neji's back.
The Yang Release Chakra rapidly healed Neji's injured meridians.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Hagoromo."
After a long while, Neji finally spoke with an apologetic expression.
"Why should I apologize?" Hagoromo asked with a smile.
"I don't know why, but I really want to win..."
Neji was taken aback, but then he didn't hide anything and told him.
Everyone wants to win. Even Naruto and Sasuke, who always dislike each other, do so because they both desperately want to beat each other.
Hagoromo slowly withdrew his Chakra and addressed Neji.
"I'm different from them," Neji said, shaking his head.
He wanted to win because he didn't want to disappoint Hagoromo, after all, she had even given him that one thing.
Neji was worried that Hagoromo would be disappointed if he didn't show his full potential.
You're just a child now, you don't need to have too many thoughts.
Hagoromo reached out and touched Neji's head, speaking slowly.
"What your teacher really hopes for is that you can have a mindset of mutual acceptance, like Naruto and Sasuke."
"Build bonds with them."
"While this won't increase your strength, it will allow you to learn something from them."
"Your thoughts are actually quite similar to Naruto's at the very beginning."
Hagoromo said to Neji with a smile.
Neji was taken aback by these words and couldn't help but look at Hagoromo.
"Naruto was born without parents, and his teacher was the first person to accept him."
"Neji, you should be able to understand Naruto's feelings."
Hagoromo didn't say much, but she explained some reasons.
He was born without parents...
Neji long time after hearing this, while Naruto was even more...
"No need for pity, Naruto is stronger than many others right now."
Seeing the change in Neji's eyes, Hagoromo naturally knew what he was thinking.
However, in Hagoromo's opinion, Naruto truly doesn't need anyone's pity.
He now has a companion by his side, someone he can entrust his back to.
Moreover, their strength is already far greater than that of many others.
Neji after hearing this.
"Naruto has found his direction, but Neji, although you have a goal to keep going..."
"But besides that, what other things do you want to do?"
"Anything else you'd like to do?"
Hagoromo's words made Neji think, something he hadn't done since his father's death.
I think I did, when I was like Caged Bird Seal.
Back then, I told my father, "I want to change my destiny!"
However, with his father's death, Neji seems to be more driven by hatred for the Main Family.
"Your teacher should have told you that the Cursed Seal is only on your forehead, not in your heart."
"Find something you once wanted to do, and keep doing it until it's finished. By then, you might have found other directions."
Hagoromo reached out and tapped Neji's chest, speaking slowly.
"I understand, teacher!" Neji looked up and said earnestly to Hagoromo.
"See, you're already changing. If it were you before, you'd be bowing now."
Hagoromo, with a broad smile, spoke to Neji.
Neji's face stiffened; he had always done it this way.
I've been told off by Hagoromo several times, but I never expected that my first change would be met with teasing from Hagoromo.
However, it feels quite different.
Without the constraints of Hyuga's rules, he felt much more relaxed.
Neji didn't need to be overly respectful to his teacher. During this time, he had witnessed Naruto, Sasuke, and others mingling with Hagoromo on many occasions.