Neji's Call of the Bloodline and Initial Awakening
The Memorial Stone in the Konoha.
The once bustling gravesite is now deserted except for Neji.
A gentle breeze blew by Neji stared motionlessly at the name engraved on the tombstone standing before him.
"What? Aren't you going to have a proper talk with your father?"
A gentle voice came from behind him. Neji turned his head and saw Hagoromo walking slowly towards him, carrying something in his hands.
"Master."
Neji nodded in greeting and then greeted Hagoromo.
"Did you just look at it?" Hagoromo asked, glancing at the grave covered with fresh soil.
"Yes, I've seen it. The clan leader specifically ordered everyone to leave before he could see it."
Neji nodded and said, "It's been many years since I last saw my father."
Even though her face was covered in frost from being frozen all the way, she was still satisfied.
"That's good."
Hagoromo nodded. Hiashi told people to stay away because he was afraid the body had been damaged beyond recognition.
However, it must be said that the Kumogakure is quite adept at fixing such situations.
At least, no trace is visible on the surface.
After all, having been in Kumogakure for so many years, Konoha was afraid the corpses had been tampered with, so they had to investigate thoroughly.
"I'll have to trouble you this time, Master."
Neji expressed his gratitude again, clearly indicating his desire for Kumogakure to return his father's body.
There's always a price to pay, especially when it comes to fighting the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.
Hagoromo reached out and patted Neji's head. The kid was clearly very sad, but he didn't cry.
"If you're sad, just cry it out. You can also talk to your father about it."
"Don't worry, no one will be able to hear you."
Neji shook his head. Crying wouldn't solve anything, and besides, he had already cried not long ago.
"Master, please be strict with me from now on!"
Seeing Neji regain his spirits, Hagoromo couldn't help but sigh.
Don't worry, you haven't been slacking off at all.
After all, among his disciples, even the previously desperate Sasuke was somewhat inferior to Neji.
"By the way, Master, it seems my eyes have improved again."
Neji, as if struck by a sudden thought, spoke to Hagoromo.
After that letter that day, Neji felt different about himself.
"Let me see."
With Hagoromo wave of her hand, Yu Yi created a transparent, spherical barrier that immediately expanded outwards.
"Byakugan - Open!"
Neji formed a hand seal with one hand, the veins at the corner of his eye bulging.
Hagoromo, on the other hand, felt a mental pressure when she came into contact with the Byakugan.
Intimidation?
After all, Neji's mental strength wasn't actually that high compared to Hagoromo's.
Those with lower mental strength Neji might experience mental pressure from Neji at this time.
What exactly is its function?
Hagoromo looked at Byakugan, whose Byakugan seemed Neji lifeless than before, and asked...
"My insight has advanced; I felt I could vaguely penetrate your barrier just now, Master."
Neji nodded and said.
"Furthermore, it should be possible to use mental energy to focus on a weak impact within one's line of sight."
"It feels like some of its power is sealed away by the Cursed Seal on my forehead."
At this point, Neji couldn't help but grit his teeth.
Hagoromo nodded knowingly; this step could be considered a call and initial awakening of her bloodline.
As for the Caged Bird Seal, Hagoromo patted Neji's head and said:
"No rush, the teacher can solve it, but for now, let's not make any big noise."
Neji wasn't surprised by Hagoromo's statement; after all, if he possessed something like that, untying the Caged Bird Seal was just a small matter.
"I know, Master. For now, that's enough."
--
The Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Jiraiya, and his eye twitched involuntarily.
"Old man, stop staring at me like that. You've been sitting here for quite a while now."
"That's my limit."
Jiraiya looked helplessly at Hiruzen Sarutobi; heaven knows what had happened when he was just about to leave the village.
The old man actually refused to allow it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat down in his office chair and began to explain to Jiraiya why he didn't want him to leave the village.
"Kumogakure will send someone over soon, and then an alliance will be signed."
"But before that, it's necessary for the village to maintain its fighting strength, after all, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki is here."
"Isn't Hagoromo here?"
Jiraiya scratched his head, after all, Hagoromo was no longer a simple Jonin.
"No, the most important thing is that I need to guard against Iwagakure— "
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and said, "With that technique, Hagoromo is almost safe from Tailed Beasts."
However, he kept Jiraiya mostly as a precaution against Ōnoki.
While he was with Kumogakure, Ōnoki had already lost face.
Once they return, no one knows what Iwagakure will do.
"You mean, Ōnoki's side might start a war?"
Jiraiya straightened up, his brows slightly furrowed.
"Ah, it's just a guess, after all, I've been dealing with him for so many years."
"It's not like we don't know his style."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and said, "For so many years, Iwagakure has always been the kind of village that only takes risks when there's a chance."
Furthermore, they frequently hire organizations to complete dangerous missions that Iwagakure (Iwagakure) cannot.
This matter is perfectly clear to all the major powers.
"Has things only been peaceful for a short while, and now it's like this again?"
Jiraiya slumped onto the sofa with a look of utter helplessness.
He didn't question his master's idea, after all, it must have been discussed by the old man and Shikaku and others.
Besides, do they really think the old man is just a figurehead?
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.
Yes, the Shinobi World has only been peaceful for a short time before another storm is brewing.
However, Konoha cannot back down; if it does, the other nations will swarm in immediately.
"Alright, I understand. I won't be leaving during this time."
Jiraiya left those words behind, then got up and left the office.
Even if he didn't leave, he couldn't stay here any longer; he felt like his bones were becoming brittle.
--
Training ground.
Hagoromo was surrounded by several disciples, with Naruto and the others chattering away, asking Hagoromo what was different after he went to Kumogakure.
"Teacher, is it really true, as the students say, that all the ninjas of Kumogakure are tall and burly?"
"Teacher, I heard you proved that you defeated the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, that's amazing!"
Hagoromo couldn't help but reach out and press down, signaling for quiet.
Naruto and the others looked at Hagoromo with expectant expressions, after all, they had never seen the outside world.
Everything was so intriguing.
"The people from Kumogakure will be here in a few days. If you're curious, you can go and take a look."
Hagoromo looked at Naruto and the others and spoke.
"Real?!"
The disciples exchanged bewildered glances, as they had indeed never heard of such a thing.
"Yes, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki has already come with us."
Hagoromo nodded.