Genin Neji

March 11, Year 60 of Konoha

Inside Konoha's Hokage Office

"Are you sure you want to graduate early?" Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Neji Hyuga, who stood properly before him.

Hyuga Kei had been the same back then, but he had caused Konoha tremendous losses and had even indirectly led to the Fourth Great Ninja War.

"Because you are graduating early, you cannot be assigned a jonin squad leader or teammates. You will have to wait two years until students of the same class graduate before assignments can be made."

"During this time, you can only train alone and accept missions."

Neji's voice was resolute. "Yes, Lord Hokage. I believe the Ninja Academy can no longer teach me anything more."

"Very well. You do indeed possess genin-level strength. I approve your early graduation. If you encounter any problems in training, remember to seek guidance from a jonin. And you may not accept missions above C-rank."

Sarutobi Hiruzen had to ensure Neji's safety. Last time, Hyuga Kei had personally arranged the funerals for the vanguard forces of two major ninja villages, and it had also been a warning to Konoha.

If anything suddenly happened to Neji, Hyuga Kei might come looking for Konoha. More than two years had passed, and no one knew how far Hyuga Kei's strength had progressed.

"Thank you, Third Hokage."

"May I ask why you are in such a hurry to graduate?"

"I want to uncover the truth behind my clan's massacre and investigate the grievances between my brother and the clan."

"I see."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Neji's clean forehead and sighed inwardly. He could roughly guess why Hyuga Kei had wiped out the Hyuga clan back then.

It was nothing more than Hizashi's affair. How could Hizashi have died so suddenly for no reason? These matters could be uncovered with a simple investigation.

Once Neji Hyuga grew older and stronger, it would become even easier for him to learn the truth.

This matter would soon be impossible to hide.

After leaving the Hokage's Office, Neji Hyuga tightened his grip on his forehead protector and genin appointment letter.

Every bit of progress now filled him with incomparable joy. It made him feel that he was drawing closer and closer to the truth.

Neji let out a long breath. "Brother, wait for me. I will definitely find the truth."

Neji himself no longer knew whether what he felt for his brother was love or hatred. Right now, he only wanted to know the truth behind the clan massacre.

Neji returned to the Ninja Academy to pack his belongings. In the time it took for a single class to pass, news that the upperclassman prodigy Neji Hyuga had graduated early spread throughout the academy.

Students everywhere gathered in small groups to discuss it.

"Did you hear? Neji Hyuga from the upper grades applied for early graduation, and the Hokage already approved it."

"Yeah, yeah. Of the three surviving members of the Hyuga clan, he has the greatest talent. I heard that Hyuga Hinata can't even beat a civilian in class."

"Just how heartless was that Hyuga Kei? He did not spare even the elderly or children. If those three had not been away hiding, there would not have been a single Hyuga left."

"Exactly. Neji Hyuga must be so eager to graduate early because he wants revenge too."

Those voices also reached Uchiha Sasuke's ears. Neji Hyuga, who bore the same blood feud, had already graduated early and become a genin, while he was still playing house with these students.

Damn it, damn it, damn it. At this rate, when will I be able to take revenge on that man?

The more Sasuke looked at those noisy students, the more displeased he became.

At that moment, Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka came over again to fawn over him.

Ino rushed to say, "Sasuke, have lunch with me later. I prepared braised prawns."

Sakura shoved Ino away from in front of Sasuke. "Sasuke, ignore that boar. I prepared saury for you. Let's eat together later."

Watching the two of them constantly jostling before him, Sasuke became even more convinced that the Ninja Academy was nothing but a childish game. "Stay away from me. I have no interest in eating with either of you."

At that moment, Uzumaki Naruto appeared beside Sakura. "Sakura, eat with me. Saury is my favorite."

"No." Sakura shook her head repeatedly.

"Fine..."

At that moment, Neji Hyuga walked past the classroom carrying his bag, once again causing a commotion among the surrounding students.

Sasuke abruptly rose to his feet. When he stepped outside, he saw the figure being watched by everyone.

Sasuke took several steps forward and blocked Neji's path. "You are Neji Hyuga, the one who graduated early."

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

Upon receiving confirmation, Sasuke turned his back to Neji and showed him the clan crest on his clothes. "I am Uchiha Sasuke. I want to duel you. I want to see exactly where the gap between us lies."

Sasuke might have been arrogant, but he was not stupid. He knew for certain that he could not defeat Neji, who was a year ahead of him, but he still wanted to see just how great the difference was.

Neji looked the young man over from head to toe before finally nodding. "Fine. I have time now. Let's go to the training ground."

Sasuke took a deep breath. "Thank you."

Everyone nearby heard their conversation clearly, and news of the Uchiha survivor battling the Hyuga survivor spread throughout the entire Ninja Academy.

Nearly everyone came outside to watch this clash between fierce rivals.

The academy teachers also came outside to serve as referees and even took the initiative to let all the students observe.

On the competition ground, Neji Hyuga and Uchiha Sasuke stood facing each other.

Neji stared at the young man before him and thought of his younger sister, Hanabi. The same love had nurtured the same hatred. "I can see endless hatred in your eyes."

"Yes. I must kill that man." Sasuke did not hide the hatred in his eyes. "Aren't you in such a hurry to grow stronger because you want revenge too?"

"No. I am not becoming stronger for revenge. I want to uncover the truth. People do not change without reason. I believe my brother was not someone who sought power. There must have been a reason for what he did."

Those words struck like thunder. Sasuke suddenly recalled his brother's past actions and then remembered the cruelty of the night he wiped out the clan.

Impossible. I must kill that man. Sasuke shouted in his heart as memories of his time with Itachi flashed through his mind.

"Forget it. Pretend I never said that. I do not know what you have been through, so let's just duel."

Neji formed the Opposing Seal.

Sasuke suppressed the agitation in his heart and formed the Opposing Seal as well.

"Duel, begin!" the teacher announced.

"Byakugan!"

"Sharingan!"

The two activated their bloodline limits at the same time and charged at each other.

The battle began with a clash of taijutsu.

Fists collided with fists, palms struck palms. After only three or four exchanges, Sasuke had already fallen into a disadvantage. Whether in strength or skill, he was inferior to Neji.

The Sharingan's dynamic vision allowed him to clearly see Neji Hyuga's movements, but he simply could not keep up with Neji's speed.

It was not that Sasuke lacked talent. Rather, no one had given him systematic instruction or training, while Neji possessed the cultivation notes Hyuga Kei had left behind. His progress over the past few years had been extremely rapid.

"Be careful." Neji Hyuga's attacks accelerated without pause. Sasuke's defenses were continuously shattered as the Eight Trigrams Palm repeatedly sent chakra into Sasuke's body.

Sasuke realized that he could not possibly defeat Neji in taijutsu. He immediately leaped back and threw several kunai.

Neji threw kunai at the same time, intercepting every kunai in midair.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Sasuke swiftly completed his hand seals and expelled a fireball from his mouth.

Neji Hyuga did not panic. He spread his hands before and behind him as chakra erupted from the points around his body. His body rapidly spun, forming a blue barrier around himself.

The fireball struck the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven and was instantly caught by its powerful Attraction, spinning around it.

"Return!" Neji stopped spinning and thrust both palms forward, sending the fireball back toward Sasuke along its original path.

The fireball struck Sasuke and completely swallowed him.

"Sasuke!"

"Teacher, save Sasuke!"

The surrounding students cried out in alarm.

Even Uzumaki Naruto, who had always found Sasuke unpleasant, shouted, "Sasuke!"

As the flames dispersed, everyone saw no charred corpse. There was only a burning log in the spot where Sasuke had been.

"It's the Substitution Technique!"

"As expected of him!"

Sasuke appeared behind Neji with a kunai in hand, its tip aimed directly at Neji's neck.

The referee and several observing teachers were instantly alarmed and prepared to intervene to save Neji Hyuga.

But Neji's Byakugan had seen every bit of it. He swiftly turned and struck Sasuke's body at an even faster speed.

In an instant, the chakra Neji had sent into Sasuke's chakra points erupted. Sasuke's body immediately stiffened, and he fell painfully to the ground.

"Neji Hyuga wins. Please form the Reconciliation Seal!" the referee announced.

Neji Hyuga crouched down and dispelled the chakra from Sasuke's chakra points.

Neji Hyuga quietly whispered into Sasuke's ear, "I do not think Itachi's love for you could have been false."

"My brother was once Uchiha Itachi's captain. He once told me in casual conversation that Uchiha Itachi's love for you surpassed his love for the village and the clan."

"There may be more to this matter. You can investigate the history of the Uchiha clan."

"My brother once said that reading history could help people understand the truth. You should take a look."

"That is all I have to say."

Neji Hyuga reached out and pulled Sasuke, who was as motionless as a puppet on strings, to his feet. They formed the Reconciliation Seal.