No One Can Save You

Konoha.

The morning sun had yet to pierce the heavy curtain of night, casting only a soft white glow across the distant horizon.

Facing that dim light, Neji, fully dressed and brimming with energy, stepped out of the Hyuga Clan Grounds and jogged all the way to the Ninja Academy training field.

Today was the monthly Academy assessment again. He had worked himself up for it, determined to defeat every classmate and prove the worth of the Hyuga Clan's taijutsu!

But as soon as he entered the Ninja Academy gates, Neji spotted a dark figure warming up beneath a tree by the entrance. When he drew closer, he discovered that it was Sasuke. He said, "Huh? You're here this early?"

Sasuke jerked his chin toward the training field in the distance. "That guy got here even earlier than I did!"

Neji looked over and saw someone running laps around the field. It looked as though he had been running for quite some time. On closer inspection, it was none other than Rock Lee, the boy who could not use any ninjutsu at all.

"Rock Lee..."

Neji murmured the name softly.

Clearly, he was not the only hardworking one. Whether it was the exceptionally gifted Sasuke or the ordinarily talented Rock Lee, both were pursuing their own ninja ways through diligence and hard work.

At that moment, Sasuke shifted his gaze toward the distant Hokage Rock and said gravely, "I heard that idiot Naruto stayed up there the entire night!"

Following Sasuke's gaze, Neji indeed spotted a dark shape atop the Fourth Hokage's head. He activated his Byakugan and confirmed that the figure was Naruto sitting cross-legged. "Is he absorbing natural energy?"

Although Neji had gained nothing from his previous trip to Mount Myoboku, he had attempted to cultivate Senjutsu. Thus,