Hyuga Hiashi's Summons

After staying home for two months, Neji suddenly received a summons from the Clan Head.

Neji was slightly surprised, but upon thinking it over, he understood. His father had died because of him, and his father had also been the Clan Head's younger brother. Neji himself did not believe that the Clan Head felt no guilt at all.

Since his father's death, Neji had not shown his face outside for two months aside from going out once. He had probably drawn the Clan Head's attention.

Without dwelling on it, Neji replied to the messenger, tidied himself up a little, and headed for the Clan Head's residence.

Along the way, he encountered several clan members, some familiar and some not. Neji lowered his head and greeted each of them. His body was still small, so there was not much else he could do.

Still, it was necessary to establish an outward image of being humble and courteous.

Upon arriving at the Clan Head's residence, Neji was led in by the steward and met Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi. At first glance, Hiashi looked rather like his father, though he carried himself with even greater authority.

Neji took the initiative to bow. "Greetings, Clan Head."

Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi did not put on any airs. After returning the gesture, he had Neji sit down and said in a deep voice, "Neji, you're over five years old now, aren't you? You should enter the Ninja Academy next year. I see that you have already refined Chakra. Tomorrow, I will arrange for Hyuga Hio, a Chunin of our clan, to teach you the Gentle Fist for a time. I hope you study well."

Neji was somewhat surprised, but he did not resist. Having someone teach him was naturally a good thing. He bowed again and replied, "Thank you for your concern and guidance, Clan Head. I will study diligently under Lord Hio."

Seeing Neji accept his goodwill, Hiashi felt slightly relieved. He asked, "Neji, is there anything else you need help with? Don't be polite with your uncle."

Neji thought for a moment and said, "Uncle, I'm rather interested in Medical Ninjutsu. Before entering the Ninja Academy, I'd like to learn some basic medical knowledge and lay a foundation for studying Medical Ninjutsu in the future."

This request had not been a spur-of-the-moment idea. Using the study of medical knowledge and ninjutsu as an excuse, he could gradually gain access to human-body research and carry out the Gene Completion Plan. This was one of the most important goals among the many plans Neji had made for himself over the past two months.

Neji, who knew the plot well, knew that the Byakugan of the current ninja world was incomplete—defective at the genetic level. This was why members of the Uchiha Clan occasionally awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, while not a single member of the Hyuga Clan, also descendants of the Sage, had been able to awaken the Tenseigan.

The fundamental reason was the incompleteness of the Hyuga Clan's genes. Only by completing them would it be possible to awaken the Tenseigan.

And to complete the Gene Completion Plan, studying Medical Ninjutsu and medical knowledge was essential. He could find medical knowledge on his own, but it would be difficult to gather everything. Through the channels of the Hyuga Clan Head, however, it would be incredibly easy.

Hearing Neji's request, Hyuga Hiashi did not refuse. "Mm, good. Over the next few days, I'll have someone deliver the basic medical knowledge you need to your home. I hope you won't neglect your Gentle Fist training. After all, a ninja's strength comes first."

Neji said happily, "I will heed the Clan Head's teachings. Neji will definitely study the Gentle Fist diligently and bring prestige to the Hyuga Clan."

Neji actually felt quite disgusted with the Hyuga Clan. At first, the Caged Bird Seal might truly have been developed to protect clan members from being targeted by ninjas coveting the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan.

But by now, Neji could say with certainty that the Caged Bird Seal was purely a tool for maintaining the Main Family's rule over the Branch Family. And unfortunately, Neji himself was one of the many Branch Family members ruled by the Main Family through the Caged Bird Seal.

He did not know what Neji used to think, but after Ning Feng had merged into this body, the thought of his life being controlled by others—of being killed by the seal at any moment, forced to obey the Main Family's orders and commands just to survive—

The current Neji found that situation unbearable no matter how he thought about it.

It was precisely because of the dire reality that the Gene Completion Plan ranked so highly in priority. Breaking the shackles bound around his forehead and regaining true freedom was one of his most important plans.

After chatting idly for a while longer, Neji rose to take his leave and returned home, where he continued the training he had yet to finish for the day.

Over the past two months, Neji had mainly practiced a set of fist techniques the Hyuga Clan used to build a foundation for children. The set consisted of twenty-eight forms and worked most of the body's muscles very well.

This style had evolved from the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist. Becoming proficient in it would benefit his future study of all kinds of Hyuga Gentle Fist techniques.

After performing ten sets, his entire body was drenched in sweat. He placed medicinal herbs into the bath barrel, poured in hot water, and immersed himself. Closing his eyes to rest, he felt a tingling sensation spread throughout his body. Neji could clearly sense that his body was slowly growing.

This was highly abnormal. Even if he trained diligently and supplemented it with high-energy food and medicinal baths, his growth should have been extremely slow—so slow that an ordinary person could never possibly notice it.

There were only two possible explanations. The first was that he was actually growing very quickly, quickly enough to be noticed by ordinary perception.

The second was that his growth rate was normal, but his sensory abilities were so powerful that he could observe his own gradual growth.

Through two months of comparison and observation, Neji concluded that he was growing roughly 40% to 80% faster than children his age.

That was merely the level of an ordinary genius, and absolutely not enough to be noticed through normal perception.

Yet his sensory abilities were more than ten times those of his peers. The clearest example was his Byakugan: he could already see objects a kilometer away, reaching the level of an ordinary Chunin.

Children his age either had not awakened their eyes yet, or could only see objects eight or nine hundred meters away.

Perhaps this was the benefit of being a transmigrator. The fusion of two souls had strengthened Neji's spiritual power, enhancing abilities tied to the spirit, such as his memory, sensory perception, and Byakugan.

It counted as another cheat besides his familiarity with the plot.