First Encounter with Gentle Fist

Early the next morning, Neji practiced the basic fist forms in the backyard as usual.

Neji performed the Twenty-Eight Basic Fist Forms with smooth, flowing precision. Every move and every stance had been tempered through countless repetitions. Thanks to his exceptional perception, Neji could clearly sense which muscle groups each move trained, as well as the intensity of that training.

Therefore, while practicing the basic fist forms, Neji also made minor adjustments according to his own condition, striving to train himself as efficiently as possible.

Rock Lee and Might Guy relied on massive amounts of practice and overloaded training to strengthen themselves. Once the training volume became high enough, they could likewise achieve full-body conditioning.

However, doing so was, firstly, extremely time-consuming. It often took more than three times as long to achieve the standardized, precise, and scientific training results Neji had attained.

Secondly, overloaded training could easily leave all kinds of hidden injuries in the body. They might go unnoticed in youth, but once one grew older, the pain would become unbearable.

Thirdly, unless one was naturally suited to taijutsu training like Rock Lee and Might Guy, an ordinary person trying to imitate their freakish methods would probably cripple themselves in no time.

Just as he finished his basic fist form training, there came a knock at the door. Wiping away his sweat, Neji got up and headed to the front courtyard to answer it. Standing outside was a middle-aged ninja from the Hyuga Clan.

Neji politely spoke first. "Greetings, Lord Hio. Please take care of me from now on!"

Hyuga Hio nodded in return. "No need to be so formal, Neji. Since the Clan Head has arranged this, I will teach you with utmost care."

The two then went to the backyard. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Hyuga Hio formally began teaching Gentle Fist.

Hyuga Hio said sternly, "Gentle Fist is a taijutsu that sends one's Chakra into an enemy's body, thereby damaging their Chakra pathways—the Chakra Pathway System—and internal organs."

"Only when used together with our clan's Kekkei Genkai—the Byakugan—can it display its true power. Internal organs cannot be trained, so no matter how powerful a ninja is, being struck by Gentle Fist is often fatal."

Thus, our clan's Gentle Fist has always borne the title of Konoha's strongest taijutsu!

Gentle Fist training can roughly be divided into the following stages: First, memorize the human Chakra Pathway System. Second, release the Chakra within your body from your palms, fists, or fingers. Third, use the Byakugan to guide the Chakra released from your body into the enemy's Chakra Pathway System.

After saying that, Hyuga Hio took out a chart and handed it to Neji. In a deep voice, he said, "This is the Human Meridian Chart. It marks the functions corresponding to different meridians. Neji, memorize it thoroughly in your spare time."

After explaining the chart, Jonin Hio began explaining how to release Chakra from the body. "To release Chakra from your body, the prerequisite is that you possess Chakra. The more Chakra you have, the easier it is to release it."

"Second, you need a certain level of Chakra control, enough to gather the Chakra in your body into your arms."

"Third, you must open the Chakra pathways in your arms to facilitate the flow of Chakra."

"Finally, you must send the Chakra flowing into your arms out of your body in one burst through the acupuncture points in your palms, fists, or fingers."

As Hyuga Hio imparted this knowledge, he also demonstrated it personally. As he spoke of releasing it in one burst, Hyuga Hio struck out with his palm and hit a large tree in the backyard.

Neji inwardly thought, Oh no. Sure enough, wood chips flew from behind the tree, while the spot struck by his palm remained completely intact.

Neji was astonished by the power of Gentle Fist. He knew this was a fantastical world, but witnessing such supernatural energy with his own eyes still left him deeply shocked.

At the same time, his heart ached over the destruction of his family's tree. He could only silently mourn for it. Farewell, tree. May you rest in peace.

Neji's comprehension was excellent. Combined with the help of memories from his previous life and Hyuga Hio's genuinely patient and meticulous explanations—

In just three days, Neji had already grasped the principles and precautions of Gentle Fist. All that remained was long-term hard training, as well as the most fundamental Chakra extraction, Chakra control, opening of the body's Chakra pathways, and accumulation of knowledge.

After seeing Hyuga Hio off, Neji resumed his stay-at-home routine. At this stage, all plans were empty talk. Improving his own strength and accumulating knowledge about this world were the highest priorities.

On the third day after visiting the Clan Head, the Clan Head arranged for someone to deliver books on basic medical knowledge to Neji's residence.

There were more than a dozen books, including basic texts on human anatomy, an encyclopedia of plants, an encyclopedia of minerals, common illnesses and their treatments, Medical Ninjutsu Beginner's Guide, and other foundational materials.

Checking the authors, Neji discovered that several books listed Tsunade's name. Tsunade, one of the Three Ninja, truly possessed qualities worthy of admiration.

For the next period of time, nothing eventful happened. Neji spent eight months cycling through basic fist forms, Gentle Fist, Chakra extraction, medicinal baths, and studying foundational medical knowledge in the backyard.

It was not until enrollment at the Ninja Academy that Neji's closed-off training was interrupted.

After nearly a year of grueling training, the results were gratifying. At only six years old, Neji's Chakra reserves had already reached the standard of an ordinary Genin. Due to his powerful spiritual energy, his Chakra control far surpassed that of a Genin and was basically on par with an ordinary Jonin.

Chakra control exercises such as walking on water and climbing trees were easily mastered by Neji.

The Byakugan's observation range had reached one and a half kilometers, approaching the level of an ordinary Hyuga Clan Jonin.

His progress in microscopic vision was equally obvious. With perhaps another year of growth, he would be able to observe cell-level objects with the naked eye alone, which would be of great help to future research.

His progress in Gentle Fist was equally considerable. With Jonin-level Chakra control, the Chakra pathways in both his hands and feet had all been opened. Neji could now release Chakra from his hands and feet with relative ease.

Neji had also thoroughly mastered the dozen-plus medical books and made some classifications and summaries of his own. What he lacked now was practical experience. After all, theory would always remain theory; only by applying theory in practice could it become truth.

During this time, Neji had also secretly tried learning Naruto's signature ninjutsu, the Rasengan. His progress had been smooth, but it consumed too much Chakra. A Rasengan the size of a fist nearly drained all of Neji's Chakra, and he silently grumbled about Naruto being a "cheat character."