Neji listened carefully.
These were all words of experience. They might not sound like much, but they could save lives someday.
The supply convoy stretched out in a line for roughly five or six hundred meters. With Yugito's eyesight, she couldn't see the lead carts from the rear.
After thinking it over, Yugito formed Hand Seals and created a Shadow Clone.
"Neji, you have the Byakugan. Guard the front. I'll stay at the rear, and my Shadow Clone will cover the middle."
"Understood."
Neji found Takayama Tokugawa and told him they could set out. Then he sat in the first cart, activated his Byakugan, and scanned the distance.
The convoy moved slowly. The gates of Kumogakure gradually faded behind them, while the vegetation lining the road grew increasingly lush.
It was Neji's first time traveling far from home, and he was curious about this Shinobi World.
He activated his Byakugan and watched everything within three miles.
A few hours passed, and Neji began to feel bored.
The Byakugan's vision was black and white, with little to admire. Looking through it for too long inevitably strained his eyes.
After thinking it over, Neji imitated Yugito and created a Shadow Clone to keep watch over their surroundings. He lay down on the cart roof and took out the Third Raikage's training notes, silently studying the nature transformation of Lightning Release Chakra.
[You are researching Lightning Release Chakra Nature Transformation. Your related insights have increased.]
Neji had three small goals for his Lightning Release studies.
First, learn Lightning Release Chakra Mode and improve his physical abilities across the board.
Second, develop powerful Lightning Release Ninjutsu, ideally "Kirin," the pinnacle of large-scale attacks, and either Black Lightning or Purple Electricity, the pinnacle of nature transformation.
Third, develop a Kekkei Genkai centered on Lightning Release Chakra.
These three goals were difficult, but they were also within reach.
He had already become proficient in Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
There were no more than three people in all of Kumogakure who could surpass him in it.
As for the second goal, the five elemental releases were much the same at their core: chakra nature transformation and shape transformation.
As long as he mastered Black Lightning or Purple Electricity, he could follow the examples set by Kakashi, who developed Chidori Stream, and Sasuke, who refined it. By retracing their steps, Neji could create powerful Lightning Release Ninjutsu of his own.
Neji had no idea how Purple Electricity had been developed.
But the Third Raikage's Black Lightning was documented, a precious treasure of Kumogakure.
Given Neji's standing in the village, getting his hands on it had been effortless.
The most troublesome goal was developing a Lightning Release Kekkei Genkai.
Darui's Storm Release was one of the few Lightning Release Kekkei Genkai in the Shinobi World. Whether he had inherited it through his bloodline or developed it himself was still unknown.
If it was the former, Neji had no way forward. If it was the latter, things would be simple.
Neji focused intently on the notes left by the Third Raikage. By the time he had read half of them, he found himself admiring Kakashi even more.
Though the notes had been written by the Third Raikage, they embodied the efforts of countless predecessors.
Black Lightning was the Third Raikage's innovation, built on the achievements of those who came before him.
Kakashi, on the other hand, was different.
Konoha had no proper Lightning Release secret techniques. Kakashi had developed Purple Electricity, a technique on par with Black Lightning, entirely through his own efforts.
If Kakashi hadn't been born a commoner without an exceptional bloodline, his potential wouldn't have been held back. His achievements could have been limitless.
"Wait, Black Lightning isn't just a Lightning Release Chakra nature transformation. It also contains a trace of Yang Release power?"
Neji's gaze sharpened.
In the age of myths, the Sage of Six Paths had used Yin-Yang Release to create the Nine Tailed Beasts from nothing.
Yin Release referred to the power of Yin, rooted in spiritual energy that governed imagination. It could give form to what had none.
Yang Release referred to the power of Yang, rooted in the physical energy that governed life. It could give life to form.
Every human possessed Yin and Yang energy, but not everyone could use Yin-Yang Release.
The Hyuga clan was a typical Yin Release bloodline clan. Its members did not possess Yang Release power.
But Neji was an exception. After soaking in secret medicine for two years, his constitution had changed, giving him a small amount of Yang Release affinity.
Neji had once used Chakra Paper to test his chakra proportions. Yin was dominant, followed by Fire, Water, and Earth, then Lightning, while Yang was the least.
But no matter how little there was, as long as he had some, it was enough.
"In theory, I can learn anything that's possible to learn. Even if there's only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, I'll learn it."
Once Neji had made up his mind, he sat cross-legged on the cart roof and began trying to develop Black Lightning.
A wisp of blue-white current appeared at his fingertips. At times it raged wildly; at others, it settled into a gentle flow. The attendants nearby watched in amazement, exclaiming, "Ninja Lord!"
[You tried to infuse Lightning Release Chakra with Yang Release Chakra. You failed, but your related insights increased.] [You tried to infuse Yang Release Chakra with Lightning Release Chakra. You failed, but your related insights increased.] ...
As the sun sank below the horizon, the supply convoy made camp.
A hundred carts formed a large circle, and the group pitched their tents in the middle.
After setting a number of traps nearby, Neji sat alone beside the campfire and continued studying Black Lightning.
He learned something from every attempt. Neji figured it would take no more than two days to develop the technique. After that, he could improve it through battle instead of working so hard.
"Still training?"
Yugito suddenly sat down beside him. She took a rice ball from her Ninja Tool Pouch and chewed it slowly.
"What is it? I'm listening."
Neji manipulated the Yang Release Chakra and Lightning Release Chakra, trying to fuse them, and asked expressionlessly.
Seeing how hard he was working, Yugito couldn't help but feel a little unconvinced.
Hard work wasn't always useful. Ninety-nine percent perspiration was no match for one percent inspiration.
Still, she didn't say anything to discourage Neji.
"Law and order are good in the Land of Lightning, so nothing dangerous is likely to happen. But once we leave, that's another matter. On the way to the Land of Grass, we'll pass through the Land of Iron, the Land of Frost, and the Land of the Waterfall. Those little countries are pretty chaotic."
Yugito lay back on the grass, one leg bent and the other resting across it. Chewing her rice ball, she spoke with an unusually serious expression.
"Oh, I understand."
Neji had already considered all this before setting out.
The Five Great Nations hunted bandits year after year, but never managed to wipe them out completely.
Even so, their law and order were far better than that of the smaller ninja villages.
Unless they had no choice, wandering ninja, bandits, and rogue ninja wouldn't enter the Five Great Nations.
The smaller nations had weaker ninja villages. That was where they thrived.
"As long as you know what to expect."
Yugito gazed at the silver moon high in the sky, then suddenly nudged Neji with her toe.
"What are you doing?"
"Neji, I heard the village elders say that long ago, there was no moon in the Shinobi World. The moon we see now was made by people."
Hearing that, Neji turned to look at Yugito with a faintly amused smile. "Come on. You believe that?"
"You... Who said I believed it? Did I say that?"
Before you continue