Ambush on the Return Journey

At that moment, Mifune noticed the chakra blade at Neji's waist and asked curiously, "Young friend, are you also skilled in swordsmanship?"

"Senior Mifune, I've only just begun training in swordsmanship—I'm hardly worth mentioning."

Neji said this with some unease.

Mifune had once defeated Edo Hanzo; in terms of swordsmanship, he could be called a master of the highest order.

There were not a few whose strength surpassed Mifune's, but those who surpassed him in swordsmanship—if not nonexistent—were certainly few and far between.

"Let me see how your training is coming along."

Hearing this, Neji did not refuse.

If Mifune could offer even a hint of guidance, his swordsmanship would surely improve by leaps and bounds.

In the later stages of the original story, facing the Otsutsuki from space, illusions and ninjutsu lost much of their effectiveness; taijutsu was one of the few abilities that could harm them.

Swordsmanship was also taijutsu.

Neji walked into the courtyard, facing the moon hanging in the sky, and slowly began to practice his sword forms.

Two minutes later, Neji sheathed his blade and stood upright, turning to look at Mifune, waiting for his evaluation.

Mifune wore a peculiar expression as he said, "Young friend, your swordsmanship is primarily based on Cloud Hidden Style Sword Technique, but it seems to be mixed with the Gentle Fist Style Footwork of the Hyuga clan."

Hearing this, Neji raised an eyebrow slightly.

As expected of Mifune—he saw through it at a glance.

His swordsmanship was indeed mainly Cloud Hidden Style, with the essence of Gentle Fist blended in.

He had made some small progress, but was still far from reaching maturity.

Noticing Neji's expression, Mifune decisively did not delve deeper but instead shifted the topic and said.

"At your age, reaching this level is already commendable, but your blade lacks conviction. If you continue training like this, it will only become a dull sword."

"Conviction?"

"That's right."

In Mifune's mind surfaced the words Hanzo had once warned him: A person's end is not death, but the moment they lose their conviction. Even if you die on the spot, you are not a dull sword.

Those words had always spurred him on, driving him to train diligently and hone himself.

"As for the conviction of the blade, it can only be sensed, not explained. When you truly grasp it, you'll understand."

"..."

Mifune spoke in vague, clouded terms, and Neji couldn't grasp the point.

"Young friend, I'll demonstrate the sword technique you just performed. Watch closely."

"Thank you, senior!"

Neji's eyes lit up, and he directly activated his Tenseigan.

Mifune's swordsmanship was so fast that a ninja couldn't even form hand seals.

Without a Kekkei Genkai, without a secret technique physique, and not even knowing ninjutsu—how could he be faster than a ninja?

He wanted to see what was really going on.

Mifune drew the samurai sword at his waist and, under the moonlight, performed the same sword technique Neji had just used.

[You observed Mifune performing a sword technique. Related insights improved. Experience +1]

Neji noticed that the flow of chakra within Mifune's body was nothing special.

Yet the same sword technique, when executed by Mifune, carried an extra aura of benevolence.

With this aura boosting it, both speed and power far surpassed Neji's.

Was this the conviction of the blade?

A few minutes later, Mifune returned his sword to its sheath and asked, "Young friend, this is the difference between a blade with conviction and one without."

Neji pondered for a moment before replying, "Senior Mifune's swordsmanship is breathtaking. I faintly sense a certain indescribable spiritual will mixed into the technique."

Hearing this, Mifune laughed heartily and said, "Young friend, to notice a clue on your first observation is truly remarkable talent. That spirit you speak of is the conviction of the blade. I believe you'll master it within a few years."

"Senior Mifune flatters me."

The exchange with Mifune lasted late into the night, and Neji gained a great deal.

The next day at noon, after lunch, Neji bid farewell to Mifune and set out on the road back to Kumogakure.

He traveled in a hurry, pressing on without rest.

That evening, Neji set up camp on a desolate, uninhabited mountain that looked like the perfect spot for murder and body disposal.

Before sleeping, as was his habit, Neji found an open space to practice his Tenseigan and swordsmanship.

[You practiced the Tenseigan. Related insights improved. Experience +1]

[You practiced swordsmanship. Related insights improved. Experience +1]

Two hours later, Neji sheathed his blade and ducked into the tent to rest.

The night deepened, but the desolate mountain grew only quieter—even the chirping of insects fell silent, leaving only the wind howling.

Then, Neji's eyes snapped open. In his Tenseigan's field of vision, he spotted a group of figures wearing various masks encircling them from nearby.

"They're here."

Neji's expression remained calm as he drew the long blade at his waist.

At that moment, Yugito's voice suddenly rang in Neji's mind: "Neji, I want to come out."

"Wait a moment."

Neji took a red scroll from his ninja tool pouch, spread it open with both hands, and summoned the Amber Purifying Pot.

He opened the lid, and Yugito emerged from within as a ball of light.

Click!

Cat claws shot from Yugito's fingertips, and she cursed without any pretense of dignity: "Four days—if those bastards hadn't shown up, I'd have gone stir-crazy."

"One clean sweep. Take them all out."

Lightning crackled around Neji's palm with a sharp, snapping sound.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

A massive orange-red fireball roared in, its searing heat palpable even inside the tent.

Neji's blade whipped from its sheath in a flash. The gleaming edge, wreathed in lightning, slashed downward with heavy force.

The fireball, four or five meters across, split vertically and flew past on either side.

A Root ninja, kunai in hand, appeared before Neji via Body Flicker Technique, aiming for his throat.

"Pfft!"

Yugito was faster. She materialized behind the Root ninja without warning, her cat claw thrusting lightly—it pierced straight through his chest.

Only then did the Root ninja notice Yugito.

"Situation's wrong. The target has backup."

"The captain's orders: fight to the death, no retreat."

In an instant, a dense swarm of Root ninjas surged in from all directions.

Neji's Tenseigan caught over twenty chakra signatures, with even more ninjas charging in from afar.

Someone shouted loudly: "Split the battlefield. Take out the Byakugan brat first."

The moment the words fell, a Root ninja skilled in Earth Release formed hand seals and slammed his palms into the ground.

Earth Style: Earth Flow Divide!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The earth trembled violently. The ground first rose rapidly to a height of five or six meters, then suddenly split apart from the middle.

Thus, Neji and Yugito were isolated into two separate zones.

"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique."

"Wind Release: Wind Scythe Jutsu."

Two Root ninjas formed seals aimed at Neji, unleashing a combination jutsu.

Fire fed by wind—terrifying flames engulfed Neji.

Zzzz!

Like the cries of hundreds of birds, Neji suddenly appeared behind those two Root ninjas.

Schlick!

Two sounds of blades piercing flesh rang out.

The bodies crumpled limply to the ground, blood pooling into puddles.

"Now's the time!"

A hoarse shout rang out. Four Root ninjas had appeared around Neji without warning, their hand seals already complete.

"Lightning Style: Four Pillars Binding Technique!"

The next instant, a massive stone pillar erupted from each of the four positions. Lightning flickered erratically, instantly enveloping Neji's surroundings.

Neji glanced at the lightning around him, raised an eyebrow slightly, then looked up at the sky.

"Earth Release: Falling Lid!"

A green circular lid descended from above, slamming down onto the four pillars with a thunderous crash.

"This technique couldn't even suppress a Hellhound, and you're using it on me?"

As Neji spoke, he entered Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

This Lightning Release Chakra Mode was different from before. The lightning shrouding his entire body wasn't azure blue—it was a deep, dense black.