Eight Trigrams · Sixty-Four Palms

"Withdraw, Liuhuo. Keep a close watch on Neji's movements from now on."

Hyuga Hiashi waved his hand.

"Yes, Clan Head!"

Hyuga Liuhuo bowed his head respectfully and retreated with careful steps. Compared to being a Branch Family member, he was more like a docile dog. Watching this, a hint of satisfaction flickered in Hyuga Hiashi's calm, unruffled eyes.

A mere Branch Family member—the reason he could learn secret techniques like the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

It wasn't just because of his talent, but because Hyuga Liuhuo was obedient enough.

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After leaving the courtyard and entering his own home, Hyuga Liuhuo finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Looks like I'll have to keep a tighter watch on Neiz from now on. Not just watch—if I notice any increase in Neji's strength, I must report it to the Clan Head immediately!"

His eyes turned cold as he muttered to himself: "What the Clan Head wants is just an ordinary, mediocre Hyuga Neji!"

As a subordinate.

His most important skill was gauging the intentions of his superiors, and that was precisely why he had reached his current position.

And now.

A better opportunity for promotion had appeared before him!

But suddenly, his vision went dark. He instinctively looked up, and his eyes filled with terror: "Uchiha Siming, how are you here!"

Yet the moment his voice fell.

The wariness in his eyes vanished without a trace before a pair of crimson, shuriken-shaped Mangekyo Sharingan.

"Lord Siming, what are your orders?"

"Come, demonstrate the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms for me, and write down its key points and cautions."

Uchiha Siming chuckled lightly. Before the Mangekyo Sharingan, a mere Hyuga Branch Family member was even more obedient than a dog leashed by chains.

"Yes, Lord Siming."

Hyuga Liuhuo's expression was utterly reverent. He immediately began the demonstration, then recorded the crucial points and meridian diagrams of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms in painstaking detail. Any Hyuga Branch Family member.

With enough talent, could absolutely learn it.

Siming then asked: "What other secret techniques do you know?"

"Reporting to you, Lord, I know no others." Hyuga Liuhuo's expression was deeply respectful.

Uchiha Siming was silent for a moment: "Damn, it's not just the previous life that's cutthroat—the Naruto world is just as competitive. Even the dogs compete harder, selling out the entire Branch Family for a single jutsu."

"Alright, get lost. You'll forget all of today's memories."

With that, he vanished like a black shadow into the vast night, as if he had never been there.

The next day, Si Hour.

The sun shone down on the Senju Clan's compound, onto Uchiha Siming's home. He lay sleeping on the bay window. The sunlight didn't wake him; instead, it made him sleep even more comfortably.

"Teacher, are you here?"

Hyuga Neji couldn't find him and called out, waking Uchiha Siming, who sat up with a mess of tangled hair.

"It's Neji, huh."

Spotting the breakfast in Hyuga Neji's hands, he took it with satisfaction and bit into a fried dough stick: "Almost forgot I was supposed to teach you today."

Hyuga Neji: "······"

In truth, he hadn't held out any hope anyway. After all, the Hyuga Clan's secret techniques—how could his teacher, being an Uchiha, possibly know them?

If he could teach him some taijutsu, that was already more than enough.

"Wait a moment, I've got something to do first."

With that, his figure vanished in an instant.

In the distance, Hyuga Liuhuo watched cautiously, telescope in hand: "Whether I earn the Clan Head's trust depends on this. I have to keep a close eye on Hyuga Neji!"

But the moment he raised the telescope, a pair of crimson Mangekyo Sharingan appeared in his field of view.

"You, who are you!"

He screamed in terror. Just as he tried to lower the telescope to see the enemy's true face, his consciousness sank into a stupor.

"Tch, NPCs don't need to spout useless lines. Just follow the script and it'd be easier."

The crimson Mangekyo Sharingan spun gently. Uchiha Siming, dangling the fried dough stick, gave a garbled command: "Nothing unusual happened today. Neji only learned some basic taijutsu."

"Yes... Lord Siming."

Whoosh—!

A sound of air being split, and Uchiha Siming was back at Neji's side.

"Let's go, Neji. Today I'll teach you something simple first."

Uchiha Siming chuckled lightly. After a quick wash, he went downstairs.

The Senju Clan's compound was now vacant.

So any place is an excellent training ground.

Hearing Siming's words, Hyuga Neji had already assumed that his master didn't actually know the Hyuga Clan's secret techniques—how else could he call them "simple"?

"Watch closely, Neji."

Uchiha Siming took a stance, his expression turning serious. In an instant, an aura of natural ease, blending hardness and softness, emanated from him: "This is the first Gentle Fist technique I'll teach you!"

Moving like a startled rabbit, still like a maiden—every motion carried the essence of hardness and softness intertwined.

When fierce, it was like Mount Tai collapsing in a fist!

When gentle and still, it carried a natural, effortless force, leaving Hyuga Neji dumbfounded. He stared wide-eyed in disbelief: "This... how is this possible? That's... the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. You really know it!"

His heart pounded wildly.

This... was what his teacher called "simple"?

This was a secret technique he could only dream of mastering right now!

And yet here it was, laid out completely before his eyes.