Luck

"You don't understand Danzo."

Uchiha Siming's voice carried a matter-of-fact tone: "He inherited the Second Hokage's iron fist, but none of the Second Hokage's compassion. In his eyes, the village is extremely important, but who's inside the village doesn't matter at all."

"All he wants is a vessel to realize his ambition of dominating the shinobi world—under the name of Konoha."

From start to finish.

In Danzo's eyes, there was only himself and the name "Konoha."

As for who lives or dies—it doesn't matter.

"Unforgivable!"

Uchiha Itachi's eyes turned cold and fierce: "I will never let Danzo go! No, I can't do this. This is the peace Shisui fought so hard to protect... I... must not destroy it."

He thought of Shisui.

His voice was hoarse, the hatred churning in his eyes like drifting smoke, with a trace of restraint and clarity buried deep in his gaze.

"Itachi, don't worry about this. When the time comes, Shisui will come to you on his own."

Uchiha Siming waved his hand and turned to leave.

This trip had been a huge gain for him. He had obtained the Indra Chakra; awakening the Rinnegan was only a matter of time. Moreover, his Dojutsu Power had already reached the limit of the Mangekyo Sharingan, his ocular power as deep and vast as an abyss!

When he got home.

He couldn't help but pause, startled: "Neji, why are you still here? And Asuma, what the hell do you know about the Hyuga Gentle Fist? Just teaching nonsense over here."

He had told Neji to go home on his own earlier, not wanting this matter to affect him.

Asuma Sarutobi gave an awkward laugh: "I mean, I know a little something. I just didn't expect Neji's talent to be this good—his future achievements won't be lower than mine!"

He had come to train in Sage Mode.

Without Siming by his side, he really didn't dare to practice on his own.

"Teacher, the Hyuga Clan's internal tournament is coming up soon. I want to train a bit longer."

Hyuga Neji wiped the sweat from his forehead, his young face carrying a stubborn determination.

Like a bird struggling to break free from its bonds.

He furrowed his brow: "Teacher, for some reason, my Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms always falls just short. I can't seem to master it completely."

Even with the meridian chart and the teacher's demonstration.

He was always just a little off.

"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms?!"

Asuma Sarutobi was stunned, his mouth hanging open: "Isn't that a secret technique of the Main Family? You, you're saying Big Brother taught it to you? Th-this... how is that possible?!"

He wasn't like Neji, still just a child.

As the Hokage's son, he knew all too well what this meant. If the Uchiha Clan was discovered stealing the Hyuga Clan's secret techniques, it would inevitably provoke the Hyuga Clan's fury. The two great clans would have no way to smooth things over!

Even the Hokage wouldn't be able to suppress it.

"What are you getting all worked up about? Neji figured this out on his own."

Uchiha Siming paid no attention to Asuma's shocked expression. "Come on, Neji, show me your form."

"Yes!"

Neji immediately performed the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

Indeed, the first part had no issues, but at the very end, Neji's Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms always lacked fluidity, as if something was missing.

But he was an Uchiha.

He really didn't understand the Hyuga Clan's secret techniques.

"Hmm, Neji, hang on a second. I'll go find someone to ask."

Siming rubbed his chin, and his figure vanished in an instant.

A minute later, he returned, accompanied by a masked figure. Even the figure's eyes were covered with a special material, making them impossible to see.

"Alright, tell me."

Siming said to the masked man beside him:

"Why can't Neji's Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms ever achieve full mastery?"

The masked man's voice was calm and matter-of-fact, pinpointing the issue with uncanny precision: "Because the Branch Family's Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms is inherently an incomplete version. That's why it's harder to master, especially in the final stages of training."

"In the last twelve palms starting from the Tanzhong acupoint, although they are also delivered as palm strikes, the chakra output must increase by one part with each successive palm. Only then can the technique combine softness with hardness and seal the enemy's chakra."

"Otherwise, if the chakra output is insufficient, not only will the speed be too slow, but the enemy will also find it easier to break through the seal!"

He listed the key points as if reciting from memory.

Hyuga Neji understood in an instant. He immediately performed the technique again. This time, his Gentle Fist carried softness within hardness, accompanied by a whistling wind, its pressure steadily rising!

After finishing the set.

He felt completely at ease, the pent-up frustration in his heart entirely dispelled!

He bowed respectfully to Siming, his tone utterly sincere: "Thank you, teacher!"

If not for his teacher, he didn't know how long it would take to master the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

"Alright, I understand. You may withdraw."

Uchiha Siming waved his hand in satisfaction.

"Yes, Lord Siming!" The masked man smirked, his figure swiftly vanishing into the dense forest.

"Tch... that guy... he's definitely Hyuga..."

Asuma Sarutobi's voice stammered, his mouth agape in shock. Before he could finish, Siming cut him off with a glance, and he quickly fell silent.

But the shock in his heart refused to fade.

Damn!

That guy was intimately familiar with Hyuga secret techniques and wielded them so sharply—he was clearly a Hyuga clan expert. From the look of it, he was obviously under an Illusion Technique control. The big shot was incredible, actually controlling a Hyuga clan member just to teach Neji!

He'd always thought the Hyuga clan's system was bizarre.

So, far from seeing it as wrong, he actually agreed wholeheartedly.

"Neji, you're really lucky."

He patted Neji's shoulder with a complicated expression:

"You've got a good teacher. Study hard."

If he'd met a teacher as good as Siming when he was young, would he have mastered Sage Mode by now?

Neji didn't quite understand, but still flashed a bright smile.

"Don't waste words on nonsense."

Siming cast a faint glance at Asuma: "Come here. Today, you need to meditate for at least two hours. That's your limit."

The power of natural energy was too strong. For someone like Asuma, who basically had no chance of learning it, two hours was the limit.

With that, he used a Shadow Clone, then turned and walked away himself. Teaching Asuma to use a Shadow Clone was enough.

"Big bro, where are you going?"

Asuma was startled. Usually at this time, Siming loved lying on the roof sunbathing.

"To the Uchiha clan. Something's going to happen today."

Something happening at the Uchiha clan?

Asuma didn't think much of it. He nodded and resumed his training.

But no sooner had Siming stepped out than a figure rushed over urgently: "Siming! Hurry back to the clan! The Uchiha clan is in an uproar right now—stop coming to the Senju clan every day!"

Uchiha Yashiro fumed, his beard bristling, but he was helpless.

What could he do, though?

Siming's father had been his close friend. How could he ignore this talentless child? If he kept skipping clan meetings, there would surely be complaints within the clan, and it would seriously damage Siming's future reputation.

Just like Itachi!