A gentle breeze drifted through the forest. Now and then, the roar of a beast or the chirp of a bird rang out, making the surroundings seem even quieter.
Feng Yao darted through the forest.
"Host, you've gotten even better at luring in ignorant young boys and girls. Didn't someone once refuse the system's Beauty Pill and Xiaoyao Wise Heart Body?"
Hearing the system's sarcasm, Feng Yao felt a little embarrassed. He couldn't help it—he'd come around to them after all.
"Come on, System, I admit I was wrong, okay? Can you stop bringing that up? Every time I recruit someone, you say the same thing. I can't take it anymore!"
Seeing Feng Yao back down, the system gave a haughty snort and fell silent.
Not long afterward, more and more teams came under pursuit by Konoha's Anbu.
Feng Yao was a little worried about Zaku and Kin. Not because he genuinely cared whether they were safe, but because all three of them had to pass this stage together. So he asked Katsuyu Sage to help track them down.
"Sure. But there seem to be some Konoha Ninja up ahead."
Hearing this, Feng Yao stopped. He hid in a large tree, preparing to observe the situation, when—
"Stop hiding. Come out."
Feng Yao's pupils narrowed. He hadn't expected his opponent to spot him as soon as he arrived. Just as he was about to step out—
"Hey, aren't you Neji, last year's top rookie? Could I get your autograph?"
A young woman's voice rang out. There was someone else nearby, so Feng Yao quietly shrank back into hiding.
He got a clear look at them. It was the moment Neji's team ran into Shikamaru's. He'd arrived just in time.
If he had the chance, Feng Yao would be willing to poach a few Konoha Ninja for his organization.
Unfortunately, there was little chance of that happening. They had been steeped in Konoha's influence since childhood and would never betray their village.
"There's someone else here? I didn't notice them before."
The veins around Neji's eyes bulged as he activated his Byakugan. He immediately spotted Feng Yao in the tree.
"Not bad. The Byakugan's reconnaissance ability is terrifying. It makes me want Kakashi's eyes, too," Feng Yao thought to himself as he obediently climbed down.
Everyone in Shikamaru's team was startled. They hadn't noticed anyone there at all.
"That's one of the Sound Ninja from before, right? He seems to be their leader. His two companions aren't here, though," Ino whispered to her teammates.
"You're not thinking of trying to take his scroll, are you? He's the guy who took out a Genin in one move during the first test," Shikamaru said, already dreading the hassle.
"So what? Where else are we going to find someone weaker than us? We have the numbers, and he's a Sound Ninja."
Shikamaru's team discussed how to take Feng Yao's scroll, each chiming in with an opinion. Neji, however, watched Feng Yao with a grave expression.
Unlike Shikamaru and the others, Neji could see the flow of a person's chakra with his Byakugan. He could tell that the flow and amount of Feng Yao's chakra were nothing like those of an ordinary Genin.
Encountering a powerful opponent for the first time in a while excited him.
"Let's have a match. Whoever loses will hand over their team's scroll. How about it?"
Feng Yao regarded Neji with interest, but the offer held no appeal for him.
He already had a scroll, and Neji couldn't possibly beat him. But Neji still resented the Main Branch. Could Feng Yao use that to draw him into his own ranks?
"I'll fight you, but I want to change the terms. I already have a scroll, so beating you won't benefit me at all."
Feng Yao's low voice came from beneath his bandages. Ino cried out in frustration, "How come he's already got a scroll, while we still don't have one?!"
Neji frowned. "What do you want from me?"
"I need you to do me a favor sometime in the future. I haven't decided what it'll be yet, but I promise I won't ask you to do anything against your will. Deal?"
Neji considered it briefly, then took up a fighting stance, signaling his agreement.
He immediately attacked. Neji specialized in Gentle Fist, Konoha's strongest Taijutsu style. It was a fist technique that directly targeted the chakra pathway system. Because it could damage the internal organs, even a glancing blow could prove fatal.
Neji struck with a punch, but Feng Yao had no intention of taking it head-on. Neji was using Gentle Fist. If he had been using Strong Fist, like Rock Lee, Feng Yao could have endured the physical damage with Iron Body. Against this technique, it was better to keep his distance and wear Neji down.
Seeing Feng Yao retreat, Neji's gaze sharpened. He wasn't about to give his opponent a chance and quickly pursued him.
"Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
A vast Eight Trigrams diagram seemed to appear before them. Neji's hands moved at tremendous speed, each strike aimed at one of the body's pressure points. If he landed a hit, he could seal his opponent's chakra.
Unfortunately for him, his opponent was Feng Yao. In an instant, Feng Yao discerned which pressure points Neji was targeting and how he was striking. He deflected every one of Neji's subsequent blows with perfect timing. The longer Neji fought, the more alarmed he became.
"Could he have sparred with one of the experts in the Hyuga Clan? How does he know so much about my Taijutsu?"
Ino was astonished. She shook Shikamaru by the shoulder.
"No way! Even Neji can't beat that guy? Neji was called a genius last year!"
Shikamaru shook his head. "No."
He pointed at Feng Yao, his eyes tinged with fear. "Neji can't be called a genius anymore. That Sound Ninja he's fighting is the real genius."
"Huh? Why do you say that?"
"You might not have noticed, but when that Sound Ninja first fought Neji, it was obvious they'd never fought before. In other words, he didn't know the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist. Even when Neji started using the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, he initially retreated in a panic."
"But after seeing Neji's first strike, that guy immediately took control of the fight. He completely analyzed Neji's attack patterns. That means he figured out the Hyuga Clan's secret technique, passed down from generation to generation, in just a few seconds of combat!"
"That guy's terrifying. We'd better get out of here." After explaining with a grave expression, Shikamaru grabbed Ino and the other teammate and started to leave.
After completing all sixty-four strikes, Neji was panting slightly. He couldn't believe that, despite training so hard for so long, he hadn't even managed to touch the other man's clothes.
Feng Yao punched Neji in the stomach, then stopped a few meters away and sighed softly.
"You can't beat me yet. Give up."
Neji clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his flesh. At last, he slammed a fist into the ground. He felt utterly helpless, both against fate and against his own lack of strength.
"Everything is predetermined. A person's abilities and fate are decided from birth, just like the Main Branch and the Branch House. That man and I are no different."
He lowered his head to the ground, his body trembling with pain.
Feng Yao walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"People can control their own lives. They aren't puppets. Your future won't end here, Neji Hyuga."
After hearing those words, Neji stopped trembling. He looked up at the bandaged man and was about to say something when Feng Yao's expression suddenly darkened. His presence turned terrifying, and Neji saw nothing but endless killing intent in his eyes.
"Sorry, Neji. I have something else to deal with. Let's call this a draw."
Without waiting for Neji to reply, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique and vanished, leaving Neji alone, frozen in place.
At the outskirts of the exam grounds—
"Mm, meatballs taste best with red bean soup. By the time I'm finished, those Anbu should have taken care of things, too. I wonder what Lord Hokage was thinking. He's managed to offend all the neighboring countries!"
Anko said worriedly as she ate meatballs and sipped her red bean soup.
"Something terrible has happened, Chief Examiner Anko." A bespectacled Konoha Ninja hurried over to report.
"What happened?"
"We found three bodies. The manner of their deaths was bizarre. Please come take a look."
The Konoha Ninja led her to a place where a Buddha statue stood.
All the belongings and exam credentials had been taken from the three bodies, and their faces had been melted away. It was Orochimaru's Face Copying Technique, a ruthless jutsu that allowed him to steal another person's appearance.
"This jutsu... It's him! What's he doing here? This is bad! He must have already dealt with the Anbu Ninja who went in to assassinate him." Anko immediately turned to the Ninja beside her.
"Quick, report this to Lord Hokage. This matter is of the utmost importance."
Before you continue