Use the Mind Transfer Jutsu on Akimichi Denji

Hyuga Hinata noticed Hyuga Neji had returned, but she did not dare to approach him.

Furthermore, with Yamanaka Ino standing beside Akimichi Denji, she felt even more hesitant.

Akimichi Denji noticed this and said to Hyuga Neji, "Be nicer to your sister."

Hyuga Neji looked at Hyuga Hinata for a moment, then shook his head, "She is of the Main House; she should not be so cowardly."

Akimichi Denji stopped trying to persuade him.

"Denji!" Uzumaki Naruto, having finished his match, spotted Denji and walked over to greet him.

"Neji!" Rock Lee, in his green jumpsuit, saw Hyuga Neji and walked back as well, "You're back! You recovered so quickly!"

"Your taijutsu just now was excellent! When will you spar with me?" Rock Lee noticed Akimichi Denji standing to the side; he had been quite impressed by Akimichi Denji's taijutsu earlier and was now eager for a challenge.

Akimichi Denji licked his lips, "Can you open the Eight Inner Gates yet?"

Rock Lee was stunned, not expecting him to know about the "Eight Inner Gates."

He opened his mouth in a grin, revealing his white teeth:

"Of course, I am Might Guy-sensei's outstanding student."

He hadn't opened the Eight Inner Gates during his spar with Uzumaki Naruto just now; he hadn't even taken off his training weights.

But if it were Akimichi Denji—recalling the immense power displayed during the recent match—Rock Lee's eyes lit up. He had wanted to step onto the field and face him earlier, but unfortunately, Akimichi Denji had been busy taking Hyuga Neji to get treated.

"Can you still fight?"

"Of course I can."

"No!" A short-haired girl walked out from behind them; it was Tenten.

"The Eight Inner Gates is a secret weapon Might Guy-sensei taught you; you cannot use it casually."

Rock Lee nodded, "Indeed. Let's spar in private later!"

Tenten slapped her forehead, feeling as though she had spoken in vain.

Akimichi Denji agreed to the proposal; it would be much easier to ask Rock Lee about the Eight Inner Gates in private.

The Eight Inner Gates was a forbidden technique recorded in the Scroll of Seals, and only Might Guy's lineage had carried it forward.

He was extremely interested in this forbidden technique.

After school, the group dispersed.

The setting sun melted into gold, plating Konoha in a layer of warm orange-red.

The sunset was beautiful, but Yamanaka Ino's mood was not.

Yamanaka Ino looked at Hyuga Hinata walking beside her and pouted in dissatisfaction.

On the way home from school this afternoon, it wasn't just their Ino-Shika-Cho trio anymore; Hyuga Hinata, Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and others had joined.

Because Uchiha Sasuke was following along, Haruno Sakura was naturally by his side as well.

That would have been fine, but why were those second-years here too?

Yamanaka Ino glanced at Rock Lee and Hyuga Neji, who were following behind.

Rock Lee was like a plaster that couldn't be shaken off, following closely just a few steps behind Haruno Sakura. His gaze seemed glued to Sakura, and he appeared to be silently muttering words like "youth" and "passion."

Further back, Hyuga Neji maintained a near-rigid distance, walking silently behind and to the side of Hyuga Hinata.

Now, it was even more impossible to spend time alone with Denji-kun.

Yamanaka Ino sighed.

Akimichi Denji watched Yamanaka Ino sigh and rubbed his chin.

"What is Ino worried about?"

Yamanaka Ino hadn't expected Akimichi Denji to ask so suddenly. She stammered for a moment before speaking her heart plainly: "I want to train with Denji-kun too."

"But is the Yamanaka clan's soul technique still more important?"

Yamanaka Ino pursed her lips, unable to refute that.

The ninjas of the Yamanaka clan were intelligence ninjas; their entire strength lay in soul techniques like the Mind Transfer Jutsu, so the requirements for taijutsu were not high.

For them, mastering the Yamanaka Secret Technique was the top priority, far higher than taijutsu.

Therefore, she had no reason to train with Akimichi Denji.

"How about this: you master your soul technique, I master the Akimichi Secret Technique, and we can exchange notes later."

Yamanaka Ino's eyes lit up.

Exchange notes! Wouldn't that mean she could use the Mind Transfer Jutsu on Denji-kun?

Even if she couldn't, the two of them exchanging secret techniques in private...

A blush crept onto Yamanaka Ino's face.

"Alright! For the sake of Denji-kun, I will study hard!"

"Use the Mind Transfer Jutsu on Akimichi Denji!" Once this thought appeared in her mind, it took root and could not be erased.

"Ding! Congratulations on completing Yamanaka Ino's wish [Use the Mind Transfer Jutsu on Akimichi Denji], Wish Point +1."

Hyuga Neji observed all of this with his cold Byakugan, thinking to himself: Hajiden, is this actually a honey trap?

Hyuga Hinata had originally been in high spirits about going to Akimichi Denji's house for training, but with Hyuga Neji tagging along, she now felt somewhat at a loss.

How close they used to be!

Ever since that mark appeared on Neji's forehead, a pathetic, thick barrier had stood between her and him.

"Wasn't Hyuga Tokukun supposed to accompany me today?"

Neji froze, his face showing a mix of joy and desolation. He moved his lips, but made no sound.

His demeanor became respectful as he clearly called out, "Young Mistress..."

"Since I was heading to the Ninja Academy anyway, I spoke with Uncle Tokukun and told him I would be the one to escort you from now on."

He naturally omitted the reason involving Akimichi Denji.

This was the first time Neji had spoken to Hinata today.

His attitude was so respectful that it only made Hyuga Hinata feel even more constrained.

Yet, Hinata could find no fault in it.

Such polite greetings were necessary because the rules of the Hyuga Clan were strict.

Whether Main House or Branch House, every word and action was governed by protocol.

Minor infractions meant fines; major ones meant a strike from the Caged Bird.

How wonderful it would be if they could return to their childhood.

The group, each harboring their own thoughts, walked toward the Akimichi Clan compound.

Among the dense clusters of buildings in Konoha, the Akimichi Clan's estate appeared exceptionally imposing and grand.

The style of the massive Akimichi estate was purely utilitarian, a stark contrast to the refined Japanese gardens that emphasized elegance and were filled with flowers and trees.

One could hardly find meticulously pruned ornamental plants here, nor was there any deliberate attempt to create a picturesque atmosphere of birdsong and fragrance.

The courtyards were vast, with ground made mostly of packed, level earth or easy-to-clean stone slabs; everything was designed for spaciousness, durability, and ease of movement.

The reason for this style, so different from the delicate or elegant aesthetics of other ninja clans, was self-evident: everything was tailored to accommodate the massive physiques of the clansmen.

Lacking flowers, birds, or trees for decoration, one could instead see a free-range chicken or two wandering about from time to time.

Akimichi Doza saw a group of children entering the Akimichi estate together and couldn't help but stop; if they hadn't been a bunch of little kids, he would have thought someone was coming to cause trouble.

It wasn't until he saw Akimichi Denji leading the way that he realized who it was.

"Nephew, bringing classmates home to play?"

Akimichi Denji looked up and scanned him, still having a faint impression of this man's face.

Back when he had just returned from the Land of Rain, this man seemed to be among the elders who opposed his return to the clan's inner territory.

Yet, at Tsunade's apprenticeship banquet, he was also the one clapping and cheering with joy.

Akimichi Denji was not surprised; there were many in the Akimichi Clan who had previously opposed his return.

Akimichi Isshin was just one of them, belonging to the group that wasn't particularly bright.

Some of the smarter ones, after he became Tsunade's apprentice, no longer held objections, much like the Akimichi Doza standing before him.

But judging by the intelligence levels of the Akimichi Clan, more of his peers likely still held their previous attitudes.

After all, deep-seated notions are the hardest to change.

Pondering this, Akimichi Denji nodded at Akimichi Doza as a form of acknowledgment.

His solution for this type of person was simple: use his fists to strike, and in the field the Akimichi Clan excelled at most, beat them into submission.

Naturally, they wouldn't nag anymore.

Akimichi Doza nodded, full of smiles, and watched as Akimichi Denji brushed past him, a look of deep gratification spreading across his face as he sighed:

"Denji's attitude toward his elders is neither servile nor overbearing, and he is disciplined and polite; toward his peers, he is able to befriend the scions of major ninja clans, care for his colleagues, and unite his equals. At the same time, he possesses great strength and has been taken as a disciple by Lady Tsunade. Such a prodigy, possessing both courage and strategy, is truly the good fortune of our Akimichi Clan."