"Rotation!?"
The two of them came to their senses, but it was already too late.
A massive wave of chakra...
Neji's rotation sped up. It was the orthodox Eight Trigrams Palms: Rotation!
The two of them were immediately swept into the whirlpool of chakra, then hurled outward!
This wasn't a technique a Branch Family member should know, especially not a hopeless dead-last with terrible talent!
They flew a good five or six meters before hitting the ground with two thuds.
"Damn it, you..."
Gintoki had hit harder, so he took the brunt of the force. He could barely get the words out.
"Rotation? You actually learned Rotation?"
Aota struggled to his feet and shouted.
Neji, standing not far away, remained impassive.
He had practiced this familiar technique against a wooden post at least twenty thousand times!
That was right. After learning a technique, the system required him to practice it against a wooden post ten thousand times before he could use it. And to increase its power, he had to keep practicing...
"I saw my grandpa use it, so I know I'm right! This is the orthodox secret technique of the Hyuga Clan, Eight Trigrams Palm: Rotation!"
Aota furrowed his brows, looking as though he were facing a formidable enemy.
Gintoki, however, couldn't believe it. "How could a loser like you learn Rotation? And nobody would've taught you! Could it be..."
Neji's breathing gradually steadied. It had been far too long since he'd been in a real fight, but dealing with two Genin-level opponents had been easy enough.
But after losing his temper like that, his true strength—which he'd kept hidden for so long—was probably about to be discovered...
The thought left Neji a little annoyed.
"Ding! This training session is over. Your basic ninja skills gained a total of 496 proficiency points!"
The system's familiar notification rang in Neji's ears.
"Gentle Fist basic techniques proficiency +142 points!"
"Eight Trigrams Rotation proficiency +110 points!"
"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms proficiency +42 points!"
"Host detected engaging in actual combat. Eight Trigrams Rotation proficiency increased dramatically by +800 points! Achievement unlocked: First victory against Genin-level opponents. Reward: wind-nature chakra with infused nature transformation!"
"So actual combat gives rewards too? Why the hell didn't this stupid system tell me sooner?"
"Hey, you two!"
A deep voice called out.
It was Hyuga Tokuma, a Special Jōnin from the clan.
Neji wisely stepped back. He was the clan's deadweight; a Special Jōnin certainly wouldn't bother with him!
"You two, causing trouble again?"
"No, Uncle Tokuma, let me explain!"
"Save it. Come with me!"
Tokuma ignored Gintoki's explanation, grabbed both of them, and started to leave.
Before they went, Neji saw the hateful looks in Gintoki and Aota's eyes.
Seeing a "deadweight" use Rotation—a technique they couldn't learn—must have made them furious.
They could go tattle if they wanted! What was done was done. Neji only cared about the results of today's training.
After dinner, Neji returned to his room and opened the system's status panel.
Host: Hyuga Neji Age: 13 Basic ninja skills (including throwing techniques and all other basic skills) proficiency progress: 80% (Reach 100% to complete the beginner stage and activate the proficiency-consuming system!) Rank: Konoha Genin (Values in parentheses indicate proficiency. Reaching the required proficiency advances the skill to the next stage. A skill can only be used properly once it reaches the First Glimpse stage. 10,000 proficiency points to reach First Glimpse; 30,000 to reach Mastery. The next three stages are Perfected, Transcendent, and Return to the Origin.) Ninjutsu: None Taijutsu: Gentle Fist: Tenketsu Strike (26500/30000), Eight Trigrams Palm: Rotation (17420/30000), Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms (11960/30000), Eight Trigrams: Air Palm (4740/10000), Eight Trigrams: Body Blow (8976/10000) Genjutsu: None Bloodline Limit: Byakugan (19558/30000) Basic items: None Advanced items: None Special items: Wind-nature chakra with infused nature transformation
"Wind Style nature transformation?"
"Detected a ninjutsu compatible with the infused wind-nature chakra transformation: Rotation. Would you like to infuse it?"
"Infuse it!"
After a moment's thought, Neji decided to go ahead.
Simply getting stronger the usual way wasn't enough for him anymore. He wanted to try something new!
That night, in a nearby clearing.
Brilliant light blazed. Rotation came to a halt, but the spinning wind still lingered in the air.
Neji panted, looking at his hands, which had begun to tremble.
"After more than a dozen in a row, I'm already at my limit?"
With nature transformation added, Rotation seemed to have heaven's help. It was easier to perform and came more naturally.
Neji felt that his Rotation was now more than ten times stronger than before!
After taking a few breaths, Neji steadied his breathing.
He inhaled deeply, intending to try once more.
But the moment he activated his Byakugan, he was startled.
"Who's there?!"
"It's me, Neji nii-san!" It was Hinata Hyuga's voice.
Hinata timidly stepped out, dressed in a fuzzy coat. Her whole being—even her eyes and hairstyle—radiated an endearing charm.
"Hinata, why aren't you asleep yet?"
As Hinata walked over, Neji's gaze softened.
Ever since he'd arrived in this world, the whole clan had treated him like a failure. Only Hinata had ever been gentle with him, which was why he couldn't stand Gintoki insulting her.
Hinata stopped in front of Neji and asked softly, "Neji nii-san, did you really master Rotation?"
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