Hiashi! Heavy Thoughts

"Hey! What exactly are you trying to do?"

Seeing that Gintoki was still struggling to get up from the ground, Aota rushed over.

"Smack!"

The fist he swung was caught by Neji with just one hand.

"Ah! You..."

Feeling a bone-chilling pain, Aota couldn't comprehend it; since when did this loser have so much strength? His entire being was radiating an incredible power!

"Don't get in my way. I just want to have a few words with him."

After saying this, Neji didn't even glance at him, tossing Aota aside with a single motion.

He continued walking toward Gintoki step by step, then crouched down where he had fallen.

"You guy, don't you regret this! You have no chance of winning two-on-one!"

"Byakugan!"

Neji activated his Byakugan immediately and struck Gintoki in the chest with his palm.

"This is! The Danzhong point..."

Gintoki's eyes widened, his teeth clenched so tightly that a trace of blood seeped from his gums.

"With your Danzhong point suppressed, you can't condense chakra in your body, can you?" Neji's gaze was indifferent and distant.

"You... you... using force against a clansman will be punished!"

Gintoki growled through gritted teeth, while Aota behind him clutched the wrist that had just been tossed aside, enduring the pain and not daring to make a sound.

For some reason, Neji looked truly untouchable today!

"I don't mean anything else. If you want to fight me, I'm more than happy to oblige, but if there's nothing else, can you stop disturbing my training? I have an exam coming up soon and no time to play house with you."

Neji spoke coldly, like a machine conducting a negotiation.

"You guy, what are you putting on airs for? Just because you made it to the finals, is there any need to show off like this?"

Gintoki said angrily, his face full of defiance.

Neji extended his hand, chakra coating his palm, visible even to the naked eye.

"Hyuga Style Gentle Fist!"

"Hey! You..."

Aota, standing behind, finally couldn't help but speak up.

"Are you really going to use Gentle Fist on Gintoki? Have you lost your mind?!"

Neji didn't turn back; he simply pondered for a moment and lowered his hand.

"Indeed, your lives aren't important to me; you're just like two annoying flies. Swatting you two flies would indeed splatter blood all over me..."

Neji stepped back a few paces and sighed.

In that moment, he thought of Haru.

Being of the same clan, why were the faces of these people so detestable?

But Neji thought of Gaara, and he thought of Naruto.

Becoming strong didn't seem to require becoming an extreme revolutionary.

With great love in one's heart, one could naturally understand the truth.

"Two brothers, if there's nothing else, please be on your way!"

Neji cupped his hands in a formal salute, then turned and walked toward the wooden stake.

He continued his training.

"Ha!"

"Hmph!"

"This guy..."

Hyuga Gintoki stood up, glaring viciously at the training Neji.

But Neji's eyes had long since ceased to see them.

"Whoosh!"

A rock larger than the previous one flew over, this time aimed directly at Neji's forehead!

"Hah!"

His chakra surged, and with a single, precise strike of the Gentle Fist, he hit the rock.

"Crash!"

The rock shattered into pieces!

As the fragments scattered in all directions, a sudden surge of killing intent flared in Neji's eyes.

"Run!"

Aota and Gintoki took to their heels and bolted; today, Neji felt like a lone star of ill omen, radiating an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

Flies were truly annoying, Neji sighed, and continued his training.

How wonderful would it be if this world were devoid of such irritating creatures?

As night gradually fell over the twilight training ground.

Hyuga Haru stepped out, looking around, but found no one.

"Finished so early today?" Haru muttered to himself.

Neji usually trained until late at night, leaving only when the moon hung high in the sky.

Today, it seemed he had finished quite early.

The Branch Family, Neji's home.

In the main hall stood a simple yet antique high table, its decor understated but full of classic charm; in the hollowed-out center sat a formal memorial portrait.

The man in the photo had eyes that were gentle yet concealed a hidden strength, the age at the corners of his eyes reflecting a life of extraordinary destiny.

"Neji."

Behind him, a face identical to the one in the portrait appeared.

Neji turned around; the man behind him looked even more weathered and mature than the face in the portrait.

The only difference between the two was the striking blue-green Cursed Seal on the forehead of the man in the portrait, while the man standing behind him bore no such mark.

Hyuga Hiashi sat on the floor, making himself at home.

Neji inserted the incense and bowed.

After turning back, he also sat on the floor.

"Forgive me, it is inconvenient to respond while meeting with my late father."

Hiashi narrowed his eyes slightly, not taking the bait.

The two remained like this; Hiashi lowered his head slightly to stare at Neji, while Neji also kept his head down, his gaze unfocused.

"You performed very well in this Chunin Exams. A month from now, there will be a very important occasion."

"Ah..."

Neji took a deep breath, seemingly wanting to say something, but let it trail off.

Another endless silence followed.

Hiashi gritted his teeth, a surge of emotion rising within him, yet there was nowhere to vent it.

Or perhaps, he was already venting it, just silently.

Neji looked up, his eyes seemingly filled with a hint of longing.

"In the Chunin Exams, you must complete your mission..."

Hiashi spoke with earnest gravity.

"Regardless of whether I complete it or not, I will certainly ensure the Main Branch gets what it wants. But as for the outcome, I have a clear conscience."

Neji lowered his head again; during the Chunin Exams, Orochimaru would likely launch his plan to destroy Konoha.

He understood that the Main Branch simply wanted to use him to demonstrate the power of the Hyuga Clan before the village and the feudal lords, hoping to restore the clan to its former glory.

But whether he took first place was no longer important; he had never received a shred of preferential treatment in this village, so why should he compromise himself?

Neji's current goal was simply to use their cover to rapidly grow stronger!

"Neji, do not let those people from the Branch Family have their way."

"Oh?"

"I have already lost your father; I cannot lose you as well."

At this moment, Neji gritted his teeth and closed his eyes.

The past flashed before his eyes.

Before those who had passed away, what difference was there between the Main Branch and the Branch Family?

The moonlight was as silent as water.

The moonlight tonight was exceptionally bright, a rare and perfect full moon.

"When the moon is full, that guy becomes restless."

Gaara sat atop the tiled roof, his eyes desolate.

"So, what will it be like?"

A youth's voice drifted over.

Gaara turned his head; the youth was standing on the other end of the tiled roof.

Wearing an Anbu mask and clad in Anbu attire, his entire getup made him look like an assassin walking through the night.

"Who are you..."

The youth stepped forward a few paces and removed his mask, revealing a handsome face to Gaara.

"You really did come."

Gaara was slightly startled, then revealed a gaze hungry for battle, his heart surging with excitement.

"I came here simply to do what I wish to do."

Neji crouched down slightly, tied the mask's cord around his waist, and looked at Gaara opposite him with a resolute gaze.

The wind blew gently, causing the strands of hair on his forehead to flutter.

"Hmph! Then let us begin; let me see your true power!"

Gaara widened his eyes, his gaze seemingly transforming into that of a different species; the killing intent hidden within those eyes nearly pierced the heavens!

It was as if... he were a monster!