Early morning, the Hyuga Clan.
In the training ground, a familiar figure repeated familiar movements, day after day.
"Hmph!"
"Hah!"
Neji kept repeating his Gentle Fist practice.
"Ding! Training session complete. Eight Trigrams Palm: Gentle Fist proficiency +4,799! Eight Trigrams: Air Palm proficiency +1,433! Eight Trigrams: Rotation proficiency +2,978!"
Neji exhaled and fell backward.
He narrowed his eyes slightly. After such long periods of high-intensity training, his body no longer felt tired or sore.
Instead, he felt a pleasantly soothing ache.
Although real combat could improve his abilities more directly now, the truth was that strength didn't come at the drop of a hat.
Every time he made a move, he exposed himself.
And his opponents in real combat were getting stronger and stronger. One day, Neji might have to face a Kage Level powerhouse.
Perhaps someone even more troublesome and powerful than Orochimaru.
He couldn't let any opportunity to grow stronger pass him by.
Just from his daily training, Neji could gain plenty of proficiency.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host. Eight Trigrams: Rotation proficiency has reached 30,000. Reward: one selectable A-rank ninjutsu!"
"Selectable?"
Neji frowned and murmured to himself.
"Available A-rank ninjutsu: Wind Release: Breakthrough! Wind Style: Gale Palm! Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
There weren't many options...
"Wind Style: Gale Palm!"
"Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have learned Wind Style: Gale Palm and advanced directly to the Initial Mastery level!"
Neji then opened his status panel.
"Host: Hyuga Neji Age: 13 Basic Ninja Skills (including throwing and all other basic skills) proficiency progress: 87.8% (Reach 100% to complete the beginner stage and activate the proficiency expenditure system!) Rank: Konoha Genin Ninjutsu: Wind Style: Gale Palm (10,000/30,000) Taijutsu: Gentle Fist: Tenketsu Strike (62,199/100,000), Eight Trigrams: Rotation (31,903/100,000), Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms (28,834/30,000), Eight Trigrams: Air Palm (17,945/30,000), Eight Trigrams Body Strike (13,698/30,000) Genjutsu: None Kekkei Genkai: Byakugan (36,638/100,000) Byakugan purity: 12% Basic items: Military Ration Pill*1, Explosive Tag*10, Crow Fern Special Herb*4 Advanced items: None Special items: None"
"What's this? Byakugan purity?"
As soon as Neji asked, the system answered, "Byakugan purity will be displayed once the Host's Byakugan reaches the Proficient level. (Can be increased.)"
Neji frowned slightly. This purity... was only 12%?
No wonder the Hyuga Clan had fallen into such a sorry state over the years. With Byakugan of this quality, could they still claim to be descendants of the Otsutsuki Clan's sages?
Sigh!
Neji sighed and stood up, ready to continue training.
"Coo-coo!"
The sound of a Ninja Pigeon caught Neji's attention.
A Ninja Pigeon perched on the wooden fence nearby, continuing to coo.
"Coming, coming..." Neji replied impatiently. Even Ninja Pigeons were ordering him around these days.
Neji walked over and removed the message from the Ninja Pigeon's leg. It cooed and flew away.
Ninja Pigeons were relatively docile and had few abilities, making them suitable only for short-distance communication within the village. For longer-distance messages, ninja used more powerful ninja beasts, such as Ninja Dogs or Ninja Hawks.
So Neji didn't even need to look to guess that Team Guy was probably calling everyone together again.
Sure enough.
"Want me to head to the usual place in the hills before sunset today?"
Neji murmured to himself. It was Teacher Guy's handwriting. He'd also written that he wanted to arrange Neji's training schedule for the coming days.
"If this is just a notification, why not explain it directly in the letter?"
Neji hesitated, then lowered his head and set the letter down. There was still time to train before sunset.
Inside the Hokage's office in the Hokage Building.
"Knock, knock!"
"Come in."
Hiruzen lifted a hand to adjust the Hokage Hat on his head and looked up.
Hyuga Hiashi entered. After gently closing the door, he turned and bowed to Hiruzen.
"Third."
Hiruzen nodded slowly. "Hiashi, you're very concerned about your clan's affairs."
Hiashi paused, then smiled faintly. "I'm terribly sorry. As clan head, I have no choice but to..."
"Hiashi!"
The sudden sharpness in Hiruzen's eyes made Hiashi wary.
"Yes!"
Hiashi lowered his head, not daring to look up at the Third again.
Even the great elders of the Hyuga Clan's Branch Family couldn't match the Hokage's imposing presence. How much less could a young clan head of the Hyuga Clan?
"This is the sixtieth year of Konoha, not the sixtieth year of the Hyuga Clan. I hope you understand that."
Hiashi paused and said nothing.
After venting his anger, Hiruzen continued, "The Hyuga Clan has always had its own internal rules and system. But since you're part of Konoha, everything you do must be for Konoha's sake."
Hiashi's eyes were filled with doubt.
"Conditions?"
"Whoosh!"
As soon as Neji spoke, a Kunai flew toward him.
After several metallic clinks, Neji jumped backward and used a Kunai to block the remaining Shuriken flying at him.
"Tenten, promise me this is the last time," Guy said as he stepped back.
Tenten stepped forward and unfastened the scroll on her back, her expression serious.
"I can be your opponent for this training, but you have to beat me here first!"
Neji glanced at Guy in confusion. So that was why he'd specifically called him here.
"Neji, sorry for the trouble. Just treat this as training."
Guy took a deep breath, his mood heavy.
In the third round of the Chunin Ninja Exams, Tenten had faced Temari, a kunoichi with a similar fighting style, and had suffered badly.
Meanwhile, Neji had defeated Gaara, who was hailed as the strongest Sand Ninja.
The result had made Tenten doubt herself. Was there really something wrong with her?
"All right, then. If that's the condition, don't hold back."
Neji assumed a battle stance, hoping to show his opponent proper respect.
Neji meant well, but Tenten snapped, "Who would hold back against someone like you!"
She took a few quick steps forward and charged straight at him.
She was genuinely getting anxious. Neji had always been the "dead last," so why had he suddenly become so strong? She wanted to experience it for herself!
"Hah!"
Tenten struck with all her strength, sending Neji flying far backward.
Panting, she stood up again, her gaze fierce!
Neji also stopped moving and straightened up.
"Good."
After praising her, Neji slowly formed Hand Seals!
Tenten frowned too.
"...Rat—Dog!"
"Byakugan!"
The battle was about to begin!
"Weapon Manipulation: Hidden Weapon Barrage!"
A dozen hidden weapons burst out of the scroll!
Neji dodged them with ease. Tenten snapped, "What? Are you looking down on me? You won't even use Rotation!"
She pulled out a scroll and swiftly formed Hand Seals in midair.
"Hidden Weapon: Rising Dragon!"
The scroll unfurled, and as it scattered and spun, thousands of hidden weapons flew toward Neji.
"This range..."
Neji swept his leg forward, made a hand gesture, and pressed downward.
A flash of white light filled his vision.
"Rotation!"
Every single hidden weapon was deflected.
"Hah!"
Neji shouted. The instant Tenten landed, a sharp whoosh passed right by her.
"So close!" Tenten gritted her teeth, her nerves taut.
"Just as expected of Absolute Defense. Physical attacks of this level are completely ineffective. Tenten, you've already lost," Guy said.
The result was obvious. Neji still hadn't broken a sweat, while Tenten was already panting heavily.
But she refused to accept it.
She reached for the last large scroll on her back, the one she hadn't drawn out yet. Guy walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Tenten, admit it. You've already lost."
"But..."
"Look behind you!"
Tenten froze and turned around.
Several meters behind her, there was a huge hole in a tree, large enough to fit a head. It had been punched straight through by a terrifying force!
"That was Neji's Gentle Fist: Air Palm. He deliberately aimed wide."
Before you continue