Unconvinced! Tenten's Challenge

Early morning, Hyuga Clan.

Inside the training grounds, a familiar figure and familiar movements, day after day.

"Hmph!"

"Hah!"

Neji repeated his Gentle Fist practice incessantly.

"Ding! Training session complete. Eight Trigrams Palms: Gentle Fist proficiency +4799! Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm proficiency +1433! Eight Trigrams: Rotation proficiency +2978!"

Neji exhaled a long breath and collapsed backward.

He narrowed his eyes slightly; his body, accustomed to long periods of high-intensity training, no longer felt fatigue or soreness.

Instead, there was only a very comfortable, tingling sensation.

Although real combat could improve his strength more directly, facts had proven that current strength didn't just appear out of thin air.

Every strike he threw exposed him to the open air.

In real combat, his opponents were becoming increasingly strong; one day, Neji might have to face Kage-level powerhouses.

Perhaps even opponents more troublesome and formidable than Orochimaru.

He could not afford to overlook any channel that allowed him to grow stronger.

From daily practice alone, Neji could gain significant increases in proficiency.

"Ding! Congratulations to the host, Eight Trigrams: Rotation proficiency has reached 30,000. Reward obtained: A-Rank Ninjutsu of your choice!"

"Choice?"

Neji frowned, muttering to himself.

"Available A-Rank Ninjutsu: Wind Style: Breakthrough! Wind Style: Gale Palm! Water Style: Water Wall!"

There weren't many options...

"I'll take Wind Style: Gale Palm!"

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully learning Wind Style: Gale Palm. It has been promoted directly to the 'Novice' stage!"

Neji then opened his attribute panel.

Host: Hyuga Neji
Age: 13
Basic Ninja Skills (including shurikenjutsu and all fundamentals) proficiency progress: 87.8% (Reach 100% to complete the novice phase and activate the proficiency consumption system!)
Rank: Konoha Genin
Ninjutsu: Wind Style: Gale Palm (10000/30000)
Taijutsu: Gentle Fist: Tenketsu Strike (62199/100000), Eight Trigrams: Rotation (31903/100000), Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms (28834/30000), Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm (17945/30000), Eight Trigrams: Body Strike (13698/30000)
Genjutsu: None
Kekkei Genkai: Byakugan (36638/100000)
Byakugan Purity: 12%
Basic Items: Military Ration Pill*1, Explosive Tag*10, Crow Fern Special Herb*4
Advanced Items: None
Special Items: None

"What is this? Byakugan Purity?"

As soon as Neji asked, the system immediately replied: "Byakugan Purity is displayed once the host's Byakugan reaches the 'Mastery' stage (can be upgraded)."

Neji frowned slightly. This purity... 12%?

No wonder the Hyuga Clan had fallen into such a sorry state over the years. With a Byakugan of this level, were they even worthy of being called descendants of the Otsutsuki Clan?

Sigh!

Neji let out a sigh, stood up, and prepared to continue his training.

"Coo, coo, coo!"

The sound of a Ninja Pigeon caught Neji's attention.

The pigeon was perched on a wooden fence not far away, continuing to "coo."

"Coming, coming..." Neji responded impatiently. These days, even Ninja Pigeons were ordering him around.

Neji walked over and removed the letter from the pigeon's leg, and the bird flew off with a "coo."

Ninja Pigeons were relatively docile summons with few abilities, suitable only for short-distance communication within the village. For longer-distance information delivery, ninjas would use Ninja Dogs or Ninja Hawks, which were much more capable beasts.

So, without even looking, Neji guessed it was likely Team Guy gathering again.

Sure enough.

"Meet at the usual spot in the back mountains before sunset today?"

Neji muttered to himself, noting that it was Guy's handwriting, and it even mentioned arranging special training sessions for him starting tomorrow?

"If it were just a notification, why not explain it directly in the letter?"

Neji lowered his head in hesitation and set the letter aside; it seemed there was still time to squeeze in some training before the sun went down.

Inside the Hokage office at the Hokage building.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

"Come in."

Hiruzen raised a hand to adjust the Hokage Hat on his head and looked up.

Hyuga Hiashi entered, gently closed the door behind him, and turned to bow to Hiruzen.

"Lord Third."

Hiruzen nodded leisurely. "Hiashi, you are certainly very attentive to your clan's affairs!"

Hiashi was taken aback and offered a faint smile. "I apologize; as the clan head, I have no choice but to..."

"Hiashi!"

The sudden sharpness in Hiruzen's eyes made Hiashi grow wary.

"Yes!"

Hiashi lowered his head, not daring to look at the Third Hokage again.

Even the grand elders of the Hyuga Clan branch family were far less imposing in front of the Hokage, let alone a young clan head like him.

"It is the year 60 of Konoha, not the year 60 of the Hyuga Clan. I hope you understand that!"

Hiashi froze, offering no further reply.

After venting his anger, Hiruzen continued, "Although the Hyuga Clan has always had its own internal rules and systems, since you are in Konoha, everything you do must be for the sake of the village."

Hiashi's eyes were filled with hesitation.

"Conditions?"

"Whoosh!"

No sooner had Neji finished speaking than a Kunai flew rapidly toward him.

With a few metallic clangs, Neji leaped backward, blocking the remaining incoming Shuriken with his own Kunai.

"Tenten, promise me, this is the last time," Guy said as he stepped back.

Tenten stepped forward, unrolling the scroll on her back with a serious expression.

"I can be your sparring partner for this special training, but you have to defeat me here first!"

Neji glanced at Guy in confusion; so this was why he had been summoned.

"Neji, I'm counting on you. Just treat this as special training."

Guy took a deep breath, his mood heavy.

During the third round of the Chunin Exams, Tenten had faced Temari, a ninja of a similar type, and had suffered greatly.

Yet, Neji had defeated Gaara, who was hailed as the strongest of the Sand Ninja.

This result had caused Tenten to doubt herself, wondering if there was truly something wrong with her.

"Fine then. Since it's a condition, don't hold back on me."

Neji assumed a fighting stance, wanting to show his opponent the proper respect.

Neji's intentions were good, but Tenten snapped, "Who would hold back against someone like you!"

With a few quick steps, Tenten charged straight at him.

She was truly anxious; why had Neji, who had always been a "tail-ender," suddenly become so strong? She needed to experience it for herself!

"Ha!"

Tenten landed a powerful strike, forcing Neji back a considerable distance.

She panted, stood back up, and fixed him with a murderous gaze!

Neji dropped his guard and stood straight.

"Very good."

After offering his praise, Neji slowly began to weave hand signs!

Tenten frowned.

"...Rat—Dog!"

"Byakugan!"

The battle was about to erupt!

"Weapon Manipulation: Hidden Weapon Barrage!"

Over a dozen hidden weapons fluttered out from the scroll!

Neji merely dodged with swift movements, causing Tenten to snap in anger, "What? Are you looking down on me? You won't even use Rotation!"

She pulled out another scroll and rapidly formed hand seals in mid-air.

"Hidden Weapon: Rising Dragon!"

The scroll unfurled, and as it spun through the air, thousands of hidden weapons flew toward Neji.

"This range..."

Neji swept his leg forward, shifted his stance, and sank his weight.

A brilliant white light flared, flooding the field of vision.

"Rotation!"

Without exception, every single hidden weapon was deflected away.

"Ha!"

Neji let out a sharp shout, and the moment Tenten touched the ground, the sound of air being torn apart whistled past her.

"That was close!" Tenten gritted her teeth, her nerves stretched taut.

"As expected of the Absolute Defense; this level of physical attack is completely ineffective against it. Tenten, you have already lost," Guy said.

It was clear at a glance: Neji was still exerting no effort, while Tenten had already begun to pant heavily.

Yet, she refused to accept it.

She immediately reached behind her to grab the last large scroll she hadn't drawn yet, but Guy walked to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Tenten, admit it, you have already lost."

"But..."

"Look behind you!"

Tenten froze and looked back.

She saw that the tree several meters behind her had a hole the size of a human head, punched clean through by a terrifying force!

"That was the Gentle Fist: Air Palm. Neji intentionally missed."