Advanced! Chakra Nature Transformation

Early in the morning, the mist over Konoha gradually cleared.

A few people had already begun to appear on the streets. The breakfast bun shops had opened early, and some early risers and Chunin finishing the night shift were among the first to grab breakfast.

Some residents on the second and third floors opened their windows.

After the mist came warm, gentle sunlight. No one could turn down such a lovely morning.

This was Konoha, peaceful and tranquil.

On the corner of the street stood a flower shop. It wasn't large, but it had a rich variety of flowers, all blooming in a riot of color.

"Ino! Your classmate's waiting for you!"

"Yeah~ I'm coming~"

Yamanaka Sae, Ino's mother, was just as beautiful as her daughter.

She looked nothing like a married woman. Turning to Neji with a gentle smile, she said, "Wait here for a bit, okay?"

"Sure."

"By the way, have they rearranged the classes? How come I haven't seen you before?"

Faced with Sae's question, Neji fell silent.

"Don't tell me... you're my daughter's boyfriend?"

Sae's eyes widened. She glanced toward the stairs inside, afraid Ino might come running down just then.

Neji swallowed and hurriedly explained, "Please don't misunderstand, ma'am. Ino and I have just been practicing together lately..."

"All right, all right. You don't have to explain!"

He'd expected Sae to be a little angry, but instead, her cheeks turned faintly red as she gave Neji a mischievous smile.

Then she carefully selected a flower from the ones in front of her and plucked it.

It looked a little like a chrysanthemum, but it was purplish-red.

"Here, take it, young man! You're such a fine boy, so make sure you treat our Ino well!"

Sae was already beaming with delight. Neji broke into a cold sweat. How was this so different from what he'd imagined?

"Uh..."

"Take it! If you don't, you're looking down on our Ino!"

Neji was forced to accept the flower, wearing a wry smile.

"I'm here! Let's go, or we'll be late!"

Ino hurried down the stairs, immediately grabbed Neji's hand, and pulled him away.

"Goodness, what's the rush, child? Your Genin Forehead Protector!" Sae spotted a Forehead Protector on the counter, picked it up, and tossed it over.

Pulled along by Ino, Neji caught the Forehead Protector that came flying from behind him.

"Young man, take good care of my daughter!" Sae waved goodbye, smiling at Neji with narrowed eyes.

After running a little farther, Ino finally stopped and panted.

"Why'd you run so fast? We're so early, there's no way we'll be late."

Once she'd caught her breath, Ino planted her hands on her hips and asked, "So? My mom didn't say anything weird to you, did she?"

As she spoke, she took the Forehead Protector Neji handed her and put it on.

"Um... no." Neji hesitated, but kept quiet.

"Hey? Cosmos? But... it's a daisy."

Ino picked up the flower in Neji's hand, gave it a quick look, then handed it back to him.

"What about it?"

"I really like cosmos, but daisies are different. The love represented by cosmos is passionate and unrestrained, while a daisy's love is secretive and cautious. That kind of love sounds like a real pain."

Ino had been chatting away, but then she suddenly glanced at Neji—at his handsome face.

Even just one look from him could make people forget he was only a boy.

His fervor and courage in battle, the tenderness and maturity in his eyes, and the quick wit behind all his clever responses...

"Ahem! Who are you giving that flower to? It's not like you have someone you like~" Ino asked tentatively.

Neji thought for a moment. The first person who came to mind was Hinata.

But that was the purest, truest kind of protection a brother could offer his younger sister. He wasn't sure how to answer the question, so he said casually, "You can have it."

After all, Ino's mother had practically forced it on him, so he might as well pass it along.

Ino took the flower in disbelief, unable to hide the joy in her eyes.

She stared at him in stunned silence for a few seconds, then shyly put it in her hair and clenched her fists.

He gave me a flower? Could he like me?

My dream guy!

One flower was all it took to completely win her over. Ino was over the moon the whole way there. She didn't show it, but she seemed like a cosmos turning toward the sun.

Neji didn't mind, though he couldn't help feeling a little amused.

After a whole morning, Asuma had finished teaching the five Genin the basics of chakra.

He'd explained chakra's properties and applications in great detail, then given them some simple practical exercises.

Everyone else was starting to get the hang of it, but that clearly wasn't enough for Neji.

After assigning the others their practice, Asuma took Neji to another training ground.

It was near Konoha Waterfall. Looking up, they could see the enormous, wide, and long waterfall.

"Nature transformation means being able to sense the flow of Wind Style chakra within your chakra."

Asuma was still explaining when Neji picked a few leaves and held them in his hand.

He channeled chakra. "Slice!"

The leaves were cut apart, and several fluttered to the ground.

Asuma was stunned by what he saw.

"Neji, you can already use Chakra Nature Transformation?"

"Teacher Asuma, I need to become truly strong."

Looking at the burning determination in Neji's eyes, Asuma let out a breath.

"Neji, you really are a promising talent. It's an honor to teach you."

He continued, "Do you know any Wind Style techniques?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Neji turned around and swiftly formed Hand Seals.

"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"

After forming the Hand Seals, Neji quickly thrust out his palms.

A powerful gust burst from both palms and merged into a stronger gale, surging in one direction.

The trees in the woods ahead were battered by the wind, their branches twisting wildly. Even from so far away, it looked as if a tornado had swept through.

"Oh? You've already reached this level?"

Asuma was even more pleased. For a good teacher, teaching simple abilities wasn't necessarily easier. On the contrary, teaching students more advanced abilities often felt more natural.

He drew his special weapon, a Ninja Blade with four holes for his fingers.

"This weapon is called Flying Swallow."

Holding Flying Swallow, Asuma quickly formed Hand Seals and thrust out his palm.

"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"

The chakra blade formed by Flying Swallow mixed with the gale.

The violent storm raced through the air, turning into thousands upon thousands of blade-shaped gusts!

The blades swept along with the gale, creating what looked like a sword formation in the woods. This time, it wasn't just the branches twisting wildly. They seemed to dance in a frenzy, and one by one, the branches were sliced apart by the wind blades. They flew through the air before falling to the ground. The technique had the same power, but its destructive force was on a completely different level!

Neji stared in surprise and took a step back. The sight of those blades in the air immediately brought back the scene from that night.

He hadn't faltered even when facing Orochimaru, yet that night, he'd been completely suppressed. The wound caused by Baki's Wind Blade, wielded with shape transformation, still throbbed faintly. Neji touched the wound on the inside of his left arm.

"This is the next step beyond Chakra Nature Transformation: chakra shape transformation. Mastering shape transformation is what truly increases the power of a technique."

"Wind Release..."

Asuma was still explaining when he suddenly noticed Neji was already forming Hand Seals.

Neji's eyes were focused. This time, he formed the Hand Seals even more carefully.

"Could he really have learned it already?" Asuma murmured, breaking into a cold sweat.

"Palm Wave!"

After forming the Hand Seals, Neji thrust out his palm. A powerful whirlwind surged forward!