In Neji's lounge, Chiba sat there reading a scroll.
Across from her, Neji sat cross-legged, enveloped in blazing red flames.
Yet Chiba did not feel the room getting warmer. On the contrary, it was much colder than outside.
Neji's flames were not ordinary flames, but flames born from the fusion of water and fire.
Whether to raise or lower the temperature was entirely at Neji's discretion.
Strictly speaking, Neji's flames already qualified as a Kekkei Genkai.
They were formed from the fusion of two chakra natures—two chakra natures that were mutually opposed.
Outside, the temperature was thirty or forty degrees, but the room felt like it had air conditioning installed. It was only around twenty degrees, cold enough that one even needed an extra coat.
"Boom..."
A sudden explosion rang out.
Neji, who had been cultivating with his eyes closed, instantly opened them. Blue-white snowflake-like patterns appeared in his Byakugan.
Holding the scroll, Chiba stared at Neji's strange eyes, which radiated power and nobility, and blanked out for a moment.
Those eyes were so beautiful.
That was Chiba's first reaction.
In that instant, every scene within a radius of more than ten kilometers appeared in Neji's mind.
He quickly identified the source of the explosion.
After seeing what had happened, Neji turned into a streak of flame and vanished from the lounge.
Chiba snapped out of it as well, rose to her feet, and walked outside.
At that moment, people throughout the building were panicking.
Chiba grabbed a ninja who was running toward the source of the explosion. "What happened?"
The Sunagakure ninja Chiba had grabbed was a Chunin.
Recognizing Chiba, he was somewhat afraid, but recalling the orders he had just received, he immediately said, "Chiba Jonin, it's an enemy attack."
"Someone attacked Lord Kazekage and Takigakure's Jinchuriki. They