Enlightenment · Rotation

Neji Hyuga's veins bulged with anger. This was the first time anyone had dared act so arrogantly in front of him.

He was known as a genius in the Hyuga Clan. Though he belonged to the Branch Family, his talent and strength already surpassed countless older-generation shinobi.

Though he was only seven, Neji Hyuga had already mastered the Gentle Fist, and could even just barely perform the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms.

Through his own effort and talent, he could even perform part of the Hyuga Clan's secret technique, Rotation.

As a genius, this was the first time anyone had called him a child. It was an insult—a great humiliation!

Hyuga Hiashi's mouth twitched. Uchiha Izuna really had no filter! With a remark like that, Neji was bound to explode, but Hiashi didn't want him to fight Uchiha Izuna.

The huge blaze Uchiha Izuna had just unleashed had made it clear to him that if Uchiha Izuna wanted to, a single casual ninjutsu could easily destroy the Hyuga Clan.

If he'd used that Majestic Destroyer Flame in the Hyuga Clan compound, half the people there would probably have died. After all, most members of the Hyuga Clan trained in Taijutsu.

Even Hyuga Hiashi couldn't guarantee he'd make it out unscathed.

As if he'd seen through Hiashi's worries, Uchiha Izuna smiled and said, "For this fight, I'll only use Taijutsu. Please rest assured, Clan Head Hiashi. We'll keep it friendly."

Neji Hyuga also looked at his uncle, his gaze solemn and resolute. He had to fight this battle—not just for himself, but for the Hyuga Clan!

As members of clans with inherited ocular powers, neither side could admit to being inferior to the other. Yet objectively speaking, the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan was currently more powerful than the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan.

That was because the Sharingan could keep evolving and growing stronger, while the Byakugan was different—or rather, its path of evolution had been blocked by the Caged Bird Seal.

There might have been talented people among them, but they were all branded with the seal. Meanwhile, the Main Family always reaped the benefits. They could have whatever resources they wanted and do whatever they pleased. What an easy life!

And yet, the Hyuga Clan's shinobi still looked down on the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan.

In Neji Hyuga's eyes, this wasn't an ordinary match. It was a battle with the Hyuga Clan's thousand-year reputation at stake. He had to make the man called Uchiha Izuna pay!

Hyuga Hiashi looked helplessly at the determination in Neji Hyuga's eyes and had no choice but to speak. "Let's go outside. The courtyard is spacious enough. We usually use it for Hinata and Neji to practice together."

At that, Neji Hyuga's expression darkened. He couldn't help remembering how the Main Family bullied the Branch Family. He took a deep breath. He knew he absolutely couldn't let Hyuga Hiashi see any weakness in him now.

Otherwise, I'll be the one who dies! He had to endure. He had to keep himself in check. So he redirected all his hatred toward Uchiha Izuna.

"I am Neji Hyuga. Please guide me." Neji Hyuga finished speaking, then took his stance: left hand forward, right hand back, palms held one before the other, left toes touching the ground and right foot planted firmly.

"Sure, come on. Let's see if this little Hyuga genius really lives up to the rumors." Uchiha Izuna finished speaking and looked at Neji Hyuga.

Neji Hyuga's eyes hardened. He stamped his right foot against the ground and shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow. Then he extended two fingers on his left hand, tucked in his right thumb, and held the other four fingers straight.

"Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms, First Palm!" Neji Hyuga charged at Uchiha Izuna.

Uchiha Izuna's expression turned serious. He dodged the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms with a sidestep, then took a step back to widen the distance. But Neji Hyuga stuck to him like glue.

With no other choice, Uchiha Izuna stepped forward with his right foot, spun 360 degrees in midair, then found his opening and kicked Neji Hyuga in the shoulder!

Thud!

Neji Hyuga spat blood. His expression was grim. He hadn't expected Uchiha Izuna to be so strong! That single kick had hurt him badly!

Neji Hyuga staggered back ten steps before finally stopping.

Hyuga Hiashi watched Neji get beaten in the courtyard but didn't immediately go to help him. He wanted Neji to lose for once. Sometimes, for a genius, the sooner they lost, the better.

Only by losing could Neji understand that there would always be someone stronger. That would be good for his future.

"How was that? Are you going to keep fighting? If not, I'm leaving." Uchiha Izuna looked at Neji Hyuga with a broad smile. Neji Hyuga shook his head. "I'm fighting, of course. But from now on, I'm going all out!"

"Oh? So you still have what it takes to fight me?" Uchiha Izuna looked at Neji Hyuga, excitement in his voice.

Before he could finish speaking, a green Eight Trigrams formation appeared beneath their feet, surrounding both him and Neji Hyuga.

Chakra rippled through the formation, rich with mysteries. Uchiha Izuna studied it carefully, the corners of his mouth lifting. "A trapping formation?"

For shinobi of the same level, it would indeed be difficult to break through. But Uchiha Izuna had merged with the Uchiha Madara [Founder of Konoha] template.

"Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms! Seal!" Neji Hyuga pushed off with his calves and darted toward Uchiha Izuna. Uchiha Izuna said nothing, gathering strength in his right hand as he slightly bent his knees.

He dodged to the side and punched toward Neji Hyuga's abdomen.

Neji Hyuga was ready. He changed the motion of his right hand and brought his left hand around to follow. "Rotation!" Perhaps the fight with Uchiha Izuna had put Neji Hyuga under so much pressure that he had managed to use Rotation.

He performed a perfect, 360-degree semicircular Rotation. Its special mechanism deflected Uchiha Izuna's hand, making a flash of surprise cross Uchiha Izuna's eyes.

As expected of one of the Konoha 12! Under pressure, he'd learned the Hyuga Clan's secret technique, Rotation, ahead of time!

The cup in Hyuga Hiashi's hand suddenly fell to the ground with a clink. Everyone's attention was drawn to the sound, and they all turned to look.

Hyuga Hiashi was visibly moved, his pupils shrinking. "The Hyuga Clan's secret technique, Rotation? How did Neji learn it? Could it be that he saw the clan elders use it during a mission and mastered the principles after watching just once?"

His voice wasn't loud, but Hinata Hyuga, who stood beside him, heard him clearly. She pressed her lips together, then looked up at Neji Hyuga, who had just finished using Rotation and was balancing on one foot. Her eyes held envy, admiration, and disappointment.

Compared to Neji Hyuga, she, Hinata Hyuga, really was too stupid.

Uchiha Izuna didn't attack. Instead, he watched Neji Hyuga recall how the technique had felt. He wasn't a particularly evil person.

The Hyuga Clan was a target he hoped to win over, and Neji Hyuga was Hyuga Hiashi's only nephew. Naturally, he wouldn't interrupt Neji Hyuga's moment of enlightenment.