A Few Years Later

Time passed in a flash. Several years went by in the blink of an eye.

Konoha Year 58, spring

Tender leaves unfurled on the trees in the courtyard, and the air was filled with the damp scent of soil and fresh greenery. In the morning light, a figure was training in the open space behind the Hyuga Clan residence.

"Hyah... hah!"

Ice needles continually formed in the young man's hand, and he kept hurling them at a target marked with chakra points beneath a tree.

This was Hyuga Ningxue.

She was only six years old, but she had grown much taller over the past few years. Though still somewhat slender, years of training had made her movements more coordinated and powerful.

Thud—

A faint, muffled sound rang out as a slender ice needle, barely an inch long, struck a chakra point on the wooden dummy beneath the tree.

"Hyah... hah!"

Ning Xue's breathing remained steady as she kept moving, flicking both hands.

Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh.

Three ice needles shot out in succession, each lodging in a different chakra point with unbelievable accuracy.

After two years of hard training, her skill with ice needles had completely transformed.

She could form them in the blink of an eye, and she had perfectly combined her keen perception with her throwing technique, so that she could hit whatever she aimed at.

Both their concealment and accuracy had reached an exceptionally high level.

Even so, she was still dissatisfied.

She furrowed her brow and carefully studied the wooden dummy, murmuring under her breath.

"They still need more force..."

The ice needles could pierce wood and hit a target, but they were clearly not good enough against protective gear like a shinobi vest.

"It seems I'm almost at the limit of what I can do with the ice's hardness alone. I'll have to find a way to incorporate Wind Release chakra."

Or perhaps...

She touched the herbs in her backpack. Most of them could numb a person. She could grind them into powder and mix them with water, then carry a thermos so she'd have some on hand.

They were all herbs she'd picked herself.

Just then, her keen eyes noticed someone approaching quickly in the distance. She immediately dispelled the ice needles forming at her fingertips, then moved and swiftly hurled a handful behind her.

Her movements were quick and crisp.

The newcomer swiftly blocked the flying needles with the piece of wood in his right hand.

His left hand was poised to attack.

Seeing him block the needles, Ning Xue switched to the most basic Gentle Fist techniques and met him head-on.

Their palms collided, and both of them staggered back several steps.

The newcomer was Hyuga Neji.

He was taller than Ning Xue, with a stern face, eyes sharp as an eagle's, and a powerful chakra presence that made him seem far beyond his years.

He shook out his left wrist and glanced at the piece of wood in his right hand.

The ice needles had lodged firmly in the wood and were slowly melting.

"Your ice needles are as tricky as ever." Neji's voice was still even, but no longer completely cold. It sounded more like an objective assessment of something worth taking seriously.

"I have to give it everything I've got when I'm up against you."

Ning Xue said solemnly.

She knew that her ice needles weren't much of a threat to Neji anymore. Over the past few years, he'd gradually gotten used to her ambushes, so she might as well—

Ning Xue took up the opening stance of the Gentle Fist again and launched an attack.

"Come on." Neji took up his stance and faced her.

He activated his Byakugan, his gaze fixed on Ning Xue's hands and the chakra points throughout her body.

As long as he stayed alert, it would be hard for her to land a hit.

Ning Xue struck with her palm, but hit nothing but air.

She twisted her waist and swung again, but Neji moved faster.

He darted forward like lightning, both palms aimed at Ning Xue's chest and abdomen. His strikes were fierce and merciless.

Ning Xue narrowed her eyes and shifted her feet, just barely dodging the blow.

Neji pressed his advantage, turning his left hand toward her. Ning Xue blocked with one hand and redirected the force.

But she was indeed weaker than Neji. Every clash left her arm numb and her body trembling.

The instant Neji's attack eased and he prepared to switch techniques, a cold glint appeared at Ning Xue's fingertips!

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two ice needles shot out almost imperceptibly. They weren't aimed at vital points, but instead blocked the places Neji might move to next, their angles devilishly tricky.

Neji's pupils contracted, but he seemed to have anticipated the move. He didn't panic, twisting his body with a motion that was awkward yet remarkably effective.

"You really are..."

Neji muttered.

"Can't help it. You're just too strong."

Over the past few years, they'd often trained together. At first, Neji had always dominated her, until one day—

While sparring with Ning Xue, he was suddenly ambushed by one of her ice needles. After that, Neji never dared let his guard down again, and both of them began putting all their focus into watching out for each other.

That ambush had really gotten Neji good. He couldn't muster any strength at all.

After that, Neji was no longer able to dominate her. He had to stay on guard at all times against Ning Xue's ambushes.

Interestingly, when he'd nearly been ambushed once, he used something like Rotation—a sort of... prototype of Rotation?

Even Neji didn't know how he'd done it. He'd suddenly produced something like a wall of wind.

Back in the present, the two had developed a pattern of learning from each other. Ning Xue learned Taijutsu and all kinds of techniques from him.

And Neji, in response to her ambushes, was forced to react and counter them in an instant.

Their figures weaved across the training ground, the rush of their strikes mingling with faint sounds of air splitting.

They both knew that the other was a rare opponent in the clan, someone who could push them to improve.

After a satisfying yet wordless exchange, they each stepped back, dusty and sweaty, breathing slightly hard.

"I'm going."

Neji straightened his clothes, his usual aloofness returning, and turned to leave without another word.

"Mm."

Ning Xue didn't say anything more. By now, she'd gotten a feel for Neji's personality.

Over the past few years, the two of them had become fairly close.

But Ning Xue had noticed that Neji no longer had the same hostility and sharp edge he'd had when they first met.

He didn't keep saying things like fate couldn't be changed. He wasn't quite the same as before.

Had he given in to something?

Well, maybe I'll try to talk some sense into him one of these days.

Training was over for today. It was time to head back.

"I'm home."

Ning Xue opened the door and called into the house.

Her mother, Hyuga Yuki, wasn't busy around the house as usual. Instead, she was sitting near the window, mending a piece of clothing.

At the sound of her voice, Hyuga Yuki looked up and smiled gently.

"Welcome home, Ning Xue. Finished training? You seem a little later than usual today."

Her gaze fell on the dust and faint sweat stains on Ning Xue's clothes.

"Mm. I had a little spar with Neji." Ning Xue took off her shoes and answered simply.

"Mm. Remember to take a bath first," Yuki reminded her.

"Got it, Mother." Ning Xue answered as she walked toward her room.