The Mission's Self-Strategy!

The next few days passed without any issues.

Because of the incident where Sasuke had directly taken action against those few, they now had a training ground available to them every day.

This saved them quite a bit of trouble and allowed Sasuke to enjoy the ease.

Weekend.

Sasuke sat inside the Uchiha training ground.

A strange expression appeared on his face.

What is that guy Neji doing?

This mission progress is skyrocketing!

Sasuke stared at the data on his panel showing [62%] mission progress, completely bewildered.

It had been at [18%] just this morning.

How did it jump to [62%] in just over half a day?

Could it be that this guy is self-indoctrinating?

Inside the Hyuga Clan.

"Neji-niisan, have I improved a lot this time?"

Hinata looked at Neji with anticipation.

After training together for the past few days, Hinata didn't know if it was just her imagination.

Neji-niisan seemed to have become kinder to her.

Before, he would always decisively defeat her and then leave coldly.

He wouldn't even spare her an extra word.

But now, it was clearly different.

Not only would he patiently correct the mistakes in her Gentle Fist, but he would even demonstrate the correct technique for Hinata.

"A lot."

"Your strength, speed, and precision have all improved."

"I need to pick up the pace of my own training, or else you'll catch up to me soon, Hinata."

Neji smiled slightly and said slowly.

"Yes!"

Seeing Neji's smile, Hinata beamed as well.

"Neji."

Just then, the voice of Hyuga Hiashi reached them.

"Clan Leader!"

Upon seeing Hyuga Hiashi appear, the smile on Neji's face vanished instantly.

The man before him, who looked so much like his father.

His uncle, the leader of the Hyuga Clan.

This person...

This person...

Neji's thoughts became chaotic once again.

Because his father had died precisely because of the man standing before him.

In the heart of a young boy, no matter the reason, such emotions could never be suppressed.

"Stay for dinner tonight."

"I have already made arrangements."

"Go take a bath first, and come to the living room in a while."

Hyuga Hiashi spoke in his usual icy tone before turning and walking away.

After stepping out of the training room, a smile touched the corners of Hyuga Hiashi's mouth.

He was the one most aware of Hinata's changes.

Coupled with the current relationship between Neji and Hinata, Hyuga Hiashi was even more pleased.

It was just that, being accustomed to being serious, he maintained that expression out of habit.

"At this rate, the promise I made to you back then should be able to be fulfilled..."

Hyuga Hiashi looked up at the sky, the smile on his lips turning into a mix of bitterness and hope.

Inside the living room.

"Neji, have you encountered any problems with your training lately?"

"Have you found a breakthrough in your Gentle Fist: Tai Chi practice?"

"And as for Hinata, would it be inappropriate for her to continue as your sparring partner?"

Faced with Hyuga Hiashi's sudden show of concern, Neji's face betrayed a sense of bewilderment.

Previously, they had never shared such a relationship...

Neji answered most of Hyuga Hiashi's questions honestly.

Regarding the matter of Hinata, Neji indicated that he was still willing to spar with her.

"Neji, come with me."

After saying this, Hyuga Hiashi stood up and walked toward the backyard.

Soon, the two arrived in front of an exquisite room.

"Creak..."

Pushing the door open, they stepped inside.

"This is Hizashi's room."

"Seeing the state you are in now, there are some things I believe I can tell you."

"Do you hate me?"

Hyuga Hiashi spoke suddenly.

Neji, who had been quite confused after being brought to his father's room, was left completely speechless by Hyuga Hiashi's words.

Had he revealed something just now?

"Hatred is justified."

"This was always my failure to Hizashi; it was my fault."

"This is something Hizashi asked me to leave to you."

Hyuga Hiashi walked over to a cabinet, took out a notebook, and handed it to Neji behind him.

"This..."

Opening the notebook, Neji froze in place.

[Neji, I don't know how old you are now, but I believe you must have let go of your hatred by this point.]

[I was an inadequate father, but I still hoped to leave something behind for you, which is why I left this notebook.]

[The rules of the Hyuga Clan are as they are; you need not blame your uncle, for he was powerless to resist them.]

[We were, after all, very close brothers...]

[If you are able to read this note, it means you have grown up. Listen to your uncle; he will tell you everything you need to do from here on out.]

[One last thing: I am sorry, Neji...]

After finishing the note, Neji's face was covered in tears.

Setting the notebook down heavily, Neji looked at Hyuga Hiashi with confusion.

"You lost a father, and I lost a brother."

"I promised Hizashi that as long as you could let go of your hatred on your own, we would be the ones to break these so-called rules!"

"This is the realization my brother bought with his life—a realization that has come too late!"

Hyuga Hiashi told Neji exactly what needed to be done next.

"Break!"

"The rules!"

What the two discussed here afterward, no one knew.

But when Neji left, his gaze had become even more resolute.

[Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the mission...]

[Obtained: Physique +10, Meridian growth 10%, Gentle Fist: Tai Chi.]

At the same time, a system notification panel popped up in front of Sasuke, who had just finished his training.

"Huh?!"

"It's already finished?"

Sasuke looked on in astonishment.

He was still fretting over how to resolve Neji's hatred.

How did it resolve itself so suddenly?

As energy surged within his body, Sasuke confirmed he wasn't dreaming.

Information about Gentle Fist: Tai Chi also appeared in his mind.

"This..."

As Tai Chi integrated into his mind, Sasuke lost the ability to think about anything else.

The changes of the Heavenly Cycle reflected upon himself.

The subtlety of Tai Chi allowed his mind to wander.

Sasuke sat down cross-legged on the spot, closed his eyes, and began to feel this profound mystery.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage Office.

"How is the work progressing?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the scroll in his hand and looked at the person wearing an armband before him—Uchiha Shisui.

"It's on the right track."

"I've also been completely accepted by the Uchiha now, and I have my own trusted subordinates."

"Now, as the Deputy Head of the Military Police Force, my authority is second only to the clan head."

"And I have successfully spread the Will of Fire within the Military Police Force."

Shisui respectfully reported the recent mission status to Hiruzen Sarutobi.