Neji Had Always Been a Smart Kid

Neji was stunned.

The Sharingan was a rare Kekkei Genkai, even among the Uchiha Clan.

Only a handful of people could awaken it, let alone a genius like Uchiha Yu, who had awakened his Sharingan at just seven.

But the most astonishing part was why he had awakened it.

You awakened your eyes because someone tore up your money?

That was ridiculous!

Uchiha Yu's eyes were scarlet. He snorted and kicked Neji hard in the chin.

Neji went flying!

He was kicked into the air!

"So fast!"

Neji felt a sharp pain in his chin, and a spray of blood burst from his mouth.

He hit the ground and covered his chin with one hand. He couldn't even speak, only groan.

But Uchiha Yu had no intention of letting Neji off.

He flashed forward again, charging at Neji.

"Eight Trigrams Palms: Rotation!"

Neji snorted and instantly released a vast amount of chakra from his body's chakra points.

His body spun rapidly like a top!

Absolute defense!

Hinata clenched her fists nearby.

"That's a secret technique passed down only through the Main Family... Could Neji have figured out Rotation all by himself?"

Neji's talent really was incredible!

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A burst of flame exploded against Rotation. With a deafening boom, the Great Fireball was deflected to the side.

The powerful impact also sent Neji staggering backward.

At that moment, Uchiha Yu swept his leg at him.

"Konoha Whirlwind!"

A series of spinning kicks slammed straight toward Neji.

"Isn't that Might Guy's Konoha-Style Taijutsu? Do they teach that at the Ninja Academy?"

Neji was dumbfounded again.

"Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"

Neji didn't think twice and threw a punch.

He was a year older than Yu. Even with the Sharingan, Yu couldn't make up for the difference in their physical abilities, could he?

But Neji had no idea that Uchiha Yu possessed a Sage Body!

Using the Sharingan's perceptive abilities, Yu dodged Neji's Gentle Fist and kicked him squarely in the chest!

Neji flew backward, rolling several times across the ground, his whole body aching.

"U-Uchiha Yu! It was a misunderstanding! A total misunderstanding! I was wrong! Yamete!!"

When Neji realized he was completely outmatched, he finally gave in.

But Uchiha Yu had no intention of letting him off!

He straddled Neji and beat him mercilessly!

Inside the Hyuga Clan compound.

Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Tokuma walked together.

"Neji's talent is among the best, even in the Main Family," Hyuga Tokuma said.

He was a Special Jōnin of the Hyuga Clan, one of their best scouts and a capable member of the clan.

Hyuga Hiashi nodded. "That's true. But he's always harbored resentment toward the Main Family. He'll need some time to come to terms with things."

With that, Hyuga Hiashi sighed. "Perhaps in a few years, he'll understand that we only have his best interests at heart."

"Indeed," Hyuga Tokuma replied.

Hyuga Hiashi smiled in relief. "It's all right. Neji's always been a smart kid, as far as I can tell."

They reached the entrance to the Hyuga Clan compound, only to hear a terrible scream.

When they looked over, they saw Uchiha Yu gripping Neji by the leg and slamming him against the ground over and over.

Neji's clothes had several large tears in them and were covered in dust.

Neji had scrubbed the ground spotless!

"What's going on?" Hyuga Hiashi froze.

Neji had been beaten up?

"The Sharingan?"

Hyuga Tokuma's eyes widened.

"Uchiha Yu of the Uchiha Clan? Isn't he only seven? How has he already awakened his eyes...? Even the Uchiha Clan's greatest genius, Uchiha Itachi, didn't awaken his Sharingan until he was eight!" Hyuga Hiashi was nearly speechless, his breathing quickening.

He had awakened his eyes at seven, and he'd even awakened the Mangekyo?

That talent was monstrous.

And the Sharingan represented spiritual energy. If that energy became too unbalanced, it would place a considerable burden on the body!

Unless Uchiha Yu's physical energy was just as powerful!

Uchiha Yu was clearly a genius on par with Uchiha Itachi!

"Uchiha Fugaku... three geniuses in one family. Now that's a true noble clan!"

Hyuga Hiashi couldn't believe it.

Not one of Uchiha Fugaku's three sons was a failure!

Hyuga Tokuma nodded, then flashed over to Uchiha Yu.

He reached out to grab Yu's wrist.

"That's enough, Uchiha Yu," Hyuga Tokuma said, worried Yu might beat Neji to death.

"Enough? He tore up my five thousand ryo! I've only hit him back five times!"

With his Sharingan, Uchiha Yu saw through Hyuga Tokuma's attack and drove an elbow into his chest.

The sudden strike caught Tokuma completely off guard.

His vision went black. He clutched his chest and nearly collapsed onto his backside.

"That strength... Is he really only seven?" Tokuma was astonished.

He was no weaker than a Chunin!

"To beat Neji so thoroughly, you must have some skill."

Hiashi walked up to Uchiha Yu. "I don't know what Neji did to offend you, but I hope you can forgive him."

Seeing Hyuga Hiashi plead on his behalf, Neji snorted, hatred rising in his eyes.

"I don't need you to plead for me!"

Neji still believed the Main Family had forced his father, Hizashi Hyuga, to die.

On top of that, the Caged Bird Cursed Seal restricted his talent and his thoughts because of the system that bound the Branch Family.

He resented the Main Family.

Neji could barely stand now. Uchiha Yu snorted. "He tore up my five thousand ryo! My five thousand ryo is gone! Do you expect me to put up with that?"

With that, he opened his palm.

Shredded banknotes fluttered to the ground.

"So that's what this is about."

Hyuga Hiashi gave a helpless smile.

He took out his wallet, counted out a few bills, and handed them to Uchiha Yu.

"Here's twenty thousand ryo. Please forgive Neji. He's only a child," Hyuga Hiashi said kindly.

Twenty thousand?

The Sharingan vanished at once.

The coldness on Yu's face disappeared instantly.

"Oh, Neji and I go way back. How could I be angry with him? We're just kids messing around. Don't worry about it, Uncle Hiashi."

Uchiha Yu grinned and snatched up the money. After counting it several times, he stuffed it into his pocket.

Sweet!

Hyuga Hiashi: "..."

Damn, couldn't you change your expression a little less quickly? I was just being polite. I didn't expect you to take me up on it!

"Uchiha Yu, why did you come to the Hyuga Clan compound?" Hyuga Tokuma asked.

The Uchiha and Hyuga Clans were both noble clans, but they hardly had anything to do with each other.

"Hinata gave me five thousand ryo to teach her Taijutsu, so I came," Uchiha Yu replied.

Hyuga Hiashi's eyes widened.

He had seen Uchiha Yu's Taijutsu for himself.

It was no weaker at all!

"That's a good thing. Young people should learn from one another," Hyuga Hiashi said with a smile.

Hyuga Tokuma, however, frowned slightly.

"Uchiha Yu uses Konoha-Style Taijutsu. It has nothing in common with our Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist Technique."

Uchiha Yu raised an eyebrow.

"Gentle Fist? I know that too."

He took up the Gentle Fist stance.

"Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"

A burst of chakra shot from his palm!

It sent Neji, who had just managed to get up, flying again!

Hyuga Hiashi's expression changed dramatically.

Was the Sharingan's copying ability really that powerful?

After only a few exchanges, Yu had memorized the whole technique?

The Uchiha were terrifying!