The most complex part of the project was the design of the entry and exit passage. Neji abandoned traditional stairway or vertical shaft plans, instead adopting an extreme yet absolutely concealed method—each time he entered or exited, he would completely store the earth within the passage in his space, then immediately refill it after passing through. The method was somewhat crude, but it ensured that even the most sensitive sensory ninja would be unable to detect the underground entrance.
"Let's test it."
Standing at the side exit of the base, Neji opened the heavy stone door. Behind it lay solid earth, and his hands rapidly formed seals.
"Earth Release: Earthwork Extraction Jutsu!"
The packed earth behind the door was immediately extracted into a cylindrical passage. All the soil vanished into his space in an instant, leaving only a half-meter layer near the ground in place.
Neji used the Body Flicker Technique to reach the small platform reserved before the exit. After carefully sensing the activity within several kilometers, he stored the last of the earth and leaped out onto the surface.
He took a deep breath of the forest's fresh, damp air, then waved a hand. All the earth in his space returned to its original position, perfectly concealing the underground base's entrance. As expected, it left no trace—not even the slightest crack could be found on the ground.
"I'll have to study space-time ninjutsu when I have time." Neji gritted his teeth and climbed to his feet, dragging his exhausted body back to Konoha. The thin mist before dawn shrouded the sleeping village, and the patrolling ninja had just changed shifts. No one noticed the mud-covered "night-wandering boy."
With the basic construction nearing its end, Neji began working on the most crucial part—the barrier system. It concerned whether he