In the twenty-second year of Konoha, the cherry blossoms along the Nanga River had long since withered, replaced by lush green leaves. Cicadas had begun their clamorous chorus at dawn, adding a touch of restlessness to the coming graduation season.
Neji sat cross-legged in a secret base deep within the Forest of Death, his eyes lightly closed and his breathing slow and steady. Over the past five years, this underground space he had built with his own hands had expanded more than threefold. Its walls were densely carved with reinforcement runes, while the illusion array on the ceiling perfectly simulated the cycle of day and night. At that moment, the "sky" displayed the pale light of dawn, with wisps of "morning sunlight" filtering through the "clouds" onto the boy's delicate face.
"Phew—"
With a long exhalation, Neji's consciousness entered his Sea of Consciousness. Floating within it was a transparent Dharma Form about a foot tall. Its outline resembled his own by seventy percent, though its features remained indistinct. A faint blue halo surrounded the Dharma Form—the outward manifestation of highly condensed spiritual power.
"It grew another fraction." Neji extended his index finger and lightly touched the top of the Dharma Form's head, sensing the surging spiritual power within. When he had first crossed into this time and space five years ago, his Dharma Form had only been a few inches tall. Now, it had grown to over a foot. By Neji's estimation, when the Dharma Form reached the same height as his physical body, he would be able to enter Sage Mode without loss; and if it one day reached a height of sixteen feet, he would touch upon the domain of space and obtain the legendary divine abilities.
The Dharma Form seemed to sense its master's thoughts and trembled