After keeping Jiraiya in Konoha, Neji decided to carry out a personnel upgrade for Konoha. Only then did the authority of the Hokage's assistant begin to truly show its might.
His goal was clear and ambitious—cultivating talent to face the crises that might descend in the future. His first step would begin with those closest to him and Konoha's current top Jonin.
After several days of seclusion, relying on his deeper understanding of Chaos Immortal Power, he thoroughly upgraded and remodeled the Sage Crystal Filter. The new generation of filters was no longer a simple purification and amplification device. Its internal structure was more intricate and refined, containing a trace of the Chaos Immortal Power's ability to evolve all things. Not only could it purify chakra and guide natural energy more efficiently, it could even subtly optimize the host's energy circulation routes according to their physique and fighting style, unlocking their potential.
Shizune and Xiao Xi were the first to receive the new filters. The process remained smooth, but the aura that erupted from them the instant the new filters completely fused with their bodies moved even Tsunade, who had come to observe.
It was no longer a simple surge in chakra, but a faint elevation in the very level of their lives. Their auras became more condensed and profound, while their resonance with the natural energy around them reached an entirely new height. There was no doubt that, with these new Sage Crystal Filters, Shizune and Xiao Xi had firmly stepped across the threshold of Shadow Rank!
To test their strength, and also to intimidate and inspire, a special sparring match was held at Konoha's Third Training Ground. Besides Tsunade and Neji, the spectators included Jiraiya, Kakashi, Kai, Asuma, Kurenai Yuhi, and other core high-level combatants of Konoha, all