Not Having Chakra Doesn't Mean I Have No Strength

The moonlight was like water, its bright glow streaming through the window and falling on Ye Fan. Sweat covered the young man's cheeks.

At that moment, Ye Fan sat cross-legged on the wooden bed, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in a meditative state.

A kind of vortex seemed to form around his body, sweeping in the pure energy drifting through the air.

Even the gentle moonlight seemed like a school of fish returning home, flowing into Ye Fan's body and traveling through all his meridians along with the circulation of True Qi within him.

Boom!

A sound only Ye Fan could hear rang out. Some restraint within his body was shattered by the surging torrent of True Qi, which roared onward like crashing waves.

Ye Fan abruptly opened his eyes, a sharp gleam shooting from them as a powerful aura rapidly spread out from him.

In an instant, the furnishings in the room were affected. The table and chairs began to shake, while the hanging lamp on the ceiling started to sway...

Fortunately, the disturbance came quickly and vanished just as fast. Within a single breath, it disappeared without a trace.

A faint smile appeared on Ye Fan's lips.

After that round of cultivation, his strength had risen to a new level. He was now one step closer to breaking through to the Beast-Taming Stage, Second Layer.

Ye Fan had a feeling that he would achieve the breakthrough within a few days.

Once he reached the Beast-Taming Stage, Second Layer, there would be many more things he could do. At the same time, he would be able to use a special Detection Ability.

Leaping down from the bed, Ye Fan felt refreshed and comfortable from the inside out. That was one of the added benefits of making a breakthrough in cultivation.

With a wave of his arm through the air, the tightly shut window was opened by a gentle force. The soft night breeze drifted in, bringing a cool breath of air.

Ye Fan took a deep breath and murmured, "There are still more than ten days until the makeup exam. I wonder how many surprises that so-called genius brat can bring me. I hope he doesn't disappoint me."

The person Ye Fan spoke of was none other than his opponent in the makeup exam—Neji Hyuga.

In a forest within Konoha, Neji Hyuga, dressed in white, stood beneath a tree in a fighting stance and took a deep breath.

"Byakugan!"

With a low shout, he activated the Byakugan Bloodline Limit. Several veins immediately bulged around Neji Hyuga's eyes.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

With a flick of his arms, he threw out two kunai, severing two taut ropes in the distance and triggering the prepared trap.

In an instant, countless kunai, shuriken, and hidden weapons rained down from above.

Neji Hyuga's expression was stern. Faced with the many hidden weapons flying toward him, he showed not the slightest panic. Instead, a cold gleam flashed in his eyes.

"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"

His palms blurred through the air, his arms seeming to turn intangible as they struck with meteor-like speed, knocking down every incoming hidden weapon.

Clang clang clang clang!

Clang clang clang clang!

Sparks flew everywhere, and the sound of metal clashing rang without end.

Only when the last five-pointed shuriken was knocked to the ground did Neji Hyuga's hands become visible again. He exhaled a breath of stale air, his expression utterly unchanged.

Still not fast enough! I have to become stronger—stronger than anyone in the Main House!

Neji Hyuga did not pause and threw himself back into training.

People admired geniuses, but how many knew that behind a genius lay effort far beyond that of ordinary people?

As a member of the Branch House, Neji Hyuga refused to accept his fate. He wanted to prove it to the world—especially to those of the Main House—that even without the Main House's resources and learning environment, he, Neji Hyuga, could still become strong!

Just like the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms he had already mastered. Even without guidance from the Main House, he had still learned it.

Neji Hyuga did not take the upcoming ninja makeup exam seriously at all. In his eyes, Ye Fan did not even qualify as an opponent, and there would be no suspense in the outcome that day.

Little did he know that Ye Fan thought exactly the same way. He likewise did not take Neji Hyuga, who was still only a Genin, seriously.

Early in the morning, after breakfast, Ye Fan once again came to the veterinary hospital where Hana Inuzuka worked and saw Laiyun, whom he had not seen for several days.

Laiyun had recovered remarkably well. He looked much sturdier than before, his eyes had regained their sparkle, and his fur had recovered its sheen.

Since Hana Inuzuka had other matters to attend to, she once again left Ye Fan and Laiyun alone in the room.

With a smile on his lips, Ye Fan watched Laiyun eat his dog food.

"Finished eating? Then let's have a chat." Ye Fan finally spoke after Laiyun cleaned out the small bowl of dog food.

Laiyun chose a comfortable position on the floor, then quietly stared at Ye Fan.

"You're recovering quickly. I believe you'll be able to leave the hospital in a few days." Ye Fan paused before continuing, "But I don't think there's any need to wait those few days. I can take you away from here now. I'm sure you've been looking forward to starting training as soon as possible."

Laiyun suddenly raised his head, his gaze fixed on Ye Fan like a torch.

Ye Fan chuckled softly. "After you leave the hospital, you might as well follow me. I can help you rapidly increase your strength. In fact, it could be said that only I can bring about a qualitative leap in your strength in the shortest possible time."

Laiyun sprang to his feet and barked twice at Ye Fan.

In the past, Ye Fan might not have understood what he was saying. But as his strength continued to improve, he had already mastered beast speech.

So-called beast speech was actually the ability to understand what another creature wished to express by capturing and analyzing the thoughts it emitted.

What Laiyun had just meant was: Kid, why should I believe you?

"I'll make you believe me, but first, you need to recognize your own situation." Ye Fan's tone suddenly turned serious. "Among all Ninja Hounds, your strength is considered above average. But if you intend to rely on the Inuzuka Clan's training methods, then I can tell you very seriously that your room for improvement is limited. In particular, you cannot rapidly increase your strength in a short time."

Laiyun wanted to argue, but what Ye Fan said was true. This was also what he had been considering over the past two days: how could he obtain greater power?

Laiyun stared at Ye Fan and asked: What are you trying to say?

Ye Fan gave an awkward smile and continued, "The Inuzuka Clan's ninjutsu is mostly performed through mutual coordination, and Ninja Hounds find it difficult to use ninjutsu on their own. That means you need a new master. The reason I came today was to tell you that I can become your new master!"

Laiyun immediately retorted: You don't even have chakra anymore. What makes you qualified to be my master?

"Not having chakra doesn't mean I have no strength. Next, I'll prove whether I truly have the qualifications!"

The curve of Ye Fan's lips grew increasingly pronounced.