Neji: I admit I was a little too loud before

Neji Hyuga's strike was vicious.

Although the Hyuga Clan specialized in the Gentle Fist, which centered on striking chakra points, that did not mean their muscular strength was lacking.

If Neji's attack landed squarely, Hinata would suffer at least two broken ribs!

Hinata knew this too and hurriedly lowered her elbow to block.

But Neji was faster. He had already slipped past her guard, and his fist was about to slam into her!

Hinata squeezed her eyes shut in fear, already instinctively preparing to endure the blow.

She could already foresee that she might spend the next few days in the hospital.

Unfortunately, that meant she wouldn’t be able to see Yecheng-kun for the next few days.

Their exchange happened so quickly that by the time Iruka realized something was wrong, it was already too late to stop them!

He immediately broke into a cold sweat. If the Hyuga Clan's Young Lady suffered serious injuries in his class, he could hardly escape responsibility!

Hiding in the shadows, Mizuki saw Iruka's grim expression and immediately felt waves of satisfaction rise within him.

Yes, that's it!

That's exactly the expression I wanted to see!

Well done, Neji!

Better yet, go for the kill and murder that girl outright. The despair on Iruka's face would be absolutely exquisite!

But his delusional wish would not come true.

At that critical moment, Yecheng stepped in.

Smack!

Yecheng easily caught Neji's hate-fueled strike with one hand.

"Let's leave it at that."

"Huh?"

Hinata opened her eyes in surprise and saw Yecheng standing sideways to her.

He was only about her height, yet at that moment, he somehow seemed so tall.

"Yecheng-kun..."

"Are you all right, Hinata?" he said.

His voice was as calm and steady as ever, yet it carried a sense of strength.

"Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks to you, Yecheng-kun."

Hinata took two steps back, moving out of the way.

"Wha... let go!"

Neji Hyuga was shocked. How had someone caught his punch so easily?

He tried hard to pull his fist free, but his wrist felt as though an incredibly sturdy iron hoop had clamped around it. Searing pain shot through it, yet he could not move it an inch!

What kind of strength is this?

Horrified, Neji Hyuga immediately pressed the fingers of his other hand together and struck eight chakra points in rapid succession along the arm Yecheng was using to hold him!

Eight whole chakra points had been struck. The pain alone was enough to make someone feel as though their arm had been severed!

Not to mention the blocked chakra flow. Even the strongest person would be unable to exert any strength!

No matter how strong this guy is, he shouldn't be able to use that strength now, right?

Yet the force around his wrist did not weaken in the slightest. His hand felt as though it were pinned beneath a mountain, with no possibility of escape!

H-how is this possible?

Yecheng released him, and Neji Hyuga immediately leaped backward to put some distance between them.

He said evenly, "It's just a practice match between classmates. Was there any need to be so brutal?"

"Hmph, what do you know about me?!"

Having someone touch a sore spot, and criticize him with such cold indifference at that, sent the anger in Neji Hyuga's heart surging wildly.

"What gives people like you the right to stand there and lecture me?"

Neji Hyuga made up his mind. Even if his opponent was merely someone his own age, he would use his full strength and teach him a harsh lesson!

He wanted to vent his anger and his resentment!

And Yecheng, standing before him, was the best target right now!

Whoosh!

He was incredibly fast, faster than any Ninja Academy student, and even faster than a genin!

Almost a second later, Neji Hyuga was already in front of Yecheng, ready to unleash Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms!

He would show everyone his greatest accomplishment. He would tell them all that he was not a caged bird, that he was a genius!

As for Yecheng?

Isn't he a medical ninja? He won't die.

Iruka had only just breathed a sigh of relief after Hinata was saved when his heart clenched once more.

He could not afford to have the Hyuga Clan's Young Lady injured, much less Lady Tsunade's apprentice!

He hurried forward to call a halt.

An even more delighted look flashed through Mizuki's eyes as he hid in the shadows.

Remembering how Iruka had enthusiastically boasted to him about his outstanding student Yecheng, while he had been forced to smile along, Mizuki felt ready to throw up!

This is how it should be!

Good job, Neji! Beat him half to death just like that!

Seeing this, Hinata, Ino, and the rest of their friends all watched Yecheng with overwhelming concern, terrified that he might get hurt.

Sasuke Uchiha also watched Yecheng nervously. This was someone who had defeated him. He would not allow him to lose to anyone else before Sasuke defeated him.

"Don't worry! Yecheng's really strong. He'll definitely win!"

Naruto alone firmly believed that Yecheng would win.

Precisely because he had always played and trained with him, he knew that Yecheng's true strength was far more unfathomable than anyone imagined!

But even Naruto had never imagined that Yecheng would win in this way.

Bam!

The collision happened in the next instant.

One punch!

With just one punch, Yecheng broke Neji Hyuga's left arm, then slammed his fist hard into his stomach.

He sent him flying two or three meters straight back!

"Urgh..."

Neji Hyuga curled up on the ground and vomited a mouthful of stomach acid. Pain spread through his entire body in an instant, draining all his strength.

He struggled briefly before finally passing out.

He could not get back up!

The entire crowd fell silent in an instant!

Mizuki was even more dumbfounded in the shadows. He had never imagined that Neji, the trump card he was so proud of, would be defeated so easily by Yecheng!

"Come find me again once your head is clearer."

Leaving those words behind, Yecheng turned and walked away.

Of course, Yecheng had held back. Otherwise, if he had unleashed his Monster Strength at full power, that punch could have gone straight through Neji Hyuga's chest.

With his strength increasing by the day, using it to fight Ninja Academy students really was rather like picking on little children.

Even though he was a little younger than Neji Hyuga.

"Yecheng-kun..."

Seeing Yecheng leave, Hinata was about to step forward, but someone beat her to it.

"Wow! Yecheng, you're amazing! You sent that guy flying with one punch!"

Naruto rushed over, shouting and bouncing around.

"No, I knew you were strong, but I didn't think you were thiiiiis strong!"

Watching his lively antics, Yecheng thought, You'll be able to wipe out four nations single-handedly in the future. What's this compared to that?

Yecheng chuckled and said, "Train hard with Uncle Might, and you'll be able to do it too."

"Huh? Really? You're not lying to me?"

Naruto froze for a moment, then looked at Yecheng with shining eyes.

"You can, you can. You definitely can. Have you forgotten that you're going to become Hokage?"

Yecheng replied with a smile.

"All right!"

Naruto started waving his arms and dancing around again.

"Yecheng-kun, you’re not hurt, are you?"

Ino finally found a chance to speak. She was a little worried that Yecheng's explosive burst just now had been some special method that placed a tremendous strain on his body.

"I'm fine. Thank you, Ino."

"Hehe..."

Yecheng-kun thanked me. I’m so happy!

Their friends crowded around him, chattering all at once, all sincerely happy about Yecheng's victory.

After all, Neji Hyuga had looked truly vicious earlier, and he had struck hard too. None of them liked him very much.

Sasuke Uchiha stood outside the crowd, glancing at Yecheng from time to time.

Is this guy really that strong?

Why does it feel like I won't be able to beat him even after awakening my Sharingan?

No, I definitely can!

I'll win!

Iruka gave Neji Hyuga some basic first aid, announced that everyone could practice freely for the rest of the lesson, then picked Neji up and rushed to Konoha Hospital.

His forehead was covered in cold sweat. He had never expected a single joint class to produce so many frightening incidents, and a student had still ended up injured!

He swore he would never hold another joint class again!

After making a fuss for a while, the students found their friends and began sparring in small groups.

Once the crowd had dispersed, Shikamaru Nara approached Yecheng.

"Yecheng, Neji's from the Hyuga Clan, and he seems to have some connection to the head of the household. Is this going to be okay?"

"Now this is unusual, Shikamaru."

Yecheng gave him a curious look. "Aren't you always afraid of trouble? Why did you come help me of your own accord this time?"

"Hey, having one less friend around while we're still in school would be the real drag."

Shikamaru rested both hands behind his head, pretending not to care.

"Whatever the case, thanks for the warning, Shikamaru."

Yecheng knew he meant well. He might talk about avoiding trouble, but deep down, he valued his friends as much as anyone.

"But don't worry. I've prepared a big gift, and I'll give it to him tomorrow."

"A big gift?"

Doubt flickered through Shikamaru's mind. "Well, if you've got it figured out, I guess I was sticking my nose in."

"Not at all. I'm happy you said something. How could that be sticking your nose in?"

Yecheng smiled. "Oh, right. I'm planning an awesome barbecue party this weekend. I'd be really happy if you came. And Choji, Kiba, and Shino too. Sorry for the trouble, but could you help invite them?"

As for Ino, he would naturally invite her himself. After all, he had invited Hinata personally too.

He had to treat them equally.

"Sure! A barbecue party sounds great!"

Seeing that Yecheng really did seem prepared, Shikamaru relaxed.

"Leave Ino and Choji to me. I can bring some senbei too."

"That would be great."

It'd be best if everyone brought some ingredients. Then I could save myself the shopping.

Yecheng recalled a joke from his previous life:

"Come over for hot pot tonight. Just bring some meat. I've already got the vegetables and beer."

"Come over for hot pot tonight. Just bring a pack of beer. I've already got the meat and vegetables."

"Come over for hot pot tonight. Just bring some vegetables. I've already got the meat and beer..."

And just like that, a hot pot feast was ready without spending a single cent.

Of course, he certainly would not actually do that.

He was still counting on this gathering to properly expand his business connections.

The next day.

In the Hokage Office.

"Lord Hokage, the goods from our trade with Kumogakure have arrived."

"Have they? Archive the ninjutsu and secret techniques first, then select suitable candidates to practice the Heavenly Transfer Technique."

The Third Hokage took a puff of his pipe, finally seeming to reach some sort of decision.

"Kakashi, you'll handle returning Hizashi Hyuga's remains."

"...Yes."

Kakashi accepted the order and left.

It was not until the next day that Neji Hyuga slowly regained consciousness.

Looking at the familiar ceiling and the square room around him, Neji could only feel that this place was a cage.

No matter how luxurious or exquisite it looked, it was still nothing more than a luxurious, exquisite birdcage.

With his arm in a sling, he walked through the corridors and courtyards.

The atmosphere in the Hyuga Clan was strange that day. Everyone seemed to be feigning calm, because the joy in their eyes was palpable.

Yet they seemed afraid of touching on some taboo and dared not make it known.

That feeling of wanting to celebrate out loud yet having to hold it in, along with the strange looks everyone gave him, made Neji Hyuga more than ten times as frustrated as usual.

For some inexplicable reason, he found himself at the Training Hall where he usually sparred and trained with Hinata Hyuga.

Though he was still injured, he wanted to vent through training.

But he encountered someone unexpected there.

Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga Clan.

"Lord Hiashi."

When a Branch Family member encountered someone from the Main Family, they had to bow respectfully.

"Oh, it's you, Neji..."

Hyuga Hiashi had clearly been lost in memories. Only when Neji spoke did he realize someone was beside him.

"I didn't know you were here, Lord Head of the Household. Forgive the intrusion. I'll leave at once."

Neji bowed and turned to leave.

He acted not as though he were facing his own uncle, but a stranger.

"Wait. Come here."

Hyuga Hiashi called him back.

The Head of the Household's orders could not be disobeyed, so Neji could only comply and approach.

Then he saw a face both familiar and unfamiliar.

It was a face that had appeared countless times in his dreams.

It was a face whose features he had almost forgotten.

Yet strangely, although the man looked extremely similar to his twin brother, Hyuga Hiashi, and although Neji had not seen him for years, he recognized him the instant he saw him.

"...Fa...ther...?"

His hand trembling, Neji reached out in disbelief to touch his father's body.

Wasn't that figure lying peacefully in the coffin the very father he longed, day and night, to see just once more?!

At some point, tears had already begun slipping silently from his eyes.

There was no release of loud sobbing, no torrent bursting from his eyes. The tears simply flowed of their own accord, soaking his clothes.

They streamed out, seemingly without end.

After a long while, Neji wiped his eyes.

He looked at Hyuga Hiashi in confusion. Why was his father's body here?

"Ah..."

Hyuga Hiashi sighed and began recounting what had happened three years ago.

"Three years ago, Hinata was abducted. I killed the culprit, never expecting him to be the Kumogakure squad leader!

It was a long-planned trap. My life should have been used to settle this conflict that could have sparked a war.

But your father, my own younger brother, stepped forward of his own accord. He wanted to protect you, and his useless older brother as well..."

"So... that's what happened?"

Neji Hyuga murmured. This was the first time he had learned the truth.

"Then why didn't you tell me sooner...?"

"I know you've harbored resentment ever since you were branded with the Caged Bird Seal. That's only natural, so I've been waiting all this time for a chance to tell you the truth."

Hyuga Hiashi sighed softly. "Not as the head of the Hyuga Clan, but as your uncle."

"Then why did those bastards from Kumogakure..."

Neji Hyuga gritted his teeth.

It went without saying that those people from Kumogakure must have used every means at their disposal to desecrate his father's body in pursuit of the Byakugan's secrets!

Yet now they had abandoned that pursuit and even returned his father's body.

Something must have happened.

"It was Yecheng."

Hyuga Hiashi revealed the answer. "He was the one who proposed the terms: your father's body in exchange for him treating the Raikage!"

As though struck by a bolt from the blue, Neji Hyuga froze.

What?!

It was him!!!