The brat's face twisted in determination. With a serious expression, he pulled a shuriken from his pocket and hurled it forcefully toward Neji.
The metallic weapon whistled through the air.
But Neji didn't even bother to dodge. Calm as still water, he raised his hand, extended two fingers, and caught the spinning shuriken as though it were a drifting leaf.
Whoosh!
The next instant, Neji's figure blurred. In the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of the brat, his fist already chambered.
Bang!
His punch slammed into the boy's abdomen with terrifying precision.
The child's eyes bulged as the air left his lungs. His body lifted off the ground like a kite with its string suddenly cut, tracing a painful arc before crashing heavily into the dirt. Dust rose, and silence fell.
From the side, Hyuga Hinata froze in shock. Her pale eyes widened, lips trembling slightly.
This… this Kumogakure ninja actually struck someone—for me?
Before the thought could settle, two masked figures flickered into the square.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The appearance of the Konoha ANBU was swift and oppressive. They landed directly in front of Neji, their white animal masks concealing their faces. One spoke in a cold, clipped tone:
"Kumogakure Genin. This is Konoha. Fighting here is strictly forbidden."
Neji's lips curled into a faint smile.
When those brats had been harassing Hinata moments earlier, these same ANBU hadn't intervened. But now, when he retaliated, they appeared immediately.
It was obvious. They weren't here to enforce rules. They were here to test him.
Neji clasped his hands behind his back, his voice calm and cutting.
"I merely wished to teach those children a simple truth—the shinobi world is not as innocent as they imagine."
The second ANBU stepped forward, tone sharper. "Temporary inspection. You'll come with us."
The words were loud enough to draw attention. The other Genin in the square, many who had been preparing to leave, now turned curiously toward Neji. Shinobi instinct demanded they gather information.
Dozens of eyes fixed on the confrontation.
Neji narrowed his gaze. He crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly.
"Temporary inspection, hm? Am I to understand this as Konoha deliberately targeting Kumogakure… targeting the Hidden Cloud Village itself?"
The ANBU didn't flinch. "It is our duty. Cooperate."
Around them, the gathered ninja whispered and smirked, some crossing their arms, others leaning lazily against trees to enjoy the drama.
Neji exhaled softly, then chuckled. His Byakugan flared faintly as he pointed to his own eyes.
"If you want to inspect me… then defeat me. Only then will I go with you."
The ANBU stiffened. "Kumogakure brat… arrogant, aren't you?"
Few Genin would dare to openly challenge the ANBU.
From the distance, Karui shifted uneasily. "Yugito-sama, should we intervene?"
But Yugito merely folded her arms and smirked. "No need. Neji can handle it."
Her calm words reached Hinata's ears. Her whole body trembled.
Neji… nii-san?
Her heart raced. But… Otou-sama told me Neji nii-san was already dead…
Across the square, others had also taken interest.
Yura, the puppeteer from Sunagakure, clicked his tongue. "Hmph. Kumogakure Genin are really that arrogant?"
Not far away, Uchiha Itachi walked by, barely sparing the scene a glance before leaving. His indifference was absolute, as though such conflicts meant nothing.
Deidara leaned lazily against a tree trunk, one eyebrow raising. Even he seemed intrigued by this Kumogakure boy.
On the Mist Village side, Zabuza chuckled darkly. "Heh. Things are about to get entertaining."
Beside him, Mei Terumī rested her chin in her hand. "I'm curious to see just how strong this Kumogakure Byakugan is. He even gambled away the Amber Purifying Pot… what an audacious child."
High above, on the roof of a tall building, several Konoha elites observed the encounter—Kakashi, Yamato, Yūgao, Gekkō Hayate, and other ANBU.
Yamato frowned, his voice low. "Senpai, isn't this going too far? He's only a Genin. Sending an ANBU—Special Jōnin level—to test him… it's excessive."
Kakashi's one visible eye was solemn. "This is Hokage-sama's instruction." He folded his arms. "Don't worry. They won't get serious. I've already given orders. There will be no fatal injuries."
Still, Yūgao smirked lightly. "How many moves do you think he can last?"
Hayate coughed harshly before answering with disdain. "Ten moves at most. He's arrogant, a child who gambles recklessly. Even if he has some skill, he's no match for ANBU."
Yūgao nodded, agreeing. Special Jōnin weren't just stronger in power, but in experience. Against a mere Genin, it shouldn't be a contest.
Yet Kakashi's eye lingered on Yugito in the crowd. Her calmness unsettled him. A whisper of unease tugged at his gut.
Back in the square, the ANBU drew their weapons. Muscles tensed.
Whoosh!
Before they could move, Neji vanished. His figure flickered out of existence.
"What?!"
Both ANBU spun around in alarm.
Then a voice, smooth and unhurried, brushed past their ears.
"Looking for me?"
Their blood froze. They tried to use the Body Flicker to retreat—but too late.
Thud! Thud!
Both ANBU were sent flying backward, their bodies slamming into the ground like downed aircraft.
The crowd erupted in silent awe.
Darui grinned, shaking his head. "Idiots. Didn't even realize they picked a fight with iron itself…"
Gasps rippled through the watching shinobi. The ANBU hadn't been weak—but Neji's speed had been overwhelming. Too sharp, too fast.
On the rooftop, Hayate's eyes bulged. "Wh–what just happened?!"
Even Yamato was shaken. He had guessed Neji was no ordinary Genin, but he hadn't expected this.
The speed he displayed was something many Special Jōnin could not match.
His suspicion deepened, and he turned toward Kakashi—only to notice Kakashi had already lifted his forehead protector, his Sharingan spinning.
"Senpai… that technique…"
Kakashi's voice was grim. "Yes. Lightning Release Chakra Mode. The true inheritance of Kumogakure's Raikage line."
He had studied Lightning Release deeply himself. With the Sharingan, every detail of Neji's movements was clear.
This was no imitation. This was the real thing—and frighteningly refined.
For a boy barely six years old… it was monstrous.
"No wonder," Kakashi murmured, "he dared to gamble the Amber Purifying Pot. His strength… is no less than a Special Jōnin."
In the crowd, Deidara's interest sharpened.
"A Lightning Release master, huh?"
He thought of the Raikage, who once fought tens of thousands of Stone ninja alone. Lightning Release cut through Earth Release like a hot blade through wax. Even his own Explosion Release, derived from Earth chakra, would find itself countered.
But instead of fear, Deidara's lips curved. "Hmph. Such a genius shinobi deserves to witness my art."
Elsewhere, Guren paused mid-step, her eyes flashing with surprise. But after a moment, she smirked, dismissing it. Her target was Itachi. She continued walking.
Back at the square's center, Neji looked down at the two groaning ANBU and spoke coldly.
"Seems I'm not the arrogant one here."
With that, he turned and strode away. The crowd instinctively parted before him and his team.
As Neji walked past, Hinata found her courage. Her voice trembled as she cried out:
"Neji… nii-san!"
Neji paused. For an instant, his steps faltered.
But he didn't turn. His reply was quiet, almost cruel.
"Hinata-ojōsama… the Neji you knew is dead. Forget him."
Hinata's lips quivered. Her heart clenched painfully.
---
Back at the inn, Darui frowned, frustration etched on his face.
"Captain, showing your strength so early… during the exams, we'll definitely become targets."
Neji stopped at the door and looked over his shoulder lazily.
"You're wrong. Not might."
Darui blinked. "Huh?"
"It's definitely."
Darui's jaw dropped. "Then why interfere back there?"
Before Neji could answer, Karui yanked Darui's ear sharply. "Idiot! Don't you get it? Those ANBU were looking for trouble deliberately."
Yugito coughed softly, cutting in. "Enough. Tomorrow's the first exam. Rest well tonight."
Without waiting for arguments, she grabbed Neji's wrist, pulled him inside the room, and slammed the door.
Inside, the air was tense.
Yugito's golden eyes gleamed with amusement. She leaned close, examining Neji's expression. "You like that Byakugan girl… don't you?"
Neji stiffened. "When did I ever say that? Did I?"
Yugito smirked and cupped his face, forcing him to meet her gaze.
"Don't lie. Then why did you step in?"
Neji hesitated, then chuckled bitterly. "…Fine. I'll admit it. I like her. But between us… it's impossible."
Yugito tilted her head. "Impossible? That's easy. Just kidnap her back to the Cloud. Make her yours."
Neji sighed, rubbing his temples. "That wouldn't solve anything. There's a thick, tragic barrier between us."
"Barrier?" Yugito arched an eyebrow. "Then break it."
But Neji's eyes grew distant. "You don't understand. Her name is Hyuga Hinata. She is the daughter of Hyuga Hiashi."
Yugito's teasing vanished. Silence fell.
She understood immediately. The Hyuga Clan was twisted, bound by cruel tradition. More importantly, Hiashi had sacrificed Neji's father, Hizashi. Blood feud ran deep.
How could Neji ever reconcile that?
For a moment, neither spoke. Then Neji abruptly shifted the subject.
"Captain… have you begun contacting the Uchiha?"
Yugito blinked, startled. She nodded. "Yes. I arranged to meet their clan tonight, midnight, in the Forest of Death."
"Don't bother," Neji said flatly. "Fugaku won't show."
Yugito pouted. "Still, I should try. What if he does?"
Neji poured her a cup of hot water, placing it gently in her hands. "There's no need. I already have a plan to bring the Uchiha to our side."
Yugito's eyes widened. "You do?"
Neji nodded. "The Hokage faction has suppressed them since the Second Hokage's era. The conflict is irreconcilable. Fugaku knows this."
He leaned back, voice calm but laced with contempt. "But Fugaku himself is weak. Cowardly. He sees the truth but cannot act. He lacks the ruthlessness to rebel, yet he also lacks the humility to kneel. His endless hesitation is why the clan is divided."
Yugito frowned. "So the Uchiha have no unity?"
"Exactly," Neji replied. "Some push for a coup. Others plead for peace. Fugaku cannot unite them. Instead, he holds meeting after meeting—big ones every few days, small ones every night. Endless meetings. No results. Under such a leader, the Uchiha's downfall is inevitable."
His words cut like blades. "Yes, Konoha's leadership is despicable. But Fugaku bears enormous responsibility too. Eight years passed since the Nine-Tails' Attack. In all that time, countless chances to save his clan slipped through his hands. He chose inaction. That is why the Uchiha are doomed."
Yugito absorbed his words in silence. The truth was undeniable. With divided hearts, the Uchiha could neither stage a coup nor pledge loyalty.
"Then what's your plan?" she asked finally.
Neji's eyes glimmered with cold resolve.
"Simple. If they are divided, we'll help them unite. If they still harbor illusions about the Hokage, we'll shatter them. When despair consumes them, we'll offer a new path—one that leads straight to Kumogakure."
Yugito leaned forward. "And… how do you intend to do that?"
Neji's smile was faint, but his gaze was sharp as steel.
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