Chapter 10: A Shift in Status
The records in the Yotsuki clan's history ended there.
Before meeting Neji, A had always considered it a bizarre and fantastical tale, something his ancestors had recorded that he never took seriously. But when Neji mentioned the "Tenseigan" and "Hyūga Tenjin," A suddenly realized that the secret history recorded in his clan's archives was most likely true.
Hyūga Tenjin had left the shinobi world through a mysterious spatial portal. Where had he gone? And why had he died so suddenly? These were unanswered questions. However, A now speculated that the "eye" Tenjin had taken with him was, in all likelihood, the Tenseigan Neji had spoken of.
Neji had awakened his Byakugan at the age of three and exhibited a maturity, calmness, and confidence far beyond his years. A was convinced that if anyone in the Hyūga clan possessed the potential to awaken the Tenseigan, Neji was undoubtedly one of them.
Having come to this conclusion, A decided to take the gamble.
If he won, the Hidden Cloud would achieve the long-held ambition of the Raikage: to dominate the shinobi world.
If he lost, it would be nothing more than a loss of some training resources.
The potential reward far outweighed the risk. There was no reason not to bet.
"To think, there was such a history," Dodai murmured to himself, his eye narrowed in thought. He was now completely convinced of the grand picture Neji had painted. It was impossible for Neji to have seen the Yotsuki clan's historical records. The fact that their stories corroborated each other was proof that what Neji had said was true.
But...
After a moment's hesitation, Dodai spoke again. "Lord Raikage, there is something I must say, though I'm not sure if it's my place."
"Ha!" A laughed heartily. "Dodai, since when did you learn to be so coy? Speak your mind."
Dodai took a deep breath and voiced his concerns. "Lord Raikage, when it comes down to it, the Hidden Cloud bears a portion of the responsibility for the death of Hyūga Hizashi."
"To kill the father and then use the son... such an act will inevitably draw criticism."
"No one can say for certain whether Neji truly harbors hatred for our village or not."
"Right now, he is a fledgling. He can only endure and gather his strength in secret."
"But what happens in the future, when his wings are fully grown, and he decides to settle this old score?"
Dodai was the Cloud's top strategist, a master of intrigue and cunning. The entire plan to use the peace treaty as a pretense to steal a Hyūga child and force Hiashi's hand had been his design. He had always been one to assume the worst of human nature, to formulate countermeasures and prevent disasters before they could happen. It was this cautious and meticulous nature that had allowed the Hidden Cloud to flourish under the two Raikage he had served.
"So that's what you're worried about, Dodai!"
"My ancestors used to say: first, use force to make your enemies submit, then use bonds to tie everyone together. Only then can you be invincible."
"My father used force to subdue the Eight-Tails. Killer B used the bonds of kinship to fill its heart and reconcile with it, becoming a perfect Jinchūriki."
"The Hyūga took Neji's freedom. The Hidden Cloud has not only given him his freedom, but also a much larger stage on which to stand."
"If our village can tame the ferocious Eight-Tails, do you truly believe it cannot win over one Hyūga Neji?"
"And even if, in the worst-case scenario, Neji's hatred for the Cloud can never be erased... as long as he has the ability to lead our village to supremacy in the shinobi world, he can have my life."
"Even if he kills me, he will still be the Hidden Cloud's Hyūga Neji!"
Late that night, after spending the day exploring most of the Hidden Cloud Village with Samui, an exhausted Neji lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
From a Branch Family child to a core member of the Cloud's leadership—the shift in his status felt absurdly surreal. Everything had gone too smoothly, so smoothly that it felt like a dream.
But Neji didn't dwell on the matter for long. Instead, he began to plan his future training regimen.
Konoha's Scroll of Seals contained a plethora of secret and forbidden jutsu. In comparison, the only high-level secret technique the Cloud had to offer was the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. It was no exaggeration to say that Konoha's foundation of knowledge was richer than that of the other four great villages combined. It was for this reason that, despite being besieged by the other villages during the past three Great Ninja Wars, Konoha had always remained the number one shinobi village.
"The Cloud is famous for its Lightning Release Chakra Mode and its nintaijutsu. With these two skills, the Third Raikage was undoubtedly the closest of his generation's Kage to the level of the two great legends. However, the Cloud's nintaijutsu is highly individualized. Even the styles of the Third and Fourth Raikage were completely different."
Wait, I'm thinking about this the wrong way.
It's not the nintaijutsu that's so powerful, it's the Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
Once I master that, even ordinary taijutsu will have incredible power.
But... I don't have a lightning chakra nature. I'm destined to never learn it!
If I rule out the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, then my only option is to fully develop my Byakugan. I wonder if a pure Hyūga bloodline can actually evolve into the Tenseigan...
Curled up under the covers, Neji silently mapped out his path for the future. Before he knew it, he had drifted off to sleep.
Before dawn the next day, Samui dragged him out of bed. She stood over him, arms crossed, her voice cool and crisp.
"Lord Raikage has instructed me to be your first sensei."
"Huh? It's you, Onee-san?" Neji scratched his head. His unique status made it impossible for him to attend the Ninja Academy like a normal child. Personally, Neji had a strong aversion to the academy system anyway. Having a private tutor for one-on-one instruction was undoubtedly a good thing. He just hadn't expected his first teacher to be Samui.
Thump!
Samui rapped him on the head with her knuckle, her face stern. "What, you don't think I'm qualified to teach you?"
Samui was a leading figure among the new generation of Kumo shinobi, having already been promoted to the rank of Tokubetsu Jōnin at the age of sixteen. For an ordinary ninja without a special bloodline, this was an achievement to be proud of for a lifetime. She was more than qualified to be Neji's first teacher.
It's just...
Neji's eyes were drawn to the heavy, swaying mountains on her chest. "Then... should I call you Onee-san, or Sensei?" he asked, genuinely confused.
A sweet fragrance wafted over him as Samui leaned in close.
"Good question," she whispered. "Outside, you will call me Sensei. At home, you will call me Onee-san."
"Okay!" Neji's eyes lit up. That was an excellent idea. Two identities meant double the fun.
"Let's go!" Samui grabbed his hand and led him out of the residence.
It was four in the morning, and the world outside was pitch black.
"We wake up at 4 AM every morning. Ten laps around Mount Kumokumo. In the morning, taijutsu and ninjutsu theory. In the afternoon, taijutsu and ninjutsu practical training. In the evening, combat drills, until 9 PM."
It was a training regimen so intense that even the purest-blooded members of the Yotsuki clan might not be able to handle it, let alone Neji, who, as a Hyūga, had a relatively average constitution.
A rare, mischievous smile appeared on Samui's normally icy face. She wanted to see Neji struggle.
Neji's brow furrowed in thought.
From 4 AM to 9 PM... all that time, and only for some conventional training?
How am I supposed to get stronger like this?!