Three days after the Uchiha Clan massacre.
When Neji arrived at school, the topic was still hot. As soon as he sat down, Tenten leaned over and said,
"Neji, did that annoying Uchiha in our class die too? It's the first time someone I know has disappeared, and it feels a bit sad."
Although Tenten didn't particularly like the arrogant Uchiha, a person who had been laughing and making noise in the same class suddenly vanished.
She still felt a little upset.
Neji understood this was a feeling of empathy for a fallen comrade, but he had been a straightforward person all his life.
He no longer had the habit of making blunt, critical remarks that would upset others.
"Yes, the Uchiha Clan now only has Uchiha Sasuke left. This incident was too sudden, truly unexpected."
"Even I feel a bit sad when I think about how the guy Tenten liked to provoke is gone."
Indeed, it was quite sad to lose a high-quality experience pack that would challenge him with just a little provocation.
Neji's slight expression of regret immediately resonated with Tenten, and she, in turn, began to comfort him.
"Perhaps this is our first experience of losing a comrade!"
If they were to become Ninja, facing the death of a comrade was something they would have to confront sooner or later.
Even their teachers had spoken of this with sighs many times over.
"I don't wish for such things to happen, which is why I'm also studying Medical Ninjutsu. Maybe one day I can save a comrade."
Possessing the Byakugan, Neji truly felt sorry for the Hyuga Clan.
Such excellent X-ray vision, it was a pity not to use it for medicine; they insisted on practicing Gentle Fist.
With the Byakugan activated, wouldn't all human body structures be clear as day, and surgical treatments be effortless?
At the very least, using various Ninjutsu as a spellcaster would be good!
With Gentle Fist, close combat was not a problem, and long-range Ninjutsu could be used as a spellcaster, but they insisted on sticking to Gentle Fist.
Times have changed, adults!
Neji condemned such rigid thinking, but perhaps, this was also a rule for survival!
Neji wouldn't say anything about it. If he was strong enough, everything would be fine.
"So, Neji, you're studying Medical Ninjutsu? Then if I get injured in the future, I'll have to rely on you!"
Tenten was no longer melancholy, revealing a slight smile as she entrusted Neji.
"Naturally, but Tenten, you work so hard, you must try not to get injured."
Neji smiled faintly, speaking quite seriously, which made Tenten's cheeks flush slightly.
"Recently, Lee has been working so hard, training desperately every day. Although that annoying Uchiha guy is gone, others still mock him as a dead last."
Tenten muttered, as she and Lee had taken care of Neji together, so their relationship was quite good, and she really disliked those people.
Neji smiled, "Oh, girl!
Do you not know what the strongest things in this world are?
They are the dead last and Konoha Genin!"
As class began, the two stopped chatting, and Lee also arrived in the classroom.
Neji nodded. His experience packs, as his Rank increased, now offered too little experience; they needed time to grow.
Only Lee, this experience pack, could consistently keep up with the pace. He was really looking forward to Might Guy starting to teach him.
When that time came, beating him up would surely yield a lot of experience!
Thinking this, the day gradually passed, just like any other.
He took Hinata halfway home, then separated to go to his personal laboratory.
This made Hinata a little concerned: "Neji-nīchan (Neji, older brother) seems to have spent much less time training with me recently."
"I wonder what Neji-nīchan (Neji, older brother) is doing. I wish I could help."
Thinking this, Hinata clenched her fists, ready to go home and train hard so that she could help Neji-nīchan (Neji, older brother)... After parting ways with Hinata, Neji bought some things and returned to his personal laboratory. He looked around the room and saw that nothing had been moved.
It seemed Uchiha Izumi was still very obedient and hadn't come to the rooms upstairs.
He then carried his things downstairs. Uchiha Izumi, wearing a strange helmet, was looking through some medical books he had placed there.
Uchiha Izumi suddenly noticed Neji had returned and somewhat flustered, closed the books and put them away.
Neji didn't say anything, just placed the things in his hand on the table and then said,
"Have you had dinner?"
"No, not yet!"
Uchiha Izumi was a bit like a bad child caught in the act, somewhat afraid Neji would scold her for touching things randomly.
"Then come and eat. I bought Ichiraku ramen and some dumplings. They're all pasta dishes, perfect for you to eat now."
"Oh!"
Uchiha Izumi responded softly, taking somewhat weak steps to the table and sitting down.
"I'm eating!"
With a pre-meal courtesy, a prayer of respect for the food, she began to eat.
Her stomach, long empty, made the food taste exceptionally good. Only blood loss and injury, not illness, meant her appetite was unaffected.
This made Neji frown slightly: "Didn't you eat lunch?"
Uchiha Izumi, who had just taken a bite of a dumpling, chewed a few times and quickly replied,
"No, I was still a bit weak at noon and couldn't get out of bed at all. I only just recovered some strength now."
Saying this, she hesitated for a moment, then picked up a large portion of noodles again, slurping them up without caring about her image.
After all, she was too hungry!
"Tell me, what are you good at?"
Speaking of which, Neji didn't know what Uchiha Izumi was good at.
"Ugh! Slurp… I'm good at Taijutsu."
It was as if she was squeezing in an answer while busy, so she must have been really hungry.
"Taijutsu, huh?"
Neji mused slightly, wondering why everyone he met was good at Taijutsu.
But it didn't matter. Basic Earth Release for digging underground didn't require high talent; just being able to use it was enough.
"You can look at those medical books. I'll need your help then. Secondly, practice Chakra control more. If possible, I will teach you Medical Ninjutsu."
"Hmm!"
Looking at Uchiha Izumi, who had returned to her normal state, she had probably buried those sad things deep in her heart.
This was a good thing for Neji; he wouldn't have to counsel her much.
"For Earth Release, I will teach you a C-Rank Ninjutsu I developed: Swampification and Solidification."
These were actually techniques he had broken down. The Chakra requirement was very small; one was to liquefy soil, and the other was to solidify it into bricks.
"Developed Ninjutsu?!"
Uchiha Izumi was somewhat shocked, then calmed down. Right, he was a Genius.
"What are you thinking? It's just changing the function of existing Ninjutsu, a very simple thing."
Is this very simple?
Uchiha Izumi muttered to herself. She wasn't incompetent and naturally understood the difficulty involved.
For Neji, modifying Ninjutsu only required him to use it a few times, observe how Chakra flowed within his body,
what effects those hand signs achieved, and what would happen when combined. A few minor adjustments, and it was done.
It really wasn't difficult!
Excellent, another example found to criticize the Hyuga Clan for not utilizing the Byakugan properly.
"Understood!"
The station has arrived, come invest quickly!