"Peak of Body Refinement in three months."
Li Shang slowly opened his eyes, the cool morning air streaming in through the half-open window. The wooden floor creaked as he stood, his tense muscles emitting a soft pop—as if his entire body were adjusting to the new force inhabiting it.
During that month, he hadn't received anyone. He only interrupted his meditation to politely decline the insistent visits of Naruto, Lee, and some clan members. Even the patriarch himself had summoned him, and yet, Li Shang refused without hesitation. Hiashi wasn't pleased, and the elders murmured disapprovingly, but in the end... no one dared force him.
He looked down at his body, his skin glowing in the soft morning light.
'The impurities... the final sign of breaking through to the tenth level of Body Refinement.'
His smile widened.
'Thanks to the seal absorbing Yuan Qi, I'm already in the process of breaking through that realm.'
He stood, stretching calmly. The simple shorts he wore were soaked with sweat and condensed impurities—a reminder of his isolation. Without ceremony, he removed them and threw them into a chakra flame, watching the fabric crumble to ash.
He walked to the bathroom, still lost in thought, until a sharp sound brought him back to reality.
"Aaaaaah!!"
The surprised cry made him freeze.
At the door, Hinata stood motionless, her eyes wide and her face completely flushed. Her mouth hung open in shock, but no words came out.
Li Shang blinked, his body still turned towards her.
'Why does this scene keep repeating itself?'
He sighed lightly, his expression impassive as he covered himself with a towel.
"Sorry, Lady Hinata."
Without waiting for an answer, he walked past her with the calm of someone who had already accepted his fate and entered the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
The cool water flowed down his body, washing away the sweat and impurities accumulated from weeks of intense cultivation. Each falling drop seemed to shimmer with residual energy, dissolving into the air like strands of chakra.
When he finished, he withdrew a dark cloak and robe from his space ring. The robes fit his body perfectly, the light fabric contrasting with the firmness of his newly refined muscles.
As he looked up at the mirror, he froze.
'What's happening to my eyes?'
The most distinctive feature of the Hyuuga dōjutsu was disappearing. The pearly white—the clan's ancestral symbol—slowly dissolved, replaced by alight blue, almost transparent, like the shine of a crystal submerged in light.
The change was subtle but undeniable. The reflection in the mirror revealed something new, something that went beyond blood inheritance. It was as if the gaze itself reflected Li Shang's soul—pure, cold, and unfathomable.
He moved closer, observing the glow emanating from the pupils.
"White gives way to blue..." he murmured, fascinated. "...as if revealing what is inside me."
The spiritual light radiating from his eyes pulsed briefly, and the space around him seemed to expand. His vision widened, passing through walls, mountains, and forests.
Five miles.
This was the new scope of his gaze.
He took a deep breath, feeling the power flow naturally.
'The Byakugan is changing... it's no longer just an inheritance of the eye. It's a reflection of the soul. When the body is purified, the gaze also transforms.'
A slight smile formed on his lips.
'With each advance, the white dissolves... and the blue of the soul awakens. If it continues like this... perhaps the eye will reach something beyond the sight of mortals.'
———
The crowd filled the stands, vibrant and noisy, a living wave of voices and anticipation. The Chuunin Exam—the contest that would define the future of young ninjas from the great nations—had become a spectacle.
The iron gates slowly opened, revealing the nine competitors. Each step echoed like the sound of war drums. Above them, the village flags fluttered in the wind, mingling with the excited voices of the crowd.
The bleachers were divided into sections. In the lower areas, civilians and students cheered, pointing and commenting on their favorites. Higher up, the rows reserved for veteran shinobi and jounin stood in attentive silence, assessing. And at the top, in the boxes protected by chakra barriers, were thedaimyōs— political leaders of each nation, surrounded by guards and advisors.
The center of the arena, however, was dominated by the presence of the two great leaders: theThird Hokage, with his white cloak and serene gaze, and, beside him, theKazekage, wrapped in a veil that partially hid their faces. Their elevated position on the wall made their silhouettes appear to be watching over the entire village.
The tension was almost palpable.
On the ground, the nine finalists lined up before examiner Genma Shiranui. The jounin chewed a stick between his teeth, his relaxed posture belying the weight of the moment.
"Listen well," he said, his firm voice echoing across the silent field. "The rules are simple. You will fight until one side loses consciousness, gives up, or dies. Beyond that, anything goes."
The murmur of the audience ceased. Only the wind moved, carrying the golden dust from the ground.
Li Shang maintained a calm expression, his arms crossed over his chest.
'Sasuke Uchiha hasn't arrived yet.'
The Uchiha's absence was noticeable. Even the audience seemed uneasy about the delay, murmuring among themselves. Li Shang, however, merely looked up, watching the Hokage discreetly conversing with an ANBU.
'If he didn't arrive, it means the order of the fights has been changed.'
Genma pulled out a scroll and unrolled it before everyone. His voice echoed, cutting through the anticipation with the precision of a blade.
"The first fight will be between Neji Hyuuga and Dosu Kinuta."
Li Shang raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise.
'As I imagined... they changed positions because of Sasuke's delay.'
The audience reacted with a mix of excitement and curiosity. The name Hyuuga always attracted attention—synonymous with prestige and talent. The opponent, the last surviving member of the Sound Village team, was a mystery shrouded in banners and mystery.
Dosu advanced slowly, his body covered in bandages up to his neck. His single visible eye reflected calm and hatred in equal measure. The strange device attached to his right arm emitted a low hum, like the prelude to a storm.
Li Shang stared at him emotionlessly. His posture was straight, his expression too serene for a boy about to engage in mortal combat.
The examiner took a few steps back, raising his hand.
"Both fighters ready?"
Dosu nodded silently, his muscles tensing beneath the bandages. Li Shang simply closed his eyes briefly, adjusting his breathing.
His eyes opened, revealing a translucent blue that reflected the sunlight. The wind blew hard, stirring up dust. Genma's stick fell from his lips as he announced, "
"Begin!"
The crowd erupted in cheers.
[Author's Note:This story was originally written in Portuguese, so there may be some translation errors. If you notice any, please let me know so I can fix them. Thank you for reading!]