Li Shang sat in a lotus position atop a rocky formation, where the wind cut through the valley like a constant whisper. The sky was still gray with dawn, and chakra circulated around him, dense and serene. He was motionless, eyes closed, his body surrounded by a light layer of translucent blue energy.
Meditation was not just to stabilize his new power — it was a way to organize the thoughts that swirled within him.
'This trip was a blessing in disguise as work.'
A slight smile formed on his lips. 'A spiritual crystal mine, liquid Yuan Qi… and now, the Fusion Realm. All in a single stroke of luck.'
He slowly opened his eyes — his silver-blue pupils spiraled.
"I skipped four stages of the Core Realm just by directly absorbing liquid Yuan Qi…"
The memory of the resplendent lake and the almost unbearable pain flashed through his mind like lightning. He touched his chest, feeling the firm and steady pulse of his dantian.
'I would have died if I were an ordinary cultivator…'
But Li Shang was not ordinary. He had already traversed the greatest cultivation realms in his past life, knew the pitfalls of power and the temptations of haste. What for others would be an insurmountable wall — for him — was just a ladder that needed fuel, and he had those miraculous eyes.
"Bottlenecks are just limitations of the body and soul," he murmured. "But when both have already been tempered once… the path is clear."
He slowly ran his hand over his eyes, feeling the slight cold emanating from them. The Tenseigan pulsed in silence, as if breathing with him.
'My range hasn't increased that much… but the precision…' He looked at the horizon. His focus pierced through the air, the trees, the stones, and the valley. Three miles away, he saw a small insect dragging a grain of rice, every detail visible — from the texture of its wings to the dust accumulated on its legs.
"It's like having a divine consciousness… even before reaching the Nascent Soul Realm."
He closed his eyes again and took a deep breath. The world seemed different now — sharper, more alive. Every particle of energy moved as if it had a will of its own, and he could feel them reacting to his presence.
'Furthermore… my Tenseigan reached a new level.' He raised his hand, and the air around seemed to waver. Stones began to float lightly, held by an invisible force. "Gravity…" he said in a low voice.
The stones rose higher and then plummeted, cracking the ground. Controlling gravitational force.
"With this, I can manipulate the field around me, repel attacks, and contain weak enemies effortlessly." A confident gleam crossed his gaze. "But I'm still far from the limit."
He relaxed his body and let the wind blow against his face. The world was silent, but within him, everything seethed — energy, memory, and purpose. For a few minutes, he just breathed. No thoughts, no worries. Just the perfect harmony between body, soul, and power.
Three days passed like this, without him noticing the time. But then, something different vibrated in his field of perception. Five distinct chakra signatures — familiar.
'Naruto, Sasuke, Rock Lee, Sakura… and Tenten.'
They advanced quickly, following the same route they had traced when they separated. Even from afar, Li Shang could see their movements — Sasuke led the group, focused and calm; Naruto, right behind, spoke loudly; Lee maintained the rhythm, determined; and the girls followed together, attentive to their surroundings.
He let out a light sigh and stood up, the wind ruffling the edges of his dark cloak.
'It's been so long since I felt part of something…'
The Tenseigan shone in his eyes, reflecting the approaching group.
"Time to go home."
He took a step forward — and disappeared. The air where he stood distorted like agitated water, and in an instant, Li Shang launched himself towards the group.
— — — —
The journey back to Konoha was peaceful. No enemies, no ambushes, just the sound of leaves being dragged by the wind and the rhythmic sound of footsteps on the damp ground. After all they had faced, that calm seemed almost unreal — and at the same time, comforting.
Naruto was the first to break the silence. "Hey, Neji! What happened to you?"
Li Shang replied without hesitation, his voice serene and controlled. "The information I obtained was incomplete. I ended up in an unimportant spot, so I just waited for you to return."
It was a carefully dosed lie — simple enough not to raise suspicion, convincing enough to end the matter.
Sasuke cast a sidelong glance, but did not insist. "Sunagakure took everyone involved with Haido as prisoners," he commented. "According to Gaara, they will investigate if there was any connection between them and the attacks on the Wind Country."
Li Shang merely nodded. "That's good. If there are still other groups, they will try to hide now."
The rest of the way continued in silence, only interrupted by occasional conversations between Naruto and Lee. Three days later, the gates of Konoha appeared on the horizon.
When they arrived at the village, the six immediately went to the Hokage's office. The room was lit by the evening light, and Tsunade awaited them standing, arms crossed.
After the group's report, she questioned incredulously. "So…" she began, her tone calm, but laden. "Neji Hyuuga took the risk of separating the team, putting everyone in direct danger, during an alliance mission between villages?"
Silence filled the room. Naruto opened his mouth to try to explain, but closed it when he saw Tsunade's gaze. The Hokage stared at Li Shang firmly — there was something between irritation and curiosity in her eyes.
"Despite that," she continued after a few seconds, "the mission was successfully completed. The enemy was neutralized, Sunagakure confirmed the information, and our allies recognized the group's efficiency."
She took a deep breath and rested her hands on the table. "Congratulations to everyone for the great work. You are dismissed."
Relief swept through the group like a wave. Naruto and Lee almost celebrated, while Sakura and Tenten just smiled tiredly. Sasuke gave a slight nod before turning to leave.
But as everyone was about to leave the room, Tsunade's voice echoed again — firm, cold, and cutting:
"Neji, you stay."
The door slowly closed behind the others, and the silence that remained in the room was almost suffocating. Tsunade's gaze was fixed on him — and this time, the irritation was evident.