Looking at the roasted wild boar meat, sizzling with oil, Yuto's eyes couldn't help but light up. Since his resurrection, it had been a long time since he had eaten wild game. In Yuto's memory, the last time he ate wild meat was during the Warring States period.
Unlike his previous life, perhaps due to the existence of chakra as an energy source, the wild beasts in the Naruto world were not only ferocious, but their meat was also more compact and chewy. Even though there were no seasonings on the wild boar meat being roasted before him, it still emitted an enticing aroma.
Yuto raised his arm and stretched his hand toward the direction he was gazing.
Seeing Yuto's movement, Neji was startled at first, then instinctively took a step back. Seeming to notice Neji's action, Yuto couldn't help but roll his eyes. Clearly, Neji thought he was asking for the Longsword: Sewing Needle.
"Give me a kunai. I don't have that kind of thing on me."
Yuto patted his body, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness. Forget about kunai—even a ninja pouch, this kind of equipment that ninjas always carry, Yuto didn't have on him. Things like kunai and explosive tags, Yuto simply didn't need, so naturally there was no necessity to carry them.
Hearing Yuto's words, Neji understood and thought about how he had just stepped back. A look of embarrassment rose on his face. He quickly took out a kunai and respectfully handed it to Yuto.
"Cut it yourself."
Yuto took the kunai and began cutting the wild boar meat on his own.
"Lord Yuto, please eat first." Neji shook his head gently, with a respectful expression on his face. Whether it was because of Yuto's own strength or because of his guidance, Neji had always maintained an unprecedented level of respect toward Yuto.
"In that case, I won't be polite. But if you don't eat now, you might not get any later."
Yuto didn't mind and directly started cutting and eating the wild boar meat.
Neji was slightly stunned and didn't understand the meaning behind Yuto's words, thinking that the wild boar meat would be completely eaten. Neji didn't mind this; he still had a few soldier pills on him. Although they didn't taste great, they could satisfy his hunger.
Watching Yuto eating the wild boar meat in big bites, Neji fell into silence for a moment, then cautiously spoke up:
"Lord Yuto, what did you mean when you said that the Hyūga clan's Byakugan is not weaker than the Uchiha clan's Sharingan?"
After speaking, Neji's face was filled with anticipation as he looked at Yuto.
Before, Neji had always believed that the Hyūga clan's Byakugan was the strongest dōjutsu in the shinobi world. But after witnessing Ranmaru's crimson eyes that could counter his own, and hearing Lord Yuto say that the Sharingan could evolve into the Mangekyō Sharingan—a super powerful dōjutsu—even though Neji didn't want to admit it, deep down he knew that the Byakugan's currently demonstrated abilities were indeed far inferior to the Sharingan.
And earlier, deep in the Jashin cult's cave, the words Lord Yuto had spoken gave Neji, who had been somewhat unwilling to accept this, hope once again.
No one wants the kekkei genkai they rely on to be inferior, especially Neji, who was raised by the ancient Hyūga clan.
Of course, the Byakugan's capability issue was only one of Neji's concerns. What Neji truly cared about most was: why did Lord Yuto choose him?
In Neji's view, among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Ranmaru's crimson eye abilities had some overlap with his Byakugan. Although the crimson eyes didn't have the Byakugan's 360-degree field of vision, they possessed the same透视 ability as the Byakugan, could create illusions that even the Byakugan couldn't distinguish, and even had the ability to predict danger. Just these few abilities demonstrated by the crimson eyes were things the current Byakugan couldn't compare to.
Given this situation, Lord Yuto still chose him, and even sent two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to specifically go to Konoha to retrieve him.
So, from the moment he entered Kirigakure, Neji had been wondering: what did Lord Yuto see in him?
Talent?
As soon as this thought appeared in Neji's mind, he immediately dismissed it. Compared to the other genin of the same year in Konoha, he could indeed be considered a genius, but that was all there was to it. This shinobi world was never lacking in geniuses.
Not to mention other villages—even among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist alone, Ringo Ameyuri who was a few years older than him, Hōzuki Suigetsu who was the same age, and even Ranmaru who was younger than him! In terms of strength, compared to these people, Neji would be completely overwhelmed. In Neji's view, these people were the true geniuses.
Perhaps his talent was one of the reasons Lord Yuto paid attention to him, but that was probably only the smallest part of the reason.
And now, Neji vaguely understood. Perhaps the words Lord Yuto spoke deep in the cave were the real reason he was being noticed.
"Tsk tsk, you asked later than I expected. I've been guessing how long you would endure before asking this question."
After swallowing the wild boar meat in his mouth, a smile appeared on Yuto's face.
"You really want to know?" Yuto didn't even look up, leisurely cutting another piece of roasted meat as he spoke casually.
A solemn expression appeared on Neji's face as he nodded seriously.
"If you want to know, then first become stronger. When you reach the conditions I have in mind, not only will I tell you about the Byakugan, but I can even let you obtain this power."
A profound glint flashed in Yuto's eyes as he spoke calmly.
Saying this, Yuto raised his head and seriously examined Neji, suddenly smiling:
"Compared to Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto, I have higher hopes for you."
After speaking, an amused expression appeared on Yuto's face, as if he had thought of something interesting.
Senju Hashirama, Uchiha Madara, and Yuto—the three of them, before anyone broke through to the Six Paths level first, none of them had the confidence to completely kill the others. Under these circumstances, as long as two of the three didn't completely join forces, any fighting would be meaningless.
If that's the case...
A smile played at the corner of Yuto's mouth as he withdrew his gaze from Neji. It seemed that before long, he would need to make a bet with those two guys, Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara.
Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto!
Let's use Hyūga Neji to strike the opening notes of this symphony of resistance against fate.
As for the stakes... it seems tailed beasts will have to be used!
A faint smile on his lips, Yuto once again enjoyed eating the roasted wild boar meat.
As for Uzumaki Naruto, Yuto did feel some regret. He had originally planned to use the Kinoshita Kichirō matter to trick Naruto into coming to Kirigakure.
However, plans were just plans in the end. Who would have thought that Senju Hashirama would suddenly be resurrected, and with Uchiha Madara also being resurrected, Yuto's original plan had to be abandoned.
But now with Neji here, it wasn't a complete loss.
On the other side, seeing Yuto resume eating the roasted meat after speaking, Neji's originally tense emotions began to calm down. Although Neji hadn't gotten information about the Hyūga clan's Byakugan from Yuto, he had obtained another answer.
And this answer made Neji feel even more at ease than the matter of the Byakugan.
Neji had never worried about whether Yuto had designs on him. From beginning to end, what Neji worried about was whether he had value!
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