In this shinobi world, only those with value are truly worth cultivating, or even mastering their fate! Neji, who had always lived in the branch family, understood this better than anyone.
To bring him to Kirigakure, one of the Seven Swordsmen, Ranmaru, was seriously injured, and Ringo Ameyuri nearly died. This matter had always made Hyūga Neji feel somewhat guilty.
Added to this was the fact that the Hyūga clan's Byakugan had some overlap with Ranmaru's crimson eyes. From the time he entered Kirigakure until now, Neji's heart was still filled with a sense of bewilderment.
And the words Yuto had just spoken dispelled some of that bewilderment in Neji's heart.
Although Lord Yuto never mentioned that power related to the Hyūga clan's Byakugan from beginning to end, Neji had a vague premonition that if he could truly obtain that power, his fate would be completely changed!
Thinking of this, a determined expression appeared on Neji's face.
At this moment, Neji suddenly remembered what Lord Yuto had said earlier, comparing him to Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto.
Being compared to Uchiha Sasuke was one thing. After all, during the Ninja Academy, Sasuke and Neji were respectively the most genius ninjas of the same cohort. Moreover, Sasuke had probably received Uchiha Madara's guidance now, so his strength would definitely increase significantly. Even without Lord Yuto mentioning it, Neji knew that Sasuke was definitely a formidable opponent he would have to face.
But why would Lord Yuto mention Uzumaki Naruto?
During the Chūnin Exams, Neji did lose to Naruto, but that didn't mean Neji acknowledged Naruto's strength. At least with Neji's current perspective, he couldn't place Naruto on the same level as himself or Sasuke.
Lord Yuto wouldn't say meaningless things. Since he mentioned Sasuke and Naruto, in Neji's view, that was enough to prove that Naruto's position in Lord Yuto's heart was the same as his own.
With Neji's calm personality, after some analysis, he could figure out certain things.
"It seems I may have underestimated Uzumaki Naruto before."
"In that case, if we meet again next time, Naruto, I will personally defeat you!"
A calm glint flashed in Neji's eyes as he silently thought to himself.
Inside the cave.
The aroma mixed with roasted meat and the bloody scent from the other half of the wild boar drifted toward the forest outside through the cave entrance. The Jashin cult's cave was not only located in a remote area, but was also situated within a dense forest.
Therefore, as this scent mixed with the bloody aroma continuously spread, pairs of crimson eyes in the forest locked onto the direction where Yuto and Neji were.
Rustle! Rustle! Rustle!
Faint sounds came from outside the cave.
Neji was first startled, then quickly turned to look outside the cave. He saw that at some point, pairs of crimson eyes had appeared in his field of vision.
The beasts of the forest had surrounded the entire cave.
Even without activating his Byakugan now, Neji knew there were at least dozens of beasts outside!
How was this possible!
The bloody scent from killing the wild boar would indeed attract the attention of some beasts, but it definitely wouldn't cause so many to appear at once. The only explanation for such a situation was that these beasts were attracted by something else.
"Oh? Didn't expect to attract so many. In that case, consider this your warm-up. There will be a battle tomorrow."
Yuto leisurely swallowed the roasted meat in his mouth and yawned.
As expected!
These beasts were indeed attracted by Lord Yuto.
However, what Neji was more concerned about was what exactly the battle Lord Yuto mentioned was?
While Neji was thinking, the beasts outside had already begun to move. Seeing this, Neji didn't hesitate at all, turning and quickly rushing out of the cave.
Unlike the peaceful training method in Konoha, the training method in Kirigakure was rougher. These beasts attracted by Lord Yuto right before his eyes were training for Neji.
When Neji first arrived in Kirigakure, he wasn't used to this training method, but as time passed, Neji actually came to like this rough training method.
Because this kind of training could improve his strength the fastest!
During his time in Kirigakure, Neji witnessed with his own eyes how the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist trained. Two members of the Seven Swordsmen would simultaneously attack another member, without holding back at all. Until one side completely couldn't get up!
How could ninjas trained under this method be weak!
Roars and dull thuds continuously sounded outside the cave.
A single beast's strength wasn't much for Neji, but when the number of these beasts reached a certain level, even Neji felt pressure.
Inside the cave, Yuto lightly clapped his hands, and an earthen platform quickly rose from the ground. Amidst the roars and the increasingly thick bloody scent, Yuto flipped over and lay down on the earthen platform, stretched, and directly went to sleep.
Although quite a few beasts outside were attracted, after Neji killed a dozen or so, these beasts would feel fear and retreat on their own.
Just as Yuto had said at the beginning, this was at most just a warm-up, a post-meal training session, although Neji was still hungry.
The next day.
Before dawn.
Four black figures had already appeared at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water.
These four people were Team 3 led by Might Guy.
"Guy-sensei, ahead is the Land of Hot Water. How do we find Neji?"
Rock Lee's eyes flashed with excitement as he whispered to Might Guy.
At this moment, compared to the hidden excitement on Lee and the others' faces, Guy's face was filled with gravity.
Hearing Lee's words, Guy couldn't help but pause. Only now did Guy remember that although he knew Neji was in the Land of Hot Water, he didn't know the specific location.
"Guy-sensei! We rushed here so anxiously, don't tell me you don't actually know where he is now."
Tenten saw the expression on Guy's face and couldn't help but look exasperated, gritting her teeth.
"Haha, although I don't know, the Yugakage of Yugakure should know where. We need to make a trip to Yugakure first."
Guy laughed while scratching his head, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Really!" Tenten showed a helpless expression.
Just then, the genin from the Hyūga clan who had been silent all along suddenly spoke with gravity:
"There are ninjas coming toward us!"
As the voice of this Hyūga clan genin rang out, grave expressions quickly appeared on Guy and the others' faces.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Guy and his team's figures flashed as they all hid behind a large tree to the side, watching the direction ahead with their peripheral vision.
Before long, a ninja from Yugakure appeared in Guy and the others' field of vision.
"Strange, there was clearly some movement here just now. Could it be wild beasts?"
This Yugakure ninja looked around somewhat puzzled.
When Guy and the others saw the forehead protector on this ninja's forehead, they slightly breathed a sigh of relief.
So it was a ninja from Yugakure.
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