The Chunin Exams, a vital occasion where the great ninja nations observe each other's comprehensive strength, particularly the quality of their new generation.
They are held twice a year in different villages, once in the first half and once in the second. Although nominally an "exam," it is in truth a battlefield where Genin slaughter one another. Anyone participating must do so with the resolve of entering a small-scale war; over ninety percent of candidates are eliminated before the finals, and nearly one-third to one-half perish during the brutal practical stages.
Because of this, villages tend to follow one of two strategies: either dispatching their strongest elite Genin to crush the rival villages' geniuses in the cradle, or sending mere "cannon fodder" to satisfy requirements while the lead Jonin secretly scouts for noteworthy targets.
As the date for Konoha's hosting of the Chunin Exams drew near, word finally reached the masses of Genin. Suddenly, these young boys and girls who had only recently graduated from the Academy rushed to sign up, fantasizing about standing out in the fierce competition and achieving promotion ahead of their classmates.
The presiding Jonin made no move to stop them; in fact, they encouraged it. Since Konoha was the host and this particular crop of Genin included many with Kekkei Genkai or secret clan techniques, the masters had reason to believe their disciples would perform well. Even if they were eliminated, the experience gained from fighting ninjas from other villages was invaluable.
No one realized that a massive conspiracy already loomed over the seemingly prosperous and peaceful village.
Naturally, Neji Hyuga, who had already agreed to join Allen's small team and was secretly preparing to defect, was not among those kept in the dark.
Currently, at Team 9's usual training ground, his hands were a blur as he wove signs at high speeds. The moment the final seal was completed, his originally fair skin turned a dark, brownish-black. A massive amount of Earth-attribute Chakra hardened his skin, creating a simultaneous effect of absolute defense and physical enhancement.
Without a doubt, this technique was inspired by the B-rank ninjutsu Earth Spear, which Allen had modified with the help of the Red Dragon into a jutsu that ordinary ninjas could learn. With this ninjutsu augmenting his Gentle Fist and Byakugan, Neji's already formidable taijutsu saw an instantaneous, massive upgrade.
His destructive power, in particular, was terrifying. A single strike was often enough to shatter bone and rupture internal organs, causing immediate internal hemorrhaging. Combined with the Gentle Fist's ability to inject destructive Chakra into the enemy's body, even Might Guy would not dare to take a direct hit from his star pupil now.
Without hesitation, having completed his Earth Release hardening, Neji began his daily, unrelenting taijutsu drills. Following the aesthetically pleasing movements of the Gentle Fist, a ten-meter radius around him became an absolute "Dead Zone." Anything within this domain, be they flowers, grass, trees, stones, or dirt, was besieged by the biting winds of his strikes. Even a leaf falling from above would be instantly shredded by the sheer force of his movements.
Watching this modified taijutsu, which fused the characteristics of the "Hard Fist" and "Gentle Fist," Lee wore an expression of both joy and envy. "Neji truly is a genius! He effortlessly accomplishes things I could never dream of."
"Yeah... don't you think this guy is starting to look more and more like Allen?" Tenten nodded, though she didn't stop tinkering with a thick, long metal tube.
If Allen were here, he would certainly have shouted "Holy crap" in his mind. The tube, in both appearance and function, bore a striking resemblance to an RPG rocket launcher. Clearly, Tenten had followed his suggestions and created the first "firearm" of the shinobi world.
From the projectile loaded in the front of the barrel, it was clearly a typical explosive shell capable of inflicting shrapnel damage across a radius of tens of meters. More terrifyingly, Tenten carried three other launcher tubes of varying sizes and shapes on her back, looking every bit the "Queen of Munitions." Just looking at her was enough to make one's scalp tingle.
"That's right! Where has Allen been lately? I feel like I haven't seen him in forever. Guy-sensei, do you know?" Lee turned to ask Might Guy, who was currently practicing arm muscles while doing a handstand.
The latter shook his head with a wry smile. "Don't ask me, I'm not entirely sure. I heard from Kakashi that since he joined the Root, he's been away on some secret mission."
"Sigh, it would be great if he could come back for the Chunin Exams. I want to show him the results of my hard training," Lee said, his fists clenched tight, eyes shining with anticipation.
"Don't be a fool. With that guy's growth rate and strength, he's likely left us far behind long ago." Neji deactivated his hardened state, a faint, mocking smile touching his calm face.
Out of all of Team 9, only he had a clear understanding of Allen's true power. Setting everything else aside, the sheer volume of modified B, A, and S-rank ninjutsu scrolls Allen had given him was enough to prove the man's terrifying strength. Having only mastered a small portion, Neji could already feel his combat prowess skyrocketing.
"Now, now! Don't lose heart! As long as you persist with your hard work, you'll catch up to him one day. The blood of youth never admits defeat! For the upcoming Chunin Exams, let's start today's warm-up with ten laps around the village!"
Might Guy flashed a signature thumbs-up, striking his trademark pose to cheer on his disciples. In the sunlight, his teeth reflected a blinding, pearly-white flash.
"Ohh! For the sake of youth!" Lee shouted, moved to tears.
Watching their foolish reactions, a complex light flickered in Neji's eyes, a mix of rejection and disgust, but also a hint of lingering attachment. He knew these easy, happy days were coming to an end. Ever since the Caged Bird seal was removed from his forehead, there was no turning back; he could only follow Allen down this dark path.
Otherwise, even if the village spared him, the Hyuga Main House certainly wouldn't, unless he was willing to reveal how he broke the seal and allow it to be carved into his forehead once more. To one who had already tasted the sweetness of freedom, that was utterly unacceptable.
'Sorry, Guy-sensei... Lee, Tenten. Before long, I must go and pursue my own future and life.'
Whispering these words in his heart, Neji, in a rare move, joined the two "bowl-cut" idiots in their absurd physical training. Tenten was stunned beyond belief, feeling as though the apocalypse must be arriving; why else would the usually cool-headed Neji do something so uncharacteristic?
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