Chapter 591: The Arrogant Neji Appears
"What? Naruto even learned the Rasengan?"
Namikaze Minato was utterly shocked.
After all, in this world's setting, Naruto hadn't even reached the Chunin Exams yet.
Meanwhile, Sasuke had already defected from the village and was wreaking havoc across the ninja world, cutting off people's arms everywhere he went.
Facing Naruto's Rasengan, Minato showed a rare look of confidence. He formed a Rasengan in his right hand as well, then, with a face full of relief and pride, collided it head-on with Naruto's "Rasengan."
The result was that not only did Naruto's "Rasengan" explode, but everything inside it was also flung everywhere by the high-speed rotation of Minato's Rasengan.
Originally, when Naruto's "Rasengan" exploded, its effective range was only about a ten-meter radius.
Roughly the same range as when he used it against Kiba during the Chunin Exams.
But with Minato's assistance, the area of effect instantly expanded to more than five times that.
The Rasengan became like a high-speed blender without a lid, instantly scattering everything inside the balloon in all directions.
The first victim was the villager who had just stepped forward to bully Minato, only to be driven back by the stench.
Since he hadn't gotten far, he was immediately blasted in the face. He let out a miserable scream, but the moment he opened his mouth, more flew straight into it.
It was too horrible to look at.
Minato, on the other hand, as the one using the Rasengan, stood calmly as if he were in the eye of a typhoon. Other than getting a little on his hair and feet, the rest of him remained spotless.
As for his hair, it was already yellow to begin with.
Besides, he had just climbed out of the cesspit. He could throw away his clothes, but he certainly hadn't washed his hair yet.
"Naruto even mastered Nature Transformation? And incorporated it into the Rasengan?"
Seeing dirt scattered everywhere, Minato couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Since he had just climbed out of the cesspit, his sense of smell was temporarily impaired, so he didn't realize what was actually happening.
He assumed Naruto had learned Earth Release Nature Transformation and fused it into the Rasengan, leaving him full of admiration.
'But... is Naruto really an Earth Release user?'
'Shouldn't he be a Wind Release user?'
"Forget it. This technique is so powerful. If Naruto and I use it together against enemies, wouldn't that make it a Combination Ninjutsu?"
"I have to give this jutsu a name…"
"Let's call it... Supreme Ultimate Rasengan."
Don't ask why the Sage gave this technique such a short name this time.
The movie's original Supreme Ultimate Rasengan was named the same way, so it was perfectly reasonable.
Poof.
Naruto's Shadow Clone couldn't withstand the impact of the flying mess and disappeared.
Minato wasn't surprised at all. He immediately turned his attention to another Naruto nearby.
"Naruto, I don't know what you did to make your mom angry, but you'd better come back with me right now."
"I'll tell her how much your strength has improved. She'll probably spare your life."
Minato tried to persuade him earnestly.
"..."
'She'll only spare my life? And you're not even sure? You actually said "probably"?'
Naruto was speechless.
"Naruto! What did you do?!"
Seeing Naruto remain silent with an expression that seemed to admit he knew he was wrong, Minato nodded in satisfaction and was about to continue persuading him.
Just then, an angry roar came from nearby.
The newcomer was Hyuga Neji.
His entire body was covered with steel needles, making him look exactly like a hedgehog.
Naruto's Shadow Clone froze on the spot.
It suddenly reminded him that during the Chunin Exams in the real ninja world, Hanabi had once called Neji a hedgehog.
Back then, he'd wondered what she meant.
Now he finally understood.
'So this is the Hyuga Clan's traditional training method?'
'Come to think of it... he really does look like one. Although the spikes are a little short.'
"Neji, you've misunderstood. This is actually—"
"Silence! Naruto, you will atone for your crimes! Don't think that just because I've sealed all my senses except my vision for training, you'll be able to escape me! Surrender at once, Naruto!"
Neji looked completely righteous.
However, by saying that, he accidentally revealed his own information.
"You sealed all your senses except vision? Then how did you hear me talking?"
That was what Naruto was more curious about.
He was so curious that he couldn't even be bothered to explain himself.
"Neji reads your lips. Thanks to the Byakugan, even if you have your back turned to him, he can still understand what you're saying."
Minato walked over and explained before looking at Neji.
"Neji, Naruto and I actually made this mess together. Give me some face—"
"Give you some face? Who the hell do you think you are? If you don't move aside, I'll beat you too! Wait... you said you're an accomplice as well? Then there's no need to wait. I'll take both of you down together!"
Neji assumed the Gentle Fist stance.
The very next second, he charged straight at Minato.
At the Hyuga Clan compound, Hanabi and Hinata were both stunned by the scene.
Why was Neji in this Engraved Tsukuyomi world so unbelievably arrogant?
The real-world Neji certainly had personality issues before the Chunin Exams, but that was due to years of pressure and accumulated resentment.
After those issues were resolved, he returned to normal.
And because of the relationship between the Main Family and the Branch Family, even the old Neji, no matter how harsh his tone was, always carried a trace of insecurity.
Because he knew the Main Family could punish him at any time.
But this Neji...
His arrogance was backed by absolute confidence.
"Holy crap!"
When Naruto's Shadow Clone saw Neji fighting his father, it was so frightened that it dispelled itself on the spot.
Both of them thought the stuff covering the ground was just ordinary Earth Release mud.
As Neji used Gentle Fist, he activated the Eight Trigrams Domain.
Without any wind blowing, the dirt on the ground rose by itself, swirling around the domain like autumn leaves caught in a whirlwind.
If the things spinning around had been leaves or flames, this scene would've looked incredibly cool.
But unfortunately, what was spinning around was...
"Rabbit Hair Needle !" (Kaguya's Technique)
Neji suddenly shook his body.
The needles embedded in his back instantly shot toward a certain direction.
That direction happened to be exactly where Minato's Flying Thunder God teleportation point was.
Byakugan lock-on cheat plus long-range attacks.
Even teleportation cheats weren't enough.
Fast.
Accurate.
Ruthless.
Minato was struck instantly, and several of his chakra points were sealed.
"Neji Nii-san in this world is so amazing."
Watching the scene from outside, Hinata couldn't help sighing in admiration.
As someone who had fought Neji during the Chunin Exams, she could tell.
Of course, to be honest, any normal person who saw Neji defeat even this weakened Engraved Tsukuyomi version of Namikaze Minato would probably say the same thing.
"Amazing? What's amazing about that? What kind of Rabbit Hair Needle is this? Why is he actually using needles? It should obviously use hair!"
Hanabi complained with a speechless expression.
"Hair? What technique is that? Hanabi, how do you know about it?"
Hinata asked curiously.
"A really pale and beautiful big sister taught it to me in a dream. Based on the stories Shiromo told me, she should be Ōtsutsuki Kaguya."
Hanabi tilted her head as she spoke.
"..."
Who was Ōtsutsuki Kaguya?
Hinata suddenly felt like she was falling behind the times.
(End of this chapter)