Shibuki smiled and nodded. "Go on."
Then he turned to maintain order.
Neji stepped forward and pulled Tenten and Lee out of the crowd.
Tenten said impatiently, "Neji, the Uchiha are offering free combat training right now..."
She then launched into an excited explanation, recounting the entire announcement. Although Neji already knew the details, he still smiled and listened patiently until she was finished.
"...Anyway, we've only been getting simple missions lately, and it's getting boring," Tenten concluded cheerfully. "We should go check it out, too!"
Lee chimed in, "Neji, I also want to test the results of my recent training."
Neji nodded. "I want to go as well. Let's head to the Uchiha compound for some sparring today!"
"Awesome!" Tenten exclaimed, jumping with excitement.
The three of them chatted and laughed as they made their way to the Uchiha clan's territory.
The Uchiha Clan Compound.
It was the first day of the free combat training, and Kawasaki had specifically stayed behind to observe. More people showed up than he had anticipated.
After a few bold individuals tested the waters, word spread like wildfire. It was true—the Uchiha were genuinely offering free combat training, and they even provided free medical treatment for any injuries.
From then on, the scene became massive, with crowds of people flocking to the Uchiha compound. Most of them were genin from civilian backgrounds or recent graduates from the Ninja Academy. Ordinarily, their missions consisted of pulling weeds or catching lost pets. They had virtually no opportunities for real combat.
No one knew how long the Uchiha's training sessions would last, so everyone rushed to participate. Some speculated that the Uchiha were doing this to build up Kawasaki's political achievements. The genin didn't care about the reasons, however, as long as they benefited.
Despite the large number of participants, the Uchiha weren't going all out. Most fights ended in just one or two moves. Some were left with bruised faces, while others were bleeding from shuriken cuts. But medical-nin were always on standby at the edge of the training grounds. Even if an Uchiha's attack was a bit too heavy-handed, they could provide immediate first aid.
Everyone who came was looking to improve, so even if they got hurt, they would turn around and thank the Uchiha. The Uchiha were such good people! They pointed out weaknesses in combat and even had medical-nin ready. It was free training, after all. What more could you ask for? It was best to be content with what you were given.
So, not only did the participants get a beating, but they also gave the Uchiha's medical-nin some practice, and they had to thank the Uchiha afterward.
Kawasaki watched from the sidelines for a long time. At first, the Uchiha's intern medics were fighting over patients. Now, most of them were swamped with work. However, the Uchiha clan members never went too far, so the injuries were never severe. Receiving free treatment with medical ninjutsu was much faster than buying medicine, so most people were willing to wait.
The Uchiha on the field weren't too tired either. How strong could a genin possibly be? A few punches and kicks were usually enough to end a match, and their opponents were exceptionally polite, saying things like, "Thank you for the guidance," and "I'm incredibly grateful."
And most of them sounded sincere.
This left the Uchiha clan members stunned. They had never been treated with such courtesy before. Putting themselves in the others' shoes, they offered a few extra pointers in return. This earned them even more respect, and the participants thanked them profusely.
These Uchiha suddenly discovered the joy of teaching others. Some even began to think, 'The clan is wealthy, and I don't need the money. If the clan builds a school in the future, maybe I should try to get a teaching position.'
It was true that the Uchiha were naturally battle-hungry, but not all of them were like Madara Uchiha. For most, it was more of a habit. They weren't sure if they would enjoy a different way of life, but at least Kawasaki had given them a chance to try.
When Neji and the others arrived at the Uchiha compound, they found that the crowd was even larger than they had expected. Fortunately, the flow of people in and out was quick, so the entrance wasn't congested.
Neji's group followed the stream of people inside. They discovered that the Uchiha had divided the training grounds into dozens of smaller rings. There weren't many rules; challengers could step up whenever they were ready.
Some Uchiha were enjoying the pleasure of teaching, but others were indifferent. They were simply carrying out the clan head's orders. Yogetsu, for example, disliked the whole affair. To him, the Uchiha were the strongest clan, and teaching outsiders was a complete waste of time. As a result, his attacks were heavier, and naturally, fewer people chose to face him.
Seeing that Yogetsu's line was short, Neji's group decided to head over there.
Yogetsu sent a genin flying with a single kick. "Your footwork is a mess, and your limbs are weak. Go back and work on your fundamentals."
The genin thanked him repeatedly and left. Many genin had no accurate gauge of their own strength, so the opportunity to spar with a master was rare. Coming to the Uchiha to get beaten up at least gave them a clear understanding of their own skill level.
Yogetsu was feeling bored when, to his surprise, a boy with the Byakugan stepped up.
"Well, this is rare. A youngster from the Hyuga clan. Just graduated from the Academy, have you?" Yogetsu's interest was piqued. After all, a scion from a famous clan was bound to be more skilled than an ordinary genin. He uncharacteristically decided to chat a little.
Neji bowed respectfully to Yogetsu. "Greetings, senior. I am Neji Hyuga, a graduate from last year's class."
Kawasaki was surveying the grounds when he unexpectedly spotted Neji, Tenten, and Lee. He hadn't expected them to join the fun. As Neji stepped up to speak with Yogetsu, Kawasaki and Yogetsu exchanged a look. Kawasaki glanced sideways, signaling Yogetsu not to drag things out.
Yogetsu understood instantly.
"...Well then, please give me your guidance." Neji and Yogetsu bowed to each other, ready to begin.
But just as Neji settled into his stance, Yogetsu vanished from sight. The next instant, a blade was already resting against Neji's neck.
A chill ran down Neji's spine. When did that happen!?
Yogetsu asked with a puzzled expression, "You strike a pose like that in a real fight? You've already 'died' once."
Neji felt a bit embarrassed. When he trained with Guy-sensei, it was always in a teaching format. Guy would always wait for Neji to get into his stance before starting the exchange. Neji now realized his mistake and bowed respectfully. "Thank you for the lesson, senior."
He prepared to leave the ring.
"Wait," Yogetsu called out. "Try again."
Neji was surprised. "Me? May I?"
Yogetsu waved his sword. "Enough talk. Attack me."
"Right!"
Neji's expression turned serious. He lunged forward, unleashing his Gentle Fist. His opponent used the back of his blade to strike Neji's arms, muttering, "Opening, opening, opening..."
Even though it was just the flat of the blade, the strikes were almost unbearably painful for Neji. In less than thirty seconds, he could barely lift his arms.
Yogetsu forced Neji back with a kick. "That's enough." He looked Neji up and down. "Your fundamentals are solid. But your application in combat is too rigid, lacking flexibility. Many of your movements are unnecessary. If this were the sharp edge of the blade, you would have been cut seventeen times by now. Go back and think about it."
Neji stood in silence for a moment, then bowed deeply to Yogetsu. "Thank you for your guidance, senior."
When he learned the Gentle Fist, he had always followed a very strict set of rules. Every move in the Gentle Fist style had a standard form. Admittedly, these standard forms allowed less-talented Hyuga members to quickly reach a certain level of proficiency. But for a genius like Neji, these rigid patterns were actually hindering his growth.
After Neji stepped down, Tenten and Lee immediately rushed over.
"Neji, are you okay?" Tenten asked with concern.
Neji's arms were indeed throbbing with pain, but he felt he had gained a great deal. He shook his head. "I'm fine. You two should go try as well."
The nearby Uchiha medical-nin were busy, and seeing that Neji's condition wasn't urgent, they didn't pull him aside for treatment yet.
Hearing this, Lee, full of spirit, stepped up.