Neji didn't wake until the day after Heshu and his group returned to Konoha.
Heshu made a special trip to the Hyūga main house.
Neji was seated on the tatami mats. His pure white pupils occasionally flickered with a deep, cerulean light.
"Neji, are your eyes uncomfortable at all?" Hizashi asked, his voice laced with concern. He didn't understand the Tenseigan. All he could see was a subtle change in their color.
Miyu approached, setting down an elegant arrangement of tea and sweets. Compared to Hizashi's tension, she seemed completely at ease. "Oh, you. Since Hokage-sama already said everything is fine, of course it will be."
When Neji was first carried back to the Hyūga compound unconscious, Miyu had been terrified. Her face went pale, fearing the worst had happened to her son. It was only after Heshu's personal assurance that she finally calmed down. In the short span of a single day, she'd become far more relaxed than her husband.
Hizashi considered his wife's words. She had a point. If the Hokage himself saw no issue, then there likely was none.
When Heshu arrived, Neji was quietly nibbling on a sweet.
He spotted Heshu. Neji immediately rose from the tatami. "Teacher."
"Sit, sit. No need for formalities." Heshu patted Neji's shoulder. A faint smile touched Neji's lips as he resumed his seat beside his teacher.
Heshu leaned closer. The Tenseigan had already taken its initial form. It seemed it wouldn't be long before it fully evolved. The evolution of the Tenseigan was a process, one usually accompanied by pain. Perhaps due to Ōtsutsuki Hamura's chakra, Neji felt no discomfort.
"The eyes are fine. They should complete their evolution within a month," Heshu announced to Hizashi and Miyu, aiming to soothe their parental anxieties. "Once the Tenseigan is fully evolved, you'll be able to witness its true abilities." He smiled, turning his gaze back to Neji. "In the future, Neji will be a famous and powerful shinobi throughout the entire shinobi world."
Neji was momentarily stunned, then nodded with firm resolve. He was his teacher's disciple. He could not afford to disgrace him.
At Miyu and Hizashi's enthusiastic insistence, Heshu stayed for dinner before finally heading home.
The next day, Heshu retrieved the Scroll of Forbidden Techniques.
"Hokage-sama, what did you say?" Nara Sōsai stared, dumbfounded, wondering if his ears were malfunctioning.
"I'm opening access to the Scroll of Forbidden Techniques." Heshu tossed the scroll toward Sōsai with casual indifference.
Sōsai fumbled, clutching the scroll tightly to his chest before rushing to Heshu's desk. "Hokage-sama! The techniques within this scroll are all immensely powerful! They are not suitable for the average shinobi of the village to learn!" More importantly, who knew what kind of chaos would erupt if these dangerous forbidden arts became widespread?
"Relax. I've excluded the Flying Thunder God Technique and other unsuitable arts. What's left are the ones appropriate for training." If they possessed such excellent resources, why leave them to gather dust on a shelf? There were shinobi of exceptional talent among the civilian populace as well. Techniques the great clans couldn't master might be within the reach of some gifted civilian-born ninja. They just lacked the resources. Rather than letting the scroll collect mold, it was better to open it up for the children to learn.
A bitter smile spread across Sōsai's face. Even excluding high-level techniques like the Flying Thunder God, the remaining arts were still forbidden for a reason!
But Sōsai could only obey the Hokage's orders. Worried as he was, he put his mind to work, finding a way to maximize the benefits of this decision.
For a time, the civilian shinobi were overjoyed, and Heshu's reputation in Konoha soared even higher.
Of course, some conservative members of the old shinobi clans were filled with doubt. Letting unknown civilian shinobi master powerful techniques… who would be able to suppress them in the future?
"Are you stupid?" one retort came immediately. "Why do you think Hokage-sama dares to open access to forbidden techniques?"
"His strength. What are a few forbidden techniques to the Hokage?"
"Oh… oh, that makes sense."
Heshu handed the scroll for the Impure World Reincarnation to Orochimaru.
"You'd actually give this to me?" In his laboratory, Orochimaru was mid-experiment, studying the blood samples taken from Qiufeng on the moon. He removed his gloves and took the scroll from Heshu. Seeing its contents, his expression turned peculiar.
This wasn't his first time encountering this technique. Before his defection from Konoha, he'd already glimpsed the Edo Tensei. His interest in it had peaked back then. Unfortunately, he hadn't had time to fully research it before leaving the village. A technique of this caliber… he truly hadn't expected Heshu to hand it over.
Was this… trust?
Orochimaru found the thought amusing. That he would even use such a word.
"This technique can only reach its full potential in your hands," Heshu said, looking at him seriously.
Orochimaru's lips curled. "Naturally. The results will not disappoint you."
The Impure World Reincarnation technique was flawed. The version refined by Orochimaru would be its ultimate, perfected form. Orochimaru's talent for jutsu and research was truly beyond ordinary people. In the world of shinobi, Orochimaru was a genius in every aspect.
Except for his judgment of character.
First, he'd set his sights on Itachi Uchiha and nearly got himself killed.
Second, he'd chosen Sasuke Uchiha and actually did get himself killed.
He left the lab. On the street, Heshu ran into two figures. More precisely, a pair of lovebirds in their ambiguous phase: Sarutobi Asuma and Yūhi Kurenai.
Asuma had returned to Konoha not long after Kakashi and Might Guy came back from Kumogakure, having completed his duty as a guard for the Land of Fire's Daimyō.
"Hokage-sama," Kurenai called out first, spotting him.
Asuma, a cigarette dangling from his lips, looked awkward. "Hokage-sama."
Running into the Hokage was always an awkward moment for Asuma and Kurenai. Heshu's gaze was too… direct. For a second, Asuma wondered if the Hokage could see straight through his feelings for Kurenai.
Heshu: "…"
Was there anyone in Konoha blind enough to miss it?
"YOSH! Kurenai! Asuma! Hokage-sama!" Might Guy, clad in his signature green jumpsuit, suddenly squeezed himself between Asuma and Kurenai. "What a coincidence! Since it's so coincidental, let's all go eat barbecue together!" He slapped a heavy hand on Asuma's shoulder.
Asuma and Kurenai's expressions soured.
Asuma's face darkened. "Maybe you should go by yourself?"
A flicker of amusement passed through Kurenai's eyes.
"The flames of youth cannot burn without you!" Guy declared, staring intently at Asuma.
Five minutes later, under the pressure of Guy's diamond-bright, shining gaze, Asuma gave in, his mouth twitching.
Heshu happily joined them.
Free barbecue and an escape from paperwork? Why not?
In the Hokage's office, Nara Sōsai stared at the wall clock. His face grew darker and darker.
Damn it!
Why did he have a superior who was always slacking off?!
Time flew.
In the blink of an eye, a year passed.
Neji's graduation day arrived.
When assigning team leaders, Heshu simply followed the original lineup. Neji's teammates were still Tenten and Rock Lee. Their jonin-sensei was still Might Guy.
"Yosh! Today, my lovely students will experience the burning passion of youth!" In the office, accepting the mission scroll, Guy was bursting with energy.
Heshu blinked, speaking seriously. "There's no need for Neji to participate in activities like the bell test."
Over the past year, the abilities granted by the Tenseigan had pushed Neji's strength far beyond his peers. If Neji participated, the nature of the test would fundamentally change.
Guy's body stiffened. A waterfall of tears streamed down his rugged face. "Why, Hokage-sama?! Must I ostracize Neji to fulfill your goal of tempering his spirit?!"
Heshu: "…"
He was really overthinking this.
What the hell had Kakashi been showing him?
"Ah… it's not like that…" Heshu offered a feeble explanation.
Guy's eyes still shimmered with tragic light.
A moment later, Heshu sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine. Do as you wish."
Guy instantly revived, vanishing from the office in a flash.
Heshu watched the spot where he'd disappeared, his eyes weary. "Send Yamato to follow Guy."
"As you command," a voice answered from the air. A shadowy figure vanished from Heshu's side.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches, casting dappled spots of light on the grass.
Neji stood beneath a tree. Rock Lee buzzed around him like an enthusiastic hornet.
"Hmph! Neji! Let's have a duel between men!"
"Neji! Are you scared?"
"Neji! Why won't you answer?"
"Don't look down on me!"
"Neji…"
"Neji…"
Neji closed his eyes for a moment. For the first time, he felt exhaustion in both body and soul.
Seeing Neji neither respond nor accept the challenge, Lee's confidence took a hit.
Tenten, her hair tied in two cute buns, leaned against a tree trunk. From her angle, she had a perfect view of Neji's profile.
So handsome! she thought inwardly. Neji had been delicate as a child; now, he was devastatingly handsome. Truly the man she'd had her eye on since they were kids. A brilliant smile spread across Tenten's face as she propped her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed intently on Neji.
"By the way, where is our sensei?" Tenten asked idly, glancing up at the sliver of sky visible through the canopy. Neji was aloof; she rarely spoke to him. As for Rock Lee… Tenten sighed. Lee was bolder than her, pestering Neji relentlessly every day.
"HAHAHAHA! No need to be so downcast!" Guy's figure appeared before Tenten. He grinned, flashing teeth brighter than the sun.
Tenten slowly raised a hand to shield her eyes. "Ouch. That actually hurt my eyes!" Before witnessing this, if someone had told her a person's smile alone could cause physical eye pain, Tenten would have scoffed. Until Might Guy.
"I am your sensei! Konoha's Sublime Green Beast of Prey—Might Guy!" Guy struck a pose, every movement radiating confident brilliance.
"So… dazzling," Tenten said, forcing a smile. Honestly, this Might Guy-sensei was truly a standout figure. He'd be impossible to miss on a crowded street.
"Guy-sensei!" Rock Lee's face shone with admiration.
Tenten's eyes swept over their matching green jumpsuits. Ah. I see. She slowly inched closer to Neji. Only Neji gave her the comforting aura of a normal person.
"Before we begin our fiery youth showdown, let's introduce ourselves!" Guy looked at the three of them expectantly.
Rock Lee immediately responded. He stepped forward, adopting a sprinting stance. "I am Rock Lee! My dream is to become a great shinobi who can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Hokage-sama in the future! The person I most want to defeat is Hyūga Neji!"
Guy hesitated for a second before tears of pure emotion streamed down his face. "As expected of my disciple! To harbor such an unrealistic dream! Fight on! Your sensei believes in you!" He patted Lee's shoulder emotionally.
Tenten: "…"
Wasn't that more of a fantasy than a dream? And 'unrealistic'… was that really a friendly adjective? It felt a bit rude to Lee.
Neji gave Lee a cool glance. "You can't do it."
Invisible daggers pierced Lee's heart. His eyes widened. His pointing finger trembled. "Y-You… what gives you the right to say that?"
Having been personally trained by Heshu and having sparred with his teacher over ten times, Neji understood better than anyone just how strong the Hokage was. "You can't even defeat me, let alone Teacher. Even if you did defeat me, you could never defeat Teacher." He paused, correcting himself. "No. You cannot defeat me."
Lee: ⊙n⊙
Guy opened his mouth, then swallowed what he wanted to say. In the end, he just said seriously to Lee, "Lee! As long as you strive tirelessly toward your goal, you will continue to improve!"
The dazed look in Lee's eyes gradually cleared, replaced by one of simple, earnest light. He nodded. "I will! Guy-sensei!"
Tenten: "…"
He really was easy to convince.
Tenten spoke next. "I'm Tenten. I'm skilled with all kinds of ninja tools. My dream? To open a ninja tool shop filled with nothing but legendary weapons!"
Guy stared, stunned, and couldn't help but mutter, "Filled with legendary weapons… that really is just a dream."
Tenten: "…"
Are you for real? Wasn't living all about having dreams? What if they came true someday?
Tenten, Lee, and Guy all turned their gazes to Neji.
"I am Hyūga Neji. Pleased to meet you." Neji gave a slight nod, his usual, icy demeanor intact.
Guy: "…"
Lee: "…"
Tenten: "…"
Well then.
Neji's reputation in the village was already well-established. Beyond being the Hokage's disciple, his fame as the top genius of his generation was particularly resounding.
"YOSH!" Guy clenched his fists, fired up. "Then let the battle of youth commence!"
"YES, GUY-SENSEI!" Lee pumped his fist, invigorated. Today, he would make Hyūga Neji look at him with new eyes.
After Guy explained the bell test rules, he stood still, waiting for his students to challenge him.
Tenten analyzed, "It's obvious we're no match for a jonin-sensei alone. We have to work together!" She looked at Neji.
Neji paused, then gave a slight nod.
Tenten smiled, satisfied. She was about to explain things to Lee when a green blur shot past her.
Tenten: "…"
Great.
Just great.
The smile vanished.
Lee was fast. Guy was, of course, faster. The two of them engaged in a passionate bout of combat, accompanied by equally passionate shouts.
"Lee! Your recent training intensity is lacking! Time to increase it!"
"Yes, Guy-sensei! Your speed is incredible! I must learn from you!"
"…"
"…"
Tenten and Neji stood where they were, feeling like complete outsiders.
"Should we join in?" Tenten asked Neji.
Neji: "… No. You go ahead."
Tenten: "?"
Neji calmly averted his gaze.
He was afraid if he started, it would be over instantly, leaving Tenten and Lee with nothing to do. His teacher had said teamwork was important. Even if individual strength wasn't supreme, team life was supposed to be interesting.
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