Raido chuckled. "Genma, relax. Natsuki's Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique) came from the two of us. He learned it perfectly—no worse than the Fourth back then. He'll be fine, and he'll beat his opponent."
"You're right!" Genma nodded in agreement. That kid was his top pick, after all.
Iwashi grumbled, "Hey, you taught him Hiraishin without even asking me? Am I not your partner? No way. Next time you've gotta set up a meeting with Natsuki. I barely know him!"
Genma and Raido burst out laughing. "Hahaha! No problem. But you're paying for the meal!"
Yamato added, "No need to worry. Kakashi-senpai and Sasuke have already headed over as support. It'll be fine."
You could've said that earlier!
The three almost couldn't hold back their complaints, but they all sighed in relief. Support was on the way—much less to worry about.
"In that case, let's finish this guy fast and go help too!"
—
On the other side, after Tenten withdrew, Guy's squad continued to maneuver against the Gakidō (Preta Path).
Because they feared Gakidō's chakra-absorbing ability, the three close-combat fighters were at a clear disadvantage. Guy and Lee drew nunchaku and launched a barrage with their superb nunchaku technique. Neji, from time to time, fired Hakke Kūshō (Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm) for ranged pressure.
But Gakidō's defense was truly hard to crack, and both sides fell into a stalemate.
Just then, a Hyuga shinobi came sprinting their way—with a Bunretsu Inu (Multiplying Hound) chasing him. Apparently, the hound that the Inuzuka trio had been stalling had split into many bodies; one of them had chased this Hyuga all the way here.
The Hyuga was clearly average in strength and couldn't beat the hound. All he could do was run.
Spotting Neji, he yelled, "Hyuga Neji! Protect me, now! I'm going to be torn apart by this dog!"
Neji frowned. "I'm fighting Pain right now. I don't have time!"
"Nani?! You dare defy an order from the Main House? Do you have a death wish?!"
The Hyuga tore off his forehead protector, revealing a clean brow with no Caged Bird Seal—indeed, a Main House member.
Neji didn't even look his way. "The Main House uses the Hakke (Eight Trigrams) better than the Branch, and they have Hakkeshō Kaiten (Rotation). You're far stronger than a Branch member like me. I doubt a Main House lord needs my protection."
He couldn't care less about the threat. He didn't even remember this Main House member's name—something like Hyuga "Steelplate" or "Iron Gate," whatever. A petty bully with little skill who liked to throw his Main House status around, acting like he was some heavenly king.
If you're weak and you fear death, why not stay in the compound? Why run around putting on airs in a real battle?
Now he's being chased by a dog and demanding a Branch member drop everything to save him—interrupting an important fight. Shameless.
"You! You're really something!" the Main House man raged. While running, he formed hand seals. "If you refuse to protect the Main House, then let the Caged Bird punish you to death!"
Guy and Lee tensed. "Neji, maybe you should go help!"
Neji smiled lightly. "No need. The Caged Bird can't bind me anymore. I've already gained my freedom. In my eyes, the so-called Main House no longer matters."
Guy and Lee blinked, then broke into grins at Neji's confident smile.
Looks like Neji has seized his own destiny!
The Main House man froze. "Why isn't it working? Why aren't you affected by the Caged Bird? What are you?!"
Neji ignored him. The fool even forgot to keep running—he got chomped by the multiplying hound, which ripped an arm clean off on the spot.
"AAAH! My arm! My arm!"
Yes, yes—your 'royal power' is gone.
Luckily for him, he wasn't bitten in the head. And just then, Hiashi arrived and blasted the hound away.
The wounded Main House man immediately complained, "Clan Head! Neji has rebelled! He refused to save me, and he's not affected by the Caged Bird Seal! I clearly activated it and nothing happened!"
Hiashi's eyes widened in shock as he looked at Neji. The other Branch escorts were stunned too—an electric, hopeful thought flashed through their minds.
Did Neji… fly out of the cage?
"Neji, y-you, you…" Hiashi's voice trembled, unsure whether to feel joy or dread. Maybe both. Neji was his nephew—seizing his fate was good. But breaking the Main-Branch order, escaping the Caged Bird… that might spark upheaval.
Neji glanced at Hiashi, then removed his forehead protector and wiped away the deliberately drawn Caged Bird mark.
His brow was smooth and unmarked—he truly no longer bore the seal.
He looped the protector around his neck, no longer hiding his forehead, and said coolly, "Clan Head—oji-san. Since it's been discovered, I won't hide it. I've become a Tennin. My Byakugan has evolved."
Hummm… Neji's Byakugan turned azure, soul-stirring, leaving Hiashi and the others dumbstruck.
Hiashi trembled even harder. "Tennin? Tennin! Our Hyuga have birthed a Tennin again! Heaven has eyes! Hizashi, do you see this? Neji has become a Tennin!"
In that moment, he was genuinely happy. Even if Neji had been Branch, he could now lead the clan to glory.
Tennin signified absolute power among the Hyuga—the most qualified to lead.
Even he, the current clan head, would have to step aside for such a talent.
The Main House man was horrified. He'd heard the legends of Tennin, but it had been so long since one appeared that many treated it as a myth. Who would've thought that Branch member Neji would actually evolve the Byakugan and become a Tennin?!
Didn't that mean he had just tried to force a Tennin to protect him—he even attempted to use the Caged Bird to threaten a Tennin?
He'd tried to kill a Tennin?!
He's finished.
At that moment, Neji slowly rose, floating fully into the air.
His voice carried unbidden authority. "The evolution after Byakugan is the Tenseigan—the eyes of a Sennin (Sage). It holds overwhelming power. That is a Tennin."
He raised a hand toward Gakidō. Banshō Ten'in (Universal Pull) erupted, yanking the Preta Path into the air.
Then Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push) detonated point-blank. Gakidō's body twisted under the force and slammed into the ground, motionless.
He hadn't had the Tenseigan for long and hadn't fully developed its powers. For now, he could only use attraction and repulsion—but that was already more than enough.
He believed that as he continued to train, he would only grow stronger.
"Well done, Neji! Congrats on flying free!"
Guy and Lee beamed from ear to ear, truly happy for Neji.
(End of Chapter)
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