Of all the shinobi in the world, opinions varied on who knew the most ninjutsu. Some might say it was Kakashi, the man who had copied a thousand techniques. Others might argue for the Third Hokage, hailed as "The Professor" for his mastery of all five nature transformations. Orochimaru's name would certainly be in the running as well.
But if the question was who knew the most forbidden techniques, or who had the deepest understanding of jutsu research, the answer would be Orochimaru and Tobirama, but since Tobirama is dead, in current world only Orochimaru can hold that title. His interests were boundless, extending into cellular biology, cloning, and even emerging technologies. There was a reason people said he was the closest thing the shinobi world had to a true scientist. When it came to genetic modification and bioengineering, no one could match him.
The problem was, none of that was in Naruto's wheelhouse. He believed in leaving specialized work to the specialists, his own time was better spent on training. The path of a researcher was one he had laid out for Karin.
He envisioned her as a formidable support shinobi, someone who could take a hit, deal damage, and patch up the team all at once.
In the canon timeline, she had been a brilliant scientist, second only to Kabuto, and had managed Orochimaru's hideout with remarkable efficiency.
After settling things with Karin, Naruto gathered the others at the Uchiha compound. The sprawling, empty estate had become their unofficial headquarters, with so many abandoned houses, it was the perfect place to train in secret.
While the grounds were technically under constant watch by Root and Anbu, the surveillance was a joke. Root was loyal to him, and even the Anbu had his people among their ranks.
They had one month until the Chunin Exams, and they planned to use every minute of it. It wasn't a lot of time, but with the right guidance, they could all make significant gains.
"Alright, listen up," Naruto said, getting everyone's attention. "Lee, your match with Sasuke will have to wait. I've taught you what I can about taijutsu for now, so this month, I want you to focus on your training with Guy-sensei. The Eight Gates is an incredible technique. If you can open the seventh gate, there will be very few people in Konoha who can stand against you."
He clapped a hand on Lee's shoulder. "We're going to need you in the fight a month from now. If you need a sparring partner, just let me know. I'll bring out Satori."
The ultimate training dummy.
"Yes, Naruto-sensei!" Lee shouted, puffing out his chest. "I won't let you down!"
"That's the spirit," Naruto said with a smile before turning to Sasuke. "Your opponent is the One-Tail Jinchuriki. You're strong, but you lack a trump card, a large-scale offensive technique."
Kakashi had already taught Sasuke everything he could, which amounted to a few lightning-style jutsu copied with his Sharingan. They were useful, but they weren't enough. It was better for Sasuke to train under Naruto now.
"This scroll is the key to your training for the next month," Naruto said, unrolling a large summoning scroll on the floor. "Anyone who wants a summon can sign their name here."
It was Orochimaru's snake contract, so Naruto didn't feel the least bit guilty about using it. He'd never heard of a limit on how many people could sign a single contract, and it was a good way to strengthen his team.
The image of all of them summoning giant snakes had a certain appeal. He was planning a trip to Ryuchi Cave anyway to deal with the Cursed Seal and practice Sage Mode, so he could smooth things over with the snakes then.
He paused for a moment. "Right. They're snake summons, by the way."
Not everyone was a fan of snakes.
Naruto went on, giving each of them a personalized training plan for the month ahead. As for Hinata, he would be tutoring her privately.
Finally, he walked over to Neji and rested a hand on his shoulder. "In the tournament, I don't want you to hold back. Show everyone what you're really made of. Let them see what the Hyuga are truly capable of."
"Yes," Neji said, his voice firm as he met Naruto's gaze.
Naruto nodded, glancing at the sky, which was slowly beginning to brighten. "And in one month," he added, his voice lower, "I'm going to take care of that seal on your forehead for good."
His gaze shifted to Hinata. She met his eyes, and for once, there was no trace of shyness in them. Instead, her expression was filled with resolve.
"I agree with Naruto-kun," she said, her voice steady. "He's right. The clan's traditions were meant to protect us, but they've been twisted. It's time for a change."
As a member of the Main house, her words carried weight. The Hyuga clan was split into two houses: the Main house, which held all the power, and the Branch house, which existed only to serve them. 'The Branch house exists to protect the Main house.' That was the doctrine Neji had heard his entire life, a belief drilled into every branch member from birth. As a child, he had even believed it, seeing it as his sacred duty to protect the main house.
That was, until the day he watched his own father die for them.
There were countless others like him in the Branch house, unable to defy an order or question a decision. On the forehead of every one of them was the Caged Bird Seal. With a simple hand sign, a member of the Main house could inflict agonizing, mind-splitting pain on a branch member, or kill them outright. The constant threat of torment and death ensured their absolute obedience.
The irony was that the Caged Bird Seal hadn't been created for control. It dated back to the Warring States Period, where its purpose was to protect every member of the clan. Unlike the Sharingan, the Byakugan could be implanted in an outsider with minimal side effects, making it a highly sought-after prize on the black market. To prevent their eyes from falling into enemy hands, the Hyuga developed a seal that would destroy the Byakugan if its user was captured or killed.
It was a measure born of desperation, meant to protect the clan. But over generations, that protection had curdled into oppression. The Main house, holding the power of life and death, grew accustomed to their authority. Like any ideal left to fester for too long, the original purpose had been forgotten, replaced by a hunger for control.
As Hinata said, it had become corrupted.
"I'll persuade them," Naruto said quietly. And if words didn't work, he was more than prepared to use force.
He grinned at Neji. "Besides, you're our secret weapon. I've even got a codename for you: Blind Spot."
Neji just stared at him. "Can I have a different one?"
"Sure," Naruto said cheerfully. "How about... 'Byakugan Bro', 'Captain 360', 'Mr. Veins', 'Peeping Tom', 'Sunshine', 'Spinny-boy', 'Twirly Whirly', 'Human Top' or 'Mr. Poke-a-lot' ?"
Neji sighed. "On second thought, Blind Spot is fine."
Naruto smiled. The codename was a silly joke, but the sentiment behind it was real. Neji was the caged bird, trapped by his fate. But not for long. He would see to it that Neji was finally set free. Not be constrained by the blindspot on back of his head due to Cage Bird seal and achieve full 360 degree vision.
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