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Kakashi and Yamato had both been surprised at Neji's results with the chakra paper but not too surprised. After all, the Hyūga clan had a reputation: masters of taijutsu, not ninjutsu.
Neji, though, had long since bent that rule.
"Neji," Kakashi said casually, flipping a page of Icha Icha, "I remember Guy saying you'd already mastered Lightning Release transformation?"
Neji sat on a stone, watching Naruto struggle against the waterfall. "Yes. A long time ago. I even developed my own Gentle Fist variant with it."
Back during the Chūnin Exams, he'd passed off his [Spirit Beast: Roaring Tiger] as just that a lightning-style Gentle Fist he'd invented.
Since then, he'd sparred Lee with it often enough that Kakashi knew it wasn't just talk.
Yamato blinked. "You created a Lightning Release Gentle Fist technique? That's… impressive."
For a man raised in Root, Yamato hadn't followed the new generation closely until lately. Even with the briefing scrolls, Neji's progress kept catching him off guard.
Neji just smiled. "It isn't complicated. You wrap lightning chakra around the fist, sharpen it, make it tangible."
He lifted his arm, chakra flaring manifesting as a tiger's head, then shifting on command into hooked claws crackling with lightning.
Yamato stared, openly envious. "That's incredible."
Kakashi's eye narrowed behind his book. He'd already figured it out. "Not something most can copy. Hyūga control is absurd. Anyone else would fry themselves before hitting the enemy."
Neji dispelled the construct. "Losing my sight once forced me to refine control over every inch of my body. I made my chakra into extra eyes."
Even half a truth sounded like wisdom when you wore it long enough. Kakashi and Yamato just nodded, quietly comparing their own scarred lives. Neji, they realized, might actually have had it easier.
"So," Yamato asked, "if Lightning Release is complete… what about your other natures?"
Neji shook his head. "Not yet. That's why Tsunade-sensei sent me here."
"Try it," Kakashi offered lightly.
Naruto, above them on the bridge, froze. He knew that tone. Back when Jiraiya had trained him, it meant someone was about to make him look pathetic. And now? Kakashi was setting Neji up to slice through training he'd been sweating over for weeks.
Neji chuckled at the spike of killing intent radiating down from the clones. "Of course. Since Naruto's training here, I'll train too."
Kakashi handed him a leaf. "First step for Wind Release: cut this in half."
Naruto shouted encouragement from above, masking his nerves. "Don't underestimate it, Neji! Took me forever to—"
Riiip.
The leaf split clean down the middle between Neji's fingers.
Naruto's words died in his throat. His clones sagged, water crashing down on their heads.
Yamato covered a laugh. Kakashi hid his smirk behind Icha Icha.
Neji tilted his head upward. "Sorry, Naruto. I didn't catch that. Could you repeat it?"
Naruto's clones all flared, sputtering chakra like firecrackers. He's doing this on purpose!
Yamato snorted. Kakashi, still pretending to read, was definitely amused. Savage, he thought. But effective.
Naruto clenched his fists. "I'll show you, Neji! I'll master this too!"
He dumped more chakra into the exercise, forcing it with sheer willpower. Kakashi sighed. "Neji, when you've got time, walk him through it. He's pushing, but the form's wrong. You've developed this stuff yourself he'll listen."
Neji arched a brow. I came to train, not babysit. Typical Kakashi. Still, he didn't mind the thought of knocking Naruto around again. The kid had always grown best under pressure.
"Fine," he said at last. He leapt onto the bridge beside the clones. "Naruto make some space."
The clones reflexively parted, disrupting their own focus.
"Wahh! Neji, don't just jump in like that! Say something first you nearly scared the chakra out of me!"
Neji pressed his palm to the waterfall, unfazed. "Does it matter? You moved anyway."
Naruto bristled, face red. "Hmph! I wasn't scared. I let you have that spot. Got it?"
Neji's lips quirked. "Of course you did."
The waterfall roared on, but the training ground suddenly felt warmer for everyone except Naruto, who was now fuming twice as hot.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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