In class, as usual, Neji was practicing his chakra control by focusing on a leaf. This time, however, he was overdoing it. His intense concentration caused him to waste more chakra than necessary, and a sharp pain flared behind his eyes. He instantly stopped training, massaging his temples as involuntary tears welled up and streamed down his face.
Just then, Lee arrived at the classroom with a bright, determined smile, having finally figured out how to proceed with his training. He spotted Neji and quickly approached, sliding into the seat next to him.
"Thank you, Neji, for the advice you gave me," Lee said, his voice full of genuine gratitude. "It helped me a lot. Thank you very much."
'I should have been more careful with my Byakugan usage,' Neji thought, blinking rapidly to clear his blurry vision. He turned toward Lee's voice. "You're welcome."
"Are you crying?" Lee asked, his own eyes beginning to well up at the thought that Neji might be moved to tears of happiness for him.
"No, I overused my Byakugan," Neji replied flatly.
"Oh." Lee's face fell slightly, a little embarrassed that he had gotten carried away. He rubbed the back of his neck. To cover his awkwardness, he changed the subject. "What were you doing before?"
"Training my chakra control," Neji said, now keeping his eyes closed to give them rest.
"Then should I train my chakra control, too?" Lee asked, eager for more advice since Neji's previous tip had been so useful.
"You should. Even if you can't use ninjutsu, great chakra control will still improve your strength and speed," Neji explained.
"Really? I didn't know that!" Lee was surprised by the new information.
As they talked, a girl with black hair tied in two buns sitting in front of them overheard their conversation. This was Tenten, and she was intrigued by Neji's insight. She was also surprised to hear him being so talkative; since the first day of class, he had been mostly quiet and reserved.
After a while, the teacher entered and began the lesson. The topic was Konoha's history, focusing on its prominent figures, and eventually settled on the Legendary Sannin.
"Does anybody know who the Sannin are?" the teacher asked.
Tenten immediately shot her hand into the air and stood up, excited to answer. "Yes, Tenten?" the teacher said.
"The one I want to be, Senju Tsunade, and her two teammates, Jiraiya and Orochimaru!" Tenten announced.
"Great job, Tenten!" the teacher said, clapping. "Everyone, clap for her!"
The whole class broke into applause.
A few hours later, lunchtime arrived. Neji gathered his things, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
"Where are you going?" Lee asked.
"To return a book I borrowed from the library," Neji said, already heading for the door.
"Where will you eat, then?" Lee called after him.
"In the library," Neji replied without turning around.
"Can I... join you?" Lee asked, a little embarrassed but determined.
Neji paused at the door and glanced back. "Follow me, then."
Lee quickly grabbed his bento and hurried after Neji. As they walked, Lee tried to make conversation, hoping to get to know his new friend better.
"What book are you returning?" Lee asked.
"Basic Applications of Genjutsu," Neji answered.
Lee asked, genuinely curious. "Why are you working so hard?"
"To become so strong that no one can ever stop me," Neji stated, his voice calm but resolute.
Lee was surprised by the intensity of the answer, though it confirmed what he already knew. He recalled Neji stating his goal on the first day of the Academy: to become the strongest shinobi who ever lived.
When they arrived at the library, the librarian, Shizuka, looked up and smiled warmly as soon as she saw Neji.
(AN: For those who don't remember her, she was introduced in Chapter 1.)
"Here to return a book?" she asked, already knowing he would be looking for a new one.
"Yes," Neji said, handing over the borrowed book.
"Do you have a recommendation for what I should read next?" Neji inquired.
"Hmm, I think you're ready for the books on the underlying mechanics. Was there anything else you were looking for?" Shizuka asked.
"Advanced Chakra Theory and Nature Transformation Theory," Neji replied.
"Alright, take a seat. I'll go find those for you," Shizuka said, heading into the stacks.
Neji and Lee found a quiet table and began eating their bentos in a comfortable silence. Soon, Shizuka returned and placed four books on the table.
"Here you are. Remember to return them in a week," she reminded him.
Neji nodded, his gaze already fixed on the cover of Nature Transformation Theory.
'I haven't tested my chakra nature affinity yet,' he thought to himself, realizing his focus on chakra control and physical training had left a gap in his knowledge. This book would be the first step in fixing that.
Afterward, when school ended, Neji bought a Chakra Induction Paper to determine his chakra nature affinity. He returned home to test it in private just in case he had multiple affinities and now stood alone in his room.
He held the paper and channeled chakra into it. It ignited and crumbled to ash.
'Hmm, Fire style,' Neji thought. 'Considered the weakest nature in the Naruto verse but not in my hands.'
His mind raced with ideas about how to develop Fire Style beyond its conventional limits. Even if the original story never fully explored it, he knew the element held untapped potential.
"Let's test it," Neji muttered.
But before trying anything, he decided to review the Nature Transformation Theory books on his shelf. He flipped to the section on Fire Release and began reading about how it worked.
After a while, he closed the book. "I think I've got the basics down."
He headed out to his backyard.
Activating his Byakugan, Neji focused on molding his chakra visualizing heat, volatility, and explosion. After a few minutes, a small flame flickered to life in his palm. But two issues became immediately clear: the fire was burning his hand, and it had already drained a significant amount of chakra.
He shook his hand quickly, extinguishing the flame.
'How should I handle this?' he wondered, healing his palm with a minor medical jutsu.
He considered how to reduce chakra consumption and prevent self-injury.
Holding his chin, he mused, 'I could cover my body in chakra to avoid burns, like other Fire Style users. But how can I improve the concept further?' A new idea struck him. 'Wait, if there's such a thing as fire that freezes, could I create a heatless flame that only burns on contact?'
So, with that in mind, he went back inside and began breaking down the mechanics of Fire Style: the training regimen, how to use it in a fight, and the potential paths he could take with the style.
In his notebook, he wrote down a new idea: Plasma Release.
After all, if such a thing were possible, it could be the next evolution.
Meanwhile, in another part of the Land of Fire, Hyūga Sei was on a solo mission for the Main Branch: hunting a rogue shinobi.
A heavy downpour drenched the forest, the drumming of rain nearly drowning out the occasional rumble of thunder. Through the deluge, Sei moved with lethal purpose, his Body Flicker technique leaving afterimages on the sodden branches as he closed the distance to his target.
'I can't keep running away!' the rogue ninja thought desperately, his stamina waning after an hour of the relentless chase.
Seeing his chance, the rogue leaped from a high branch, spun in mid-air, and hurled a volley of shuriken at his pursuer. Sei didn't break stride; his sword became a blur of polished steel, deflecting every throwing star with sharp, precise clangs.
Both shinobi landed on the muddy ground simultaneously, the impact splashing water around their feet. They locked eyes, the air crackling with tension.
The rogue ninja drew a kunai. Sei adjusted his grip on his sword, the rain streaming down the blade.
In an instant, they rushed each other. Mid-charge, the rogue's hands flew into a sequence of seals.
Recognizing the danger, Sei instantly drew a kunai and flung it to interrupt the technique. He was a second too late.
The rogue took a deep breath and exhaled a powerful gale from his mouth, Wind Style: Breakthrough. The kunai was swatted aside like a leaf, and the violent gust forced Sei to dive sharply to the left to avoid the brunt of the attack.
Not letting up, the rogue ninja followed, his hands already forming another set of seals. Sei changed direction, propelling himself forward to close the gap. Just before he could get within striking distance, the rogue finished his second technique.
Wind Style: Whirlwind. A concentrated lance of spiraling air shot straight for Sei's head. He jerked to the side, the razor-sharp wind nicking his cheek and drawing a thin line of blood.
But the rogue just moved his head slightly to the right. The Whirlwind jutsu, a concentrated blade of wind, sheared past Sei's face. He felt a searing-hot pain as it destroyed his right eye.
Acting on pure instinct, Sei used the momentum of his dodge to weave backward, narrowly preventing the wind blade from piercing his skull and reaching his brain. Gritting his teeth against the agony, he immediately launched a desperate horizontal slash aimed at the rogue's collarbone.
The blade bit deep, cutting the rogue straight down.
Sei stood breathing heavily, the world now halved in a haze of pain and blood. He flicked his sword to remove the blood and sheathed it on his back. Working methodically through the pain, he sealed the rogue ninja's body into a scroll.
He then used a kunai to cut a strip of cloth from his sleeve, fashioning a makeshift eyepatch to stem the bleeding.
The fading adrenaline left only a deep, throbbing ache as he leapt through the forest, Konoha growing nearer. Then, without warning, a white-hot brand of pain seared across his forehead. His vision whited out. He clutched at the curse mark, his balance vanishing as he tumbled from the branch and hit the earth with a jarring thud.
Gritting his teeth against the agony, Sei understood: the seal was being activated. But by who?
The rustle of leaves announced a arrival. Through his swimming vision, he saw polished sandals step into his line of sight. A cold, haughty voice spoke down to him.
"Crawl like the worm you are, slave."
That voice. Sei's eyes focused, burning with recognition. "Ryuji!"
It was Hyuga Ryuji, his Main Branch robes immaculate, his posture radiating contempt.
"Why are you doing this?" Sei forced out, the words strained. "You have no use for a rogue ninja's body."
"Correct," Ryuji said. He knelt, his movements graceful and cruel, and fisted his hand in Sei's hair, wrenching his head back. "But that's not why I'm here."
A defiant smirk touched Sei's lips. "Are you still jealous that she didn't—"
The curse mark flared, a fresh wave of torment silencing him mid-sentence.
"Jealous?" Ryuji's cool facade finally cracked, his voice a venomous hiss. "That fool chose a branch house mutt over a Main Branch heir. I am stronger. My status is higher. What could you possibly offer that I cannot?"
"A backbone," Sei choked out, laughing through the pain. "I'm not a spoiled brat."
"Insolent wretch!" Ryuji's fury erupted. He slammed Sei's face into the dirt. "You dare speak to me? These will be your last words."
"Good... I'd rather not breathe the same air as you. It reeks of your arrogance," Sei shot back, a hollow chuckle escaping him as he accepted his end.
Ryuji stood, brushing a speck of dust from his sleeve, his composure returning. "I would enjoy carving that tongue from your mouth," he mused. "But it's a waste of effort. Your time is over." A cruel smirk twisted his lips. "I remember you... teaching Neji, if I'm not wrong."
Through a haze of pain, Sei's hand shot out, clamping onto Ryuji's ankle. His Byakugan flared to life, veins bulging around eyes burning with fury. "Don't you touch him."
Ryuji merely kicked the weakened hand away. "I'm not stupid. He is under the protection of the Clan Head. That would be suicide." He leaned down, his voice a venomous whisper. "But I can drop a hint. I would so love to see his reaction to your death."
"Ryuji, if you want to torture me, go ahead," Sei gasped, struggling to push himself up. "You can't involve Neji in this."
"Who are you to order me around?" Ryuji's smile was glacial. He planted his foot on Sei's head, driving his face into the dirt. "This will be fun. I wonder what he'll do when he finds out who killed you."
"I'm gonna kill you, Ryuji!" Sei roared. With a surge of adrenaline, he threw the weight off and managed to stagger to his feet.
The move was so sudden it made Ryuji stumble back in surprise.
Ignoring the agony screaming through his body, Sei pulled his sword and lunged. But after two steps, his legs betrayed him. The cursed seal did its work, and he fell paralyzed, flat onto the ground.
"Too bad you're a side branch Hyuga," Ryuji said, dusting himself off with a sigh of mock pity. "If you were not, you might have actually had a chance."
Sei could only lie there, his eyes blazing with hatred, unable to move a muscle as Ryuji's words washed over him.
"Say goodbye to the world, Sei." Ryuji's smile was triumphant as he began weaving a series of hand signs.
'I promise you, Ryuji. Even if I have to come back from the dead, I will kill you.' The thought was a final, desperate spark of defiance. But then his mind filled with an image of Neji, the little brother he never had, with his confident, determined smile. The vision began to fade, moving away from him into the light.
As Ryuji finished the last sign, the earth beneath Sei groaned and split open. "Earth Style: Rock Coffin Burial!"
The world collapsed in on him. As the crushing weight swallowed him and the last sliver of light disappeared, Sei's final thought was not of vengeance, but of a plea.
'Don't lose yourself, Neji. Please... don't let the darkness consume you.'