"Phew…"
The black-robed figure studied Neji carefully. Seeing the suspicion in Neji's pale eyes, he gave a soft sigh and slowly raised his hands to remove the mask that hid his face.
"Since you want to see," the figure said, his tone heavy, "then look closely."
Neji narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as a blade. When the mask fell away, he lifted an eyebrow slightly.
"You are… quite cautious."
The truth became apparent almost immediately. The so-called traitor standing in front of him was not flesh and blood at all—it was a puppet.
No wonder, Neji thought. No wonder the man's movements had been stiff and jerky, more like a doll than a shinobi. Even when he walked, the lack of natural flow betrayed his artificial nature.
But what caught Neji's interest was not the existence of the puppet itself. It was the technique behind it. This was no ordinary puppet-style ninjutsu like the Sand Village used. The subtle chakra threads were hidden, faint, yet impossibly precise. Whoever was controlling this puppet was not only skilled, but doing so from a distance.
That level of mastery… it was a step beyond anything Neji had studied in Suna.
"I have unavoidable reasons," the puppet said hoarsely. His voice, filtered through the strange construct, carried a brittle anger. "I can only show my face like this. And it's all thanks to the so-called Hyuga Main Family!"
Neji's pupils contracted slightly.
So that was it. The words themselves were revealing. The bitterness, the mention of the Main Family… this was a Hyuga branch member. Even if the puppet body disguised the man, his identity could be inferred.
The puppet's tone shifted. "Let's talk about cooperation."
Neji, calm and deliberate, reached into his pouch. He produced a folded, yellowed sheet of paper, worn from age, and tossed it toward the puppet.
The puppet caught it and opened it. His artificial eyes scanned the faded characters.
"Hyuga Ichizoku, holding a giant 'eye' in his hand, entered a mysterious spatial passage and disappeared from the ninja world. A few days later, meteorites fell from the sky, and the Hyuga clan announced to outsiders that Hyuga Ichizoku had fallen gravely ill and died."
The puppet looked up, frowning. "What is this supposed to mean?"
Neji's voice was slow, steady, but each word carried weight.
"Hyuga Ichizoku lived during the Warring States era, more than three hundred years ago. His true name was Zechen. 'Ichizoku' was only his title. If you search the clan's history carefully, you may uncover records about him. That 'giant eye' he carried into the spatial passage… it was none other than the Giant Tenseigan."
The puppet's head snapped up, eyes widening slightly. "Tenseigan?"
"That's right."
Without hesitation, Neji lifted his goggles and removed them. In front of the puppet, his pale Byakugan shifted, transforming into a radiant sapphire glow. His eyes shimmered like starlight, vast and bottomless.
"The Uchiha clan's Sharingan," Neji continued, "evolves from one tomoe, to two, to three. Beyond that lies the Mangekyō Sharingan. Uchiha Madara himself awakened it decades ago. People may deny it, but the truth is there."
He stepped forward, his eyes gleaming.
"The Hyuga clan is no weaker than the Uchiha or the Senju. Do you really think the Byakugan is stagnant?"
He let his voice sharpen.
"Our Byakugan can also evolve. The Tenseigan… is proof."
The puppet froze, utterly transfixed. For a moment, the artificial figure could not move, his gaze locked on the brilliance of Neji's eyes.
How beautiful… The thought rose unbidden in the puppeteer's mind. Stars. They looked like stars condensed into a child's gaze.
Neji noted the reaction with satisfaction. That was precisely his intention. Showing the Tenseigan was not only a display of strength—it was persuasion. He wanted the man to devote himself to finding the Giant Tenseigan, to believe this pursuit was worthwhile.
When the puppet finally stirred again, his expression had shifted to one of deep thought.
The Sharingan evolving made sense. Uchiha Madara's overwhelming strength, long obscured by Konoha's leadership, could be explained by such an evolution. Even most Uchiha had no idea the Mangekyō existed. If that were true for the Uchiha, why couldn't the Hyuga have their own hidden evolution?
The Byakugan had always been known for two advantages: unparalleled reconnaissance, and ease of awakening. Beyond that, it was thought to lack the depth of the Sharingan. That was why the Hyuga were always seen as lesser than the Uchiha.
But what if… the Byakugan could change?
"How did your eyes evolve?" the puppet asked at last.
Neji shook his head and gave a small sigh. "In my second year in the Hidden Cloud, I simply… awakened them. Whether it was fate's blessing or something else, I cannot say."
Of course, it was a lie. But it was believable.
When he had left Konoha, Neji had been only four years old. There was no way he could have learned the clan's core secrets. And now, at six, who would believe a mere child could achieve this through effort alone? To the puppet, the only explanation was fate.
After a long pause, the puppet finally said, "I agree."
Neji's lips curved faintly. "Good. Then we have an understanding. A happy cooperation."
---
The Forest of Death.
For decades, it had been the chosen ground for the second exam. No other location within Konoha compared. Its environment was lethal: a primordial forest teeming with poisonous insects, monstrous beasts, and plants that could kill with a touch. But the true danger came not from the land, but from the other examinees lurking within.
Now, gathered at the entrance, all eyes were drawn to three particular figures.
Deidara. Uchiha Itachi. Hyuga Neji.
Each stood apart, yet their presence overshadowed everyone else.
Deidara, the brash disciple of the Third Tsuchikage.
Uchiha Itachi, heir to the most feared clan in Konoha.
And Neji—just six years old, yet already wagering the legendary Amber Purifying Pot in this very exam.
The other candidates, though not weak, seemed like background shadows before such prodigies.
At that moment, a man in a green vest and dark sunglasses stepped forward. His expression was indifferent, his posture strict.
"I am Yamashiro Aoba, chief examiner for the second exam," he announced. "Before I explain the rules, you will each sign a death waiver. Because in this exam… death is real."
His words fell like cold rain.
Two assistants stepped out, arms burdened with thick stacks of papers. One by one, they distributed them. Each sheet bore the heading: Death Pledge.
Even though many had heard rumors, seeing the paper in hand caused unease to ripple through the crowd. Most of these genin were young. Five years had passed since the Third Great Ninja War; only a handful had ever seen true battle. For the rest, missions had been simple errands. None of them had yet faced life-or-death struggle. Until now.
Aoba raised one of the sheets, his voice calm.
"Nothing is more important than life and death. Once you sign this, no matter what happens inside, no one will be held accountable. If you die, it is your responsibility."
He paused, his words cutting like a blade.
"Every year, some geniuses enter this forest thinking they will outshine everyone. Many leave as corpses. Even geniuses fall. If you lack confidence, this is your last chance to withdraw."
A hand shot up. A tall, bandaged shinobi from the Mist. His voice was blunt.
"Chief Examiner… is killing allowed?"
The plaza grew silent.
Aoba's brows furrowed. He recognized the Mist's reputation. Their graduation exam required killing fellow students. For them, this forest was nothing new—it was home ground. And this particular genin, with a physique far beyond average, radiated menace.
After a pause, Aoba nodded slightly. "In principle, yes. But pointless killing is forbidden. You cannot kill anyone who voluntarily surrenders."
The bandaged youth—Zabuza—snorted. "Tch." His eyes gleamed with disdain.
Beside him, a kunoichi with auburn hair and a sword on her hip—Mei Terumī—rested a hand on her waist, calm and composed. The other Mist shinobi smirked or sneered, their presence like sharks circling blood. Instinctively, other genin edged away, unwilling to be too close.
When all pledges were signed, Aoba explained the rules.
"The second exam is the Heaven and Earth Scroll Battle. Each of the twenty-four teams will receive either a Heaven or Earth scroll. Your task is simple: within five days, collect both types and reach the central tower."
"If you fail to gather both scrolls, you are eliminated. If you lose teammates or cannot fight, you are eliminated. Companions are more important than missions. Remember this."
He continued, voice steady.
"Do not open the scrolls before reaching the tower. If you do, you are eliminated. Curiosity must be controlled—just as in real missions."
"To prevent early clashes, each team will enter from a separate gate. There are twenty-four gates around the forest perimeter."
"There are also medical outposts in each quadrant. Severe injuries should be taken there immediately, but doing so means disqualification."
He looked across the crowd. "Any questions?"
A Grass shinobi raised a hand. "Chief Examiner, with so many Konoha teams… what if they all ally? Isn't that unfair?"
Aoba gave a small smile. "Then form your own alliances. Choose your allies and your prey. That too is part of being a shinobi."
Murmurs spread. The logic was sound, but reality was cruel. Konoha teams had trust and familiarity. Outsiders did not.
Still, the rules were clear.
Soon, the teams were escorted to their gates. Mesh doors creaked open, the dense, shadowy forest beyond seeming to swallow the light.
"Hey, kid, move it, or you'll die before you even start."
Neji glanced up. A kunoichi in a trench coat leaned lazily by the gate, chewing on a skewer. Purple hair tied in a bun, fishnet leggings, eyes gleaming with amusement—she grinned down at him.
She shoved him forward with one hand, then slammed the gate shut.
Neji smirked faintly. "Bun-haired big sister, what's your name?"
She blinked, surprised, then chuckled. "Hah. Survive, and I'll tell you."
"I'll remember that," Neji replied, waving lightly before turning to lead Darui and Karui into the shadows of the Forest of Death.
The great exam had begun.
patreon (Obito_uchiha)