Wires hissed in the darkness.
Two iron chains snapped from the arms of a masked Root ninja, their bladed ends flashing like fangs as they slashed toward Neji's arms. The blades gleamed with a cold, merciless light—aimed to cripple, to end his ability to weave hand seals forever.
Another Root operative slammed his palms to the earth.
"Earth Release: Earth Pillar Prison!"
With a rumble, thick stone columns erupted around Neji, forming a cage of jagged rock. Needle-like spikes jutted inward, stabbing through where his flesh should have been.
Pat—!
The figure inside burst apart in a crackle of lightning.
"A…Lightning Clone?" one Root ninja hissed.
"He hasn't gone far. He's still in the valley," another answered sharply.
The three Jonin spread out, eyes scanning every shadow. Somewhere in the darkness, a pair of sapphire eyes glittered like a predator's.
Buzz—!
Black lightning leaked from Neji's palm and howled through the air.
"Lightning Release: Black Panther!"
The chakra roared alive, forming a giant leopard of pure black lightning. Its eyes sparked with violet light as it lunged forward, each step shaking the valley with thunderous growls.
"What—what is that?!" the sensory-type Root ninja gasped, feeling the surge of chakra.
"Earth Release—hurry!" another barked, fingers flying through seals.
"Earth Dragon Bullet!"
The ground split and a massive dragon of stone surged upward, its maw gaping as it spat a torrent of boulder-like bullets. They hammered the black panther, but the beast barely slowed. It vaulted high and collided head-on with the earthen dragon.
The valley rang with an explosive boom! Black light flared outward, devouring dust and stone. Trees quivered. All three Root Jonin were hurled backward, their masks cracking from the shockwave.
Neji emerged from the forest canopy like a bolt of midnight lightning. The sheer power of his Lightning Release made the Root operatives exchange uneasy glances. Even veteran Jonin seldom unleashed such force.
"End this—now!" their leader snapped.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
White smoke erupted as twenty—thirty—copies of the Root shinobi filled the clearing. Even Neji's brow rose slightly. Ordinary Shadow Clones were difficult enough; the forbidden Multiple version demanded immense chakra control.
Most ninja avoided it—it devoured chakra for clones that vanished with a single strike. Only elites with vast reserves dared attempt it.
Dozens of masked figures surged at Neji, blades flashing.
He smiled faintly, spreading his arms. Sparks leapt from his palms—arcs of pure blue-white lightning forming without a single hand sign.
This was his own creation: a sign-less Lightning Release refined during experiments with the rare Storm Release, a bloodline style combining lightning's raw power with water's fluid precision. To onlookers it resembled a living lattice of laser-bright energy—less brute-force than Kakashi's Chidori, but far more flexible.
Electricity crackled as Neji clapped his hands together.
A web of lightning spread outward in an instant, engulfing the onrushing clones.
Bang—bang—bang! Half the army exploded into white smoke.
Without pause Neji whipped his arms wide. The twin lightning arcs stretched into whips five meters long, slicing through the remaining clones like scythes through mist.
Buzz—
The ground beneath him split.
A Root ninja burst from the soil with an earthen-coated arm.
"Earth Release: Stone Fist!"
His rock-hard punch crashed toward Neji.
At the same moment a second assassin's shadow slithered across the grass like a black serpent, snapping toward Neji's own.
"It's done," the hidden operative thought, lips curling under his mask. The coordinated feint—clones to distract, ambush from below, shadow-binding strike—could drop even an elite Jonin.
But a surge of white lightning flared from Neji's body. His shadow vanished in the glare, severing the creeping jutsu. The shadow user cried out, eyes burning as the flash blinded him and tears spilled uncontrollably.
Neji moved like a phantom.
Pfft!
His Black-Lightning-charged hand pierced the ambusher's chest. Warm blood splashed across Neji's face.
The squad leader barely registered the electric chirping in his ears before his neck snapped with a sharp crack. His body slumped lifeless into the grass.
From a distance, the sensory-type Root ninja froze.
Hyuga scouts are supposed to be observers… Why is he a monster in battle?
Neji lunged for the last operative.
"For Konoha!" the remaining ninja shouted, gripping his short sword with grim resolve.
"Gentle Fist."
Neji blurred forward, sidestepping the strike and delivering a rapid series of precise palm thrusts. Each hit sealed a vital tenketsu.
Thump.
The Root ninja collapsed to his knees, defiance in his eyes.
"You were the only assault team?" Neji asked calmly, releasing his Lightning Mode. He tugged off the man's leopard-headed mask.
The captive's lips twitched in a mocking smile, silent and uncooperative. Danzo's conditioning was legendary; even without the cursed tongue seal, these agents rarely betrayed him.
Neji's sapphire Tenseigan gleamed.
"Sometimes living is harsher than dying," he murmured. "Let's test your resolve."
A faint green sphere of mental energy floated from the center of Neji's brow and drifted into the man's chest. Fear flickered in the Root ninja's eyes as his thoughts became an open book, his memories laid bare.
"Serve me," Neji commanded.
"You…demon…" the man rasped, but his will crumbled.
---
Far away in the Chunin Exam monitoring room, the main screen stayed black. Elders murmured about which candidate might next capture attention. Uchiha Fugaku cast the screen a casual glance, then turned to the Third Hokage.
"Hokage-sama," Fugaku said respectfully, "rumors claim the Uchiha police have grown too strict. How do you view this?"
Hiruzen tapped the stem of his pipe. "If such talk spreads, we will punish the rumor-mongers. Do not worry."
Relief softened Fugaku's stern features. Among the Hokage faction, only Hiruzen maintained a moderate stance toward the Uchiha. Keeping that bridge intact was essential.
The Hokage changed topic, a faint smile on his weathered face. "Fugaku-kun, your son Itachi shows remarkable talent. After the exams, perhaps he should join the ANBU."
Fugaku's eyes narrowed slightly. ANBU reported directly to the Hokage; Itachi's presence there could become a vital link—or a leash. Yet he answered smoothly, "We will follow your guidance."
Just then a crisp chime signaled the monitors' return to life.
---
Meanwhile, the Root operative—now enthralled by Neji's mental sphere—rose and departed to "report back to Danzo," carrying false memories Neji had planted. Satisfied, Neji slipped through the trees toward the Central Tower, Byakugan scanning for threats.
Half an hour later two powerful chakra signatures appeared in his vision—one soaring through the air, the other racing across the ground.
Deidara…and Uchiha Itachi?
Neji arched a brow. "Interesting."
Before deciding whether to watch their clash or continue to rendezvous with Darui, he sensed a third chakra streaking toward Itachi.
"Popular as ever, Uchiha," Neji muttered with a wry smile and altered course.
---
Deep within the Forest of Death, Uchiha Itachi moved as if the rugged terrain were a flat training hall. He had fought here countless times with Shisui; every tree and shadow felt familiar. Methodically he eliminated weaker squads, determined to uphold the Uchiha name in these exams. His father had asked for nothing less.
Abruptly he halted, Sharingan eyes narrowing.
"A trap?"
Whsshh!
A figure dropped from the canopy and landed lightly before him.
"It's you," Itachi said flatly.
The newcomer's blond hair and sly grin were unmistakable: Deidara of Iwagakure.
"Fancy meeting you, Uchiha," Deidara sneered. "Looks like my luck's perfect today."
He had gathered both Heaven and Earth scrolls but lingered, waiting for this very moment. Ever since Itachi's offhand remark during the written test—"Why cheat? The exam isn't difficult"—Deidara had burned with resentment. Today was his chance for payback.
"You should already have your scrolls," Itachi said coolly. "There's no need for us to fight."
Deidara chuckled, mistaking calm for fear. "Typical Uchiha arrogance."
Itachi exhaled silently. He didn't fear Deidara; he simply preferred to save his strength for the final round, where defeating the Tsuchikage's prized pupil before nobles and Kage would carry greater weight. Yet walking away might appear weak—especially under the watchful eyes of the exam proctors.
His decision sharpened. "I've changed my mind," he said evenly.
Deidara's grin widened. "Good. Prepare to witness true art!"
He plunged his hands into his clay pouch—but the battle was already over.
"I'd have liked a longer duel," Itachi murmured, his Sharingan blooming scarlet, three tomoe spinning like crimson shuriken. "But efficiency matters."
Deidara's gaze met the whirling eyes and, in that instant, the world shattered.
Illusions cascaded through his mind: his own throat slit by a kunai, blood spraying; drowning, burning, being torn apart. Each death felt real. Again and again he died, his genius will eroding beneath the relentless Genjutsu.
Outside, his body crumpled to its knees, trembling, unable even to twitch a finger.
In the monitoring room, the assembled leaders watched, stunned. What they had expected to be a duel of titans ended in a single, overwhelming display of Uchiha power. Fugaku's chest swelled with pride. Even the seasoned Third Hokage murmured, "Remarkable…truly Kagami's heir."
---
Itachi stepped over Deidara's limp form. "I've defeated you here," he said quietly, "but I hope to face you again in the final round—before everyone."
A rustle of hurried footsteps approached. Itachi turned, Sharingan gleaming.
A woman emerged from the shadows, breath quick but controlled, a pale snake coiled around her shoulders. Her eyes were cold, sharp as blades.
"It's you," Itachi noted, recognizing her from the first test.
Guren—Honglian of the Crystal Release—stopped a few paces away, gaze flicking briefly to Deidara's unconscious body before settling on Itachi.
"I'm glad," she said softly, "that you didn't die by his hand."
Itachi's brows knit. "What do you want?"
Guren extended a pale hand. A blade of rose-colored crystal shimmered into existence, aimed straight at his heart.
"I want," she whispered, "to kill you myself."
Silently she added, Lord Orochimaru's eyes will only be on me.
---
To be continued…
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