At the Konoha Memorial Stone.
The new grave, which had been bustling with people just moments ago, now only had Neji standing there.
A gentle breeze blew as Neji gazed motionless at the names carved on the tombstones before him.
"What's wrong? Aren't you going to have a good talk with your father?" A gentle voice sounded.
Neji turned to see Shinji slowly approaching, carrying something in his hand.
"Sensei." Neji nodded in greeting, saluting Shinji.
"Did you see it just now?" Shinji asked, glancing at the newly covered grave.
"Yes, I saw it. The clan head specifically had people step away before I looked." Neji nodded.
After many years, he saw his father again. Even though his face was covered in frost from being frozen on the journey, he was still content.
"That's good." Shinji nodded.
Hiashi likely had people step away because he feared the body might have been badly damaged. However, it must be said that Kumogakure was quite adept at repairing such things. At least, no traces were visible on the surface.
After all, it had been so many years in Kumogakure, Konoha also feared the body had been tampered with, so they had to thoroughly investigate it.
"This time, thank you, sensei." Neji thanked him again.
He knew that for Kumogakure to return his father's body, some price had to be paid.
Shinji reached out and patted Neji's head. The boy was clearly very sad but didn't cry.
"If you're sad, cry it out. You can also talk to your father about anything you want to say. Don't worry, no one will be able to hear you."
Neji shook his head. Crying couldn't solve problems, and besides, he had already cried not long ago.
"Sensei, please be sure to be strict with me from now on."
Seeing Neji regain his resolve, Shinji couldn't help but sigh. "Don't worry, you've never been lazy."
Among his disciples, even the previously desperate Sasuke couldn't quite compare to Neji anymore.
"Oh, sensei, my Byakugan seems to have upgraded again." Neji suddenly remembered something and told Shinji.
After that letter that day, Neji felt something different about himself.
"Let me see." Shinji waved his hand, and a transparent spherical barrier spread out.
Byakugan, activate!
Neji formed a hand seal, and the veins at the corners of his eyes bulged.
Shinji felt a spiritual pressure when he came into contact with the Byakugan.
A pressure, huh.
Neji's spiritual power was actually not high compared to Shinji's. If someone's spiritual power was lower than Neji's, they might be subjected to Neji's spiritual oppression at this moment.
"What exactly does it do?" Shinji asked Neji, whose Byakugan no longer looked as lifeless as before.
"My insight has advanced. I feel like I can vaguely penetrate your barrier just now, sensei." Neji nodded and said.
"And, I should be able to use spiritual power to condense in my line of sight for a faint impact."
"It's just that I feel some of its power is sealed by the Cursed Bird Cursed Seal on my forehead."
At this point, Neji couldn't help but grit his teeth.
Shinji nodded knowingly. This step was considered a call of the bloodline and an initial awakening.
As for the Caged Bird Cursed Seal...
Shinji patted Neji's head and said, "No rush, I can unseal it, but for now, it's best not to make too big a fuss."
Neji wasn't surprised by Shinji's words. After all, since he had that kind of thing, unsealing the Caged Bird Cursed Seal was just a small matter.
"I know, sensei. For now, this is already enough."
— — —
Hokage Office.
Hiruzen's eye twitched as he looked at Jiraiya, who was casually sitting on the sofa in front of him.
"Old man, don't keep staring at me like that. I've been sitting here for so long lately. It's already my limit." Jiraiya looked helplessly at Hiruzen.
When he was about to leave the village just now, this old man actually wouldn't let him.
Hiruzen sat down in his office chair and began to explain to Jiraiya why he didn't want him to leave the village.
"Kumogakure will be sending people over soon to sign an alliance."
"And before that, the village needs to ensure its combat strength, especially with the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki here."
"Isn't Shinji here?" Jiraiya scratched his head.
The current Shinji could no longer be simply measured as a Jonin.
"No, the main thing is, I need to guard against Iwagakure." Hiruzen shook his head. With that jutsu,
Shinji hardly needed to worry about the Tailed Beast. But he kept Jiraiya more to guard against Ōnoki. Ōnoki had already lost face when he was in Kumogakure. Once he returned, no one knew what actions Iwagakure would take.
"Are you saying that Ōnoki might start a war?" Jiraiya straightened up, his brow slightly furrowed.
Hiruzen nodded. "Just a guess. I've dealt with him for so many years. It's not like I don't know his style."
For so many years, Iwagakure had always been the type to try their luck. And they often hired organizations to complete dangerous missions that Iwagakure couldn't accomplish. This matter was clear to all the major countries.
"How long has it been peaceful? Is it going to be like this again?" Jiraiya shook his head, slumping helplessly onto the sofa.
He didn't question Hiruzen's thoughts, as this must have been discussed by him and Shikaku and others.
Moreover, did they really think Hiruzen was useless?
Hearing this, Hiruzen fell silent.
Yes, how long had the Ninja World been peaceful before turmoil was about to rise again?
However, Konoha couldn't back down. Once they did, the other countries would instantly swarm them.
"Alright, I understand. I won't leave during this period." Jiraiya dropped this sentence, then stood up and left the office.
Even if he didn't leave, he couldn't stay here anymore. He felt his bones were almost loosening.
— — —
Training Ground.
Shinji was surrounded by several disciples, Naruto and the others chattering, asking him what was different after going to Kumogakure.
"Sensei, is it true, as my classmates say, that all the ninjas in Kumogakure are tall and burly?"
"Sensei, I heard you personally defeated the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, that's amazing!"
Shinji couldn't help but raise a hand, signaling for silence.
Naruto and the others then looked at Shinji with expectant expressions. They, who had never seen the outside world, were curious about everything.
Shinji looked at Naruto and the others and said, "In a few days, people from Kumogakure will come. If you're curious then, you can go take a look and you'll know."
"Really?!"
All the disciples looked at each other. They had not heard about this matter.
Shinji nodded. "Yes, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki has already come with us first."
(End of Chapter)
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