Might Guy rushed over to Yasu, circling him like he was examining a priceless treasure.
"Just now—that was the Hatake Sword Style, wasn't it?! And in your hand… that's White Fang's Tanto, White Light Chakra Sabre, right?! Kakashi guards that blade like it's his own life! I can't believe he actually handed it to you!"
Yasu nodded.There was no point hiding it; Guy would find out sooner or later anyway.
"No wonder you cut straight through Heavenly Rotation! No wonder Kakashi keeps calling you a genius!"
Hatake Sword Style + White Fang's Tanto—together, that combo was legendary. With just those two things, Sakumo became Konoha's hero: White Fang of the Leaf.
At least now, Might Guy had a reasonable explanation—something he could accept without breaking his worldview.
Rock Lee dashed over next, practically tackling Yasu into a hug.He rubbed his cheek against Yasu's chest like an affectionate puppy.
"Yasu-kun! Teach me the Hatake Sword Style! Pleeease!"
Yasu gave a helpless smile and ignored Lee for now, opening his sign-in panel.
"Sign in: Might Guy, Rock Lee."
[Ding! Sign-in with Might Guy successful! You've obtained Taijutsu – Lotus! Affection +3! Current affection: 83!]
[Ding! Sign-in with Rock Lee successful! You've obtained Body Flicker Technique! Affection +4! Current affection: 65!]
[Ding! Duplicate technique detected! Low-level Body Flicker experience added into high-level Body Flicker!]
Yasu's eyes lit up instantly.
He had been wondering whether duplicate jutsu would get wasted.But this… was even better than expected.
If the system used this mechanic…Get a few more Sharingan? Who knows—maybe he'd end up with a Nine-Tomoe Rinnegan someday.
Collect a few more Byakugan? Who knows—maybe he'd awaken the Tenseigan straight from stacking!
The thought alone got him fired up.
Nearby, Hyūga Neji sat on the ground, stunned into silence. There was a helpless, bitter smile tugging at his lips.
"So… I'm not a genius after all. Looks like I'm still far behind."
Yasu frowned.
Neji was arrogant, yes—but with his talent, he had earned the right to be proud. And with his upbringing… he needed that pride to survive.
Now that he'd lost to Yasu, it was like his entire world shattered.
Yasu quickly pried Lee off him and walked toward Neji.
He raised his hand—
—and slapped Neji across the face.
[Ding! Tenten's affection –1. Current affection: 64.]
"Yasu! What are you doing?! Neji already lost—why hit him?!" Tenten rushed to Neji's side, glaring angrily.
Yasu ignored her completely.
He looked at Neji and scoffed.
"You call yourself a genius? One defeat and you're already falling apart?"
Neji curled into himself even more, hugging his knees and burying his face.
"Enough! Stop provoking him!" Tenten snapped.
[Ding! Tenten's affection –3. Current affection: 61.]
[Ding! Warning: A certain character's affection is dropping rapidly. Please watch your behavior!]
Yasu brushed off both Tenten and the system's nagging.
He grabbed Neji by the collar and yanked him to his feet.
"If you give up like this… how are you supposed to save the Branch Family?!"
"You don't understand. You don't understand anything."Neji didn't resist—he only turned his head away, refusing to meet Yasu's eyes.
SLAP!
Another clean hit—this time marking both sides of Neji's face with matching red prints.
"Even a caged bird still dreams of the sky. As long as you haven't given up, there's always a way out. But if you surrender after one setback… then yes—you'll stay trapped forever."
Neji's eyes widened.
The Branch Family's Caged Bird Seal wasn't exactly top-secret, but very few outsiders knew the full story.
For someone he barely knew—someone who just appeared—to speak his deepest pain aloud…
Neji couldn't stay calm.
"You don't understand… If I'm not a genius, then I'll never become Hokage. And if I can't become Hokage, then the Branch Family will never be freed!"
Yasu snorted.
Becoming Hokage had never been about raw strength. There was a whole mess of politics behind that seat, and without backing from the Hokage lineage, the chances were near zero.
Of course, he didn't say that part aloud.
"Hokage isn't about strength. It's about whether the whole village acknowledges you. If you think power alone will make you Hokage, you might as well give up now and focus on being the Branch Family's heir."
Neji trembled.
His eyes—once full of despair—began to regain their light.
Guy nodded solemnly.
"That's right. To be Hokage, what matters most is recognition! Neji, Yasu is correct."
Neji looked at Yasu again, conflicted—yet hopeful.
"I only want to know one thing… Yasu-kun, do you intend to become Hokage?"
This was crucial.
Neji knew—if Yasu aimed for Hokage, he wouldn't stand a chance.
"I'm not planning to be Hokage," Yasu replied calmly. Being Hokage meant getting tied down by mountains of paperwork. How would he travel around and farm affection points then?
But before anyone could misinterpret—
"And even if I did become Hokage, I'd still find a way to resolve your Branch Family's issue."
Neji froze.The tension drained from his body, replaced by shock—and gratitude.
[Ding! Hyūga Neji affection +20! Current affection: 65! Warning lifted—sign-in available!]
[Ding! Tenten affection +5! Current affection: 66!]
[Ding! Might Guy affection +2! Current affection: 85!]
Yasu smirked.
So that's why Naruto loved talking people into submission—"Talk-no-Jutsu" really was broken.
"Sign in: Hyūga Neji."
[Ding! Sign-in with Neji successful! You've obtained Taijutsu – Gentle Fist! Affection +5!]
[Ding! Sign-in with Neji successful! You've obtained Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm! Affection +4! Current affection: 74 points! Can sign-in!]
Gentle Fist without a Byakugan was much weaker, but still excellent for close combat. Once he signed in the Byakugan someday, it would skyrocket in power.
Air Palm was technically still Gentle Fist, but it hardly relied on the Byakugan. The only problem—It ate chakra like crazy.
Chakra chakra chakra!
Yasu scratched his head in frustration. Chakra capacity was still his biggest weakness. If he could boost it, his combat power would jump several levels instantly.
"Sign in again: Hyūga Neji!"
[Ding! Sign-in successful! You've obtained Body Flicker Technique! Affection +3! Current affection: 77!]
[Ding! Duplicate technique detected! Low-level Body Flicker experience added into high-level Body Flicker!]
"Another Body Flicker…"
It was a common jutsu, sure. But if he kept stacking it…He might even surpass Shisui of the Body Flicker someday.
Maybe even go beyond him.