"You're asking for it."
As soon as Anya spoke, Neji—who was usually cool and reserved—lost his composure. Chakra surged within him as he shot toward Anya like a bolt of lightning.
[Gentle Fist, Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!]
Stepping in the pattern of the Bagua (circle), Neji locked onto Anya. His palms radiated intense chakra, unleashing a flurry of attacks too fast for the naked eye to follow.
Anya drifted back like a willow seed—barely moving, yet always just out of reach of Neji's strikes.
"How is this possible?" Neji was stunned. This was the first time anyone had managed to evade his self-developed technique like this.
"Another brute-force taijutsu freak like Guy and Master Lee? So you're not even using much chakra. Still, thinking you can challenge me with just this makes you underestimate me far too much."
Veins bulged on Neji's forehead. He formed hand seals: "Byakugan!"
With the piercing vision of these eyes, I'll see through everything about you. Next time, you won't dodge so easily.
Neji took a deep breath, channeling chakra into both hands. Compressed air took shape invisibly in his hands, using super-speed palm strikes aimed at Anya's vital points from mid-range, releasing chakra-infused force capable of striking enemies from a distance.
More than that, Neji continued his palm strikes, sealing all escape routes for Anya while swiftly closing in, determined to end this battle in the quickest possible manner.
A sharp metallic ring pierced the air.
Mid-attack, Neji felt a shadow of death envelop him. Then came an impact upon his forehead—a sharp force directly hitting his forehead protector.
"What?"
Neji forcibly halted his advance, disbelief dominating his expression. Through the Byakugan's vision, he clearly saw a slender blade had pierced straight into the center of the Konoha forehead protector, only narrowly failing to penetrate it completely. If he hadn't stopped immediately, his head would've been pierced clean through by the blade—utterly fatal.
"Exactly who are you?" Neji quickly regained his senses. This person before him was definitely no ordinary genin. Every single attack of his had been deciphered; even his hidden ultimate move proved ineffective. More terrifying still was that his Byakugan couldn't pierce through that blade. Just a hairbreadth closer and he'd have said goodbye to this world forever.
Anya had not yet responded when, in the distance, Tenten came running over and shouted, "Neji, he's one of us!"
"Ally?" Confusion clouded Neji's face, though his vigilance didn't ease.
Anya casually flicked his wrist, retrieving the blade from Neji's forehead protector. The damaged Konoha protector dropped to the ground, revealing a conspicuous blue cross-shaped Mark with two opposing curved hooks on Neji's forehead.
"So this is the Caged Bird Seal?" Anya looked at it for a moment longer.
"You bastard." Gritting his teeth bitterly, Neji gathered his courage to charge again, but Tenten darted forward, spreading her arms to block him.
Neji barked angrily, "Tenten, get out of my way!"
"Kid, don't push your luck. If you're itching for a fight, I'm more than happy to oblige," Sasori stepped forth from the shadows.
Now there are two of you?
Neji felt a surge of fear in his heart. Why? He had just activated his Byakugan, yet completely failed to sense another person's presence. Just who were these two ninja from Takigakure?
Neji turned his gaze toward Tenten, eyes filled with curiosity.
Tenten naturally knew their identities, but hesitated to reveal them. She stuck out her tongue playfully and said, "They're both my friends, with no ill intentions. Please stop fighting."
"That's right," smiled Anya. "Since you're Tenten's teammate, we're friends too. How about this—I'll help release the Caged Bird Seal to prove my sincerity?"
"That's impossible," Neji immediately reacted emotionally. "Don't talk nonsense here. Do you even know what this cursed seal is? It's already fused with my Byakugan. The only way to remove it is if I die."
Anya calmly replied, "It's just a cursed seal technique. Every ninjutsu has a way to be countered. Don't exaggerate its power."
Tenten had known of Anya's strength from Sasori since childhood. Upon hearing this, she quickly said, "Neji, this is a great opportunity. Believe in him. It might really work."
Neji's eyes showed inner conflict. Doubt, longing, uncertainty, and pain all mixed up inside him. He didn't say a word, lost in thought.
Sasori glanced sideways and said, "Tenten, stop persuading him. If he doesn't want it, forget it."
After a long inner battle, Neji was drenched in sweat, like he'd just climbed out of water. After quite some time, he finally spoke bitterly, "I don't believe you'd be so kind. What do you want from me in return?"
Anya casually replied, "Nothing. Just a fleeting whim."
Neji finally made his decision. He walked straight up to Anya and said, "Go ahead."
"You'll be glad you made this choice today."
Anya stretched out his right hand. Without any noticeable movement, three different beams of light suddenly appeared in his palm. As these rays converged, an unprecedented vitality enveloped Neji's body.
"This feeling… it's so warm," Neji instantly felt calm. His eyes involuntarily closed as if he'd returned to infancy—carefree, unaware of his surroundings, his soul deeply cleansed.
Less than a minute later, the soothing sensation quietly faded. Neji opened his eyes, with a trace of reluctance. This feeling had been far too enchanting.
"It's done."
"What do you mean, 'done'?" Neji momentarily failed to grasp her meaning.
Tenten pointed at Neji's forehead and said, "Your cursed seal is gone, Neji. Truly gone."
"What did you say? This fast? Really? Impossible?" A flurry of questions burst from Neji, his facial expression rapidly shifting. The once cold and aloof heartthrob was gone forever.
"It's true," Tenten truly felt happy for Neji and handed him a small mirror.
Neji hurriedly looked at himself in the mirror. That once loathsome blue mark had truly disappeared. In its place was a pale, clean forehead—completely unblemished. The chain that had long pressed deep within his heart had finally snapped.
A tear of excitement slid down Neji's cheek. After crying, he began laughing—his laughter growing stronger and stronger.
Tenten looked at Neji, who was acting unusually strange, and asked with concern: "Do you think he'll be alright?"
"It's fine. He's just blowing off some steam. He'll be better soon," Anya said, then plopped down onto the ground, catching her breath.
Sasori hurried over and asked, "Big Brother Kurotsuchi, are you alright? Why'd you push yourself like that?"
"Minor issue. This level of exhaustion isn't even worth mentioning."
[Sage Art, Miao Wa — Triplet Melody] was indeed astonishing. Under its effects, this high-grade Cursed Seal was easily shattered. That made sense too — after all, even the sealed Uchiha Kekkei Genkai could be shattered. However, this newly acquired body hadn't yet reached its optimal state. Although it absorbed Natural Energy every day for recovery, it still couldn't engage in battle within a short period.
Man, I wonder if I can fully recover before the final battle...
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