Chapter 251: Neji Breaks Free from the Cage, Kotoamatsukami! (Seeking Subscriptions!)
"Asuma, how are Naruto and the others?"
Inside the research base, Uzumaki Kushina, having thoroughly enjoyed the show, finally remembered her own son.
Namikaze Minato also looked towards Sarutobi Asuma.
It was impossible not to worry.
Although Naruto and the others were quite strong, he could sense the power of Sage Mode in Orochimaru's five subordinates.
"Don't worry, I've already notified Shisui to go over."
Sarutobi Asuma said with a smile.
But he still used the Mirror Flower Water Moon Technique to display the battlefield.
The person was still within the Land of Fire.
Naruto was still on his way.
Only Haruno Sakura was following behind.
Sarutobi Asuma's mind moved, and three water screens appeared, simultaneously showing four battlefields.
The first was Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, and Yamanaka Ino, along with Temari and Kankuro who had chased after them, fighting Tayuya from the Sound Four.
However, the battle had already reached its conclusion.
Even in her Curse Seal State 2, Tayuya possessed Jonin-level strength, but with Nara Shikamaru's intelligence, combined with his Shadow Binding Technique and Yamanaka Ino's Mind Body Disturbance, they had already gained the upper hand.
When Temari and Kankuro arrived, the situation had already become one-sided.
Temari's Wind Style happened to counter Tayuya's sound-based Genjutsu.
The Wind Style rendered the sound-based Genjutsu ineffective, allowing Nara Shikamaru and Yamanaka Ino to seize the opportunity for a dual control.
It was no use. Even though Nara Shikamaru was stronger than he was in the original work during Curse Seal State 2, he couldn't control the powerful Tayuya on his own.
But with Yamanaka Ino's Mind Body Disturbance, it was perfectly achievable.
One controlled the body, the other controlled the mind – a perfect combination.
Once both body and mind were controlled, Tayuya's life came to an end.
Akimichi Choji and Kankuro took the opportunity to subdue her.
"Your coordination was excellent!"
Namikaze Minato chuckled.
Although he had only seen the latter half of the battle.
Senju Tobirama was also very satisfied.
The young sprouts of Konoha looked very promising.
Then, everyone's attention turned to the second battlefield.
It was the battle between Neji, Rock Lee, Tenten, and Kidomaru.
At that moment, it had reached a fever pitch.
Kidomaru was undoubtedly the strongest of the Sound Four, especially since he was intelligent and had strong insight.
Among the three, Tenten, the weakest, had already been bound to a tree trunk by spiderwebs and had fainted, becoming a damsel in distress.
Rock Lee was also suspended in the air, like a captured prey, struggling in vain.
The toughness of the spider silk rendered his strength useless.
Only Neji, the strongest and also the one who countered Kidomaru.
At this moment, the original three-on-one battle had turned into a one-on-one.
However.
With the advantage of terrain, Kidomaru still held the upper hand.
Namikaze Minato and the others could tell at a glance that Neji was in a state of passive defense.
Without Rock Lee and Tenten's support, Neji could only defend passively.
"Neji's Byakugan has a flaw, I'm afraid..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, observing Kidomaru moving around and observing, immediately and keenly grasped his purpose.
"Caged Bird?"
Senju Tobirama said, "Although it's a flaw, it can also be a point that he can utilize himself."
Watching Neji use an increasing number of Gentle Fist techniques against the dense spider webs, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly, "He seems to be a genius of the Hyuga Clan."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, "It's a shame he's from the Branch Family."
Undoubtedly, his status as a member of the Branch Family restricted Neji's growth.
"Even though the Caged Bird seals him, it can also be a cocoon."
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled, "If he can break free from the cocoon, then he can transform into a butterfly!"
"Asuma, Neji is your disciple, you must have taught him some special moves, right?"
"I know you love creating ninjutsu the most."
Uzumaki Kushina said.
Senju Tobirama couldn't help but look at Sarutobi Asuma.
He also loved creating ninjutsu.
"Then you'll be disappointed, Kushina-nee-san. I haven't taught Neji any unique ninjutsu."
Sarutobi Asuma shook his head.
Not just Neji, but aside from Shimura Dan who mastered Scorch Release, Sarutobi Asuma hadn't taught Uchiha Shisui or Uzumaki Karin any ninjutsu either.
What he had taught so far were more theoretical concepts like Chakra Control and Chakra Nature Transformation.
Of course, This was also because these disciples all had their own special characteristics.
For example, Neji's Byakugan already had a complete combat system.
And at Neji's current level, Sarutobi Asuma couldn't use high-level techniques on him; his chakra wouldn't allow it.
Uchiha Shisui was the same, they both had their own systems.
However.
Having received Sarutobi Asuma's guidance since he was four years old, compared to the original story.
Neji's application of chakra and his use of the Byakugan would absolutely surpass his original self.
After all, it had been 9 years.
And Neji was a genius who managed to figure out the Rotation technique on his own without any prior instruction.
Sarutobi Asuma was also looking forward to seeing how far Neji could go.
Would he exchange his life for an injury, like in the original story?
The battle continued.
More and more spiders rained down from the sky.
At the same time, Kidomaru, hidden in the shadows, was also launching sneak attacks with kunai condensed from his sticky spider silk.
This made Neji increasingly dangerous, and he began to sustain injuries.
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched with a frown, "His weakness is about to be exploited by the opponent."
Indeed.
Once the kunai attacks took effect, Kidomaru discovered the flaw in Neji's dōjutsu.
However, no one knew Neji's weakness better than Neji himself.
So, he used movement to avoid having his weak points targeted.
Seeing this, Kidomaru immediately entered his Cursed Seal Stage 2 form, his body transforming drastically and gaining an extra eye. His attacks shifted from kunai to arrows.
He formed a bow with his sticky spider silk and used its tough threads as the bowstring, then condensed arrows from the sticky spider silk.
Sarutobi Asuma had to admit that the effects of the Sage Power Cursed Seal researched by Orochimaru were definitely on par with a Kekkei Genkai.
It was just too ugly!
Seeing Neji get injured again and again, Uzumaki Kushina couldn't hold back, "Asuma, aren't you going to intervene?"
Sarutobi Asuma shook his head.
On the battlefield.
Neji narrowly dodged a vital blow, but his shoulder was still pierced by an arrow.
"I've completely grasped your weakness, and your fate is sealed!"
"You're like prey caught in a spider's web, no matter how much you struggle, you can't escape."
Kidomaru cackled, victory seemingly within his grasp.
Neji was now his plaything!
At this moment, Neji looked up at Kidomaru, then he removed his forehead protector, revealing the Caged Bird seal.
"Fate?"
"I have never bowed to fate!"
"My teacher said that humans are born to fight against destiny!"
At this moment, scenes flashed through Neji's mind.
The pained voice of his father being controlled by the clan head with the Caged Bird, the ugly seal branded on him since childhood, Rock Lee's unyielding hard work, and his own desperate battle against the One-Tails Jinchuriki during the Chunin Exams not long ago.
Finally, he remembered the words his teacher had spoken.
"The hardest person to overcome is oneself!"
"So-called destiny, is oneself!"
Neji lowered his gaze, and his Byakugan closed along with it.
Kidomaru let out a mocking laugh, then opened his mouth and spat out an arrow.
However, unlike the previous arrows, this one had silk attached to its tail.
"You won't escape me this time!"
Kidomaru cackled, then drew his bow.
With the silk, he could control the arrow's trajectory, and even if Neji kept moving, he wouldn't be able to escape his lock.
What's more, Neji was already injured, at the end of his rope.
However.
Just as Kidomaru was about to shoot, and Uzumaki Kushina's heart tightened, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others frowned.
A powerful chakra erupted from within Neji.
His hair flew up.
Under the shocked gazes of Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others, the mark of the Caged Bird on Neji's forehead actually disappeared.
"How is this possible?"
"I..."
"My body, why can't I move?"
Kidomaru widened all three of his eyes, discovering that his body had completely lost control.
It was as if he had been hit by a genjutsu like a Sealing Technique.
"Did that guy... break some kind of seal?"
He also noticed that the mark on Neji's forehead had vanished.
"Asuma, did you break the Caged Bird?"
Uzumaki Kushina's first thought was this.
In her eyes, Sarutobi Asuma was comparable to legendary figures like the Sage of Six Paths; he could certainly break the Caged Bird.
But before Sarutobi Asuma could answer, Senju Tobirama said, "I'm afraid this child's Byakugan has undergone a change, similar to the tomoe increasing on a Sharingan."
"Although I've never seen the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan evolve."
Namikaze Minato also agreed with this assessment: "That Sound Ninja's inability to move is likely because he's been immobilized by some technique."
"Truly astonishing!"
He had heard from Sarutobi Asuma before about the Tenseigan above the Byakugan, but he hadn't known that the Byakugan, like the Sharingan, also had different variations.
"Does the Byakugan also have unique Dojutsu?"
Senju Hashirama was also very curious.
During his time, he hadn't heard of or seen the Byakugan possessing unique Dojutsu.
Sarutobi Asuma, however, was incredibly happy at this moment.
Neji had greatly surprised him.
At this age, he had actually achieved this.
By his standards, this was equivalent to the Uchiha clan's Mangekyo.
Sarutobi Asuma didn't know if Hamura's Byakugan could possess such power, but Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's Byakugan certainly had immense power.
For example, intimidation, which could create mental deterrence and also inflict substantial damage.
There was also consciousness manipulation, akin to controlling a puppet.
And genjutsu abilities, such as reading thoughts and memories.
Furthermore, Sarutobi Asuma vaguely recalled that the other Ōtsutsuki clan members who came from beyond the heavens also had Byakugan with their own unique abilities.
For instance, phasing similar to Kamui, and also seeing future destinies.
Clearly, Neji had reached this point.
And had broken free from the shackles of the Caged Bird on his own.
"My previous conjecture was indeed correct."
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled inwardly.
He could, of course, break the Caged Bird.
But he hadn't broken it for Neji.
What would be the point of him breaking it for Neji?
It simply removed one weakness for Neji.
"Everything is fine now!"
"Breaking the cocoon and transforming into a butterfly!"
On the battlefield.
Neji also felt the transformation of his Byakugan and the disappearance of the Caged Bird.
However, he didn't have time to think further. He stepped forward and sprinted, then leaped up and landed in front of Kidomaru.
Neji could feel that while his Byakugan could control Kidomaru, it had a time limit. He had to defeat this enemy before his chakra was completely depleted.
His palms continuously struck Kidomaru's body.
Neji held his breath and finished the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
The chakra injected from his acupoints shattered Kidomaru's internal organs.
This time, Kidomaru's body was immobilized, preventing him from secreting spider silk to defend himself.
As the immobilization technique wore off, Kidomaru spat blood and his body fell from the tree, "You... How did you do that?"
Neji gasped for air, kneeling on one knee on the branch, and didn't answer.
How did I do it?
I achieved it through 9 years of accumulation and by conquering myself!
"Thank you, Teacher Asuma!"
Neji was genuinely grateful in his heart.
At the experimental base.
Sarutobi Asuma and the others turned their gaze to another battlefield.
Naruto and Haruno Sakura had finally caught up to Kabuto Yakushi.
However, before they could even fight, reinforcements appeared.
It was Kimimaro!
He took the wooden barrel containing Sasuke from Kabuto's hands and quickly retreated, changing direction again and heading north.
"Damn it, put Sasuke down!"
Naruto roared, trying to chase after them, but was blocked by Kabuto.
"Your opponent is me!"
Kabuto pushed up his glasses and said with a smile.
"Then I'll take you down first!"
Naruto roared and immediately raised his hand to form hand seals.
Just then, a figure appeared before him.
"Naruto, you two go chase Sasuke, leave this to me!"
Uchiha Shisui said to Naruto, turning his head slightly.
"Big Brother Shisui!"
Naruto was overjoyed and quickly said, "Thank you, we're leaving then!"
He called out to Haruno Sakura, and the two of them chased after Kimimaro.
Kabuto looked at Uchiha Shisui, his expression becoming serious, "The Teleportation Ninja Shisui, I didn't expect you to be here too!"
Taking his eyes off Naruto and the others' retreating figures, Uchiha Shisui looked at Kabuto and smiled gently, "You kidnapped an Uchiha, which is of course intolerable."
As his words fell, his eyes transformed into the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Kabuto immediately tried to close his eyes, intending to avoid being hit by the Sharingan's genjutsu, but he failed.
This was Uchiha Shisui's first time using his Mangekyo Sharingan's unique ocular jutsu.
Kabuto's will was instantly and completely altered by him.
Loyal to Konoha, an unseen spy protecting Konoha, Kabuto Yakushi, Sarutobi Asuma's eyes by Orochimaru's side.
This became Kabuto's will to live!
"This... is the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan's ocular jutsu?"
"It's truly astonishing!"
Beneath his lenses, Kabuto's gaze was filled with fervor.
He knew he had fallen victim to genjutsu, but he couldn't alter the change in his will.
This peculiar feeling was truly amazing.
He had accompanied Orochimaru in his research and had been nurtured by him, thus inheriting a degree of desire for Kekkei Genkai.
Especially the Sharingan.
And now, he truly understood the terrifying aspect of the Mangekyo.
"So, I'm very curious, what is this Genjutsu called?"
Kabuto eagerly wanted to know.
"Kotoamatsukami!"
Uchiha Shisui replied, satisfying Kabuto's curiosity.
"Kotoamatsukami... This should be the most powerful Genjutsu."
Kabuto couldn't help but exclaim, then he chuckled, "But speaking of which, aren't you worried about those two kids?"
"Kimimaro is a person Orochimaru highly values. He possesses the powerful Shikotsumyaku, so he can't be dealt with by just two brats."
"Even if one of them is the Fourth Hokage's son!"
Uchiha Shisui smiled upon hearing this, "Then you underestimate them!"
They were taught by Asuma-sensei himself, Uchiha Shisui thought to himself.
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