Chapter 14: Two Years of Practice, an Official Debut
[Name: Hyūga Neji]
[Innate Talent: Divine Diligence (Effort will always be rewarded. Suitable for the ordinary, and for the genius.)]
[Age: 6]
[Chakra Level: Jōnin]
[Chakra Natures: Yin, Fire, Earth, Water, Lightning]
[Kekkei Genkai: Tenseigan Lv1 (321/500), Ability: Cursed Mandala Sealing Heart]
[Ninjutsu: Lightning Release Chakra Mode Lv4 (3211/4000), Lightning Clone Jutsu Lv3 (1141/2000), Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish Technique Lv3 (541/2000)...]
[Taijutsu: Divine Air Strike Lv1 (384/500), Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Slashes Lv3 (687/2000)...]
[Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique Lv3 (541/2000)]
After his Byakugan broke through to Level 5, it had successfully awakened into the Tenseigan. Neji also discovered that his Byakugan hadn't disappeared; he could switch between it and the Tenseigan freely. In the original story, Uchiha Madara's Rinnegan could also switch back to his Mangekyō. Sasuke's, on the other hand, which had been awakened after receiving the Sage of Six Paths' power, was permanently fixed as a Rinnegan. The difference was likely due to the Reanimation Jutsu. After all, Nagato, who used Madara's eyes, was unable to switch them back to the Mangekyō.
A let out a few more laughs. It was only when Dodai and Matsuichi arrived at the training ground that he composed himself, his expression turning serious.
"Neji, the Ninja Academy graduation is next month. It's time for you to make your debut and become a true shinobi."
Hearing this, Dodai's eyes narrowed as he looked at Neji, who had grown considerably taller. Geniuses were granted the privilege of early graduation, especially in times of war when the village needed a constant supply of new blood. But in times of peace, the standards were much stricter. Even early graduates were typically around ten years old.
Unless they were exceptionally outstanding.
Dodai's gaze swept over the wrecked training ground. He then recalled Matsuichi's assessment that Neji's strength was at least at the level of a Tokubetsu Jōnin, and a wave of shock went through him.
In the Raikage's office, the head of the Yotsuki clan, Yotsuki Kazeki, sat on a long bench, facing A. "A," he said, his tone serious, "are you really planning to let that boy debut? He's only six!"
Although Neji had lived in the Hidden Cloud for two years, very few people knew of his existence, and even fewer had ever had any contact with him. Kazeki knew that the village was secretly cultivating a Byakugan child, but he didn't know much about Neji himself. For the past two years, whenever he had the chance, Kazeki had tried to subtly glean information about Neji from A. Upon learning that A was planning for Neji's debut, he had immediately come to see him.
Kazeki was a man in his late twenties and A's cousin. He held a great deal of prestige within the Yotsuki clan.
A poured Kazeki a cup of hot water, a basic courtesy, before replying. "Kazeki, you know that I'm a genius myself. But in front of that boy, I suddenly feel a sense of shame."
Kazeki was skeptical. When faced with things that went beyond one's understanding, it was natural to be doubtful unless you saw them with your own eyes. However, he didn't dwell on the topic. "Have you found a Jōnin leader for his team? I think Darui would be a good choice."
"Darui, huh." An image of a dark-skinned, short-haired young man appeared in A's mind. "He is good," he praised. "My Raikage Guard is one man short. Let's have him join."
"Oh?" Kazeki's eyebrows rose.
Darui was a leading figure among the new generation of Kumo shinobi and possessed the Storm Release Kekkei Genkai. In terms of talent, he was even a cut above Samui and the others. Darui was not a member of the Yotsuki clan; he came from a civilian background, but he was a key person Kazeki was investing in. Even if he didn't marry into the Yotsuki clan in the future, his interests would be closely tied to theirs.
The Byakugan was a precious Kekkei Genkai that was a key part of the Cloud's future plans. Kazeki had hoped to make Darui Neji's team leader, to allow the two to form a bond. Now that A was absorbing Darui into the Raikage Guard, Kazeki couldn't object. After all, the Guard was the closest one could get to the seat of power. It was a coveted position that ordinary people couldn't even dream of. A's move was a clear sign that he intended to cultivate Darui's talent.
"A, there's another reason I came to see you," Kazeki said after a moment's hesitation.
"Don't be so wishy-washy, Kazeki. That's not like you!" A laughed boisterously.
Kazeki downed a cup of cold water in one gulp. "It's about Neji. I was originally going to wait a couple of years to talk to you about this, but he's debuting next month. Once he becomes a shinobi, he'll be constantly busy and will inevitably face all kinds of dangers. If something were to happen to him, it would be a tragedy neither of us wants to see. So, I think we should pass on the Byakugan bloodline first."
A fell into a thoughtful silence. To be fair, Kazeki's proposal was perfectly reasonable. Life was unpredictable. The shinobi world was littered with the graves of fallen geniuses. Hōzuki Gengetsu of Kirigakure's Seven Swordsmen and Konoha's Fourth Hokage and his wife were prime examples. Death never sent an invitation.
That was one thing. Secondly, the Hidden Cloud had no clans with Kekkei Genkai. Creating their own Hyūga clan was a strategic goal that the entire upper echelon had agreed upon for the next ten to twenty years. In the long run, a Hyūga clan was just as important to the village as Neji himself.
Seeing that A wasn't objecting, Kazeki continued. "A, I've already selected some suitable girls. I guarantee the boy won't be getting the short end of the stick."
A suddenly stared straight at Kazeki. "Are they from our Yotsuki clan?"
Kazeki's expression became slightly unnatural. It was clear A had hit the nail on the head. But he recovered in an instant. He admitted to himself that he had selfish motives. It was unavoidable. As the head of the Yotsuki clan, he had to consider the interests of his family. Besides, the Yotsuki were the strongest clan in the village. It was only right that they contribute to the creation of the Cloud's Hyūga clan. Working for the benefit of his family and contributing to the village were not mutually exclusive.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
A's fingers drummed on the desk. After a long moment of thought, he shook his head. "I can't agree to that, Kazeki."
Kazeki's brow furrowed. "Why not? Do the other clans in the village object?"
"No." A sighed, a wry smile on his face. "That boy, Neji... he has high standards. He wouldn't be interested in the women of our clan."
?
In his youth, Kazeki had been a passionate man with a temper as fiery as A's. After becoming clan head, he had mellowed somewhat, but he still had a short fuse. Hearing A's words, a violent aura erupted from him. With a loud crash, the table in front of him exploded into splinters.
"How dare he!" Kazeki's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. "All the resources he's used these past years were provided by the Yotsuki clan, free of charge! And now he looks down on us? What's wrong with the women of our village?!"
A poured another cup of cold water for his cousin. "Drink some water and calm down, Kazeki. The boy isn't going anywhere. We'll get our Byakugan."