Chapter 22: Before These Eyes
Status Panel
Host: Tsuruma Nobuyuki
Race: Human (Shinobi World)
Skills:
Chakra Extraction Technique: Lv3 (114 / 225)
Chakra Perception: Lv1 (12 / 100)
Taijutsu: Lv3 (207 / 225)
Sealing Technique – Light Thread Formation: Lv2 (141 / 150)
Ninja Tool Manipulation: Lv3 (4 / 225)
Chakra: 10 / 144 / 480
---
A week had passed since his battle with Sasuke, and as the morning sun illuminated Konoha, Tsuruma Nobuyuki studied his system panel with a satisfied expression.
His Taijutsu was just shy of leveling up again, and his Ninja Tool Manipulation had reached Level 3—on par with a standard Genin.
Of course, he wasn't capable of the dazzling acrobatics of Uchiha Itachi or Uchiha Shisui just yet, but…
Nobuyuki took out a kunai and balanced it perfectly on the tip of his index finger.
Steady. Not a single wobble.
With a slight movement of his finger, the kunai spun smoothly, as if it were part of his own body.
"Not bad," he muttered, slipping the kunai back into his pouch. "I wonder how well this will hold up against Hyuga Neji."
He tightened his forehead protector, bid farewell to Ryouko, and set off for the Ninja Academy.
However—
"Where is he?"
Nobuyuki searched the Academy grounds but couldn't find Neji anywhere. His excitement from earlier quickly soured into frustration.
He had trained so hard, eager to test himself against the Hyuga prodigy—only for his opponent to be missing.
Was he deliberately avoiding him?
Unfortunately, there were no second-year ninjutsu classes that day, meaning Nobuyuki had no excuse to go looking for Neji himself.
With no other options, he forced himself to focus on his own training and attended his regular classes.
By the time school was almost over, he had nearly forgotten about the whole thing—until someone approached him.
A second-year girl with her hair in twin buns.
"Tenten?" Nobuyuki blinked.
She crossed her arms, looking mildly annoyed. "Neji asked me to tell you something."
Nobuyuki straightened up.
"If you still remember last week's challenge," Tenten said, "meet him on the rooftop after school."
He smirked. "Finally."
---
The moment the school bell rang, Nobuyuki made his way to the rooftop alone.
The late afternoon sun bathed the area in golden light, stretching long shadows across the floor. A gentle breeze swept over the building, carrying with it the faint sounds of students heading home.
And at the boundary of light and shadow stood Hyuga Neji—his pale eyes locked onto Nobuyuki with chilling intensity.
"You're alone?"
Nobuyuki asked without much thought.
Neji's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Disappointed that there's no audience for your performance?"
Nobuyuki tilted his head, confused.
Neji continued before he could respond.
"Whether it's in the classroom or on the training field, you thrive on the cheers after a victory, don't you?" His tone was eerily calm, yet laced with sharpness. "You act like a genius, but in reality, you're just another arrogant fool."
Nobuyuki's eyes narrowed.
"Should I call you lucky? Or pathetic?"
A realization clicked in Nobuyuki's mind.
"Wait... you avoided me this morning on purpose?"
Neji ignored the question. His gaze sharpened.
"Your forehead is tensing. Your pupils are dilating. Your body is leaning forward. Your heart rate is accelerating."
"You're frustrated because I saw right through you, aren't you?"
Nobuyuki took half a step back without thinking.
His mind quickly caught up with his instincts, and his pride flared.
He gritted his teeth and adjusted his stance, glaring at Neji.
"To be honest," Nobuyuki said, shaking off his irritation, "up until a few minutes ago, I actually liked you."
Neji frowned.
By now, in his calculations, Nobuyuki should have been struggling to contain his emotions—or rushing in blindly out of anger.
But instead—
"Seal of Confrontation!"
Nobuyuki formed the hand seal, signaling the start of the fight.
Neji exhaled, then assumed his Gentle Fist stance.
Nobuyuki took a step back. Then another.
Neji scoffed, his tone returning to its usual calm.
"Six kunai. Eight shuriken. Two rolls of ten-meter steel wire."
Nobuyuki stopped retreating and drew four shuriken in each hand.
"Then let's see what those eyes of yours can do."
He flicked his wrists, launching the projectiles.
Neji dodged effortlessly.
"Your throwing technique is decent," he remarked, "but against the Byakugan, it's pointless."
"Your shoulder shifts first, then your upper arm contracts, then your forearm and fingers."
"I can see the attack before you even release it."
Nobuyuki sighed, shaking his head.
"Yeah, I always knew the Byakugan was a pain in the ass, but experiencing it firsthand makes it even worse."
"For most ninjas, it's like having a natural predator."
Neji advanced steadily.
"Then you understand your fate now," he said. "Accept it and give up."
But Nobuyuki suddenly grinned.
"You know..." He reached into his pouch and pulled out six kunai.
"The reason why persuasion works in a fight—"
"—is because the other guy has already been beaten down first!"
Neji didn't understand the reference, but he certainly understood that Nobuyuki was mocking him.
"Hmph. Nonsense."
His voice carried a faint edge of irritation as he prepared his Gentle Fist stance.
Nobuyuki didn't hesitate.
He threw all six kunai at once.
Neji dodged without breaking a sweat, then immediately lunged forward.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The kunai reached the end of their trajectory—and suddenly, the steel wires attached to them pulled taut, twisting together like a braided rope.
Neji's expression remained composed.
"Clumsy imitation." He scoffed. "These cheap wires might fool an amateur, but against the Byakugan, they're useless."
But—
Something was off.
The kunai weren't trying to restrain him.
Instead—
Click. Click. Click!
The wires twisted further, forming a spiked metal sphere, held together by its own momentum.
A makeshift morning star.
Whoosh!
With a yank of the steel rope, Nobuyuki sent the deadly weapon hurtling straight at Neji.
For the first time—
Neji's ever-calm expression broke.
His eyes widened in shock.
And in the next second—
The spiked kunai sphere was right in front of him.
To Be Continued.