In the small courtyard, silence reigned.
Only the sound of airflow surging from Neji echoed.
Hyuga Hiashi…
The elders, Tsunade, Hinata, and Hanabi—all watched Neji intently, their gazes filled with tension, complexity, and curiosity.
Shen Mo watched too.
Though he'd warned of danger, he thought it wouldn't be too hard for Neji.
After all, in Hunter x Hunter, the protagonist controlled Nen fairly easily at first.
Yet…
Neji struggled to relax and control it with his mind, but the airflow kept jetting out, fast and fierce, making him look like a Super Saiyan.
This was harder than Shen Mo expected.
The issue: Neji's Nen output was overwhelming.
Shen Mo realized the problem.
Neji wasn't starting from scratch.
Years of training, strong chakra, and the recent cans…
His life energy far surpassed the Hunter x Hunter protagonist's at Nen awakening—multiplying the difficulty of control, like trying to plug countless leaks in a massive dam. The surging Nen carried intense force, and as his life energy drained, Neji grew increasingly exhausted.
Harder to control.
It was getting dangerous.
Shen Mo sighed inwardly. He'd meant the danger as mostly a scare—80% bluff. Now, 50% was real.
Neji felt the crisis.
This Nen, though controllable, was far wilder than chakra.
If chakra was a stream, Nen was boiling rapids.
"Control, control…"
Neji focused, trying to tame it.
It worked—somewhat.
Part of the airflow, in his mind, formed a flowing armor covering his body, stemming the loss. Outwardly, a white mist-like layer slowed the Nen's escape.
"Now, it's whether he tires first or the Nen does," Shen Mo said, eyeing Neji's state.
As time passed…
Neji's airflow visibly slowed.
But his body swayed.
Weakness—extreme weakness.
He could barely stand, his consciousness blurring, drowsiness surging, his grip on Nen weakening.
"This is the most dangerous moment," Shen Mo said, his expression calm, as if unconcerned with Neji's life.
But secretly…
He was ready to intervene. No way he'd let a can-opener die.
Then…
"Neji-nii will make it!" Hinata clenched her fists, biting her lip. "He's the Hyuga's genius!"
Her voice trembled with nerves, but her tone was firm.
Her words reached Neji.
His limp fists tightened.
He had things to do! He couldn't give up!
Despite physical weakness, his will stood firm.
Under this surge of resolve…
His "armor" solidified further.
It was set.
Shen Mo relaxed.
But inwardly, he smirked.
Neji claimed he wasn't a sister-protector, yet here he was. Despite changing the plot and their fates, some things stayed the same.
Now…
Neji's airflow stabilized, reduced to a steady stream flowing on his body, no longer leaking. He'd mastered it.
He opened his eyes, soaked in sweat, utterly drained.
"Congratulations, you did it," Shen Mo said, lips curving. "You've mastered a new power."
"I still need to see if the main branch deserves to be the main branch," Neji said weakly, grinning at Hinata. "I won't die that easily."
It was his obsession.
He needed to know if his father's death was worth it.
"Don't talk, save your strength," Tsunade said, supporting him. She checked him, then sighed in relief. "Good, you've got some chakra left—no damage to your body."
She popped a few Chakra Recovery Pills into his mouth.
Though meant for chakra…
They worked instantly on Neji.
His eyes regained their spark.
Soon, he stood on his own.
Hiashi's gaze was complex but relieved. The elders smiled, though inwardly uneasy.
Only Hinata…
Was genuinely happy for Neji.
"You've earned the right to open Nen-specific cans," Shen Mo said, raising a brow. "But before you buy, I'm curious—what Nen type are you?"
"Type?" Neji asked, confused.
He felt his Nen as a domineering energy.
It seemed destructive when unleashed.
"Nen is a wondrous power," Shen Mo said.
He gestured, and a glass of water floated to Neji, a leaf atop it.
The famous Water Divination test.
"Like how ninja rarely master every elemental jutsu in a lifetime, everyone has a Nen type that suits them best, maximizing its potential," Shen Mo said. "Put your hands around the glass and channel your Nen."
He was curious. Nen felt near-omnipotent.
Each type varied greatly.
Given Neji's personality…
As Neji acted, the water overflowed.
It multiplied.
The strange sight widened everyone's eyes.
It felt a bit like Water Style.
"Enhancement?" Shen Mo said, surprised.
"Sir, is something wrong?" Neji asked, tensing at Shen Mo's reaction.
"No, Enhancement is great," Shen Mo said, shaking his head with a playful tone. "Just… Enhancers are often straightforward. Their fights are more direct."
He hadn't expected Neji to be an Enhancer.
But on reflection…
Neji's personality had a straightforward, obsessive streak. In the original story, his belief in unchangeable fate and his willingness to sacrifice himself for others showed a core fixation, sometimes beyond reason.