The two finally stopped. Rock Lee walked up to Sasuke, his face tinged with disappointment.
"I lost…" he admitted.
"You're already very strong," Sasuke replied coolly.
Seeing Lee's downcast expression, Naruto spoke up.
"Lee, don't belittle yourself. Sasuke's strength comes from his Ninjutsu—it doesn't mean Taijutsu is inferior. You're still young and haven't even reached your peak yet!"
Naruto smiled with confidence. "Once you do, your Taijutsu will grow rapidly, and its power will be overwhelming!"
Even Sasuke gave a small nod at that.
Lee's Taijutsu wasn't weak at all—if he managed to close the distance, Sasuke would have a hard time dealing with him. Right now, Sasuke only had the advantage because of his Ninjutsu.
Sasuke had already witnessed Naruto's strength in Taijutsu. A single whirlwind kick from him had easily dispersed his Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!
"Alright then," Naruto said cheerfully, "let's welcome our new comrade!"
Lee's mood lifted a little at that. The group turned as another presence approached—Neji Hyūga. He hadn't concealed his arrival, so everyone noticed him immediately.
Neji walked forward, his pale eyes sweeping over Sasuke before settling on Naruto, the so-called dead last. Yet what he had just witnessed left him shaken.
Lee's Taijutsu—was it really that refined? Neji had never seen anything like it.
"Has he always been that strong?" Neji muttered to himself. He couldn't help but feel that both Naruto and Lee might be stronger than he had assumed.
"Then why did he perform so poorly during the exams?"
Before Naruto could answer, Lee straightened his back.
"Because, as Naruto-kun said, how can a shinobi reveal all of his trump cards? Youth is about striking with all your might when your opponent least expects it!"
Naruto blinked, deadpan.
When did I ever say that…?
The others were speechless, but… there was a certain logic to it.
Naruto sighed inwardly. Might Guy must've filled his head with all sorts of strange ideas. Please… don't let it be the green jumpsuit next.
Extending his hand with a warm smile, Naruto said, "Neji, welcome to our group. I know you have questions—I'll answer everything in time. I'm sure we'll get along well."
Neji hesitated before finally clasping Naruto's hand. His voice was firm when he spoke:
"I want to know how you plan to free me from this cursed seal."
He unwound the bandages on his forehead, revealing the mark he despised—the Caged Bird Seal, etched in the shape of a cruel, green X.
"Neji," Naruto said seriously, "since the Caged Bird Seal is a type of Fuinjutsu, then if it can be placed, it can also be removed."
"But the Main Family has no method to remove it," Neji replied sharply.
He knew this better than anyone. The Caged Bird Seal had been perfected across generations of the Hyūga Main Family to protect the Byakugan from being stolen. Its sole purpose was control—never removal.
"I know that," Naruto admitted, "but as long as it's a Fuinjutsu, there's hope. With enough knowledge and effort, it can be undone."
Neji's shoulders slumped slightly. He already understood that principle. The problem was that no one possessed such mastery of Sealing Techniques—and even if they did, why would they help him?
Naruto caught the flicker of disappointment in Neji's expression and declared firmly, "Give me some time. I'll find a way to remove it."
He formed a sequence of hand seals, demonstrating several Fuinjutsu techniques right before Neji's eyes.
Neji's eyes widened in shock.
"Right now, I don't have the solution," Naruto continued, "but give me a few days, and I'll devise a method to block the Main Family's control. It won't erase the seal entirely, but it will free you from their grip."
This was something Naruto had already considered. With his current understanding of Fuinjutsu—and his ability to learn at a frightening pace—it wasn't impossible to develop a countermeasure quickly.
Perhaps it was Naruto's unwavering confidence that stirred something within Neji, for he finally asked, "How do you want me to cooperate?"
"I'll need to study the structure of your seal," Naruto explained. "Only then can I work out a way to neutralize it. But…" His tone grew grave. "During the process, I'll have access to the pathways in your brain. If anything goes wrong, you could end up a vegetable—or worse."
Neji froze. Could he truly entrust his life to Naruto? If Naruto betrayed him, he'd die without question.
Naruto didn't pressure him. He too would hesitate if it meant putting his life in someone else's hands.
After a long silence, Neji clenched his fists. His eyes burned with determination.
"I want to control my own destiny."
Naruto smiled, his expression warm. "Thank you for your trust."
Then he glanced around warily. "But it's not safe here. Come find me tomorrow."
Neji nodded. He understood well—this was not something that could be resolved in a single day.
...
The next morning, Naruto used Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage to bring Neji dozens of meters underground. It was safer and more convenient for researching the Caged Bird seal in secret.
"Are you ready?" Naruto asked.
Neji took a deep breath, his expression firm. "I'm ready."
Naruto closed his eyes, focusing his chakra and probing the cursed seal with his mental energy. The moment he examined it in detail, his heart sank. The Caged Bird Seal was far more complex than he had imagined.
The seal was interwoven with the nerves of the brain and connected directly to the Byakugan. With a single command, the Hyūga Main Family could destroy the branch member's mind.
"Hiss…" Naruto drew in a sharp breath.
He had always known the cruelty of the seal, but seeing its inner workings firsthand still sent a chill down his spine. The seal didn't just bind the body—it dug into the very soul. To completely remove it, one would need knowledge of soul-related arts, something few shinobi had ever touched.
But to break the Main Family's control over it—that, at least, was possible.
Over the next few days, Naruto immersed himself in the seal's study. His body rested, but his mind never stopped working.
Within his consciousness, the familiar system-like chimes echoed:
[Caged Bird Seal +3]
[Caged Bird Removal Research +1.05]
[Fuinjutsu Mastery +5]
Naruto frowned at the strange numbers. So, the "+1" must be from Heaven Rewards Diligence, while the extra 0.05 comes from my own Fuinjutsu foundation…
"It's really difficult…" he muttered under his breath, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.
Every time Heaven Rewards Diligence triggered, it was as if a veil lifted before his eyes, granting him sudden flashes of clarity. His understanding of Fuinjutsu was soaring at a rate he had never imagined possible.
...
A week passed in the blink of an eye.
Neji watched Naruto, his eyes bloodshot and his expression weary, but his hands still forming seals with unrelenting focus. Neji couldn't help but feel something stir in his chest. He's doing all of this… for me.
There was a saying: "A scholar will lay down his life for one who truly understands him." And at this moment, Neji finally understood what that meant.
"Neji," Naruto said at last, his voice hoarse but firm, "I haven't found a way to completely remove the Caged Bird Seal yet. But I can cut the Main Family's control over you."
He paused, regret flickering in his eyes. "But the part that restricts your Byakugan's vision… I still don't have a solution for that."
"What? You already found a method?" Neji's eyes widened. Despite witnessing Naruto's progress these past days, the speed was still unbelievable.
No matter how hard he tried to rationalize it, he couldn't comprehend that Naruto was someone who carried a cheat-like ability.
Naruto nodded. "Yes. There are two possible methods. The first is for you to activate a counter-seal technique the moment the Main Family triggers the curse. The second—" he raised a hand and formed a sequence of seals "—is for me to inscribe another Fuinjutsu onto you that severs the connection entirely."
Naruto frowned slightly. "The first method is too unreliable. You'd need to react instantly every time the Main Family used the seal. One mistake, and it could cost you your life. The second method is safer and long-term."
Both solutions worked on the same principle: signal isolation.
The cursed seal would still exist, but the connection between it and the Main Family's activation technique would be cut off. The essence of the seal remained, yet its control was blocked—like cutting the wire between a detonator and its bomb.
And with that, Neji would finally be free from the shackles of the Hyūga Main Family.
...
TN:
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