On the table lay an open scroll, his own notebooks, and several books on the human body, chakra theory, and related subjects.
Neji was meticulously observing his own body with his Byakugan, searching for any flaws or weak points that could become liabilities. He muttered his findings aloud.
"There's a leakage in the Tenketsu point..."
"The chakra flow is not optimized..."
"My chakra is unbalanced..."
He carefully wrote each observation down. These were fundamental issues he needed to fix before he could even begin the other chakra-related training he had planned.
'And then there are the Gates,' he thought, his Byakugan clearly visualizing the eight innate limiters within his own body. 'Technically, I could create a small, controlled gap in one of the gates to allow my body to adapt gradually. But to do that safely, my chakra control would need to be far more precise to avoid catastrophic risk.'
Deactivating his Byakugan, his vision returned to normal. A new, parallel goal solidified in his mind. 'I also need to find a way to make my body durable enough that a simple kunai couldn't be a fatal threat.'
The list was daunting. There were so many prerequisites to fulfill before he could even touch his more ambitious projects, all of which required a level of chakra control that would surpass even the like of Tsunade and Sakura.
'But for now, the priority is to practice my chakra control. I can't let these basic setbacks hinder my growth,' Neji resolved.
Picking up a pencil, he stared at the empty pages of his notebook. "I need to design a training routine for this," he muttered, already beginning to map out the rigorous path ahead.
The Next Day,
In the training hall, Neji and Hiashi had just finished a sparring session.
"How much chakra must I use to shut down a tenketsu point without wasting energy?" Neji asked, his breath steadying.
"It depends on your control, the quality and quantity of your chakra. If you strike with precision and the necessary power, a minimal amount is sufficient to seal it," Hiashi replied, observing the thoughtful look on his nephew's face. "Is that the only question you wished to ask?"
"For now," Neji said, offering a slight bow. "Thank you for the session."
With that, Neji turned and left the hall.
Hiashi watched him go, a pensive frown on his face. Is he trying to refine the Gentle Fist technique even further?
Meanwhile, Neji was already on his way home, his mind focused on a different goal. He began practicing his chakra control, activating his Byakugan. With each step, he concentrated, ensuring his feet made no sound. He took it a step further, carefully directing his energy so he wouldn't disturb even a single particle of dust or a tiny stone on the path.
After several minutes of intense focus, a dull ache built behind his eyes. His chakra reserves were draining rapidly. He deactivated his Byakugan and stopped, massaging his temples as the strain subsided.
"I need to optimize my chakra usage," he muttered to himself, resuming his walk. "I must eliminate all leakage, or I'll deplete my reserves too quickly."
With a sigh, he committed to resuming the exercise once his eyes had recovered.
Upon arriving home, Neji washed his face and ate the meal he had prepared earlier. After eating, he immediately retreated to his room, collected his training notebook, and went to the yard, settling beneath a large tree.
He opened the book, reviewing the notes he had meticulously written on chakra control. Activating his Byakugan, he placed one foot against the tree trunk. This was different from simple tree-walking; he focused on shaping the chakra on his sole to perfectly mimic the texture and pattern of the bark, maximizing the surface area and adhesion with the absolute minimal chakra output.
Yet, in his intense focus on this delicate task, he accidentally channeled too much energy, wasting chakra on a single foot.
"This is going to take a while," Neji muttered, thinking of the even more advanced water-walking and leaf exercises that awaited him.
After a few more minutes of practice, he was forced to cut the session short, it was time for his sword training. Neji stored his notebook, retrieved his wooden sword, and headed to Hyuga Sei's residence.
Sei was already waiting in the courtyard. He held two tantō, and as Neji approached, he tossed one through the air.
"Take it," Sei said.
Neji caught the sheathed blade by its hilt and drew it, the metal glinting in the light.
"From now on, we train with live steel," Sei announced, unsheathing his own tantō and falling into a ready stance, the point aimed at Neji.
In response, Neji mirrored the action, leveling his blade at his instructor. A silent understanding passed between them.
Simultaneously, the veins around their eyes bulged as they activated their Byakugan.
In a blur of motion, they rushed each other, the quiet yard erupting with the sharp ring of steel meeting steel.
Neji attacked first, launching an overhead slash at Sei's head with a thumb grip. Sei blocked it by shifting his sword to the side. Each anticipated the other's next move: Sei prepared to slash at Neji's chest.
Neji blocked the strike with a loud clash before stepping back to escape the danger zone. The two stood waiting for the other to move.
Sei made the first move, thrusting his sword forward. Neji deflected the blade to the side and immediately followed up with a horizontal slash toward Sei's head. However, Sei had already adjusted his stance, stepping back to avoid the slash before knocking Neji's blade away.
They returned to the same distance where they had started the fight, watching each other's eyes, each waiting for the other to make a move.
. . . .
Right after the two of them finished training, Sei sat on the edge of the engawa, drinking water, while Neji stood in the middle of the yard looking at the orange sky.
Sei noticed that Neji had been contemplating a lot since his parent's death.
'I thought giving him a sword would have cheered him up a bit,' Sei thought. He had hoped it would be a distraction, but seeing this, it clearly hadn't worked. He worried about the boy; Neji was like a little brother to him.
"Neji, I will be going on a mission soon. I should return home in about three days," Sei said.
"Got it," Neji replied, his mind still occupied with what he should do next to improve his training.
Sei walked over and stood next to Neji. "Listen, this is just some advice," he said with concern. "Don't injure yourself by training too hard." He spoke from experience, having made that mistake himself in the past.
"I know my limits," Neji said, finally looking at him. "I already have everything planned out."
"What do you mean?" Sei asked, wanting to know more.
Neji just smiled with eyes closed.
After returning home, Neji methodically cleaned off the grime from his training, ate a solitary meal, and retreated to his room. He opened his scrolls on human anatomy, intent on continuing his research into chakra pathways, but the deep ache in his muscles made it difficult to concentrate.
Every movement was a reminder of the day's exertion, a soreness he bore with stoic silence. He let out a thoughtful sigh, resting his chin on his hand.
'Is pushing through this pain worth the cost?' he wondered. 'I could force the healing, accelerate cell regeneration... but it would borrow time from my future self.'
A moment later, a smirk tugged at his lips. The answer was obvious. "A trivial problem," he whispered to the empty room. "Once I achieve perfect cellular control through chakra, I can reverse any damage and extend my lifespan indefinitely."
His Byakugan activated, veins pulsing around his eyes as he perceived the microscopic tears in his own muscle fibers. He began to channel healing chakra through his palms, but frustration soon followed. His own anatomy prevented him from reaching the deepest strains.
He paused, a new thought cutting through his irritation. 'The Tenketsu points are conduits for chakra... why am I relying on my hands as a medium? The chakra should be able to emanate from the points themselves.'
The frustration vanished, replaced by the thrilling spark of a breakthrough. This was a new challenge, a finer level of control to master. Without even realizing it, his obsession deepened, not just with strength, but with the absolute mastery of chakra itself.
As time went by,
Neji finally turned five years old and began attending the Academy. His body was densely lean with noticeable muscle definition, though his baggy clothes hid it completely.
He sat in class, listening to the teacher's lesson alongside the other children. His classmates were spooked, as Neji had his Byakugan activated. They found the visible veins and pale eyes unsettling, and the student sitting next to him had inched closer to his friend on the right, away from Neji.
The teacher was explaining basic chakra application. Neji listened with intense focus; even though he had already learned this, he was interested in hearing another perspective.
While concentrating on the lecture, he was also practicing his chakra control. He tapped his finger against the desk repeatedly, but not a single sound was made as he perfectly contained the energy.
Then, the bell rang.
"Okay, everyone. Remember to do your homework," the teacher said.
"Okay," most of the students replied in unison.
"Class dismissed. Go enjoy your lunch break," the teacher announced, gathering his things and leaving the classroom.
Neji finally closed his eyes and deactivated his Byakugan. He pulled a bento box from his bag and began to eat alone in the classroom. He ate in peaceful silence, watching the scenery outside through the window.
'Time sure does pass fast,' he thought.
After finishing his meal, Neji noticed he still had some time before his next class. He made his way to the library, seeking a deeper understanding of a specific subject: Genjutsu.
He pored over a scroll, his Byakugan instinctively flickering to life as he mapped the theoretical concepts onto his perfect vision of the chakra system. 'The applications are limitless,' he realized. 'With these eyes, I wouldn't just cast an illusion; I could maintain it. I could see the exact moment a target's chakra rebels and instantly counter it, shifting the frequency of my own chakra to overwhelm their resistance. I could even monitor their vitals to tailor the Genjutsu's intensity in real-time.'
He was so engrossed in these possibilities that he almost missed the time. Closing the scroll with a soft sigh, he returned it and hurried to class, where he sat through the afternoon lessons until the bell finally released him.
As he walked toward the Hyuga compound's gates, he was met by the sight of a maid waiting patiently for him. It was Hyuga Natsu. She offered a slight bow before he could even offer a greeting.
"Neji-sama," she said. "The Clan Head requests your presence at dinner this evening."
Neji nodded, a hint of curiosity behind his neutral expression. "Lead the way," he instructed.
Unbeknownst to him, the brief exchange was watched from a nearby walkway by two Main Branch youths: Hyuga Soshu and Hyuga Katsuro. Their faces were tight with resentment.
"Look at that," Soshu sneered, his voice a low hiss. "The Clan Head's favorite pet gets a personal escort. Why does a branch family member receive such honors while we are overlooked?"
"It's an insult," Katsuro agreed, his eyes narrowing. "I've heard rumors that Hiashi-sama himself has been giving him private lessons. That beast is being groomed above his station."
"There's nothing we can do," Soshu said, frustration evident in his clenched fists. "He's untouchable under the Clan Head's protection."
A slow, cruel smile spread across Katsuro's face. "Not entirely. The weekly spars are coming up. 'Accidents' happen all the time in training."
Soshu's expression shifted from envy to malicious glee. "You're right. A few 'unfortunate' injuries... broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder... no one could blame us for being overzealous in combat."
The two shared a dark laugh, already savoring the thought of putting the "upstart branch member" in his place.