Dust swirled under the collapsed tree.
A figure slowly rose, stepping out of the smoke.
Long brown hair tied into small bundles at the ends.
A pair of pale, pupil-less eyes—eyes known across the entire Shinobi World.
The Byakugan of the Hyuga clan.
And the one standing there was Hyuga Neji.
"Here comes a new Genin. This one alone defeated everyone else. Looks like he has really strong taijutsu."
"He even said he wants to share his taijutsu experience with others—that's why they're being so noisy."
Perched on a tree branch, Tenten turned her head toward Neji below.
"Taijutsu?"
"Ha!" Neji sneered. To him, a group of civilian Genin claiming to know anything about taijutsu was laughable.
These brats hadn't even been on a handful of C-rank missions!
And they dared to speak of experience?
Cleaning trash around Konoha suited them better—garbage picking garbage.
"Neji…" Tenten frowned, noticing his displeasure.
Neji had been meditating just moments ago, and he hated being disturbed during his training.
Normally, he could ignore the noise. But today, it was especially irritating.
"Why don't we train somewhere else?" Tenten suggested carefully.
Neji suddenly leapt up, landing on the branch beside her. His pale eyes stared coldly down.
"Change? Why should I change? They should leave."
The moment his words fell—his figure vanished.
"Neji, don't overdo it! Just scare them away!" Tenten shouted at his retreating back.
But Neji's silhouette was already gone.
Below.
Feng Tai and over a dozen Genin sat in a circle.
In the center, Yuichi was explaining taijutsu principles—how to improve step by step.
Taijutsu wasn't just about physical moves.
Combat thinking was just as important.
When to attack.
How to recognize a feint.
How to seize the opponent's rhythm.
Yuichi didn't speak much, but to these Genin, his knowledge was precious.
The group listened attentively—
Until a sharp gust of wind cut through the air.
Yuichi stopped mid-sentence and turned.
Ten meters away stood a boy, glaring at them with cold Byakugan eyes.
Yuichi blinked in surprise.
"That outfit… Hyuga Neji?"
Even without having met him before, Yuichi instantly recognized him. The same appearance as in the anime—only now standing before him in flesh and blood.
The other Genin followed Yuichi's gaze.
"Byakugan?"
"A Hyuga clan ninja!"
"Who is he? What's he doing here?"
They stared with a mix of awe, envy, and resentment.
"Anything you want?" Yuichi asked calmly.
Neji's voice was cold. "You're too noisy. Leave."
The circle of Genin shot up to their feet.
"Why should we?!"
"Why?" Neji smirked. "Because you're trash. Worthless nobodies who can only handle low-level chores. Useless to Konoha. Gathering here to 'train' is a waste of time."
His words stung. Yuichi, however, only smiled faintly.
Interesting. Could this be a special trigger?
[Character Hyuga Neji has made contact with Host. Open Character Development Line?]
A character development line—for Neji.
Should Yuichi use his last slot on him?
He hesitated.
But before he could decide, one of the Genin—fifteen or sixteen years old—suddenly stood up, face flushed with anger.
"We're trash? We only get low-level missions because of people like you! The good missions are all handed straight to your clan. They don't even give us a chance!"
Neji sneered. "So the weak blame others for their weakness? Pathetic excuse."
"You—!" the boy gritted his teeth, then recklessly lunged at Neji.
Neji's eyes sharpened. He met the charge without hesitation.
"Fool."
His palm lashed out—Hyuga's Gentle Fist.
Chakra pierced straight into the boy's body.
Bang!
The Genin was blasted backwards, crashing to the ground.
He struggled to rise—but his body was powerless.
Wide eyes glared at Neji, but that was all he could do.
"One-household! Are you okay?!" The others rushed to help him up.
Yuichi sighed. Thankfully, this wasn't that Ichigo.
"Too much! The Hyuga clan thinks they can attack comrades like this?!"
"What's your name?! Aren't you afraid we'll report you to Hokage-sama?!"
Neji ignored their protests. His voice was ice.
"Get lost, trash."
Feng Tai clenched his fists in fury, taking a step forward—
But Yuichi raised a hand, stopping him.
The group looked at Yuichi in confusion as he slowly walked past them.
When Yuichi glanced at the fallen Genin, he saw it—expectation in his eyes.
That was enough.
Yuichi smiled.
"You're Hyuga Neji, aren't you?"
"Oh? Someone here knows my name." Neji smirked. "So what? Trash is still trash. Since you know my name—get out of here."
He waved his hand dismissively, as though shooing stray cats.
Yuichi shook his head. "Sorry, but this place doesn't belong to the Hyuga clan. Every Konoha shinobi has the right to train here. You don't get to decide."
"Then I'll make you leave myself."
"If you try… the result may not be what you expect."
"A civilian Genin talking big, huh?" Neji paused, studying Yuichi. "Do you really think things will end differently if you face me?"
"Yes," Yuichi said without hesitation.
"Idiot. Destiny is set in stone. Commoners stay commoners. Elites stay elites. That's the fate you can never escape. And you—"
Yuichi cut him off mid-sentence.
"Wrong." His voice was firm.
"I believe destiny is in my own hands."
"My life is mine to shape."