Uchiha Obito froze slightly when he heard Kakashi Hatake's words.
This trash… actually thought he could inherit the Hokage position?
Obito's expression twisted beneath the mask. He leaned in, listening carefully to Kakashi's murmurs.
"If you had grown up safely, and possessed both Mangekyō Sharingan," Kakashi said quietly, "you might have become someone comparable to Uchiha Ran."
"Rin… she would've been proud of you."
Sorrow crept into Kakashi's voice.
Under the mask, Obito's face contorted violently. Veins bulged along his temples as his fists clenched, joints cracking audibly.
"Kakashi… what kind of saint are you pretending to be?" Obito seethed inwardly.
"It was you who pierced Rin's heart with Chidori. What right do you have to mention her? What right do you have to speak for her?"
The resentment in his heart surged like a tidal wave.
"Brother," Kakashi continued softly, unaware, "I don't know how things are in the Pure Land, but you can rest easy. The rotten roots of Konoha have been torn out. The sickness of the old era has been cut away by Uchiha Ran."
"Our Konoha will only get better. Stronger. Brighter."
Obito finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Annoying," he muttered coldly. "You really never stop talking."
Space warped.
Kamui activated, and Obito vanished into the distorted dimension.
A breeze passed through the cemetery.
It brushed Kakashi's silver hair as he gazed up at the blue sky.
"…Was that you, Obito?" he murmured.
"So you agree with me too."
---
Hyūga Clan Compound
Uchiha Ran followed Hyūga Hiashi into the compound.
In the center of the training grounds, Hyūga Neji was sparring.
His opponents were no longer Hinata, but three elite members of the Hyūga Clan—men in their twenties, all with confirmed chūnin-level strength.
Neji was only seven.
Yet he was fighting all three alone.
"Eight Trigrams—Thirty-Two Palms!"
Neji's gaze sharpened. A green Eight Trigrams Formation spread beneath his feet, Heaven and Earth markings clearly visible, enveloping all three opponents.
The elites' expressions changed instantly. They activated their Byakugan at once, veins bulging at their temples.
Yesterday's news had already spread—Neji had defeated ten Hyūga genin by himself.
None of them could replicate that feat.
Neji flashed forward.
His palm struck toward the first elite's chest.
The man's pupils shrank. He tried to deflect—then froze.
A powerful suction force erupted.
His chakra drained visibly, pain contorting his face.
"Captain!" the other two shouted.
"Don't get close!" the first elite yelled hoarsely. "His Gentle Fist absorbs chakra!"
Before he could retreat, Neji felt the chakra drop below half.
Inch force exploded.
The elite was sent flying.
One down.
The remaining two immediately pulled back, widening the distance.
"Eight Trigrams—Empty Palm!"
They gathered chakra and fired simultaneously.
Compressed air spiraled toward Neji.
Neji remained calm.
At the last instant, chakra surged evenly through his body.
"Eight Trigrams—Rotation!"
He pivoted on one foot. A blue chakra dome spun into existence.
The Empty Palms struck—and were completely dispersed by the rotation.
The two elites' eyes widened.
"Impossible! He's from the Branch House—how does he know Rotation?!"
"Did Hiashi-sama teach him?"
They couldn't imagine another explanation.
Rotation required flawless chakra circulation. One mistake could permanently cripple a person. Countless branch members had tried—and failed.
That was why no one dared attempt it anymore.
Yet Neji had mastered it.
Ran nodded slightly as he watched.
"Good judgment. Good timing. He knows when to press and when to withdraw," Ran said calmly.
"He's talented."
Hiashi felt a surge of pride.
Praise from Hokage-sama carried immense weight.
Hearing Ran's voice, Neji turned, eyes bright.
"Brother Ran, wait for me," he said confidently. "I'll finish this in one minute."
Ran's arrival killed any interest Neji had in prolonging the fight.
He wanted it over—now.
"So arrogant!"
"Brat, you dare look down on us?!"
The two elites were furious.
One rushed in with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, while the other attacked from behind with continuous Empty Palms.
The coordination forced Neji back.
He retreated steadily, watching carefully.
When the close-range fighter completed a full sequence—
There.
Neji struck.
His palm turned claw-like and grabbed the man's head.
Chakra absorption surged.
The elite felt as if his soul were being ripped out.
At the same time, the long-range attacker fired another Empty Palm.
Neji glanced back, raised his free hand, and released his own.
The two attacks collided midair.
Boom!
Dust exploded outward.
The long-range elite activated his Byakugan desperately.
A figure rushed toward him.
He assumed a stance and launched Sixty-Four Palms—
Then froze.
Something was wrong.
"Ough—!"
A pained cry rang out.
It was his brother's voice.
His face drained of color.
Before he could react, Neji's voice rang clearly:
"Eight Trigrams—Thirty-Two Palms!"
"Two palms! Four palms! Eight palms! Sixteen palms! Thirty-two palms!"
Each strike hit a critical meridian junction.
When the final palm landed, every acupoint was sealed.
The elite collapsed to his knees, drenched in sweat.
The battle was over.
------
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