The Hyuga compound was also a place Gekko Chizan often visited.
After all, Hyuga Hinata was the daughter-in-law he had already set his sights on. To make that childhood engagement happen, he had pestered Hyuga Hiashi endlessly—so much so that on several occasions, the Eight Trigrams Palm had been used to "entertain" him.
"Yo, Neji, training~"
"Stop practicing. Come with me—let me see how much you've grown recently."
Four-year-old Hyuga Neji was practicing Gentle Fist when the sudden voice made his handsome little face immediately show a trace of helplessness.
"Chizan-sensei, you're here."
"Father is resting right now. I'll go call him for you."
Seeing Neji about to run off, Gekko Chizan immediately grabbed him by the back of the collar and lifted him up.
Over the past few years, although his attributes had grown slowly, his strength and taijutsu had improved quite a bit. Handling a little kid like this was no problem at all.
"Neji, is this how you treat your teacher?"
"Looks like that anaconda training from last time really needs to happen again."
The moment he heard the words "anaconda training," Neji's whole body trembled.
His mind couldn't help but recall a training session from some days ago.
The target of that training wasn't just him—it also included Gekko Dōnin.
Their opponent had been a forest anaconda, a massive one stretching dozens of meters long.
That had completely stunned the two little ones. As for Gekko Chizan's explanation, it was very simple: gem must be polished to become a fine vessel.
Of course, afterward, he had been chased and beaten all the way by Pakura and Hizashi.
"Chizan-sensei, please—no. I was wrong, isn't that enough?"
"Heh heh heh, now that's more like it."
Looking at Hyuga Neji, who already seemed like a little adult, Gekko Chizan smiled slightly.
A clean white forehead, a pair of white eyes—perfect, absolutely perfect.
Why perfect? Of course, because it lacked that disgusting patch of green.
The curse belonging to the Hyuga branch family—the Caged Bird—an imprint that, in the original story, Neji would carry for his entire life.
"Those old fossils haven't jumped out again, have they?"
"No. Ever since you talked with them last time, Sensei, they've been quiet for a long time. Even Father has been happy about it."
"Sensei, is that… that mark really such a big problem?"
Gekko Chizan smacked his lips and muttered, "Don't think about it. That thing has nothing to do with you."
"A bunch of old fossils."
Back then, for Hyuga Neji's future, Gekko Chizan personally came to the Hyuga compound and personally took Hyuga Neji as his disciple.
In Konoha, Gekko Chizan was a famous figure. His prestige had once even surpassed that of the Three Sannin—after all, he was a powerhouse whose name stood alongside the Hokage's.
For him to accept Neji as a disciple was a good thing for the Hyuga clan. With the master-disciple relationship, Gekko Chizan could be considered external support for the Hyuga clan.
But there was one condition: they were not allowed to place the branch family's Caged Bird curse on Hyuga Neji.
The Hyuga elders were, of course, firmly opposed and even accused Gekko Chizan of overstepping his bounds.
Later, Gekko Chizan had a very "cordial" conversation with those elders. As for what was discussed, no one knew.
All that mattered was that after that day, those elders completely behaved themselves. They stopped stirring trouble and no longer interfered much in clan affairs.
Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi were both extremely curious about this. After all, they knew better than anyone what those old fossils were like.
But whenever Gekko Chizan was asked about it, he would just smile it off and never say a single extra word.
"Neji, you've been studying with me for a while now."
"Remember—always keep the kunai I gave you on you."
Neji nodded. He had heard his teacher's reputation so many times his ears were about to grow calluses.
The Ghost of Konoha—one hand wielding the Flying Thunder God Technique, eerie and unpredictable. Carrying his kunai was a form of insurance.
"Alright. Tell your father to strengthen the clan's alert status recently."
"If people from Kumogakure show up, you need to be extra vigilant."
"A shinobi must always stay alert. It's absolutely necessary."
Gekko Chizan didn't stay long.
Hearing his words, Hyuga Neji nodded. But before he could fully react, he was already being taken away from the spot by Gekko Chizan.
"..."
"Alright, can't come for nothing. Training starts now."
The aura of the Forest of Death was as gloomy as ever. But this time, there were no anacondas—only Gekko Chizan himself.
"Let me see how much you've grown."
Seeing there was no anaconda, Hyuga Neji was so happy he could hardly contain himself and immediately launched an attack on Gekko Chizan.
The Hyuga clan had their own methods for nurturing the younger generation. Some main family descendants didn't even need to become genin or accept mission training—they could receive education directly at home and then go straight to take the Chunin Exams.
Of course, ever since Gekko Chizan's visit, branch family children had also gained this treatment.
However, Gekko Chizan hadn't changed his plans for Neji. He still intended to send Neji to the Ninja Academy for proper study.
The current Ninja Academy was nothing like the one in the original story. With Hatake Sakumo leading the way and all kinds of god-tier teachers helping out, the Academy's overall quality was extremely high.
At Neji's age, he was absolutely a genius among geniuses. Byakugan activated, Gentle Fist initiated.
"Ho, that Gentle Fist is pretty good."
"But Neji, do you know this?"
"These fists, these palms—they're not meant to look pretty."
"They're meant to hit the enemy."
"If your speed isn't enough, then even if there's damage, even if there's strength, it's useless."
With a flash, Gekko Chizan appeared behind Neji. Even with the Byakugan's enhancement, Neji knew his teacher was already behind him, but his reaction still couldn't keep up.
"Ouch!"
With a light kick, Neji was sent straight into a face-first tumble.
After all, he was only four years old. No matter how much of a genius he was, he still had to take a beating from reality!
"Neji, your speed isn't fast enough, is it?"
"Looks like we still need to use anaconda training. Summoning Technique!"
Neji was just about to shout "No," but it was already too late—the white smoke of the summoning technique had appeared.
However, what emerged this time wasn't a massive anaconda, but a black snake only ten meters long.
"Hey, Chizan, why'd you call me?"
"Hmm? A forest? Not a bad environment."
A black snake—Black Mamba, the fastest snake in Ryūchi Cave.
"Heh heh, little blackie, long time no see. Your mouth's still as noisy as ever."
"Alright, cut the crap. I've got a task for you. See that kid over there?"
The Black Mamba turned its gaze toward Hyuga Neji, who had completely frozen upon seeing the massive black snake.
"Oh? A little kid from the Hyuga clan. A newly accepted disciple? Not bad, Chizan—you really do pick out geniuses to take in."
"What, you want me to help train him?"
Gekko Chizan nodded, revealing a sly smile.
"You're the fastest. He runs, you chase."
"When you catch him, bite him, coil around him—it's up to you. You can even swallow him if you want."
"Just one rule."
"Make him run!"
Hyuga Neji: ...
The apocalypse. This was the apocalypse…
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