~Yo! We've hit 100 Powerstones, here's your Bonus Chapter as promised!
~Next milestone: 200 Powerstones! Let's keep the momentum going!
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Half a year later.
Team 3 had fully matured as a genin squad Neji, Tenten, and Lee had all grown significantly.
After countless daily grind missions and farming "Twelve Guardian" experience packs, Neji had finally reached Level 37.
But as expected, leveling up was getting harder, and XP gains were slowing down. He had unlocked two new skills:
Level 35: Lion's Roar
Level 35: Thunder Spiral Strike
Thunder Spiral Strike, originally a high-level skill, was now unlocked at Level 35. It functioned similarly to Chidori, generating a blade of lightning in the user's hand and exploding inside the enemy's body on contact.
Now, Neji had [Energy Orb] mimicking Rasengan, and [Thunder Spiral Strike] mimicking Chidori a perfect balance.
Youth complete!
Even better, both were noticeably more powerful than the originals.
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Back at Training Ground 7, the eternal rendezvous spot.
All of Team 3 had arrived, but strangely, Guy wasn't there first. That immediately sparked conversation.
Tenten was especially suspicious. "It's weird. Guy-sensei is never late. Lee, didn't you train with him this morning?"
Lee shook his head. "Nope!"
"That's even weirder… I can't imagine why he'd be late."
Tenten turned to Neji. He activated his Observation Haki, sensing the area. A small smile curved his lips.
"Tenten, I think your wish is about to come true."
"Really? Finally!"
Lee beamed. "Congratulations!"
Tenten twirled her kunai around her fingers like a fidget spinner, clearly in a good mood, while Lee checked his gear and tightened his bandages.
A few minutes later, Guy arrived accompanied by a well-dressed, round-bellied middle-aged merchant.
They approached while chatting, their voices growing clearer as they neared.
"Mr. Nakata, that's my squad over there. This escort mission will go smoothly they're excellent shinobi."
"I trust Konoha's reputation," the merchant replied.
The conversation caught the team's attention. Tenten's eyes sparkled finally, a proper mission.
Lee took a deep breath and exhaled like a snorting bull, full of fighting spirit.
Neji, however, frowned slightly. His Haki brushed over Nakata and sensed… trouble.
The man didn't seem easy to work with.
But clients weren't their choice, so Neji stood silently beside his teammates.
"Mr. Nakata," Guy began, "this is my team: Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and Rock Lee—outstanding genin all of them—"
"Hold on," Nakata interrupted.
He fixed his gaze on Neji, and his look immediately made the others uncomfortable. It was one of distrust.
"Why is there a blind ninja on your team? I trust Konoha, but this feels like an insult."
"I'm transporting valuable cargo, and there are bandits along the border of the Land of Fields. I hired Konoha for a reason."
"I can't accept this. If there are no other suitable ninjas, I'm willing to wait."
Tenten stepped forward angrily, but Neji gently stopped her.
The man was rude, yes but his concerns were technically valid. No one wants to pay for what seems like a defective product.
Still… his way of speaking really sucked.
"Mr. Nakata, was it?"
Neji stepped forward, speaking calmly.
"Hmph."
Nakata responded impatiently.
Swoosh!
Neji's chakra flared. With a swift kick, a razor wind blade sliced a target dummy in half not far from them.
Nakata froze, jaw slightly slack, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Neji smiled. "How about now, Mr. Nakata?"
The merchant's eyes lit up. With a sweeping gesture, he boomed, "You'll do! No need to change anything. Let's begin at once!"
Tenten and Lee smiled. Not bad, this guy can be reasoned with.
Guy didn't say a word. He'd seen worse treatment than this in his youth. Letting Neji handle it was part of their growth.
And handle it he did. Guy flashed his trademark grin behind Nakata's back, giving Neji a big thumbs up—LIKE!
With the client satisfied, things moved fast. They were given one hour to prepare and regroup at Konoha's main gate.
It was the first cross-border mission, even if just to the Land of Fields, and even if it was a low risk with only some potential bandits, it still excited the team.
Tenten ran home to tell her parents and pack.
Meanwhile, Neji received advice from Hiashi, said goodbye to Hinata and Hanabi, and made his way to the gate.
As he walked, he was deep in thought:
The Land of Fields… Sound Village… Snake… Will I encounter him/her?
What he truly wanted was Hashirama's cells. The only potential source for now was Orochimaru.
White Zetsu would be better, but finding one was near impossible, and attacking it might get him targeted not worth it.
As for Danzo, the "Pot Shadow," no thanks. Especially without a Caged Bird Seal, he wasn't about to get involved with that man.
Danzo was the kind of old fox you didn't bargain with unless you wanted to lose more than you gained.
Even with three lifetimes, Neji didn't trust himself to outplay that kind of manipulator.
"Neji! You're the last one!"
Guy's booming voice echoed through the trees before Neji even arrived.
He sighed, picked up the pace, and ignored the stares he was getting from the guards near the gate.
Konoha's infamous eye-gouging madman had quite the reputation.
'Big clans are terrifying' the guards thought. 'Doesn't that hurt?!'
Neji, oblivious to their thoughts, joined his teammates and awaited departure.
Nakata, who earlier seemed hesitant to even leave without elite guards, now looked eager to get going. What a turnaround.
Clearly, he knew he was being watched.
But Guy hadn't said anything about it. A test, perhaps?
No problem. It was just a C-rank mission. No enemy shinobi probably just bandits.
This might be their first mission where blood is spilled…
He glanced at Tenten and Lee. They'd been with him long enough hopefully, they had picked up on it too.
He wouldn't warn them. A shinobi who couldn't think independently would only die when left alone.
Let them figure it out for themselves.
As for the Snake… he'd see what the situation looked like in the Land of Fields.
Maybe it was time to set up a base of operations outside Konoha.
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