Unbeknownst to Neji, someone had already set their sights on him. But even if he did know, he wouldn't have cared much.
After all, he was bound to cross paths with Danzo sooner or later Danzo, the master of backstabbing and deception.
"The Eight Gates Technique may be fatal when all eight are opened, but even opening up to the seventh gate grants an immense power boost."
At this point in time, Konoha still possessed the strength to suppress the other four great villages. Neji needed to raise his power while he still had the window of opportunity.
Once Konoha collapsed, at least he'd have the ability to protect himself.
Because after that collapse, the so-called "Konoha Twelve" would all be forced into life-and-death battles outside the village.
He trained until late into the night, his body aching with exhaustion.
The Eight Gates demanded strict self-discipline even Might Guy couldn't help him here. Everything had to be earned through personal effort.
Every muscle and bone in his body throbbed with pain.
"The Eight Gates really aren't easy to master."
Most people would've given up by now. After all, with the time it took to undergo such brutal physical training, one could be refining chakra or learning new jutsu instead.
But the image of Might Guy drop-kicking Six Paths Madara flashed through Neji's mind and with it, his motivation rekindled.
Just then, a subtle disturbance caught his attention.
Someone was watching him.
"Byakugan."
His heightened senses immediately sprang to life. With his Byakugan activated, Neji swept a full 360 degrees around himself no blind spots. He quickly locked onto two hidden figures nearby.
"Those masks… Root agents." Neji's eyes narrowed. Why was Root keeping tabs on him?
He had never even interacted with Danzo directly.
But soon enough, the reason clicked into place.
Orochimaru.
Orochimaru and Danzo had always maintained secret ties. Neji's presence posed a threat to Orochimaru, and Orochimaru would no doubt seek Danzo's input.
That explained everything.
"Heh… Danzo, you really do everything for the good of the village, don't you?" Neji sneered.
To kill Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo had even agreed to let Orochimaru wreak havoc on Konoha.
No wonder he was nowhere to be seen when Orochimaru launched the Konoha Crush.
When Konoha fell, he vanished. When Pain attacked, he stayed silent. But when it came to wiping out the Uchiha or eliminating the village's top talents, Danzo was always right at the front line.
"Before dealing with external threats, one must first stabilize internal affairs… Hiruzen really was too blind to see through him."
Neji turned and began walking toward the Hyuga Clan compound.
"Even though I've brought Karin back to the estate, it's better to have Hiashi take care of her for now."
If word of her ability got out, it would be a disaster. Until he was strong enough to protect her, it was best she stayed hidden.
Meanwhile, those two Root agents still had no idea they'd already been reverse-tracked and exposed.
Time passed like a fleeting horse's shadow. In the blink of an eye, the day of the Chūnin Selection Exams arrived.
Even after all this time and effort, Neji had yet to master the Eight Gates.
This was not a technique that could be conquered with talent alone it required a specific physical constitution and extreme dedication.
If someone tried to force it without proper preparation, their body wouldn't withstand the stress. The result would be death.
That realization made Neji sigh with admiration.
"What a terrifying technique. Its power is overwhelming but at the cost of nearly destroying the user."
Only by experiencing it firsthand could one truly understand how grueling the training was.
And it was precisely because of this that Guy, despite only being a high-level jōnin, was able to overpower Six Paths Madara after opening all eight gates.
Early that morning, Neji and the others arrived at the arena.
"Neji-niisan, I'll be cheering you on!" Hinata blushed as she gathered her courage, stepping forward to straighten Neji's uniform.
"Hinata Hyuga adjusts the host's clothing. Host receives reward: [Rabbit Hair Needle]."
[Rabbit Hair Needle] – A precision strike technique that channels chakra through hair in conjunction with the Byakugan. Automatically targets and seals enemy weak points. Highly effective at disabling movement, even against high-level defenses. More reliable than the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.
Neji was pleased. When luck strikes, nothing can stop it. Even Susanoo couldn't fully defend against Rabbit Hair Needle it was a top-tier sealing move.
"And me! Don't forget me!" Hanabi puffed up her cheeks and planted her hands on her hips. "I gave up my break just to come see you fight. If you lose, I won't forgive you!"
After all, Neji was the target she had set her sights on surpassing. Even though that goal now seemed way out of reach.
"I'm not going to lose." Neji patted both her and Hinata on their heads before walking into the arena.
The stadium was already packed. The spectators and high-ranking officials were all seated in their designated sections, far more grandiose than the preliminaries.
Excitement buzzed through the crowd. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the first match.
Among the top contenders of the Chūnin Exams were three names: Gaara, Neji Hyuga, and Sasuke Uchiha.
And the very first match?
Neji vs. Gaara.
People had been waiting a month for this.
"Neji-niisan…"
In the stands, Hinata and the others watched nervously.
Gaara was too strong and ruthless. They couldn't help but worry.
"Don't worry, Sis! Neji-niisan will beat that panda-eyed freak so hard he'll cry for his mommy!" Hanabi tried to reassure her.
But even Hanabi was anxious. She might've acted indifferent, but she knew Gaara's strength was no joke.
"Neji-niisan… can he really win?"
Neji stood calmly in the center of the arena, facing Gaara, who was already shrouded in swirling sand.
A faint smirk touched Neji's lips.
In truth, his strength had already surpassed Gaara's.
He might not have fully mastered the Eight Gates, but his physique had undergone a complete transformation over the past month.
Gaara? That was yesterday's challenge.
"I've been waiting a month for this."
Unexpectedly, it was Gaara who spoke first.
"The humiliation from last time… I'm repaying it today."
His voice was cold. His killing intent surged like a wave.
Everyone felt it.
Even the elite genin in the stands broke out in a cold sweat.
"This… this bloodlust he's just a genin?!"
"Impossible… How many people has he killed?"
"Judging by this alone, he's not far behind Zabuza." Guy frowned, a rare look of concern on his face.
While the crowd gripped their seats in suspense, Neji remained completely unfazed.
"I know it might sound ill-timed," Neji said calmly, "but I want to offer you a piece of advice."
"What?" Gaara asked, voice laced with hostility.
"You're strong, no doubt. But you're not my opponent."
Neji said it plainly, without the slightest trace of arrogance just absolute confidence.
"If you forfeit now, you'll walk away in one piece. That's the best outcome for you."
Silence.
Utter silence.
Everyone had seen Gaara's terrifying strength, so no one expected Neji to speak like this.
"What an arrogant idiot," Kankuro scoffed. "He has no idea what he's getting into."
"Oh no, no no no," Naruto covered his face in panic. "Neji's lost it he's just making Gaara angrier! I can already see how this ends…"