◉◉◉◉◉
It wasn't long before the trio arrived at a lively outpost town though lively might've been too generous a word.
As always, Jiraiya's instincts as a seasoned perv kicked in. The mont he caught wind of perfu and cheap liquor wafting through the streets, he lit up like a firework.
Neji frowned slightly and waved the air in front of him, the overwhelming scent of alcohol and makeup hitting hard but it did nothing. His nose wrinkled in silent protest.
anwhile, Jiraiya was already scanning the surroundings like a shark in warm waters. Numbers floated through his head calculations, probabilities, chances.
The man was in his elent.
He beckoned Naruto toward a modest-looking inn tucked between two more scandalous establishnts.
"Alright, Naruto. We're staying here tonight!"
Naruto paused. "...This town's kinda weird."
Neji didn't say anything but internally muttered: It's not weird. You've just never followed this degenerate into one of his 'research trips' before.
Just then, a gust of perfu-laced air passed under Jiraiya's nose.
His expression snapped into perfect seriousness.
A stunning woman walked by, fingers casually brushing her hair from her face.
Naruto and Jiraiya both stood frozen.
Eyes wide.
Mouths slightly open.
"Heh heh heh..."
Jiraiya's goofy smile stretched wide.
Opportunity!
"Naruto!"
"What?!"
He grabbed the boy by the collar and shoved a room key into his hand.
"Here. This is your room. Go upstairs. ditate. Build chakra. You know train!"
"...Wait. You're not seriously going to—?"
Before Naruto could finish, Jiraiya shoved him toward Neji.
"Neji, keep an eye on him. If he slacks off, feel free to punish him."
Neji nodded calmly.
Naruto freaked. "WAIT, YOU'RE JUST GONNA—MMF!"
Neji clamped a hand over his mouth.
"That world over there? You don't need to understand it yet."
And with that, Jiraiya vanished.
Naruto slumped in defeat.
"...Oh. Okay."
Mumbling to himself, he sulked upstairs, grumbling, "It's always like this. He never sticks around. Always bails. Does he even care about training ?"
"Neeeji—wait, where'd you go?!"
He turned.
No one.
He was alone.
"...Seriously? You guys just ditched ?!"
---
Outside the town. Deep in the forest.
Neji stood calmly in a clearing.
He stopped walking and tilted his head slightly.
"You've been tailing us long enough. Drop the act. What do you want?"
From the shadows erged Kisa Hoshigaki, Sahada dragging through the dirt.
He grinned, shark teeth flashing.
"Purpose? Oh, nothing special. Just ca to eliminate you."
He dropped Sahada.
BOOM.
The ground cratered beneath the blade.
Neji's eyes remained closed, but a faint smirk appeared on his lips.
"So that's your play? Good. I was getting bored."
He'd sensed Kisa and Itachi long ago. Their weak attempt to lure him out wasn't subtle.
But it was convenient.
He needed this.
The fight.
The experience.
The EXP bar from completing the A-rank Kakashi mission hadn't quite filled up.
And if he could fight Kisa without revealing too much chakra it was a win.
Besides, Kisa wouldn't live to tell anyone.
No need to risk using his unique powers. No chakra. Just raw bodywork.
His strength alone would be enough.
Kisa sneered. "You little punk. Think you're clever? Leaving your group like that... You just signed your death warrant."
"That ego of yours... I'll make you pay for it."
He lunged.
CLANG!
Neji caught the blow with a sleek pair of black gloves.
Kisa's eyes widened. "Oh? Not bad..."
"Decent," Neji replied coolly.
The gloves weren't chakra-enhanced. They were a forgotten relic from the pirate world crafted with sea prism stone, utterly useless against chakra-based attacks but perfect for physical showdowns.
Their design? Styled after the classic X-Gloves worn by Tsunayoshi Sawada.
BOOM!
Neji's aura exploded as a pulse of heat shimred off his skin.
[Third Gate – Gate of Life: Open!]
Greenish energy cloaked him, and red streaks rose across his cheeks.
Kisa stepped back, surprised. "What... is that?"
Neji launched forward—no flash, no prep.
[Shave.]
BOOM!
He disappeared.
A chill swept over Kisa as his instincts scread danger.
Too late.
CRACK!
The punch landed like a teor.
Kisa was sent flying through the trees, carving a trench into the forest floor. Debris rained down like shrapnel.
Dust settled.
Blood dripped from Kisa's mouth.
"...That power..."
He looked up, arms trembling. The bandages wrapped around Sahada had disintegrated completely.
He laughed hoarsely. "I really did underestimate you."
"Seems this might actually be a fun fight."
Neji didn't respond.
The [Eight Gates] technique worked off raw physical power. But Neji's body?
His body was sothing else entirely.
Years of consuming Sea King at from the One Piece world. Passive boosts like [Iron-Bone Physique].
This was a body built for war.
HUMMMM.
Armant Haki surged around his fists, coating them in a matte black shimr.
He dropped into a stance.
"You're not done yet, are you?"
◉◉◉◉◉
~Support with 100 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
◉◉◉◉◉
For early access to advanced Chapters on P-atreon:
P-atreon/iamxeno
(Just remove the - hyphen to access Patreon normally)
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!
Reviews
All reviews (0)