Chapter 44: Hyuga Neji

"My apologies, Lady Tsunade."

Asuma said in a low, embarrassed voice, "Although the village has allocated funds, the Konoha Troops consume too much, and I cannot produce the commission for the time being."

Most of the Konoha Troops are civilians from cities within the Land of Fire, wandering warriors, and wandering ninja.

To win them over, relying on the Will of Fire is impossible; just like mercenaries, they need to be paid weekly with various potions, materials, and other items.

It is not just the Konoha Troops; the Mist and Cloud Alliance, as well as the recently surging Rock Troops, use the same methods.

It is just that,

others are willing to offer higher terms, so their cohesion is stronger.

Conversely, if the Konoha Troops did not occupy a geographical advantage, have a larger number of players from the Land of Fire, and have most civilians fearing the prestige of Konohagakure, they would have joined forces with better conditions long ago.

"Then forgive me for being unable to help."

Tsunade did not say much more and left with the noble girl from the Frost Country.

She has long since ceased to be a Konoha ninja, not even counting as a ninja, so she only acts according to her own preferences.

If Asuma could have produced two thousand Reward Points, she would have agreed; at least she would have been able to see the attitude of the village's upper echelons.

But now, Asuma's awkward state is fully exposed to Tsunade's eyes.

Sure enough, nothing has changed after all these years; the village's upper echelons are still this disappointing.

The Novice Village is surrounded by the Ghost army attacking from all four sides, creating a four-sided battlefield.

Konoha Troops, Fourth Squad.

A figure wearing loose training clothes and a forehead protector is harvesting ghosts one after another under the cover of teammates.

He opens his eyes, veins bulging.

A pair of pure white eyes sweep across the battlefield from a special perspective, discerning the weaknesses and distribution of the ghosts.

Hyuga Neji assumes a stance and throws a punch from a lunge.

Hontenho!

His palm is like a cannon barrel, gathering concentrated Nenqi, which is blasted out like a cannonball.

The ghosts within a five-meter radius in front are all blasted into fragments by the Nenqi cannon, turning into ashes and dissipating.

"Captain Neji, so amazing!"

Seeing their terrifyingly powerful captain, the team members all show expressions of envy.

Level 14, Qi Master.

Powerful Fighters who have cultivated their bodies to the extreme and researched Nenqi in pursuit of breakthroughs, capable of freely wielding Nenqi, possessing high-intensity perception, and being highly mobile Warriors with super-strong melee capabilities.

The 【Nenqi Manual】 in the Game Mall costs 2000 Reward Points.

Anyone can buy it to attempt to comprehend Nenqi (3/3 times).

Successfully comprehending Nenqi allows one to become a Qi Master; failure means remaining unchanged.

After seeing Neji's terrifying strength, some members of the Fourth Squad grit their teeth to save up Reward Points to buy the Nenqi Manual, but the result is obvious.

In the entire Fourth Squad,

apart from Hyuga Neji, only one female team member, also from the Hyuga Branch House, succeeded.

"Don't lose focus, pay attention to the battle!"

With Nenqi wrapping around his entire body,

Neji's speed suddenly increases, and he quickly disposes of a diving Ghost Hawk.

The team member who was nearly pierced in the chest by sharp claws survives the ordeal and looks gratefully at Neji, who saved him.

Although they can be resurrected,

it requires deducting Reward Points; he is a civilian from the border of the Land of Fire whose village was destroyed by bandits, and after becoming a player by chance, most of the Reward Points he obtained were used to rebuild the village and protect the villagers.

Is that exactly why the captain noticed me?

"Delicate in heart and powerful in strength, even in battle he can protect his teammates; such a person... is the glory of the Hyuga Clan!"

The team member says this unconsciously, drawing agreement from everyone.

It is plain for all to see.

Even the girl from the Hyuga Branch House shows a look of longing and worship, thinking to herself: "I also want to become a ninja as powerful as Brother Neji and protect the Hyuga Clan!"

The voice reaches his ears,

Neji remains expressionless, mechanically waving his palms; the ghosts in close proximity are torn apart, while those slightly further away are blasted into ashes by Nenqi bullets.

Until his stamina and Blue Potential are exhausted, he quickly retreats to the back of the team to rest.

The glory of the Hyuga Clan?

"How ridiculous."

The voice is as faint as a mosquito, and even the Branch House girl handing him a Recovery Potion does not hear it.

Beneath his skin, his clenched teeth have already begun to bleed.

In two more weeks, he will be able to completely strip away the Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird and escape the cage.

If he were to take off his forehead protector at this moment,

everyone would be able to see that the green curse mark on this Branch House member's forehead has faded, leaving only a shallow layer.

"Brutally breaking the Caged Bird, although it can shorten the time, carries irreversible soul and physical damage, and even the Byakugan would be ruined."

"Hyuga Tenin, who researched such a vicious curse mark, should be glad I was not born in the Sengoku era!"

The Ghost Beast Legion is beaten into disarray.

The battle reaches a fever pitch.

Commander Level monsters, with bodies as massive as mountains, the commanders of the Ghost Legion, are gradually approaching the vicinity of the city wall.

Previously, with the Ghost Giant Cannon, those mindless ghost beasts were merely cannon fodder sent out to consume the power of the ghosts on the city wall.

Now is the true war.

"The Ghost Crocodile leather armor set can provide Reinforcement to Nen-Qi fluctuations."

"The exchange requirement is five thousand merit points, as well as hunting one Commander Level ghost."

Looking at the slowly approaching giant ghost beast, the players, including Neji, were not afraid because of the terrifying deterrent power that shook the earth and mountains; instead, they all revealed expressions of eager desire.

Just at this moment,

A team member suddenly spoke up: "Hyuga Neji, I have received an order from the Clan Head, requiring you to go to the clan grounds now to discuss something."

The other team members nearby were all stunned; leaving at such a critical moment would undoubtedly result in a huge loss.

Moreover, without Neji's command, the Fourth Squad would be unable to fulfill the duties of the vanguard with only the remaining members.

The overall operations of the Konoha Troops would be disrupted.

Neji frowned slightly and asked, "Right now?"

"Right now."

That team member's eyes were cold, and his eyes were also pure white, but his smooth forehead was exposed.

Main House.

It is the Main House that needs to be protected by people like Neji, the true inheritors of the Byakugan bloodline.

Even the Clan Head, Hyuga Hiashi, had solemnly entrusted Neji to take good care of Hyuga Zhongjie of the Main House.

"Zhongjie, can it not be later?"

Some Konoha ninja revealed expressions of dissatisfaction.

Hyuga Zhongjie did not make a sound, only quietly looking at Neji.

Hyuga Neji was expressionless, looking at the team members, he said: "I need to leave for a short moment; after handling the matter, I will rush back at the fastest speed."

Hyuga Zhongjie revealed an expression that it should be so, without the slightest surprise.

After all, since he, a member of the Main House, had already spoken, Neji, as a member of the Branch House, had no reason to refuse.

The glory of the Hyuga?

A Branch House member who doesn't even have a complete Byakugan is worthy!

Looking at the slowly dissipating figure with an indifferent gaze, Hyuga Zhongjie felt disdain in his heart.

He did not have that kind of jealous emotion; even if Neji were more dazzling, the Branch House would always be the Branch House, only able to hold the horse and stirrup for the Main House. Although the Clan Head had explicitly forbidden the Main House from maliciously provoking the Branch House, those two words still floated in his mind.

House slave.

(End of this chapter)