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As they worked, Lee asked, "What's your favorite part of ninja history, Neji?"
Neji tilted his head. "I think the First Hokage's dream of peace... and the tragedy of how it still eludes us."
Lee nodded solemnly. "But we can change that, right? With enough hard work!"
Neji smiled. "Yes. With enough hard work."
And a political revolution. But sure, let's start with push-ups.
By the end of class, their timeline had bright colors, neat lines, and cheerful little doodles of each Hokage.
"Excellent work, Neji and Lee," Orui said, lifting the scroll.
"Thank you, sensei!" they both said.
Academy life... here I come.
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The midweek sun filtered through the high windows of the Academy's central dojo. Chalk lines divided the floor into sparring lanes, and rows of students stood in formation as Sasamoto Orui paced with his clipboard.
"Today," he said, his tone brisk, "we begin practical sparring evaluations. Pair up."
Neji was already stepping forward.
"I'll go first!"
"Neji, again?" Orui arched a brow.
Neji smiled eagerly. "I want to improve, sensei!"
Head first. Always head first.
The first match was against Furuya Tomo from the Iburi clan, a quiet boy known for his smoke-based chakra control. Neji lunged in fast, aiming for a sweeping palm strike. Smoke exploded around him.
Thud. Neji hit the mat hard, coughing.
"Winner: Tomo."
Lee clapped encouragingly from the side. "You were so fast, Neji!" Tenten winced. "But reckless."
Neji stood, grinning. "I'll do better next time."
Bullshit. I walked right into that. Again.
The next match was with Araki Mayu from the Kurama clan. Genjutsu. Neji barely lasted five seconds before the world spun and he saw snakes slithering up his arms.
Thud. Faceplant.
"Winner: Mayu."
Sasamoto sighed, pinching his nose. "Neji. Strategy. Use it."
"Hai, sensei!" Neji beamed.
This acting thing is going to kill me.
Later that day, during lunch, Neji sat beside Lee under the sakura tree behind the Academy. Tenten joined, unwrapping her bento.
"You alright, Neji? That Kurama genjutsu was brutal."
Neji smiled weakly. "I need to train my mind more."
Lee nodded enthusiastically. "You're amazing, Neji. You don't give up even when you lose. That's true strength!"
No, Lee. This is playing weak to hide my edge. But I wish I could be like you—honest in your powerlessness.
The next morning, Sasamoto entered the room with no warning.
"Clear your desks. Today we do a surprise written test."
Groans echoed across the classroom.
Neji blinked. Wait, what?
He looked at the exam scroll. Questions ranged from chakra theory to shinobi history and tactical map reading. He frowned. He knew the answers—but not the Academy-standard wording.
He overthought every section.
Later, the scores were posted.
Name: Neji Hyuga – 42/100 – FAIL
He heard the mutters.
"Isn't he from the Hyuga clan?"
"Aren't they supposed to be geniuses?"
Sasamoto pulled him aside after class.
"Neji. You are from a noble clan. Start acting like it. Recklessness and poor test scores bring dishonor to your name."
Neji bowed. "Yes, sensei. I will do better."
He has a point. But you wouldn't understand my plan, Orui.
That weekend, he sparred with Lee and lost again. He sparred with Tenten and got disarmed.
Each time, he smiled and thanked them.
Each time, he logged every mistake.
Every night, he trained alone, eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight. His Byakugan, now more honed than ever, tracked chakra threads, memorized muscle movement, and mapped terrain depths.
But by day—
He was Neji: the reckless, failing Hyuga who never gave up.
The perfect disguise.
The classroom smelled faintly of chalk and ink as Sasamoto Orui began drawing diagrams on the board.
"Chakra," he announced, "is the combination of physical and spiritual energy. Control of chakra is foundational to everything you will ever do as shinobi."
Neji sat straight, acting visibly eager.
"Wow," he whispered to himself.
This is basic stuff. Chakra control is more instinct than theory.
Sasamoto continued, sketching chakra pathway networks across the human silhouette. "Most shinobi have 361 tenketsu points. The Hyuga clan, Neji's clan, are famous for manipulating these." He turned. "Neji, anything to add?"
Neji stood slowly, bowed. "I'm... still learning, sensei."
The class snickered. Some looked surprised.
"Sit," Orui grumbled. "Let's begin our first practical. Leaf balancing. Place a leaf on your forehead and use your chakra to keep it there."
Thirty minutes later, leaves were falling across the room. Even Lee managed to keep his steady, sweat rolling down his brow. Tenten had hers flat with focus.
Neji's leaf fluttered off for the fifth time.
"No chakra control, Hyuga?" muttered one of the boys from the Kamizuru clan.
"Maybe he's adopted," someone else whispered.
Sasamoto didn't scold the class—just looked at Neji and sighed.
Neji picked up his leaf.
Act. Fall. Learn. Hide.
After class, the trio met up behind the Academy grounds near the koi pond.
"Don't listen to them, Neji," Tenten said, passing him a cold barley tea. "You're improving. Chakra control is hard."
"They're right to laugh," Neji said, looking up. "I don't deserve to be a Hyuga."
Lee slammed a hand on his shoulder. "Nonsense! What matters is your heart and hard work! I believe in you, Neji."
Neji smiled gently. "Thanks. I'll keep trying."
This façade is wearing me down... but their kindness is real.
Later, Sasamoto had the students do walking-on-water exercises. Most failed quickly. Neji failed faster.
Splash.
He surfaced coughing, eyes wide. "Cold!"
Lee laughed. Tenten fished him out with a training pole. "You're hopeless, Neji."
He coughed. "And yet I try again."
That evening, the three walked home along the canal. Leaves were turning gold. Lee talked about wanting to break his own record of push-ups. Tenten dreamed aloud of building her own weapon forge.
Neji listened, watching them quietly.
"You're quiet," Tenten said.
Neji nodded. "Nothing thinking about something"
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