"So, what are you trying to say?" Neji still maintained the respect due to a teacher with real skill.
"Nothing, just answering your doubts, and you've been observing Naruto's every move with your Byakugan open the whole time."
At this point, Shinji straightened up and slowly said, "If you want to learn, you can come find me."
Having said that, Shinji was about to turn and leave.
"Wait!"
Neji stood up, jumped off the branch, and called out from behind Shinji.
"Is there anything else?" Shinji's lips curved into a smile as he turned and asked.
"Why?" Neji looked at Shinji with a serious expression.
He didn't understand what mindset this teacher in front of him had when saying this to him.
"Why? I simply appreciate your talent." Shinji said indifferently, which was indeed the truth.
Although the original Sasuke lost his clan, Itachi had always been arranging things for him. But such arrangements were a bit difficult for normal people to understand. He even left his eyes at the very end, helping Sasuke successfully advance to the Eternal Mangekyo.
In the same team, Lee, though only skilled in taijutsu, was able to inherit Guy's Eight Inner Gates.
Only this person in front of him, relying on an incomplete Byakugan and his own efforts, was the first among the Konoha Twelve to become a Jonin. Although Jonin doesn't mean everything, being able to become a Jonin itself means being stronger than most people.
Don't you see that Sakura, who had Tsunade as her teacher, was only a Chunin when Naruto returned to the village?
Neji frowned when he heard Shinji's words.
Shinji shook his head and said, "Change your mindset. Your talent and effort are beyond doubt."
Neji's mindset really needed to change. The so-called fatalism was just a protective shell he used to disguise himself.
No matter whether Shinji questioned or approved, Neji would find it ridiculous.
"Even if some rules cannot be changed immediately, I think you should have your own choices or path. This world is always changing, and rules are not eternal."
"Once you fully commit to the path or goal you've set, as strong as you are, have you considered your future…"
"You might become one of the forces driving this change?"
Shinji finished speaking calmly and said no more.
Naruto's change in the original story, the so-called main family and branch family, was just empty talk for Neji. It was also the limitation of Naruto's own thinking that led him to say such words.
And Neji, who seemed like a pessimistic fatalist, was actually making ineffective criticisms in his own way.
During the Chunin Exams, in front of the dignitaries of several great nations, on a huge platform, he exposed the dark truth of the Caged Bird Cursed Seal.
Did this Neji, whose thinking ability surpassed Shikamaru, really explain this to Naruto, the optimist?
Or rather, no matter who he fought, Neji would have done this, right?
After all, this was the safest thing Neji, as a member of the Hyuga branch family, could do, and it wouldn't endanger his life.
To challenge the so-called fate with his refusal to accept it. Unfortunately, it was still too limited.
What kind of clan is the Hyuga, and what is Neji's status?
A talented branch family member, no matter how talented, is still just one person.
Try it with Madara in his Susanoo. It would be his mercy if he didn't wipe out the clan. It can only be said that in the Ninja World, countless people like Neji eventually are forced to accept or change. They just don't realize it.
Neji was shocked by Shinji's words, speechless for a long time.
Such words, for him, who had always adhered to the so-called fatalism, were too shocking.
After all, one was forced acceptance, a painless resistance. The other was to accumulate strength and overturn the entire table.
Even if it couldn't succeed in the end, Neji felt that every cell in his body agreed with this idea.
What if he died? At least he would have the courage to charge towards the so-called fate.
After all, the 'fate' in Neji's mouth had always been the so-called main family since ancient times.
"Alright, I believe with your wisdom and strength, you should know what I'm talking about."
"I look forward to whether you can break through yourself in the future, not just in strength, but also in your thinking."
Shinji's eyes narrowed slightly as he smiled faintly. He turned and walked away, but left Neji with a message.
"No matter if you're training or in other areas, if you need help, find me anytime."
In the dim forest, the moonlight slowly cast upon Neji. It was exceptionally bright.
—
"Oh, I didn't expect you to be surprisingly gentle."
Walking back to the training ground, Mimi's lazy voice sounded from beside Shinji.
"What? Not afraid of me punishing you anymore?" Shinji pouted and asked Mimi grumpily.
"I didn't do anything bad, at most I just ate some sausages. Why should I be afraid of you?" Mimi said unceremoniously, though his figure moved slightly away from Shinji.
Shinji said irritably, "Was that 'some'? Nearly a whole Academy full of student's and teacher's worth was eaten by you. How come I didn't see you burst?"
In a short amount of time, this fat cat had finished off so many sausages.
If it weren't for the other things still needing to be cooked, Shinji estimated there wouldn't have been a single bit left.
"Don't worry. After being sealed for so long, I've been very hungry."
After Mimi finished speaking, he even proudly patted his bulging belly with his front paw.
"As long as you're happy. Next time you want to eat, find me. Don't make me have to bail you out again." Shinji helplessly covered his forehead.
He was truly a bit speechless with this fat cat.
"Really? I want lots of sake." Mimi's eyes immediately lit up as it said to Shinji.
"Get lost. You ate so much today, do you know how much that costs? Starting today, your food is rationed." Shinji said.
"Bastard! That's not what you said when you kept me!" Mimi immediately bristled.
"If you eat like this, even if I were the richest person in the Land of Fire, I couldn't manage." Shinji waved his hand in annoyance.
He grabbed Mimi by the scruff of his neck, and walked towards the training ground.
...
"Let's go home and rest today, after all, it's the final exam."
Shinji, who arrived at the training ground, said to Naruto and the others.
Upon hearing this, Naruto and the others immediately jumped and cheered happily.
Shikamaru was especially exaggerated, as he had almost lost his confidence recently, having been toyed with by the highly intelligent characters from different worlds.
"Shinji-sensei, Neji-nii-san…" Hinata walked over, glanced behind Shinji, and seeing no sign of Neji, asked.
Shinji said, "Don't worry, Hinata, but don't go looking for Neji specifically after you go back. He needs time to decompress, after all."
Although Hinata might not have that intention, those old geezers from the main family were not good people.
"Understood, sensei." Hinata, hearing this, nodded happily.
The words spoken by her sensei were absolutely one hundred percent trustworthy. This was reputation.