Tejima Shinichi left the school area and headed toward home.
The Konoha streets were bustling at dusk, with Ninjas finishing their missions, students after school, and civilians weaving through.
He hadn't gone far before another figure blocked the quiet side street leading to the residential district.
The person wore the white Ninja Academy uniform, long hair tied at the back, a Ninja forehead protector wrapped around the brow, and the most striking feature was the pure, flawless white eyes.
Hyuga Neji.
Tejima Shinichi stopped, looking at the Hyuga branch youth who was a year ahead of him yet famed throughout Konoha Village as a prodigy.
He was at a loss for words.
What day is it today?
One after another came looking for him.
"Shinichi."
Hyuga Neji spoke, his Byakugan eyes brimming with unapologetic battle intent.
Tejima Shinichi sighed and stepped forward.
"Neji. So, are you like that Uchiha kid, wanting to spar with me?" He said, his tone teasing. "Was the lesson I gave you last time not enough? You show up again so soon."
Neji frowned slightly, clearly recalling an unpleasant memory.
Since they first met, they'd clashed countless times… or rather, he'd challenged Tejima Shinichi repeatedly, but each time ended in a crushing defeat.
The precision of his Gentle Fist was greatly diminished against the monster‑like "Chadunra" of his opponent.
"You graduate today," Neji said, his gaze fixed on Tejima Shinichi. "Before you graduate, I want to confirm one more thing…"
"Confirm the gap between us?" Tejima Shinichi interrupted, shaking his head. "There's no need. Neji, the gap isn't something that can change in a few days or after you graduate… We've sparred before, you know that well."
Neji fell silent.
He felt a crack in his resolve.
Since receiving training from Teacher Guy, Neji felt he had improved and kept seeking him out to spar, but each challenge against Tejima Shinichi felt like facing an insurmountable mountain.
They were the same age, both prodigies, yet… sigh!
That sense of powerlessness was even more suffocating than the "Caged Bird" seal carved on his forehead by the clan.
After several seconds, Neji slowly released his fist, as if draining all his strength, and whispered:
"Yes… I understand. This may be… destiny!"
His voice was profoundly melancholy.
Tejima Shinichi looked at him; he neither agreed with nor bothered to refute Neji's fatalistic view.
Everyone has their own path, and immersing oneself in personal tragedy is a personal choice.
"Think what you will, but if you want to spar… I think we'll have a real stage someday, and then you can show me your true strength!"
As Tejima Shinichi walked past him toward home, he left one final line:
"Don't disappoint me, Neji!"
Neji stayed where he was, not turning back, only hearing the footsteps recede.
He lifted his head, looking through the intersecting branches at the sky; the fading light reflected in his Byakugan, complex and inscrutable.
Tejima Shinichi's figure vanished at the end of the street, leaving another so‑called "genius" who tried to challenge him behind… Tejima Shinichi pushed open the front door.
"I'm home."
The foyer light was warm, and the scent of food drifted from the kitchen.
"Welcome back, Shinichi."
A gentle voice came.
Mori Chie peeked out of the kitchen, holding a ladle.
Her features were soft, with a hint of former vigor in her brows; long recovery left her skin a bit pale, but it didn't diminish her beauty.
Wearing an apron, her long hair loosely tied, she smiled at Tejima Shinichi.
At that moment, a figure darted out of the living room and grabbed Tejima Shinichi's shoulder.
"Oh~! My Top Student son is home!"
Tejima Kazuto, with hair messy like his son's but even more disheveled, wore a big grin, full of energy, showing none of the composed Medical Ninja from the hospital.
Tejima Shinichi raised an eyebrow, surprised.
"Old man? You're back early. No overtime at the hospital today?"
Tejima Kazuto puffed out his chest, looking proud.
"Of course! Tomorrow is my son's graduation exam, a big day! He'll graduate as a Top Student!! How could a dad not come early to cheer the most important son?"
Tejima Shinichi couldn't help but twitch his mouth at his father's antics.
"Really…" he turned the conversation, "Actually, instead of cheering, I'd rather you spar with me. It's been a long time since we trained together, and my combat experience is getting rusty."
The moment he finished, Tejima Kazuto's smile froze.
He abruptly released his grip on his son, stepping back tactically, his eyes flickering.
"Ah… well… ahem…"
Tejima Kazuto lifted his hand, touched his nose, scratched his head, acting as if he was busy.
"Training together is good, hmm, very good… but you see, Shinichi, you have your exam tomorrow, right? You should rest well tonight, conserve your energy! Yes, conserving energy is most important! And… uh… your mother made a lot of tasty food, it'll get cold if left out…"
He said this while quietly moving toward the kitchen, avoiding eye contact with Tejima Shinichi.
Tejima Shinichi regarded his father's obvious nervousness and vague excuses with indifference.
His Chunin father had stopped being his match two years ago.
The last "sparring" ended with Tejima Kazuto being buried in the ground by a Earth Release: Heart‑Within‑Decapitation Technique, struggling to get out, then constantly finding excuses to avoid practice.
Thinking of that, Tejima Shinichi curled his mouth into a grin and said:
"Oh? Conserving energy… old man, you're not… scared? Afraid to lose to your son again, so you won't spar?"
The words hit a sore spot.
Tejima Kazuto's hair stood up, and he straightened abruptly, his face flushing.
"Nonsense! Who's scared?" His voice rose involuntarily, trying to mask his insecurity.
"I'm thinking of you! Tomorrow's exam! Condition is everything!"
"And I'm a Medical Ninja! Do you understand? Our specialty is saving lives, not fighting in the training grounds! Combat isn't my main field!"
Finding a rationale, Tejima Kazuto kept insisting he was right, nodding emphatically.
"Exactly! That's it! Also, I'm your father! How can a son spend all day thinking about beating his dad? Does that make sense?"
He puffed his chest, trying to regain fatherly authority, but his flickering gaze and slight lean betrayed his lack of confidence.
Tejima Shinichi simply watched, as if saying, "Keep on making up stories."
Mori Chie, watching her husband's awkwardness from the kitchen doorway, couldn't help but smile and shake her head.
"Kazuto, I know you're great, come help carry the dishes."
"Coming, coming!"
Tejima Kazuto, feeling relieved, rushed into the kitchen.
Tejima Shinichi watched his father's back, slipped into slippers, headed to his room to put down his backpack.
A goofy dad, a gentle mom, the home's atmosphere surrounded him… temporarily shielding him from the pointless turmoil at the school gate.