Naruto: The Teaching System - 183 (Patreon)

Chapter 183: Ready for Another Beating, Sasuke!

Seeing Neji this way, Sawada stopped asking further questions and sat down beside him, allowing his disciple to absorb the changes before speaking.

Neji looked at his palm in disbelief, then raised his eyes to the sky.

When he turned back to Sawada, he was startled.

In his current vision, Sawada appeared as a massive chakra reactor, with enormous chakra fluctuations radiating from within.

Moreover, it felt as if Neji's own perception had somehow changed.

Neji paused, distracted by the strange energies swirling from the chakra.

Noticing Neji's confused look, Sawada waved his hand and asked, "What's troubling you?"

Neji shook his head, "I find it hard to explain."

Sawada encouraged, "Explain it however you can."

"My vision has grown vastly. Where once it barely reached fifty meters, now it extends well beyond half a kilometer," Neji said.

"Depth perception and precision have sharpened remarkably. I can sense chakra flow, the meridians, and pressure points, with greater clarity and subtlety."

"And..."

Before he could finish, Neji caught a dragonfly mid-flight.

Sawada understood immediately - Neji's dynamic vision had improved as well.

"But Sensei, the most important thing is, I've noticed the chakra I sense now feels different. There's an added presence," Neji said.

After releasing the dragonfly, Neji turned to Sawada.

Sawada asked with curiosity, "What added presence?"

Such a leap in perception and dynamic vision could instantly raise a ninja's potential to new heights. After all, ninjas had always been tools for assassination.

"Um, Sawada-sensei, I think I can faintly sense something like emotions within your chakra," Neji admitted.

Sawada's eyes widened in amazement.

This was soul-penetrating perception. In the original story, only Karin possessed this ability.

It was an aspect of her Mind's Eye of the Kagura, allowing her to sense the chakra fluctuations of Sasuke and Naruto.

Though it might not be fully developed yet.

Sawada told Neji, "Mm, you must keep this secret. Don't tell anyone."

Neji nodded, understanding that such knowledge was best kept between them.

Lost in thought, Neji untied the black headband wrapped around his head.

Sawada naturally understood Neji's meaning. After observing for a moment, he said, "It's fine, no visible changes, but keep it tied."

After hearing this, Neji nodded. He considered this a disgrace that couldn't be revealed openly.

"Besides these, there's nothing else, right?"

Sawada stood up and walked to Neji's side, asking. He was more concerned about the growth of Neji's Byakugan.

"Yes, there seems to be a power constantly emerging in my mind, though very slowly."

"But I can feel my concentration and precision in chakra control are gradually improving."

Neji nodded.

Sawada touched his chin thoughtfully and said, "Tomorrow, have Hinata examine you. But for tonight, stay at my place."

The Byakugan could see through everything, so Sawada needed to make sure Neji wouldn't be discovered by other users of the technique.

"...Yes," Neji replied softly.

He paused silently for a moment before nodding slowly.

The next day,

"Ah! How did it get so late again?" Naruto exclaimed.

Still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he glanced at the alarm clock and immediately snapped awake.

After quickly getting ready, he hurried out with his ninja tool pouch.

In his hurry, he accidentally stepped on a roof railing, causing a brief commotion.

"Sorry!" he called out.

Ignoring the old lady's curses from the balcony, Naruto apologized and rushed off.

As soon as Naruto stepped onto the training ground, he called out breathlessly, "Sensei! I didn't mean to be late!"

Sawada covered his forehead helplessly. Naruto was the most enthusiastic about training among the kids.

Still, there were times he couldn't get up, mostly because he had stayed up chatting with the Nine-Tails too late the night before.

Hinata approached Naruto and asked, "Naruto-kun, have you eaten yet?" She handed him a lunchbox.

"Thank you, Hinata!" Naruto said with a bright smile as he accepted it.

Then Naruto seemed to notice something and turned his head to look.

"Hey! Aren't you that sourpuss?" Naruto shouted, pointing at Neji who was training alone in the field.

Neji, who had been watching Hinata, was left speechless by Naruto's sudden call out.

Smack! Sawada gave Naruto a sharp whack on the head.

"Naruto, you can't point at people. That's impolite," Sawada scolded.

"Besides, starting today, Neji will train with the whole group."

"Yes, Sensei!" Naruto replied without hesitation.

Naruto shuffled over to Neji's side, eyes filled with curiosity.

Neji, practicing the Inch Force Eight Gates taught by Sawada, twitched the corner of his mouth and looked up. "Is there a problem?" he asked.

"Uh, no. Want to eat together?" Naruto asked, holding up the lunch box.

"No, thank you," Neji replied, shaking his head upon seeing Naruto offer Hinata's lunch box.

Earlier that morning, Sawada had already asked Hinata to examine Neji.

Hinata's Byakugan showed no abnormalities compared to Neji's body.

Only then did Sawada breathe a sigh of relief.

At least Neji still had room to grow.

Naruto said nothing more and returned to his breakfast.

Once he finished eating, Naruto thanked Hinata and then challenged Sasuke.

"Sasuke! Ready to get beaten up!" Naruto shouted.

Sasuke looked at Naruto, somewhat speechless, and replied, "...Loser, getting a bit too cocky lately?"

Naruto crossed his arms and retorted, "Too cocky? Would a winner worry about that?"

Naruto spoke with a hint of annoyance, recalling that he usually won their battles.

With veins bulging on his forehead, Sasuke turned and strode toward the open space.

"Loser, I am definitely going to beat you up today!" he declared.

"Who's afraid of whom!" Naruto retorted.

Neji stopped training nearby, feeling uncertain as he had just joined the group. He wondered if all of Sawada-sensei's disciples were this strange.

Sawada smiled and said, "Neji, let's watch together. Occasional competitions help with training."

He no longer had to give Naruto and Sasuke specific tasks; they would spar before or after training.

Neji nodded, temporarily putting aside his training. He was curious to see just how strong this blonde Naruto really was.

After all, their last battle hadn't truly started.

Or rather, he had already lost that fight.