Konoha: Unable to learn ninjutsu, they had to develop their own.

"Did you make it?"

"That's it."

Chiba smiled and said, "Congratulations on temporarily breaking free from the deepest shackles of the caged bird. Whether you can escape this predicament from now on depends entirely on your own abilities."

"What do you mean?"

Neji was puzzled.

Do you remember the choice I gave you?

"Ah."

Neji nodded.

"The curse seal works on the brain, with the purpose of destroying the Byakugan and ensuring that the branch family protects the main family, but in reality, without the binding at the soul level, its effect is just so-so."

Chiba explained his research.

Neji seemed to be deep in thought.

He narrowed his eyes, a hint of excitement appearing on his face: "So, as long as my mental strength gradually increases, I might even be able to solve the problem of the caged bird myself?"

"You can say that."

Chiba nodded.

Neji slowly exhaled, stood up, and bowed solemnly.

"Chiba, I won't say much more about this favor. As long as I'm still alive, just tell me what you need, even if it means betraying the village!"

"It hasn't come to that point yet."

Chiba shook his head. "You should rest at the research institute for the next few days. You can also take a look at this technique and see if you can master it."

"what?"

Neji took it curiously, opened it, and was initially puzzled, but then he was surprised.

If this technique is real, its power would be absolutely terrifying.

It can be said.

If you can break through the defenses and send your chakra in, the opponent will either die or be severely injured.

He looked up.

"Give me this technique?"

"I'm not sure if you can learn it yet, so just think of yourself as a guinea pig. If you can learn it, I'll try to improve it."

"This……"

Neji hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I will train hard."

"Don't worry too much about it. Right now, you should mainly rest and let yourself recover. Over the next few days, the spiritual energy I left in your body will gradually dissipate, so you will experience some pain for a period of time."

"Yes, got it."

"As for it."

Chiba glanced at Neji, then used a chakra needle to make a cut in Neji's chest and inserted it into the hole.

It is composed of Neji's flesh and blood and White Zetsu cells, so it is naturally very compatible with Neji and can be integrated with him immediately without any need for adaptation.

follow closely.

Sage Chakra channeling.

A cursed seal has been formed!

but.

This curse mark is somewhat special.

because……

It contains not only Sage Chakra, but also a fragmented spiritual entity that was separated from Neji's spiritual body.

It has not yet fully developed a soul, but it is already capable of enduring the fate of a caged bird and taking someone else's place. Whether it can develop further in the future remains to be seen.

The results of research are often full of variables.

Chiba is not a god and cannot foresee everything.

Neji could sense his physical condition and the mental fluctuations emanating from his heart, but he was not afraid; instead, he was filled with fighting spirit.

The other self is both an ally and an enemy.

It can spur you on, keeping you constantly striving and never giving up.

Neji sat on the ground, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

"So……"

"Don't worry, I will take good care of myself."

"No, what I mean is, you might need to stay here from now on. How will you manage your food? Will you just use hunger-suppressing ration pills?"

"Alright."

Neji nodded.

He doesn't have many options right now.

There's food to eat, and we can do research.

That's pretty good.

Chiba thought for a moment and said, "I'll have Maya send you some tonics from time to time so you can recover faster. The sooner you recover, the sooner you can train. The Chunin Exams are only a few days away."

"If all else fails, it's fine to give up the exam; a professional title doesn't really mean anything anyway."

Neji said indifferently.

He understands it clearly.

While professional titles are important, one's own abilities are even more important.

With enough strength, even a low-ranking ninja is respected by everyone. Moreover, at that level, a position is no longer a rare thing; it's just a bonus that meets one's own needs.

Chiba thought for a moment and said, "If you're trying to imitate me, then you're still different from me."

"How to say?"

Neji was taken aback.

"For me, the position is just a bonus. It doesn't matter whether I have it or not. I don't even want to become a Jonin. That would require me to take on a lot of work and would distract me."

Chiba shook his head and said, "I might become Hokage in a few years. Until then, I need to enjoy myself and do what I want to do."

"..."

Neji clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead.

These words...

It’s so irritating!

"what about me?"

"If you don't become a Jonin, where will you get the status and opportunity to prove yourself to Hiashi? Will you fight your way up directly? Or will you follow Itachi Uchiha's example, massacre your clan, and then betray the village?"

"Uh, I don't have that idea for now."

Neji shook his head.

"You see, that's why you're different from me."

"..."

It seems to make sense.

Neji fell into deep thought.

By becoming a Jonin, he could secure a place among the ninjas of Konoha, and then further enhance his status and position by leveraging his abilities.

Only in this way can we have the strength to challenge Japanese football.

Or, as Chiba said, kill Hiashi and become a rogue ninja.

He hesitated for a moment.

"Then I'll take the exam."

Chapter 304 Nine-Tailed Fox: I didn't surrender!

Having dealt with Neji, Chiba finally had a chance to leave the research lab.

Matt Kai waited outside for a long time.

Upon meeting, Chiba immediately inquired about the situation and clearly explained the basic facts.

Matt Kee breathed a sigh of relief.

Judging from Chiba's words, Neji should be alright now, and the next step is for him to rest and recuperate.

He then said goodbye to Kai.

Chiba had considered having Guy transplant White Zetsu cells, but before he understood the effects of the Eight Gates Formation at the sixth gate or higher, he was still hesitant to do so.

and.

The chakra of the Eight Gates is extremely violent. Even Might Guy, who mastered the Eight Gates, could not control this chakra. Transplanting White Zetsu cells would at most make Guy's body recover faster.

However, the corresponding unknown risks are escalating, making it somewhat counterproductive.

After leaving the research institute and entering the forest, Chiba encountered Kakashi.

Naruto's generation can be considered the weakest.

The rhinoceros was silent for a few seconds, then completely ignored it.

Obviously.