Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 236 Observations

At dawn, the sun had just risen, its rays bathing the earth and bringing a touch of warmth. The distant mountains were bathed in a golden glow, resembling a beautiful painting. The sky was a brilliant blue, without a single cloud, promising a bright and sunny day.

At this moment, two figures stood before the building atop the mountain. They were Hyuga Hizashi and Hyuga Neji. Hizashi gazed silently at the boy before him, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes. Neji, on the other hand, stood there quietly, his expression serious, his gaze fixed firmly on the distance.

Hyuga Hizashi looked at Neji, whose face still held a touch of youthful innocence, and a complex feeling welled up inside him. This child had grown up, becoming so strong and mature. He couldn't help but think of his own youth, when he too was filled with such anticipation and dreams for the future. But time flies, and now he was no longer young, while Neji was in the prime of his youth.

Last night, Neji suddenly appeared at his residence. He looked exhausted, but his eyes gleamed with excitement. He told Hyuga Hizashi that he had encountered some difficulties while training in seclusion recently. Despite his efforts to overcome these challenges, he still felt overwhelmed. Therefore, he sought help from Hyuga Kanan-sensei and received valuable advice.

Hyuga Hizashi frowned slightly, listening intently to Neji's story. He knew Neji was constantly striving for greater strength, which pleased him greatly. However, he also worried that Neji's relentless pursuit of power might put too much pressure on him. After all, the path of cultivation was long and arduous, requiring ample patience and perseverance.

Hyuga Neji breathed a sigh of relief when he heard his father agree to Hyuga Kanan's suggestion. Although he longed to prove his strength deep down, he was also filled with anticipation for the upcoming trials. After all, this would be his first time leaving this place to train in the ninja world.

“I will be careful, Father,” Hyuga Neji said firmly. Although he knew he would face many unknown challenges, he was confident he could overcome them.

"Yes, remember to be extremely careful. If you encounter danger, don't hesitate, retreat immediately!" Hyuga Hizashi solemnly instructed. As an experienced ninja, protecting one's own life is always the most important thing.

"Don't worry, Father. I will definitely come back alive." Hyuga Neji nodded solemnly. He knew the importance of this experience; it was not only a test of his abilities but also an opportunity to gain experience for his future training.

Just then, Hyuga Kanan walked in from outside, smiling at the father and son. He was carrying a small package filled with some commonly used medicines and food.

"Neji, this is something I prepared for you. Remember to take it," Hyuga Kanan said casually. But a hint of approval flashed in his eyes; he was extremely pleased that the other party had made this decision without hesitation.

"Thank you, teacher!" Hyuga Neji gratefully accepted the package, feeling the warmth and care of family. At that moment, he felt that no matter where he went, he would never feel lonely or helpless.

"Alright, hurry up and pack your things. Let's get going," Hinata Kanan urged. He hoped his disciple could prepare quickly to meet the upcoming challenge.

Hyuga Neji nodded, turned around, and went back to his room to pack his luggage. He put his favorite clothes, weapons, and some necessary items into his backpack, and also remembered to take the package his teacher had prepared for him. After everything was ready, he went to the door again to look at his father and teacher.

Sunlight shone on Hyuga Neji, making him radiate confidence as he arrived at the barrier, carrying his pack. He wore a long white robe and had a sword slung across his back, looking exceptionally energetic. Hyuga Kanan and Hyuga Hizashi were already waiting for him there.

"Are you ready?" Hyuga Hizashi asked. His gaze fell on Hyuga Neji, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes.

“Ready!” Hyuga Neji answered firmly. He clenched his fists, his heart filled with confidence and courage.

"Then let's set off early. Be careful on the road, and remember what I taught you last night." Hyuga Hizashi patted Hyuga Neji on the shoulder, signaling him to go. They slowly walked out of the barrier along a small path and headed into the distance.

The task Hyuga Hizashi gave Neji was actually very simple: to take the letter to Hyuga Hiashi alone to Konoha Village in the Land of Fire, deliver it to his uncle, and then follow his instructions.

This is a seemingly simple yet challenging task. For the young Neji, it requires not only sufficient courage and confidence, but also the ability to independently handle various difficulties and dangers he may encounter. However, Hyuga Kanan believes that Neji is capable of completing this task.

Seeing the worried look on Hyuga Hizashi's face, Hyuga Kanan comforted him, saying, "Even a fledgling bird has to spread its wings and soar on its own. Don't worry too much about him. He has no problem with either his temperament or his strength. The only thing he lacks is experience. Didn't we start fighting on the battlefield very early on? His strength now far surpasses ours back then."

Hyuga Hitsuji nodded, a determined glint in his eyes. He knew Kanan was right; Neji had grown into an excellent ninja, and he should give Neji more trust and support.

Hyuga Kanan stood up, patted Hyuga Hizashi on the shoulder, and said, "Let Neji go. It's a good opportunity for him to gain experience. And I believe that with his intelligence, he will be able to complete the mission successfully and return safely."

Hyuga Hitsuji nodded, took a deep breath, and temporarily put aside his worries. He believed what Kanan said, and he also believed in Neji's abilities.

“Yes, you’re right,” Hyuga Hizashi said softly. “Neji has grown up, and he needs this kind of experience to improve himself.”

Hyuga Kanan smiled and nodded. He knew that although Hyuga Hizashi was worried, deep down he still hoped that Neji could become a powerful ninja.

"Don't worry, Hizashi," Hyuga Kanan comforted him. "When Neji returns, he will definitely be even stronger."

Hyuga Hizashi nodded slightly in agreement. He decided to trust Neji, believing that he could complete the mission and gain valuable experience and growth from it.

In fact, hidden within the package that Hyuga Kanan gave to Neji was a clone to which he had poured a great deal of energy. This clone was cleverly concealed, and even Neji was unaware of its existence. This clone possessed immense power, but it would only be activated when it sensed that Hyuga Neji was truly facing a life-or-death crisis.

Hyuga Kanan did this entirely out of concern for Neji's safety. He knew that although Neji was quite strong, he was still a novice young man who might encounter various dangers on his long journey. Especially after the fierce battle with the masked man, Hyuga Kanan knew that the man would definitely be secretly investigating Neji's whereabouts and intelligence, and might even try to sabotage him. Therefore, he had to provide Neji with the strongest possible protection, just in case.

With this energy clone, Neji's safety can be ensured even in the face of great danger. Unless the mastermind behind it all personally intervenes, no enemy can breach this defense. And that mastermind is unlikely to reveal themselves easily, given their long-standing feud and the unwillingness of either to readily expose their true identity.

Meanwhile, Hyuga Neji was in high spirits. This was his first solo mission. Although he felt a little uneasy, it was quickly overshadowed by the excitement and anticipation of acting alone. After all, for a ninja, completing a mission independently was an honor and an achievement, a testament to their strength. At this moment, he felt a powerful surge of energy welling up inside him, filling him with confidence and courage.

However, this feeling didn't last long. When he considered the importance of this descent, his mood turned heavy again. He knew that failing to complete the trial would not only cause trouble for his cultivation but could also jeopardize his future path of growth. Therefore, he had to remain vigilant and devote himself fully to the task. At the same time, he also needed to utilize his wisdom and abilities to solve the various problems he encountered.

Nevertheless, Hyuga Neji felt he was fully prepared. He believed he had the strength to handle any challenge, and that as long as he remained calm, resourceful, and decisive, he would be able to complete the mission successfully. With this belief, he embarked on his journey to his target location, beginning this adventure filled with unknowns and dangers.

While the ninja world may appear peaceful and relatively stable on the surface, it's not uncommon for villagers, driven to desperation by ninja battles, to become bandits. These once honest and law-abiding villagers are forced down this path of no return by the harsh realities of life. They may have initially only wanted to protect themselves and their families, but various reasons have compelled them to take up arms and become bandits. This phenomenon occurs in every corner of the ninja world, filling the entire world with instability.

Hyuga Neji, a novice just starting out in the world, encountered numerous attacks from mountain bandits along his journey. However, being rather naive, he simply defeated his attackers and left, showing no intention of killing them. This experience, however, left a deep emotional impact on the young Neji. Having always lived in a training ground, he had never experienced such chaos. Seeing the emaciated and pale faces of the bandits who attacked him, he knew they were simply trying to survive.

It's important to understand that the Land of Fire is the wealthiest country in the ninja world, yet it has so many people who have become bandits just to survive. The situation in the entire ninja world is probably unimaginable.