Trying to steal the bridge mission.

I had spent 2 months with Team Gai. In total, it's been 10 months since I transmigrated to this world.

I had forgotten one thing. Canonically, Team Gai is the one who has completed the most D-rank missions among the Konoha 12. So you can imagine, I've spent the whole month doing missions like catching cats.

If I remember correctly, we don't do B-rank missions like the one with Zabuza, we only do C and D-rank missions.

But that's not necessarily bad, it means we can train more. Gai-Sensei trained us like slaves, pushing us to our limits until we couldn't go any further.

He also gave us time to train on our own, which I respected because I was able to complete the leaf-cutting exercise and almost complete the Kaiten.

X-x-x-X "Why do we have to mow the lawn if we're ninjas?" I complained for the eleventh time to Gai-Sensei. This was the 4th D-rank mission we were doing, and the rest of the time we were training like crazy. The last mission was to clean the Inuzuka kennel.

It was Tenten who answered me, "They are a safe way to train new ninjas in basic concepts, teach them some humility, develop team dynamics, and obey orders before starting to take on real risk missions. That's what they explained to me."

"Well, it seems silly to me, it's just people who don't want to do their job. I don't see how catching cats helps me at all."

"You're right, in general, they are nobles, big merchants, and retired shinobi who request these missions. They are quite expensive."

"Still, I think it's crap. Imagine spending years learning about weapons, martial arts, and jutsu to do household chores."

Then Gai hit me on the head.

"Ouch, why?"

"If you weren't complaining, we would have finished by now. We must take advantage of our youth, look at Lee."

I looked at Lee.

He was already wearing that tacky green jumpsuit. Gai-Sensei had suggested it to us last week. Tenten refused in disgust, and I imitated her.

"Gai-Sensei, I've finished my area! When do we train? I need more strength."

"Not bad, Lee, but why does a good shinobi need more strength?"

"To protect the people I love."

Gai did a dramatic turn and pointed at Lee. "That's right, you've earned doing 10 laps around Konoha."

Is that a reward?

It's the first time he ordered 10, it used to be 5. It seems it will increase as time goes on.

"Yosh!"

"As for you, youngsters, there are still weeds to pull, then you can do 5 laps around Konoha."

I sighed; this was going to be a long day.

X-x-x-x-x-x

The Hyuga clan was still a trashy clan.

But at least I've made some progress.

Hinata no longer fears me!

It was quite easy. The girl was too gentle to suspect ulterior motives, plus she was desperate for love.

A few fighting tips here, some compliments there, and an apology made Hinata completely friendly with me.

We even go to have (Japanese) tea together.

"H-how is it to be a ninja, brother?"

"Hmm, for now, we only have D-rank missions."

"W-what are D-rank missions?"

I realized that the education in the Leaf Village was messed up if they didn't properly explain the system to academy students.

"D-rank missions are more like community service jobs than ninja missions, something like saving cats."

Hinata must have found the idea funny because she laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"It's nothing, it's just that imagining Neji-Nisaan saving cats is funny," said Hinata, to my surprise, without stuttering.

Hinata must have seen my surprise.

"S-sorry."

"Hinata, you didn't stutter!" I said with a small smile.

"Eh!?" Hinata replied, scared.

On the other hand, to interact with Hanabi, I had to take a different approach.

I asked Hiashi to let me train with Hanabi.

Hiashi, as cold as always, asked why I wanted to train with his daughter despite the age difference.

"I want to train because it's my duty as a member of the branch to protect her. As a prodigy, I believe she can learn many things from me."

Hiashi nodded at my answer, just as cold as always, and left without saying a word.

I took it as a yes.

A week later, I had Hanabi in front of me, trying to seal my chakra points.

"Neji-San."

"Why don't you call me Neji-Nissan like your sister?"

"I don't think we're close."

Damn, this girl was as cold as her father.

"Well, I think we are. Aren't we training together?"

Hanabi pondered, "Alright, Neji-Nissan, what should I improve?"

"Return to your stance."

I traced her from her shoulders, with my fingers passing along her arms to her elbow. I adjusted them a bit, realigning them through her body. "Keep the chakra flow as clean as possible." She sat against the stairs and nodded. "Go through a couple of katas. Keep your weight on your toes, but keep your heels low."

Hanabi did as I ordered.

"But Bato Hyuga from the main branch says I have the perfect stance," said my cousin, as if being from the main branch made her more right.

In a way, it was true. Those from the main branch had more resources (scrolls, instructors, dummies, etc.), so they had more chances to do it better.

But I was a genius.

"Then Bato Hyuga is wrong," I simply said. "Let's try it now."

Bato Hyuga, Hanabi's instructor, a very arrogant Jounin, I thought darkly.

He had raised his voice against me teaching, claiming I was wasting her time with a secondary branch idiot.

Hanabi learned quickly and well, with a bit of reluctance but she listened and mastered what I taught in minutes.

"I think you've got it down, do you want to play?"

"No, I want you to keep teaching me."

"Wow kid, relax, you can't spend your life training," you're not Rock Lee.

"I must become a prodigy stronger than you," Hanabi shouted. "I can't disappoint the clan."

Wow, it seems Hiashi also pressured his other daughter.

"Alright," I sighed, "but only if you call me Neji Nisaan more often."

"Okay, Neji-Nisaan," said the 6-year-old girl seriously.

Little by little, I thought, little by little, she will like me as a brother.

X-x-x-x-x-X

The six elders of the clan and the patriarch, those who control my destiny.

Hiashi Himiko Hideki Haruhi Heihachi Heihachirō Hideaki

Those I wanted to defeat with all my being.

I was in front of them again.

"So you're in the team of Konoha's Green Beast, right?"

"Yes, great elder," you already know, idiot, why ask?

The elders looked at each other and then back at me.

"You don't know how lucky you are. Your master is among the three strongest Jounin in Konoha despite his eccentricities," said Hideki.

I pretended to be surprised.

"We called you for one thing, we want you to be his disciple and discover the secrets of the 8 gates," said Heihachi.

That genuinely surprised me.

Heihachi wasn't that bad, he was still an elitist but at least he didn't look at me with disgust when our eyes met, so I didn't expect those words from him.

"Do you know the difference between a student and a disciple? A student is someone taking a course and a disciple is a follower of a master," said Haruhi.

"I know," I said, "but I doubt he will teach me the 8 gates. As you know, he already has a disciple, and he might suspect me."

"Neji, as a member of the secondary branch, you know you can't respond to us without permission," said Heihachi in a brotherly voice.

I quickly bowed my head, realizing my 'mistake.'

We remained in an uncomfortable silence. I was praying not to be punished again. They, for some reason, were tense.

"We want you to discover the secret of the technique and teach it to us somehow. This is your life's goal," said Hideki.

"I understand, great elders," like hell I will give you anything.

Hiashi finally spoke, "With your Byakugan, you should learn the technique. Even if you are from the secondary branch, you are quite competent. Inform us of what he does when he activates it, which chakra nodes he opens, and what requirements are needed to activate it."

"That technique made a Genin defeat the swordsmen of the Mist, the Hyuga clan must have it," finished Hideaki.

I'd rather die than give you that technique, I wanted to say, but I kept silent, waiting for the order to speak.

"Now you may speak," said Himiko arrogantly.

"I will try to discover which nodes are activated to release the 8 inner gates. If you allow me, I will leave."

"You may leave."

X-x-x-x-x

"Now we will do 500 push-ups without chakra to get in shape and then we will go to Hokage-sama for another mission," said our sensei.

I avoided his gaze, thinking about my new mission.

Should I tell Gai or should I follow the Hyuga clan's directives to gain their trust?

"Neji, you spaced out again."

"Oh, yes, sensei, I'm coming."

After the 500 push-ups, with a Tenten who could barely move, we went to the Hokage's office.

There I found the Hokage, one of those responsible for Neji's father's death.

Wow, I should stop thinking like Neji, I shouldn't antagonize Minato, the Adidas model who killed 1000 ninjas.

We knelt, I was tired of kneeling, but life wasn't fair.

"Hokage-sama, we came for another D-rank mission."

Minato smiled at us gently. "Come closer and choose."

God, I can't stand it anymore, this isn't like me but I don't want to keep catching cats.

"Gai-Sensei, how about at least a C-rank mission?" I asked softly.

"Enjoy your youth, there is still time for C-rank missions. Look, how about you choose your next mission?"

"Oh come on," I complained, making Tenten laugh. Her anemic state had recovered, it seemed seeing the gloomy Hyuga acting like a child made people laugh.

Among them, Minato, who smiled.

"I see you've grown fond of your students, Gai-san."

"Hahaha, my Genins will be a powerhouse of Konoha."

"Well, Neji-kun, choose between babysitting the Chief Counselor's son, shopping in the neighboring town, harvesting potatoes..."

Ashamed, I approached the Hokage's desk, by the way, the advisors Homura and Koharu were there.

They sided with Danzo in the Uchiha massacre, Sasuke never killed them in the canon...

"Can I open the Byakugan to read everything at once?"

This surprised Minato.

"Of course."

Then I opened the Byakugan to have a panoramic view of all the missions.

Oh.

It was in a corner of the desk, almost imperceptible from my position, but thanks to the Byakugan I managed to see it.

Helping the bridge builder.

"I want this one, I won't accept any other," I said, surprising the two elders and Minato.

"Young Hyuga, didn't you hear your sensei? Only D-rank, you haven't gotten to know your team well enough yet," said Homura. "Besides, this mission is still being processed, we don't know if it's reliable, and he can't pay us, he doesn't have money for a C-rank mission."

"I want that one," I said, acting like a spoiled child, I seemed retarded acting like this in front of the village dictator but I had to do a Naruto to get that mission.

"Let's see the mission," Gai intervened, then hit me on the head.

"Ow," yes, definitely acting like Naruto now.

"Is there any way to reserve the mission? I want to do that mission specifically," I insisted.

"What's so special about helping a bridge builder? Do you know Tazuna-san?" Minato asked.

"Yes, but he was drunk, I doubt he remembers me," technically I told the truth.

"Please, Gai-sensei, accept this mission and I will obey you in anything else," I continued, "I am a Hyuga prodigy, I can take on anything, I will even carry the luggage."

Gai gave me a strange look and everyone watched expectantly.

"This isn't like you, why aren't you patient?"

"Ninja intuition," I told my sensei.

And knowing the future.

But Minato crushed my hopes, "Even so, he doesn't have the money for a simple escort mission, the Land of Waves is going through a bad economic situation."

"If you take me off the payroll for doing the mission, can they afford it?" I asked, surprising everyone again, looking at me as if I had grown a second head.

"He's short 10,000 ryo, but how are you going to pay? Those of your social status give all their money to the Hyuga clan, right? You have to ask permission from the Hyuga clan first."

I shut up.

That's another disadvantage of being from the Hyuga branch, we live off the money the clan gives us, we don't get paid for doing missions.

That means I could do an S-rank mission and the main branch would keep it.

This is so that branch members are not interested in ascending and becoming strong.

"Um, I…"

"Lee, you said something, spill it," said Gai, perceiving Lee's trust issues.

"I don't need the pay either, I want to prove I am a true ninja!" Lee shouted at the top of his lungs and later regretted, "Sorry for shouting, Hokage-sama."

Thanks, Lee.

"Is that enough?" I asked.

"Unfortunately, no."

I looked at Tenten threateningly, who got nervous and smiled, but to my surprise, someone else spoke.

"Then I don't need the pay either, we accept the assignment."

"Gai-sensei!?"

"Gai-sensei!?"

"Gai-sensei!?"

"What made you change your mind? Your other Genin teams waited until the tenth D-rank mission," Minato asked seriously, his happy facade changed.

"The kids are eager for adventure, who am I to deny them? Besides," he patted Rock Lee and me, "one shouldn't underestimate a ninja's intuition."

And that's how I stole the protagonist's first mission.

It felt like Gai would never trust my intuition again.