Chapter 39 - misunderstanding! I'm really not that kind of person

Early in the morning, Neji and Tenten met up.

"Exercise Field 21... is it here?" Tenten asked, scratching her head while holding the map of Konoha.

Neji nodded and said, "Yeah, it's up ahead."

The two walked together.

The thick morning fog had already begun to lift, and the dew slid off the blades of grass by the roadside. The pebbled path was still damp from the light rain the previous night, and the air carried a moist, refreshing quality that felt pleasant.

"But, why is this practice field so quiet?" Tenten asked as they walked in. The place felt abandoned, much like the Intelligence Department's headquarters in the Death Forest. Though small, the practice field seemed to have all the essential elements intact.

Not far off, they could hear the sound of running water and a waterfall in the distance, indicating they weren't far from the Konoha River.

"Yeah, you can hear the water, right? This practice field has existed since twenty years ago. After the Third Ninja World War, Konoha grew stronger and stronger, eventually signing an armistice agreement with Sand Shinobi," Neji explained as he leaped onto a wooden post. "Since then, there have been fewer wars. This period of peace has led to less demand for ninja training, so the fields beyond number 21 were abandoned. The last time anyone used this place was probably three years ago during a large-scale exercise."

"Oh..." Tenten nodded thoughtfully. "The air is so nice here."

"Neji, you're always cooped up in the clan. How do you know so much?" Tenten asked, her curiosity piqued. She had recently noticed that Neji seemed knowledgeable about everything.

Neji chuckled. "I don't have much to do on most days besides practice, so I often come to these old training grounds. Sometimes I run into Jōnin or Anbu who also train here. Just by listening to their conversations, I pick up bits of information."

"Jōnin, huh..." Tenten muttered, feeling a mix of admiration and frustration. When promoting to Chūnin seemed like a monumental challenge to her, Neji was already thinking beyond Genin-level concerns. He even mentioned the Third Ninja World War—a time before Tenten was even born.

"But why did you call me so early, Neji? This isn't the time we usually agree on for training," Tenten remarked.

"Really? This is when I normally start," Neji responded.

"This..." Tenten trailed off, watching as Neji began his practice on a nearby stake.

...

"They're here!" Sarutobi Asuma's voice boomed across the practice field.

"As expected, I could hear Neji training as soon as I arrived. He's really diligent!"

Trailing behind Asuma were the Ino-Shika-Chō trio.

"Sensei! You're too loud!" Ino complained.

"Yeah," Chōji agreed. "Let's finish this so I can go eat some barbecue."

Shikamaru sighed. "Such a drag."

Tenten glanced at Asuma, hesitating. "So, the new teacher Mr. Guy mentioned... is Asuma-sensei?"

"Yo, Neji! I've heard a lot about you," Asuma greeted, walking over. Neji, caught off guard, paused his training and bowed politely.

With Asuma taking charge, the training session gained structure. Everyone gathered on the grass, sitting in a circle.

"Alright, as I just explained, we've got two weeks. I'll be handling your training during this time. It's not just about those aiming for the Chūnin exams—Tenten and Chōji, you should also use this opportunity to push yourselves. There will be another exam soon. Don't get left behind!" Asuma said.

"Yes..." Tenten and Chōji replied half-heartedly, exchanging glances and sighing.

"Now, to start, I'd like to see some of you in action. A one-on-one match will help me assess where you are. The one I'm least familiar with is..."

Asuma's eyes landed on Neji, who remained silent.

"You, Hyuga Neji."

"Me?" Neji blinked, then stood up, confused but obedient.

"Ino, you'll be Neji's opponent. Let's see how far you've come!" Asuma announced.

"What?" Ino exclaimed, surprised. She stood up, her short purple dress swaying slightly. Neji frowned. The idea of seriously fighting against a girl who seemed physically weaker unsettled him.

"Why do I have to go first?" Ino pouted, looking pleadingly at Asuma.

Asuma chuckled. "Alright, everyone, spread out and make space. I'll be watching your moves carefully. Remember, this is a sparring match, so stop short of causing serious harm."

"Yes!" everyone replied in unison as they backed away to give the pair room.

Chōji munched on his chips. "With Ino's new techniques, she should be able to beat Neji easily."

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "You're an idiot. Sasuke knocked you out in the last match. Neji, on the other hand, won against Gaara. It won't be that easy for Ino."

"Really?" Chōji said absentmindedly, still munching.

As soon as the match began, Ino rushed forward, startling Neji.

"Should I activate Byakugan? No, I don't need to..." Neji hesitated, opting to engage Ino using only taijutsu.

They exchanged blows, with Neji dodging effortlessly. Ino's attacks, though aggressive, proved ineffective.

"Neji, remember to attack!" Asuma called out, noticing Neji was only defending.

Neji obliged, finding an opening and delivering a soft, controlled palm strike.

"Ah!" Ino yelped, shocked by the impact.

Neji carefully withheld his chakra, barely making contact. "Phew, good thing I didn't use too much force," he thought, relieved.

However, the soft sensation under his hand caught him off guard. Ino's face flushed, and Neji realized he had inadvertently touched her inappropriately.

"Pervert!" Ino screamed, stepping back.

"I-I didn't mean to!" Neji stammered, flustered by the awkwardness.

"Damn it! Pervert!" Ino shouted again, her face bright red as she continued attacking, determined not to lose face.

Seeing her fierce determination, Neji activated his Byakugan to evade more effectively.

"Neji's dodging everything! Is Ino's attack really that slow?" Chōji wondered.

Asuma chuckled. "That's the Hyuga clan's Byakugan for you. They can read every movement, and even hidden weapons can't escape their sight."

Tenten, overhearing this, blushed and curled up slightly. The idea of Neji being able to see through clothes made her self-conscious.

Meanwhile, Ino froze, realizing the implications of Neji's Byakugan. She quickly backed away, covering herself.

"Don't look!" she shrieked.

Neji broke into a cold sweat. "I swear, I'm not that kind of guy!" he stammered, awkwardly trying to reassure her, though his explanation only made things worse.

Ino continued retreating, her face still red with embarrassment.

Asuma, trying to smooth things over, laughed nervously. "Well, uh, maybe I shouldn't have brought that up... haha!"

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