Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 539 The Terror of the Hyuga Clan (Part 1)

The people who had been huddled together, whispering and talking amongst themselves, suddenly fell silent, as if gripped by an invisible, terrifying force. Their faces were contorted with utter shock, as if they had witnessed the end of the world. Their mouths were slightly open, but no sound could utter a peep; even the words they had just begun to say were swallowed back down.

Just then, Onoki, the Tsuchikage, who had already turned around and was about to stride away with a flourish, suddenly stopped, as if he had been gripped tightly by the giant claw of an ancient beast, or crushed by an incomparably heavy mountain. He struggled to maintain his balance, each step appearing extremely strenuous, and large beads of sweat slid down his forehead, soaking his clothes.

Finally, Onoki slowly turned around, his gaze fixed on the incredibly young figure—Hyuga Neji. His eyes, once filled with disdain and contempt, were now utterly filled with shock. Before this, he had indeed underestimated the Hyuga clan members who had come. Most of the people sent to this training ground were young, seemingly inexperienced and clearly novices who had never personally experienced the brutality of war. Especially regarding Neji, the leader of the group, Onoki had held him in utter contempt. However, now, faced with the terrifying aura emanating from this seemingly ordinary young man, he had to reconsider his previous assessment.

Onoki, the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, had never crossed paths with Hyuga Kanan. Despite numerous rumors circulating from various intelligence sources that Kanan was unimaginably powerful, even arguably the strongest ninja in the world, Onoki always dismissed them with a laugh. After all, he had personally experienced the unparalleled majesty emanating from Uchiha Madara, known as the "Shura of the Shinobi World." In his view, no one in this era could possibly match such terrifying strength.

When Hyuga Neji, Hyuga Kanan's disciple, was mentioned, Onoki couldn't help but feel a slight sense of disdain upon seeing the young and inexperienced face of the other. After all, Neji was the only ninja in the entire ninja world to have successfully mastered the Bloodline Elimination Technique! Such an extraordinary achievement endowed him not only with strength that others could only dream of, but also with a deep-seated arrogance. This arrogance made Onoki firmly believe that no matter how much others praised others, in the face of true strength, those so-called titles were nothing but fleeting smoke.

In that instant, the Tsuchikage Onoki was deeply shaken, experiencing a profound realization for the first time in his life: the true meaning behind the saying "A great reputation is not without merit." The astonishing aura emanating from this young man, merely a disciple of Hyuga Kanan, was enough to instill in him such intense and indescribable pressure!

Onoki couldn't help but wonder what a staggering sight it would be if Hyuga Kanan himself were standing there. He simply couldn't imagine the unfathomable strength the other possessed. Perhaps, this legendary powerhouse could even rival the once-mighty Uchiha Madara!

Meanwhile, Hyuga Neji's deep eyes were fixed intently on the Tsuchikage, Onoki, his expression one of utmost seriousness. For him, personal honor and loss were important, but what he found even more intolerable was anyone daring to disrespect his Hyuga clan and his revered teacher, Hyuga Kanan. At the same time, he knew he had to use this rare opportunity to make the high-ranking officials of the Allied Shinobi Forces clearly understand that the mysterious and powerful training ground was not something their self-important great ninja village could easily underestimate.

As the leader of this training camp, Hyuga Neji knew the weight of his responsibility. He needed to use a series of methods to put pressure on the guys from the various ninja villages, to make them understand that the times had changed, and that these so-called great nations were no longer the unassailable, supreme beings in the ninja world.

This was not only to showcase the awe-inspiring power of the training grounds, but also to make everyone clearly aware that Hyuga Neji's team was no ordinary force. Only in this way could they have sufficient say, status, and an indispensable presence when the Allied Shinobi Forces were formed in the future.

For this reason, Hyuga Neji suddenly unleashed an incomparably powerful aura! This aura, like a surging, raging tide, instantly swept across the entire arena. Its overwhelming power caused everyone present to turn their heads in awe.

Those ninjas from various major ninja villages who had just arrived and dared to put on a show of force at the training grounds finally realized just how terrifying the resources of this place truly were. In particular, when Neji's cold and imposing gaze was fixed on the Tsuchikage Onoki like two icy glints, even this battle-hardened elder felt an unprecedented pressure.

At this moment, Hyuga Neji understood perfectly well that the rigorous tests of teamwork among ninjas from various countries, as well as the intense strategic battles with other team leaders, would provide him with the perfect stage to showcase his strength and exceptional leadership. Therefore, he would not let any opportunity slip by, determined to earn everyone's sincere and unwavering recognition of his position and abilities!

"Lord Tsuchikage, please put away your arrogant attitude as a superior and invincible ninja village of a great nation! We, who come from the land of training, are not to be underestimated or looked down upon by a mere Land of Earth! I hope you will keep this firmly in mind!" Hyuga Neji's expression was solemn, his eyes blazing as he stared intently at the Tsuchikage before him. His tone was unusually serious, as if every word was squeezed out from between his teeth.

At the same time, the faint aura emanating from his body suddenly erupted like a volcanic eruption, unleashing a surging and powerful aura. This aura, like a raging torrent, swept outwards, sweeping across the land, causing sand and stones to fly and winds to howl in its wake. Even the air itself seemed to be distorted and deformed by this powerful force, emitting sharp, piercing cries.

Those standing nearby, sensing this terrifying pressure, all paled, cold sweat pouring down their foreheads. Some even felt their legs go weak, nearly collapsing to the ground. Their eyes widened, their faces filled with terror as they stared at Hyuga Neji, their hearts filled with shock and fear. For before them now stood no longer the usually gentle and refined genius of the Hyuga clan, but a terrifying being, like a demon god descended to earth!

At this moment, standing directly in front of Hyuga Neji, facing his overwhelming and surging aura, was none other than Onoki. His eyes widened, his entire being focused on sensing the unimaginably powerful aura emanating from his opponent. This aura swept over him like a violent storm, causing Onoki to be secretly startled.

However, as the highly respected Tsuchikage of Iwagakure in the Land of Earth, how could Onoki easily bow down and admit defeat to a young junior? To show weakness and compromise would not only damage his personal dignity and prestige but also bring irreparable negative consequences to the entire Land of Earth. It should be noted that besides the two of them, numerous ninjas from other major ninja villages had gathered around this outpost. If word got out, those with ulterior motives would undoubtedly seize this opportunity to spread rumors, ridicule and belittle the strength of Iwagakure, thereby undermining the Land of Earth's standing in the ninja world.

Thinking this, Onoki gritted his teeth, determined never to back down. He took a deep breath, quickly mobilizing the chakra energy hidden within his body and continuously channeling it into his meridians. As the chakra flowed, Onoki exuded a powerful and imposing aura, like a towering, unbreakable mountain. Then, he abruptly raised his head, his eyes gleaming, fearlessly meeting the fierce aura unleashed by Hyuga Neji. A breathtaking clash of auras had begun…

Hyuga Neji stood there quietly, his face expressionless, his clear and deep eyes fixed on the white-haired, wrinkled old man in front of him. Despite the extremely tense atmosphere around him, he maintained his composure, as if everything happening before him had nothing to do with him.

It's important to understand that the person standing before him was no ordinary individual, but the Tsuchikage from Iwagakure in the Land of Earth. This Tsuchikage was renowned throughout the ninja world for his immense strength and imposing presence. However, facing such a formidable foe, Hyuga Neji remained completely unmoved.

As Hyuga Kanan's prized disciple, Hyuga Neji received the most rigorous training and instruction from a young age. He knew he carried the honor and expectations of his clan on his shoulders and could not afford to back down or show any fear. Therefore, even if his opponent was the Tsuchikage, he would never easily show weakness.

At this moment, the Tsuchikage unleashed a powerful aura, sweeping outwards like a surging sea. This aura was almost tangible, making it difficult for everyone present to breathe. But for Hyuga Neji, this level of pressure was nothing. He narrowed his eyes slightly, secretly assessing his opponent's strength, and couldn't help but sneer inwardly: "Hmph, is that all the skill he has? Far from enough..."