Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece-Chapter 54. I May Have a Few Too Many Cheat Codes Ready [Bonus]
Chapter 54 - 54. I May Have a Few Too Many Cheat Codes Ready [Bonus]
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A week slipped by in the blink of an eye.
So fast, in fact, that Neji completely missed Sasuke's dramatic rooftop brooding session. A tragedy, really, he'd been looking forward to that signature Uchiha angst monologue.
But some sacrifices had to be made in the name of science.
The good news?
He'd made real progress.
Neji had spent the entire week researching the First Hokage's cells, confirming their regenerative potential and inherent aggressiveness. It wasn't just a power source, it was a mutation waiting to happen.
No, he wouldn't fuse the cells directly. He wasn't suicidal.
Instead, he was going to map them, rewrite the genome, and integrate only what he needed through a more refined approach, the "Bloodline Factor" system.
Gene-level customization.
In other words, Life Blueprints.
It was the same method Judge Vinsmoke used in One Piece, modifying his children from the embryo stage, turning them into emotionless super soldiers with steel skin and supernatural resilience.
But Neji wasn't starting from scratch. He was already a fully formed adult.
One wrong code in the genetic programming, and the whole operating system would crash.
And when was that system a human body? There was no reboot.
"I need to be cautious," Neji muttered, staring at the swirling vial of Hashirama's cells. "One mistake and it's game over. And I don't have a resurrection token lined up yet."
That was the reality of it. The risks were insane.
But if he could get his hands on White Zetsu cells later, something gentler, more compatible that could bridge the gap.
"After the Chūnin Exams," he thought. "I'll head to the Land of Waves. Test cloning methods. Let Zabuza and the others start gathering materials."
He shelved the [Soul Projection Technique] for now as well. Too many variables.
Everything would be handled. Just not recklessly.
He had time. He had tools. And more than a few cheat codes prepped.
No need to gamble.
---
Later – Training Ground 7
Lee was deep into weighted squats with boulders strapped to his back. Sweat poured down his face as chakra steamed off his skin.
Tenten stood beside a tree, launching waves of precision-sharp shuriken like a one-woman artillery barrage. The training dummy in front of her was riddled with steel, no room left to stick a pin.
"Looks like you two are fired up," Neji said, entering with a calm smile.
"Neji!" Tenten lit up, abandoning her target to jog over.
"Oh? Not running from me today?" he teased.
She punched him in the chest. Lightly. Kind of.
"Shut up! I'm gonna be the next Lady Tsunade. No way I'm getting flustered over small stuff."
She said it confidently, but her red cheeks told another story.
'Great,' Neji thought. 'I knew letting Ino and Sakura sit at her table was a mistake. Romantic nonsense brainwashed her again.'
BOOM.
A rock split as Lee dropped it.
"Neji! Fight me!"
Neji laughed. "Gladly."
He turned to Tenten. "Five minutes."
"Make it quick," she said, already moving back.
They clashed.
Blurs of motion. Shockwaves rippled across the clearing. Fist met fist, stone cracked, air burst.
Five minutes later—
KO.
Neji dusted off his hands and dragged a dazed Lee back to the tree. He revived him with a slap and sat both of them down.
"Tomorrow's the Chūnin Exams," he said. "What's your strategy?"
Lee and Tenten looked at each other.
"...Strategy?"
Tenten tilted her head. Lee's brows furrowed.
"...Neji, what's your strategy?" Tenten asked.
"I plan to go all in," Neji said. "Though knowing our competition would help."
Tenten perked up. "I've been watching the ninja from other villages. A bunch came through the weapon shop. I memorized a few faces."
She ran down a list of Sand, Sound, Rain, and Grass entries that stood out. Neji absorbed every word.
Lee nodded seriously. "Some strong opponents out there."
Then he paused, snapped his fingers.
"What if... we pretend to be weak at first? Let them underestimate us?"
Tenten blinked.
Neji stared.
"You want to... sandbag?" Tenten said slowly.
Lee shrugged. "Fake weakness. Lure them in. Beat them when they drop their guard."
Neji raised an eyebrow. Tenten's jaw actually dropped.
"...Lee, that's... kind of brilliant," she admitted.
Neji smiled. "Clever. But unnecessary."
"Why not?" they both asked.
"First," Neji said, "we don't know how the exams are structured. If your performance is evaluated, appearing weak might backfire."
"Second... we're already hiding our full power. Lee's Gates. Your scroll-sealed arsenal. Me?"
He didn't even bother listing it.
Tenten and Lee nodded slowly.
"You're right," Lee admitted. "We are holding back."
"Then we go all in," Tenten agreed. "Every point matters."
The three of them stood, nodding in sync as the sun began to set over Konoha.
---
That Night – Near Hyūga Compound
On his way home, Neji felt them.
Foreign chakra signatures. Unfamiliar movement.
One in particular... caught his attention.
Bloodlust. Sand. A feral aura...
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Gaara of the Sand," he thought. "Shukaku's host. Interesting."
He didn't engage.
Not yet.
He kept walking quiet, calm, ready.
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