Starts In Konoha: Unlocking Shadow Clone

[Hyuga Neji has been defeated by the host. Do you want to sign the contract?]

"Contract!"

As soon as Naruto confirmed, the blank sixth page in the Servant Contract burst into a radiant golden light, enveloping Neji completely.

"What the hell is this? Let me go!"

Neji muttered weakly, attempting to resist but utterly drained of strength.

In the golden glow, obscure runes flickered, embedding themselves one by one into Neji's body. When the last of the light settled, a golden six-pointed star mark appeared beneath him, gradually rising up and scanning his form like a scanner.

Unlike previous contracts, which targeted the heart or stomach, this one centered on Neji's forehead. The six-pointed star mark slowly shrank, finally imprinting deeply onto Neji's forehead.

At that moment, Neji's forehead protector fell away, revealing the green cross and the two hook-like markings that formed the Caged Bird Seal.

Sensing the threat from the six-pointed star, the Cursed Seal initially resisted fiercely, but it was swiftly and entirely subdued, unable to fight back.

[Congratulations to the host for successfully signing a Servant Contract with Hyuga Neji!]

Hearing the notification in his mind, Naruto's lips curved into a slight smile.

'How could the Hyuga Clan's Curse-Sealing Technique be compared with the system's contract? It's not even a contest'

"What have you done to me?" Neji demanded, glaring at Naruto with all the strength he could muster.

Naruto chuckled slyly and said, "Of course, it's to make you a bit more cooperative. Don't worry, as long as you follow me, your fate can change completely."

"Fate? Hmph! Fate is determined at birth, how could it possibly change?"

What Neji hates most is the word 'Fate'.

Despite being a genius, Neji was bound by the Caged Bird Seal from birth because he was part of the Hyuga Clan's branch family.

If this cursed fate could be rewritten, he would have paid any price long ago.

Naruto knew any further words would fall on deaf ears, so he simply snapped his fingers. Instantly, Neji's forehead pulsed as the Caged Bird's green mark brightened, forcing Neji to his knees in agony, letting out a blood-curdling scream.

"Now, do you believe that fate can be rewritten?"

Naruto asked with a calm smile, halting the seal's effect.

Breathless, Neji clutched his head and looked up at Naruto, dumbfounded, "How is this possible? How can you control the Caged Bird? Who on earth are you?"

"The one who rewrites your fate. As long as you are willing to follow me, I can shatter that disgusting Caged Bird with a mere wave of my hand and grant you true freedom."

Naruto's words, steeped in irresistible promise, drew Neji in. He was silent for a long moment before speaking slowly, "If you can truly remove the Caged Bird, then I will listen to you."

"Then let it be so."

As he said that, Naruto snapped his fingers again.

Neji's forehead glowed with the golden six-pointed star, surrounding the green mark. In an instant, the golden light compressed.

With a crisp 'pop' sound, the green mark of the Caged Bird dissolved, vanishing entirely from Neji's forehead.

"It's... really gone…" Neji stood frozen in place, disbelief flooding his expression.

Neji could clearly feel the Caged Bird shatter, experiencing a sense of freedom he had never imagined.

Without realizing it, tears had begun to form at the corners of his eyes.

"Aww, look at you tearing up. Just as I thought, you're really a girl, aren't you?"

Naruto's comment abruptly broke the solemn atmosphere.

This time, however, Neji didn't refute at all. Instead, he wiped away his tears, stood up, and gave a deep bow, "Naruto, thank you. I will honor my promise and follow your commands."

"Good. Here, take this scroll as a reward."

Naruto said, tossing him one set of the scrolls.

While the Servant Contract allowed Naruto to command Neji unconditionally, Naruto still considered him Hinata's brother.

What if Naruto still chooses to be with Hinata in the future? Neji will be his brother-in-law. It wouldn't feel right to control him so directly.

Letting Neji take the initiative to make a promise and fulfill it is the best result for Naruto.

As for whether this behavior is saintly, sinister, or whether there are other problems, it is not something Naruto should think about.

After all, he'd been through two lives now. In his last life, he managed to die drinking soda. What else does he need to care about?

Today, he was taking the Chunin Exams in Konoha, but tomorrow, he might be off on a mission outside the village.

As long as he was gaining something, whether as a reward or a way to fix regrets from watching the original work, it was enough for him.

Why set some grand, exhausting goal when he could live as he wanted?

He is Naruto, a real living person with his own set of principles. He didn't need to follow the standard path of other transmigrators. Whether his way was relaxed or self-indulgent, it was his choice!

…

Half a day later, at the Central Tower.

Sasuke carried Lee on his back, while Neji carried Tenten on his back, and they arrived at the Central Tower with Naruto.

"Okay, Neji, take those two for treatment first." Naruto said with a wave of his hand.

Neji nodded. And without asking any more questions, he walked into the central tower with Tenten and Lee.

As for Naruto, he took out all the remaining scrolls and laid them on the ground.

Seeing this, Sasuke couldn't help but ask, "Naruto, what are you doing?"

"You'll know in a moment."

Naruto chuckled, then took out a blank scroll. After writing a few bold characters, he hung it on the entrance of the tower.

"Complete set of scrolls for sale. Limited quantity! First come, first serve, highest bid wins."

Sasuke read it out loud and was dumbfounded.

'As expected of Naruto.'

Sasuke couldn't help but complain, "You are really obsessed with money. What's the difference between this and selling answers to a test? It's a pity that you don't end up as a merchant."

Smack!

Naruto swatted the back of Sasuke's head and said, "Why do you think I'm doing this? It's because you are useless. If you could get the hang of that Cursed Seal faster, I'd be taking you for more training right now. Since I have all these scrolls left, what am I supposed to do? Burn them?"

He'd considered using the scrolls as traps for other teams but dismissed the idea.

Most of the participants in this exam couldn't compete with him anyway, so there is no reason to create unnecessary resentment. Plus, selling the scrolls would earn him some cash and give him a better reputation among the candidates.

With only a day left in the exam, teams without scrolls were bound to gather at the Central Tower, hoping to snatch one from another team.

So, as soon as Naruto set up his 'stall', he attracted the attention of many teams.

However, none of the teams dared to approach immediately, worried it might be a trap.

After waiting for a long time, a team finally stepped forward Naruto. They were the three Otogakure's Shinobi under Orochimaru.

Perhaps because of what Orochimaru told them, the three Otogakure's Shinobi were quite respectful towards Naruto.

The leading Otogakure's Shinobi bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Naruto-sama, may I ask how much a scroll costs?"

"Highest bidder wins. But since you're the first, I'll give you a discount."

Naruto thought about it and said, "How about this… Take out all the valuable items on you've got, and I'll give you one set of scrolls. How about that, a good deal, right?"

'All the valuable items… is it still worth it?'

The corners of the Otogakure's Shinobi's mouth twitched slightly, but he didn't dare to refute anything, so he could only force a smile and say, "If Naruto-sama says it's a good deal, then… it must be good..."