The black markings crept across Sasuke's skin like living fire—writhing, spreading, feeding on his rage.
The Curse Mark…!Kazehaya Hayate's pupils contracted sharply. The lazy, laid-back expression he usually wore vanished in an instant, replaced by focused intensity.
"I can't… fail!"
Sasuke heard the gasps and shouts around him, but his face remained impassive. A faint, almost disdainful smile tugged at his lips as he glanced at the silver-white blade hovering near his neck—then, in a blur of motion, he disappeared.
"So fast—?!"
But Hayate's reflexes were equally sharp. In the same heartbeat, he pivoted, appearing behind Sasuke, his silver sword raised high in a flash of light.
"What—?! Behind me?!" Sasuke's voice echoed like something out of a nightmare, whispering coldly, "Die—"
Behind?! Impossible—how did he—!Hayate's mind raced. Two more seconds before I can use Body Flicker again. Damn it, what now—?!A bead of cold sweat traced down his temple. Now I know what it really means to face a monster.
"Sasuke, stop!"
Kakashi's voice cut through the chaos just as Sasuke's fist, wrapped in a storm of chakra, was about to crash into Hayate's face.
Hayate turned his head sharply—Sasuke's hand was frozen inches from him, Kakashi gripping his wrist mid-swing.
"Do you want to die?!"Sasuke's voice was dark, eyes blazing crimson with the Sharingan. His expression was cold—so cold it sent a chill down even Kakashi's spine. His sense of self was gone; only bloodlust remained.
Boom!
A blur of green struck from the side—a single hit to the neck—and Sasuke's body went limp, collapsing to the ground. The black marks slowly receded as the Curse Seal lost its hold.
"He's completely lost control. Knocking him out was the only option," said Guy evenly, sheathing his kunai-sized blade. His face was calm, but his movements spoke volumes.
"It had to be done," Kakashi agreed quietly, his gaze shifting toward Hayate—who still hadn't moved from his stance, sword in hand. Kakashi didn't say a word.
The air grew still.
Then the Third Hokage rose, pipe in hand. He exhaled a slow puff of smoke and declared, "I hereby announce… the winner of this match is Kazehaya Hayate."
After several more rounds, the next match began—each one more intense than the last.
The duel between Kiba and Naruto was particularly fierce. After Kiba and Akamaru swallowed a soldier pill, their coordination became razor-sharp, and their Fang Over Fang attack tore through the arena like a whirlwind.But Naruto's unyielding stamina—and his experience from all those grueling missions with Hayate—gave him the edge. In the end, he barely managed to turn the tables.
Then came the match everyone was watching with bated breath—
Hinata Hyuga vs. Neji Hyuga.
Hayate's eyes narrowed slightly as he saw the names appear on the electronic display.Neji… A dependable ally in the future, but right now, he's still cold, proud, and shackled by his hatred of destiny. Especially toward Hinata, the heiress of the main family. He won't show her mercy.
"Miss Hinata," Neji said icily as he stepped forward. "Surrender."
"Brother Neji," Hinata replied softly, her voice calm but unwavering. "Please fight me seriously."
Her tone was gentler than steel, but this time—different from the shy, trembling Hinata of the past—there was a flame of resolve in her eyes.
Neji frowned faintly. "Your personality may seem different, but deep down… you're still the same timid girl. This act of courage won't change anything." His voice softened slightly, almost pitying. "Let me prove it to you—you're still weak, Hinata-sama."
"Byakugan!"
Blue veins bulged around his temples as his pupils turned white, rippling with chakra.
"Byakugan!" Hinata echoed, her own eyes awakening with determination. Then, without hesitation, she rushed toward Neji.
"Ha!"
Her hands moved gracefully—transforming her fists into palms—as she struck directly toward Neji's arm, aiming for his chakra points.
She's trying to disable my arm first? Neji was momentarily impressed, but didn't take her attack seriously. With a single fluid motion, he sidestepped, closing in on her. Hinata's eyes widened—too slow to react.
Neji's palm slammed into her shoulder with precise, crushing force.
"Ah—!" Hinata winced, but refused to step back. Her breathing quickened, yet she immediately readjusted her stance and continued her assault.
"Humph."
Neji's irritation grew. With a sharp motion, he deflected her next strike and forced her stance open. His gaze turned cold—merciless.
"Eight Trigrams… Sixty-Four Palms!"
His body blurred as he struck her pressure points in a flurry of motion—"Two palms!""Four palms!""Eight palms!""Sixteen palms!"
Each strike landed with surgical precision. Below the stands, Hayate's fists clenched tighter and tighter, his eyes darkening.
If this keeps up… Hinata will be—
"Thirty-two palms!"
"—Enough!" he muttered under his breath.
Hinata coughed up blood, her pale skin growing even whiter as crimson stained her clothes.
"Sixty-four palms!"
"Damn it!" Hayate's fury ignited. Watching Hinata collapse, trembling and bloodied, shattered his composure. Golden light flickered in his eyes——and in the next instant, he vanished.
"This is bad," Kurenai murmured, alarmed. She knew about the bond between Hayate and Hinata. Seeing Neji's ruthless assault, she feared exactly this—He's going to intervene.
"Rasengan—Great Ball!"
Hayate appeared in front of Hinata in a flash. Seeing her bloodied figure up close made something inside him snap. His chakra surged violently as he formed a massive, glowing sphere in his hand.
"What—?!" Neji froze, the Byakugan seeing the golden chakra spiral forming. His eyes widened in genuine fear.
"That technique…?!" Guy's expression turned grim. "That's not a normal Rasengan—!"
Kakashi's visible eye widened as he felt the chakra signature. "The nature transformation… that's impossible. Even Minato-sensei never used a Rasengan this massive. And that color—it's golden…!"
The Third Hokage leaned forward, eyes narrowing through the haze of pipe smoke. "Incredible… It resembles the Fourth's Rasengan, but the chakra control—and the sheer power—this is something else entirely."
Everyone in the arena, from Konoha's veterans to the rookie genin, stared in shock. Only Orochimaru, Kiba, and the unconscious Hinata didn't react.
Hayate took a deep breath, his expression softening as he looked at Hinata."I'm sorry, Hinata. This was your battle. But seeing you hurt like this… I can't just stand here."
Then his eyes turned cold—deadly cold—as he shifted his gaze back to Neji."But now that I've stepped in… the one who hurt you—will pay."
"Hayate, what are you doing?!"
Moonlight Blaze—the match referee—stepped between them, frowning deeply. His normally gentle face was tense with concern.
Even he could sense it: If I fought him right now, I wouldn't stand a chance.
"Kazehaya Hayate," he said sharply. "Are you planning to defy the village?!"
Hayate's expression darkened. For a heartbeat, his fury flared too brightly to contain.
"So what if I am?"
The words hung in the air like a thunderclap.And for the first time, everyone saw it—the real Kazehaya Hayate.
The rebel flame that had always been sleeping inside him… had finally awakened.