In the arena, Hyuga Neji and Hyuga Hinata stood facing each other. Neji's brow was slightly furrowed, his face filled with obvious distress and helplessness. He truly didn't want to fight Hinata, whom he considered his own sister. This reluctance was almost plainly etched on his expression.
When Gekkō Hayate announced the start of the match, Hinata had already taken the initiative. She took a deep breath, veins bulging in her eyes as her pure Byakugan activated, and her hands assumed the starting stance of the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist.
"Neji brother... please guide me!"
"...Hinata-sama... I apologize for this offense!"
Neji closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and finally activated his Byakugan as well, taking a ready stance. Although he was extremely unwilling to harm her, he had to keep improving, he had to become stronger, until he found Menma and gained his recognition!
I'm sorry, Hinata-sama... I must live up to that expectation, I must possess sufficient strength!
Naruto watched thoughtfully as the two began their offense and defense using Gentle Fist in the arena. Since Neji had already learned the truth about his father's death, knowing that Hizashi had not perished but was living safely somewhere under the protection of the [Ember] Organization, the atmosphere of this duel was completely different from the original story.
In the original story, Neji, believing his father was forced by the Main Branch to sacrifice himself as a scapegoat, was filled with resentment and malice towards fate. When Hinata, from the Main Branch, spoke of "wanting to change" before the battle, that accumulated grievance almost made him lose control, nearly causing him to kill her in the arena.
However, what was presented to everyone now was a model battle, brimming with "martial virtue." The two exchanged offense and defense swiftly and precisely, palm winds whistling, Chakra flowing at their fingertips, but all attacks skillfully avoided each other's vital points.
Anyone could see that Neji was constantly holding back his strength during the exchange, deliberately showing mercy. His goal was not to defeat his opponent, but rather it resembled a guided sparring match.
Ultimately, there was indeed an objective difference in strength between the two. After a dazzling exchange of Gentle Fist, Neji seized a fleeting opening, and a precise palm strike knocked Hinata to the ground. Immediately, his palm stopped steadily just before Hinata's vital point, perfectly timed—a true display of restraint.
Gekkō Hayate looked at Neji's precise palm, stopped just before the vital point, which in a real battle would have been enough to determine life or death. He nodded, then announced, "Winner, Hyuga Neji."
After the result was announced, Neji immediately reached out and pulled Hinata, who was on the ground, back to her feet. He kept murmuring things like "Excuse me" and "I'm sorry, Hinata-sama," while carefully dusting off her clothes.
Although Hinata still had a trace of disappointment in her eyes from not winning, she looked up and gave Neji a gentle smile, softly replying, "It's alright, Neji brother."
The friendly, humble, and mutually respectful atmosphere between these cousins made many in the audience nod in approval. However, this harmonious scene only made Gaara feel increasingly irritated and confused.
Immediately after, the electronic screen began to scroll again, and a new match-up appeared—
[Sakura Haruno VS Ino Yamanaka]
Ino and Sakura, who looked a bit anxious, walked onto the field together. Sakura's anxiety stemmed partly from not expecting to fight her best friend, and partly because... in the second exam, she was almost entirely "carried" through by Naruto. Without Naruto, she wasn't sure if she truly deserved to be here.
Ino also seemed a bit hesitant, apparently also unwilling to engage in hostilities with her friend... Could their relationship be this good when they weren't fighting over a man?
But as Gekkō Hayate announced the start of the match, Sakura's eyes gradually became resolute. With the belief that she had to prove her worth through effort and also surpass Ino, whom she had always admired, she resolved to seriously compete with Ino.
The two first engaged in taijutsu. However, it was clear that their taijutsu level was not on the same tier as the monstrous duels of the previous matches.
Kankuro, watching from the stands, finally let out a long sigh of relief. This was normal; this was the Genin level he recognized! Those few before... Konoha called them Genin?!
In the exchange, Sakura, relying on her naturally precise Chakra control, slowly began to concentrate Chakra in her limbs to enhance her physical abilities. At the same time, Naruto had trained her taijutsu in his spare time, laying the foundation for her future study of "Monster Strength." Therefore, in the initial taijutsu confrontation, Sakura gradually gained the upper hand.
Finally, Sakura seized a fleeting opening, delivering a direct punch towards Ino's face. Ino failed to dodge in time, was hit by the force of the punch, and stumbled backward.
However, after landing the hit, Sakura immediately sensed something was wrong. Ino... she hadn't taken it seriously at all just now?
In her eyes, was she still the "Sakura" who was self-conscious about her wide forehead, always needing her care and protection?
Gekkō Hayate looked at Ino, who was kneeling on the ground, seemingly without the will to fight. He coughed weakly, about to routinely announce the match results—
"Hey! Ino-pig!"
A voice interrupted the examiner's thoughts.
Sakura clenched her fists, her eyes burning as she stared at her friend and opponent, her voice a mix of urgency and disappointment.
"Get up right now! Stop playing dead! The Ino I know is the one who, even when I was teased about my wide forehead, would say 'That's a cute hairstyle,' and who never knew how to write the words 'give up'!"
Sakura's words burst forth like a volley, both encouraging and provoking.
"Put away your boring pity! I don't want to be the Sakura who always hides behind you and needs to be protected anymore! I want to prove my worth! So, show me your true abilities, Ino Yamanaka! Don't make me look down on you!"
These words were like a heavy hammer, shattering Ino's confusion and... that trace of pity she herself was unwilling to admit. She had always secretly worried about Sakura, being assigned to Team 7 with that Yandere Uchiha. After the true nature of her admired person was so oppressive and her idol halo shattered, how cautiously would Sakura have to live each day?
But now, looking at Sakura Haruno, who stood before her with shining eyes, challenging her without backing down, Ino suddenly realized—she had completely misunderstood!
Ino chuckled softly, wiping the sweat and dust from her forehead with the back of her hand, and stood up again. The hesitation in her eyes completely vanished, replaced by a long-lost fighting spirit and a sense of relief. "How dare you call me that... Forehead-girl... It seems I worried for nothing."
Their gazes clashed in the air once more; this time, there was no longer any hesitation!
The battle resumed! In the exchange of punches and kicks, although their level was far from the "monster" level duels of Satsuki, Gaara, and Lee before, the will and never-give-up spirit contained within were not weak at all.
Ino seized on Sakura's habitual sidestep, and the hand seals she had prepared were instantly completed—"Mind Transfer Jutsu!"
An invisible surge of mental energy instantly rushed towards Sakura! However, just when everyone thought the outcome was decided...
Instead of having her body taken over after being hit by the secret jutsu, Sakura let out a low growl! Driven by the conviction of "not wanting to be a burden anymore," another Sakura in her mind actually expelled Ino from her mental world, breaking free from the mental restraint of the Yamanaka clan's secret jutsu!
"How is that possible?!" Ino suffered a backlash from the jutsu, grunted, and her face instantly turned pale.
The failure of the secret jutsu turned the battle into a cruel tug-of-war of will and endurance. Both were at their limit, their Chakra almost depleted, and their stamina exhausted. Every punch, every dodge became incredibly difficult, sustained entirely by their never-say-die belief.
Finally, after another powerless exchange of punches, the two, as if by agreement, simultaneously went limp, falling heavily to the floor with two "thuds," unable to move.
Gekkō Hayate couldn't help but internally complain, this match... it really dragged on. The previous few matches combined probably weren't as long as this one... He walked forward, confirmed that both had indeed lost consciousness and couldn't continue the match, then announced,
"Since neither side can continue fighting... this preliminary match, no one passes."
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"