A soft, gentle voice came from behind. Neji turned his head and saw Hinata bravely cheering him on.
Neji nodded and looked forward again.
"Everyone!" Hayate Gekko, looking sickly, appeared before them, saying:
"Although the second test eliminated quite a few contestants, there are still too many people participating in the third test."
"What?!" Everyone's minds buzzed.
"Before the third test begins, I need to eliminate some more people," said Hayate Gekko.
Ignoring the crowd's shock, Hayate Gekko received instructions from the higher-ups: "Just so you know, only those who pass this preliminary round can participate in the real Chunin Exams."
"Although the chance might be small, I still have to ask, does anyone want to quit?" Hayate Gekko asked, looking around at everyone.
Hearing this, Neji glanced at Kabuto to the side, a faint smile on his face.
Kabuto sensed something, his eyes met Neji's, and he was immediately startled.
Is this the kid Orochimaru-sama mentioned?
This kid is indeed unusual. After taking a deep look at Neji, Kabuto left.
"Since no one wants to leave, I now announce the start of the third test preliminaries," said Hayate Gekko.
"The first match, Uchiha Sasuke VS Akado Yoroi."
Sasuke clicked his tongue and slowly walked onto the stage. In his opinion, this opponent was just a small fry.
Neji stood on the platform, watching the two on the field, deep in thought. The fighting order probably hasn't changed.
Then, he looked at Hinata. It seems he can't avoid it. He hopes this little girl will give up.
Soon after, Sasuke defeated Yoroi Akado with a Lion's Barrage, barely winning the battle.
"Humph!" Sasuke was very dissatisfied. To struggle so much against such a small fry was undoubtedly a disgrace to the Uchiha Clan.
Kakashi also noticed Sasuke's strangeness and took Sasuke away. After they left, Neji glanced in the direction of Orochimaru, and sure enough, he had left.
But soon, he regained his composure. He didn't need to interfere.
Everything was developing in an orderly manner. Soon, it was his turn to go on.
What's coming always comes.
When Neji and Hinata entered the arena, everyone's attention focused on them.
Both from the Hyuga clan, one from the Branch family, one from the Main family, such a battle is rare.
Most importantly, Neji is known as a genius of the Hyuga clan, with a big reputation, while Hinata, although the Main family's eldest daughter, is very weak.
Coincidentally, Hyuga Neji hates the Main family. Many people looked at Hyuga Hiashi in the arena, revealing strange smiles.
Hyuga Hiashi dismissed them with a disdainful look. These people are too naive.
In the arena, Hinata looked at Neji opposite her, a little nervous.
"Brother Neji, I..." Hinata clenched her hands tightly. How could she fight Brother Neji?
Hayate Gekko glanced at the two and said, "Start the match."
However, Hinata was already caught in a battle with herself, and didn't hear Hayate Gekko's words at all.
"What to do? If I fight, will Brother Neji hate me? But if I don't fight, will Brother Neji look down on me?"
Hinata's heart was in a state of panic, and she couldn't make a decision, while the people on the platform were stunned.
"What's wrong? Why hasn't it started yet?"
"Hinata, what are you spacing out for? Go!"
Neji frowned. If this continued, they wouldn't finish by nightfall. Just as he was about to make a move, he noticed a figure entering the high platform.
It was Orochimaru, but he was disguised as the Fourth Kazekage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately stood up to greet him, which was the most basic etiquette.
"I didn't expect the Kazekage to arrive so early," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile.
"Hehe, I also want to see the village's future," Orochimaru said sinisterly.
"Is that so."
After a few polite words, the two sat down to watch the matches below.
During this time, Orochimaru's eyes kept wandering over Neji.
"Clearly from the Hyuga clan, yet he has abilities similar to the Kaguya clan, and can even control snakes. Hyuga Neji, I'm becoming more and more interested in you."
Neji withdrew his outstretched hand. Orochimaru coming so early was likely for him.
"You want information about me? As you wish."
Neji stood on the field, his gaze towards Hinata suddenly becoming serious.
"Hinata, I didn't expect us to meet. This is probably fate."
"Brother Neji..."
"Hinata, you're too weak. That's why you can't even beat Hanabi, who's five years younger than you."
"What?!" Hinata was stunned, and said with a pout, "Brother Neji, why, why are you saying this?"
"Hinata, this timid attitude of yours is seen as arrogance in our eyes, the disdain of the Main family."
Neji adopted a stance, a large amount of Chakra rising in his hands, and attacked Hinata.
Whoosh!
Neji was almost instantly in front of Hinata. Hinata had no choice but to use Gentle Fist to block Neji's attack.
It was unwise to directly take a Gentle Fist attack. As Hyuga clan members, they understood this even more. At this moment, they could only try their best to change the opponent's attack route.
"You're very cowardly. You have no chance of winning against me. You should give up."
"Brother Neji, I..."
Hinata was shocked, not understanding why Brother Neji, who was usually so kind, would say such things to her.
"As the Main family's eldest daughter, you're too weak. You don't have the strength to match your status."
Neji suddenly changed his move, pushing Hinata away with his right arm in a blocking motion.
"See? This is your strength. Your cowardice prevents you from attacking. Do you deserve to be the Main family's eldest daughter?!"
Hyuga Hiashi sat on the platform, seeing everything below, with no intention of stopping it.
"Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms."
Bang! Bang!
Neji first struck the thirty-two pressure points on Hinata's body with heavy blows, followed by a sweeping kick, sending Hinata flying.
"You still won't give up?" Neji frowned.
Hinata struggled to get up, feeling a little weak. The weakness in her body made her dizzy.
"Brother Neji, I won't give up. I will prove myself, to make you accept me."
"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms."
Immediately, Hinata fearlessly rushed forward, Chakra constantly flowing from her palms, striking towards Neji again and again, but some pressure points were damaged, making it not so smooth.
Neji moved his feet slightly, swaying to the side, easily dodging Hinata's attacks.
"What?!" Hyuga Hiashi was a little surprised. Hinata had actually learned the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
Even he didn't know about this progress.
Whoosh!
Neji jumped back, his right palm facing forward: "Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm."
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