"That poor girl, facing Neji, the result is already decided." Tenten sighed.
"Hinata's luck is really bad." Ino sighed, her gaze full of sympathy.
"A duel between the Hyuga Main Family and the Branch Family." Mamoru walked to the railing, resting his elbows on it, his gaze following Hinata's figure as she walked toward the arena.
"Give it your all, Hinata."
"Then, the eighth match, Hyuga Hinata versus Hyuga Neji." Hayate's voice rang out in the arena, carrying a bit of raspiness.
Neji walked steadily into the center of the arena, his white eyes calmly looking at the somewhat timid girl opposite him.
He spoke, his tone carrying coldness, "I didn't expect to face you, Hinata-sama."
"Neji-nii-san..." Hinata responded softly, her gaze flickering, not daring to look him directly in the eye.
Hayate looked at both sides and announced perfunctorily, "Then, please begin the match."
"Before we start, I want to give Hinata-sama a word of advice."
Neji did not immediately assume a combat stance but continued, his voice clearly reaching across the arena, "You should withdraw, you are not suited to be a ninja."
Hearing this, Hinata's shoulders trembled, and her eyes involuntarily lowered as she bit her lip tightly.
"You are too kind. You crave peace and avoid conflict, always catering to others' thoughts." Neji's words were like cold raindrops, merciless.
"And... you have no confidence in yourself, always harboring a sense of inferiority. That's why I've always thought you should just be a Genin. But the Chunin Exams require a three-person team to register. You only participated in this exam reluctantly because you couldn't refuse Mamoru and the others' invitation, didn't you?"
Hinata desperately wanted to argue, but her thoughts were too frantic. "N-No, that's not it. I... I am..."
She subconsciously looked toward the stands. That familiar figure was leaning on the railing, watching her with a smile as always, as if he could sense all her unease. She saw Mamoru's lips move silently. Though she couldn't hear him, for some reason, she understood what he was saying in an instant.
Take him down!
A surge of inexplicable courage quietly sprouted. Her heart became strangely calm. She took a deep breath and returned her gaze to the front, for the first time looking directly at the opponent she was about to face without flinching.
Her voice, though not loud, carried an unprecedented firmness. "I am standing here by my own will."
Neji frowned slightly, seeming surprised by her rebuttal, but he soon continued to elaborate on his philosophy, "Hinata-sama, don't deceive yourself. How could you, who have always been protected by others, understand how to resist?
"People cannot change. It is because they don't change that differences appear. The origin of elites and the dead last—everyone judges the value of others and is judged by others based on looks, brains, ability, physique, and personality. These elements cannot be changed. People live within this range, suffering accordingly, just as I am a member of the Branch Family and you are a member of the Main Family..."
On the stands, Mamoru's finger tapped the railing every now and then as he muttered, "What's all this babbling about? A philosophy lecture?"
He then raised his voice toward the arena. "Neji, are you going to fight or not? Don't be like Naruto and love flapping your gums so much."
As soon as he finished speaking, he once again successfully attracted the attention of the entire audience.
The originally heavy atmosphere in the arena was swept away by this sudden interruption, and there were even a few suppressed chuckles.
Hinata suddenly felt the pressure on her decrease, and her emotions were not as tense as before.
As for Neji, having been interrupted like this, his interest in lecturing vanished. He furrowed his brows in dissatisfaction and said no more, his hands quickly forming seals as he gave a cold shout, "Byakugan!"
In an instant, the veins around his temples bulged, and his pure white eyes became even more piercing.
Seeing this, Hinata also took a deep breath and steadily completed her hand seals. "Byakugan!"
The same veins appeared around her temples.
Byakugan against Byakugan!
Their gazes met in the air.
At this moment, there was no flinching or cowardice in Hinata's eyes.
Neji's brow was tightly furrowed, this was completely different from what he had expected. According to his past impressions, this weak-willed lady of the Main Family should have already fallen into a mental struggle and completely lost her fighting spirit by now.
However, his thoughts turned rapidly, and he immediately thought of something, his gaze subconsciously glancing at Mamoru on the stands.
It must be him again! What exactly did he do to Hinata?
Leaning on the railing of the stands, Mamoru's lips curled up slightly, revealing a satisfied look. The effects of the special training seemed even more remarkable than expected. It was worth his frequent use of the Transformation Jutsu to turn into Neji's appearance for high-intensity sparring with Hinata.
In the arena, Hinata slowly assumed the starting stance of the Gentle Fist, her face no longer showing its usual weakness but a determined expression. "Neji-nii-san, let's settle this."
Neji also assumed the same starting stance, his expression solemn as he said deeply, "I don't know what that person taught you, but the result will not change. Come!"
Hinata actually took the lead in attacking, her petite figure rushing forward as she thrust out a palm, Chakra condensed in her palm, heading straight for Neji's face. Neji leaned back slightly to dodge, simultaneously striking back with lightning speed, but his palm was parried by Hinata's raised hand.
Missing the strike, Neji's other hand, carrying an even sharper wind, attacked Hinata's ribs. Hinata reacted swiftly, dodging to the side and taking the opportunity to strike back with consecutive palms, momentarily seizing the initiative.
Bang... Bang...
As the two went back and forth, their figures crossing, the trajectories of the Gentle Fist traced countless pale blue arcs in the air, and the dull sounds of palm strikes colliding echoed in the arena.
For a time, the two practitioners of the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist were actually locked in a difficult stalemate.
The Konoha Genin on the stands all showed looks of astonishment. Was this still the Hinata they remembered?
"Is Hinata... that strong?" Ino rubbed her eyes in disbelief, her voice full of wonder.
"To be able to fight on equal terms with that Neji..." Tenten held onto the railing, her body involuntarily leaning forward. "How on earth did she do it?"
Even Kurenai couldn't help but turn her head toward Mamoru beside her and ask in a low voice, "What kind of special training did you actually put her through?"
Mamoru shrugged, his expression as usual, "I taught her normally."
Kurenai frowned slightly, clearly not believing it. "Normal teaching can make her grow this much in such a short time?"
"Just watch the match." Mamoru's lips curled up slightly, and he said no more.
He naturally wouldn't reveal that the intensity of their daily special training was far more fierce than the duel before them.
As for the issue of injuries? With a medical expert like him who specialized in internal and external wounds present, it wasn't a problem at all.