On the arena, Neji grew more and more alarmed as the battle progressed.
This completely subverted his understanding.
How could the Main Family's young lady, whom he had always looked down upon, fight him to a standstill?
What was the difference between this and a dream?
Unable to break through for a long time, Neji's eyes sharpened. He suddenly changed his offensive, no longer aiming for an injury-free suppression. Instead, at the cost of a potential injury to a non-vital area, he forcibly broke through Hinata's defense. Hinata, whose practical combat experience was ultimately slightly inferior, was forced to retreat repeatedly by this sudden ferocity.
Neji took advantage of the momentum, leaping back several steps and repositioning himself. The surprise in his gaze towards Hinata was now evident.
He admitted, breathing slightly, "Hinata-sama, I didn't expect you to be able to achieve this much. It seems I underestimated you."
"I want to... follow in that person's footsteps."
Hinata's breathing was more rapid, and fine beads of sweat trickled down her forehead. Although she barely kept up with Neji's rhythm, this level of confrontation was still too strenuous for her.
"Even if I can only get a little closer... I will give it my all."
Facing such strong, unyielding eyes, something within Neji seemed to waver. But the next moment, he fiercely bit his lip, a metallic taste spreading in his mouth, trying to calm himself with the pain.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, there was no more confusion, only cold determination.
"Then prove it!"
Neji resumed the Gentle Fist stance, Chakra surging within him, his aura completely different from before.
"Who is truly in the right!"
"Okay!" Hinata responded.
Although her body showed signs of fatigue, her eyes grew even brighter.
In an instant, the two rushed towards each other again, winds whistling and fists clashing in the arena.
However, this time, Neji, no longer holding back, attacked with even greater ferocity. His palm techniques were as swift as lightning, with cunning and ruthless angles, demonstrating the essence of the Hyuga Style Gentle Fist to its fullest.
Hinata was already at a disadvantage in terms of stamina and fundamentals. Initially, she could barely hold on, but as time passed, her dwindling stamina forced her to switch from offense to defense.
Mamoru saw this and already knew that Hinata's defeat was a foregone conclusion.
In terms of physical ability, talent, and combat experience, Neji far surpassed the current Hinata. It was almost impossible for Hinata to defeat Neji head-on in Gentle Fist.
However, if the fight wasn't limited to the Hyuga Gentle Fist, Mamoru certainly had a way to find another path and teach Hinata different fighting styles, but he chose not to.
Because his original goal was not for Hinata to defeat Neji. That was too difficult for the current Hinata, and unnecessary.
What he wanted was to change others' perception of Hinata as 'cowardly and incompetent' through this confrontation, but more importantly, to change Hinata herself, to help her establish a belief in 'self'.
You can be timid, self-deprecating, inconspicuous, and even content with the world, but you must have the courage to prove yourself and defend your own will. If a person loses their sense of self, what is the difference between them and a walking corpse?
Just as Mamoru's thoughts wandered, the situation on the arena took a sharp turn.
Hinata, caught off guard, was seized by Neji, who landed a solid palm strike on her shoulder blade, sending her flying and crashing heavily onto the ground.
But a few seconds later, the small figure struggled, wobbled, and stood up again. Blood spilled from the corner of her lips, staining her clothes, but she still didn't back down. She fiercely wiped away the blood with her sleeve and once again took a fighting stance.
Watching Hinata like this, Kurenai on the stands couldn't help but murmur, "When did that child become so strong?"
Neji gasped, his brows furrowed even deeper. Sharp pains shot through his arms, and the flow of his Chakra felt obstructed, all testifying to the growth of the girl before him during this period.
He said, his tone complex, "Don't push yourself. You've done well enough."
Hinata's voice was weak but unusually persistent. "It's not enough."
She raised her leg again, dragging her bruised body, and charged towards Neji.
In the stands, Mamoru cursed inwardly with a pained heart, "Fool... I told you to fight, not to die."
Heartbroken as he was, this was Hinata's own battle. If he intervened halfway, wouldn't it negate all her efforts and growth so far?
In the arena, the two figures clashed again. Hinata fell repeatedly, accumulating injuries, but always, when everyone thought she would give up, she stood up again with tenacious will.
Neji panted heavily, his gaze fixed on the figure that kept getting back up. An unknown anger flared within him, he couldn't understand this meaningless persistence.
His voice carried a hint of imperceptible irritation. "Why are you still standing? Struggling is futile. You can't change any outcome."
"No, it's not..." Hinata clutched her aching chest, her voice weak but clear.
Neji tried to break her will with words. "You truly are stubborn. You're barely even standing right now. Since birth, you've been burdened with the fate of the Hyuga Main Family. You constantly resent and blame your own incompetence. But people cannot change, this is fate. You don't need to suffer anymore, just relax."
"No, Neji-nii-san..."
Hinata lifted her pale face, her white eyes looking directly at Neji, as if seeing through the coldness beneath his exterior. "Because I can see it too. All this time, you've suffered more than me. In the fate of the Main Family and Branch Family, the one who is confused and in pain... is you."
As soon as her words fell, as if the deepest scar in his heart had been brutally torn open, Neji's emotions completely spiraled out of control. A terrifying glint flashed in his eyes, and a chilling killing intent even emanated from his body. He let out a low growl, no longer caring about the rules of the match, and charged directly at Hinata, who was now defenseless, his palm strike fierce and aimed at her vitals.
"Hinata!" Kurenai's face changed drastically in the stands.
Just as the Jonin present were about to intervene, a figure moved faster than anyone else. He appeared abruptly between the two as if teleporting.
Bang!
A dull thud sounded, and Neji was forced back several steps by this sudden interception.