"How is this possible!?"
Gasps erupted from the onlookers.
By the logic of Gentle Fist's precise strikes, dozens of exchanges should have resulted in both sides sustaining significant injuries.
However, neither Neji nor Hiashi had any tenketsu sealed. This meant that every strike from one was perfectly countered by the other.
Though the battle seemed intense, it was actually a continuous flow of offense and defense, with each move neutralizing the other.
The sheer speed and balance of their techniques were astonishing. Hiashi's skill was impressive, a capability befitting his position as the Clan Head.
Yet, what truly shocked everyone was Neji, who is still in his growth phase. He had just graduated from the Academy two years ago, and newly promoted to Chunin, but he had matched Hiashi's skill.
Had Neji not been so eager for reform, given more time, his achievements would undoubtedly surpass Hiashi's.
Even now, the branch family's members found themselves in awe, realizing they couldn't hold a candle to him.
'Neji is truly worthy of being called the prodigy of the Hyuga Clan.'
…
At this time, the two separated temporarily.
Hiashi looked at Neji with surprise in his eyes, "You have become stronger."
"But you blocked everything. Let's continue!"
Neji took a deep breath and charged forward again.
Even though he was not injured, he was clearly at a disadvantage.
Hiashi still had the composure to observe Neji, whereas Neji was under immense pressure and his breathing was slightly uneven.
This didn't mean Neji's combat power was weaker, but it revealed a fundamental gap in their battle experience.
With his many years of life, Hiashi's combat experience far exceeded Neji's.
While Neji couldn't yet discern Hiashi's strategies, there was a risk that Hiashi could trap him in a carefully laid plan, step by step.
Against this, Neji's response was simple: relentless attacks.
Only by attacking without stopping can he prevent Hiashi from implementing any tactics.
Assuming his stance, Neji shouted, "Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
This was a secret technique of the Hyuga Clan, which is only passed through words. The user will strike sixty-four tenketsu to seal the opponent's Chakra Flow. The precision and speed of the technique could even break through a large tree.
However, Hiashi was not surprised, as he had seen Neji use this technique during the Chunin Exams.
Not only that, but as Neji initiated the technique, Hiashi mirrored him, assuming his own Gentle Fist stance.
Plak, plak!
The two clashed fiercely, but Neji's arm suddenly throbbed with pain.
He hadn't anticipated that he would have fallen into Hiashi's trap.
Hiashi, attacking slightly later, used the brief time difference to evade Neji's strikes and accurately counterattack with misaligned point strikes.
Now that Neji had used the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, stopping mid-move would leave him completely exposed to Hiashi's counterattack.
If all his sixty-four tenketsu were sealed, the battle would be over.
Thinking quickly, Neji stomped on the ground and began spinning rapidly.
"Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Palm Revolving Heaven!"
To avoid a complete defeat, Neji had no choice but to use this move. By releasing a massive amount of Chakra from his tenketsu and spinning like a top, he could deflect all physical attacks. It was a form of absolute defense.
This technique was supposed to be an exclusive secret of the Hyuga Clan's main family like the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, unavailable to the branch family. But through his own diligence and effort, Neji had mastered it.
For Neji, Revolving Heaven also compensated for the inherent 1° blind spot in the branch family's Byakugan.
This absolute defense barely deflected Hiashi's assault.
The storm of Chakra pushed everything around Neji away.
However, the downside of the technique became evident.
No matter how much of a genius Neji was, his Chakra reserves were limited and couldn't compare to Hiashi's.
Revolving Heaven's biggest flaw was its massive Chakra consumption. After just one use, Neji's breathing was entirely disrupted, and he began gasping heavily.
"Watch out!"
The branch family's members couldn't help but cry out in alarm.
Hiashi did not give Neji a chance to breathe and attacked Neji, who showed a flaw.
"Damn it!"
Neji gritted his teeth as if making a monumental decision.
Raising his right hand, he did something shocking: he struck a specific point on his own head..
In the next instant, Neji's speed surpassed anything he had shown earlier. With a swift step, he vanished like a specter.
When he reappeared, he was already behind Hiashi, striking him in the back with a Gentle Fist Vacuum Palm.
Hiashi staggered a few steps and turned his head, his Byakugan scrutinizing Neji, 'So, you've finally resorted to that technique.'
He had seen this before during the Chunin Exams, which is a technique unique to Neji.
By using precise point strikes of the Gentle Fist, Neji forcibly overrode the body's natural limitations, unlocking the Gate of Opening.
The Gate of Opening lifts the brain's limits, allowing the body to operate at 100% efficiency, dramatically enhancing speed and strength but at the cost of overloading the body.
Even though Hiashi had seen this before, he still found himself in awe.
Understanding its principle was one thing. The Byakugan could view internal structures and pinpoint Chakra Pathways with precision. But the brain was incredibly intricate, and any deviation, even the slightest, could lead to severe consequences, from cognitive damage to death.
Hiashi had attempted to study it in the past but had never dared to try it himself. For someone like Neji, it truly was boldness born of skill.
'No wonder Neji was so determined to enact reforms… he fought with the same ferocity he brought to combat.'
Under the effects of the Gate of Opening, Neji's speed became overwhelming. Even with his Byakugan's insight, Hiashi couldn't react in time to defend himself.
As Neji launched another attack, Hiashi, unable to counter directly, resorted to using Revolving Heaven.
Under the absolute defense of Revolving Heaven, Neji's attack was deflected completely.
Seeing this scene, the branch family's members erupted into cheers.
However, Sandaime, who saw watching through the crystal ball, furrowed his brows deeply. And Naruto, who is also watching, let out a heavy sigh.
…
Unlocking the Gate of Opening undoubtedly doubled Neji's physical capabilities, but the toll on his body was immense.
Hiashi's Revolving Heaven, which is executed with calm precision, was far more Chakra-efficient than Neji's improvised version.
If the battle dragged on, Neji wouldn't exhaust Hiashi, and he would exhaust himself first.
This was the inherent nature of the Eight Gates: their advantages and disadvantages were equally pronounced.
It was clear Neji had activated this technique out of sheer desperation.
What had started as a rapid exchange of blows had devolved into a war of attrition, draining the physical resources of both fighters.
Just as Naruto had predicted, Neji couldn't break through Hiashi's Revolving Heaven. His rapidly depleting stamina was pushing him to his limits. Yet conceding at this point was unthinkable.
With no other options, Neji raised his right hand once more, striking another point on his body to unlock the Gate of Rest.
The Gate of Rest allowed him to temporarily dissipate his fatigue, granting a burst of vitality. However, the strain on his body increased significantly.
This was a gamble… a stubborn attempt to prolong the fight.
If even this failed, Neji would have no cards left to play.
All he could do now was hope that Hiashi would reach his own limits sooner.