But as the battle wore on, one memory after another echoed through his mind.
His hatred began to awaken.
Hinata's pleas felt like the cruelest mockery. As he looked at her gentle face, his thoughts kept spiraling.
You're from the Main House — never had to live through the pain, the shame, or the chains us Branch Family folks were born into.
How could it be that simple — like a Cage Bird?
You think I can't let go — but have you forgotten?
When you were little and needed someone to train with, I was always there — your personal sparring dummy.
You got to learn *any* jutsu from the Main House — didn't matter if you could master it or not.
But me? I was never allowed near those core techniques. Only when your father — my so-called uncle — used them in front of me could I barely guess their workings through my Byakugan.
Even now, the moment you're in danger, four jonin rush forward like precious treasures to shield you.
How do you expect me to just let that go?!!
If only that were all — what about my father, your father's younger brother?
He had to die for no reason at all — all because he was from the Branch Family.
How could I ever forget that?!!!
Shiki shook his head, completely unmoved by Neji's defiant stance. "No! I think playing games suits you better."
"The look you gave Hinata still burned with anger — proof of the hatred you carry toward the Main House."
Neji sneered coldly. He'd expected something shocking, but instead, Shiki's words sounded disappointingly shallow — almost foolish.
Yet Shiki wasn't done.
"You opened by attacking Hinata's mind — using the very same methods I use now. All just to prove a point: what you believe can't be changed, won't be changed. Which really shows how much doubt you still carry about your own beliefs. You can only feel relief by hurting a girl who was already fragile to begin with."
Neji stared at Shiki indifferently, as if nothing he said had anything to do with him.
"You're not denying a word — instead, you're acting even calmer than usual. That shows you're smart enough to know that staying detached is the best way to counter what I just said. But pretending to be indifferent? That proves the opposite — it's clearly not genuine."
Shiki continued, speaking with clarity and sharpness, piercing Neji's defenses just as Neji had once pierced Hinata's heart.
At this point, the genin from Konoha finally showed expressions of sudden realization.
"So *this* is what Shiki meant by 'game'?"
"A mind-reading game? Only Shiki could pull something like this off," Hayate Gekko softly smiled, secretly proud of his disciple.
"Come to think of it, Shiki really does understand far more than most kids his age — he truly is the last descendant of the Hyuga."
Shiki's voice rang out across the entire arena, echoing deeply within everyone's hearts.
It carried an infectious intensity that captivated everyone present.
Finally, Shiki's voice paused briefly, as if gathering strength, before softening into a sigh. After the sigh, however, his tone became sharp and forceful once more.
"You keep insisting everything is already destined, yet you hold deep resentment toward Hinata and the Hyuga Main House. This shows you're not truly resigned to fate on the outside—this very resentment is what keeps pushing you to grow stronger! Because in your heart, you also wish to break free from these chains of destiny!"
Break free from these chains of destiny?
Shiki's words echoed like a ringing bell within Neji's heart.
Each sentence pressed forward aggressively, just like what he had said before his fight with Hinata.
Yet this time, those words were directed at him.
Neji still looked steadily at Shiki. "Amusing. Do you think saying all this means anything? What can you change?"
Shiki hesitated slightly. The burdens Neji carried were still tied to the restrictions of the Hyuga Clan.
Even with all this preaching, nothing could be changed.
But
Shiki raised his head again, his eyes sharp with determination. "Yes, I admit—I can't change anything right now. But why surrender to fate so soon, just like you did? Someone who secretly wishes for change, yet speaks words that make others feel cold and disappointed—such a person deserves to be called a coward!"
Neji fell silent for a moment before asking suddenly, "Then tell me, why are you even speaking here? If you oppose this system too, why bother telling me all this? Or perhaps, despite all your grand talk, you're still favoring the Main House?"
Shiki took another step forward, closing the slight distance between himself and Neji even further. "The mistakes of our ancestors shouldn't fall onto Hinata. She has always been a girl who wished the best for everyone—and that includes you."
This time, Neji remained silent for a long while. Just as everyone believed Neji had been moved by Shiki's words, that cold, sharp voice rang out once more.
"What you said sounds reasonable, but you never offered any proof. Destiny remains unchangeable. It's like how you abandoned your talent—even though you've achieved something through Taijutsu, in the end, you'll never become truly strong."
Shiki replied furiously, "Then it seems we have no choice but to settle this through battle."
Chapter 161: Attacking the Chakra Pathways
"Is Shiki really going to fight Neji?"
Though everyone present was shocked, only Lee could accurately gauge both fighters' true strengths.
Shiki's Taijutsu skill was actually even higher than anyone else imagined.
Of course, this was unavoidable because even those around him didn't fully understand his level.
Only Guy-sensei, Tenten, and Shiki himself knew that he could use the [Eight Gates Formation] and open up to the Sixth Gate.
"Even so, unless I activate the Second Gate, the Healing Gate, I still wouldn't be able to match Shiki in pure Taijutsu ability."
Lee watched Shiki carefully, deeply impressed by how much his Taijutsu abilities had improved. At the same time, though, he couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh.
However, Neji Hyuga possesses an [Absolute Defense]. Against his Gentle Fist alone, there's simply no chance of breaking through that unbreakable barrier!
Many people couldn't understand why Hyuga clan members rarely used any techniques other than the Gentle Fist. In fact, few had actually witnessed a Hyuga employing elemental transformation jutsu like Fire Release or Lightning Release.
But Lee knew the reason. It wasn't that they were incapable of using those techniques—it was because, compared to other jutsu, those with the Hyuga physical constitution naturally found their clan's secret arts far more powerful!
Even though Neji's chakra natures were officially recorded as Water, Fire, and Earth, he mastered very few related ninjutsu.
Because in comparison, the Hyuga secret arts appeared significantly more powerful.
That's why he firmly believed that Konoha's strongest genin might already be among his own teammates.
Despite realizing all this, Lee still made no move to halt the fight.
Strangely enough, even in this dire situation, he still held onto a faint hope in Shiki.
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