Chapter 224: The True Moon Style of Love, Hinata Wins!
"What is that?"
"It looks like the Sand Village's chakra threads."
"No, even the Sand's threads aren't used like that. Their toughness can't compare at all!"
Many people showed confused expressions. Even Kankurō's anger from having his village's ninjutsu plagiarized turned into confusion. As a puppet master, he knew the strength of chakra threads very well. Although it looked like a large puppet was being pulled by them, suggesting they must be very strong, in reality, their function was more like an electrical wire, used to transmit energy and commands to the puppet. The puppet itself did the real moving, so the threads' resilience wasn't the top priority.
But the current Hinata was clearly on a different path. These chakra threads represented an extremely high level of chakra shape transformation, far beyond what a genin should be able to use.
What surprised everyone, even more, was that after binding Neji's hands, the threads actually and nimbly crawled up his arms, looking as if they were about to bind his entire body.
Seeing this, Neji was both shocked and angry.
What is this move? Why has he never heard of it? It must be a secret technique of the main family!
At this thought, Neji gritted his teeth and tried to tear the threads with his strength, but he actually failed.
Seeing the threads coiling up to his shoulders, he could no longer hold back and decided to use his ultimate move. "Rotation!"
Chakra erupted from all the tenketsu in his body, and he began to spin rapidly.
With this full-body burst of chakra, he finally broke free from the threads' restraint, and at the same time, left a large crater in the ground.
The ninja stared at him, stunned. They had, of course, heard of this move. It was the absolute defense that only the Hyūga main family was supposed to possess. And now, not only had this branch family member learned it, but he was also just a genin!
"This kid is very strong... What a pity."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly. If he weren't a member of the Hyūga clan, he would have been a good candidate for the Hokage's personal Anbu.
Even Asuma couldn't help but say, "Looks like it's settled. If he can even learn a jutsu like that, Hinata has no hope left."
"Really?" Kurenai Yūhi said with dissatisfaction. "Rotation is just a defensive move. Right now, Neji can't break through Hinata's defense either."
Asuma was taken aback. It seemed that was indeed the case.
Looking at Neji, although he had broken free, he was hesitating to attack, clearly wary of the chakra threads from before.
"What is that move?" Neji couldn't help but ask. He was not at all proud of the praise he had received from the audience for his Rotation, because he realized the awkwardness of his situation.
"True Moon Style (Shingetsu-ryū). It's a ninjutsu that Makoto-kun and I created together. It's a jutsu unique to me."
Hinata no longer hid it and once again assumed her Gentle Fist stance. But this time, a faint light shone from each of her fingertips. The chakra threads were ready to respond to her call at any time.
"If you won't attack, Niisan, then I will."
"Come!"
Neji roared and attacked with all his might, but he soon found himself becoming more and more powerless.
Hinata was still using the standard Gentle Fist, but this time, the chakra threads would shoot out like steel needles from time to time, forcing him to dodge. When he got used to guarding against the threads, they would instead turn soft and pliant, wrapping around his other side while she attacked his front.
At this moment, Neji felt as if he were fighting both her and ten insidious Sand puppet masters at the same time. If it weren't for the fact that her Gentle Fist skill was indeed inferior to his, he would have already been defeated.
What should I do? Am I going to lose?
He gritted his teeth, anger roiling in his heart. He had to find a solution. The Gentle Fist's greatest advantage was its one-hit-kill in close-quarters combat. But now, she was using her threads to prevent him from ever getting close, which was beyond his ability to counter.
Unless...
He took a deep breath. It seemed this was the only way.
He once again closed the distance. This time, when she attacked, he decisively used Rotation.
The chakra threads were caught in the spin and snapped. In that instant, he decisively canceled the Rotation and used a Body Flicker to rush in. He was so fast that he didn't even have time to assume a Gentle Fist stance. This move was more like a body slam.
But this was another move from the Gentle Fist: "Gentle Fist Art: One Body Blow."
In short, it was to get close and release all of one's chakra from the body at once to send the opponent flying. This move didn't aim for tenketsu, only to break free from an opponent's entanglement or to counter a sneak attack. Now, he was using it as an offensive move.
Just as he thought there was no way she could react, a trace of blue light flashed in her bright white eyes, which made him feel a slight jolt.
And it was this slight jolt that gave her the chance to counter.
Her toes had just touched the ground. With an equally graceful, spiral turn, as if performing her own Rotation, her hands once again condensed chakra threads.
He hurriedly tried to use his own Rotation, but this time, it was too late.
Ten chakra threads converged, becoming a single, thick steel cable. It suddenly extended over ten meters and instantly pierced his shoulder.
Not only that, but the threads turned from hard steel to soft silk in an instant. Ten threads lanced into his back from behind, controlling his major tenketsu one by one.
He tried to use his own chakra to fight back, but was shocked to find that several of his main chakra pathways were being controlled by her.
Only then did he realize. She wasn't just using the threads as a weapon; they really could control a puppet.
She just had to hit him, and his own body would be out of his control.
Amazing. Truly amazing.
A look of realization flashed in Neji's eyes.
So these threads weren't just for striking tenketsu. As long as they pierced the opponent's body, the battle was over.
Did she... just hold back?
When... when did the gap between us become so large?
The hand he was using to grip the chakra threads went limp. Not because he had given up, but because his hand was no longer under his control.
Gekkō Hayate finally saw what was happening, came to his back, and was shocked to see the threads embedded in him. "Hyūga Neji, can you still answer? If you can't speak, I'm going to make the call."
Neji opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word. His tongue no longer obeyed him.
"In that case—the winner is Hyūga Hinata."
A smile finally appeared on Hinata's small, serious face. With a flick of her fingers, the chakra threads vanished into points of light.
Neji finally regained control of his body. He clenched his fists and looked at her, unwilling to accept the result. He suppressed the urge to charge up and fight again. "Why? Why have you become so strong?"
He didn't understand. He really didn't understand.
Hinata was silent for a moment. She knew very well this was all because of Makoto, but she certainly couldn't reveal those secrets.
In the end, she gave a free and easy smile. "Neji-niisan... perhaps, this is what love is."
"I love Makoto-kun, and he loves me. So... we invented this ninjutsu of love."
In the stands, Makoto almost couldn't hold back his laughter. If Neji hears this reason, is he really not going to cough up blood?
Pfft!
Neji spat out a mouthful of blood. Not from his injuries, but from pure anger.
Hayate was startled and quickly checked his injuries. He was relieved to find that she had avoided his vital points and he had only suffered superficial wounds. He then handed him over to Kurenai for treatment.
Makoto didn't follow immediately. He glanced at the next match—Akimichi Chōji vs. Inuzuka Kiba—and only then did he follow, satisfied.
By the time he arrived at the infirmary, Kurenai had already begun the treatment. Although Neji's injuries looked more serious than Temari's, because she had avoided his vital points and meridians, Kurenai could treat him without worry.
Seeing him, Neji frowned. "Are you here to laugh at me?" he asked weakly.
"Our relationship isn't that bad, is it? Hinata doesn't hate you. Are you going to hate us just because of this one match?"
He shrugged and leaned against the wall. "Besides, she isn't even the heir anymore. Is it really her you hate, or is it the main family and Lord Hiashi?"
Neji was speechless. He stared at the ceiling, then finally said, "I don't hate her. I lost because my skills were inferior."
Since Neji had this awareness, he didn't say any more and turned to leave.
Seeing this, Neji finally couldn't help but ask, "That jutsu... did you two really develop it? Can... can I learn it?"
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