"As expected, Naruto is too strong. I didn't have a shred of a chance against him." After Hayate Gekko announced the result, Kiba patted his butt and got up from the ground.
Naruto's control of his strength was just right, not hurting Kiba much while still making him lose the ability to fight.
"Kiba, you already tried your best," Hinata said. Except when facing Naruto, Hinata was extremely shy; with others she was fine, just a bit tongue-tied sometimes.
"So Naruto has grown to this point." Nearly all present were the teams' jonin leaders, and they more or less knew about Naruto's identity.
Of course, those at the elite jonin level basically all knew who Naruto was.
"Interesting, Uzumaki Naruto."
"Next match: Hyuga Hinata vs. Hyuga Neji."
"Not good!" "Crap." That was the shared feeling of everyone on Kurenai's Team Eight.
As for Hinata and Neji's relationship, strictly speaking they were cousins. But one belonged to the branch family and the other to the main family, and the Hyuga clan's branch and main families could practically be described as water and fire.
They were not as harmonious as the Uchiha's main and branch ever were.
"How interesting, Lady Hinata. I didn't expect my opponent to be you." Standing in the arena, Neji looked at Hinata with a wicked smile.
"Brother Neji..."
"So he's Hinata's brother? That's a relief—he probably won't go too hard on her, right?" Back up on the platform, Naruto watched the two. The Golden Silkworm Gu hadn't bored him with stories about Konoha's Hyuga branch and main families, so it was normal he didn't know.
Hearing they both had the surname Hyuga, Naruto naturally assumed they were from the same clan.
"No, Naruto. If anyone in the arena hates Hinata the most, it's Neji. Because Hinata is main family and Neji is branch," Kakashi explained casually to Naruto.
"Why?!"
"Because within the Hyuga, the branch family harbors deep resentment toward the main family."
"Before we begin, there's something I want to say. Lady Hinata, you're not suited to be a ninja. Because you're too kind, or rather, because you lack confidence and are extremely timid." Before the fight even started, Neji began pressuring Hinata. Neji's feelings toward Hinata were very complicated. But he was also one of the few present who would definitely go hard on her.
"I-I just want to change myself through hard work."
Neji then started preaching his theory about branch and main families, geniuses and losers.
"Really ticks me off!" Naruto didn't know why, but seeing Neji bully Hinata like that, a spark of anger rose inexplicably in his heart.
"These eyes of mine have already seen right through you."
"HINATA! You can do it!" Naruto's forceful words went straight into Hinata's heart.
Naruto-kun... he's watching me! So, I won't give up! Hinata's eyes grew sharp, and her whole aura changed.
"Byakugan!" The veins around both their eyes bulged.
"Lady Hinata, so you still won't give up? Then I'll beat you until you do!" Neji's tone was full of confidence.
Although Hinata was a bit stronger than the original, she was still far behind Neji. Though she tried very hard to win, Neji was indeed stronger, much stronger.
"As the main family, is this all you've got?" As the fight went on, Neji deliberately let Hinata hit him, then lightly tapped her in return, making Hinata cough up blood.
"Give up. The gap in power can't be changed. You'll always be a loser, and I'll be the elite." Neji kept attacking.
"Never give up. That's my ninja way." After being knocked down and spitting blood yet again, Hinata gritted her teeth and held on.
"Never give up. That's my ninja way." Never give up... didn't I say that the first time I saw Hinata? He didn't know why, but watching that frail figure in the ring keep getting hurt, Naruto's heart twisted.
"H-Hinata couldn't possibly care about me. I'm just the demon fox's incarnation. But I never thought there'd be someone in the village who would..." Never give up. That one short phrase stabbed straight into Naruto's heart.
"Someone actually cares about someone like me."
"Naruto-kun is watching me, so I will never admit defeat." A pale smile blossomed on Hinata's face. In that moment, Naruto thought she was beautiful.
"Hmph, a loser is still a loser. Let me wake you up." Neji wouldn't be moved by a few words. His resentment ran deeper!
As Neji's attacks continued, Hinata's body accumulated more and more wounds, and her life force grew weaker and weaker.
Naruto could feel it—Hinata was so strong at that moment, her heart steadfast in faith.
Anger surged inside Naruto. Perhaps no one noticed that his eyes had become beast-like vertical pupils.
Even Naruto didn't know when that shy girl's silhouette had taken root in his heart. He didn't know when the once-shy Hinata had become so strong. It was as if he was seeing the former himself.
"Not good—he's going to kill Hinata!"
"Student Hyuga Neji, the match is over. You've already won." Sensing Neji's move, several jonin suddenly appeared beside him, firmly blocking his killing blow.
But besides those jonin, there was one more person in the arena—
Uzumaki Naruto.
"Hey, Kinsan. I know I probably shouldn't do this, but you told me, right? A man does what he should, and doesn't do what he shouldn't. You taught me that. So right now, I want to teach this guy a lesson—a thorough beating." Seemingly talking to himself, no one present knew who Naruto was talking to except Sasuke.
"If you think you're right, then go do it. I've got your back." A man does what he should, and doesn't do what he shouldn't. Hahaha, Uzumaki Naruto—even facing so many jonin, you still insist on doing it? Even if it means exposing everything.
Heh, but that's how a man should be. What great thing can you accomplish if you're always timid?
I appreciate you more and more. Your temper suits me. Don't disappoint me.
Everything Meruem did in the Naruto world was because it was interesting. If it was only for the Chakra Fruit, there was no need for all this trouble.
Wouldn't absorbing all the Kage-level powerhouses in the Naruto world restore his power? Before absolute strength, they had no ability to resist.
But wouldn't that be way too boring?
Although he might alter his original plan because of Naruto, wasn't that even more interesting?
Indra, Asura—the destiny's children of the Naruto world. Their achievements and potential were among the very top in this world.
Otherwise, how could they have defeated Kaguya, whom even the Sage of Six Paths had no way to handle?
If Naruto went berserk in Konoha right now, no one could stop him except possibly Jiraiya if he appeared.
The aged Third couldn't, and Danzo, who no longer had as many Sharingan as in the original, couldn't either.
Maybe Orochimaru could—but would he stop Naruto?
"Naruto?" "When did he...?" "How is he here?" "Such speed..."
Only then did the jonin elite realize there was suddenly one more person at their side.
Even Kakashi, Naruto's team leader, didn't notice—only Guy vaguely caught a flash of gold.
"You're such a fool." Ignoring the others, Naruto walked to Hinata's side and gently picked her up.
"Naruto-kun..." Blushing furiously, Hinata struggled to stand, but she simply didn't have the strength.
"But I like strong girls like you." Naruto's clear blue eyes looked at Hinata, as if wanting to etch everything about her into his mind.
He gently cupped Hinata's slightly scarred face, caressing it, and then Naruto's lips lightly pressed against her forehead.
"Recover well. Leave the rest to me." That was what Hinata heard in the last moment before she fainted.
Of course, it wasn't because of her injuries.
It was because she was too shy—and Naruto did it in front of so many people. So Hinata made a glamorous faint.
"Whoa, that Naruto actually got a clue!" In the stands, Ino said in amazement.
Sakura, meanwhile, looked at Hinata with a complicated expression. I obviously like Sasuke—so why do I feel so annoyed?
"Boring." Neji cast a complicated glance at the two and turned to leave.
Besides Sakura, Neji also felt displeased. His feelings for Hinata were more complicated; the former Hinata had been someone he admired.
"Hey, you over there named something-ji—did I give you permission to leave?" After handing the unconscious Hinata to the Medical Corps, Naruto confronted Neji.
"Oh? What do you want to do?" Displeasure was already written all over Neji's face—clearly his mood was foul as well.
"Nothing much. I just want to beat you up."
"Ahem... You two examinees, please leave the arena at once." Hayate Gekko and the other jonin had shifted their attention to the two who still lingered in the ring.
"Ah, so you mean to stop me?" The beast-like vertical pupils appeared again, fixing on Hayate.
The pressure—overwhelming pressure. A drop of cold sweat slid down Hayate's forehead. This guy was like a monster.
"Naruto, don't do this... The two of you might meet in the official finals. No need to affect the exam," Kakashi, as Naruto's team jonin, felt he had to say something.
But Naruto didn't appreciate it at all. When he got stubborn, he was bullheaded to the extreme.
"Hey, Sandaime, I want to request adding a preliminary match—between me and this what's-his-name. You'll approve, won't you?" Ignoring Kakashi and the other jonin, Naruto turned to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Third looked at Naruto and didn't answer immediately, as if thinking about something.
Naruto now looked exactly like the Fourth, except with darker skin and those whisker marks that only a jinchuriki would have.
Especially those eyes—exactly like the Fourth's.
Seeing Naruto was like facing another Fourth.
"Okay." Taking a deep draw on his pipe, the Third spoke slowly.
(End of Chapter)
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