Hyūga Neji was stunned.
As an outsider who had lost the duel in such an embarrassing way, he had already prepared himself to be mocked and ridiculed by Uchiha Sasuke and the surrounding onlookers. Yet reality turned out to be completely different from what he had imagined.
The gazes of the students around him were filled with excitement, awe, admiration, and praise… there were even quite a few who looked eager to give it a try themselves.
But not a single person mocked him.
Especially Uchiha Sasuke.
Whether before the fight or during it, Sasuke had carried himself with overwhelming arrogance. Yet after winning, he instead became unexpectedly humble.
Not only did he refrain from insulting or taunting Neji, he even took the initiative to acknowledge him…
Even for someone like Hyūga Neji, who had experienced many things since childhood, his mind couldn't help but short-circuit for a moment.
Seeing Neji standing there in a daze, Naruto took the initiative to grab his hand. "This is just how things are in our village. As long as you fight with everything you've got, you'll earn everyone's respect."
"The Hyūga clan's Byakugan and Gentle Fist really are amazing. If we get the chance, we can spar sometime too."
"Oh right, the one who saved you just now was Gaara, the youngest in our family."
Hyūga Neji immediately bowed to Gaara. "Thank you very much."
"No problem." Gaara had a small, earth-yellow gourd hanging at his waist, making him look simple and harmless.
Naruto waved at the crowd. "Alright, everyone, disperse. It's getting late. Whatever it is, we can talk about it tomorrow."
After everyone left, Naruto pursed his lips at Uchiha Sasuke. "Sasuke, you're treating us to tricolor dango today."
Sasuke's hand subconsciously moved to the money pouch at his waist. "Why do I have to treat?"
Naruto snorted lightly. "If you don't, I'll tell Father, Mother, and Big Brother Itachi all about how you almost killed a companion today."
"You wouldn't want to turn into some arrogant second-generation brat in your family's eyes, would you?"
Hearing that, Sasuke gritted his teeth. "Fine. But everyone only gets three skewers."
Naruto was always finding ways to trick him into paying for food, and it had already left Sasuke's finances a bit tight.
"That's enough, that's enough."
Naruto beamed as he dragged Gaara and Hyūga Neji toward the ninja academy gates, while Sasuke followed behind with an annoyed expression.
As the sun set, their shadows stretched long and intertwined together.
————
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Hyūga Clan Compound.
When Hyūga Neji returned home, he saw Hyūga Hinata crouching by the entrance, waiting for him.
The moment she saw him approach, Hinata immediately ran up to him. "Brother Neji, y-you weren't hurt today, were you?"
After class, she had seen her classmates heading toward the training field. Feeling shy, she hadn't followed along.
Only later did she learn that her brother had been challenged.
After transferring classes, Hinata had been placed in the same class as Uchiha Sasuke, so she had some understanding of him.
Although her brother was also a once-in-a-generation genius, she still couldn't help but worry.
Under the influence of Uchiha Yuzuru, Hyūga Hizashi had not died, and the Caged Bird Seal had already been abolished. As a result, the relationship between Hyūga Neji and Hyūga Hinata was very good.
Seeing the concern on Hinata's face, Neji smiled. "Don't worry, I'm fine."
"Sasuke, Naruto, Gaara… and the people in the village too. They all seem like really good people."
Hearing that, Hinata nodded. "Mm! Everyone's really nice."
Back in Konoha, many people used to call her the "Byakugan monster" behind her back, which made her afraid of strangers.
But she hadn't expected that although her classmates spoke bluntly, none of them had any intention of mocking her.
As they talked, the two walked into the courtyard. Hyūga Hiashi and Hyūga Hizashi immediately waved at them. "Neji, Hinata, come eat."
Neji and Hinata nodded and quickly ran over to the table.
Seeing the table filled with an abundance of dishes, along with a half-meter-tall wooden tub packed full of rice, both of them looked surprised.
Neji asked curiously, "Father, do we have guests today?"
Hizashi rubbed Neji's head gently. "No. All this food is prepared just for the two of you. Eat to your hearts' content."
Hearing that, Neji nodded excitedly. "Then I'll dig in."
Hizashi then turned his gaze to Hinata. "Hinata, you should eat too."
"O-okay."
Being watched by both of them, Hinata felt a little embarrassed.
After forcing herself to eat a bowl of rice, she neatly placed her chopsticks and bowl on the table. "I'm finished."
Hiashi frowned and said in a deep voice, "Hinata, eat freely. Eat as much as you can today."
"Eh? Really?"
The Hyūga clan valued rules above all else, and as the eldest daughter with high expectations placed upon her, Hinata had strictly restrained herself since childhood. Naturally, meals were no exception.
In her understanding, if she ate too much or wolfed her food down, she would definitely be reprimanded.
So she usually only ate a normal portion, then, when she got unbearably hungry, would sneak out and eat her fill elsewhere.
She hadn't expected that today, her father would actually tell her to eat more.
"Hinata, making sure you're full was a direct order from Lord Yuzuru."
"We don't know why, but this very likely concerns the future of the Hyūga clan!"
"So… eat as much as you can. From now on, you must never let yourself go hungry again."
Seeing the seriousness on Hiashi's face, Hinata nodded vigorously, tears spilling from the corners of her mouth. "I understand, Father!"
Then, under the shocked gazes of Hiashi, Hizashi, and Neji, she elegantly yet swiftly wiped out every dish on the table.
Even half the rice in the wooden tub was gone.
"Um… I'm full now."
Hinata put down her chopsticks, speaking a little shyly.
Hearing her voice, Hiashi came back to his senses and pulled Hinata into his arms, murmuring, "Hinata, you've suffered all these years."
"The Hyūga clan has already welcomed a new beginning. From now on, you don't need to wrong yourself anymore for the sake of inheriting the clan."
Seeing this rare display of tenderness from her father, Hinata pursed her lips. "Dad…"
Hizashi patted Neji on the shoulder. "Neji, from now on, you have to protect Hinata."
Neji replied firmly, "I will. I'm now qualified to become the Hyūga clan head as well. I'll never let Hinata be forced to do things she doesn't like again."
————
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Land of Fire.
Border.
A three-man ninja squad was carrying out a patrol along the border, clearing nearby wild beasts and setting up explosive tag traps along the way.
The autumn wind was bleak, carrying with it a growing chill.
After tightening a steel wire, one of the ninja couldn't help complaining, "I really don't know what the village is thinking, sending us out here."
Another teammate immediately echoed him. "Yeah. In the past, the first line of defense was always guarded by civilian ninja. Why didn't the clan help us fight for it this time?"
"Captain, you're a jōnin and considered an elite within the clan. Do you know something we don't?"
Feeling their gazes, the squad leader stroked his chin. "I wouldn't call it inside information. I just happened to hear some elders mention it in passing."
"I heard that ever since Uchiha Yuzuru declared war on Konoha, a large number of civilian ninja have already been secretly assembled."
"I imagine… they probably have even more dangerous missions to carry out."