Thump!
Whoosh!
The high-speed rotation not only deflected the kunai but also nearly tore Takenaka Taishi's grip apart, twisting his wrist so violently that he screamed in pain.
"Since you're hurting so badly," Neji said calmly,
"why don't I put you out of your misery?"
"What—?!"
Pfft!
In the next instant, Neji's kunai flashed, severing Takenaka Taishi's barely connected right arm.
"AAAH—!"
"So… strong…"
Tenten and Rock Lee, still trapped in the mud, stared in utter shock.
Neji's movements were ruthless, seamless, and composed.
He had completely crushed Takenaka Taishi without hesitation.
Whoosh!
Takenaka Taishi leapt backward in a desperate retreat—but Neji followed close behind.
"Damn it! If that's how it is…" Takenaka roared, yanking out a bundle of explosive tags from his pouch.
"Then we die together!"
With only his left arm, he lunged straight at Neji.
"Heh."
Neji sneered inwardly. People still misunderstood the Hyuga Clan far too much.
Hand seals formed instantly.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"What?!" Takenaka Taishi's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
For generations, the Hyuga Clan had relied almost entirely on taijutsu. Over time, people had simply forgotten that Hyuga could use ninjutsu at all.
But this kid—this kid wasn't following the rules.
Takenaka tried to pull back, but it was too late.
The fireball slammed into his left arm, engulfing it in flames.
At the same moment, Neji appeared directly in front of him.
"I'll help you find release."
"No—!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Suddenly, dozens of kunai burst out from deep within the forest.
Neji's eyes flicked sideways, and he instantly retreated.
From above, Might Guy glanced down with a wide grin.
"They finally couldn't hold back anymore."
As a spy, Takenaka Taishi was never going to be alone. His backup had finally arrived.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosive tags detonated in rapid succession, smoke billowing through the forest.
Neji slid backward through the haze, teeth clenched.
"Damn it… I got too focused and missed the disturbance."
His combat experience still wasn't enough.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Takenaka Taishi rolled on the ground, extinguishing the flames on his left arm.
"They're here," he growled through gritted teeth.
In the next moment, over a dozen figures converged from all directions.
Their forehead protectors bore the unmistakable symbol of Otogakure—the eighth note.
"So you really messed yourself up," the leading Sound ninja said coldly as he looked at Takenaka Taishi.
Even he couldn't suppress a shiver.
Was this really done by a genin?
Takenaka Taishi was in a miserable state—his right arm gone, blood pouring freely, his left arm scorched and barely usable.
Forming hand seals would likely be impossible for him from now on.
"Sorry," Takenaka muttered. "I didn't expect them to catch up so fast."
"Hmph. Attack."
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter!"
At the order, several Sound ninja rapidly formed seals, launching razor-sharp wind blades toward Rock Lee and Tenten, who were still restrained.
"Lightning Release: Ground Flash!"
"Lightning Release: Lightning Fang!"
Two Sound ninja immediately moved to intercept Neji with Lightning Release techniques.
"Tch. You think blocking me will save them?" Neji said coldly.
At that instant, Might Guy finally moved.
He flashed in front of Rock Lee and Tenten, shattering the wind blades with a single sweep of his arm.
Even more astonishing—he ran across the flowing mud as if it were solid ground.
Neji's eyes narrowed.
As expected of an elite jonin.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
The Sound ninja responded instantly, countering with their own techniques. Explosions rocked the area—
—but when the smoke cleared, the three were gone.
"Where did they go?!" someone shouted.
A voice rang out from above.
"Up there!"
Everyone looked up to see Might Guy, Rock Lee, and Tenten standing atop the trees.
"So many enemies!" Might Guy laughed, joints cracking.
"Now this is youth!"
Using the opening, Neji broke free from the Sound ninja engaging him and leapt up as well, regrouping with the others.
"A jonin… no wonder," the Sound ninja leader said flatly.
Seeing how calm the enemy jonin still looked after recognizing Might Guy, Neji almost pitied him.
This guy really has a death wish.
Including Takenaka Taishi, there were fourteen enemies in total.
Ten genin.
Three chunin.
One jonin.
"That was close…" Rock Lee muttered, patting his chest, still shaken.
"I nearly got taken out."
"Same here," Tenten said, wiping cold sweat from her forehead.
"But… there are way too many of them."
"Yosh!" Might Guy laughed loudly.
"I'll take the jonin! The rest is up to you!"
"Eh?! Guy-sensei, there are three chunin!" Tenten exclaimed.
"This is youth!" Might Guy said with a grin, giving them a thumbs-up.
With that, he dove straight toward the enemy jonin below.
Tenten clenched her fists, glaring at Guy's reckless charge.
One chunin had already been overwhelming—now they had to face three, plus ten genin on top of that. The difficulty was absurd.
Neji watched Might Guy for a moment.
He didn't tell Lee to remove his weights…
So the situation is still under control.
Is this because the Chunin Exams are coming?
Tenten's strength was decent, but she was best suited for support and ambushes.
Rock Lee was powerful, but remembering how close he'd come to dying earlier—
Neji clicked his tongue inwardly.
Better rely on myself.
"Alright. Let's move."
Rock Lee leapt down first, charging straight into the Sound ninja.
Tenten swallowed a Soldier Pill, restoring a good chunk of her chakra, and unfurled her scroll again.
Neji followed, landing calmly among the enemies.
"You two, be careful," he said without turning.
"Don't get caught again."
"Hmph! You brat—daring to be distracted while fighting us?!" several Sound genin shouted as they rushed him.
I can toy with a chunin.
Why would I fear a few genin?
Neji smiled.
A cold, razor-sharp smile.
A kunai appeared in each of his hands—and he vanished.
Two screams rang out.
Two Sound ninja collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
"What?!"
The remaining Sound ninja froze in shock.
They hadn't even seen him move.
Neji didn't bother hiding his disdain. He had already held back—these genin were simply too weak.
His gaze swept across the battlefield.
Rock Lee and Tenten, working together against one chunin, were holding their own. As long as they stayed cautious, they wouldn't fall easily.
Might Guy and the Sound jonin, however, were nowhere to be seen—already fighting somewhere far away.
"They're just kids who only know taijutsu! Spread out and create distance—"
Before the Sound ninja could finish shouting, a kunai flew past.
Pfft.
It pierced straight through his forehead.