Naruto suddenly laughed, a low chuckle at first, before it rolled into a carefree, almost boyish laugh that echoed across the stadium.
The sound cut through the noise of the crowd. Whispers hushed. The audience leaned in, eyes narrowing in confusion. Why would someone laugh in the middle of a fight, especially after being struck down so brutally?
Genma raised an eyebrow, the senbon in his mouth shifting. 'This brat… what's he plotting now?'
Even Neji stiffened, his Byakugan still glowing faintly. He had expected anger, frustration, or at least determination.
But laughter?
It made his body tense, his instincts screaming that the real battle was only just beginning.
Naruto pushed himself up with a front flip, landing lightly on his feet. He brushed some dust off his cheek where Neji's punch had landed, still smiling. "Heh… I didn't see that coming, Neji. You've trained harder than I thought. That punch wasn't bad at all."
Neji's jaw tightened, his pale eyes narrowing. His silence was answer enough.
Naruto cracked his neck with a satisfying pop, his grin widening. His voice lowered, steady, yet carrying across the field. "But since you've shown me your progress… It's only fair I return the favor."
His feet slid apart, weight balanced, and then he moved.
Not with the raw aggression of a brawler, nor with the rigid elegance of a Hyūga. His arms flowed in arcs, weaving like currents of water, yet every subtle twitch of his fingers carried lethal precision. It was beautiful and sharp all at once, like a dance where each step could kill.
The crowd gasped, and the seasoned jōnin leaned forward.
Neji's eyes trembled, and his instincts screamed as he thrust his palm forward to deflect.
But Naruto's body tilted just slightly, just enough. His hand brushed Neji's wrist aside with a light tap, the motion so gentle it looked effortless.
Pain sparked in Neji's arm at the angle, and before he could recover, Naruto's other hand snapped forward.
A strike straight to Neji's chest.
'Gentle Fist?!'
The sound echoed with a muted thud.
Neji's breath hitched as his body lifted from the ground, thrown backward. Dust rose when he slammed down, skidding across the arena floor.
Naruto remained rooted where he stood, palm still extended, his eyes glinting with excitement. Slowly, he lowered his hand, his grin never faltering.
"You're not the only one who's grown, Neji. I've sparred with you enough to learn more than just how to defend… and thanks to you, I've developed my own version of the Gentle Fist."
A wave of shock rippled through the stands.
Hiashi Hyūga, seated stiffly, almost leapt from his chair. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the railing. His Byakugan eyes followed every twitch of Naruto's form, his voice rough in disbelief. "That stance… that strike… impossible. That was... our clan's technique."
Hanabi's small hands curled into fists on her lap, her wide eyes trembling. Admiration bloomed beneath her shock. 'He… he really did it…'
Even the Kazekage's lips twitched beneath the veil of his mask, a low hum of interest escaping him.
And Neji, lying on the ground, chest aching, glared up at Naruto. His pride seethed, and his eyes shook not from pain, but from the truth he had just witnessed.
Kushina couldn't hold herself back any longer. She leapt up from her seat in the stands, waving her arms with wild abandon, her red hair flying about as she shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Yosh! That's my boy, Naruto!! Give it to him!!"
Her voice cracked like a whip across the stadium, startling even the shinobi sitting nearby.
The civilians flinched, taking half a step back as though her enthusiasm itself was dangerous. The intensity of her presence, like a firestorm condensed into one woman, was enough to make even seasoned jōnin glance away uncomfortably.
Naruto, down on the field, caught it all. His lips curled into a soft grin. For a moment, all faded. All he saw was his mother cheering, her voice spilling warmth into his heart.
'Thanks, Mom... but it's not over yet.'
Naruto's eyes shifted back to Neji, who was on the ground but not broken.
"You're not done yet, are you?" Naruto said calmly, voice carrying through the dust-filled air. His tone was casual, almost playful, yet firm. "I know that's not enough to keep you down, Neji. Come on… get up. Let's finish this properly."
The words stung Neji's pride, and at the same time lit a spark. Slowly, Neji pushed himself up, brushing dirt from his clothes. He wiped the thin trail of blood from his lips with the back of his hand, his pale eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. And then, unexpectedly, he chuckled.
"You…" Neji said, shaking his head, "You really are something else. Your skill… your talent… it really proves that you're the son of the Fourth Hokage."
But Naruto only shook his head slowly, his expression firm. "There you go again… looking at the wrong thing."
Neji frowned. "What?"
Naruto stepped forward, his blue eyes fierce but steady. "It's not about bloodlines. It's not about who you compare me to. I'm not the Fourth… I'm me. And I'll prove it… to you, and everyone else."
The words rang sharp, resolute. Neji's smirk faltered for an instant, but he recovered quickly, sliding back into stance. His palms opened, his body low, ready to strike at any moment.
"Very well," Neji said coolly, "then prove it."
And then they were both moving together, two blurs crashing into each other at breakneck speed.
Neji's strikes were precise, merciless. Every thrust of his palm sought Naruto's tenketsu, his chakra points. His fingers speared like arrows, aiming to seal away Naruto's strength.
But Naruto wasn't that easy to predict as he bent, twisted, turned, his body flowing with surprising grace. Every time Neji's hand came close, Naruto's wrist flicked, elbow shifted, or shoulder rolled just enough to deflect it.
'Damn…' Neji thought mid-exchange, 'He's not just avoiding… he's redirecting. He's taking my own momentum and sliding it away… as though he's trained in the Hyūga style itself…!'
Naruto, grinning through the rapid-fire exchange, quipped between breaths, "What's the matter, Neji? You look frustrated. Thought you had me figured out already?"
Neji snarled, his calm façade cracking just slightly. He lunged, palm flashing forward.
Naruto swayed aside, brushing Neji's wrist away with almost mocking ease.
From the stands, Hanabi's eyes widened. "Father… it looks like…"
Hiashi's jaw tightened, his gaze never leaving Naruto. "Yes. It looks like two geniuses of the Hyūga are clashing. Only… Naruto is not a Hyūga."
His tone was laced with disbelief.
Each blow, each counter, was executed so flawlessly that for a moment, even veteran shinobi had to blink. To the untrained eye, it was nearly impossible to follow. But the truth was clear that Naruto was slowly, inch by inch, pushing Neji back.
The dust swirled at their feet. Every strike landed with a clap of force, every deflection ringing like steel against steel.
Naruto's thoughts burned hot. 'I can't just fight him… I have to show him. Show him that destiny isn't what chains him. Show him that bloodlines are not everything... I'll help him break through his fate...'
And in the midst of their furious exchange, Naruto leaned close during a clash of forearms and muttered with a playful smirk, "You know, Neji… I'm kinda enjoying this dance of ours. Don't hold back now… or I'll get bored."
"Tch…!" Neji's eyes flared with anger. He spun, his body moving faster, Gentle Fist strikes doubling in speed.
But Naruto only laughed with his same infectious, maddening laugh that had shaken Neji before.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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