All of the Konoha Genins with their Jounin senseis inside the building were standing on the balcony and looking on at the arena floor in stunned silence. The Hokage himself was surprised at the unexpected turn of events. The Suna Genins with their Jounin sensei Baki looked at what just happened with calculative eyes. Dosu (age 14) and this Jounin sensei saw that Konoha still had promising ninjas hidden under their shadow. Naruto (age 13) sported a smile of approval while Kurenai looked on in utter disbelief at what she thought was going to be a predictable one-sided match.
Hinata (age 13), the Hyuuga heiress stood calm and upright on the arena floor with her Byakugan fully activated and without her usual jacket on. That was so after she took it off and tossed it to the side before the match began. Her head protector was also tied around her head with some of her hair draped over it.
Neji (age 14), the proclaimed prodigy of the Hyuuga clan, was also on the arena floor with his Byakugan fully activated. But he was on his hand and knee, sweating hard, bleeding and coughing blood from his mouth, and struggling to catch his breath after sustaining swift and brutal assaults the Hyuuga heiress inflicted on him, one after another. And to his and everyone's shock, except Naruto's, Hinata hadn't been struck once by Neji during their entire match of the Preliminaries.
Where did all of this power and strength come from, Neji wondered as he looked back at Hinata with anger, disdain and confusion, Hinata-sama has always been the weakest and the most disappointing heiress of the Main House. She couldn't even win a fight against Hanabi-sama and her Jyuuken was always the poorest. How could she have changed so suddenly and hurt me, the prodigy of our clan, this bad? It doesn't make any sense! Fate had her future as a failure decided from long ago!
Neji grew only angrier the more he thought about it.
"I've never seen Hinata like this before," Shino (age 13) remarked, "Her unexplainable change is indeed remarkable."
"She's really pushing Neji to his limits," Gai said, "I honestly didn't expect this outcome considering how the match started with all the things Neji was saying to her."
"All of you underestimated Hinata-chan," Naruto said with a grin, "I knew she had it in her to show that bastard a thing or two about who's truly weak."
"But Neji was said to be a genius and Hyuuga prodigy," Ino (age 13) said, "When compared to each other, Hinata was said not to measure up to him."
"The same was said of Sasuke-teme (age 13)," Naruto remarked, "And yet Lee beat him in one fight."
Sakura (age 13) and Ino both snarled at Naruto but they knew that he was telling the truth, as much as they didn't want to hear it.
Kurenai was looking on at Hinata as thought she was trying read her.
What happened to you Hinata, Kurenai wondered. Kakashi saw the look on Kurenai's face and saw that she had a look that showed that she was trying to make sense of things.
"I don't want to hurt you any more than I already have niisan," Hinata said composedly, "You're clearly in no condition to continue."
"I don't need your pity Hinata-sama," Neji spat disrespectfully as he got up and stood back up looking Hinata straight in the eyes, "You may have improved but I can still fight and come out the victor as fate decreed since this match's beginning!"
"I suffered in many ways niisan and I know you're aware of that," Hinata said sympathetically, "But I have friends and a very special person in my life who acknowledged and helped me overcome my problems. And I can see that you're suffering too and have been for all these years by allowing yourself to be enslaved to your scapegoat, the illusion of fate."
"How dare you!," Neji yelled before he charged at Hinata with all of his remaining strength with the aim to kill her. Hinata stood there and waited for Neji to reach her with his right arm extended out aiming to strike her heart directly.
Seeing an opening, Hinata, at the last second, side stepped Neji and thrust her fingers into his back, hitting several spots on his back. This resulted in Neji falling forward passed her with the same speed before crashing down on his face and chest, sliding across the floor for a few seconds before coming to a stop and his bloodline limit deactivating. Neji found that he was unable to move any part of his body; he was completely paralyzed.
Gekko Hayate went over and examined Neji. It didn't take him long to make a decision.
"Neji can no longer continue," Hayate announced, "Winner, Hyuuga Hinata."
"Yeah," Naruto cheered and shouted, "Way to go Hinata-chan! You kicked ass! You're the best!"
Hinata smiled and blushed from Naruto's praise and acknowledgment.
"She's strong," Gaara (age 13) said with a deadpan facial expression with his arms crossed over his chest, "I wouldn't have expected such a feat from one who looked so fragile."
Hearing Gaara compliment and acknowledge someone without contempt surprised his siblings and even Baki.
"I have to agree," Baki said, "She was well trained and disciplined in her arts. Her battle was flawless."