> "Huh… Didn't expect I'd be famous already?"
Naruto was honestly confused. He never sought trouble, never pulled pranks like his original counterpart, yet somehow his reputation had spread even further than the original's.
Even seniors from higher classes seemed to know his name.
The boy who stopped him was none other than Hyūga Neji, a member of the Hyūga clan's Branch Family.
He was the son of Hyūga Hizashi, the twin brother of Hyūga Hiashi (Hinata's father), making him Hinata's cousin—half-related by clan and rank.
His father, born just minutes after his twin, had been designated Branch Family from birth. His life was shackled by the Caged Bird Seal, and in the end, he sacrificed his life for the Main Family.
> If Naruto and Hinata ever got married…
That would make Neji Naruto's... big brother-in-law.
Neji crossed his arms, clearly trying to take a condescending posture. But after noticing Naruto was taller than him by half a head, he wordlessly took a step up onto the stone stairs, lifting his chin so he could look down his nose at Naruto.
> "Stay away from Lady Hinata. She is not someone your kind should approach."
Thanks to solid nutrition and intensive training, Naruto had grown fast—taller and sturdier than most kids his age, even those older like Neji.
Naruto gave Neji a quick once-over.
> "Alright. Got it. Anything else?"
Neji: "???"
Wait, what?
This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Naruto was supposed to get angry, then lash out, and then Neji would punish him for his arrogance. He'd get to act cool, throw out a few poetic lines like:
> "The river flows east for thirty years, then west for thirty more—don't bully the poor!"
He was ready to throw hands! But now… this?
> That's it?
Just a "got it"?
What a letdown…
Frustrated, Neji threw out a final barb:
> "Loser. You're just a failure abandoned by fate. Don't let me see you again."
> "Sure thing."
---
The Next Day
As usual, Naruto walked Hinata to the front gate of the Hyūga estate.
Neji: "…"
> Are you ignoring me?! I told you not to show up again!
The two boys stood side by side in an awkward, silent agreement, watching Hinata step into the compound.
Just as Neji opened his mouth to say something—
CRACK—!
His world spun.
The last thing he felt was a sharp pain in his neck… then nothing.
Neji crumpled to the ground.
Naruto casually stretched out his hands and shrugged.
> "If you're unconscious, you can't see me, right?"
---
Day Three
Naruto showed up to walk Hinata home again.
> "Tch… What a disgrace," Neji thought, furious with himself for falling asleep outside the gate yesterday due to overtraining.
> "This time, I'll make sure to punish that brat properly—"
THWACK.
Down he went.
---
Day Four
Neji: "No matter what, I will not—"
Thunk.
Lights out.
---
Day Five
This time, Neji thought he'd strike first.
He focused chakra into his fingertips. "Eight Trigrams—"
CRACK.
Goodnight, sweet prince.
---
Day Six
Neji: "You—"
Thunk.
Didn't finish the sentence.
---
Day Seven
Same deal.
---
One Month Later
Completely fed up and barely clinging to his sanity, Neji raised a hand in surrender the moment Naruto appeared.
> "Stop!" he said desperately.
Naruto, for once, didn't knock him out.
Neji cautiously relaxed and returned to his usual cool expression.
> "Why? Why are you doing this?"
Naruto answered with a deadpan expression:
> "You said not to let you see me, right? Well, knocking you out means you can't see me.
I'm just keeping my word."
> "…Is this really about 'honesty'?!"
He's insane…
Neji's tone grew tense as he stared at Naruto.
> "You… You're just a failure. So why are you this strong?"
> "Do you… misunderstand the term 'failure'?"
It was true that Naruto's theory grades were a mess, but his practical scores were insane. In every team pairing, except with Hinata, Naruto had obliterated his classmates.
Especially the softer, gentler girls—one punch and they were crying for hours.
With a combat record like that, how could anyone honestly call him a "failure"?
But Neji didn't listen.
He clenched his fists and shouted:
> "So you're trying to defy fate too?! You can't! Fate is determined the moment we're born. A loser like you will always be a loser!"
Recently, during a sparring session, Neji had accidentally injured a Main Family member and was punished with the Caged Bird Seal. The physical pain, combined with mounting resentment, had pushed him near his mental limit.
Naruto narrowed his eyes.
> "You want to know?
Then meet me tomorrow, before sunset, at Training Ground 99."
Neji was about to answer—
CRACK.
Back to the ground.
> You call me a loser again, I'm not going to hold back just because you're technically family.
---
The Next Day
Neji showed up at Training Ground 99 early in the morning.
But there was no sign of Naruto.
The only figure in the field was a white-clad boy dripping with sweat as he repeated a strict, monotonous training routine.
Squats. Jump rope. Push-ups. Punches.
One set. Then another. Then another.
Endlessly.
Neji scoffed.
> "That kind of training won't change fate… no matter how long he does it."
He didn't know if he was mocking the boy—or himself.
Because Neji recognized that figure.
It was his classmate—Rock Lee.
No talent in ninjutsu. No skill in genjutsu. Doomed to be a dropout. A true ordinary person.
> Another pitiful soul abandoned by destiny…
> "You think he's wasting his time?"
Naruto's voice spoke suddenly from behind, making Neji jolt in surprise.
> What?! When did he get behind me?
With his Byakugan bloodline, Neji should've noticed.
Naruto calmly walked to his side.
> "I've been here since you arrived."
> (Is he reading my mind!?)
> "I don't read minds," Naruto smirked. "Your face just makes it too easy."
> (I don't believe you…)
> "Believe it or not doesn't matter," Naruto shrugged. Then nodded toward Lee. "So. What do you think of him?"
Neji frowned. "He's a failure. That kind of effort is only for commoners."
Naruto arched an eyebrow.
> "And what's a 'failure'? What's a 'commoner'? What's a 'genius'?"
He didn't wait for answers.
> "So you don't think much of him, huh?"
Neji crossed his arms. "He has no talent. He can't become a real shinobi. He's not like us."
Naruto chuckled.
> "Us, huh? Now I'm included too?"
He shook his head and then raised a finger in front of Neji's face.
> "Let's make a bet."
> "One month. I'll personally train that guy."
> "And by the end of it, I'll make him stronger than you."
Neji's eyes went wide.
> "Are you serious?! That's impossible!"
A no-talent loser surpassing the elite Hyūga prodigy?
> "Even the Third Hokage—the Professor himself—couldn't pull that off!"
Naruto grinned.
> "What's wrong, oh genius Hyūga Neji?
Scared he'll surpass you in just one month?"
Neji's face twisted.
> "Fine. You're on."
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