Chapter 46: Sakura VS Neji (Part 1)
So it's Neji, is it? Sakura thought, glancing in his direction. Her gaze met Neji's, which was also directed at her. White pupils and emerald eyes locked for a moment, and then, with a tacit understanding, the two of them leaped from the viewing platform into the hall below at the same time.
Thud! They landed at almost the same instant, both swaying almost imperceptibly before simultaneously steadying themselves.
A beautiful jump.
Neji's eyebrows rose slightly. As a skilled taijutsu-type ninja, he habitually analyzed the girl's movements to gauge her taijutsu attainments. Perhaps some would deliberately hide their strength before a fight, but small details would often reveal their true level.
For example, this simple jump.
The viewing platform was not low. To jump down from this height with her feet still together, with the two points of support on landing so close, and yet to land with almost no wobble—to achieve this was no simple feat!
But, she is indeed a ninjutsu-type ninja.
Neji activated his Byakugan. His penetrating gaze saw the secret hidden beneath the girl's clothes. From the soles of her feet, ankles, and knees, all the way up to her waist, shoulders, elbows, and wrists—at all the important joints, there was a thin layer of water surrounding them, protecting the joints while helping the girl complete her taijutsu movements. The long-term immersion in a liquid environment also made the joints, which were prone to accumulating dead skin and thick calluses, appear smooth and fair, unlike those of a taijutsu ninja.
Neji knew that this was a form of nin-taijutsu. It didn't consume a large amount of chakra, but it required the user to have extremely high chakra control. Although he didn't know how the girl managed to use soft water in nin-taijutsu, from this alone, Neji could determine that his opponent not only had powerful ninjutsu but also a formidable taijutsu skill.
She really isn't an easy opponent! Neji's expression became a little grave.
Sakura, however, was not thinking nearly as much as Neji.
While Neji was sizing up Sakura, Sakura was also observing Neji.
Although, as a ninjutsu-type ninja, she couldn't yet analyze an opponent's taijutsu level from a single movement. All she could see was that Neji's movements were very graceful and natural. Paired with his long hair and handsome face, he looked very cool.
The real Neji was even more handsome than Sakura had imagined. If his gaze weren't so sharp, if his expression were a little softer, perhaps many people would mistake his gender.
Relying on the advantage of her knowledge from the original story, she was very clear about Neji's strength. With the defensive power of her ultrapure water, against a pure taijutsu-type ninja like Neji, Sakura could win even with her eyes closed.
She just felt that Neji's Byakugan was very sharp, completely different from the feeling of Hinata's. Under that penetrating gaze, Sakura even had the feeling of standing naked in front of Neji.
Of course, Sakura also knew that the Byakugan could indeed see through clothes, so this feeling was not an illusion... Although with the black and white vision of the Byakugan state, what Neji was doing couldn't be considered outright voyeurism.
Her delicate brows twitched. The girl suppressed the annoyance in her heart and took a taijutsu stance.
She planned to play around with Neji using taijutsu first.
The proctor's faint voice sounded.
"Fourth match, Haruno Sakura versus Hyuga Neji, begin!"
On the viewing platform.
"Kakashi, I never thought our disciples would meet so soon!" Gai approached Kakashi, who had returned to the platform at some point.
Kakashi put down the little yellow book in his hand and rubbed his chin. "Is that so... I don't find it strange at all!"
At Kakashi's level, he of course knew the principles behind the match arrangements. This kind of battle between geniuses was exactly what everyone loved to see.
Looking at the two on the floor who had taken taijutsu stances, Gai frowned.
"Kakashi, that kid, Haruno Sakura, isn't she a ninjutsu-type ninja? Is she planning to decide the match with Neji using taijutsu? Doesn't she know that Neji's Gentle Fist is a perfect counter to ordinary taijutsu? Hehe, Kakashi, it seems in the duel between our subordinates, I'm going to take the first win!"
Kakashi smiled lightly, a look of someone who didn't care about Gai's reminder at all.
"Gai, don't jump to conclusions so early," Kakashi said nonchalantly, leaning on the railing and looking at the two opponents below. "Compared to the Gentle Fist... perhaps Sakura's nin-taijutsu is more qualified to be called the 'counter to taijutsu'! You'll see. In this match, Neji's chances of winning are very low!"
Gai didn't refute Kakashi's words, just looked at the two below in silence. Having known him for many years, he knew that if Kakashi said so, he must have his reasons.
On the contrary, Lee couldn't help but interject, "Kakashi-sensei, isn't what you're saying a bit too arbitrary! Neji's Gentle Fist and his pressure point strikes are a very strong counter to taijutsu attacks. If Sakura used ninjutsu, it would be hard to say, but if she wants to compete with Neji in taijutsu, no matter how you look at it, Sakura is no match for Neji!"
Kakashi smiled calmly and didn't refute Lee's words.
With the offense of her nin-taijutsu and the defense of her ultrapure water, it was already very difficult for an ordinary taijutsu ninja to contend with Sakura. To be honest, if it were just taijutsu, even Kakashi might not be able to beat her current self, let alone the still relatively inexperienced Neji.
Without a Kekkei Genkai and without inheriting the ninjutsu of her predecessors, she had forcefully carved out a new path in a field where no one had ever guided her. Such a Sakura was a true genius!
Below, the two who had taken their opening stances did not rush to start the battle.
"You're a ninjutsu-type ninja, aren't you... From the looks of it, you want to face me with taijutsu?" Neji said faintly.
"Hn, is that not allowed? Thanks to Hinata, my taijutsu is reasonably good!"
Hearing Hinata's name, Neji was slightly displeased but showed no further reaction.
"Hmph... I've heard some things about you! You're the number one graduate of this year's class, you have a great talent for ninjutsu, and you've even developed your own new jutsu... You and Uchiha Sasuke are called the Twin Stars of the new generation. But, in fact, most people don't think highly of your future as a ninja!"
Sakura's expression didn't change.
She had heard such opinions before; they were not uncommon.
Sakura was not a genius ninja in the traditional sense.
In times of war, so-called genius ninja often graduated from the academy at six or seven and went to the battlefield. After two or three years, their strength would reach the Chunin level, and they would be promoted to Chunin based on military merit, then become Jonin during their teenage years. In contrast, when Sakura was six or seven, she was still practicing chakra control. She was only promoted to Genin at twelve, and had her first kill only a few months ago. Her physical constitution was average, her physical strength and speed were mediocre, and her chakra amount was only forcefully raised by her powerful spiritual energy. She had no powerful Kekkei Genkai. To call her a genius was, in fact, undeserved.
But...
"So what?"
Sakura retorted coldly.
"Many people think... you're just excellent in your academy grades. You don't have the potential to become a truly strong person! Most people feel that on the path of a ninja, you are not as good as Sasuke, because the most you can grow to is the level of a Jonin!"
Neji sneered, a trace of contempt hidden in his tone.
"I think you should be very clear in your heart: your chakra amount is not outstanding, and your taijutsu talent is not prominent! You are a Water Style ninja, and to become an excellent Water Style ninja, the first condition is to have a large amount of chakra! And you fail to meet the first condition! You can neither become an excellent taijutsu ninja, nor can you become an excellent Water Style ninja. This is your future, your destiny!"
Veins bulged on his forehead. Neji's sharp eyes seemed to see through Sakura's fate!
"These Byakugan of mine have already seen through it all...!"
"Although you've taken a stance to attack with taijutsu, you are secretly mobilizing your chakra. This shows that your stance is just to mislead me, while in reality, you intend to use ninjutsu! It's a pity, your tactics are completely transparent under my Byakugan. You no longer have any chance of winning! This is your destiny!"
"Surrender, Haruno Sakura!"
Under the gaze of Neji's blank, white eyes, Sakura actually let out a chuckle.
"A brilliant speech... Hyuga Neji," Sakura said sarcastically. "Your ability to make assumptions is truly eye-opening."
"It's true many people don't think highly of me, but I'm not their mother. I don't need to care about their opinions!"
"As for chakra, why don't you show me a ninja who doesn't mobilize their chakra before a fight starts! All this talk of destiny, destiny... Sorry, but I happen to be a non-believer! Your mouth-cannon is so loud, but in the end, you still have to prove it with your hands!"
Sakura was the type of person who was very stubborn, who would charge forward even if she knew she couldn't win. If Neji wanted to force Sakura to surrender with talk-no-jutsu, he would have better luck hoping to see her run naked.
What's more, Sakura didn't think for a moment that she would lose to Neji.
After a round of verbal sparring, finding that neither had suffered any physical or psychological damage, the two stopped talking nonsense. Their gazes sharpened, and they charged towards each other at the same time!
Fists and feet met!
The youth and the young girl began a fist-to-fist battle in the hall!
Thud, thud, thud!
The tall, slender figure with long black hair and the slender, pink-haired figure moved back and forth, weaving and shifting. The dull thuds of their bodies colliding echoed as their fists and feet crossed. The high-speed battle left the audience on the viewing platforms dazzled and unable to keep up!
On one side was the genius youth of the Hyuga clan; on the other was the weak and gentle girl from a humble background.
The two, who should have had a great disparity in strength, were engaged in an evenly matched contest in the hall!
What was even more of a stark contrast was that the genius boy's fighting style was small and gentle, light and agile, his figure elusive, extremely skilled in small-range advances and movements. The weak and gentle girl's moves, however, were wide and open, powerful and swift, clean and methodical, a perfect example of the Strong Fist!
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