The audience erupted into cheers. Yuichi scratched his head and smiled, almost shyly.
That look was reassuring.
A genius ninja with both strength and potential.
"This child may become a shinobi as great as the Second Hokage one day."
"Yes! At this age, his chakra control is already so refined. Truly promising."
Several ninja in the stands stared silently at Yuichi.
Some were filled with admiration, but in others' eyes, there was a different glimmer—an excitement they could hardly conceal.
While the crowd cheered, Yuichi suddenly reached out and pulled Neji's arm over his shoulder.
Exhausted, Neji staggered, his body threatening to collapse at any moment. Supported by Yuichi, he gave him a suspicious glance.
This guy…
"You'd better not move anymore. Come down with me—the second match is about to start."
With that, Yuichi guided Neji toward the exit.
Behind them, Shiranui Genma raised his hand, signaling the medical-nin who were preparing to carry Neji away. A faint smile touched his lips as he watched Yuichi's retreating back.
"Such an excellent child… rare indeed."
Perfect strength, perfect potential, perfect character.
A child like that would surely become one of Konoha's pillars in the future.
No wonder he had insisted Yuichi be allowed to participate in the Chūnin Exams.
Keeping such a prodigy at the Genin level would have been nothing short of a waste.
Genma was not the only one who thought so.
Members of the Hyūga branch family looked at Yuichi and Neji with unexpectedly warm expressions.
A simple gesture—yet it made everyone favor Yuichi even more.
Of course, not all shared this sentiment.
Sasuke, watching Yuichi support Neji, gave a disdainful snort, turned his head aside, and refused to look at them any longer.
When they reached the edge of the field, Yuichi entrusted Neji to the medical-nin.
As Yuichi turned to leave the ward, Neji suddenly stopped him.
"Yuichi!"
The medical-nin glanced at Neji but did not interfere. Neji's eyes were fixed firmly on Yuichi's back.
Yuichi paused and turned. "Something else?"
"…Thank you. You're strong. But this isn't even your full strength, is it?"
Yuichi smiled but gave no answer.
Neji didn't press further—the truth was already clear in his heart.
"What is your shindō?"
"To become Hokage," Yuichi replied simply.
Neji nodded. Exactly as he had thought.
They had met twice, and fought twice.
The first time, Yuichi was instructing strangers who didn't even know how to train their bodies.
The second time, Yuichi had willingly aided an enemy.
It had left Neji deeply shaken.
If someone like Yuichi were to become Hokage… perhaps the Hyūga clan's fate could change.
Neji's expression hardened, his gaze sharp and resolute.
"If you ever need help, I'll stand with you—without hesitation!"
Yuichi blinked, momentarily taken aback.
He met Neji's eyes in silence.
Then the corner of his lips curled upward. Looking at Neji lying on the bed, Yuichi murmured, "I understand."
With that, he left the ward.
This encounter had brought him far more than expected.
From this day on, his name as a genius would surely resound throughout Konoha.
The civilians, the shinobi—both now held him in higher regard.
Most importantly, Hyūga Neji, the prodigy of the branch family, had just pledged loyalty to him.
The Hyūga branch house might appear bound hand and foot by the main family, but to Yuichi, it was different.
Coercion and fear could never match loyalty freely given.
The conflict between main and branch had never truly disappeared.
The seemingly obedient were often just those too powerless to resist.
No living being fails to yearn for freedom—least of all humans.
Victorious, Yuichi moved to another platform to observe the next match.
Below, Shiranui Genma raised his voice, announcing the names of the next contestants.
"The second match: Uchiha Sasuke—"
Uchiha Sasuke?
That meant…
"…versus Gaara!"
Yuichi's eyes narrowed.
So the order had shifted—Sasuke and Gaara were facing off in the second round.
Which meant… the Konoha Crush was about to begin.
Gaara was an essential part of that plan.
In the original timeline, his transformation had been disrupted mid-battle, forcing the Sand to retreat with him. His chakra had become too unstable to control in such a short time.
Because of that, the plan had unraveled.
When the Third Hokage was trapped, the One-Tail never had the chance to rampage.
Otherwise, Konoha would have suffered catastrophic losses while Sarutobi fought for his life.
As Yuichi pondered, a sharp gaze cut across the arena.
It was Sasuke, glaring fiercely at him.
His eyes seemed to say: Watch me. I'll surprise you too.
He leapt into the arena.
Gaara followed, landing opposite him.
Genma briefly reviewed the rules, then gave the signal.
The battle began.
Sasuke charged forward—his movements eerily reminiscent of Rock Lee, after removing his training weights.