"Takasaki actually knows the Substitution Technique now?"
Neji looked somewhat dazed, as if he couldn't quite believe what had just happened.
He hadn't even seen when Takasaki had switched with a substitute.
"I told you, Takasaki works very hard," Hinata replied.
Neji lowered his gaze: "But destiny is already set. How can it be changed by effort?"
That Takasaki knew the Substitution Technique did surprise Neji a little.
But only a little.
He said again: "Just knowing the Substitution Technique is useless. To pass the graduation exam, one also needs to learn the Transformation Technique and the Clone Technique. I don't believe Takasaki has learned the other two techniques as well."
Neji knew Takasaki had already left. He actually wanted to press Takasaki on when he had made the substitution earlier.
But out of pride, he certainly wouldn't pursue it.
Forget it, there's no need.
He still had important matters to attend to: "Lady Hinata, can you come with me now to complete the sparring task? The Clan Head asked me to supervise your progress. If today's sparring task isn't completed, I cannot report back to the Clan Head."
Hinata said nothing, just nodded, feeling a little hopeful inside.
She hoped Takasaki would write her name more times in his next diary entry.
And she hoped Neji wouldn't take out his anger at Takasaki's actions on her.
Just as the two were about to leave, footsteps sounded in the hallway outside the door. Immediately after, Hyuga Hiashi's tall figure, dressed in a white robe, appeared at the doorway, looking sternly at the two.
"Father!" Hinata immediately lowered her head.
"Clan Head."
Neji instinctively bowed in greeting.
"How did it get like this?!" Hyuga Hiashi said in a deep voice.
It seemed Hyuga Hiashi already understood what had happened.
Neji instinctively wanted to push the blame onto Takasaki; this was a person's natural reaction when faced with a problem.
Fortunately, as soon as this thought appeared in his mind, he suppressed it. He said with a sincere tone: "The responsibility is all mine, it has nothing to do with Hinata."
Hyuga Hiashi's tone suddenly changed: "Neji, at least you have some sense of responsibility."
This was Takasaki's voice!
Upon hearing this.
Hinata and Neji seemed to realize something and immediately looked up.
A puff of smoke erupted from Hyuga Hiashi, who was standing by the door. The smoke quickly dissipated, revealing Takasaki's appearance.
"Takasaki?!" Hinata was first stunned, then, realizing, exclaimed: "You've even learned the Transformation Technique!"
This was the Transformation Technique!
Not only had Takasaki learned the Substitution Technique, but he had even learned the Transformation Technique without anyone knowing when!
Neji's eyes widened, his gaze trembling slightly.
Takasaki had truly exceeded his expectations. At the same time, he realized something: he had been tricked by Takasaki again!
"It's because Lady Hinata taught me so well," Takasaki said with a smile.
"Takasaki, I admit, I underestimated you a little," Neji said, just nodding slightly, without blaming Takasaki for transforming into Hyuga Hiashi to trick him.
As soon as he finished speaking, Takasaki's gaze fell upon him: "Do you still believe that destiny cannot be changed?"
Neji's gaze sharpened, and he lowered his head.
He was about to say that he still firmly believed destiny could not be changed, but the words caught in his throat.
In his impression, Takasaki was originally a dead last.
He should have been a dead last his entire life.
But now, Takasaki's performance was unexpected.
Could it be that effort truly could change destiny?
The problem was, the plight of the Hyuga Branch Family members constantly reminded him that destiny was predetermined.
Takasaki confirmed that there were no other Hyuga Clan members around. He said frankly: "The day you remove the Caged Bird Seal, you will understand that destiny is not predetermined; it can be changed."
After speaking.
He formed a hand seal in front of his chest: "Release."
With a bang.
Takasaki's body dissolved into smoke.
This was his
Neji suddenly looked up, watching the smoke of Takasaki's clone dissipate: "It's the Clone Technique."
His eyes flickered a few times, and he let out a self-deprecating chuckle: "That dead last, he really played us thoroughly…"
No!
As soon as he finished speaking, Neji's heart skipped a beat.
Could Takasaki still be called a dead last now?
After realizing Takasaki was not around, he instinctively turned and exchanged glances with Hinata.
Both saw an expression of disbelief in each other's eyes.
Takasaki had even learned the Clone Technique!
The Takasaki who had just transformed into Hyuga Hiashi was just a clone!
As for Takasaki's real body, he had already left the Hyuga Clan compound.
Neji went out to the guest reception room but did not see Takasaki's figure.
After realizing Takasaki had left, he asked in surprise: "Hinata, did you teach Takasaki the Three Body Technique?"
"Me? Huh? Impossible."
Hinata recalled the scenes of her teaching Takasaki earlier, shaking her head vigorously.
Impossible.
When she taught Takasaki, he was distracted several times.
She was so angry that she poked Takasaki's hand and forehead with her finger. How could Takasaki have been taught by her?
Suddenly, she seemed to understand something.
Especially after she told Neji about her process of teaching Takasaki, Neji's thoughts were the same as hers: "Could it be that Takasaki has always been hiding his strength?"
There was only one possibility!
Naruto and Takasaki were both called dead last in class. Naruto, as a dead last, was probably genuine.
The key was, from Takasaki's performance today, Takasaki's status as a dead last seemed to be an act.
"In that case, my previous behavior was indeed out of line. I underestimated him, and I even failed to control my emotions, actively attacking Takasaki. Regardless, I was the one who caused trouble first."
Neji suddenly felt a little dejected.
He, who had always been full of confidence in his own strength, for the first time, began to doubt himself.
Recalling the words he had used to mock Takasaki earlier in the reception room, he felt truly ashamed: "How much strength has this Takasaki guy hidden?"
For a moment, Neji felt that he truly couldn't see through Takasaki.
The key was, what did Takasaki's clone mean by that statement before it disappeared?
"The day you remove the Caged Bird Seal, you will understand that destiny is not predetermined; as long as you work hard, it can be changed." These were Takasaki's exact words.
On the way to the training room with Hinata, Neji kept thinking about this question: Could the Caged Bird Seal be undone?
Impossible.
Neji thought about it for a moment and felt it was ridiculous.
His destiny had long been predetermined and could not be changed at all.
Yet, if destiny couldn't be changed, what was the deal with Takasaki's situation?
Takasaki, who was clearly a dead last, had already learned the Three Body Technique and could use it skillfully.
Neji couldn't imagine how much unknown effort Takasaki had put in during this process; he must have shed a lot of sweat.
Could it be that effort truly could change destiny?
He, who had always believed that destiny could not be changed, felt a ripple in his heart.
Through his interaction with Takasaki today, Neji somehow felt that his destiny, perhaps, could be changed.
Takasaki seemed to be able to bring him hope.
Earlier, he had demanded an apology from Takasaki, but now it seemed that the one who truly should apologize was perhaps him.
"Next Monday, I need to go to the Hokage Tower to accept a mission request, and I'll also make a trip to the Ninja Academy to sincerely apologize to Takasaki…" Neji sighed.