"This is the guy I was just telling you about—Sasuke Uchiha."
Naruto looked at Sasuke with a helpless sigh.
The moment he heard that a genius ninja from Konoha had transferred to the academy, he knew Sasuke would come looking for trouble.
He had planned to give Neji Hyuga a heads-up so he could prepare himself, but he never expected Sasuke to show up this quickly.
Neji glanced at the domineering Sasuke and had no intention of sparring. He simply took two steps to the side.
"I don't want to fight you, and I'm not interested in being some genius ninja. Please move."
Sasuke let out a cold laugh and stepped directly in front of him. "Stop talking nonsense. I've already challenged you. You don't get to run."
Seeing how aggressive Sasuke was, Neji couldn't help but frown.
From the side, Naruto explained, "Neji, the atmosphere in the Hidden Cloud Village is different from Konoha. Unless you admit you're weaker, it's better not to refuse a spar requested by a fellow student."
"Otherwise, you might end up labeled a coward…"
Ding—ding—ding!
The class bell rang abruptly, and energetic boys and girls poured out of the classrooms.
When they saw Neji and Sasuke facing off on the training field, everyone instinctively gathered around.
"Look at those eyes—he's from the Hyuga clan. Sasuke really did pick him."
"I heard he's a genius ninja from Konoha. I wonder if he can match Sasuke."
"I don't think so. Sasuke is the undisputed top student of our grade."
"I don't know about that. The Hyuga clan is said to rival the Uchiha as a dōjutsu clan. The Byakugan's reputation isn't any worse than the Sharingan."
"A showdown between geniuses—this is going to be good."
Hearing himself become the center of attention, Sasuke's lips curled upward slightly.
At the ninja academy, only Naruto and Gaara were on par with him in strength.
But Naruto was hopeless in academic classes, and Gaara had no interest in competing, so Sasuke had long been recognized as the top student.
If he could defeat Neji today, he would surely surpass his brother and become the most outstanding child in his father's eyes!
With that thought, Sasuke said arrogantly, "So? Are you going to surrender on your own, or are you planning to run without fighting?"
Neji took a deep breath and assumed the opening stance of the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist. "I'll fight you."
He now understood that this battle might concern the pride of the Hyuga clan itself.
Even if his opponent was Lord Yuzuru's child, he had to go all out.
Seeing Neji's fighting spirit rise, Naruto and the surrounding spectators immediately backed away. Sasuke pulled several wooden shuriken from his ninja pouch and hurled them forward.
The shuriken collided midair and flew toward Neji from all directions.
Neji raised his hands, twisting and flipping his body as he effortlessly knocked each shuriken aside.
At the same time, Sasuke had already closed the distance.
The moment they exchanged blows, Neji's expression changed.
Sasuke's speed and strength exceeded his expectations, and his taijutsu was fluid and unpredictable. Almost immediately, Neji found himself at a disadvantage.
'As expected of Lord Yuzuru's child.'
Neji was secretly alarmed. Sasuke was completely different from any peer he had faced before.
Even without using chakra, Gentle Fist was a top-tier taijutsu—but Sasuke handled it with ease.
"Hahahaha… Is this all the Hyuga clan's genius can do?"
The more Sasuke fought, the more excited he became, his attacks growing increasingly fierce.
Stung by the taunt, Neji's temper flared. He seized an opening, retreated several steps, and widened the distance between them.
"Byakugan—activate!"
Veins bulged around his eyes as Neji warned in a low voice, "I'm going to use real Gentle Fist now. Be careful—don't get hurt."
The smile on Sasuke's face froze. "Are you provoking me?"
"Damn it!"
Sasuke charged again—but this time, it was his expression that changed.
Though Neji still seemed suppressed, Sasuke felt his movements growing sluggish, his chakra no longer flowing smoothly.
Gradually, the momentum of the fight reversed. Under Neji's relentless offense, Sasuke was starting to struggle.
"It's useless. Against the Byakugan and Gentle Fist, defeat is your only end."
"Still, the fact that you lasted this long already makes you the strongest peer I've ever faced."
Neji's confidence steadily returned, and he even had the composure to speak mid-fight.
It seemed Sasuke was no different from the opponents Neji had faced before—destined to fall by his hand.
"Don't get cocky."
Sasuke clenched his teeth and used Lion Combo to force Neji back.
Immediately after, his hands flew through seals, his chest swelling as he inhaled sharply. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive blaze several meters wide surged forward, the searing heat filling everyone with terror.
Neji, caught directly in its path, was horrified—able only to watch as the inferno rushed toward him.
At the critical moment, he suddenly felt his body wrapped in sand and yanked aside.
At the same time, Naruto's voice rang out, "Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Water and fire collided, and a massive cloud of steam instantly swallowed everything.
Within the mist, the stunned spectators finally snapped back to their senses.
"It's ninjutsu! The Uchiha clan's signature Fire Release!"
"My god—Sasuke can already use ninjutsu at this level?"
"And Naruto and Gaara stopped it… they really are worthy of being Lord Yuzuru's children."
As the mist dissipated, Neji panted heavily, his heart still racing.
Just now… he had almost died.
"Sasuke, that was too reckless."
"He kept provoking me…"
Naruto shot Sasuke an annoyed glare before helping Neji to his feet. "Neji, are you hurt?"
Feeling everyone's eyes on him, Neji said in a low voice, "I lost."
He clenched his fists, bracing himself for ridicule.
But to his surprise, Sasuke walked up with his hands in his pockets, turned his head aside, and spoke awkwardly.
"The Hyuga clan's Byakugan and Gentle Fist are strong. You forced me to use ninjutsu—I acknowledge you."
The crowd erupted in cheers.
"That was an amazing fight—so satisfying to watch!"
"Yeah, the Hyuga clan's genius really lives up to the name."
"So Gentle Fist and the Byakugan are that powerful… I've got to spar with Neji sometime."
"Who's going to speak up for me? My new hairstyle... it's singed..."