[Silence.]
[Dead silence.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi's veins bulged on his forehead.]
[Why, exactly?]
[He had gestured several times for the Anbu Ninja secretly controlling things to be more reliable.]
[Yet, it was still like this.]
[A moment later.]
[Neji suddenly smiled.]
["Very well."]
Then let's fight.
Is it the Old Thing's twisted humor?
It's also an opportunity, perhaps.
It's time to reveal everything to everyone.
[Neji looked at Naruto.]
[Fighting spirit already surfaced in his eyes.]
[He also wanted to prove some things.]
[He intended to use this opportunity to declare one thing to everyone.]
[The Main Family's young master is the Hyuga's true genius.]
[Not him, who belongs to the Branch Family.]
[Hinata, however, furrowed her delicate brows.]
[She was about to raise her hand to signal her forfeiture.]
["Lady Hinata."] At this moment, Neji suddenly spoke.
[He looked sideways.]
[Neji opened his mouth.]
[Ultimately, he said nothing.]
[Then he instantly used Body Flicker Technique to descend from the stage.]
[And respectfully gestured to Hinata on the second-floor viewing platform.]
[Gekkō Hayate nodded slightly upon seeing this, then was about to speak to urge Hinata to come down.]
["Hyuga..."]
["Shut up!"] Neji glared at him.
[Gekkō Hayate was startled.]
[He didn't expect to be reprimanded.]
[He coughed a few times.]
[Just as he was about to speak.]
[Hinata had already entered the arena.]
["Neji Nii-san, do we really have to fight?"]
[Hearing this, Neji shook his head.]
["Lady Hinata."]
["You are too kind."]
["Always hoping to peacefully avoid all conflicts."]
["This won't work in the Ninja world."]
["Lady Hinata... Actually, you are not suited to be a Ninja."]
[Hinata was stunned.]
[Neji was right.]
[But he didn't say it completely.]
[People change.]
[Hinata didn't want to say much.]
[This selection match made her somewhat displeased.]
[It would be best to end it quickly.]
[Furthermore... Hinata also understood Neji's meaning.]
[Care from her brother.]
[She had refused many times, but this time, Neji seemed unusually firm.]
[So be it.]
[Since Naruto-kun also intended to formally emerge... she naturally couldn't continue to maintain peace.]
[Their opening remarks were somewhat bland.]
[Neither chuunibyou nor verbal sparring.]
[It was as if they were just chatting normally.]
[Only, the battle arena had changed.]
[Buzz—]
[The next instant.]
[Neji closed his eyes.]
[When he opened them again.]
[The blood vessels around his eyes slightly protruded.]
[Byakugan!]
[He started in his optimal state.]
[He knew that long before the Ninja Academy, he had already lost the qualification to defeat or draw with Hinata.]
[Ever since this young lady had eaten her fill...]
[Taking a deep breath.]
[Neji looked at Hinata and said seriously:]
["Lady Hinata, your talent is the strongest in Hyuga history."]
["But you are too kind."]
["Perhaps... this talent is more like a restraint for you."]
["But as the Main Family..."]
[Neji hadn't finished speaking.]
[Hinata interrupted him.]
["Enough, Neji Nii-san, no need to say more."]
[The dojo fell silent.]
[Among the Hyuga Clan's new generation, wasn't the most outstanding Hyuga Neji from the Branch Family?]
[How come, from the person's own mouth... it seems not to be the case.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression slightly hardened.]
[He glanced at his foolish son, who hadn't quite reacted.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head.]
[He immediately waved his hand.]
[An Anbu Ninja immediately appeared beside him.]
["Go investigate."]
["Yes, Hokage-sama."]
[Whoosh—]
[Then, the Anbu Ninja who received the order immediately disappeared.]
[Asuma only then came back to his senses.]
[Looking in the direction where the Anbu Ninja disappeared, his expression was serious, wondering what he was thinking.]
[Finally, he met Hiruzen Sarutobi's disappointed gaze.]
[Asuma hesitated, then after a moment, silently turned his head back.]
[In the arena, Gekkō Hayate finally didn't dare to urge them.]
["Cough cough... The match, begin."]
[As if it were a mere formality, he uttered a word and silently retreated.]
["The Hyuga's destiny... my destiny... and... Lady Hinata's destiny..."]
[After Neji murmured intermittently.]
[He suddenly looked up.]
[Hinata remained silent, then slowly raised her slender hand.]
[The battle was about to erupt.]
[Whoosh—]
[The next instant, Neji disappeared from his spot.]
[Clap—]
[Their palms met.]
[Neji's pupils constricted slightly.]
[Then he stumbled back several steps, "thud-thud-thud."]
[Looking at Hinata, whose expression was normal and who hadn't even activated her Byakugan.]
[He was in a daze for a moment.]
[It was as if he saw the little girl from before, who suddenly changed from her usual weakness and diligently cultivated.]
[Buzz—]
[Neji's Chakra erupted.]
[On the opposite side, Hinata's small hands also began to change.]
[Azure Chakra surged onto her palms.]
[Whoosh—]
[Both attacked simultaneously.]
[Using identical techniques.]
[However, in this situation, the difference in skill was immediately apparent!]
[Compared to the previous fight between Rock Lee and Inuzuka Kiba.]
[Neji and Hinata's battle was filled with a sense of oppression governed by rules.]
[Rock Lee and Inuzuka Kiba's fight was more like a chaotic display, relying solely on speed and strength.]
[Neji and Hinata's battle, however, demonstrated a more rigorous power in each move and stance.]
[Neji's movements were fast.]
[Full of force.]
[But Hinata, opposite him, was indeed superior.]
[Neji continuously launched active attacks.]
[Hinata passively defended with the same techniques.]
[But the battle situation was such that the defender was pressing the attacker back, causing them to retreat step by step.]
[In front of Hinata's watertight defense.]
[Neji couldn't gain any advantage.]
[Of course.]
[Most importantly.]
[Both were Hyuga.]
[However, at this moment, Neji had already activated his Byakugan, while Hinata had not, and her Chakra hadn't even overflowed.]
[No sooner said than done.]
[After a few breaths, they exchanged dozens of blows.]
[Neji was once again repelled.]
[His breathing was disordered, his steps erratic.]
[In contrast, Hinata was like a great mountain before Neji.]
[A faint sense of oppression from her bloodline and eyes assailed him.]
[Neji's breathing deepened.]
[He knew this was still Hinata's unconscious oppression when her Byakugan was not activated.]
[If she activated her Byakugan... just the Byakugan's pressure would be enough to give him a hard time.]
[Furthermore... Hinata hadn't even used her Monstrous Strength yet.]
[At this moment, Neji deeply realized how vast the gap was between himself and Hinata.]
[Suddenly.]
[Neji only felt a sweetness in his throat.]
[Although he suppressed it.]
[Blood still uncontrollably spilled from the corner of his mouth.]
[He looked down.]
[He saw several crimson red dots on his exposed hands.]
[All corresponding locations were pressure points.]
[Under his clothes... there were probably many more.]
[Neji's heart chilled.]
[He hadn't even noticed when Hinata had struck.]
Inside the Moon, within the Genesis Space.
The beautiful woman with fair skin's eyes narrowed slightly.
"A Byakugan comparable to mine?"
"No... it seems... even purer than my Byakugan?"