"I really didn't expect that kid to last until now!" Looking at Naruto, Kotetsu said in surprise.
"Hmm, if he got this far by luck, it should end here for him. That guy called Naruto..." Izumo also wasn't optimistic about Naruto.
"The opponent is too formidable. There's no way he can defeat a member of the Hyuga Clan by any means." Kotetsu added again.
Hinata, hearing their words, felt a complicated mix of emotions in her heart.
'Though I thought the same at first, if you underestimate him, you'll be in for a shock, everyone!' Looking at the others, Kiba thought with a grin.
Then, under Akamaru's reminder, Kiba noticed the Anbu in the arena, feeling surprised.
Back on the battlefield, the two faced each other.
"It seems you have something to say." Looking at Naruto, Neji spoke calmly.
"I said it before. I swear I will definitely win!" Looking at Neji, Naruto directly extended his right hand, clenching a fist toward him.
Hearing his words, Neji activated his Byakugan, also noticing the confidence in Naruto's eyes. It wasn't an empty bluff.
"That's more interesting. I really want to see your panicked eyes when you face reality!" Hearing Naruto, Neji showed a faint smile and directly assumed a starting stance.
"Stop babbling and start already!" Hearing him, Naruto said impatiently.
"Then, the first match, begin!" Looking at the two, Genma announced.
After a brief standoff, Naruto sensed the aura emanating from Neji. A drop of sweat slowly trickled down his cheek.
"Watch carefully, Hanabi. He has inherited the Hyuga Clan's Kekkei Genkai exceptionally well. Your sister can't compare to him." Looking at Neji, Hiashi said calmly to Hanabi.
"Nee-san can't compare to him?" Hearing her father's words, Hanabi was stunned.
"He's probably stronger than you too." Hearing Hanabi, Hiashi said calmly.
Soon, Naruto also initiated the attack, true to his usual style, directly throwing two kunai at Neji. However, they were easily caught by Neji, who also knocked the other one away.
Afterwards, Naruto charged straight at Neji.
"Idiot, who attacks head-on like that!" Watching the reckless Naruto, Kiba couldn't help but exclaim excitedly.
Naruto below naturally couldn't hear. He threw a punch directly at Neji.
However, with a light tap from Neji's hand, his attack was simply deflected. Simultaneously, he lost his balance and was about to fall to the ground.
But Naruto reacted quickly, performing a roll to regain balance while also creating distance from Neji.
As soon as he landed, he propelled himself toward Neji again.
Then came a series of rapid attacks. But before Neji's Byakugan, Naruto's moves were already seen through. Neji simply stood his ground, using his palms to block all of Naruto's punches.
Then, with a palm strike, he pushed Naruto back. Naruto retreated slightly but jumped again to kick at Neji. After dodging, Naruto threw another punch at Neji.
But this time, Neji seized the opportunity, releasing Chakra from his hand and striking Naruto's chest. The Chakra simultaneously flowed into Naruto's body.
Feeling the flow of his Chakra become somewhat obstructed, Naruto felt extremely uncomfortable.
While Naruto was in pain, Neji's attack came again. This time, it aimed at a Chakra Point on Naruto's right shoulder.
'Can't let him hit that!' Watching Neji's attack, Naruto recalled Neji's fight with Hinata. That was the only thought in his mind.
He then endured the discomfort, leaned back, and performed a roll to quickly evade Neji's attack.
'Did it miss?' Because of Naruto's body movement, Neji realized the last strike probably didn't hit the Chakra Point.
'Damn, getting too close means getting hit with the Gentle Fist, making Ninjutsu unusable. So I have to keep my distance to fight him.' Clutching his attacked right shoulder, Naruto thought while panting.
"You understand now, don't you? You have no chance of winning." Looking at Naruto, already panting without Neji having used much effort, Neji spoke calmly.
'Hmph, I was just testing your strength earlier. The real fight starts now!' Looking at Neji, Naruto stood up and declared.
"Shadow Clone Technique!" As he said this, Naruto performed his signature technique.
Instantly, five Narutos appeared on the field.
"What an interesting guy!"
"Shadow Clone Technique is a Jonin-level technique! That guy even knows this?" Looking at Naruto, Kotetsu and Izumo admitted they had somewhat underestimated him.
After creating clones, all five Narutos simultaneously drew kunai.
'Shadow Clones?! I see. By evenly distributing Chakra to each clone, even my Byakugan can't distinguish the real body.' Noticing the same flow of Chakra in each clone, Neji understood.
"But, ultimately, there's only one real body." Though he couldn't immediately tell which was real, Neji wasn't worried at all.
"Hmph, stop boasting!" With his clones, Naruto felt more confident.
"Come at me." Seeing this situation, Neji simply said calmly.
"It's useless. Before Neji's defense, attacks are pointless." Tenten on the viewing platform said calmly, watching Neji.
"Hmph, don't underestimate me!" Seeing Neji's expression, Naruto said with a grin.
Then, four shadow clones charged at Neji, while Naruto's real body stayed put, watching.
Seeing the four clones charging, Neji got slightly more serious. Facing the attacks of two clones first, Neji pressed down on their bodies, using their support to leap over them.
Upon landing, he extended both arms simultaneously, lightly deflecting the stabbing attempts of the other two clones.
Then, one clone seized the opportunity, kicking directly at Neji. But Neji, the instant before the foot reached his chin, performed a backflip, landing gracefully back on the ground, beautifully dodging the attack.
"Damn, next time I'll succeed!" Seeing he almost hit Neji, Naruto felt somewhat frustrated.
However, Neji's aura changed upon landing. Facing the encirclement of two Narutos again, he jumped and spun continuously in place. As the two clones got close, he kicked out with both feet, sending the two clones flying. One clone directly dissipated into smoke.
At that moment, two other clones seized the chance, stabbing at Neji's back with kunai. But Neji didn't even turn his head, and with two backward slaps of his hands, he caused both Narutos' attacks to miss, their bodies stumbling forward uncontrollably.
Then, Neji delivered two palm strikes to the backs of the two clones.
"Bang! Bang!"
With sounds and smoke, the two clones dissipated near Naruto.
Afterwards, Neji walked toward the clone he had kicked earlier… the one that hadn't dissipated but had lost combat ability… He easily lifted it, and delivered a palm strike, causing it to dissipate as well.
'This guy... does he have eyes on his back too?!' Seeing his clones attack from behind only to be easily detected and countered by Neji, Naruto felt extremely tricky.
"Become Hokage? That's impossible." After easily dealing with the clones, Neji turned his head and said flatly to Naruto.
Hearing his words, Naruto frowned again.
"I can see it with these eyes. A person's talent is determined from birth. Everything is predetermined."
"Why... why do you keep making arbitrary judgments, you jerk!" Hearing Neji say this again, Naruto felt extremely angry.
"Then, are you saying anyone can become Hokage if they work hard? Those who can become Hokage are very few. Face reality. Those destined to become Hokage are born with that fate. It's not something you can become just because you want to. Because fate arranges it this way!"
"Everyone must live under an unyielding fate. There is only one fate where all are equal: death." Neji spoke seriously.
"Neji..." Seeing this situation, Guy couldn't help but sigh. He naturally understood Neji's talent very well.
But Neji belonged to the Hyuga Clan's branch family, harboring resentment towards the main family… something Guy couldn't interfere with too much. Also, regarding Neji's talk of fate, Guy didn't know how to enlighten him.
"Takeru-nii, he seems to be in a lot of pain." Hearing Neji's words, Ui could sense Neji's resentment toward the world, his hatred for an unchangeable fate.
"Mhm. But honestly, his fate isn't that bad. It's already much better than most people's. And a large part of this hatred stems from resentment towards his own powerlessness." Hearing her words, Takeru gently shook his head and said.