While Takeru was leaving, Naruto, whom Neji had deemed impossible to stand up again, slowly rose with great willpower.
"You... you actually..." Seeing Naruto's action, Neji felt somewhat shocked.
"I told you, I don't like giving up!" Hearing him, Naruto said seriously.
On the viewing platform, Hinata was in great pain. The recurrence of her old injury made her cough up blood.
"Hey, are you okay? You're coughing blood! Your injury from the prelims... Hinata, hang in there!" Seeing this, Kiba exclaimed anxiously to Hinata.
"Let me take a look." Approaching, Takeru saw the continuously coughing Hinata and the worried Kiba. He went directly to them.
Seeing Takeru's arrival, Kabuto, who was about to act, stopped and watched Takeru curiously.
"Nara Takeru?" Hearing Takeru, Kiba was stunned.
"Mhm. I know some medical skills. I can treat her. Also, Rock Lee's injuries were healed by me." Looking at the doubtful Kiba, Takeru said calmly.
"What?! You healed him? Are you a Medical-Nin?" Hearing Takeru, Kiba was even more astonished.
"Cough, cough!" While Takeru and Kiba talked, Hinata's coughing interrupted them.
"Then I'll leave it to you!" Seeing this situation, Kiba couldn't care less and quickly said to Takeru.
"Leave it to me." Looking at him, Takeru directly picked up Hinata and headed towards the rear passageway. Kiba hurriedly followed.
Kabuto, disguised as an Anbu, also followed curiously.
Takeru noticed this but, knowing he had no hostile intent, didn't pay much attention.
Soon, Takeru brought Hinata to the highest, unoccupied area, materialized a blanket, and placed her on it.
[Healing Magic]
Seeing Hinata's condition, Takeru's hands brimmed with refreshing green light. Then, Takeru placed his hand, imbued with healing light energy, on Hinata's smooth forehead.
Quickly, the green energy spread from her forehead, slowly enveloping Hinata's entire body.
Through Observation Haki, Takeru understood that Hinata's current injuries were mainly in her heart and other internal organs. So he quickly directed the energy into her body for treatment.
Enveloped in this energy, Hinata's pained brows gradually relaxed. Kiba, noticing this, sighed in relief.
'This guy... did he really heal Lee's injuries? He has such strength, and even medical skills... Is he really a Genin?' Kiba looked at Takeru, his mind filled with thoughts.
Kabuto in the distance watched the advanced healing technique Takeru used with surprise. Although it closely resembled the Mystical Palm Technique, he felt its healing effect was much stronger. Most importantly, he didn't sense any Chakra fluctuation from it...
While Takeru treated Hinata, Naruto and Neji below faced off again.
"Give up. It'll be the same even if you keep fighting. I hold no grudge against you." Looking at Naruto, Neji advised directly.
"Shut up! Even if you say that, I have a big grudge against you!" Naruto said angrily.
"What do you mean?"
"Why... why, when you're so strong, do you act like you see through everything, pushing someone as hardworking as Hinata to the brink?!" Naruto was furious.
"That's none of your business!" Hearing Naruto mention this, Neji frowned.
"Treating Hinata like a fool, labeling her a loser. I don't know what happened between your main and branch families, but I absolutely won't forgive a jerk who always calls others losers!"
The reason for Naruto's anger toward Neji, aside from Hinata, was Neji's attitude, which made Naruto extremely annoyed.
"Fine, I understand. Then I'll tell you everything." Hearing Naruto, Neji fell silent for a moment.
He began to openly share the Hyuga Clan's matters, even revealing the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead.
Finally, he told Naruto about his father's death due to the main family, how he himself would be bound and oppressed by the main family his entire life, with only death offering release...
Moreover, Neji's father and Hinata's father were twins with almost identical strength, yet due to birth order, they were divided into main and branch families. This fate was unacceptable for Neji.
"So, in this exam, the moment you faced me, your fate was decided." Narrating, Neji projected his own fate onto this exam.
Naruto now represented himself in the past, trying to resist this tragic fate. That's why Neji felt such a strong impact.
Ui and Ritsu above also frowned upon hearing this. Having been exposed to modern knowledge, they felt uncomfortable with such matters and gained some understanding of Neji.
As for Naruto, hearing his words, he fell silent, his mind recalling his own childhood… his parents' early death, hosting the Nine-Tails, others' lack of understanding and rejection, subjecting him to inhuman treatment from a young age.
The most ironic part was that Naruto, growing up in such an environment, not only harbored no desire to destroy Konoha but became its great protector. In Takeru's view, this was too unbelievable...
"Yeah, I can understand. But so what?" Naruto said calmly.
"You...!" Hearing Naruto's offhand words, Neji thought Naruto was just mocking him.
"Hmph, don't put on airs. Don't think you're the only special one in this world. Hinata... she suffers just like you! Being from the main family but not recognized, she desperately tries to change herself. Holding onto that thought, even while coughing blood, she persists in fighting you!"
"You're the same! As a branch family's member supposed to protect the main family, you used the exam to beat Hinata like that. You're also desperately resisting fate, aren't you?!" Naruto shouted back.
Overly agitated, Naruto painfully coughed.
The cough snapped Neji out of Naruto's words. He looked calmly at Naruto. Even if the words made sense, being powerless against a powerful fate made it all futile.
"Your sixty-four points are sealed. How will you fight without using Chakra?" Looking at Naruto, Neji said calmly.
"In the end, your fate and Hinata-sama's are the same." Neji added.
"Shut up!" Hearing him, Naruto impatiently interrupted. He truly disliked Neji's attitude of having seen through fate.
Returning to the viewing platform, after a round of treatment, Hinata's injuries were completely healed.
"Alright, she's healed. She just needs to rest for a day or two to recover fully." Looking at the sleeping Hinata, Takeru calmly told Kiba.
"Ah, thank you!" Hearing Takeru, Kiba quickly expressed his gratitude.
"No need. I'll head back now. The match should be ending soon." Hearing him, Takeru casually waved and headed back the way he came.
When Takeru returned, he saw Naruto with his eyes closed, his consciousness seemingly entering a special cage.
'Hey fox, lend me your power!' In the endless darkness, Naruto shouted loudly.
Hearing Naruto's shout, a giant eye opened in the darkness. Then, Naruto's heart began to beat violently.
"Enough chatting." On the arena, seeing Naruto and Neji talking for so long, Genma said directly.
"Proctor, I intend to kill this guy. If you want to stop me, feel free." Hearing Genma, Neji said to him, seemingly stating his determination.
If Naruto could survive his next attack, then he would acknowledge Naruto. If... Naruto could defeat him, he would accept Naruto's words...
"Raaah!" At that moment, Naruto formed a hand seal.
"I told you, it's useless. I've sealed your Chakra Points." Neji was very confident about his Gentle Fist. Seeing Naruto now, he directly said.
"Naruto..." Lee above watched, filled with emotion.
"Why resist your fate so much?" Neji looked at Naruto, seemingly asking him, but also asking himself.
"Because you called me a loser." Hearing him, Naruto opened his eyes and looked at Neji.
"Raaah!" As he continued to gather energy, powerful red Chakra slowly swirled around Naruto, even creating some air currents.