Chereads / Despite it All / Chapter 165 - Chapter 165: Everyday Ends! Pt 14

Chapter 165 - Chapter 165: Everyday Ends! Pt 14

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Hinata's POV (Eastern Forest of Irminsul - Terra)

"Of course, a weakling like me would fail again… it's the exams all over… but this time I'm ready. Don't worry, master's, I have one last offering to you… fitting like a failure like myself…" Choji's dark words stunned Hinata for a second. She could understand how he felt; she, too, had been disappointed. But something about his tone made it clear that this had weighed heavily on his mind. Her instincts screamed as she refocused on the situation, noticing Choji had managed to raise an odd container to his mouth. It was a segmented, clear container that was not unlike what one would have for medicine. He opened it clumsily and allowed the first of three oddly colored balls to fall into his mouth, a green one. Hinata felt her brain whirl as she remembered just what it was. One of the Akimichi's claims to fame was their unique and mysterious food pills, each claimed to boost their power. And the last one said to do so by the hundreds.

Hinata reacted instantly, flicking a kunai at them with such precision that she knocked it from his hands. Sending the case and pill flying into the long grass around them. But to her horror, she had been too slow, he had eaten one. She leaped back and activated her Byakugan. Choji seemed to jump to his feet, and she could see his chakra writhing around him. Hinata could tell with a glance that Choji was not done fighting, nor would he be as easy to deal with as before.

"MY TURN BITCH!" Choji bellowed as he raced forward; Hinata barely managed to weave the wild shot. However, Choji's other fist clenched the back of her suit. With a spin and savage strength, Choji attempted to throw her. Hinata, however, manages to free herself with a gentle fist jab. She flew away and activated her precise beam wordlessly. Choji quickly ducked her wild swings with it as he closed in. His new speed allowed him to close in; Hinata had seconds to react, and only managed to raise a shaky guard. Choji's sandaled foot smashed into it, sending her sprawling from the power, smashing painfully into a tree.

'His speed and strength have nearly doubled.' Hinata thought as she climbed to her feet. 'If he hits me like that again, I doubt I'll be able to stand. He's stronger than me now… but I can beat him. With his new strength, he hasn't bothered to become a giant. Meaning my gentle fist should be more effective… I just need to let him close in and end this!'

Choji unknowingly played into her thoughts. Rushing toward her again, Hinata stood her ground as he drew close. Spinning in place as Choji attempted to crush her against the tree, shoulder first.

"Kaiten!" Hinata called as her chakra shell formed. Instead of violently flinging the man back, it merely stopped his momentum for a moment. Before the blow shattered her Kaiten. Off-balance, Hinata leaned against her tree as Choji reared back another fist to finish her off. Hinata, however, had been baiting for this very moment.

She suddenly lunged forward within Choji's guard. He was so shocked that he was left entirely open. 'I have to take this shot; he won't be open like this again!' Hinata lunged for his chest; however, as her palm drew close, a concern arose in her mind. 'This strike will knock him out, but it could be lethal. I can't be certain a strike like this wouldn't hit an organ.' Hinata inwardly cursed. She needed to stop him, but could she risk killing him? Hinata answered herself as her hand closed into a fist. Instead of disabling the man with chakra, a mere punch to his chest was suffered.

Choji did seem confused but, without hesitation or words, brutally backhanded Hinata through the tree. Hinata cried out as she landed painfully among the debris of the tree. The top of the tree fell points downward toward the Hyuga. But Hinata was bleeding from her forehead and stunned.

She looked up to see the debris coming for her. She felt pride even as death approached. At the very least, Hinata had stayed true to herself. She would rather die than risk a friend's life. As the Hyuga bowed her head, half of the tree approached her, certain to crush and run her through.

"YOUTHFUL WILD SPEAR!" Lee's voice cut into the clearing. The man flew through the air and, just as the namesake of his technique suggests, burst from the tree with ease. His wild kick shattered the tree half into pieces and drove it away from Hinata. The Hyuga, stunned, watched as Lee continued with his momentum, and once he hit a tree, he stopped in place and seemed to stop and aim a punch at Choji from a distance. "I cannot allow one of my friends to stray from the path of YOUTH!" Lee cried out angrily. "I will set you straight with punishment! WILD YOUTH RAMPAGE!" Lee punched as if he would hit; Hinata's eyes widened as she saw chakra shoot through the air in small clumps. Each hit Choji and, even in his empowered state, knocked him from his feet and sent him careening toward the opposite side of the field. "Worry not fair, Hinata-chan," Lee assured. "The beautiful beast of the Leaf is here!"