Neji despised fate.
He hated the Hyūga clan.
And most of all—
He hated the caged bird seal that chained his destiny.
His hatred twisted his heart, turning his bitterness into resentment.
And Hinata?
To him, she was nothing but a weak excuse for an heir.
Someone unworthy of carrying the Hyūga name.
---
"I-I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
Hinata's voice trembled.
Tears welled up in her pale lavender eyes and trickled down her cheeks.
Neji's words—his cold, cutting truth—sank deep into her heart.
But then—
A warm hand rested gently on her shoulder.
Hinata looked up.
Naruto was standing beside her, his gaze calm yet firm.
"Hinata."
His voice was steady.
"You did nothing wrong."
"There's no need for you to apologize."
Hinata's eyes widened.
Her heart fluttered.
"…Naruto-kun…"
His words, his presence, his kindness—
It soothed her pain, even if only a little.
Naruto turned away from Hinata and faced Neji.
His blue eyes burned with determination.
"I don't know much about the grudge between the Hyūga clan and the Branch Family."
"But I do know one thing—"
Naruto's voice grew sharper.
"Taking out your anger on a girl doesn't make you a man."
His gaze locked onto Neji.
Unwavering.
Unshaken.
"You're pathetic."
A heavy silence followed.
Even Lee and Tenten stiffened in shock.
Naruto had just insulted Neji directly.
---
Neji's fists clenched.
His white eyes burned with rage.
"What do you know?!"
His voice was sharp, filled with anger and pain.
"You admit you know nothing about the Hyūga's curse—"
"Then what right do you have to judge me?!"
Naruto laughed coldly.
"Oh? So you think you're the most miserable person in the world?"
"That no one else has suffered as much as you?"
Neji's expression twisted.
But Naruto kept going.
"You're trapped by fate, right? The Hyūga Clan's traditions are unfair, right?"
"Then why are you taking it out on Hinata?!"
Naruto took a step forward.
His words cut deep.
"You think bullying a kind girl will change anything? You think hurting her will free you?"
Neji's body shook with rage.
Naruto's next words sealed it.
"You're not some tragic hero, Neji."
"You're just a coward."
---
Neji's eyes turned cold.
His body tensed.
"You will pay for those words."
Tenten's eyes widened.
"Neji, wait—!"
But it was too late.
Neji dashed forward.
"Lee, we need to stop this—!"
Tenten grabbed Lee's arm.
But Lee gently removed her hand.
He shook his head.
"No, Tenten."
His serious gaze followed Naruto and Neji.
"This is something they need to settle themselves."
---
BOOM!
Neji launched forward, his palm glowing with chakra.
A Gentle Fist strike—aimed at Naruto's chest.
But—
WHOOSH!
Naruto sidestepped.
Then—
He counterattacked.
A fist to the ribs.
Neji barely dodged.
Their movements became faster, sharper, deadlier.
Fists clashed.
Feet whipped through the air.
The sound of palm strikes and counterattacks echoed through the training ground.
---
Neji's eyes narrowed.
"Enough."
He stopped playing around.
Veins bulged around his temples.
His Byakugan activated.
His vision expanded—360 degrees.
He could now see Naruto's chakra flow.
And when he saw it—
His breath caught.
"What…?!"
Neji's mind froze.
"This chakra… How can a mere genin have this much?"
His hesitation was a mistake.
THWACK!
Naruto's kick struck Neji's chest.
Neji flew back.
CRACK!
He hit the ground hard, coughing.
His ribcage ached.
Naruto landed gracefully.
But he wasn't done.
His fingers brushed against the kunai pouch at his waist.
Two kunai flashed through the air.
They weren't ordinary kunai.
They had Flying Thunder God markings.
Neji's Byakugan caught it.
He quickly deflected them midair.
But—
Naruto had already vanished.
SHUN!
In the blink of an eye—
Naruto teleported.
Appearing right beside Neji.
"Too slow."
BAM!
A fist to the cheek.
Neji's head snapped to the side.
He stumbled back.
His vision blurred.
His body swayed.
Tenten gasped.
"Neji!"
---
Lee's eyes widened.
He muttered:
"…That technique…"
Tenten turned to him, confused.
"Lee? What's wrong?"
Lee clenched his fists.
"I've heard about this."
He looked at Naruto, eyes full of admiration.
"That teleportation technique… It's the Flying Thunder God."
Tenten froze.
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