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As the two previous competitors exited the arena, a new pair entered.
The referee, Hayate Gekkou, announced the rules and formalities. The two competitors bowed to each other.
Once Hayate signaled the start, the battle began immediately.
In an instant, scythes and kunai flew through the air, accompanied by shuriken and chains clashing in all directions. Naruto casually deflected an unknown projectile with his hand, marveling at the sheer variety of weapons used. "No wonder rich clans have such diverse tools—I couldn't even imagine this," he muttered to himself.
"Kakashi, your subordinates are fighting each other," Kakashi said dryly as he returned with Sasuke, watching the ongoing battle between Neji and Tenten while teasing Might Guy.
His encounter with Orochimaru earlier had left him in a foul mood, so he decided to lighten it up with some banter. He remembered how Guy had mocked him not too long ago.
Sasuke wasn't in the best spirits either. Once again, he hadn't managed to extract any information about Itachi from Orochimaru. Still, judging by the occasional disdainful glances Kakashi shot him, things could've been worse.
Guy still hadn't figured out why his team was facing off against itself. Shouldn't youthful energy be directed outward instead of causing internal strife? Was this karma for mocking Kakashi earlier?
Rock Lee stroked his chin thoughtfully.
He wasn't particularly concerned about the match unfolding before him. Both combatants were familiar with each other's fighting styles. Tenten wasn't someone who would go all-out on her teammates, and despite Neji's cold demeanor, he cared deeply for his comrades—his tough exterior masked a warm heart.
The outcome of their fight would likely mirror their usual training sessions.
What Rock Lee really wanted was to step into the arena himself. He hoped the next pairing would include him.
"What did you do?" Naruto asked Sasuke, feigning ignorance.
"Took care of something," Sasuke replied vaguely, subtly gesturing toward his shoulder. With so many people around, he couldn't elaborate.
"Oh," Naruto nodded knowingly, then turned his attention back to the match.
"Twin Rising Dragons!" Tenten unleashed her signature move. There was a difference between practice and competition, and she was determined to win—even if her opponent was her crush.
"Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven!" Neji countered with his own powerful technique, respecting Tenten's efforts enough to meet her explosive attack head-on.
The two exchanged blows—one throwing, the other deflecting—with neither sustaining any damage.
Unfortunately, the spectators nearby weren't as fortunate. While Tenten's Twin Rising Dragons were connected by steel wires and retrievable, some of her projectiles shattered upon impact with Neji's defense and ricocheted wildly.
"This is... such a strong defense!" Sasuke observed, witnessing the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven for the first time. Activating his Sharingan, he dodged the fragments while attempting to copy the technique—but soon realized he couldn't replicate it!
He could see chakra flowing out of Neji's tenketsu points, propelling the rotation, but he couldn't figure out how to release chakra from his own tenketsu.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "You Sharingan users always try to copy everything you see. That technique requires the Byakugan—it's not something just anyone can pull off."
Neji was indeed a genius, having mastered the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven without guidance. Most members of the Hyuga clan couldn't even attempt it.
Take Hinata, for example. Neither her family nor Naruto had taught her the technique, and she hadn't been able to figure it out herself. After all, how could the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails possibly teach the secrets of the Hyuga clan?
Even if Naruto wanted to teach her, he wouldn't know where to begin—the anime never explained how to train for that technique.
Besides, Hinata had grown up quite differently since then. At the very least, her figure now made performing techniques like the Twin Rising Dragons awkward. Her Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists worked better—it didn't require excessive movement and allowed for additional targets.
Naruto had already hinted at the Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists during training, and Hinata had experimented with it. However, her body hadn't been ready until recently, and she could only barely use it now.
Hinata hadn't used it during their earlier sparring match. The two had fought playfully, exchanging smiles and light-hearted blows. Suddenly pulling out a barrier mid-fight wasn't something Hinata would typically do.
Hinata watched intently because this was Neji's match.
Naruto squeezed Hinata's small hand tightly. These were the hands that, in the original storyline, independently developed the Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists. Neji might be a prodigy, but Hinata was no slouch either. Creating new techniques was far more challenging than simply learning existing ones.
"Naruto-kun," Hinata gave him a faint smile, feeling the subtle pressure of his grip.
Just as Naruto was about to return the smile, he was interrupted.
"Naruto-kun."
"What is it, Lee?" Naruto asked, puzzled. Why was Rock Lee coming to him instead of crying dramatically with Guy?
"Could I borrow your sword?" Lee asked politely.
"Oh, sure." Naruto handed over the Kusanagi blade. Lee's humility made him likable, and lending the sword wasn't a big deal.
"Lee, have you discovered something?" Guy asked, sensing mischief in his student's gaze.
"Yes, Guy-sensei."
"I noticed that when Naruto-kun first held this sword, he entered the arena. Then, he tossed it to Sasuke-kun, who fought in the second round. Later, Naruto-kun passed the sword to Shikamaru, who also fought. Afterward, Naruto-kun gave it to you, sensei, which led to Neji and Tenten's match."
Lee paused, then continued, "I believe the next person to enter the arena will receive the sword. So, I came to borrow it!"
His analysis drew skeptical looks from everyone present—even Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. What kind of logic was this?
Was entering the arena really determined by a sword? And wasn't Lee supposed to be all brawn, not brains?
"Lee, it seems you've uncovered its secret as well! Truly, you are my disciple!" Guy pretended to understand, masking his confusion with dramatic flair.
"Yes, Guy-sensei. I believe this sword holds some mysterious power."
"Lee, this is the power of fate! Respond to it with the fiery passion of your youth!" Guy crouched down, gripping Lee's shoulders for emphasis.
"Guy-sensei!"
"Lee!"
The two embraced in tears, leaving the surrounding crowd baffled. Everyone took a step back, fearing they might catch whatever madness these two shared.
Naruto sighed. "Can you two cry without hugging my sword? The sheath is ruined now."
He quickly turned away, unable to bear the sight. The scene was too bizarre to watch.
Meanwhile, the battle between Neji and Tenten neared its conclusion. After landing her Twin Rising Dragons, Tenten manipulated her weapons to encircle Neji's Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven. A ring of projectiles threatened Neji, with steel wires forming a spherical cage around him.
However, the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven couldn't be sustained indefinitely—it strained the user's tenketsu points over time.
Neji stopped spinning and began dodging the incoming attacks with acrobatic movements. Like a spy navigating laser traps, he weaved through the gaps in the wire mesh, using his Byakugan's 360-degree vision to locate weak spots.
Breaking free, Neji charged directly at Tenten, ready to end the internal conflict.
Tenten abandoned the wires and resorted to direct weapon attacks, trying to slow Neji's advance while retreating.
Though Neji's speed slightly decreased, he closed the distance nonetheless.
The result of a ranged fighter being cornered by a close-combat specialist like Neji was inevitable.
Finally, Neji positioned his palm-blade against Tenten's neck.
By the time the match ended, Tenten still hadn't exhausted her arsenal. True to her reputation as a wealthy kunoichi, she spared no expense—but wealth alone couldn't surpass skill. Nanako remained the undisputed titleholder for extravagant displays of power.
"The winner is Hyuga Neji," announced Hayate.
The screen flickered, displaying the next matchup:
Rock Lee vs. Gaara
The entire audience froze, staring at Lee in disbelief. Could this really happen?
Did the sword truly possess some mysterious power?
"I'm going in, Guy-sensei," Lee declared, standing tall with unwavering determination.
"Go ahead, Lee! Unleash the full force of your youth to meet this fateful challenge!" Guy gave a thumbs-up, confident in his prized pupil's abilities. He didn't believe Lee would lose.
Only Naruto seemed lost in thought, a strange expression clouding his face.
[Fate's arrangement, huh? Heh.]