Naruto pointed at him, laughter bursting out uncontrollably. "I'm laughing at you! You're so contradictory!"Neji's brow furrowed in confusion. "Contradictory? How am I contradictory?""Think about it!" Naruto continued, his voice tinged with frustration. "You say all destiny is predetermined. That no matter how hard anyone tries, they can't change it… yet here you are, trying so hard yourself! If you truly believe that, why even bother?!"For a moment, Hyuga Neji froze, his mouth opening slightly, no words coming out. He snorted softly, a sound laced with reluctant acknowledgment. "You're right, Uzumaki Naruto. Even if I try, I cannot escape my fate."He raised his gaze, his eyes sharp and cold. "I am bound by the destiny of being a branch family member of the Hyuga Clan, and that will never change in this lifetime. My talent, too, is a gift predetermined by fate. It's a path I was born to walk, and it is something that no one—not you, nor Rock Lee, nor Hinata—can hope to surpass."Naruto's fists clenched, his fury rising. He opened his mouth to retort, but Rock Lee placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Forget words, Naruto. Let us show him instead. Let our results speak. We will prove who is truly right."Naruto's anger reached its boiling point. "Alright!" he shouted. "Then let's make a promise! One year from now, Lee, Hinata, and I will challenge you. And by that time, we will defeat you—definitely!"Neji's laughter was cold and dismissive. "Just the three of you? Forget a year… even a lifetime won't make you my equal." He turned slightly, eyes glinting with disdain. "It's typical of the weak to set their sights on someone stronger than them. You've never had the qualifications."With those cutting words, Neji began to leave. Naruto's hands clenched so tightly it hurt, but Rock Lee grabbed him again, preventing an impulsive pursuit.Watching Neji's figure disappear into the distance, Lee let out a deep sigh. "Naruto, Neji's nature is as it is. And yes, he's right. We aren't his match right now. But what you said… it was excellent! That promise, that challenge for a year later… it set my blood on fire!"Naruto's eyes burned with hatred as he stared after Neji. "That arrogant brat… he's more irritating than Sasuke!""Uchiha Sasuke?" Lee asked, tilting his head."Yes," Naruto replied. "The two of them are similar in temperament—proud, even arrogant—but geniuses in every sense. And that… that fuels our fighting spirit even more."A surge of energy ran through Rock Lee's veins. "Naruto! I'm fired up! We must work with all our strength, together, to surpass a genius like Neji!""Right!" Naruto roared.And with that, their spirits ignited, the tension of Neji's words turning into pure motivation. Their shouts and battle cries echoed across the training field as they threw themselves into a grueling round of Taijutsu exercises. "Leaf Whirlwind!" they yelled in unison, the technique repeated over and over until sweat soaked their clothing, and exhaustion tugged at every muscle. Their youth burned like a wildfire, passionate and untamed.From a distance, two figures watched the spectacle unfold. Might Guy's fists clenched, emotion evident in every line of his face. "Passionate, isn't it, Kakashi?" he said, almost shouting in excitement. "This… this is the essence of true youth! Naruto, Lee, Neji… their all-consuming bet, their lifelong rivalry, it mirrors us perfectly!"Beside him, Kakashi Hatake stood leaning lazily against a tree, his face partially hidden by a mask. One eye exposed, dull and half-asleep, betrayed a lazy indifference. He let out a long yawn, pulling a book from his pocket, and shook his head in resignation. "Yes, very passionate. But you didn't bring me here just to watch their energy, did you?"Guy's laughter was contagious, spilling over with excitement. "Hahaha! That's part of it, Kakashi! But also… I thought perhaps seeing them might rouse some vitality in you. You've been down too long. Isn't it time to awaken your youth again?"Kakashi's visible eye softened as he gazed at the drifting clouds. "Youth? I've never had such a thing…""Impossible!" Guy exclaimed, his voice ringing with conviction. "Our youth is not over. It's just beginning! And you, Kakashi, should know why I brought you here."Kakashi exhaled softly, the weight of past experiences pressing on his shoulders. He had seen the depths of despair, the cold darkness of the Anbu life. Missions that required cruelty and precision had numbed him to everything but pain. Even leaving the Anbu under the Hokage's orders, the torment lingered."You've grown fond of someone, haven't you?" Kakashi's voice was calm but knowing.Rock Lee? Guy's laughter rang out again. "As I expected! Your insight is as sharp as ever! Yes, I have observed that child since his days at the Ninja Academy. He is like me—unable to rely on Ninjutsu or Genjutsu. He depends solely on Taijutsu. Yet, most importantly, he shares my belief: effort surpasses talent."Kakashi nodded slightly. "It's not just that… he even resembles you physically—bowl cut, thick eyebrows…"Guy doubled over in laughter. "Hahaha! That proves it! We are destined!"But then, his expression shifted, thoughtful. "However, there's another I've taken an interest in."Kakashi tilted his head, unhesitant. "Hyuga Neji?"Guy's eyes widened in shock. "How… did you know?!"Kakashi's calm demeanor never wavered. "A branch family Hyuga. Talented. Taijutsu prodigy. And a necessary challenge to Lee—proving that effort can indeed surpass genius."Guy's admiration was palpable. "You truly understand me! Yet Neji is in darkness. He needs to be guided, freed. But you… you recognize the boy's potential too, don't you?"Kakashi's response was soft. "Yes… he is talented. But much like those before him, he is trapped in fate's web. What right do I have to save someone else when I cannot save myself?"Might Guy nodded knowingly. "The Anbu left scars… but it cannot define them. That is why we are here, to witness these young spirits ignite their own paths. Even Kakashi Hatake, the man who has seen so much, should see… that youth is alive in them."Kakashi's eyes traced the three distant figures of Naruto, Lee, and Neji. He could feel the fiery determination emanating from them, raw and unrefined. They were flawed, yet magnificent. And for a moment, even he felt a flicker of hope.Meanwhile, on the training field, Naruto and Lee continued their relentless drills, their shouting harmonizing with the crashing of bodies and the thrum of their relentless pace. Every spin, every kick, every strike carried the weight of their promise—a year from now, Neji would know just what they were capable of. Sweat poured, hearts pounded, and muscles screamed, yet they pressed forward, fueled by the shared conviction of surpassing a genius.And from the distance, two observers—one fervent, one detached—witnessed it all. Might Guy's heart burned alongside theirs. Kakashi, despite his indifference, could not help but notice the spark—one that might, just might, ignite a revolution within the lives of these young ninjas.The clash of ambition, pride, and effort echoed across the field. The journey of Naruto, Lee, Hinata, and even Neji had only begun. Their destinies, though bound by fate, were being challenged every day through sweat, determination, and unbreakable spirit. One year from now, they would all meet again, their paths converging in a contest of effort against innate genius. And in that contest, the true measure of a ninja would emerge.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)