Chapter 231: True Konoha Genin
In the arena, Hyuga Neji and Hyuga Hinata stood facing each other. Neji's brow furrowed slightly, his face written with obvious distress and helplessness. He truly didn't want to fight Hinata, whom he considered his younger sister. This resistance was practically etched plainly on his expression.
When Gekko Hayate announced the match's start, Hinata had already taken the initiative. She took a deep breath, veins bulging around her eyes as her pure white Byakugan activated, both hands assuming the Hyuga style Gentle Fist ready stance.
"Neji-niisan... please guide me!"
"...Hinata-sama... pardon my offense!"
Neji closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and finally activated his Byakugan as well, assuming a combat stance. Though his heart was extremely unwilling to hurt her, until he found Menma-sama and gained his recognition, he had to continuously improve, had to become stronger!
I'm sorry, Hinata-sama... I must respond to those expectations, must possess sufficient strength!
Naruto watched the two beginning their Gentle Fist offense and defense with thoughtful eyes. Because Neji already knew the truth about his father's death—knew that Hizashi hadn't perished but was living safely somewhere under the Ember organization's protection—the atmosphere of this match was already completely different from the original work.
The Neji in the original work, fully believing his father had been forced by the main family to sacrifice himself as a scapegoat, had been filled with resentment toward fate and a vicious temperament. When Hinata from the main family spoke of "wanting to change" before their battle, that accumulated grievance nearly made him lose control, almost using lethal force in the arena.
But now, what appeared before everyone was a match that could be called an exemplar of "abundant martial virtue." The two's offense-defense transitions were swift and precise, palm winds whistling, chakra flowing at their fingertips, but all attacks cleverly avoided the other's vital points.
Anyone could see that Neji continuously restrained his force during their exchange, deliberately holding back. His purpose wasn't to defeat his opponent—it was more like instructional sparring.
Ultimately, there was indeed an objective difference in strength between them. After a dazzling exchange of Gentle Fist techniques, Neji seized a fleeting opening and struck Hinata with a precise palm, knocking her to the ground. Immediately, his palm steadily stopped before Hinata's vital point, his control perfectly measured—truly stopping at just the right moment.
Gekko Hayate looked at Neji's palm precisely stopped before a vital point—in actual combat already sufficient to determine life or death—nodded, then announced, "Winner: Hyuga Neji."
After the result was announced, Neji immediately extended his hand to pull Hinata up from the ground, continuously murmuring apologies like "I was rude" and "I'm sorry, Hinata-sama" while carefully dusting off her clothes.
Though Hinata's eyes still held a trace of disappointment at not winning, she still lifted her head and showed Neji a gentle smile, responding softly, "It's alright, Neji-niisan."
The atmosphere of fraternal respect and mutual regard between these cousins made many present nod approvingly. However, this harmonious scene only made Gaara feel increasingly agitated and confused.
Next, the electronic screen began scrolling again, displaying a new match—
[Haruno Sakura VS Yamanaka Ino]
Ino and Sakura, whose expression showed some nervous anxiety, walked onto the arena together. Sakura's unease stemmed partly from not expecting to fight her best friend, and partly because... in the second exam, she'd basically been "carried through" entirely by Naruto. Without Naruto, she wasn't sure if she truly deserved to stand here.
Ino also looked somewhat hesitant, seemingly equally unwilling to cross swords with her friend... when they weren't competing for a boy, could their relationship really be this good?
But as Gekko Hayate announced the match's start, Sakura's gaze gradually became resolute. Holding onto her determination to prove her value through effort and surpass the Ino she'd always admired, she resolved to seriously compete with Ino.
The two first engaged in taijutsu. But it was obviously apparent that their taijutsu level was completely different from the previous monster-level matches.
Kankuro in the spectator seats finally let out a long breath seeing this. This was normal! This was the genin level in his understanding! Those previous things... Konoha calls those genin?!
During their exchange, Sakura relied on her naturally fine chakra control ability, slowly gathering chakra in her limbs to enhance her physical abilities—combined with the taijutsu foundation Naruto had trained her in during leisure time as groundwork for eventually learning "superhuman strength." Therefore, in the initial taijutsu confrontation, Sakura gradually gained the upper hand.
Finally, Sakura seized a fleeting opening and threw a straight punch toward Ino's face. Ino couldn't dodge in time and was hit by the punch's force, staggering backward.
However, after landing the hit, Sakura immediately sensed something wrong. Ino... hadn't been taking this seriously just now?
Could it be that in her eyes, she was still that "Sakura" who felt inferior about her wide forehead, forever needing Ino's care and protection?
Gekko Hayate looked at Ino kneeling on the ground, seemingly having lost her will to fight. He coughed weakly, about to routinely announce the match result—
"Hey! Ino-pig!"
A voice interrupted the proctor's thoughts.
Sakura clenched both fists, her eyes burning as she stared at her friend and opponent, her voice mixing anxiety at her failure to meet expectations.
"Hurry up and stand! Stop playing dead there! The Ino I know—even when I was mocked for my wide forehead, she'd say 'that's a cute hairstyle,' someone who never knew the meaning of 'backing down'!"
Sakura's words burst forth like rapid-fire, both encouragement and provocation.
"Put away that boring sympathy! I don't want to be that Sakura who only hides behind you all and needs protection anymore! I want to prove my value! So show me your real skills, Yamanaka Ino! Don't make me look down on you!"
These words struck like a heavy hammer, shattering the confusion in Ino's heart and... that trace of pity even she was unwilling to admit. She'd always secretly worried for Sakura—assigned to that Team Seven with the yandere Uchiha, her crush's true face so oppressive, how fearfully must Sakura have spent each day after her idol's halo shattered?
But now, looking at this Haruno Sakura before her with brilliant eyes, not backing down in the slightest as she challenged her, Ino suddenly realized—she'd gotten it completely wrong!
Ino let out a low laugh, using the back of her hand to wipe the sweat and dust from her forehead as she stood back up. The hesitation in her eyes completely dissipated, replaced by long-absent fighting spirit and relief. "To call me that... wide forehead... looks like I worried about you for nothing."
The two's gazes clashed again in midair. This time, without half a trace of hesitation!
Battle resumed! Between exchanging fists and feet, though their level was far from those "monster" level matches of Satsuki, Gaara, and Lee, the will and determination to never give up contained within was no weaker.
Ino seized on one of Sakura's habitual side-dodges, her prepared hand seals instantly completing—"Mind Transfer Jutsu!"
An invisible mental energy instantly rushed toward Sakura! However, just when everyone thought victory was decided—
Sakura, hit by the secret technique, not only didn't have her body seized, but actually let out a low roar! Relying purely on the obsessive conviction of "not wanting to drag anyone down anymore," another Sakura drove Ino out of her mental world, breaking free from the Yamanaka clan's mental restraints!
"How is that possible?!" Ino suffered the technique's backlash, groaning as her complexion instantly paled.
The secret technique's failure turned the battle into a cruel tug-of-war of will and endurance. Both were at their limits, chakra nearly depleted, stamina exhausted. Every punch thrown, every dodge became incredibly difficult—completely sustained by sheer refusal to lose.
Finally, after another weak exchange of punches, the two seemed to have agreed in advance—their bodies simultaneously went soft with two "thuds" as they both heavily collapsed on the ground, unable to move.
Gekko Hayate couldn't help but internally complain—this match... really was quite long. The previous several matches combined probably didn't last as long as this one...
He walked forward and, after confirming both had indeed lost consciousness and couldn't continue fighting, announced:
"As both parties are unable to continue combat... for this preliminary match, no one advances."
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