Hinata's Conviction and Ninja Way

Once the battle began, Zaku immediately attacked with his best sonic technique-Decapitating Airwaves-firing it from the palm of his left hand. Unfortunately, it was nothing in Neji's eyes. He activated his Byakugan and struck the tenketsu on Zaku's arm, effectively disabling it. Wasn't fighting a Hyuga at close range asking for death?

"Well? I've struck every tenketsu in your arm with my Chakra. With the injuries you already had, can you still fight? Examiner, announce the result. Some people's fates are decided from the moment they're born. Someone like you can only be a stepping stone for the victor." Neji began preaching his theory of fate again.

Listening to those irritating words, Issui grumbled inwardly. Why don't you go be a prophet, you bastard? Whatever you say goes, huh? Tch, aren't you fighting against your own fate too?

Zaku recalled his childhood and was filled with unwillingness. Even if it cost him his life, he would defeat this boastful bastard. "Tch, you're the one who's destined to lose! I still have another hand. Sometimes what you see isn't real. This is my backup plan. Take this!" Zaku raised his right hand and attacked Neji.

Neji sneered and dodged Zaku's attack, but he was still sent flying by the sound waves.

"Damn it, I'll show you my fury, you bug destined to fail." Neji swiftly attacked Zaku, striking the chakra pathways around his heart.

"Bang..."

Outmatched, Zaku immediately collapsed.

Issui went over and checked on Zaku. He had fallen unconscious and wouldn't wake up for the time being, so Issui could only announce, "Third match, Neji Hyuga wins. Next is... Tenten versus Hinata Hyuga! Will both contestants please come down..."

I didn't expect Hinata to be up against Guy's student Tenten. Hinata should be the winner, though. Hinata, make your husband proud and show them what you can do.

"Lady Hinata, I advise you to concede right away. Tenten is probably the strongest weapon-wielding ninja among the Genin. You'd better give up, or you'll get hurt. You've always been a coward; you're not suited to being a ninja at all!" Neji said to Hinata as she came down.

Naruto curled his lip. "You're so annoying! Why are you always deciding things for other people? Do you think you can predict everything? I hate guys like you the most. You're even worse than that jerk Sasuke."

Neji snorted heavily. "A dead last will always be a dead last, and a genius is destined to be a genius. Your name is Naruto, right? I heard you graduated last in your class at the Ninja Academy. Someone like you will never surpass a genius."

Naruto flew into a rage. "What did you say, you bastard? I'm going to beat you, just you wait! I'll show you that even a dead last can surpass a genius through hard work!"

Hinata spoke up then, too. "Neji, please don't say that. Although I don't know why you're like this, I'm not the timid Hinata I used to be. Through hard training, I can become a powerful ninja too."

"Is that so? I'll be watching," Neji said, raising an eyebrow.

Issui stepped forward and said, "Now then, the third match begins. The winner of the previous match, please leave immediately. Don't disrupt the match."

Neji snorted and slowly walked up to the viewing platform.

"Yo, Kurenai, that's your student, right? She's definitely no match for Tenten. Although Tenten is the weakest student I've trained, she's not someone a rookie can beat."

Kurenai smiled and said, "Is that so? I think Hinata is the strongest female ninja among the Genin. I don't know where you get your confidence, but Hinata will definitely defeat her opponent."

Guy stared. "Kakashi, what do you think? Huh, Kakashi, my rival, where on earth are you? Ah, why didn't I know you'd already left? All right, if you don't appear in the next moment, then I win... Yeah, I've won another round! I'm just too amazing..."

"Yo, Guy-sensei, you really are the strongest! You're everything I'd expect from my idol!" Lee said, tears streaming down his face.

"Ah, Lee, you really are the student I'm proudest of. Lee..." Guy cried as well.

"Guy-sensei..." Rock Lee threw himself into Guy's arms, and the two of them burst into tears.

A multitude of black lines appeared on Kurenai's forehead. Honestly, there they went again...

All right, back to the action: Hinata versus Tenten!

Hinata activated her Byakugan and took up a Gentle Fist stance. Tenten also took several Kunai from her ninja pouch.

"That stance is..." Asuma murmured...

"The Hyuga's Gentle Fist, isn't it...?" Kakashi suddenly appeared. It seemed he had sealed Sasuke's Cursed Seal.

Sakura said happily, "Kakashi-sensei, is Sasuke all right...?"

"Yes, he's all right for now. The Anbu are protecting him," Kakashi said.

Tenten's heart gave a jolt as she looked at Hinata. It's the same Gentle Fist Neji uses. I wonder how good she is at it. I'll have to test her. "Hey, that's the Gentle Fist, right? I wonder how you compare to Neji. His Gentle Fist is really impressive."

"Make your move. Since you know this fighting style, I won't hold back anymore." Hinata moved forward and swiftly attacked.

Tenten was stunned by Hinata's practiced movements. She's so fast! I'll have to attack from a distance. Fighting her at close range would put me at a huge disadvantage. Tenten retreated while throwing several Kunai.

Hinata immediately moved back to dodge the Kunai, but the Shuriken Tenten threw afterward left her scrambling.

Sure enough, Hinata had too little combat experience. And because Issui usually wanted to protect her, he never went all out when sparring with her and did his best to keep her from getting hurt. Now, though, that seemed to have been a mistake. He had harmed her instead. At the thought, Issui felt somewhat annoyed with himself. He was so clever, yet he had done something so foolish. How utterly stupid of him.

Tenten, on the other hand, was different. She had always gone all out when sparring with Lee and Neji. Coupled with her talent for manipulating ninja tools and her ranged attacks, she was a truly powerful ninja.

"Mm..."

Although Hinata dodged in time, there were so many ninja tools flying at her that one Shuriken still grazed her calf. The sight pained Issui, but he was the examiner and couldn't warn one of the fighters to watch out.

"Ha, you're pretty good. You only got hit by one Shuriken. You're quite skilled among the female ninja in this year's class, but I'm going to win this match," Tenten said confidently when she saw Hinata was hurt.

"Is that so? I won't give up so easily. The person I love is watching me fight, so I can't let him look down on me!" Hinata said earnestly, continuing her attack.

As Issui watched, he thought, Hinata, don't attack the enemy without any strategy, just like Naruto. What you said makes me very happy, but could you use a little strategy?

"Hmph!" Tenten continued attacking with ninja tools, throwing even more Shuriken and Kunai this time.

"Poof..."

The Hinata who had been hit suddenly turned into a wooden log. She had used the Substitution Technique.

"Ha!" Hinata appeared behind Tenten and attacked her.

Tenten was sent flying, then got back to her feet. She didn't seem to be badly hurt. She took out a scroll and said, "Looks like I can't underestimate you. In that case, all right. I advise you to concede as soon as possible, or else..."

"I have a conviction and a ninja way I must uphold. Although I used to be very timid and afraid of fighting, only after understanding what true strength was did I learn to face things bravely. Although I'm timid and not very smart, I know there are actually many people behind me, encouraging and helping me. I understand now that a ninja doesn't fight as a tool, but fights carrying the love of her beloved, friends, comrades, and family, inspired by them. I already possess the most powerful source of strength a ninja can have, so I won't give up. I will win. Come on!" Hinata looked at Issui, then spoke to Tenten, her gaze growing ever more determined.

"That look in her eyes... I've never seen it before. How did Hinata suddenly become so confident...?" Neji asked, puzzled.

"Her ninja way is a lot like someone else's. I suppose he influenced her," Kakashi said mildly.

"Making feelings the greatest source of a ninja's strength in battle is very different from what they teach at school. But I think this is better," Asuma said.

"Yes. Hinata has her own ninja way. She's always told me that a ninja who fights with feeling will gain tremendous strength and hold out to the very end, no matter how powerful the opponent. A ninja must fight not only for herself, but for her comrades, her friends, her family, her comrades, and everyone in the village, pouring her feelings for them into her hands to defeat every powerful opponent," Kurenai said with a smile. "That's why I think Hinata is the strongest female ninja among the Genin."

Listening to the teachers' conversation, Naruto agreed wholeheartedly. "Yeah! Even though I was always dead last at school, I kept working hard to earn their recognition. As more and more comrades acknowledge me, I'll gain even greater strength. Because I have them, I keep encouraging myself to become the Hokage who protects everyone. Anyway, Hinata, do your best! Beat Tenten and prove your conviction and ninja way."

"Hey, I agree with what she said too, but Naruto, don't tell her to beat my student right in front of me. That hurts..." Guy said.

"Tch, it's just some psychological suggestion. What good can it do? She won't necessarily beat Tenten," Neji sneered.

"You..." Naruto couldn't stand Neji again and wanted to rush over and beat him up.

Kakashi caught Naruto helplessly and said, "All right, the battle has reached its climax. Tenten's about to attack."

"Rising Dragon!!!" Tenten used her favorite Ninjutsu, launching a continuous barrage of different ninja tools at Hinata.

The ninja tools flew fast, and Hinata still hadn't reacted. Everyone thought she was in trouble this time.

"Get out of the way!" Naruto shouted.

Issui was a little worried too.

Just as the ninja tools were about to hit Hinata...

Hinata took up the stance for Rotation and cried out, "Rotation!!!"

Hinata's body began to spin rapidly, faster and faster, revolving in a circle like a top. Chakra formed a protective layer outside her body, perfectly shielding her within it, and every incoming ninja tool was deflected.