Sasuke: Mention My Name in Something Like This Again, and I'll Kill You!

Neji perfectly controlled the rhythm of the attack, while Naruto neutralized each attack with his Inch Power Eight Gates Punch technique.

The two exchanged blows, and both were already covered in dust.

"Hinata, is this your brother?" Sasuke, his Sharingan activated, his face grave.

He truly hadn't expected that there would be such a person in the Ninja Academy.

You know, in the past, he would scoff at anyone who said a genius had emerged in a certain grade.

After all, with Hagoromo Sasuke one-on-one training, Sasuke's attention was only focused on Naruto and his group.

"Yes, Neji is the most talented member of the Branch Family... no, he should be the most talented among the younger generation of the entire Hyuga Clan."

Hinata shook her head halfway through her sentence.

"Main Family, Branch Family?" Sasuke was taken aback, after all, he hadn't really looked into these things.

Shikamaru frowned. He did know a little about it, but it was, after all, a matter concerning a ninja clan.

Outsiders shouldn't say too much, otherwise they'd just be asking for trouble.

However, the most talented person ended up in the Branch Family, which just goes to show how... the Hyuga Clan really is...

As Hagoromo watched Neji fight Naruto, he couldn't help but admire him as a true genius.

Even powerful figures like Hashirama and Madara Uchiha, when they were only slightly older than Neji, were still competing to see who could pee the farthest.

Boom--

The collision of the two streams of Chakra produced a sound, Naruto and Neji each took a few steps back.

Both were panting as they looked at each other; Neji was being completely dragged along by Naruto.

Naruto, on the other hand, needed to use more Chakra to deal with Neji's attacks.

Neither of them can currently suppress the other.

"Hey! It's a bit slow, but what's your name?"

Naruto asked Neji, since he had been angry and hadn't really paid attention to this.

Neji struggled to control his breathing and replied, "Neji Hyuga."

"You're very strong, or I should say you're a genius," Naruto said with a serious expression.

Neji's expression turned somewhat unpleasant upon hearing this; after all, if he were a genius...

What is that Caged Bird Seal on its forehead?

"Are you making fun of me?!" Neji shouted angrily at Naruto.

Naruto:???

What's wrong with you! Who in their right mind would use the word "genius" to ridicule someone else?

"I'm telling the truth. I haven't even praised Sasuke like that," Naruto said honestly.

Stamp--

Sasuke, standing to the side, felt deeply hurt.

When did I become someone others used for comparison?

This was true when I was fighting Hinata, and it's true now!

Is Naruto, that Dead Last, mocking me?

Neji turned to look at Sasuke, after all, he had heard of the title of the top student in the first year.

Perhaps, the person in front of him was genuinely praising him?

"Let's settle this with one move!" Neji said to Naruto without further thought.

His current situation is unexpectedly identical to what happened at the Ninja Academy.

The blond guy in front of me has an astonishing amount of Chakra.

"I refuse." Naruto stopped his pose, shook his head, and refused.

"You've been fighting long enough; you'll definitely get injured if you keep going."

After saying that, Naruto turned around and walked towards where Shikamaru and the others were.

"You... you're looking down on me?!"

As the voice rang out, Naruto saw Hinata, Shikamaru, and the others calling out to him with anxious expressions.

Behind Naruto stood Neji, his face contorted in a ferocious expression, Chakra gathering in his hands.

Call--

A gust of wind blew by, Neji found his hand being held firmly.

Hagoromo stood in front of Neji, smiling Neji he said, "Although, ninjas complete missions at all costs."

"However, you're challenging Naruto now, and he's already refused. Attacking him from behind like this is going too far."

Although his words were very gentle, Neji detected a strong warning in them.

"..."

"I'm sorry, I went too far." Neji said in a low voice Chakra in his hand slowly dissipated.

"You should talk to Naruto about this."

Hagoromo released Neji's hand and responded calmly, then gave Neji a push.

Neji stumbled to Naruto's side, and looking into Naruto's eyes, he unexpectedly felt a little ashamed.

"Right..."

Before he could finish speaking, Naruto raised his fist and smashed it into Neji's forehead.

Seeing Neji closed his eyes, waiting for the punch to land.

After a long while, the pain did not return.

"I really want to punch you, but you're Hinata's brother."

"This isn't out of pity, but Hinata is genuinely worried about you."

Neji had his eyes closed, was startled, then opened them, only to be met with Naruto's open and honest gaze looking directly at him.

Behind Naruto, Hinata was looking at the two of them with a worried expression.

Ino had a beaming expression, indicating that she had gotten some juicy gossip.

Hagoromo Yi shook her head and chuckled. This talent was probably unmatched in the Shinobi World; no wonder she was Minato Namikaze's offspring.

After a long silence, Neji turned around and slowly left the training ground.

Naruto was taken aback upon seeing Neji, then muttered to himself, "His personality is even less likable than Sasuke's."

Thud--

The words had barely left his mouth when Naruto felt himself being kicked away from behind.

He got up and turned to look, only to see Sasuke with a speechless expression, saying:

"Dead Last, if you dare mention my name in this kind of thing again, I'll kill you!"

"You Sasuke! You want to duel me?!" Naruto shouted angrily at Sasuke.

"Come on then! I've been putting up with you for a long time!" Sasuke retorted defiantly.

Hagoromo shook her head as she watched Naruto and Sasuke start arguing again.

"Hinata, I'll go over there. Your presence probably won't make a difference."

He turned around, reached out to stop Hinata from chasing after him, and said slowly.

Hinata paused, then nodded with a dim look in her eyes and said, "Thank you for your trouble, teacher."

"Fine."

Hagoromo waved his hand and slowly walked in the direction Neji had just left.

--

A corner on the outskirts of the Forest of Death.

Neji Hyuga sat on a tree trunk, gazing at the bright moon in the sky, his eyes vacant.

Do you have time to chat for a bit?

A voice rang out, interrupting Neji's reverie, and he turned to look at the tree below.

Hagoromo was leaning against a tree, beckoning to Neji.

"What would you like to talk about, teacher?" Neji replied calmly.

"I think your main reason for challenging Naruto is to see his Taijutsu, right?"

Unfazed by Neji's cold attitude, Hagoromo spoke directly from under the tree.

"That kind of Taijutsu was taught to them by me."

Neji, then looked at Hagoromo with disbelief in his eyes.

"What? Do you really think that Naruto friends could develop such a self-contained Taijutsu of taijutsu?"

Hagoromo chuckled lightly, "When talking to someone like Neji, who is rational but prone to getting stuck on things, you can't beat around the bush."

Just grab his attention directly.