Byakugan versus Byakugan, an Unbreakable Divide

"I'm back. Where's Sasuke?"

Naruto, thrilled by his victory, ran up to the second floor, but when he did not see Sasuke anywhere, he asked in confusion.

"Teacher Kakashi said he passed out after receiving treatment. He's at the hospital now."

"Aw, and I wanted to celebrate making it into the third round with him."

"Naruto, are you okay? Your face is all dirty..."

"What a poor guy..."

Sakura glanced at Kiba, who was being carried away by the medical team, then at Hinata, who was gently wiping the grime from Naruto's face with her handkerchief. She pitied the poor single guy for a second.

"Naruto, I'm going to check on Kiba."

"Go ahead."

"Kiba, this medicated plaster..."

Hinata held the medicated plaster, unsure what expression she should wear. She was happy that Naruto had won, but Kiba, who was in the same class as her, had lost. She simply could not smile.

"Don't dwell on it. I lost because I wasn't strong enough. I'm not going to blame you for it. Just be careful in your next match. You know your own strength, so don't push yourself too hard."

Kiba closed his eyes in acceptance. He did not take his anger out on anyone. Winning next time was what mattered most.

"The fifth match: Neji Hyuga versus Hinata Hyuga, cough cough."

The result of the random draw had appeared on the big screen. After glancing at it, Gekko Hayate announced it loudly. The shout strained his throat again, making everyone worry that this proctor might collapse before any of the contestants did.

"Hinata, good luck!"

Naruto clenched his fist, but quickly calmed down. He walked over to Hinata, pulled her into his arms, and patted her back. A thousand words became a single sentence whispered into her ear.

"Mm!"

Hinata nodded. Naruto knew she was no match for Neji, yet he did not tell her to forfeit. Instead, he encouraged and supported her. To her, that was an immense source of strength.

"I didn't expect us to really end up facing each other, Lady Hinata."

Neji stood in the arena, looking down arrogantly at Hinata. Though he used an honorific, there was not a trace of respect in his tone.

"Brother Neji, do you have to call me that?"

"The status of the Main Family and the Branch Family cannot be crossed. Just like now—if you simply ordered me to forfeit as the young lady of the Main Family, I would immediately do so."

"Do you really think I would do that, Brother Neji?"

Hinata pressed her lips together and clenched her small fists tightly. Neji's distant attitude made her heart ache.

"That is why I say you are unfit to be a ninja. You are too soft-hearted. You always want to resolve everything peacefully. To me, that attitude is arrogance! That's right, just like how the Main Family established a series of rules that benefited themselves and oppressed the Branch Family."

Neji no longer wanted to say anything more. His anger toward the Main Family had clouded his mind as he assumed the stance of the Gentle Fist and attacked Hinata.

"Brother Neji, I've always thought of you as my real older brother. I never cared whether you were from the Branch Family or the Main Family. We're family!"

Hinata also assumed the stance of the Gentle Fist and exchanged attacks and defenses with Neji. They had learned from the same school and knew each other's techniques well. Neither dared take the Gentle Fist head-on, using only their palms to redirect the other's attacks.

"Enough nonsense. Do you really think you stand a chance against me? Forfeit before you get hurt."

"I won't forfeit, and I won't order Brother Neji to forfeit either."

"You won't do this, you won't do that—do you really think you're some young lady? You're too arrogant! You've been weak ever since you were little, and after meeting Naruto, you only got worse. You can't even beat Hanabi. Are you really content to be the Dead Last?"

"Don't talk about Naruto! Brother Neji, you're the one who changed! Your fear of the Main Family changed you!"

"You say I'm afraid?"

"Keeping the Main Family on your lips all the time is proof of your fear. Is turning that fear into nameless rage, hurting yourself with hatred for the Main Family, really what you want? Do you truly hate me that much?"

"You're talking nonsense! You're so weak despite being from the Main Family. What could I possibly fear?"

Neji's breathing became rapid. Hinata's words had indeed shaken him, and the attacks from his hands grew even fiercer.

"What you fear is the divide between the Main Family and the Branch Family. You're afraid that if you grow close to me, that divide will hurt us! But I don't care about any of that. Never regretting anything—that's what I learned from Naruto!"

Hinata deflected Neji's attacks one by one, facing the challenge head-on. Gradually, she began to gain the upper hand.

"In truth, you're not as indifferent about facing me as you pretend to be. You're afraid to attack me, which is why you keep trying to force me to forfeit, even asking me to order you to give up. You're afraid of hurting me. Beneath that tough exterior, you're still Brother Neji, the one who always protected me!"

"I won't lose! Naruto knows I'm not as strong as you, Brother Neji, but he still encouraged me. His embrace is so reassuring and warm, so I have to show him my strong side too!"

"What have you and that brat been learning, Hinata?!"

Neji was furious. Hinata, who normally even paused for breath when she spoke, was now firing off so many words at him like a barrage. It was practically as if Naruto had possessed her.

"I'm so glad I met Naruto. If he hadn't always been by my side, encouraging me, perhaps I would never have been able to change for my entire life. Naruto is the one I like most!!"

Clang!

Accompanied by the girl's bold confession, Hinata knocked Neji's arm aside with her palm, broke through his guard, and struck his forehead protector, sending it flying to the ground.

"...This mark."

Hinata looked at the green X-shaped mark on Neji's forehead. Having yet to learn the secrets of the Main Family, she did not know what it was. She only felt heartbroken, thinking that perhaps it had something to do with why Neji had become like this.

"Do you see it? This is what the Main Family has done to us! When necessary, even if they order us to die, we can only obey!"

Neji glanced at the forehead protector on the ground. The small opening in his heart that had been so hard to pry open sealed shut once more, and his entire presence changed. He was clearly getting serious now. Hinata understood as well. An Eight Trigrams formation gradually appeared beneath her feet, enclosing Neji.

"Eight Trigrams: Thirty-two Palms!"

"Eight Trigrams: Sixty-four Palms!"

"Urgh—cough!"

Hinata opened her mouth and spat out a large mouthful of blood. Neji's attack had not only blocked her Thirty-two Palms, but also struck thirty-two of her chakra points hard. The weakness spreading through her body made her slowly collapse.

"...Hinata, Hinata."

When Naruto saw Hinata fall, an astonishing amount of Chakra surged from his body. It was not the Nine-Tails' Chakra, but the immense Chakra he possessed himself. He crushed the iron railing in his grip into fragments and kept growling under his breath.

"Naruto, calm down. Hinata will be fine. Don't get worked up."

Sakura immediately patted Naruto's back to soothe him. She was afraid that red Chakra would emerge from Naruto at a time like this. Kakashi had classified Naruto's red Chakra as a secret of Team Seven; no one was allowed to mention it.

"Referee, you can make the call now."

"Cough, cough. Hinata Hyuga has lost—"

Gekko Hayate glanced at Hinata, who was down on the ground. Just as he was about to announce his ruling, he noticed her move.

"I... haven't... lost."

Hinata's weak voice came out in broken fragments. She braced both hands against the ground and tried several times, but could not stand. After lying there and taking a few breaths, she finally rose slowly to her feet.

"Why are you still standing? I sealed the chakra points in all four of your limbs. How can you still move?!"

Neji took several steps back. He could not understand what had turned the timid, fearful Hinata of his childhood into this—into someone terrifyingly strong.

"I... don't want to look too pathetic... in front of the person I love."

"Even if my arms can't move."

"Even if I can't lift my legs."

"I still have my teeth."

"I will never give up."

"Hinata! That's enough. You did very well. Leave the rest to me."

Naruto appeared behind Hinata. After saying those words, she had fallen backward, landing steadily in his arms.

"Naruto-kun, I tried. I tried with my life on the line. To you... am I shining?"

"Yeah. Hinata shines the brightest. Let me take up the torch of your hard work."

Naruto pressed Hinata's hand against his cheek and gave her the gentlest smile he had ever shown.

"I'm so happy..."

Hinata smiled blissfully, shed a single tear, and fainted. The medical team carried her away on a stretcher.

"Neji."

"What is it? Do you want to avenge Hinata?"

"I won't do something that childish. That would be trampling on Hinata's efforts. Do you see this tear? Do you know what it represents?"

Naruto raised a finger. Hinata's crystalline tear rested on it, gleaming.

"You're unwilling to accept losing to me, aren't you? That's because she was too weak."

"You really are a hopeless bastard. She didn't cry because she lost, nor because of her own weakness. She cried because Brother Neji, who always protected and cared for her when she was little, became like this. Here, I swear upon Hinata's tear: my fist will smash hard into your face and knock some sense into you, you idiot brother!"

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PS: My husband personally taught me Talk-no-Jutsu.

PS: Thanks to reader East of the Overpass for the 500 reward.