Rasengan vs. Rotation, I Win!

Say that again. You actually dared refuse me!

The Nine-Tails had not expected Naruto to reject him. A trace of anger entered his voice. For the first time in thousands of years, he had taken the initiative to lend someone his power, only to be refused. The fox was thoroughly enraged.

"Sorry, Nine-Tails, but I want to knock some sense into Neji. I want to do it with these hands of mine."

Dragging his weakened body along, Naruto desperately twisted away from Neji's attacks and smiled with difficulty.

Hmph, do whatever you want.

"What's wrong? Is someone who wants to become Hokage really this weak? What about that other power of yours?"

"I won't use it. I'll beat you with my own hands."

"Arrogant. Do you really think a Dead Last like you still has a chance of winning?"

"My Chakra pathways are just blocked, that's all!"

Naruto raised his hand to block Neji's attack. Chakra spread outward from his stomach throughout his body, beginning to force its way through the blocked acupoints. His body crackled like a string of firecrackers. Neji's acupuncture strikes had been broken by this idiot through sheer brute force.

"Hey, you..."

Naruto's ruthlessness startled Neji. In his vision, Naruto's body had become a complete wreck. Forget fighting—he should have dropped dead even without another attack. Yet strangely, Naruto did not die. The ruptured acupoints were slowly healing. The Nine-Tails was all bark and no bite after all, helping Naruto mend his damaged body.

"Cough, cough, cough... How about that? Pretty easy, right? I can move again now!"

Spitting out the excess blood, Naruto felt much better. He raised his fist and provocatively challenged Neji.

"Since you've worked so hard, I'll tell you what happened."

Neji let out a breath. Perhaps Naruto's fearlessness had affected him. He removed the forehead protector from his head and clenched it tightly in his hand, bending even the Konoha symbol engraved on it.

"Cool mark."

"Heh. If it were really just an ordinary mark, that would be nice. Listen carefully, Naruto. This is a Cursed Seal called the Caged Bird, one developed by the Main Family specifically to control the Branch Family!"

"Mm..."

"This thing is attached tightly to the nerves in the brain. As long as someone from the Main Family activates it, the person bearing the seal will suffer unbearable pain. It can even seal the Byakugan's abilities. It is a mark that can never be erased for the rest of your life!"

"Why? You're both members of the Hyuga Clan..."

"This is a system the Main Family developed to keep the Branch Family from surpassing them. With this, the Branch Family can never escape the Main Family's control. In other words, even if they tell us to die, all we can do is obey!"

"I lost my mother when I was young, and my father raised me alone. I was grateful to him, and I was also grateful to the Main Family. But later, I realized I was wrong. The Main Family only sees us as tools."

"Dangerous missions? Send the Branch Family. Isn't that what they're there for? Words like that sound like a joke when they come from the Main Family."

"All the dirty and exhausting work is done by us in the Branch Family. The Main Family only needs to sit back and reap the rewards. What exactly is the Branch Family? We do not even qualify as the Main Family's accessories. Two twin brothers have their fates decided by the order in which they are born. That is why your fate was already decided the moment you faced me. You cannot win."

This was the secret Neji had discovered as he grew older. His father, Hizashi Hyuga, risked his life every time to complete missions assigned to Hyuga Hiashi. The scars on his body only grew more numerous, yet the Main Family treated it as a matter of course. That was why Neji had come to hate the Main Family more and more.

"Don't make me laugh! No one has the right to decide someone else's fate! I'll defeat you here and prove that fate can be broken!"

Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!

Naruto formed Hand Seals again, using all his remaining Chakra to create around fifty clones. They charged at Neji together.

"It's just the same thing again. You can't break my Rotation!"

"Not necessarily!"

Part of Naruto's Shadow Clones moved to distract Neji, while ten remained behind to form Rasengans. After Neji dealt with the dozens of Shadow Clones, what he saw were ten Narutos charging at him with Rasengans in their hands. Other than the few people in the highest guest seats, no one had seen Naruto secretly form another Hand Seal.

"What is that? I can't let it hit me..."

Neji's Byakugan saw the enormous energy within the Rasengans, and he immediately used Rotation! Ten Rasengans surrounded Neji and crashed into his Rotation at once, scattering countless sparks of Chakra.

"I may not understand the Hyuga Clan's fate, but if you're helpless against it, then wait until I become Hokage... I'll help you change the Hyuga Clan!"

Boom!

A deafening explosion rang out. The violent collision between the Rasengans and Rotation finally caused the energy to erupt. Smoke filled the arena, and it was a long while before Neji crawled out of the massive crater.

"Fate cannot be changed."

Neji dragged his exhausted body over to Naruto and looked at him regretfully. All the Shadow Clones had disappeared in the explosion, leaving only this Naruto, who appeared to be the original.

"You bastard, Neji! Clench your teeth! Don't bite your tongue off!!!"

"Underground?!"

Naruto's voice came from beneath him. Neji hastily retreated, but it was already too late. Naruto's fist burst from the ground first, followed by his whole body emerging from the earth. His fist slammed viciously into Neji's cheek, sending him flying.

Bang!

That punch was no light blow. Even the people in the stands heard the brutal impact and could not help feeling sorry for Neji.

"Neji Hyuga is unconscious. The winner is Naruto Uzumaki."

The referee came over, took one look, and announced the verdict after confirming Neji could no longer fight.

"I won!"

Naruto gave a thumbs-up toward the highest guest seats and flashed a confident grin before dropping down beside Neji.

"Big Sis, he won?"

Hanabi looked at Hinata in disbelief, then at Naruto, who was utterly undignified as he slapped Neji's face. The strongest Neji had really lost—to a Dead Last and a freeloader, no less. She simply could not believe it.

"He won. Naruto has always been the best."

Hinata's nose stung as she hugged Hanabi and cried tears of joy. Naruto had truly done it. He had upheld his beliefs and defeated Neji.

"Lord Hokage, that ninjutsu was indeed..."

Though Hyuga Hiashi was surprised that Naruto had won, his attention was now on the Rasengan. He had seen that powerful technique more than a decade ago, and its user had been the Fourth Hokage.

"The Rasengan, huh? Then that means he's already returned to Konoha. He refuses to come see this Old Man, does he? Well, I can't blame him."

The Third Hokage gave a bitter smile. He had seen more than just the Rasengan—he had also seen the Summoning Jutsu. That had to mean Jiraiya had taught him. Perhaps Jiraiya had been avoiding him because he was dissatisfied with Naruto's treatment.

"The sky is so blue..."

Neji opened his eyes and stared blankly at the sky, speaking without thinking. The mark on his forehead had obscured too much of his sight, and only today had he seen such a beautiful sky.

"You awake? You lost."

"Naruto, you don't know Earth Release, do you?"

Neji turned his head and stared at Naruto's face. It was covered in dirt. The original body had been quite some distance away from him, and Neji did not believe Naruto could have dug his way over himself.

"Hehe, I didn't dig that hole. This is my new partner, Gama Kichi."

Naruto proudly picked up Gama Kichi and placed him before Neji.

"Pleased to meet you, human brat."

Gama Kichi raised a forelimb and waved. After he had been summoned, Naruto had ordered him to dig a tunnel. He did not know why, but he was happy to help Naruto.

"The Summoning Jutsu... I lost. I accept my defeat wholeheartedly."

Neji smiled in relief. If Naruto had used the Nine-Tails' power, he could have consoled himself somewhat. But Naruto had beaten him with his own strength and had even come up with such a fighting method.

"Let me make this clear: if you still refuse to admit you were wrong, I'll keep beating you."

"Wrong... I know it too. What I hate is the Main Family, not Hinata. Deep down, there has always been a voice telling me I'm wrong, but I just couldn't control myself."

"So you got lost in your obsession?"

"Humans are like that. Only after being beaten awake do they understand their mistakes."

Neji sighed and admitted his mistake.

"Is that so? Sounds like you know you were wrong. Go apologize. I'm sure Hinata will forgive you. She has been waiting for Brother Neji to come back too."

"You really are willing to risk your life for others. You were like that as a child too. That night, you shouted and unleashed an unbelievable power. When all is said and done, I still owe you a favor."

"I'm still me. I've never changed."

"You just said you would change the Hyuga Clan after becoming Hokage, right? Have you ever seen the Third Hokage interfere in another family's private affairs? An ancient rule established by a clan is not something even the Hokage has the authority to change."

"Eh? Is that how it works? (°д°)"

"Just as I thought. A fool is truly a fool."

Neji smiled. Though he still hated the Main Family, perhaps his relationship with Hinata and Naruto could improve a little.

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PS: Thanks to reader Creaper for the 100 reward. Another reward was filtered out, so I can't see it...