Hinata and Neji

Even after putting those memories away.

Naruto could still picture Hinata's two utterly different faces in his mind.

He could not help but chuckle.

He got up and looked out the window.

Konoha lay silent beneath the moonlight, with most of its lights already extinguished.

Yet Naruto's instincts told him that an uneasy undercurrent was stirring.

Something seemed likely to happen tonight.

Some top-tier experts and those with keen instincts possessed a talent for sensing danger.

Naruto was the same.

Perhaps due to the influence of the Nine-Tails, he was extremely sensitive to danger.

It was also an innate beastly instinct.

His eyes flickered, but in the end, he drew the curtains.

Whatever happened tonight had nothing to do with him. He was merely an ignorant Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Right now, he had no standing to meddle in other people's affairs.

After turning off the light and lying down, Naruto quietly fell asleep.

Within the Hyuga Clan compound.

Two figures were still locked in an intense battle on the training grounds.

Their steps were swift as their Gentle Fists clashed.

Dust billowed across the field, which was pocked with craters everywhere, showing just how fierce their fight had been.

"Lady Hinata, give up. In the face of an absolute gap in strength, forcing yourself to continue is meaningless."

Neji Hyuga's tone was cold.

And his opponent was none other than Hinata Hyuga.

Neji had always looked down somewhat on the soft-natured Hinata. As a member of the Main House, she could not shoulder the Main House's burden. She was weak and lacked resolve.

Meanwhile, he was a genius of the Hyuga Clan, with greater potential than Hinata, yet fate had relegated him to the Branch Family, binding him for life with the Caged Bird Seal.

It made him furious, yet there was nothing he could do.

"Brother Neji, please use your full strength. I want to see how far I still am from a genius." Hinata's face was resolute as she used the Gentle Fist to struggle against all of Neji's attacks.

There was still a considerable difference in strength between her and Neji, so every punch she received was no small burden. If someone lifted the sleeves around Hinata's arms, they would find all manner of red marks around them.

Those were injuries caused by having her chakra points struck.

With the Byakugan, Neji could see through the meridians within the human body, then use the Gentle Fist to attack them.

By striking chakra points, he could obstruct the flow of Chakra within his opponent's body.

Out of consideration for Hinata's status as the eldest daughter of the Main House, Neji had held back somewhat. His tone was also impatient, hoping that Hinata would end this boring fight as soon as possible.

To him, Hinata was simply far too weak.

He did not understand. Since she had no talent, why not submit to fate? Even if Hinata were useless, she would still rank above him.

That was the fate of the Hyuga Branch Family—a fate that could not be defied.

But seeing Hinata persist so stubbornly despite clearly lacking the strength.

The sight of her working so hard was so glaring that, for some reason, Neji felt a surge of irritation in his heart, and his strikes grew harsher.

A dense barrage of impacts rang out again. Several minutes later, Hinata was sent flying helplessly, crashing weakly onto the ground. Blood sprayed from her mouth, and her face was drained of color.

"It's over, Lady Hinata. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving." Neji's expression was indifferent.

"Wait." Under Neji's shocked gaze, Hinata trembled as she pushed herself back to her feet and assumed her fighting stance again. Her eyes remained as resolute as before. "I can still fight."

If it were Naruto, he definitely wouldn't give up. Naruto's sunny smile appeared in Hinata's mind, along with the words that had always supported her on her path to becoming stronger.

"Don't be a doormat."

I want to become stronger, so that I can stand openly at Naruto's side. Hinata took a deep breath, her heart firm.

"Brother Neji, it's not over yet!"

Seeing the girl's determined face and the blood trailing from the corner of her mouth, Neji was briefly dazed.

The irritation in his heart grew even stronger, and at last he snapped:

"Why? When victory is clearly impossible, why do you insist on continuing? The outcome of this battle cannot be changed."

"This is only training, Lady Hinata. There's no need to risk your life. The gap between us is too great." He regained his composure and spoke coldly.

"Knowing the outcome and refusing to try is also a form of weakness. If it were him, he would definitely fight until the very end."

Hinata's words surprised Neji. The next moment, he replied angrily, "Fine. Then I'll knock you unconscious."

This time, he attacked Hinata with all his strength.

Hinata responded calmly, her face composed. Even as Neji continuously struck her chakra points, she kept searching for an opportunity to break through.

In contrast, Neji grew increasingly agitated. His attacks became heavier, and he began to lose his reason.

She was clearly the Main House's young lady. As long as she maintained a regular training routine, she could grow stronger and inherit the position of clan head.

Hinata's life had always been filled with light.

She did not need to work hard to have everything.

And what about himself? He lived in darkness, though he longed for the light.

Yet the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead held him firmly in place.

This was a fate he could not resist.

So.

Why did someone who already possessed the light still have to work so hard?

It only made me, who has surrendered to fate, seem so weak!

"Bang, bang, bang." With a series of utterly merciless Gentle Fist strikes, Neji sent Hinata vomiting blood once again without any suspense.

But this time, what shocked Neji was that, at the very instant she fell, Hinata had actually seized the moment when he was distracted and lightly tapped a finger against his forehead.

"Brother Neji, I finally hit you." Blood flowed from the corner of Hinata's mouth, yet she bloomed into a smile that seemed pure and flawless in Neji's eyes. Then she collapsed to the ground, unable to move any further.

The gap between them had been like an abyss, yet she had seized an opening. Though that attack had been soft and powerless, she had at least touched him.

Neji stared in shock.

Was this really the timid, bullied Hinata he remembered?

Could the fate that had seemed impossible to resist perhaps not be so far beyond his reach after all?

Neji's heart was in turmoil.

"Brother Neji." Hinata, lying on the ground, suddenly spoke. Though her voice was weak, it was filled with determination. "Fate is not impossible to resist. I will change the fate of the Branch Family."

Her words struck a sore spot, and Neji immediately became furious. "Change it? What can you use to change it?"

He lifted his forehead protector, revealing the Caged Bird Seal on his brow. "This is fate. It cannot be changed. I'm different from you. My entire life has been controlled by fate."

"I will keep growing stronger. I will become the clan head, and then I'll prove to you that fate can be changed. I'll do what I say. That is my Nindo," Hinata said even more firmly.

Neji's heart shook, and an indescribable feeling rose within him.

The timid, submissive girl in his memories had changed.

For some reason, Neji suddenly felt utterly ashamed of himself.

He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, his voice somewhat hoarse. "Do as you wish."

"Put some medicine on it. I'm leaving, young lady."

A cold little medicine jar was tossed beside Hinata, followed by the sound of Neji's departing footsteps.

Hinata picked up the medicine jar, a smile curling at her lips.

She encouraged herself:

"If it's Naruto-kun, he can definitely do it. I'll work hard too, Brother Neji. I want to see you smile again."

"Fate..." Neji walked through the night, his gaze flickering endlessly.

After a long while, he let out a sigh.

"Can it really be changed?" His voice was filled with confusion.

The final arcs for each of the Twelve who receive focus will not disappoint everyone.