After several matches, it was time for the last one of the day.
Hyuga Neji vs. Naruto Uzumaki.
The match should have ended with Naruto powering up, defeating Neji, and finishing him off with a Talk no Jutsu. Instead, it unfolded in a completely different way.
"I'm definitely going to win! As the dead last!"
After entering the arena, Naruto clenched his fist and faced Neji with a determined expression.
"I believe in you."
"...Huh?"
Naruto's determined expression instantly crumbled.
"I said I believe in you. As long as you give it your all, you can definitely beat me. But..."
"Naruto Uzumaki, calling yourself the dead last with skills like yours is a bit much, don't you think? What about all the other ninja? What about Kiba, who you defeated?"
Neji spoke with Naruto in a calm voice.
"Y-you're saying I'm not the dead last? You even acknowledge my skills?"
Naruto pointed at himself, looking completely incredulous.
"Mm, that's right."
Neji recalled what had happened in the stands before the match.
Hanabi had asked Shirozumi who would win, Neji or Naruto.
Shirozumi had said Naruto was more likely to win, unless Neji could seal Naruto's cheat code.
The actual method was—just keep praising him. Go along with whatever he said.
Shirozumi had even given Hanabi a few examples.
Hanabi had been skeptical, so she'd asked Neji to give it a try.
Hanabi was still a young lady of the Main Family, and Neji had just changed his ways, so he'd agreed.
"I-I won't lose! I'm going to become Hokage!"
Naruto continued, but the first half of his declaration sounded noticeably less confident this time.
"I believe in you, Naruto."
"...You even believe that?"
Naruto was completely dumbfounded.
Wait, what was going on?
His opponent's attitude was all wrong!
Even Iruka-sensei