Naruto VS Neji

The oppressive atmosphere, deliberately created, permeated the tower. The mottled green walls and large expanses of blue brick flooring blended together, turning the enclosed plaza into a prison.

"I hope you don't misunderstand the purpose of the allied joint exams," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, his face stern. "To deepen friendly relations? To enhance ninja strength?"

He suddenly raised his voice. "Neither! The essence of the Chunin Exams is a microcosm of allied nation warfare! Throughout history, neighboring countries have been mortal enemies competing for resources. Even if we form alliances now, we will still vie for them."

"The reason each country dispatches its finest Genin to Konoha is not solely for the exam, but more importantly, to compete for the trust of the noble Daimyo and the ninja village leaders."

"For the third exam, dignitaries from all walks of life will be present to spectate. Time is limited, and only ten participants will advance to one-on-one duels. Therefore, before that, you will need to undergo an elimination."

A ninja with heavy dark circles under his eyes, carrying a long sword on his back, emerged from the crowd and knelt on one knee. "Hokage-sama, allow me, Gekko Hayate, the arbiter for this match, to explain the upcoming elimination rules."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.

Gekko Hayate walked before the twenty-four Genin in the plaza and coughed violently, as if afflicted with consumption.

"Now, the entire group is dismissed. Everyone will draw lots for individual duels. Those who are severely injured or lack confidence in themselves may forfeit now."

After the 78-to-24 elimination in the Forest of Death for the scrolls, most of the examinees were battered and bruised, especially the group of Kusagakure ninja who had arrived last.

Upon hearing the rules, two male Kusagakure ninja in the group ordered the red-haired girl with oval glasses in their group to raise her hand and forfeit.

Then, shouting "For the glory of the Land of Grass!", they grabbed the girl's arms, bit into their own flesh, and began to suck her blood.

The girl endured blankly, her expression unchanged. After the two men had drunk their fill, they stumbled to the edge of the stairs, leaned against the wall, and fainted, their faces pale.

Gekko Hayate, covering his mouth as he coughed, scanned the examinees. "Twenty-three participants? Very well, we will begin with a free-for-all battle to eliminate three people, and then proceed to the lot-drawing duels."

Hearing this, the examinees immediately split into two extremes. The confident predators gathered their strength, while the fearful prey prepared to defend and evade.

A "10" appeared on the pixelated screen on the wall, initiating a countdown. Gekko Hayate said, "Everyone disperse. The battle begins when the countdown ends."

Figures flashed, scattering to various corners.

Although it was an individual battle, most were still sticking together in groups.

Naruto disdained the pointless task of eliminating the weak and stepped forward, drawing his sword.

Haruno Sakura hid behind Naruto, filled with a sense of security.

The remaining two Kusagakure ninja naturally became the primary targets, with five groups simultaneously throwing shuriken at them.

However, the fastest to act was Gaara. His cruel green eyes were filled with the excitement of slaughter. Yellow sand surged around him, entangling the two Kusagakure ninja and lifting them into the air.

"Sand Burial!"

Pfft!

The dense sand compressed, and blood and gore exploded in a 360-degree radius. The two were annihilated, leaving no trace of their bodies.

"Only one more," Gaara said, scanning the entire arena with cold eyes, as if selecting a toy. When his gaze fell upon Naruto, who was carrying a sword, his pupils suddenly contracted.

A familiar scent, a sense of unease.

Although Naruto disliked Gaara's ostentatious killing methods, he acknowledged his strength, seeing him as a potential practitioner of the Heavenly Martial Art of Slaughter.

As they stared at each other.

"Uzumaki Naruto," Neji said, walking with dignity to the center of the battlefield and assuming a Gentle Fist stance. "I am here to fulfill my promise."

"This is destiny, arranging for me to eliminate you here."

Neji had obtained his scroll on the first day. He had delayed entering the tower until the third day while searching for Naruto's group in the forest, only to find that they had already arrived.

"Nonsense," Naruto said, striding forward to meet the challenge.

The other examinees were pleased to watch. Once Neji eliminated Naruto, the lot-drawing matches could proceed smoothly.

Among the ninjas on the high platform, Might Guy, who resembled a larger version of Rock Lee with his watermelon-shaped hair and thick eyebrows, crossed his arms and glanced sideways at Kakashi.

He exclaimed, "The setbacks of youthful passion only make young men grow. Neji is like the genius you once were, but like me, who is a 'dead last,' he grows ferociously after being defeated time and again!"

Kakashi slowly turned his dead-fish eyes. "Huh?"

Might Guy assumed Kakashi, as usual, had habitually failed to hear him. Feeling a moment of passionate disappointment, he grinned, showing his teeth. "Don't worry, Neji knows his limits. He won't go too hard."

Kakashi didn't reply and looked towards the battlefield.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, also watching, sighed helplessly. He had no reason to interfere with the Hyuga clan, who were powerful from top to bottom. He could only hope that Naruto, when encountering a true genius, wouldn't lose his confidence.

Hinata pursed her lips. She knew it was unstoppable. Taking a deep breath, she wanted to encourage Naruto, but before she could speak.

"Go, Naruto, go!" Haruno Sakura cheered, her voice full of youthful vibrancy.

All eyes in the arena focused on Naruto and Neji, a battle that almost everyone considered completely unequal.

But in the next second, Naruto made a surprising move. He thrust the Kubikiribōchō into a crack in the blue bricks and clenched his fist.

He intended to fight Neji, who possessed Konoha's strongest taijutsu lineage, with his fists?

Neji frowned. "Pick up your sword."

Naruto shook his head. Just as his opponent was confident in defeating a sword with his fists, he too possessed the ambition to defeat fist with fist!

He wanted to fight fairly, on the same level, and utterly defeat his opponent in the area where they took the most pride.

"My fists are not without power!"

He charged forward without hesitation, rotating his waist to build power, his arm a blur as he swung it directly at Neji's face.

The floor cracked, his fist broke through the wind, and the phantom image of a black and white whale killer, baring its fangs and roaring, could be vaguely seen behind Naruto.

A sense of crisis surged into his mind, and Neji's annoyance at being underestimated instantly vanished.

Instinctively, Eight Trigrams Palms swept out to Neji's wrist, attempting to knock his arm away.

BANG!

Palm met fist, and two bursts of Chakra energy, one blue and one orange, exploded.

Neji felt as if he had struck a solid iron pillar. It only moved about an inch, his palm bones aching as if they would split, the pain traveling up his humerus and ulna, causing his arm to tremble uncontrollably.

But Naruto's fist continued towards his left eye, carrying the aura of death.

At the last possible second, the meridians around his eye bulged, his pupils like shattered jade beads, and Chakra erupted from the pressure points on his left cheek, pushing his head to the side.

Naruto's fist stopped beside his ear.

Neji quickly leaped back, panting, his hand still trembling.

This scene was beyond expectation. Faces showed varied expressions, unable to hide their shock.

"Is Neji, the strongest genius, just all talk? He's not as formidable as rumored," Kiba Inuzuka asked Hinata.

Hinata clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest. Her heart, which had been clenched for Naruto moments ago, now turned to worry for her brother's injuries.

And on the battlefield, Naruto would never hold back against an enemy unless they fell. Until they fell, he would attack! Constantly attack!

The training ground now seemed like the ocean, and he charged in like a whale.

Neji felt that Naruto's Chakra was at least four times his own! And unlike his Gentle Fist's power, it was used entirely to strengthen his muscles and bones.

"Brute force... how could I, Hyuga Neji, be defeated by such brute force taijutsu!"

Facing Naruto's renewed assault, the meridians around his eyes became even more ferocious. He decided to use the secret technique he had glimpsed while observing the main family practice and figured out on his own.

"Eight Trigrams Palms! Revolving Heaven!"

Pure blue Chakra flowed with Neji's palm movements, erupting from all three hundred and sixty-one Chakra points around his body, rapidly spinning into a semicircular barrier that enveloped him.

Naruto's eyes blazed, "Alright! Whale Killer Hegemonic Fist!"