Neji, lying on the ground, was still a little dazed.
It wasn't that he couldn't accept defeat. He had long expected that he might lose to Shinji; he just couldn't accept this particular kind of defeat.
Taijutsu was the field he was proudest of, after all!
He could accept being defeated by ninjutsu, ninja tools, or even genjutsu. But losing in taijutsu was something he simply couldn't come to terms with.
Rock Lee and Tenten rushed onto the field. They helped Neji up and quietly tried to comfort him.
But Neji continued staring blankly at Shinji's retreating figure.
Off in the distance,
Sasuke wore a grim expression and looked somewhat surprised. "I thought he'd been so absorbed in Medical Ninjutsu lately that he'd let his training slide. I didn't expect..."
Like Neji, Sasuke had been keeping an eye on Shinji in secret.
Seeing Shinji go to the Medical Team every day lately, he'd assumed Shinji had slacked off on his training and wouldn't have made much progress. He hadn't expected Shinji to defeat Neji so easily.
Sakura deliberately moved closer to Sasuke. "Sasuke, we'll be okay, right?"
Naruto clenched his fist. "Sakura, just wait and see what I can do!"
Sakura snapped, "It'll be a miracle if you don't hold Sasuke back!"
Sasuke's lips curled slightly. "Don't worry. Neji must have let up on his training lately, which is why he lost so badly. I'm different!"
At that moment, Iruka announced loudly, "Next match: Sasuke's team versus Kimimaro's team!"
As Iruka made the announcement, everyone on the field immediately turned their attention from Shinji to Sasuke.
Feeling the eyes on him, Sasuke smiled, beckoned to Naruto and Sakura, then strode onto the field.
"Haha, it's my turn!"
Naruto rolled up his sleeves and headed onto the field.
Despised and shunned