The students had searched all around before finally finding the small grove. Just as they arrived, they saw Neji fly out of the trees like a kite with its strings cut.
"Th-that's Neji, isn't it?"
"How did he fly so far?"
"Could he be dead?"
The students stared in shock.
Sasuke had lost that morning, but since nobody knew the details of what had happened, the impact hadn't been too great. Now, seeing with their own eyes as a prodigy from a prestigious clan who possessed the Byakugan was sent flying and lay on the ground, his life uncertain, they were truly shaken.
Tenten and Rock Lee hurriedly pushed through the crowd and rushed toward Neji.
Tenten helped Neji up from the ground and asked anxiously, "Neji, are you all right?"
Neji struggled to say, "I... I lost..."
Before he could finish, he could no longer hold on. His vision went dark, and he passed out.
Taking a direct hit from a "Superhuman Strength Punch" without any warning was more than a Ninja Academy student like Neji could handle. Even an adult ninja would have struggled to take it.
Just then, Yakumo slowly emerged from the trees.
She hadn't come away from her match against Neji uninjured. But since Neji had used Gentle Fist, she appeared to have won without a scratch.
When everyone saw Yakumo, they fell silent, and the scene quieted at once. Then the crowd parted on its own, making way for her.
Yakumo said nothing and walked straight through the crowd.
"Neji lost too!"
"How did Yakumo get so strong?"
"She was so intimidating just now. I was nearly scared out of my wits!"
It wasn't until Yakumo disappeared from view that the murmuring gradually began.
Tenten stood up and complained, "What are you all standing