A Bunch of Injured People

"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"

Neji unleashed the strongest offensive Gentle Fist technique he knew, holding nothing back as he attacked Hinata with all his strength.

"Heavenly Penetrating Fist!"

With a fierce cry, Hinata charged forward and threw a punch!

"Bam!"

Hinata's fist broke through Neji's Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms and slammed toward him!

Watching the fist fly toward him, Neji gave up in his heart. So fate really couldn't be changed. The Main Family was the Main Family, and the Branch Family was the Branch Family. The Main Family had everything, while the Branch Family didn't even own their own lives. How tragic!

His life was worthless anyway, so he ignored Hinata's punch and struck at her with his Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!

"Boom!"

Hinata's fist veered past Neji, grazing his ear before striking the wall behind him.

A deafening boom! Hinata's fist sank deep into the wall, sending dirt and stones flying. Cracks radiated in every direction from the hole her fist had made. Then, with a rumble, a huge section of the wall collapsed. She had blown apart the entire wall!

Neji's face changed dramatically. He felt the power of that punch and heard the terrifying crash behind him, while his arm—which he could no longer pull back—still rested against Hinata.

Hinata opened her mouth and spat out a large mouthful of blood. The bright red droplets fell onto Neji's trembling hand.

"Why? Why didn't you fight back again?"

Neji's Byakugan had shut off. His eyes trembled as he struggled to believe what had happened.

"Because... you're my cousin!"

Hinata said weakly, then crumpled to the ground.

"Hinata!"

"Hinata!"

Kiba Inuzuka, Naruto, Shino, Kurenai, and Might Guy hurriedly jumped down from the spectators' stands and rushed toward Hinata. Qinglong called for a medical ninja and quickly ran over too.

Hinata lay on the ground, her breathing weak and shallow, almost unconscious.

Neji stood to one side, trembling all over and at a loss. Might Guy supported him, scolding him even as he showed concern.

After some emergency treatment, the medical ninja prepared to take Hinata to Konoha Hospital. The central tower was five kilometers from the edge of the Death Forest, and the hospital was even farther away. Besides, the roads through the Death Forest were difficult to navigate.

Qinglong ran out of the central tower and shouted up at the sky.

"Flying Nimbus!"

As everyone watched in amazement, a golden cloud descended from the sky.

"Quick, put Hinata on the cloud!"

Everyone hurriedly lifted Hinata onto the Flying Nimbus. Even the Third Hokage came over curiously. He watched Hinata lying safely on the cloud, then reached out to touch it—but his hand met nothing. The Flying Nimbus wasn't something he could touch.

"Can I ride it too?"

The Third Hokage asked curiously, having seen Qinglong climb onto the Flying Nimbus.

Qinglong looked at him and replied with a complicated expression.

"Only those with pure and kind hearts can ride it!"

As he spoke, Qinglong mounted the Flying Nimbus and took Hinata high into the sky. It was Hinata's first time riding one, but she wasn't in the mood to enjoy it. Lying on the cloud, she stared blankly at the sky.

"Sorry for the trouble. I'm really sorry!"

Hinata said weakly. She always thought of others before herself, and only then considered her own needs. Even when she caused trouble for someone, she still apologized. She had known about the conflict between the Hyuga Main Family and Branch Family for a long time, but there was nothing she could do about it. That was why she'd wanted to escape the Hyuga Clan as a child—and it was also how she'd met Naruto.

"It's all right! Hinata, you were very brave. But the conflict between the Hyuga Main Family and Branch Family isn't something you need to worry about yet! Right now, you just need to recover and grow stronger!"

Qinglong comforted her gently. The girl had carried too much from a young age, and she was far too kind.

Neji's father had died because of her. She probably wouldn't be able to bring herself to hurt Neji for the rest of her life.

Hinata looked at Qinglong's profile and suddenly said,

"Qinglong-kun, you're really kind! No wonder Hanabi admires you so much."

As she spoke, Hinata thought of Naruto, that carefree boy who had lived in her heart since childhood. She herself was so shy and timid. When would she ever be able to let Naruto know how she felt?

Qinglong smiled gently. They soon arrived at Konoha Hospital, where the medical ninja quickly took Hinata inside for treatment.

In the evening, after receiving treatment, Neji and Naruto came to visit Hinata together. It seemed the two of them had just had an argument.

Looking at the badly injured Hinata, Neji felt both guilty and bitter. Perhaps anger was the only thing that could cover his shame. After first asking about her injuries, he went to her bedside and questioned her as though clinging to a lifeline.

"You can put an end to the tragedy between the Main Family and the Branch Family, can't you? If you become the head of the clan, you can definitely end the Branch Family's suffering."

"If you agree, those of us in the Branch Family will support you with everything we have and pledge our loyalty to you!"

Neji's words left Hinata at a loss. She didn't think she could do it; she didn't even want to become head of the Hyuga Clan.

"Hinata, agree to it!"

Naruto encouraged her from the side. Indignant, he said,

"A system that divides the Hyuga Clan into a Main Family and a Branch Family shouldn't exist at all! If I become Hokage, I'll definitely abolish the unfair system that divides the Hyuga Main Family and Branch Family."