The Battle

"Come on, Houka! Beat that Hyuga bastard!" Uchiha Obito roared at the top of his lungs.

"Go, Houka!" Little Kurenai Yuhi, who'd gotten to enjoy free Chinese Cuisine, also gave a soft, sweet cheer.

Asuma Sarutobi glanced around, his expression utterly unmoved.

Rin was very worried. She tugged at Uchiha Obito's sleeve. "Obito, can Houka really do it?"

"No problem, Rin, you can relax. Houka's been completely transformed. He'll definitely give you a huge surprise!" Uchiha Obito was so excited, he seemed even more thrilled than if he himself had been praised.

"Tch, everyone knows Uchiha Houka's an idiot. If he didn't have the Uchiha name, he'd have been kicked out long ago."

"I still remember when he challenged Kakashi last semester."

Aside from Uchiha Obito and the others, none of the students watching thought much of Houka's chances.

"Masamune Hyuga can knock Uchiha Houka flat in one minute!"

"Half a minute is plenty. You're giving Uchiha Houka too much credit."

"Hahaha, I can't wait!"

In the middle of the arena, Shin Kiyono stood between Houka and Masamune Hyuga. He went over a few rules for the duel, then said solemnly, "Then, let the duel begin!"

With that, Shin Kiyono vanished from the arena with a Body Flicker Technique.

Masamune Hyuga reacted quickly. The instant Shin Kiyono disappeared, he took two steps back and assumed the opening stance of Gentle Fist.

Looks a bit like tai chi.

Houka blinked, still standing there without moving.

"Hey, hey, has Uchiha Houka been scared silly?"

"Maybe he hasn't even realized what's happening yet?"

"Idiot. He's so scared he can't move his legs. Hahaha!"

Masamune Hyuga narrowed his eyes and snorted. "Uchiha Houka, if you make me attack first, you won't stand a chance."

"Do you know how bad guys die in the end?" Houka suddenly asked.

"How do they die?" Masamune Hyuga replied without thinking.

"They talk too much."

Houka immediately kicked at the ground. A few small stones shot toward Masamune Hyuga.

"This is so disappointing, Uchiha Houka. Do you think being a ninja is like a childish scuffle? You're actually kicking pebbles!"

Masamune Hyuga swatted the stones aside with a few quick motions of his hands.

"Ah! Look out!" someone suddenly shouted from the crowd.

Masamune Hyuga froze, thinking that he hadn't even attacked Uchiha Houka yet. They were warning him to look out way too soon, weren't they?

But the next instant, he realized Houka had vanished from where he'd been standing, and a rush of wind was already sweeping toward his left cheek.

"When did he—?!" Masamune Hyuga reacted quickly, flipping away from the side kick.

"Those stones just now... Hmph, a Substitution Technique? How childish!"

Masamune Hyuga had only just landed when another rush of wind came from his right.

"Damn it!"

Masamune Hyuga had studied Gentle Fist since childhood, and his body was exceptionally nimble. He rolled and flipped several times, dodging all of Houka's kicks.

"Not bad, Uchiha Houka. Looks like you really did work hard during the break. But, hmph, using Taijutsu against the Hyuga House—don't you think you're being a little arrogant?"

Masamune Hyuga transformed into a Saiyan and let out a roar. Chakra coursed through his body, and in an instant he was right on top of Houka.

"Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Two Palms!"

Boom!

Masamune Hyuga swung a heavy palm at Houka's shoulder, Chakra surging around it.

I did it! Masamune Hyuga was as happy as if he'd just eaten honey, but the next instant, he stumbled and nearly fell.

"What... happened?"

He'd swung his palm, but Houka was no longer in front of him, so his attack had missed. An ordinary person who charged forward and threw a punch with all their strength, only to hit nothing, would fall over. Masamune Hyuga's excellent physical condition let him stop himself just in time, but a wicked foot appeared behind him and kicked him viciously in the butt.

"Ah!!!"

Masamune Hyuga was sent flying. He traced a graceful arc through the air before crashing heavily to the ground.

The surroundings fell completely silent.

"What happened?"

"Am I seeing things?"

"Masamune Hyuga can't beat Uchiha Houka? How is that possible?!"

"Hmph, I told you so. Hahaha!" Uchiha Obito stood with his hands on his hips, laughing smugly.

"He used repeated Substitution Techniques to change position and attack, then easily crushed Masamune Hyuga with his speed advantage. That was incredible." Asuma Sarutobi narrowed his eyes, replaying the fight over and over in his mind until he was practically entranced. "Uchiha Houka performs the Substitution Technique so fast, he's almost as quick as the Body Flicker Technique. Even I couldn't keep up with him."

"Damn it, Uchiha Houka, you bastard!" Masamune Hyuga got back to his feet, his face already contorted with anger.

"If you can't win, just give up. I won't laugh at you, ahahaha..." Houka laughed uproariously with his hands on his hips, looking just like Stephen Chow.

Every student nearby was speechless: You're already laughing at him, aren't you?!

Masamune Hyuga couldn't take it. His Byakugan rolled so far back that the whites showed... though they were already white, they were even whiter now!

Buzz...

After a ripple of Chakra, the veins around Masamune Hyuga's Byakugan bulged grotesquely!

"Byakugan... he's awakened it?"

"Masamune Hyuga awakened his Byakugan! Amazing!"

"He awakened it at just six years old. Masamune Hyuga really is a genius of the Hyuga Clan!"

The students nearby immediately started buttering him up.

Shin Kiyono stood to one side, his expression changing as well.

"Masamune Hyuga was provoked into awakening his Byakugan early by Uchiha Houka. What a pity. He was born into the Branch House, so no matter how talented he is... sigh."

"This is bad. Houka's going to lose." Rin and little Kurenai Yuhi were terribly nervous.

"Uh, well, Houka should be fine. It's only the Byakugan. The Sharingan of our Uchiha Clan is no worse!" Uchiha Obito's voice grew quieter with every word, since everyone knew Houka hadn't awakened his eyes yet.

"Heh heh heh heh, Uchiha Houka, I have you to thank. If it weren't for you, I might never have awakened my Byakugan!" With his grotesque Byakugan wide open, Masamune Hyuga's aura surged even higher, as if he could stand shoulder to shoulder with Kaguya Otsutsuki. "Give up. You don't stand a chance against these eyes!"

"Is that so?" Houka's lips curled into a cold smile. He kicked a few more stones into the air, then used a Substitution Technique to close in on Masamune Hyuga.

But...

"I told you already: against these eyes, everything you do is meaningless!"

Masamune Hyuga saw the flow of Houka's Chakra and the movement of the air, easily predicting where he would land next. He moved in ahead of time, Chakra already gathering in both hands.

"Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Two Palms!"

"Then go ahead and try." The instant Houka appeared, his hands were already moving through the signs at lightning speed.

Snake—Ram—Monkey—Boar—Horse—Tiger!

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!!!"