Challenge

"Reporting to you, teacher: Lee wants to challenge all five of them!"

"Hm? Rock Lee, is that true?"

"Yep, that's right, teacher!"

Under the proctor's questioning gaze, Rock Lee stood confidently and resolutely.

Because of Kimura Takuya, Lee was no longer as insecure as he had been at the Academy in the original story.

And his strength was considerably greater than it had been when he'd just graduated in the original story.

The other classes were taking their exams too. Seeing someone suddenly volunteer to fight five opponents, everyone watched with curiosity.

Even the proctors were curious, so they joined the spectators as well.

The graduating students were taking their exams, and the other grades had the day off, but plenty of younger students had come to see the commotion.

Ino and her two friends were among them, of course.

"Go, Rock Lee!"

Seeing Tuoye send Lee out, Ino shouted encouragement to him.

A mocking laugh came from the crowd.

"Pathetic. Does the class at the bottom really think it can change its fate? Fate cannot be changed. This is nothing but a pointless attempt to show off."

Kimura Takuya looked over. The boy had black hair, a handsome face, and those distinctive white eyes.

This wasn't the first time Tuoye had seen the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, but every time he did, he found it fascinating.

Were they really not suffering from cataracts? How could you tell a cataract patient apart from a member of the Hyuga Clan?

If someone from the Hyuga Clan got cataracts, how would you tell the difference?

It was a serious medical question. As someone about to officially become a medical ninja, Tuoye felt he had a duty to look into it.

If he wanted to study it, he first needed to get to know a Hyuga.

"Hey, Hyuga Clan genius, how about a bet?"

Hyuga Neji turned to look at Kimura Takuya. Calmly, he passed judgment on Lee, just as he had passed judgment on his own fate.

"He can't win. I know who he is. He can't even learn ninjutsu."

"Heh, no. I mean, let's bet on which of us would win."

"What? Are you challenging me?"

"That's right. If Lee wins, give me a chance to challenge you, the so-called genius. How about it?"

Hyuga Neji frowned, and his Byakugan activated in an instant.

He saw how much chakra Kimura Takuya had and shook his head in disappointment.

"You're no match for me."

"Ha-ha! Here we go again. You're about to get proven wrong for the first time."

Kimura Takuya laughed and raised one finger. Then he turned toward the arena and called out to Lee.

"Lee, one move!"

At his words, Lee nodded to Tuoye.

The match began.

Lee vs. the Five Tigers' lackeys.

At the start, the five used their numbers to surround Lee in an instant.

With Lee's speed, they shouldn't have been able to surround him at all.

But he was only allowed one move.

Lee bent his knees, lowered his shoulder, and scanned the area around him, waiting for the five to close in.

Closer!

As soon as they were within range, Lee spun into a 360-degree kick.

"Leaf Whirlwind!"

Without a single unnecessary movement, his spinning legs kicked all five in the head.

The Five Tigers' lackeys hit the ground!

"Sugoi!"

"Incredible! So clean and decisive—and he only needed one move?"

"That was amazing! Is he really from Class Ten?"

"As expected, Tuoye's friends are amazing too!"

Seeing Lee win with ease, Ino grabbed her two friends from the Shika-Cho trio and bounced around, stomping her feet in excitement.

Applause and gasps of amazement rose from the crowd.

The proctor, still unable to believe what he'd seen, announced the result after Kimura Takuya reminded him.

"Rock Lee, victory!"

Neji's eyes widened, and he stared at Lee, his expression shifting between surprise and uncertainty.

"Well? Are you taking the bet?"

With a smile at the corner of his mouth, Kimura Takuya walked over to the Class One exam area and stopped beside Neji.

"Let me see the difference between me and a genius."

Hyuga Neji remained silent, but those around him began to chatter.

"What? A nobody from Class Ten is challenging the genius from my Class One?"

"Have you lost your mind? It'd make more sense if that thick-browed kid challenged him."

"Exactly! Who are you? What right do you have to challenge someone from the Hyuga Clan?"

Kimura Takuya ignored their doubts and quietly waited for Neji's answer.

At last, Neji looked away from Lee and turned to Kimura Takuya.

"I'll show you how miserable your fate is."

"Ha."

Kimura Takuya gave a soft laugh and turned to the proctor beside him.

"Kimura Takuya of Class Ten challenges Hyuga Neji of Class One."

"Kimura, are you sure about this? This is your graduation exam! Challenges between different classes aren't forbidden, and your score won't be based entirely on whether you win or lose. But with such a wide gap in ability, if you lose too quickly, you might not get any points at all."

"Absolutely sure. Let's begin, teacher. Lord Hokage is waiting to watch too."

After the afternoon taijutsu exam, they would receive their Forehead Protectors.

As was customary, the Hokage would come to the Academy then and give the newly graduated Genin a little talk about the Will of Fire.

So the Hokage was naturally there, along with Might Guy.

Kimura Takuya had challenged Neji at this moment because he only wanted to show a little of what he could do.

"Guy, is that thick-browed boy the one you wanted to make an exception for and take as your student? You've already started teaching him, haven't you? His taijutsu is quite good."

"Ha-ha, yes. You flatter him. That boy is a little unusual. His chakra has no elemental affinity at all, which makes it difficult for him to learn ninjutsu. But he really does have a talent for taijutsu. I'd like to teach him that move."

The Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen, nodded. He'd expected this and wasn't surprised.

Seeing Kimura Takuya challenge Hyuga Neji, the Third raised an eyebrow.

"Who's that boy? He certainly has courage."

"Kimura Takuya, an orphan from the incident eleven years ago. He's been working as a hospital assistant. He doesn't have much talent as a ninja, but he taught himself Medical Ninjutsu. The hospital recommended that he attend the Academy. After graduating, he'll go straight back to the hospital as an assistant medical ninja."

The Ninja Academy principal bowed beside him and gave the Third all the details about Kimura Takuya.

Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent for a moment, then nodded to the principal, signaling that he understood and that there was no need to continue.

The Ninja World was not peaceful. Even in this so-called era of peace, ninja missions still had a high casualty rate; it was a dangerous profession.

There were orphans everywhere in the village.

Three out of every ten ninjas were orphans, and two came from single-parent families. The remaining five with both parents alive were a luxury made possible by peacetime.

For an orphan to have a talent for Medical Ninjutsu and not be dark-hearted was good enough.

The Third didn't expect too much from Kimura Takuya.

He simply watched the match in silence.

Kimura Takuya vs. Hyuga Neji.

The match began!

Neji stood still to one side, with no intention of making the first move.

He didn't even plan to activate his Byakugan, though it was a physical ability rather than ninjutsu.

Strictly speaking, did the Byakugan count as taijutsu?

Neji still didn't intend to use it—not because he was afraid of bullying his opponent.

He simply believed that a match like this wasn't worthy of the Byakugan.

But he would soon regret it.

Whoosh!

Kimura Takuya disappeared!

Had he used ninjutsu?

No. Behind him!

Neji spun around, but still saw no one.

He only heard another faint sound.

Behind him again?

Neji turned once more, but there was still no one there.

His eyes filled with disbelief, and the people around them were just as stunned.

Kimura Takuya, who had vanished from Neji's sight, had been right behind him the entire time.

Every time Neji turned, Kimura Takuya swiftly slipped behind him.

The sound grew quieter and quieter, until it vanished altogether.

That first faint sound had seemed like a deliberate warning.