"I-I concede!? Gaara!"
Kankuro was the first to shout when he heard the news.
But Gaara looked dejected—not physically, but spiritually.
Neji's attack had only wounded him. He could have kept fighting.
But it was what Neji had said during their final exchange that had truly planted a seed in his heart.
"Deciding the winner with one final move..."
Gaara gave a cold snort, turned away with a look of utter hatred, and left the arena.
Those words clearly proved that Neji hadn't taken him seriously. Neji had only wanted to end the fight quickly, leaving Gaara feeling deeply slighted.
Neji simply smiled lightly, let out a breath, and turned around. Mission accomplished.
After watching such a thrilling battle, the crowd was left staring as it ended so abruptly and theatrically.
Five seconds passed in silence.
Then scattered applause broke out.
"That was a great match. This has to be the most exciting fight so far."
"Is that guy really the Hyuga Clan's dead last? He's actually that strong..."
Everyone started talking at once, and Kankuro could hardly believe what he had just seen.
"Gaara actually lost!"
He took a step back. At his level, he couldn't fully appreciate how strong this Hyuga Clan guy was, but this was the first time he had ever seen someone beat Gaara so thoroughly that he conceded defeat!
"Nice! Neji!"
Tenten's long-suppressed emotions finally burst out in a shout.
She glanced at the puppet guy who had been sneering at them the whole time, turned around, and made a face at him. "Pfft! So much for no Chunin being able to beat him. He just got defeated by the most ordinary Genin in our village!"
Kiba glared at Kankuro, too. "Tenten's absolutely right. Neji's just the most ordinary Genin in Konoha. Is this your village's strongest Genin? Pathetic!"
"You lot!"
Kankuro was furious. He wanted to tell them what Gaara's true identity was.
The monster inside him, his terrifying strength...
Suddenly, Kankuro saw Gaara return to the stands where they had been watching the matches, and immediately turned and ran after him.
Tenten and Kiba both breathed a sigh of relief.
They had never imagined that the shame they'd brought on Konoha by losing to the Sand Ninja would be redeemed by Hyuga Neji, someone they had never taken seriously!
And Neji's opponent had been Gaara, the Sand Ninja who had made even them feel how powerful he was!
In the previous Chunin Ninja Exams, that guy had passed through the Forest of Death without a scratch!
The sound of ninja sandals striking the floor rang out as Neji walked back with an easy stride.
"Neji..."
Rock Lee watched him return with a grave expression.
Tenten and Kiba looked the same. There was little cheering or excitement—only solemnity.
They all had the same thought.
Just how strong is this guy?
"Hey, Neji! Great job! Everyone thought you'd lose, but you actually won!"
Guy was the first to step forward and pat Neji on the shoulder in approval.
"Uh... I got a little lucky. If we'd kept fighting, I definitely wouldn't have beaten him!" Neji scratched his head and replied with a grin.
Guy smiled, then suddenly leaned in, looking secretive.
"Hey, Neji, you're so strong. How do you train, anyway?"
He lowered his voice and whispered to Neji.
Neji narrowed his eyes slightly, looking troubled.
"Haha! It's fine if you don't want to say. Anyway, you're the only one from our team who passed this time. Next up is the official Selection Tournament!"
"There's an official Selection Tournament, too?" Rock Lee asked hesitantly.
"That's right. The official Selection Tournament is a month from now..."
"Now, the next match! Nara Shikamaru versus Tsurugi Misumi! The final two contestants, Aburame Shino and Akado Yoroi, have been placed together by default! Contestants, take your places!" Guy was speaking when Hayate's voice rang out from the arena.
Everyone turned to watch the next match, but the others were still thinking about Neji's performance against Gaara. The result just didn't seem real to them.
"Nara Shikamaru wins!"
"Aburame Shino wins!"
When all the matches were over, ten contestants had advanced.
They were Uchiha Sasuke, Hinata Hyuga, Uzumaki Naruto, Yamanaka Ino, Haruno Sakura, Kankuro, Temari, Hyuga Neji, Nara Shikamaru, and Aburame Shino.
The contestants were told to train with their team leaders. A month later, the Kazekage and Hokage would attend the official Chunin Exams together.
In a corner of the spacious hall, the four members of Team Guy gathered together.
"I heard the Land of Fire's daimyo will be there, too. If we perform well, the village's request for border defense rights from the Land of Fire might be approved. So even if you don't care about winning, you still need to train hard and put on a great show at the Chunin Exams!"
Guy said this to Neji.
Neji nodded. "I'll do my best."
"The last two matches were perfect counters, too. Konoha's really lucky this year!" Rock Lee said with a sigh.
"Ugh, am I the only unlucky one?" Tenten shot Rock Lee a sidelong glance.
Rock Lee said, "Ahahaha, me too! Sakura was the perfect counter to me..."
As they laughed and chatted, someone quietly approached.
Guy noticed first, and Neji sensed it almost at the same time.
The person made no effort to hide, swaggering toward them one step at a time, his footsteps echoing.
His red hair was impossible to miss.
"You're... that Sand Ninja kid?"
Guy frowned immediately. He could sense the extraordinary power within the boy and guessed that, after losing the match, he had come to resent his student Neji.
And sure enough, Gaara cast a strange look at Neji.
But his gaze was sinister, arrogant, and filled with burning anticipation!
Neji could naturally sense it. Gaara had come for him alone.
"What do you want now?" Tenten asked scornfully.
"He's here to see me."
Neji stepped forward of his own accord and met Gaara's gaze.
One was indifferent and terrifying on the surface, but inwardly carried a sorrowful, fragile childhood that no one knew about.
The other was gentle and harmless in appearance, yet harbored an unshakable determination to pursue strength.
In that moment, it was as if their souls were clashing. Even Might Guy couldn't sense what was in the two boys' hearts: two equally burning, yet entirely different, spirits.
"Hyuga Neji, you're a worthy opponent, but..."
As Gaara spoke, his expression grew strange. Tenten and Rock Lee immediately grew wary.
"I'm not satisfied with myself today. Come find me the night after tomorrow."
He curled his lips, his gaze sinister and gloomy.
Neji didn't answer. Gaara simply looked away and glanced over the others beside him.
Then he strolled away.
"Phew, that guy sure is strange. Neji, don't let him provoke you. He's already been eliminated!" Tenten said with a pout.
Neji nodded languidly. "Yeah, I definitely won't fall for it."
As he spoke, Neji's gaze dimmed, and a flicker of light passed through his eyes.
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