Post-Match! Gaara's Invitation

"Surrender!? Gaara!"

Hearing this news, Kankuro was the first to shout out.

However, Gaara wore a look of despondency—not a physical exhaustion, but a sense of spiritual loss.

Neji's attacks had only wounded him; he was perfectly capable of continuing the fight.

But the words Neji had spoken during their final exchange were what had truly planted a seed in his heart.

"The idea of deciding the outcome with one last move..."

Gaara let out a cold snort, his eyes filled with loathing as he turned and walked away from the arena.

That sentence clearly proved that Neji hadn't been fighting him seriously; Neji had only wanted to end the battle quickly, and Gaara felt deeply slighted.

Neji, meanwhile, just smiled lightly, exhaled, and turned back, his mission accomplished.

After witnessing such a thrilling battle, the entire audience was stunned by its dramatic and abrupt conclusion.

Five seconds of silence passed.

Suddenly, scattered applause began to ring out.

"What a great match. This has to be the most brilliant contest so far."

"Is that guy really the 'failure' of the Hyuga Clan? He's actually this strong..."

The crowd buzzed with discussion, while Kankuro, in particular, could not believe what he had just seen.

"Gaara actually lost!"

He took a step back. With his level of skill, he couldn't fully grasp the true depth of this Hyuga's power, but this was the first time he had ever seen Gaara defeated so thoroughly that he had to concede!

"Nice! Neji!"

Tenten finally released the emotions she had been suppressing for so long with a loud cheer.

Looking at the puppet-user who had been mocking them, she turned her head, made a face, and jeered: "Pfft, so much for 'none of our Chunin could beat him.' Wasn't he just defeated by the most ordinary Genin from our village?"

Kiba also glared at Kankuro and said, "Tenten is absolutely right. Neji is just an ordinary Genin from Konoha. Is this really the strongest Genin your village has to offer? How pathetic!"

"You!"

Kankuro was burning with rage. He desperately wanted to tell these people exactly who Gaara was.

The monster inside him, his terrifying strength...

Suddenly, Kankuro saw Gaara return to the spectator area and immediately turned to run toward him.

Tenten and Kiba both let out sighs of relief.

They never imagined that the face they had lost for Konoha after being defeated by the Sand Ninja would be reclaimed by Hyuga Neji, someone they usually looked down upon!

And Neji's opponent was none other than Gaara of the Sand, a ninja whose power they had all felt!

During the previous Chunin Exams, that guy had passed through the Forest of Death without a single scratch!

The sound of ninja sandals tapping against the floor echoed as Neji walked back with a relaxed gait.

"Neji..."

Rock Lee watched Neji return with a solemn expression.

Tenten and Kiba were the same; there were no cheers or surprises, only a heavy sense of gravity.

They all had the same thought in their minds.

"Just how strong is this guy?"

"Yo, Neji, great performance! Everyone thought you'd lose, but you actually won!"

Guy was the first to rush over, patting Neji on the shoulder in approval.

"Uh... I just got a little lucky. If the fight had continued, I definitely wouldn't have been able to beat him!" Neji scratched his head, smiling sheepishly to brush it off.

Guy chuckled, then suddenly leaned in, looking mysterious.

"Hey, Neji, you're so strong—how do you usually train?"

He lowered his voice and whispered to Neji.

Neji narrowed his eyes, looking a bit troubled.

"Haha! If you don't want to say, that's fine. In any case, you're the only one from our team who passed the exam this time. Next up is the official Selection Tournament!"

"There's an official Selection Tournament?" Rock Lee asked hesitantly from the side.

"Yes, the official Selection Tournament, one month from now..."

"Now, for the next match! Nara Shikamaru versus Tsurugi Misumi! The final two contestants, Aburame Shino and Akado Yoroi, are automatically paired together! Will the contestants please report to the arena!" As Guy spoke, Hayate's voice echoed across the field.

The crowd began watching the new matches, but those few were still reflecting on Neji's performance against Gaara; in their hearts, such a result truly defied logic.

"Nara Shikamaru wins!"

"Aburame Shino wins!"

After all the matches concluded, a total of 10 contestants had advanced.

The list is as follows: Uchiha Sasuke, Hinata Hyuga, Uzumaki Naruto, Yamanaka Ino, Haruno Sakura, Kankuro, Temari, Hyuga Neji, Nara Shikamaru, and Aburame Shino.

Everyone was notified to have their team leaders conduct training, as the Kazekage and the Hokage would be watching the official Chunin Exams tournament together in one month.

In the corner of the spacious hall, the four members of Team Guy gathered together.

"It is said that the Daimyo of the Land of Fire will also be coming. If we perform well, the border defense rights the village is seeking from the Land of Fire will likely be approved. So, even if you don't care about winning, you must strengthen yourselves and put on a brilliant performance at the Chunin Exams!"

Might Guy said to Neji.

Neji nodded: "I will do my best."

"The last two matches were perfect counters; Konoha is really lucky this year!" Rock Lee sighed with emotion.

"Sigh, am I the only one who's unlucky?" Tenten rolled her eyes at Rock Lee.

Rock Lee: "Ahahaha, me too. I was perfectly countered by Sakura..."

As the group was laughing and chatting, a figure quietly approached.

Might Guy noticed first, and Neji sensed it at almost the same moment.

The person did not hide, but instead walked over swaggeringly, step by step, his footsteps echoing.

His red hair was striking.

"You are... the kid from the Sand Ninja?"

Might Guy immediately frowned. He could sense the extraordinary power within this fellow and immediately guessed that he harbored resentment toward his student, Neji, due to his defeat in the match.

And Gaara, as expected, cast a strange gaze toward Neji.

But in those eyes, there was something wicked, arrogant, and a burning anticipation!

Neji could naturally feel it; he had come for him alone.

"What do you want this time?" Tenten asked with disdain.

"You're here for me, aren't you?"

Neji stepped forward on his own initiative, meeting Gaara's gaze.

The two of them: one appeared indifferent and terrifying, yet hid a bitter, unknown, and fragile childhood within; the other had a gentle expression and appeared harmless, yet possessed an unshakable determination to pursue power within.

At this moment, it seemed as if their souls were colliding. Even Might Guy could not perceive the inner worlds of the two youths, those two equally burning yet completely different souls.

"Hyuga Neji, you are a respectable opponent, but..."

As Gaara spoke, his expression became strange, and Tenten and Rock Lee suddenly became vigilant.

"I am not satisfied with today. You can come find me the night after tomorrow."

The corner of his mouth curled up, his eyes wicked and gloomy.

Neji did not answer. Gaara simply shifted his gaze, sweeping it across the others nearby.

Finally, he stepped away leisurely and left.

"Phew, this guy is really strange. Neji, don't fall for his provocations. He's already been eliminated by you!" Tenten pouted and complained.

Neji nodded slowly: "Ah, I definitely won't be fooled."

Having said that, Neji's eyes dimmed, a flicker of light flashing through them.