Feint! Seize the Bell

"This..."

Tenten and Rock Lee both wore expressions of astonishment.

Was this truly the same Hyuga Neji who had been called the "failure" of the Hyuga Clan, a talent seen only once in a century?

"When did he train for this?"

Guy muttered to himself, watching the earnest-faced Neji before him; after that strike, he hadn't even caught his breath.

Had his strength grown so far beyond his own estimations without him even realizing it?

"As expected of a Jonin, Guy-sensei's reactions are swift!"

Neji did not hold back his praise, his eyes fixed solely on the bells in Guy's hand.

Guy forced a smile and said, "Don't be so impatient, I haven't even said 'start' yet!"

Neji, however, ignored him, stepping forward and forming hand seals.

"Byakugan!"

Guy sensed it and immediately retreated another step; in that split second, Neji had already gained full insight into the surrounding environment.

The refinement of his Byakugan has suddenly improved so much compared to before!

"Ha!"

Neji struck forward with his palm, his speed no longer comparable to what it once was.

Guy could not dodge in time and blocked with his arms, the force of the blow driving him back several meters.

"Neji, even if we are starting from the Chunin level, there are rules." Although Guy could easily withstand the surprise attack, he still wanted to fulfill his duty to educate Neji.

Neji replied, "Sensei, you speak of practice. In a real ninja battle, there are no rules!"

Before his voice had even faded, he had already stepped forward.

Almost simultaneously, Guy retreated.

"Slap!"

"Thud!"

"Crack!"

Neji's palm strikes, punches, elbow strikes, and leg sweeps were linked one after another, chain-like, leaving Guy no time to react as he was forced to take each blow head-on.

The Gentle Fist of the Byakugan attacked through the diffusion of chakra; though it seemed as if he were holding his ground, Guy was actually being beaten into a steady retreat!

"It seems the Gentle Fist isn't just pure taijutsu!"

As Guy spoke, he quickly looked for an opportunity to withdraw.

With a great leap, he jumped several meters back to create distance.

"Using chakra-based strikes is the most lethal thing for someone like me who isn't skilled at controlling chakra!"

Guy looked relaxed, but he no longer dared to underestimate this "failure" before him as he had before.

"It is precisely because of this that I feel I have a chance... to defeat you, a Jonin!"

A manic intensity appeared in Neji's eyes.

It was like a bloodlust, yet it was not an evil intent; it was simply his desperate hunger to become stronger!

As he spoke, he had already assumed his stance, his hands coiling like dragons.

He pressed his legs down and swept them in a half-circle, and an Eight Trigrams pattern immediately manifested on the ground!

"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"

"Nani? Neji, you..."

Guy widened his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing.

"Two palms!"

"Four palms!"

In his shock, he assumed a defensive posture; the pressure he faced far exceeded his imagination, to the point that the thought of opening the Eight Inner Gates against his own student actually crossed his mind!

"Eight palms!"

"Sixteen palms!"

"Thirty-two palms!"

Each palm struck Guy's body; within the Eight Trigrams circle, Neji's footwork and palm techniques, while visible to the naked eye, were impossible to track!

"Sixty-four palms!"

The final palm struck Guy squarely in the abdomen, sending him flying straight back!

With a "bang," the force of the collision was immense, the battle intense, and dust billowed into the air!

"How is it?"

Before the dust could settle, Tenten asked in astonishment.

Rock Lee was left dazed, unable to utter a single word.

"Neji, when did you become this strong!?"

"As expected..." Tenten watched the dust settle, her eyes narrowing.

"Might Guy-sensei still has the upper hand!"

In the center of the arena, Might Guy stood with his arms crossed, his eyes filled with resolve as he slowly rose from a crouched position.

Neji, meanwhile, had collapsed to the ground, covered in dust and looking rather disheveled.

"Neji, I never imagined you could reach this level!"

Might Guy let out a slow sigh of relief. Unlike Tenten and Rock Lee, he hadn't been so confident in his victory; he had only managed to block that attack by opening the second gate, the Gate of Healing.

Otherwise, he truly would have suffered some internal injuries.

Seeing that the test was over, Rock Lee and Tenten rushed back over.

"Neji, I never thought you were this strong!"

Rock Lee was completely floored; one had to remember how weak Neji used to be!

"What method did you use to get so strong? Can you teach me?" Rock Lee's eyes shone with excitement.

Tenten also let out a sigh of relief: "Your strength has certainly improved, but your brain... how could you possibly win against Might Guy-sensei alone?"

"You should have just come at him together..."

As the two of them chattered away, Neji slowly lifted his head and climbed to his feet.

"Can I... participate in the Chunin Exams now?"

With that, he held out his hand, and a "jingle" sound echoed through the air.

The group looked in unison at the bell dangling from Neji's fingers.

Might Guy was also stunned; he pulled out the bell from his own hand, only to find he had one left.

"He won? He actually won!?"

Rock Lee's eyes went wide.

Tenten was left speechless, her jaw practically hitting the floor.

Might Guy, realizing what had happened, couldn't help but laugh: "Good lad! So that incomplete Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms at the end was just a feint!"

Neji exhaled; fighting a jonin in a real battle truly carried immense pressure.

"Can I participate in the Chunin Exams now?"

"Yes, of course you can! Congratulations on passing the test!"

Might Guy laughed heartily. He felt deeply gratified, never expecting that the "tail-ender" among his students could actually go toe-to-toe with him.