When Neji charged in front of Naruto, Ueno Kei on the stands revealed a gratified smile, while Might Guy, Hyuga Neji's jonin leader, let out a sigh.
That was right. What Neji had struck was Naruto's clone, not Naruto's real body.
Neji lay on the ground and struggled to move, only to find that he could not get back up at all. His expression turned ugly as he looked at Uzumaki Naruto standing before him.
He said incredulously, "How could that have been your clone? I had already confirmed that it was your real body!"
"Ah, that's right. You didn't lock onto the wrong target at first. But when you used that spinning ninjutsu and it collided with mine, I had already hidden myself," Naruto said flatly, without a trace of emotion in his voice.
"What?" Hyuga Neji looked unconvinced. That exchange had lasted only an instant, hadn't it? From the explosion to bursting through the smoke, he had not spent much time at all. Yet Naruto had managed to create a new clone and hide himself in such a short span of time.
A trace of bitterness appeared at the corners of Hyuga Neji's mouth.
After struggling a few more times and still failing to stand, Hyuga Neji finally closed his eyes as though resigning himself to fate.
It was not until Shiranui Genma declared Uzumaki Naruto the victor and medical ninja came to carry Hyuga Neji away that Naruto spoke faintly.
"Hyuga Neji, destiny has always been in your own hands."
Neji froze slightly and said nothing. Yet as he departed, the expression on his face had eased somewhat. He was no longer as unwilling and stifled as before.
Just as the next match was about to begin, an Anbu suddenly appeared behind Ueno Kei.
Ueno Kei paused