Mockery

Sasuke's tone was not harsh, and it even carried a hint of concern.

After all, the news of Takizawa Dan becoming a ninja had not yet spread throughout Konoha Village. Furthermore, since he had not worn a forehead protector when arriving at the Chunin Exams, everyone present assumed he was a civilian.

Konoha did indeed have a rule prohibiting civilians from entering the Chunin Exam venue. This was not out of discrimination; rather, it was because ninjas possessed immense destructive power, and it would be difficult for civilians to survive if they were caught in the crossfire. Additionally, the Chunin Exams revealed the strength of various ninjas, which was considered classified information for every ninja village. Keeping non-examinees out was a measure to prevent intelligence leaks.

As Sasuke's words fell, various voices erupted from all directions:

"That's right, Takizawa Dan! This isn't a place for civilians. You should leave quickly! Don't just loiter here!"

"Sigh... we understand your frustration, but some things truly cannot be changed. You should accept the reality that you can't become a ninja sooner!"

"You've already violated the rules by sneaking into the exam site. Do you want Lady Tsunade to punish you personally? That would be a loss that outweighs any gain!"

Some of these voices were concerned, but the majority were filled with mockery and humiliation.

After all, being able to become a ninja was something to be proud of! Compared to Takizawa Dan, who appeared destined to be protected by the village for his entire life, their futures were far more brilliant and vast!

Comparing the two, a sense of superiority naturally arose.

"You... damn it, stop talking nonsense! Takizawa Dan personally defeated Hyuga Niuer, and he defeated Hyuga Niuda in front of everyone at the Ninja Academy! His strength is formidable; don't underestimate him!"

Seeing Takizawa Dan being humiliated, Rock Lee could not stand it. He stepped forward and shouted loudly at the crowd.

The surrounding noise ceased for a moment, but it was immediately followed by even louder laughter!

"Hahahaha! You're killing me! Takizawa Dan has always been physically weak, lacking even the strength of a child, and he fought? He defeated Hyuga Niuer?! You don't even know how to brag!"

"Sigh, I never thought Rock Lee would one day lie with his eyes open! Hyuga Niuer is one thing, but that Hyuga Niuda has strength comparable to a Chunin. Even I would have no chance of winning against him, let alone a loser like that?"

"You say Takizawa Dan defeated Hyuga Niuer and Hyuga Niuda? Fine, can anyone prove it?"

What they did not know was that Hyuga Niuda had already been crippled, and Hyuga Niuer had been grounded, so the news of their defeat had never spread.

Rock Lee's expression turned ugly: "This..."

How was he supposed to prove it? When Takizawa Dan defeated Hyuga Niuer, there were no other witnesses. As for defeating Hyuga Niuda... he had only heard about it himself and did not know the details.

What was he to do?

Takizawa Dan, however, remained calm. The innocent need no defense; if some fools refused to believe the truth, even if you shouted it right into their ears, they still wouldn't believe you. Why waste the effort?

When the time came, they would see who ended up with egg on their face!

At this moment, a clear, resonant voice suddenly rang out:

"I bear witness; all of this is true!"

The surrounding clamor came to an abrupt halt because of this voice!

Hyuga Neji was seen walking over slowly, his long hair flowing behind him.

He seemed to possess a unique aura; his long hair stirred without a breeze, exuding an imposing presence!

"Neji? Why are you..." Rock Lee was stunned. He never expected that Neji would take the initiative to stand up for Takizawa Dan!

He, Neji, and Tenten were on the same team. He knew how cold and aloof Neji's personality was. Usually, he didn't even care about the lives of his own teammates, so why was he protecting Takizawa Dan?

But none of that mattered now, because Neji's appearance had drawn the attention of the entire crowd.

"I witnessed the entire incident with Hyuga Niuda. It is true that Takizawa Dan defeated him!"

"Not only that, but Hyuga Niuda had completely lost control at the time. On the Ninja Academy playground, he unleashed 'Wind Style: Dance of the Kamaitachi' without regard for the children's lives. It was thanks to Takizawa-kun's timely intervention that a tragedy was averted."

Suddenly, the entire crowd let out a collective gasp!

Wind Style: Dance of the Kamaitachi was undoubtedly a high-level ninjutsu; those dense, countless blades of wind were a nightmare for any opponent!

Among those participating in the Chunin Exams, only a handful—like Sasuke and Neji—could have managed to defeat the user and block such a technique.

Yet... the one who had done all this was Takizawa Dan?!

For a moment, everyone cast complex gazes toward Takizawa Dan.

Was this really the same loser who had been declared incapable of ever becoming a ninja?

"Furthermore, because Hyuga Niuda violated clan law, he has been permanently expelled from the Hyuga clan. As for Hyuga Niuer, you don't need to look for him; he has been grounded, and you won't be seeing him for at least half a year."

After saying this, Neji closed his eyes slightly and walked into the crowd.

Some people present actually searched for Hyuga Niuda and Hyuga Niuer, and seeing that they were truly nowhere to be found, the crowd began to believe Neji's words even more.

For a time, although some still doubted, the murmurs of discussion grew much quieter.

"Hmph, interesting."

Sasuke watched all of this from a distance, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

He had originally thought his only rival in this Chunin Exam would be Neji, but now Takizawa Dan had entered his field of vision as well.

He hoped he would have the chance to cross blades with him. He also hoped Takizawa Dan would not disappoint him too much.

Needless to say, Sasuke's smug, handsome demeanor caused Sakura to swoon once again, while Naruto grew exasperated...

"Hahaha, look at you all for underestimating people! Now you've been slapped in the face, haven't you!" Seeing those who had mocked him get shut down, Rock Lee felt incredibly refreshed and laughed heartily.

"Alright, Lee, let's prepare for the exam together. Don't go too far; loose lips sink ships."

Takizawa Dan nudged Lee and reminded him.

And so, Lee obediently allowed Takizawa Dan to pull him along, standing beside Neji.

"Hey, Dan, it's me, Tenten! You should remember me, right?"

Beside Neji stood a cute young girl with her hair styled in two buns, her features exceptionally delicate and possessing a hint of mischievous charm.

"I remember, the genius beautiful kunoichi of Konoha Village, right?" Takizawa Dan smiled slightly, playing along with her words.

"Hehe, you're not only handsome, but you've got a sweet tongue too!"

As expected, girls loved being complimented on their beauty; Tenten's face immediately lit up with adorable dimples, and her cheeks flushed a faint red.