Wind Style: Dance of the Kamaitachi!

Although Takizawa Dan didn't have the Byakugan and couldn't see the meridians inside Hyuga Niuda's body, it was still easy for him to use Gentle Fist to inflict serious damage on Niuda's internal organs!

Then he turned with a smile toward Saito Ryuichi, who stood nearby with a thoroughly sour expression.

"Teacher Saito, may I use the training grounds now?"

Without waiting for Saito Ryuichi to answer, Takizawa Dan turned and walked back toward the corner, ready to continue training.

Suddenly, a child shouted, "Look! Hyuga Niuda's getting up!"

Takizawa Dan frowned and turned around. Hyuga Niuda stood swaying, blood running from the corner of his mouth, his expression twisted with fury!

"Takizawa Dan!" Hyuga Niuda roared, enunciating every word. "You humiliated me in front of all these people! I'm going to kill you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his hands formed Hand Seals at lightning speed!

Saito Ryuichi was furious and alarmed. "Niuda! Are you insane?! You're going to unleash a ninjutsu here, of all places! What about all the children here?!"

"I don't care! That loser humiliated me. He has to die today!"

"Wind Style: Dance of the Kamaitachi!"

Takizawa Dan's heart sank. He remembered this was a high-level ninjutsu with a wide area of effect!

The air across the entire training ground surged violently, transforming into countless razor-sharp blades of wind that swept madly in every direction!

"Waaah! Help!"

The children panicked and scattered, fleeing for their lives.

"You bastard! Niuda, you're insane! You've completely lost your mind!"

With no time to form Hand Seals, Saito Ryuichi could only hurl shuriken to intercept the wind blades while slashing left and right with his Kunai to protect the children!

As their teacher, if anything happened to the children, Lord Hokage would skin him alive!

Takizawa Dan's heart sank, too. He hadn't expected Hyuga Niuda to be so vicious that, just to defeat him, he'd drag every child on the training ground into the attack!

With no other choice, he joined Saito Ryuichi in darting around and intercepting the wind blades.

But there were simply too many of them. The two of them couldn't possibly stop them all.

At that moment, the drawbacks of having no ninjutsu became painfully clear. Takizawa Dan was strong in one-on-one combat, but when facing many targets at once, he was stretched too thin.

Whoosh!!!

A wind blade broke through their defenses and was about to strike a child!

Just as tragedy was about to unfold—

A nimble figure suddenly leaped into the training ground.

"Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Palms: Heavenly Spin!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!!

A powerful vortex of chakra burst out around him, deflecting every wind blade out of the training ground. Not a single child was hurt.

Only Hyuga Niuda was struck by several of his own wind blades. They tore through his armor with ease, leaving him covered in blood as he wailed in pain.

"Lord Neji!"

Recognizing the newcomer, Saito Ryuichi cried out in delight.

The one who had arrived was none other than Hyuga Neji!!!

Takizawa Dan clicked his tongue inwardly. To repel every wind blade on the training ground single-handedly, Neji was monstrously strong. No wonder Rock Lee got beaten so badly by him every time!

"What's going on? Why did someone use 'Wind Style: Dance of the Kamaitachi' in a place full of children? Is this how you teach?" Neji demanded of Saito Ryuichi.

Saito Ryuichi didn't dare hide anything. He reported everything that had happened, including how Hyuga Niuda had bribed him to help deal with Takizawa Dan.

Neji was a prodigy of Konoha. Given time, he was certain to rise to a high position. A lowly Chunin like Saito Ryuichi couldn't afford to cross him!

Neji listened calmly. When Saito Ryuichi recounted how Takizawa Dan had defeated Hyuga Niuer and Hyuga Niuda, Neji couldn't help glancing at Takizawa Dan a few more times.

"I understand. The main culprits in this incident are Hyuga Niuda and Hyuga Niuer. You come next."

Neji gave Saito Ryuichi a cool glance. Though still young, he already had the commanding presence of a leader.

"Go to Lord Hokage yourself and resign as a ninja instructor. I won't hold you responsible."

"Yes... Thank you, Lord Neji."

Saito Ryuichi's face fell, but he knew he had no other choice.

If word of what had happened today got out, he might be driven out of the village at best!

Neji walked over to Hyuga Niuda.

"L-Lord Neji..." Hyuga Niuda had come to his senses and realized the enormity of his mistake. He spoke in terror. "I just lost my head for a moment... I didn't mean to..."

"Don't say another word. As of today, you're no longer a member of the Hyuga Clan. And—"

Neji's gaze turned cold.

"Byakugan! Activate!"

"Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"

Neji struck like lightning, tapping every chakra point on Hyuga Niuda's body!

"I... My chakra! I can't feel my chakra anymore!!!"

Hyuga Niuda cried out in terror.

"You don't deserve to be a ninja. In your hands, ninjutsu can only hurt innocent people. So I've crippled every meridian in your body."

"Whether you live or die from now on is none of my concern."

"As for your younger brother Niuer, the clan rules will deal with him when you return."

With that, Neji turned and left.

The Hyuga Clan had only one Main Family, but it had many members of the Branch Family. Neji was the head of the Branch Family, and his words held absolute authority among them!

Hyuga Niuda collapsed to the ground. This time, it was truly all over!

Finally, Neji walked up to Takizawa Dan.

"Takizawa Dan, today's incident was indeed the fault of our Hyuga Branch Family. I apologize on their behalf. If you want compensation, just say the word. The Hyuga Clan will provide it. Let's put this matter behind us. What do you say?"

Takizawa Dan smiled and nodded. "Since you've said that, Neji, I'll accept your apology and consider the matter settled. But you can keep the compensation. I'm not one to take advantage of someone in a difficult position, and I don't need the extra things."

"I only ask that, from now on, no one from the Hyuga Branch Family disturb my training or my peace. Otherwise, not even you will get any mercy from me!"

Neji frowned slightly. Takizawa Dan spoke to him nothing like a peer; he sounded more like an elder reprimanding him.

Still, since his own clan members had been in the wrong, Neji nodded. "Don't worry. I'll make sure to keep the clan members in line. Nothing like this will happen again!"

Just then, the bushes nearby rustled a few times.

Everyone present tensed, instantly on guard. Had enemy ninja infiltrated Konoha?

Neji gestured for them to relax, then smiled toward the bushes. "Lady Hanabi, come out. It's safe now."

A cute little girl leaped out of the bushes and hurried over to Neji, lowering her head shyly.

Takizawa Dan recognized her and was instantly surprised!