Can Hard Work Really Change One's Fate?

"Did Takasaki really learn the Substitution Technique?"

Neji looked dazed, as if he couldn't believe what had just happened.

He hadn't even noticed when Takasaki had switched places with the substitute.

"I told you, Takasaki works really hard," Hinata replied.

Neji lowered his eyes. "But fate is predetermined. How could hard work possibly change it?"

Takasaki learning the Substitution Technique had certainly surprised Neji.

That was all.

He continued, "Knowing only the Substitution Technique is useless. To pass the Graduation Exam, you also need to learn the Transformation Technique and the Clone Technique. I don't believe Takasaki has learned those other two techniques as well."

Neji knew Takasaki had already left. He'd actually wanted to ask him when he had switched with the substitute.

But his pride had stopped him from asking.

Never mind. There was no need.

He still had something important to do. "Lady Hinata, can you come with me to complete your sparring assignment now? The Clan Head asked me to help you improve. If we don't finish today's assignment, I won't be able to explain myself to him."

Hinata said nothing, only nodded, though she felt a little hopeful.

She hoped Takasaki would write her name more often in his next diary entry.

More than that, she hoped Neji wouldn't take out his grievances against Takasaki on her.

Just as the two of them set off, footsteps sounded in the corridor outside. A tall figure in a white robe appeared in the doorway: Hyuga Hiashi, his expression stern.

"Father!" Hinata immediately lowered her head.

"Clan Head."

Neji instinctively bowed.

"How did things get this out of hand?" Hyuga Hiashi asked gravely.

It seemed Hyuga Hiashi already understood what had happened.

Neji instinctively wanted to shift the blame onto Takasaki. It was a natural reaction when people ran into trouble.

Fortunately, as soon as the thought occurred to him, he pushed it down. In a sincere tone, he said, "It was all my fault. Hinata had nothing to do with it."

Hyuga Hiashi's tone suddenly changed. "Neji, at least you've got some sense of responsibility."

That was Takasaki's voice!

At the sound of it, Hinata and Neji seemed to realize something and immediately looked up.

A cloud of smoke burst from Hyuga Hiashi's figure by the door. It quickly dispersed, revealing Takasaki.

"Takasaki?!" Hinata froze, then cried out in surprise, "You've learned the Transformation Technique too!"

That was the Transformation Technique!

Takasaki hadn't only learned the Substitution Technique; somehow, he'd learned the Transformation Technique as well!

Neji's eyes widened, his gaze trembling.

Takasaki had truly taken him by surprise. At the same time, Neji realized one thing: Takasaki had fooled him again!

"I had a good teacher, Lady Hinata," Takasaki said with a smile.

"Takasaki, I admit I underestimated you," Neji said, giving a slight nod. He didn't criticize Takasaki for impersonating Hyuga Hiashi and tricking him.

As soon as he finished speaking, Takasaki looked at him. "Do you still believe fate can't be changed?"

Neji's gaze sharpened, and he lowered his head.

He was about to say that he still firmly believed fate couldn't be changed, but the words caught in his throat.

In his mind, Takasaki had always been a dead last.

He should have been a dead last for the rest of his life.

But now, Takasaki's performance had defied all expectations.

Could hard work really change a person's fate?

The problem was, the suffering of the Hyuga Branch Family constantly reminded him that fate was predetermined.

After making sure there were no other Hyuga Clan members nearby, Takasaki spoke frankly. "The day you break the Caged Bird Curse Seal, you'll understand that fate isn't predetermined. It can be changed."

With that, he brought his hands together and formed Hand Seals. "Release."

With a bang, Takasaki's body dissolved into smoke.

This was his—

Neji jerked his head up, watching the smoke as Takasaki's clone disappeared. "It's the Clone Technique."

His eyes flickered. He gave a self-deprecating chuckle. "That dead last really fooled us completely..."

No!

As soon as he said it, Neji's heart skipped a beat.

Could Takasaki still be called a dead last?

Realizing Takasaki wasn't nearby, he turned and exchanged a glance with Hinata.

They both saw disbelief in each other's eyes.

Takasaki had even learned the Clone Technique!

The Takasaki who had transformed into Hyuga Hiashi had only been a clone!

As for Takasaki's real body, it had already left the Hyuga Clan Mansion.

Neji stepped outside and went to the VIP Reception Room, but Takasaki was nowhere to be seen.

Realizing Takasaki had already left, he asked in surprise, "Hinata, did you teach Takasaki the Three Body Technique?"

"Me? Huh? No way."

Hinata recalled the various moments when she had tried to teach Takasaki and vigorously shook her head.

It was impossible.

While she was teaching Takasaki, he had lost focus several times.

She'd even gotten so annoyed that she poked his hand and forehead with her finger. How could he have learned from her?

Suddenly, she seemed to understand.

Especially after she told Neji how she had taught Takasaki, he reached the same conclusion she did. "Could Takasaki have been hiding his abilities all along?"

It was the only possibility!

Naruto and Takasaki were both called dead lasts in class. Naruto really was a dead last.

But judging from Takasaki's performance today, he must have only pretended to be one.

"Come to think of it, I really did lose my composure earlier. I underestimated him, and even lost control of my emotions and attacked him first. No matter what, I was the one who started the trouble."

Neji suddenly felt dejected.

He had always been confident in his abilities, but for the first time, he began to doubt himself.

Remembering the things he'd said to mock Takasaki in the reception room, he felt deeply ashamed. "Just how much of his strength has Takasaki been hiding?"

For a moment, Neji felt that he couldn't understand Takasaki at all.

More importantly, what had Takasaki meant by those words before his clone disappeared?

"The day you break the Caged Bird Curse Seal, you'll understand that fate isn't predetermined. As long as you work hard, you can change it." Those were Takasaki's exact words.

As Neji walked with Hinata to the Training Room, he kept turning the question over in his mind: could the Caged Bird Curse Seal be broken?

Impossible.

Just thinking about it made Neji feel the idea was ridiculous.

His fate had been decided long ago. There was no changing it.

And yet, if fate couldn't be changed, how could Takasaki's situation be explained?

Takasaki, who had clearly been a dead last, had learned the Three Body Technique and could use it skillfully.

Neji could hardly imagine how much unseen effort Takasaki had put in along the way. He must have sweated buckets.

Could hard work really change one's fate?

Though he had always believed fate couldn't be changed, a ripple of doubt stirred in his heart.

After interacting with Takasaki today, Neji felt, somehow, that perhaps his own fate could be changed.

Takasaki seemed to offer him hope.

Earlier, he'd demanded that Takasaki apologize to him. But now, it seemed he might be the one who owed Takasaki an apology.

"Next Monday, I have to go to the Hokage Building to accept a mission. I'll stop by the Ninja Academy while I'm at it and sincerely apologize to Takasaki..." Neji sighed.