Hinata vs. Neji

"Wow, Boss is amazing! Boss is the best!" Shota cheered, raising both hands high.

"Zeyu, that was incredible," Hinata whispered, watching Zeyu bow in the arena.

"To think he actually earned praise from the Hokage. Hmph, I bet his nose will be stuck in the air from now on," Megumi scoffed, crossing her arms.

Nearby, Kakashi stared intently at Zeyu, his mind filled with questions.

Kurenai Yuhi entered the arena to examine Kiba's injuries.

Finding that neither Kiba nor Akamaru had any serious issues and were merely unconscious, she let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm back," Zeyu said, leaping directly onto the second-floor railing.

"Welcome back, Zeyu," Hinata said, stepping forward.

Zeyu jumped down from the railing, pulled Hinata into a hug, and buried his face in her neck, taking a deep breath. "I missed you so much, Hinata. Give me a reward."

Hinata froze for a moment, her face turning bright red, before she smiled and wrapped her arms around Zeyu's waist.

Nana couldn't bear to watch and turned her head away.

"Hinata, be careful. Once a man gets famous, he tends to become a playboy!" Megumi remarked, eyeing the pair askance.

"Is that so? But I believe Zeyu would never become like that. It's alright," Hinata said, hugging him even tighter.

Zeyu took another deep breath, looked up to roll his eyes at Megumi, made a face at her, and then kissed Hinata on the cheek. "I love Hinata the most. We'll be together forever; no one can tear us apart."

"Mm, it's a promise, Zeyu," Hinata said, looking up at him.

Her eyes grew moist for a moment, and she buried her face in Zeyu's chest, a blissful smile blooming on her face.

Megumi's mouth twitched, and she huffed, turning her face away.

Shota stood to the side, weeping silently to himself while clenching his fists. Big Brother is too fast! I wanted to hug his leg and beg him to teach me that move from earlier. Damn it, it looks like I still have a lot of work to do!

Just then, Kakashi walked over.

"Yo," Kakashi said, raising a hand to greet them.

Everyone looked over, their expressions filled with confusion.

Zeyu and Hinata were still embracing, and feeling someone approach, Zeyu looked up at Kakashi.

Uh... is this a bad time? Kakashi wondered.

"What is it, Kakashi-senpai?" Nana asked.

"Well, there was something I wanted to discuss with Zeyu, but it's nothing urgent. We can do it when you're free next time, haha," Kakashi said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

"Now, let's begin the next match," Hayate said from the arena, coughing twice.

Everyone turned their eyes toward the giant screen.

If I remember correctly, it should be Hinata's turn... Zeyu thought, looking at Hinata's profile beside him.

Hinata held Zeyu's hand, her other hand pressed against her chest, staring fixedly at the screen.

The screen stopped.

"How could it be..." Hinata's pupils trembled. She squeezed Zeyu's hand tighter, her voice soft and tinged with fear.

Zeyu looked at the screen as well.

As I thought...

[Hinata Hyuga VS Neji Hyuga]

"Will both contestants please prepare themselves," Hayate called out.

Hmph, perfect, Neji thought. He vaulted over the railing, jumped down, and stood with his arms crossed, turning to look toward Hinata's side.

"Hurry up and come down, Lady Hinata," Neji said, his eyes filled with disdain.

Hinata looked down at Neji, her heart full of unease, and let go of Zeyu's hand.

"Zeyu, I'm going," Hinata said, glancing at him before walking toward the railing.

She walked with her hands balled into fists at her sides and her head bowed, her breathing ragged and nervous.

Zeyu stepped forward quickly, grabbed Hinata's hand, and pulled her into his arms.

Hinata froze, caught off guard.

"Do your best, Hinata," Zeyu said.

He then gripped her shoulders, looked her in the eyes, and added, "I know what you're worried about, but it's okay. No matter what happens, I will be standing by your side. So, please, gather your courage and move forward."

"Zeyu, thank you," Hinata whispered after a moment, tears shimmering in her eyes as she offered a smile.

Zeyu smiled with satisfaction and let her go.

The people around them exchanged glances and chuckled as they watched the pair.

Comforted by Zeyu, Hinata felt much more at ease and was no longer as nervous.

Suddenly, Hinata remembered something, and her face flushed red again. She lowered her head, pressing her hands against her chest and poking her index fingers together.

"What's wrong, Hinata?" Zeyu asked.

"Zeyu-kun... that... the comfort..." Hinata stammered. She looked up at Zeyu, then caught sight of the others nearby, causing her face to turn even redder.

Nana leaned over to Megumi's ear and whispered, "What happened these past few days? Hinata is so bold now."

"You'll get used to it, Teacher," Megumi said helplessly.

Zeyu suddenly realized what she meant and smiled slightly. He stepped forward, gently lifted Hinata's chin, and kissed her on the forehead.

"Go on, Hinata! Do your best!" Zeyu said, clenching his fist.

Hinata touched her forehead where Zeyu had kissed her, then clenched her own fist and said, "Mm, I will do my best! I'm going now, Zeyu-kun!"

With that, Hinata turned, vaulted over the railing, and jumped down.

She arrived opposite Neji, took a deep breath, and thought, Thank you, Zeyu-kun. You helped me train for so long; I am no longer the person I used to be. The current me will not back down!

She placed her fists at her waist, her gaze resolute.

Neji looked at Hinata and smiled faintly. "Looking at you, do you actually think you can beat me?"

"I couldn't have done it on my own before, but..." Hinata closed her eyes and slowly began to assume the Gentle Fist stance. "I am not alone anymore! Zeyu-kun gave me strength! The current me can do it!" Hinata's eyes were firm as she stared intently at Neji.

Neji gave a contemptuous smile upon hearing this and also assumed the Gentle Fist stance. "I admit that Zeyu is quite capable, but Hinata-sama, you should just give up. It is impossible for you to defeat me," Neji said, settling into his position.

Hayate looked at the two who were ready for battle and raised his hand, about to announce the start.

"Wait!" Hinata called out.

Everyone was taken aback.

Is Hinata still afraid? Kurenai wondered.

Is she going to forfeit? Well, it can't be helped since her opponent is Neji, Guy thought.

"What is it? Are you going to forfeit? That would indeed be for the best, Hinata-sama," Neji said with a faint smile.

Hayate also looked toward Hinata.

They saw Hinata take off the bracelet from her wrist and use it as a hair tie to pull her hair back.

"I'm sorry, this bracelet was a graduation gift from Zeyu-kun. It's something precious, so I can't let it get damaged," Hinata said.

Megumi looked speechless and glanced at Zeyu, who was standing to the side.

Zeyu, however, was overjoyed; his eyes crinkled into slits, and his body swayed slightly.

"Tch, how boring," Neji scoffed.

After tying her hair, Hinata resumed her stance.

She had tied it into a crooked ponytail; because her hair was short, it was just a small tuft.

"Then, begin!" Hayate shouted once he saw they were ready.

"Byakugan!" "Byakugan!"

Hinata and Neji activated their Byakugan simultaneously and charged at each other.

Their palms collided, sending out a gust of wind.

Following that, the two began a fierce exchange of Gentle Fist techniques.

Because both were using the same style, their moves were identical, and for a time, it was hard to tell who had the upper hand as they engaged in an intense clash.

I heard from Hiashi that Hinata has been training with Zeyu. I wonder how strong she has become? To be so confident when facing Neji, who is known as a genius—it really is something to look forward to, the Third Hokage thought as he watched the two battling in the arena.

They are both using Gentle Fist. If Hinata can't find a flaw, she will definitely lose, Megumi thought, rubbing her chin in contemplation.

Suddenly, a "bang" sound caught Megumi's attention.

Megumi looked toward the source of the sound, which was right where Zeyu was standing.

At that moment, Zeyu was gripping the railing tightly with both hands, sweat beading on his forehead, his teeth clenched, and his eyes locked onto the two in the arena.

Curious about the source of the noise, Megumi walked closer and realized that the railing in Zeyu's hands had been visibly deformed by his grip.

It was the first time Megumi had seen Zeyu so nervous; she lost all desire to tease him and turned her gaze back to the arena.

"I'll let you off the hook this time. I just hope Hinata is alright," Megumi thought, feeling a twinge of worry.

In the arena, Hinata and Neji had already exchanged over twenty blows.

This can't go on! I'll eventually lose from exhaustion, Hinata thought, gritting her teeth.

Zeyu has helped me train for so long; I refuse to lose like this!

Though she was determined, she struggled to find an opening. As her stamina steadily drained, she began to falter under the pressure.

"What's wrong? Are you still thinking about that brat? Do you really think you can beat me like this?" Neji said with a sneer.

Sweat poured down Hinata's face as she struggled to parry his attacks, her movements shifting almost entirely to defense.

"Hmph, you talk about the past, but look at you now—weak, pathetic, and timid. You're nothing like a ninja!"

"I..." Hinata bit her lip hard.

"All those big words you said are truly laughable. Do you really think you've achieved anything?"

"I..."

"A useless person like you should just do nothing. Wouldn't that be easier?" Neji continued to batter down her mental defenses with his words.

Meanwhile, his strikes never slowed, and Hinata began to feel her strength failing.

"I heard you've been training with that brat. What could an outsider possibly teach you!" Neji said, throwing a heavy palm strike toward Hinata's chest.

Hinata gritted her teeth, gathering force in her right hand. She used her left hand to parry and deflect Neji's strike, then thrust her right palm toward his chest, shouting, "Don't you dare talk about Zeyu like that!"

Neji gave a contemptuous smile and swatted her right arm away with his left hand, blocking the move. But just as he prepared to follow up, he was suddenly struck by a sharp, intense pain in his right chest.

Neji stumbled, his body stiffening as he stared at Hinata in disbelief.

Hinata seized the opportunity and pressed the attack with a left palm strike.

Neji quickly arched his back, narrowly dodging the blow as a gust of wind whistled past him.

Hinata moved to pursue, but Neji hurriedly backflipped to put some distance between them.

Only then did Hinata have a moment to catch her breath.

She panted heavily, her eyes locked on Neji.

Neji hunched over, clutching his right chest and gasping for air. He looked up, glaring at Hinata with uncontrollable rage, and shouted, "How do you know that technique!"