Neji

As evening approached, the afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the land.

Uzumaki Menma and Naruto were escorting Hinata home.

"Actually, I can go home by myself. Menma, Naruto, you guys can head back," Hinata said.

Hinata was almost certain that her father would severely scold her when she got home.

If Uzumaki Menma and Naruto accompanied her, there was a good chance they would be scolded along with her.

As a friend, Hinata didn't want Menma and Naruto to be reprimanded because of her.

Uzumaki Menma smiled reassuringly. "It's okay. We told your old man we'd walk you back. If we let you go alone, wouldn't we be breaking our promise? Right, Naruto!"

Naruto chimed in, "That's right! We never break our promises!"

Seeing the resolute expressions on Menma and Naruto's faces, Hinata felt touched.

But despite her gratitude, she was still worried.

They were almost at the Hyuga Clan compound.

Uzumaki Menma had a nagging feeling that someone was following them.

But when he looked back, he couldn't see anyone.

Seeing Uzumaki Menma looking back repeatedly, Naruto asked, puzzled, "Menma, what's wrong?"

Uzumaki Menma scratched his head, looking puzzled. "I have a feeling... I feel like someone's following us."

"Huh? You feel it too? I also feel like someone's behind us. Hinata, do you?" Naruto turned and asked Hinata.

Hinata nodded. "Yes, I feel it too."

Since all three of them had the same feeling, it meant that someone really was secretly following them.

Uzumaki Menma pointed to the trash can ahead and whispered to Naruto and Hinata, "I'll hide behind the trash can. Naruto, you and Hinata keep walking forward, don't look back, got it?"

Naruto and Hinata nodded. "Got it."

Naruto and Hinata walked ahead, while Uzumaki Menma hid behind the trash can.

Sure enough.

After Naruto and Hinata walked past, they heard footsteps.

Sensing that the person following them had moved up, Uzumaki Menma suddenly jumped out from behind the trash can, launching a pincer attack with Naruto and Hinata.

"I'll see who dares to follow us!"

Uzumaki Menma took a closer look and saw that the person following them resembled Hinata.

Hinata paused for a moment when she saw the person. "Neji-niisan?"

Uzumaki Menma suddenly understood. It was Hinata's cousin, Hyuga Neji.

Naruto, who had been about to question him sternly, heard Hinata call him "Neji-niisan" and asked Hinata in confusion, "Hinata, is he your brother? Why is your brother following us?"

Neji, feeling a little embarrassed at being discovered, retorted defensively, "Following? This is protection!"

"Protection? Protecting who?"

"Of course, I'm protecting Hinata-sama!"

Naruto's brain started to overload. "Aren't you Hinata's brother? How can you call Hinata 'Hinata-sama'?"

Neji put his hands on his hips and said, "That's none of your business. My mission is to protect Hinata-sama from the influence of some riffraff!"

Naruto thought Neji was worried about Hinata, so he patted his chest and assured him, "You can rest assured. We'll protect him—her—Hinata."

Neji just stared silently at Uzumaki Menma and Naruto.

Uzumaki Menma's expression became a little strange. "Naruto, I think the riffraff he's talking about... is us."

Neji sneered. "Looks like you have some self-awareness, unlike that blond idiot."

Naruto clenched his small fists. "Menma, he's so punchable! I really want to beat him up!"

Neji provocatively crooked a finger at Naruto. "If you can touch the hem of my clothes, I'll admit defeat!"

"Hey, I've got a temper! Today, I'll beat you so badly you'll be crawling on the ground begging for mercy!"

Naruto rolled up his sleeves and charged forward to punch Neji.

"Wait, Naruto!"

Hinata tried to stop Naruto, but he had already charged forward.

Naruto rushed in front of Neji and threw a punch.

Neji swiftly grabbed Naruto's wrist, then used the momentum to pull him forward, causing Naruto to stumble.

Just as Naruto was about to fall, Neji grabbed the back of Naruto's collar, preventing him from falling.

Naruto subconsciously said, "Thanks."

Neji rolled his eyes at Naruto. "Idiot."

Then he kicked Naruto in the butt, sending him sprawling next to Hinata.

Hinata quickly helped Naruto up, "Naruto!"

Naruto was very dissatisfied, feeling he had been careless.

"Again!"

Hinata grabbed Naruto, who was about to rush over again, "Naruto, Neji-niisan is a genius in the clan, you can't beat Neji-niisan."

Naruto pouted, displeased, "Hinata, why are you undermining our own morale and boosting the enemy's!"

Neji's expression was as ugly as if he had eaten shit.

Who exactly is the enemy, and who is on our side!

"Alright Naruto, leave the rest to me! I'll help you teach him a lesson!"

Uzumaki Menma stepped forward.

After such a long, grueling training with Yamanaka Fu, Uzumaki Menma was now full of confidence, feeling more than capable of taking on Neji!

Neji once again provocatively beckoned to Uzumaki Menma, "Then come."

Uzumaki Menma walked up to Neji, then suddenly launched a right roundhouse kick at Neji.

However, Uzumaki Menma's leg was a bit short, or perhaps Neji was too agile, as Uzumaki Menma's toes brushed against Neji's clothes and missed.

Neji seized the opportunity to grab Uzumaki Menma's right leg, wanting to deal with Uzumaki Menma in the same way he had dealt with Naruto.

But Uzumaki Menma didn't give Neji the chance, directly leaping into the air and kicking his left foot towards Neji.

Neji immediately abandoned his grip on Uzumaki Menma's right leg, releasing it and raising his arm to block.

Uzumaki Menma's left leg struck Neji's arm.

Neji took a few steps back, and Uzumaki Menma fell to the ground.

"Awesome! Menma! Go get him, teach that annoying guy a lesson!" Naruto loudly cheered for Uzumaki Menma.

Hinata, however, looked worried.

One was her brother, and the other was her friend, so it didn't seem right to cheer for either side.

Neji brushed the footprint off his arm, looking at Uzumaki Menma who had stood up again, "Interesting, you're much stronger than that blonde idiot, so I'll have to get serious."

Neji adopted a Gentle Fist stance, beckoning to Uzumaki Menma once more, "Come!"

Uzumaki Menma charged towards Neji, raising his left fist to smash towards Neji's face.

Just as Neji was about to block the left fist, Uzumaki Menma's right fist suddenly struck as well, aiming for Neji's abdomen.

"Heh, a feint? Naive!"

Neji didn't panic at all, drawing a circle with both hands.

Uzumaki Menma's left and right hands unconsciously seemed to stick to Neji's hands, moving with him in a circle.

Then Neji suddenly pulled his hands sharply to the left, and Uzumaki Menma staggered several steps to the left before regaining his balance.

Neji proudly declared, "This is our Hyuga Clan's special technique!"

Uzumaki Menma had only been training for less than two months, and no matter how hard he trained, he couldn't possibly be a match for Neji, who was already four years old and had been training for over a year.

After all, Neji, as a genius, trained just as hard.

When Naruto saw that Uzumaki Menma was also no match for Neji, and was planning to team up with Uzumaki Menma...

A tall figure appeared between Neji and Uzumaki Menma and Naruto.

And this tall figure was none other than Hinata's father, Hyuga Hiashi.