Neji was carried away on a stretcher by two medical ninja.
His eyes were vacant, and he kept muttering nervously, "Impossible... impossible..." like he had gone mad.
The atmosphere inside the Central Tower was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
Hayate Gekko dragged his sickly body to the center of the arena.
He glanced at the electronic screen and weakly announced the next match.
"Next match: Hinata Hyuga of the Leaf Village versus Kin Tsuchi of Otogakure."
The Leaf Village section of the stands fell completely silent.
Everyone's gaze instinctively turned toward the shy girl in the oversized jacket, nervously pressing her index fingers together.
Hinata Hyuga.
"Hinata, it's your turn."
Kurenai Yūhi patted her beloved student on the shoulder, trying to encourage her.
"Don't be nervous. Just do your best."
Hinata's little face was pale, and even her lips trembled from nerves.
She looked at her cousin Neji, who had just been carried away, then at the grinning Otogakure ninja across the arena.
The cowardice and insecurity ingrained deep within her surged up all at once.
"I... I..."
She clenched the hem of her clothes and lowered her head, unable even to meet her teacher's eyes.
Just then.
"Hey! You little cataract girl!"
A loud, boisterous voice rang out from Iwagakure's stands.
Hinata stiffened and instinctively looked up.
Uzumaki Naruto had cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone and was shouting in her direction.
"Aren't you the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Clan? Why are you acting like some bullied little nobody?!"
"Show some spirit! Don't disgrace the Hyuga Clan!"
Naruto?!
When she saw that familiar face, wearing such a sunny smile—
Hinata's face instantly turned as red as a ripe tomato, and even her ears burned.
Even though... even though Naruto was now a