Not Convinced? Then I'll Beat You Until You Are!

When Hizashi Hyuga stepped onto that brutal battlefield, the sight before him left him frozen in place, as if some invisible force had seized him tightly.

The scene was like a horrifying painting from hell. The melted corpses of Hidden Stone Village ninja lay scattered everywhere, their mangled bodies giving off a nauseating burnt stench.

The surrounding trees looked as though they had been licked by demonic flames, their charred branches twisting toward the sky as if silently recounting the cruelty of the battle.

The ground had been baked by the intense heat until it was hard as stone, cracks spreading across it like a spiderweb and radiating scorching heat.

Hizashi Hyuga's eyes widened, filled with disbelief.

His lips trembled slightly, and his hands clenched into fists without his realizing it.

An indescribable fear surged through his heart, as though an icy hand had gripped it tightly.

He slowly walked through the scene, every step feeling as though he were treading on knife blades.

His Byakugan worked like a scanner, carefully examining every trace of the battle.

The remnants of the destroyed Earth Release techniques—whether massive chunks of shattered rock or deep craters—all bore witness to the Hidden Stone Village ninja's desperate struggle.

The destruction caused by Rogge's overwhelming magma power was even more shocking. The magma flowing across the ground had already solidified, gleaming with an eerie dark-red sheen, like wounds upon the earth.

Hizashi Hyuga's face grew ever paler, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Scenes of Rogge fighting replayed endlessly in his mind—the blazing magma, the terrifying power—making him fully realize just how frightening Rogge's strength was.

Yet, despite being horrified by the carnage before him, the resentment in Hizashi Hyuga's heart remained like stubborn weeds, not yet completely gone.

Dragging his heavy feet, he slowly returned to the group.

His face was still as pale as paper, and a trace of fear remained in his eyes.

Clearly, he had not fully recovered from the shock of what he had just seen.

"Lady Tsunade." Hizashi Hyuga's voice was somewhat hoarse. He lowered his head slightly, not daring to meet Tsunade's eyes.

"I admit Rogge is strong, but I'm still not convinced. I want to duel Rogge. I want to prove that I'm no worse than him." His tone was firm and resolute, as if this were a battle for his final shred of dignity.

Tsunade looked at Hizashi Hyuga and shook her head helplessly.

Her eyes were full of concern and reproach. "Hizashi, why must you do this? You've already seen Rogge's strength. Challenging him now isn't a wise choice."

Tsunade furrowed her brows slightly. She knew full well what consequences this duel could bring, yet she could not stop Hizashi Hyuga's stubborn resolve.

Hizashi Hyuga raised his head, his eyes gleaming with defiance.

"Lady Tsunade, I know Rogge is strong, but I can't admit defeat just like this. I have to duel him. Only then can I truly recognize my own shortcomings and become stronger."

His fists clenched tightly, and his body trembled slightly.

At that moment, Rogge heard Hizashi Hyuga's challenge. He frowned slightly, a hint of disdain appearing on his face.

Rogge had no desire to duel Hizashi Hyuga. He felt it was meaningless.

In his eyes, Hizashi Hyuga's challenge was nothing more than pointless struggling.

But he also understood that Hizashi Hyuga was a stubborn man. If he was not given a chance, he might never let it go.

"Hmph. Boring."

Rogge's voice was cold and indifferent. "Since you want to duel so badly, I'll agree. But I hope this is the last time. From now on, we need to work together to complete our mission, not fight each other."

Rogge's gaze was like a sharp sword, piercing straight into Hizashi Hyuga.

Hizashi Hyuga nodded. "Fine, I agree. After this duel, no matter the outcome, I'll put aside my dislike of you and work with you to complete our mission."

Though his voice was firm, a trace of unease showed in his eyes.

He knew he was facing a powerful opponent, but he had no way to retreat.

Damn it! Don't look down on the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan!

Thus, the two prepared to duel in an open area.

Everyone around them watched nervously, not knowing how this duel would end.

A breeze swept through, rustling the leaves as if playing a tense prelude for the impending duel.

Hizashi Hyuga stood there, his eyes gloomy and arrogant.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly into a provocative smile. "Rogge, today I'll show you that I, Hizashi Hyuga, am not so easily defeated."

Rogge looked at Hizashi Hyuga expressionlessly, his eyes full of indifference.

"You're only humiliating yourself."

His hands hung casually at his sides, as though he did not take Hizashi Hyuga seriously at all.

Hizashi Hyuga was enraged by Rogge's words, and a flash of anger crossed his eyes.

"Then let's settle this with our fists."

With that, his figure flashed, and he charged at Rogge in an instant.

He was incredibly fast, like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Hizashi Hyuga unleashed his strongest taijutsu, his fist whistling through the air as it smashed toward Rogge.

Yet Rogge remained where he was, completely still.

Only when Hizashi Hyuga's fist was about to hit him did he slightly turn aside and effortlessly evade the attack.

Hizashi Hyuga's fist struck empty air with a dull thud.

His body lurched several steps forward from the momentum before he barely managed to steady himself.

"Is that all you've got?" Rogge's voice was full of mockery. "Looks like you still overestimated yourself."

Hizashi Hyuga's face darkened further. He charged at Rogge again, this time activating his Byakugan in an attempt to find Rogge's weakness.

However, Rogge was simply too fast. He could not even catch sight of Rogge's figure.

Like a ghost, Rogge darted around Hizashi Hyuga, leaving him unable to strike.

"Give up. You're no match for me." Rogge's voice rang out again, as if pronouncing Hizashi Hyuga's defeat.

But Hizashi Hyuga was unwilling to fail like this. Gritting his teeth, he unleashed an even stronger technique.

"Eight Trigrams Palms—Heavenly Rotation!" Hizashi Hyuga shouted.

Hizashi Hyuga's eyes closed tightly, his expression focused and solemn.

He gathered chakra around his body. In an instant, a powerful current of air began spinning around him.

The airflow grew faster and faster, howling like the roar before a storm.

As chakra continued to pour forth, a circular shield formed from rapidly spinning chakra gradually emerged.

The shield emitted a white glow, like an impregnable fortress.

The high-speed rotating chakra generated tremendous centrifugal force, sending the surrounding dust and stones flying away.

Shallow furrows also appeared across the ground under that power, displaying the mighty force of Eight Trigrams Palms—Heavenly Rotation.

From a distance, Hizashi Hyuga looked as though he were wrapped inside a massive sphere of white energy.

The energy sphere radiated a chilling aura, as if it could withstand any attack.

Hizashi Hyuga shouted, "Rogge, today I'll let you witness my true strength!"

Rogge merely frowned slightly, his eyes still full of disdain.

His hands hung casually at his sides, as though he did not take Hizashi Hyuga's attack seriously at all.

Hizashi Hyuga flashed forward, charging at Rogge with the powerful shield of Heavenly Rotation.

The white energy sphere came hurtling toward Rogge like a cannonball.

Yet Rogge remained where he was, completely still.

Only when Hizashi Hyuga was nearly upon him did he slightly turn aside and effortlessly evade the attack.

Hizashi Hyuga's Heavenly Rotation shield slammed into the ground with a tremendous crash, blasting a huge pit into the earth.

He quickly adjusted his footing and charged at Rogge again.

Rogge snorted coldly, and his hands were instantly covered in magma.

"Magma Fist!" Rogge shouted, throwing a punch at Hizashi Hyuga's Heavenly Rotation shield.

The blazing magma collided with the Heavenly Rotation shield in an earth-shaking explosion.

Cracks began to appear across the Heavenly Rotation shield under the magma's assault.

Hizashi Hyuga watched in horror. He had not expected Rogge's Magma Fist to be so powerful.

"Break!"

Rogge shouted again, increasing the power of his Magma Fist.

The Heavenly Rotation shield could no longer endure it and shattered instantly.

Hizashi Hyuga was struck by the shockwave from the Magma Fist, his body flying backward before crashing heavily to the ground.

He spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning even paler.

Rogge looked at Hizashi Hyuga lying on the ground, without the slightest trace of pity in his eyes.

"Do you understand now? The gap between us is far greater than you think."

Hizashi Hyuga struggled to rise, but his body would not obey him.

His eyes were filled with despair and unwillingness. He knew he had lost—completely and utterly.