Poison Tongue

Just as Ye Fan was about to chat with Rock Lee, an ill-timed voice suddenly rang out behind them.

"I wondered who it was. Turns out it's trash even worse than a dead last!"

The voice was icy and full of contempt.

It was loud, spoken without the slightest restraint.

Ye Fan turned to look.

A boy around thirteen was staring at him with a scornful gaze.

The boy's most distinctive feature was that he, too, possessed a pair of Byakugan.

"Another one from the Hyuga Clan!"

Ye Fan's heart stirred, but his expression remained calm. He did not get angry over the other's words.

"Neji, what are you doing? Why would you talk about Big Brother Ye Fan like that?" Rock Lee's face immediately darkened with anger.

That was simply his personality. He was straightforward and could not stand hearing others insult people he respected.

Rock Lee respected Ye Fan not merely because Ye Fan had given him guidance. More importantly, he felt that Ye Fan pursued the path of a ninja with even more youthful passion than he did.

After all, although he was not skilled in ninjutsu or Genjutsu, he could at least train in taijutsu. Ye Fan was different.

Ye Fan did not even have chakra and could not train in taijutsu, yet he still had not given up on the path of a ninja. That alone was worthy of Rock Lee's respect.

"You're Hyuga Neji, the so-called genius?" Ye Fan stared at him.

"If you don't want to die on the day of the examination, I advise you to give up as soon as possible!" Neji Hyuga said coldly.

"So this is what it looks like to be under the halo of a genius. Pretty impressive, huh?" Ye Fan's lips curved slightly.

"What did you say?" Neji Hyuga was somewhat angered.

"Getting worked up that easily? Looks like you're nothing special after all. Is this all it takes to be called a genius? Konoha's standards for defining 'genius' seem awfully low!"

Ye Fan gave a cold laugh and spoke with equal disdain.

"Are you looking to die?"

Neji Hyuga had already activated his Byakugan, veins bulging around his temples.

The girl named Tenten hurriedly reached out to tug on Neji Hyuga's clothes, urging, "Neji, this is the street."

Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and Rock Lee were on the same team, all belonging to Team Three. Their instructor was the Jonin—Might Guy!

Though Neji Hyuga did not strike immediately, he did not deactivate his Byakugan either, intending to intimidate Ye Fan with it.

But he had picked the wrong target.

Even if he glared himself blind,

Ye Fan would not feel the slightest fear.

"Against trash like you, I only need one strike to knock you flat!" Neji Hyuga said viciously.

"Don't swagger around in front of me. Be careful, or I'll set my dog on you!"

Ye Fan could not be bothered to continue tangling with him.

The little Ninja Hound Dark Shadow at his feet seemed to have received an order. It immediately bared its fangs, assuming a pose ready to bite.

Neji Hyuga had always been arrogant. Being looked down on so much by a piece of trash today made him feel an unprecedented humiliation.

"Today, I'll let you understand the gap between a genius and trash!"

Neji Hyuga was thoroughly enraged, and even his teammate Tenten no longer dared to dissuade him.

"Neji, although you are the goal I strive toward, I will never allow you to hurt Big Brother Ye Fan here!"

In a flash, Rock Lee had stepped in front of Ye Fan and assumed a fighting stance as well.

"Lee!"

Tenten was frantic, but powerless to stop him.

She could not understand why Rock Lee was so protective of this dead last who had been unable to graduate from the Ninja Academy for years.

The atmosphere immediately grew tense.

People nearby had already begun discussing the situation.

"Oh, are we getting ready to fight?" Ye Fan actually looked interested. With an expression that showed he was not afraid of making things worse, he said to Rock Lee, "Lee, go for it. Youth must not be trampled upon. It's fine to lose to an opponent, but never lose to yourself!"

Hearing those words, fighting spirit ignited throughout Rock Lee's body. One hand was behind his back while the other was raised halfway before his chest, making him look rather cool.

"Neji! Lee! Don't fight! Have you forgotten that Teacher Guy told us to meet him?" Tenten kept trying to persuade them from the side.

But.

For the two whose fighting spirits had already been ignited, her persuasion could no longer stop them.

Just as the fight was about to begin, Ye Fan's brow suddenly furrowed, and his gaze sharply turned to one side.

Puff!

With a soft sound, a cloud of white smoke rose between Neji Hyuga and Rock Lee.

A thick-browed man abruptly appeared between them.

Ye Fan narrowed his eyes and thought, So fast. He almost fooled my eyes and ears.

"Neji! Lee! What are you doing here?" Might Guy asked.

His appearance caused Neji Hyuga and Rock Lee's fighting intent to vanish without a trace.

"This is not training, and you are not enemies!" Might Guy said again, his thick eyebrows especially conspicuous.

Although Neji Hyuga was naturally arrogant, he still did not dare act recklessly before Might Guy and obediently stood to one side.

A battle thus dissipated into nothing.

At that moment, Might Guy turned around, his sharp gaze settling on Ye Fan as he asked, "Are you Inuzuka Ye Fan?"

Might Guy was suspicious. He did not know whether it had been an illusion, but at the instant he arrived, he had felt as though the boy before him had detected him.

That was an incredibly unbelievable thing.

After all, his speed was famously fast.

Let alone a Genin, even an ordinary Chunin might not be able to follow his movements.

But this boy before him...

At that very instant, his gaze had indeed turned toward him.

Had it been an illusion?

"Am I already that famous? I never thought even a Jonin would know me!" Ye Fan smiled lightly, ignoring the other man's sharp stare.

He had seen Might Guy training with Rock Lee before. To be honest, Ye Fan had once suspected that the two were father and son, since both possessed extremely thick, bushy eyebrows.

"I heard your examination opponent is Neji. What do you think? Feeling pressured?" Might Guy continued staring at Ye Fan.

"If my opponent were a Jonin like you, perhaps I would feel pressure. As for anyone else..." Ye Fan glanced at Neji Hyuga and continued, "Anyone else, especially someone who thinks being a genius makes him so amazing, isn't worth my attention at all. I only hope it won't end too quickly when the time comes. That would be far too boring!"

Neji Hyuga was so angered that the veins on his temples nearly bulged again. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Don't worry. When the time comes, I definitely won't let you get bored!"

"Good. I look forward to your performance—Konoha Village's genius!"

A faint smile appeared on Ye Fan's lips.

That action nearly drove Neji Hyuga into a rage.

The way Neji Hyuga stared at Ye Fan was practically as though he wanted to devour him alive!

This damn bastard!

This damn bastard!!

I—

Absolutely...

Absolutely will make him—

Understand how formidable I am!!!