In a Forest outside Konoha, two figures in white clashed fiercely, trading solid blows in a spectacular exchange.
With a gaze that seemed to see through everything, one of them narrowly dodged the other's almost unstoppable thrust. They landed on separate branches, each watching the other warily.
"What a troublesome kekkei genkai. My Gentle Fist barely works on you, and I can't force chakra into your body either... For someone who relies on taijutsu, staying behind to stop you really wasn't a wise choice."
Neji let one hand hang loosely at his side. Blood dripped down his arm onto the ground; he was clearly injured.
He was hardly in good shape. He didn't have enough chakra to use Divine Empty Strike yet, and his Gentle Fist was ineffective against the person before him... Yet his expression remained confident.
After all, his opponent was even more badly injured—Neji had broken more of his bones than he could count.
The unfortunate part was that his opponent's bones could grow back.
"...So young. Without the cursed seal, in taijutsu alone, you're better than me... Even you would make a better vessel for my lord than I would... What's your name?"
The frail, deathly pale boy looked down at the black markings on his body. Without the cursed seal's power, he would already have lost during their last few exchanges.
"Neji Hyuga. Remember it. That's the name of the man who'll defeat you!"
"Neji Hyuga..." As though truly committing the name to memory, Kimimaro looked up at Neji again, his gaze somewhat distant. "Is that Sasuke Uchiha really better than you?"
At the question, Neji's mouth twitched. He fought back the urge to object, then finally forced out, "For the record, I did lose to him in our last one-on-one fight, but that doesn't