A few days later.
Outside the gates of the Ninja Academy, the setting sun stretched the students' shadows long.
Naruto walked along, gesturing wildly as he bragged about his performance that day. Hinata quietly followed at his side, a faint smile on her face as she listened attentively.
"Naruto-kun, you're amazing," Hinata softly agreed.
Just as the two were about to turn the corner, a cool voice came from ahead.
"The Main Family's eldest daughter has actually fallen so low as to mingle with a dead last like this?"
Hinata's body trembled, and the smile on her face froze.
She instinctively lowered her head, nervously pressing her index fingers together. Her gaze darted away, and she did not dare look at the figure ahead.
Neji Hyuga stood some distance away, his arms folded across his chest.
Seeing Hinata's reaction, Naruto immediately flew into a rage. He stepped in front of Hinata, shielding her behind him, and pointed at Neji's nose as he started yelling.
"Hey! Who the hell are you? Why do you talk like that?"
Neji's gaze slowly shifted from Hinata to Naruto's face.
"Naruto Uzumaki, the top student? Heh, what a joke. It seems Konoha really has declined if even someone like you can become the top student."
"What the hell do you mean, bastard?!" Naruto was completely enraged by Neji Hyuga's contemptuous tone.
"I became the top student through my own strength! You're just jealous, aren't you?!"
"Jealous?"
As though he had heard the funniest joke in the world, Neji gave a derisive snort.
"Don't make me laugh. Your fate was already decided the moment you were born. No matter how you struggle, trash will always be trash."
Neji turned his gaze to Hinata again, his tone growing even colder.
"Just like her. As the Main Family's