Neji Hyuga had been waiting in the center of the training ground for quite some time.
He watched as Hinata slowly approached under Uchiha Yao's guidance.
Neji Hyuga spoke.
"I thought you wouldn't dare come, Lady Hinata."
Whispers immediately rose among the gathered Hyuga Clan members.
"Lady Hinata... Is she really going to fight Neji?"
"Isn't she just humiliating herself? Her strength..."
"Shh! Keep it down! Can't you see Hokage-sama is here?"
Hinata instinctively wanted to lower her head again, but with Uchiha Yao beside her, she stopped herself from falling into that habitual motion.
"Master..." Hinata's voice trembled slightly.
"Go," Uchiha Yao said.
"Don't worry about anything. Treat this place as your own training ground."
"Show them all your strength and make everyone who looks down on you shut their mouths."
"Yes!"
Hinata took a deep breath, stepped into the field, and stood across from Neji.
Naruto sat in the stands, anxiously scratching at his head.
"Master! That guy looks so arrogant!"
"Just watch. Today is the day Hinata proves herself."
In the field, Neji looked at Hinata, the contempt in his eyes utterly undisguised.
"Lady Hinata, do you think becoming Hokage-sama's disciple can change your fate as a weakling?"
"How naive."
Neji shook his head and said in a pitying tone, "Fate is decided from the moment a person is born. You are weak, and I am a genius. That is an unchangeable fact."
"No matter how you struggle, you will never escape this cage."
"Keeping company with trash like Naruto Uzumaki has made your vision just as shallow as his."
"Trash is contagious."
In the stands, several young ninjas from the Branch Family let out quiet snickers.
Naruto sat behind Uchiha Yao, his fists clenched until they cracked.
"That bastard... He's horrible!"
Uchiha Yao said calmly, "Just