"Whoosh!!"
Before the words had faded, Rock Lee vanished from where he stood, becoming a fleeting afterimage!
Fast! Too fast!
Even Neji's Byakugan could barely track the afterimage. His pupils abruptly contracted, and with no time to execute a full Rotation, he could only twist aside.
"Bang!!"
The fist skimmed past his shoulder, but the shock wave it unleashed blasted the baseball cap right off his head.
"Clack!"
The cap tumbled through the air and fell, revealing Neji's smooth scalp, gleaming coldly.
The sight instantly cracked the tension hanging over the battle.
"Hahahaha!!!" Naruto immediately clutched his stomach and burst out laughing. "Neji... is he trying to kill me with laughter?!!"
Choji struggled to stifle a laugh, while Ino shook with laughter. "That look, seriously... I can't, hahaha!"
The corner of Neji's mouth twitched, and a trace of resignation flashed in his eyes.
"In that case..."
He slowly raised both hands. His Byakugan shone with an even sharper light, his voice cool and firm. "I'll have to get a little serious too."
A hint of quiet detachment lingered in Neji's eyes.
He had little objection to being bald; training and the way of the ninja had tempered his resolve, after all. Yet the occasional whispers reaching his ears still stirred a faint discomfort deep inside.
It wasn't shame, but a loneliness he couldn't quite put into words.
Right now, however, he had no time to dwell on it.
Standing opposite him was Rock Lee, blazing like the sun.
"Come on, Neji! Show me your true strength!"
Battle fervor burned in Rock Lee's eyes, piercing straight into Neji's soul like the sharpest spear on the battlefield.
Seventh Gate-open!
As the air churned, scalding blue steam enveloped Rock Lee's entire body. The paving stones beneath his feet shattered, unable to withstand