The next few matches were utterly unremarkable.
With Shino Aburame's unapproachable expression and a body covered in bugs, his opponent got creeped out and surrendered before they had fought much.
Kankuro, the puppet user, wasn't much to watch either. That fellow named Misumi Tsurugi could soften and twist his body, but Kankuro ultimately used his puppet to snap his bones with crisp cracks.
Son Goten lay with his head on Karin's thighs, yawning in boredom. He even had Karin peel two oranges for him to eat.
"This is so boring. How is it still not mealtime?"
Son Goten tossed an orange segment into his mouth and muttered indistinctly.
Just then, the names on the Electronic Display Screen began scrolling again.
A few breaths later, the names stopped.
Hinata Hyuga VS Neji Hyuga.
The somewhat dull atmosphere in the stands grew a little livelier.
"A fight within the Hyuga Clan, huh."
Kakashi looked away from his book, his gaze becoming a little more serious.
"The Main Family's young lady against the branch family's genius. Now this is interesting."
Below the stands, Hinata visibly trembled when she saw that name.
That bone-deep fear made her involuntarily want to back away.
He was her cousin... and the opponent she least wanted to face.
"Go on, Hinata."
Kurenai Yuhi patted her shoulder. Though her voice was gentle, she couldn't hide the worry in her eyes.
Hinata lowered her head, twisting her fingers together as she inched down the stairs, looking back repeatedly.
Across from her, Neji Hyuga was already standing in the center of the arena.
His pure white eyes held no emotion, only an indifference that seemed to see through everything.
"I didn't expect it to be you, Lady Hinata."
Neji's voice was flat, revealing neither anger nor pleasure.
Hinata stood opposite him, unable to muster even the courage to look up at him. Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "N-Neji..."
"Forfeit."
Neji cut her off outright.
"You aren't suited to being a ninja."
Those words struck Hinata hard in the chest.
Hinata raised her head, her eyes filled with panic. "I... I want to try..."
"This isn't merely a difference in strength. It's a flaw in your character."
Neji activated his Byakugan, veins bulging at the corners of his eyes. His fierce appearance frightened Hinata even more.
"You're too kind, too weak. In the ninja world, that sort of personality will only get you and your teammates killed."
"Rather than suffer humiliation in the arena, withdraw now. At least you'll preserve the Main Family's dignity."
"A person's destiny is set from the moment they're born. A failure will always be a failure. That can never change."
Neji advanced step by step, his words like knives, each one striking precisely at Hinata's most vulnerable nerves.
"Look at yourself now. Trembling, terrified, even wanting to run away."
"Your eyes have already betrayed you. You don't want to fight at all, do you?"
Forced back again and again, Hinata trembled like a leaf, tears welling in her eyes.
She wanted to argue, but her throat tightened, and she couldn't make a sound.
Up in the stands, Son Goten had still been leisurely chewing his orange, but at those words, he stopped.
He slowly sat upright. There wasn't a trace of amusement left in his previously languid eyes.
Crunch. The sound of twisting metal rang out.
Beside him, Naruto jumped in fright. He turned to look, and his eyes nearly popped out.
The solid iron railing in Son Goten's hand had been squeezed into a twisted lump, with clear fingerprints still pressed into it.
"Karin."
Son Goten casually tossed aside the mangled iron, his voice terrifyingly low.
"If I go down there and beat that bastard to death, will I be disqualified?"
Karin shuddered at the chill radiating from Son Goten and hurriedly grabbed the hem of his clothes.
"G-Goten, calm down! Those are the match rules. You can't just interfere!"
"Rules?"
Son Goten sneered, stood up, and walked to the broken railing.
"Hey! You with the white eyes!"
That furious roar made the entire Tower hall reverberate.
Everyone's gaze instantly fell on Son Goten.
Neji stopped and looked up, his brows furrowing slightly.
Son Goten pointed down at Neji, his face full of displeasure.
"How much longer are you going to stand there running your damn mouth?"
"If you're going to fight, then fight. What's with all the bullshit? Are you here for a match or a speech?"
"And quit going on and on about destiny. I'm sick of hearing that crap."
"If you dare say one more useless word to bully her, believe me, I'll jump down there right now and sew your mouth shut!"
Boom! A savage aura erupted from Son Goten.
The previously well-ventilated hall became oppressively stifling. Quite a few Genin even found it difficult to breathe.
Gekko Hayate coughed even harder, staring at the boy who was only ten years old in shock and uncertainty.
This pressure...
Neji looked at Son Goten, his Byakugan contracting slightly.
He could feel that the boy named Son Goten was serious.
If they met in the wilderness, this fellow would tear him apart without hesitation.
"This is between her and me. Outsiders have no right to interfere."
Neji replied coldly. Though his tone remained firm, his overbearing momentum had clearly been broken.
"An outsider?"
Son Goten was so angry that he laughed.
He planted one foot on the broken railing, leaned most of his body out, and pointed at Hinata below as he shouted:
"Hinata! Don't listen to that stone-faced bastard's nonsense!"
"All that destiny bullshit is just an excuse weaklings make for themselves!"
Hinata raised her head, gazing through her tears at the boy waving his arms about in the stands.
"G-Goten..."
"Listen to me!"
Son Goten waved his fist and shouted:
"Fight if you want to fight. Don't if you don't want to. Nobody can force you!"
"But don't be afraid of him!"
"It doesn't matter even if you lose. If the sky falls, I'll hold it up for you!"
"If he dares play dirty, I'll twist his head off afterward and let you kick it around like a ball!"
"Let's see who dares bully my wife!"
The entire hall erupted in an uproar.
Kurenai Yuhi covered her forehead, looking helpless.
This brat really would say anything.
Yet those utterly domineering words held a strange magic.
Hinata stared blankly at Son Goten.
Though the boy's mouth was full of profanity and he acted recklessly, his unreserved protection and support became a warm current that swept away the chill in her heart.
Someone was watching her. Someone was supporting her.
Someone was even willing to defy so-called "destiny" for her.
Hinata sniffled and haphazardly wiped the tears from her face.
She turned back to face Neji again.
Her body was still trembling slightly, but the fear in her pure white eyes was fading bit by bit.
In its place emerged a resolve unlike any she had ever shown.
Watching the change in Hinata, Neji's expression darkened.
"It seems that failure has given you some pointless courage."
"It won't change anything."
Hinata steadied herself and assumed the opening stance of the Gentle Fist.
Her posture was still a little stiff, but she didn't take another step back.
"If I don't try... how will I know?"
Though Hinata's voice was quiet, it was exceptionally clear.
"I'll prove... that I can change too."
Up in the stands, Naruto joined in the shouting. "That's right! Hinata! Take him down! Show him what a failure can do!"
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