Naruto Uzumaki instantly realized the boy before him had injured Hinata Hyuga.
Without hesitation, he used a Body Flicker Technique to close the distance to Neji Hyuga.
He swung a punch toward Neji's cheek.
Hinata's face paled, but it was too late to stop him.
Bang!
The sound of flesh being struck echoed, but it wasn't Neji who took the hit.
It was Naruto. Challenging a Hyuga genius in taijutsu?
Even Sasuke Uchiha, with his Sharingan, wouldn't be so bold.
Neji, without even activating his Byakugan, saw through Naruto's moves. His Gentle Fist unleashed a flurry of strikes.
Hitting Naruto's body, Neji followed with a kick, sending Naruto crashing into a nearby lamppost.
Cough, cough, cough!
Naruto coughed violently. Neji's attacks seemed light but were deceptively brutal.
The Gentle Fist's chakra penetrated Naruto's body, disrupting his chakra pathways, making breathing agonizingly difficult.
The Gentle Fist, a signature Hyuga taijutsu, injected chakra into an opponent's body, damaging their internal chakra network.
Since internal organs can't be trained, victims suffered intense pain.
"Pathetic."
Neji's eyes glinted with disdain and contempt.
To him, few peers warranted his full effort, let alone someone like Naruto.
"Naruto!"
Hinata rushed to Naruto's side, her heart racing as she saw his pained, sweat-drenched face. She wanted to help but didn't know how.
"I'm fine."
Naruto waved her off, his eyes trembling with intensity.
He'd thought himself strong among his peers, second only to Sasuke.
But against Neji, the gap was staggering.
[Is this the strength of a Leaf noble clan?]
[The Hyuga's Byakugan, on par with the Uchiha?]
Unwillingness stirred in Naruto's heart, amplified by Chu Ran's voice in his subconscious.
He was just a commoner, his talent decent but unremarkable at the Ninja Academy.
As he progressed, nearing the ranks of true ninja, he realized the overwhelming power of the Leaf's noble clans.
Each clan possessed secret techniques and dedicated mentors, far outstripping commoner ninja like himself.
Yet, Naruto refused to yield. He knew his talent and background paled compared to others.
Admitting defeat was easy, but for Naruto, surrender was unthinkable.
"Not had enough?"
"Weaklings should just stay down. Why bother standing?"
Neji's brows furrowed as Naruto staggered to his feet.
His earlier six Gentle Fist strikes were merciless; few peers could stand after that.
"Enough lessons? Our fight's just started."
Naruto smirked defiantly, his refusal to concede grating on Neji.
As Neji assumed a Gentle Fist stance, a middle-aged man intervened, stopping him.
"That's enough, Neji."
It was Hiashi Hyuga, the Hyuga clan head, Neji's uncle, and Hinata's father.
"Father."
Hinata's eyes flickered nervously, but she bowed respectfully.
"Lord Clan Head."
Neji's eyes flashed with loathing, but he lowered his stance and bowed.
Hearing it was Hinata's father, Naruto held back from further action.
"You're Naruto Uzumaki, right?"
"Stay away from here. It's normal for classmates to be friends, but you don't belong here."
Hiashi's voice was calm but carried a cold authority, like a superior's decree.
Naruto felt uneasy but couldn't find words to retort.
He glanced at Hinata, who clearly didn't dare defy her father.
"Goodbye, Naruto."
Hinata whispered a farewell before leaving.
Naruto, ignoring her words, fixed his gaze on Neji.
"Hey, tell me your name."
"This fight isn't over."
His eyes burned with resolve. He was tired of losing.
He'd lost to Sasuke too many times. To become Hokage, to be the strongest, he couldn't afford more defeats.
This boy, stronger than Sasuke, was his new rival.
"Neji Hyuga."
"Remember the name you'll never surpass."
Neji's disdain persisted, dismissing Naruto as insignificant.
As a Hyuga prodigy, why would an unknown weakling catch his interest?
He followed Hiashi and Hinata into the Hyuga compound.
Hiashi cast a deep look at Hinata, uninterested in his talentless daughter.
He'd already chosen the clan's heir, unwilling to waste effort on her.
Hinata's social circle and friends were irrelevant to him.
But Naruto was different.
Hiashi knew why the Uchiha clan had been eradicated.
He didn't want Hinata's closeness to Naruto to arouse suspicion from the Leaf or Hiruzen Sarutobi.
While the Byakugan couldn't control the Nine-Tails, that didn't guarantee the Leaf's trust in the Hyuga, the last noble clan.
"Hinata, I told you to avoid close ties with him."
"I won't say this a third time."
Inside the house, Hiashi's voice rang out, startling Hinata.
She nodded silently, unable to argue.
Hiashi left with Neji, leaving Hinata alone at the entrance, tears glistening in her eyes.
Elsewhere, after they departed, Naruto slumped to the ground.
He stared at the sky, dazed, until the pain in his body eased after a long rest.