Naruto: Naruto's Uchiha girlfriend is too arrogant

Chapter 231 The True Konoha Genin

In the arena, Hyuga Neji and Hyuga Hinata stood facing each other. Neji's brows were slightly furrowed, his face filled with obvious distress and helplessness. He really didn't want to fight Hinata, whom he regarded as his own sister, and this resistance was almost clearly etched on his expression.

As soon as Hayate Gekko announced the start of the match, Hinata took the initiative. She took a deep breath, veins bulging in her eyes, her pure Byakugan activated, and her hands assumed the starting stance of the Hyuga Gentle Fist.

"Neji-nii-san...please take good care of me!"

"...Lady Hinata...I'm sorry!"

Neji closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and finally activated his Byakugan, assuming a fighting stance. Despite his extreme reluctance to hurt his opponent, he knew he had to keep improving and becoming stronger before finding Menma-sama and gaining his approval!

I'm sorry, Hinata-sama... I must meet that expectation, I must have enough power!

Naruto watched the two fighters begin their Gentle Fist exchange with a thoughtful expression. Since Neji already knew the truth about his father's death and that Hizashi was not dead but living peacefully somewhere under the protection of the [Jin] organization, the atmosphere of this duel was completely different from the original work.

In the original work, Neji was convinced that his father was forced by the main family to sacrifice himself as a scapegoat, and his heart was filled with resentment and anger towards his fate. When Hinata, who was born into the main family, said "I want to change" before the battle, his pent-up resentment almost made him lose control, and he nearly killed her on the battlefield.

What unfolded before everyone's eyes was a battle that could be described as "abundant in martial virtue." The two exchanged attacks and defenses swiftly and precisely, their palms whistling, chakra flowing at their fingertips, yet all their attacks skillfully avoided each other's vitals.

Anyone could see that Neji was deliberately holding back during the fight, not aiming to defeat his opponent, but rather engaging in a sparring session that served as a form of instruction.

Ultimately, there was indeed an objective difference in strength between the two. After a dazzling exchange of Gentle Fist techniques, Neji seized a fleeting opening and delivered a precise palm strike that knocked Hinata to the ground. Immediately afterward, his palm stopped firmly just before Hinata's vital points, his timing impeccable—a true stop-and-go strike.

Hayate Gekko watched as Neji's palm strike, precisely aimed at a vital point—a strike that, in actual combat, was enough to determine life or death—stopped in mid-air. He nodded and then announced, "The winner is Hyuga Neji."

After the results were announced, Neji immediately reached out and pulled Hinata up from the ground, repeatedly saying things like "Excuse me" and "Sorry, Hinata-sama," while carefully brushing the dust off her clothes.

Although Hinata's eyes still held a hint of disappointment at not winning, she still raised her head, gave Neji a gentle smile, and softly replied, "It's okay, Neji-nii-san."

The friendly and respectful atmosphere between the cousins ​​drew silent approval from many present. However, this harmonious scene only made Gaara feel increasingly irritated and confused.

Immediately afterwards, the electronic screen began scrolling again, displaying a new match list—

【Sakura Haruno VS Ino Yamanaka】

Ino and a somewhat uneasy Sakura walked onto the field together. Sakura's unease stemmed partly from not expecting to fight her best friend, and partly from... how Naruto had practically carried her through the second exam. Without Naruto, she wasn't sure if she truly deserved to stand here.

Ino also seemed hesitant, as if she was equally unwilling to fight with her friend... Could their relationship be so much better when they weren't fighting over men?

But as Hayate Gekko announced the start of the match, Sakura's eyes gradually hardened. Determined to prove her worth through hard work and to surpass Ino, whom she had always admired, she resolved to have a serious competition with Ino.

The two first clashed in physical combat. However, it was clear that their skill level was on a completely different level compared to their previous monstrous duels.

Kankuro, watching from the stands, finally breathed a long sigh of relief. This was more like it; this was the level of a genin he knew! Those guys before them… Konoha calls them genin?!

During the exchange, Sakura, relying on her innate and refined chakra manipulation abilities, began to slowly concentrate chakra in her limbs to enhance her physical abilities. Meanwhile, Naruto trained her in taijutsu during his spare time, laying the foundation for her future learning of "super strength." As a result, Sakura gradually gained the upper hand in the initial taijutsu battle.

Finally, Sakura seized a fleeting opening and threw a straight punch at Ino's face. Ino couldn't dodge in time, was hit by the force of the punch, and staggered backward.

However, Sakura immediately sensed something was wrong after succeeding. Ino... she wasn't even taking it seriously?

Does she still see herself as "Sakura," who is insecure because of her broad forehead and always needs her care and protection?

Looking at Ino kneeling on the ground, seemingly devoid of any will to fight, Gekko Hayate coughed weakly, preparing to routinely announce the match result—

"Hey! Inoboro!"

A voice interrupted the examiner's thoughts.

Sakura clenched her fists, her eyes burning as she stared intently at her friend and rival, her voice filled with anxious disappointment.

"Get up right now! Stop playing dead! The Ino I know is the one who, even when I'm teased about my wide forehead, will say 'It's a cute hairstyle,' and never knows the meaning of 'backing down'!"

Sakura's words came out like a machine gun, both inspirational and provocative.

"Stop with your pathetic sympathy! I don't want to be Sakura anymore, hiding behind you and needing protection! I want to prove my worth! So, show me what you've got, Yamanaka Ino! Don't make me look down on you!"

These words struck Ino like a hammer blow, shattering the confusion in her heart and... that trace of pity that she herself was unwilling to admit. She had been secretly worried about Sakura, who had been assigned to Team 7 with that yandere Uchiha, only to find that the true face of the person she admired was so oppressive. After the idol's halo was shattered, how cautiously would Sakura spend every day?

But now, looking at Sakura Haruno, whose eyes were shining brightly and who was challenging her without backing down, Ino suddenly realized that she had been completely wrong!

Ino chuckled softly, wiping the sweat and dust from her forehead with the back of her hand, and stood up again. The hesitation in her eyes completely vanished, replaced by a long-lost fighting spirit and relief. "How dare you call me that... Broad Forehead... It seems I worried about you for nothing."

Their eyes clashed again in mid-air, and this time, there was no hesitation whatsoever!

The battle resumed! As their fists and feet clashed, although their skill level was far from that of the "monster" level opponents like Satsuki, Gaara, and Lee, their will and never-give-up spirit were in no way weak.

Ino, anticipating Sakura's habitual sidestep, instantly completed the hand seals she had prepared—"Mind Transfer Technique!"

An invisible spiritual energy surged towards Sakura in an instant! However, just when everyone thought the outcome was decided...

Instead of having her body taken over by the secret technique, Sakura let out a low growl! Driven by the unwavering belief that she "didn't want to hold anyone back anymore," another Sakura expelled Ino from her mental world and broke free from the mental shackles of the Yamanaka clan's secret technique!

"How is this possible?!" Ino groaned as she suffered a backlash from the spell, her face turning deathly pale.

The failure of the secret technique turned the battle into a brutal tug-of-war of will and endurance. Both were at their limit, their chakra nearly depleted and their stamina exhausted. Every punch and every dodge became incredibly difficult, sustained only by their unwavering belief in never giving up.

Finally, after another feeble exchange of punches, as if by prior agreement, the two men simultaneously went limp and collapsed heavily onto the floor with two thuds, unable to move.

Moonlight Gale couldn't help but mutter to himself, "This match... it's been going on for ages. The previous matches combined probably didn't even last as long as this one..."

He stepped forward and, after confirming that both men had indeed lost consciousness and were unable to continue the match, announced this.

"Since neither side can continue fighting... no one advances in this qualifying round."