Naruto stopped and turned to Neji and asked, "Yes?"
Neji looked at him before giving a barely audible snort.
"I was informed about your history and life story the other day. Though I can't imagine what your life is like with the status you carry, I still don't approve of the bond Hinata-sama and Hanabi-sama have with you. Fate will see to it that it's severed," Neji inquired.
"Believe what you want, Neji. I'm sure in time a life-changing experience will serve to change and humble you," Naruto remarked. Neji scowled, seeing that he wasn't able to get much of a reaction out of Naruto.
He then turned to Sasuke and said, "You're Uchiha Sasuke. I've seen you around the gates of the Hyuuga Compound on a few occasions."
Sasuke said, "I came by a few times, but my time spent there were never long."
"It's understandable, since whatever interest you have in Hinata-sama isn't reciprocated by her, and Hanabi-sama is even less enthused of you showing interest in Hinata-sama," Neji mocked. Sasuke growled and wanted to show Neji off. Naruto bit his tongue down to keep from laughing after seeing how easily Neji angered Sasuke, especially when he recalled what his clone sent back to him last night.
(Flashback; Yesterday Evening)
A Naruto clone, out of boredom, was practicing drunken fist while combining it with wind manipulation in the training field when his ears heard the sound of a ruckus taken place some distance from him. The clone went to investigate what was going on. Upon his arrival, he saw Kakashi make Sasuke sit on the ground up against the wooden log before tying him up with rope against the log. Wanting to know what the issue was about, the clone moved in closer but made sure to stay out of sight. After tying Sasuke up, Kakashi stood over him with a hardened gaze while Sasuke gave him a defiant look of anger.
"What's the meaning of this Kakashi?" Sasuke barked in anger.
"Sasuke, it's been brought to my attention that you once again chose to disobey my advice with regards to Naruto's girlfriend. Only this time I had to hear this from a fellow Jounin-sensei who reported how you recently tried to influence and manipulate Hinata into dumping Naruto in exchange for going out with you. You're treading dangerous grounds, Sasuke," Kakashi said with a warning.
"All I did was tell Hinata the truth about my feelings for her and how things might have been between us had she given me the chance to prove my merit," Sasuke retorted.
"There's no merit when you go behind your teammate's back and try to convince his girlfriend that you'd make a better boyfriend for her than your teammate! I told you time and time again to leave Hinata alone and to stop this ridiculous pursuit of her! But clearly, my words have no meaning to you Sasuke, since you refuse to take my advice seriously! I told you before Sasuke, those who abandon the mission are trash; but those who betray their comrades are worse than trash. And your actions in trying to get Hinata to dump Naruto, your teammate, so you can get her to date and become your girlfriend instead makes you worse than trash!" Kakashi said firmly.
Sasuke scowled at Kakashi and replied, "He may be your late sensei's son forced to carry the burden of being a Jinchuuriki, but that doesn't excuse his foul treatment and disrespect of his suppose relationship with Hinata! I don't know what cunning lies he told her to deceive her into turning a blind eye to his perverted, womanizing character! The very fact that he acts the way he does so shamelessly while in a relationship is disgusting, and Hinata deserves better than that!"
"You think you're in the position to decide that for Hinata? Tell me Sasuke, assuming that you said things similar to what you told me just now to Hinata, what was her reply to you?" Kakashi asked.
Sasuke frowned deeply and reluctantly answered, "…She said that I don't know Naruto as well as I think, and that I know only what he wants me to know…and that she's the only one who truly knows him."
"That's right, Sasuke. You don't know Naruto. You know only what he wants you to know," Kakashi said almost cryptically. "Though you graduated as the Rookie of the Year, the truth of the matter is that you don't deserve the title. Your performance and actions over the past weeks certainly hasn't been Rookie of the Year material," Kakashi mocked. Sasuke growled upon being insulted with that remark.
"The only reason that I haven't disqualified you from taking part of the Chuunin Exams is because that would deny Naruto and Sakura a chance to participate, and that wouldn't be fair to them since the Chuunin Exams require a three-Genin cell team in order to participate," Kakashi made clear.
"So in other words you're using me as a token for their convenience?" Sasuke replied.
"You put yourself into that position Sasuke, so deal with it. And one other thing, I better not hear about how you tried to approach Hinata again on the topic of persuading and seducing her to become your girlfriend during the Chuunin Exams, or even after the exams are over. Because if I do, I'll have you suspended from active ninja duty until further notice. Is that understood Sasuke?" Kakashi warned.
Sasuke frowned but gave no retort.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I'll take my leave and depart from you so you have time to think about what I said. But make sure that you're ready and present for tomorrow's Chuunin Exams so that you don't drag your teammates down," Kakashi said as he pulled out his orange book and turned to walk off.
"Wait! You can't leave me tied up like this!" Sasuke yelled.
"You're a ninja. I'm sure you can come up with some escape plan. Especially if you don't want your teammates to blame you for failing the exams before they even start. Don't screw up, Sasuke. Your teammates are counting on your performance tonight," Kakashi replied before he executed a smokeless shunshin and left the area, leaving Sasuke still tied up to the wooden log.
Sasuke was seething in rage. He wanted to get back at Kakashi so badly, but he knew such a thing wouldn't be possible, considering the situation he was in, and the fact that Kakashi was smarter, stronger, and faster than him. Not wanting to be the cause of his own inability to become stronger, Sasuke started working on freeing himself. The clone, having heard and seen everything, watched for several more minutes as Sasuke worked to reach his kunai for almost half an hour. It would be a while before Sasuke freed himself.
.
.
.
🎉The novel is available in PDF, visit us in our Ko-Fi store🎉
🎉ko-fi.com/madarasama125🎉