---
However, this year is also extremely precious to them. They've witnessed the cruelty of the ninja world and grown significantly compared to a year ago.
How could they tolerate being looked down upon by a kid who had never even left the village or seen real battle?
Tenten frowned. "Hey, don't get too cocky."
Rock Lee followed, shouting, "Brother Ye Dou, I will definitely defeat you today!"
The two of them stared at Ye Dou, raising their voices in near unison.
"Hanabi Hyuga couldn't even beat the class dunce. What gives you the confidence to talk big?"
Neji Hyuga's expression tightened. Though he was annoyed, his words carried a natural arrogance.
Unlike Tenten and Rock Lee, Neji was a true genius of the Hyuga clan. He had awakened the Byakugan early, dominated his peers, and stood unrivaled in his class.
He had always looked down on Hanabi Hyuga, the heiress of the main family, especially after she was defeated by Uchiha Sasuke during a sparring match. In his eyes, anyone who lost to Sasuke—regardless of rank—might as well be dead last.
And now, Ye Dou, a boy who couldn't even defeat Hanabi, dared to act superior?
"Ye Dou, as a man, you can't back down from a challenge," Might Guy said with a fiery smile.
Rather than stopping the confrontation, Guy seemed to welcome it. As Ye Dou's teacher, even he wasn't sure how deep his student's strength ran. This was a good chance to find out.
Ye Dou glanced at Neji for several seconds, then said coldly, "Fine. Come at me."
---
"Seal of Reconciliation!"
Acting as the temporary referee, Might Guy stood between the two with a rare solemnity.
As always, Konoha ninjas respected proper battle etiquette. Even someone as energetic as Guy took these formalities seriously.
Off to the side, under the shade of a tree, Tenten whispered to Rock Lee, "Do you think Neji could lose?"
Lee crossed his arms thoughtfully. "No way. Even though Teacher Guy always says Senior Brother Ye Dou is strong, we've trained with Neji for over a year. You know how strong he is."
Lee had absolute faith in Neji's ability. Ever since their academy days, Neji had seemed untouchable—precise, powerful, and composed. His performance in real missions had only strengthened that image.
"Yeah… it's hard to imagine Neji losing to someone who isn't even a genin," Tenten agreed, feeling reassured.
"Begin!"
The moment the signal was given, Ye Dou launched forward like a cannonball, his toes blasting off the ground.
There were no wasted movements—just a single, lightning-fast punch aimed directly at Neji.
Despite its simplicity, Neji didn't dare take it lightly. He raised his arm to block, choosing not to dodge. He needed to feel Ye Dou's power firsthand, understand his fighting style, and find an opening.
After all, battle among shinobi wasn't just about power. Intelligence played a critical role.
In the world of Naruto, where even a single hit from a secret technique could be fatal, reading your opponent was often more important than brute force.
The best example was the legendary fight between Jiraiya and Pain. If Jiraiya had known from the start there were six bodies, and saved his genjutsu "Demonic Illusion: Toad Confrontation Chant" until later, the outcome might have changed.
Neji, a genius in his own right, knew this well. He would endure the first strike to gain intel—no matter the pain.
"He's strong!"
Bang!
Ye Dou's punch connected solidly. Neji's right arm trembled with numbness from the impact.
Even with just one exchange, Neji realized: he couldn't trade blows with Ye Dou.
If he stayed in close combat, he would be overwhelmed in a matter of seconds.
But before he could retreat, Ye Dou vanished from his sight—reappearing behind him with a sweeping kick.
"Konoha Senpū... and fast!"
Neji barely had time to cross his arms and block the kick.
Boom!
The force of the blow sent him skidding several meters back, digging trenches into the earth with his heels. The shockwave left the onlookers stunned.
"Neji!"
"Neji!"
Tenten and Lee shouted in unison.
It had only been one round—and Neji, the most talented among them, was already pushed back.
The outcome was unbelievable, even knowing Neji hadn't fought seriously yet.
"With speed and strength like that, there's no way your ranking at the academy was average," Neji said, eyes narrowed.
He now understood—Ye Dou had held back significantly during their academy days.
At the very least, Hanabi Hyuga was nowhere near this boy's level.
Ye Dou didn't respond. He just stood there, cold and silent as ever, staring Neji down.
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