After several matches, it was time for the last one of the day.
Hyūga Neji vs. Uzumaki Naruto.
What should have been a match where Naruto exploded with power to defeat Neji, completing it with his Talk-no-Jutsu, unfolded completely differently.
"I'm definitely going to win! As the dead last!"
Naruto entered the arena with a determined expression, clenching his fists at Neji.
"I believe in you."
"...Huh?"
Naruto's determined expression instantly crumbled.
"I said I believe in you. As long as you give it your all, you can definitely defeat me, but..."
"Uzumaki Naruto, for someone of your strength to call yourself the dead last, isn't that a bit much? What about the other ninja? What about Kiba, whom you defeated?"
Neji calmly conversed with Naruto.
"You, you said I'm not the dead last, and you even acknowledge my strength?"
Naruto pointed at himself, his face filled with disbelief.
"Yes, that's right."
Neji recalled what happened in the stands before the match.
Hanabi asked Bai Mo who would win between Neji and Naruto.
Bai Mo said that Naruto had a higher chance of winning, unless Neji could seal Naruto's plot armor.
The specific method was—just keep praising him, and agree with everything he says.
Bai Mo even gave Hanabi a few examples.
Hanabi was skeptical, so she hoped Neji would try it.
Hanabi was still the young lady of the Main Family, and Neji had just changed, so he naturally agreed.
"I, I won't lose! I will definitely become Hokage!"
Naruto continued, but this time, the tone of the first half of his sentence clearly lacked momentum.
"I believe in you, Naruto."
"...You believe even that?"
Naruto was completely bewildered.
No, what's going on?
The other party's attitude isn't right?
Even Iruka-sensei only encouraged him and told him to work hard; everyone else mostly mocked him.
How could someone just directly believe him?
Naruto was very confused, but he didn't overthink it.
Meanwhile, Temari, who had circled back after reminding Gaara to be careful of his rear in the stands, saw this scene and felt a chill.
This Hyūga clan member has issues!
Previously, when facing his own clan sister, he was merciless at first, striking at vital points. Although he held back later, he still defeated her with the fastest speed.
Now, facing Uzumaki Naruto, his words were soft and affirming.
Damn it, could this guy be treating his sister as a love rival?
"Naruto, did you know? The First Hokage and the Second Hokage hadn't become Genin even when they were thirty years old.
Naruto, don't be discouraged by temporary setbacks. You will definitely become Hokage, I believe in you!"
Neji continued to recall what Bai Mo had just said to Hanabi, encouraging Naruto.
"Huh? Where did this unofficial history come from?"
Kankurō was dumbfounded.
Even if he didn't know the history of the Ninja World, he knew that the First Hokage and the Second Hokage were both geniuses. How could they not be Genin when they were over thirty? This fabrication is too outrageous, isn't it?
"Are you an idiot?"
Temari glanced at her foolish younger brother, "Did you just copy during the written exam without reading? The First Hokage founded the village at thirty, and the Second Hokage further perfected the village system, establishing the promotion system for Genin, Chūnin, and Jōnin, the Ninja Academy system, the Chūnin Exams system... which means that before Konoha was founded, there was no such thing as a Genin. Of course, they weren't Genin when they were thirty."
"..."
There's such an explanation?
"Thank you, Neji! I didn't expect the First and Second Hokage to be just like me. I'm full of confidence now!"
"What about Grandpa Third? Was he a Genin at thirty?"
Naruto was very happy.
"Lord Third was already Hokage at thirty."
"Oh, Grandpa Third is a genius... What about the Fourth? Was he also Hokage at thirty?"
"..."
Neji didn't answer.
Where did the Fourth Hokage get to be thirty years old?
He's been gone for how many years?
"Just now, you against Hinata..."
"If you wish to avenge Miss Hinata, then come. I will not resist. This was indeed my fault."
"..."
"What's wrong with Bushy Brows?"
"Lee wants to use his true strength to protect the village and important people, not foolishly abandon everything for empty fame and vanity."
"..."
A series of conversations directly eliminated Naruto's biggest advantage.
After the two officially started fighting, Naruto quickly fell into a disadvantage.
When he subconsciously clenched his fists, wanting to burst forth, he suddenly remembered what Neji had just said, and how Rock Lee would rather lose the match to preserve his strength to protect important people. He instantly softened again.
"Winner, Hyūga Neji!"
"Uzumaki Naruto, I want to be friends with you."
Neji stepped forward, extended his hand, and pulled up Naruto, who was lying on the ground.
"Of course!"
It was the first time Naruto had seen someone actively want to be friends with him, so he was overjoyed. He took Neji's hand and ran towards his team: "Sakura-chan, Sasuke, look, this is my new friend Neji!"
"New... friend."
Temari shivered again upon hearing these two words.
Konoha's friendship is indeed very problematic!
All the matches for today were over; tomorrow would be the finals.
Which meant Orochimaru's Konoha Crush Plan was finally coming.
On the way back, Bai Mo suddenly thought of a question.
Rock Lee, because of him, temporarily avoided paralysis, but it's not certain he can completely avoid it.
After all, once the Konoha Crush Plan is launched, Gaara will truly become an enemy. Wouldn't Rock Lee then perfectly meet the conditions to open the Eight Inner Gates to protect important people?
However, Bai Mo only thought about it; at the time, it was just a casual remark, reminding Might Guy.
Rock Lee was quite inferior to Might Guy, and even Might Duy.
Not in terms of talent, but in spirit.
During the Boruto era, many old ninja were "weakened" by time.
The most frequently mentioned, of course, were Naruto and Sasuke.
But in fact, the one who was weakened the most was Rock Lee.
Shikamaru, two years after peace, couldn't even throw a kunai accurately due to his office job.
It's understandable for other ninja to become rusty in training and combat due to peace.
But Rock Lee shouldn't be like that.
Doesn't he have self-discipline, needing to train endlessly every day, constantly improving himself?
During the Fourth Great Ninja War, he was the green leaf protected by Might Guy.
By the Boruto era, when the Ōtsutsuki clan all needed taijutsu to fight, everyone thought Rock Lee would at least show his prowess, but he didn't even get a single scene. Even if he went easy on his son, he shouldn't have been kicked flying by one kick.
The facts prove that in the subsequent invasions, Rock Lee indeed never participated.
Don't even say Rock Lee wasn't qualified to fight.
The other Four Kage, including Chōjūrō, who should have retired, all went up and took a few swings.
—
"Dad, I want to ask, is this book, and the one before it, really written by Kakashi?"
"Nani?! Where did you get this thing?"
In the Nara household, while Shikamaru was playing shogi with his father Shikaku, he pulled out the unreleased book Bai Mo had given him from behind. Shikaku's eyes widened when he saw it, and he snatched it away.
Although shocked, his voice was lowered.
As if he was afraid someone would discover it.
"...Of course Kakashi wrote it. In the previous Icha Icha Paradise, Raikage... cough cough, Rai-chan didn't get something transplanted, right?
That was Kakashi's personal experience, living on with a comrade's organ. And I asked him, he admitted it himself."
Shikaku said, quietly slipping the book in his hand behind his butt, hiding it.
....
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