Hinata, defeated, returned to the stands with Kurenai Yūhi's support.
Since Neji held back, she didn't suffer any serious injuries.
Neji also walked back with them.
"That's great, Neji, you've finally broken through! This is youth!"
Might Guy was deeply moved that Neji was able to resolve his conflict with the Main Family.
"Hinata, you performed well today."
Hyūga Hiashi walked over and praised Hinata, then looked at the nervous Neji. "Neji, when we get back, I will give you your father's will. I hope you strive as the head of the Branch Family, and protect the Hyūga clan's honor together with Hinata in the future."
"Ah?"
Neji hadn't expected to avoid the pain of the Caged Bird Seal, but instead received such words from Hiashi.
"Lord Clan Head, is what Hanabi-sama said true? Is she really going to..."
Neji's gaze turned to Hanabi, who was behind Hiashi, chatting with Bai Mo.
"Yes, that's right. Everything Hanabi told you is true."
Hiashi nodded.
"It's actually true..."
Neji's gaze shifted to Bai Mo.
Is this the enemy of the Hyūga clan who wants to take Hanabi away?
But... why does Hanabi not seem to hate him?
"Hmm?"
While Neji was thinking, he suddenly saw Bai Mo stop his casual chat with Hanabi and walk past him towards Hinata, who was resting beside Kurenai Yūhi.
"What do you want to do?"
Hiashi flashed in front of Bai Mo, blocking his path.
— Could it be that he saw Hinata's change and set his sights on her again?
Neji, a step slower, also blocked Bai Mo's path.
"Out of consideration for Hanabi, I'll give her a reminder."
"A reminder?"
Seeing that Bai Mo didn't have that intention, Hiashi moved aside, his expression somewhat puzzled.
"This reminder actually applies to most people."
"When you hear Uzumaki Naruto's passionate encouragement, expressing his belief in never giving up, don't get carried away.
He is a jinchūriki; he can unleash power and chakra through emotional bursts. Can you?
If you don't have a Kekkei Genkai that allows you to burst with power through emotions, then honestly assess your own strength and calmly deal with every battle.
Otherwise, the ultimate result will be impotent rage, followed by defeat and death.
He encouraged Hinata just now because he doesn't understand other people; he only understands himself.
To put it bluntly, it's path dependence.
He found that he could burst forth by relying on firm belief, so he assumed others could too.
Oh, and his Uzumaki clan physique, coupled with the Nine-Tails' chakra's super recovery ability, are not something you ordinary people can compare to."
"Hinata, he's right. In that situation just now, if it weren't for Hanabi..."
Hyūga Hiashi highly agreed with Bai Mo's statement.
If Hanabi hadn't relayed Bai Mo's words and talked Neji down, then unless he intervened with the Caged Bird Seal to disrupt the match, Hinata would have been beaten half to death by Neji.
As the future heir of the Hyūga clan, it is indeed necessary to maintain the habit of calm thinking, rather than getting carried away like Uzumaki Naruto at every turn.
But how does Bai Mo, an outsider, know so much about the Nine-Tails jinchūriki... "What is a jinchūriki?"
"What a jinchūriki is isn't important, Big Brother. I think what you said is wrong. Naruto's approach is the one that embodies youth, we should..."
"Next match, Rock Lee versus Gaara, contestants to the arena!"
Lee was in the middle of refuting Bai Mo's point when the referee suddenly called his name.
"Big Brother, I apologize. After my match, we can talk about youth later."
Lee bowed in apology to Bai Mo, then leaped into the arena.
"Heh heh, who wants to talk about youth with you..."
Bai Mo's mouth twitched.
He was too familiar.
The match between Rock Lee and Gaara was indeed considered the most exciting battle of the Chūnin Exams for the audience present today.
Eight Gates Released Formation versus the absolute defense of the jinchūriki of the Sand.
Gaara and Rock Lee both belonged to those who were 'fishing' in the Chūnin Exams.
With a similar setup, the future would be Might Guy versus Six Paths Madara.
However, unlike the original story, today's match might be interrupted.
After removing his weights, Rock Lee met Gaara's automatic sand defense with extreme speed, and after using the Front Lotus, he still couldn't defeat Gaara, so he looked at Might Guy in the stands.
Might Guy was about to give a thumbs up, agreeing for Lee to continue opening the gates, when a voice came from beside him.
"Do you really agree for him to continue using the Eight Gates Released Formation? I know one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. I heard their previous generation was kicked so hard by a green-skinned uncle that only 'The Three Lucky Treasures' remained.
At that time, that uncle was shouting something about 'self-imposed rules' and 'swearing to protect important people to the death.' It seems that was just a rumor."
Bai Mo's calm tone struck Might Guy's mind like a thousand-pound hammer.
Self-imposed rules, swearing to protect important people to the death.
These were all things his father, Might Duy, told him.
He once asked his father why he, having mastered the Eight Gates Released Formation, was content to remain a humble Genin.
His father told him that true victory isn't about defeating the strong, but about using that power to protect the people most important to you.
Lee is young, so forgetting is understandable, but he himself almost got carried away and forgot just now!
"Yah-ha!"
Rock Lee, who was waiting below for Might Guy's answer, was suddenly kicked away by Guy, who had jumped down.
"Might Guy-sensei?"
Lee covered his face and stumbled to his feet in confusion.
Gaara on the opposite side was also very puzzled — what were those two, the big one and the small one, doing?
"Lee! I know you want to defeat Sasuke, defeat Neji, and prove that a dead last can surpass a genius, but the Eight Gates Released Formation isn't meant to be used like this! Self-imposed rules..."
Might Guy stepped forward and punched Lee, then burst into tears.
"Self-imposed rules..."
Rock Lee remembered, hugged Might Guy, and both began to cry. "I'm sorry, Might Guy-sensei, I forgot! I shouldn't break my self-imposed rules for the sake of winning a match. Today, I'm going to run three thousand laps around Konoha!"
"Winner, Gaara."
When the referee announced the end of the match, the audience was all bewildered, even starting to curse Rock Lee and Might Guy for stopping Lee from continuing the match.
But in response to these curses, the two showed their bright white teeth and gave a thumbs-up to the stands: "Thank you for your support!!!"
Compared to these confused spectators, Hyūga Hiashi, who had been sitting nearby and witnessed the entire process, was terrified.
— What are Might Guy's self-imposed rules?
He, a fellow Konoha ninja, didn't know, and judging by the expressions of others, it seemed that besides Might Guy's good friend Kakashi, they didn't know either.
How did Bai Mo, an outsider, know?
Adding to that Bai Mo's previous knowledge of his brother Hizashi's will and the Nine-Tails jinchūriki... Damn it! Could there really be an infiltrator in the village?
"What are self-imposed rules? Is it related to the Gentle Fist?"
Little Hanabi tugged on Bai Mo's clothes, her face full of curiosity.
What exactly was it that just saying it to Might Guy made him forfeit the match?
Was it the essence of Gentle Fist training?
Hanabi was just wondering how to achieve the balance of 'hard and soft' that Bai Mo had mentioned.
"Children shouldn't ask. This thing requires wearing their special green jumpsuit to use."
"Ah? Then I don't want to know!"
Hanabi glanced at the two who had returned to the stands, then quickly covered her ears.
Although it was impolite, that green jumpsuit was really too ugly!
....
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