Neji Hyuga listened to the arrangements and raised no objections, stepping calmly into the field.
Sensing that something exciting was about to happen, not only Neji's class but also Iruka Umino's class grew restless. Unable to keep order, Iruka could only offer Heavenly Dao and the others an apologetic smile, halting his lesson and allowing the students to crowd around the training ground to watch.
It had to be said—so long as he didn't remove his forehead protector and reveal the ugly Caged Bird Seal, Neji was genuinely good-looking. His elegant movements and calm demeanor immediately drew cheers from the girls.
"Go, Neji-kun!"
"Neji-kun is so handsome!"
At the same time, Heavenly Dao was never one to lose out when it came to style.
He formed hand seals, and as fallen leaves scattered across the ground, his figure appeared on the field at an unknown moment, emerging amid the drifting foliage.
"It's the Body Flicker Technique!"
"So cool!"
"Go for it, handsome big brother!"
The crowd instantly switched sides.
Many people believed the Body Flicker Technique to be a space-time ninjutsu—a view that was both right and wrong.
In truth, the Body Flicker was a broad category, one that even included true space-time techniques like the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Aside from that legendary art, most Body Flicker variants relied on ninjutsu or taijutsu to create a teleportation-like effect.
The Konoha Body Flicker was one such example—a hybrid of ninjutsu and taijutsu that scattered leaves while moving to confuse opponents. During the Chunin Exams, Kakashi Hatake and Sasuke Uchiha had once used it for a dramatic entrance.
This technique was included within Konoha-style Taijutsu, making Heavenly Dao effectively a master of the Body Flicker. Given time, he might even earn a nickname like Body Flicker Heavenly Dao.
While the Konoha Body Flicker wasn't the fastest, its style points were unquestionably top-tier.
Heavenly Dao was quite satisfied with his entrance.
Across from him, Neji showed composure far beyond his age. He took his stance silently, expression unchanged, and the noise around the field gradually died down.
"This Hyuga Neji isn't simple," Inuzuka Akita said gravely from the sidelines.
"I wonder if Heavenly Dao can handle him."
Although Akita and Heavenly Dao weren't known for overwhelming combat strength in the past, they were still ninja and had sparred before.
In her judgment, Heavenly Dao's strength had once been merely passable—barely reaching the level of a civilian Chūnin.
And although the title Chūnin often seemed unimpressive in the Naruto world, there were clear distinctions within it.
Civilian Chūnin were one class.
Clan Chūnin were another entirely.
The gap between them was vast.
Civilians typically advanced by accumulating seniority, earning promotion over time. Clan elites, on the other hand, made their names during the joint Chūnin Exams, displaying their talent before high-ranking officials and nobles. Even if they didn't pass immediately, they were often promoted soon after—and rarely remained Chūnin for long.
If the former Heavenly Dao had been a textbook civilian Chūnin, then Neji—who hadn't even graduated yet—already possessed the strength of a clan Chūnin.
It's a pity he was born into the Hyuga Branch House, Akita sighed inwardly.
She glanced back at Heavenly Dao. Her face was calm, but worry flickered briefly in her eyes.
I wonder if he can hold on…
I'll do more than hold on, Heavenly Dao thought, flashing her a reassuring smile.
In the original story, Neji had displayed near-jōnin-level strength—self-taught techniques like Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms and Rotation. During the Chūnin Exams, when he attacked Hinata Hyuga, it had taken multiple jōnin to restrain him.
That was partly for safety—but it also reflected Neji's threat level at the time.
However, that Neji was two years in the future.
Watching Neji's movements now, Heavenly Dao had only one thought:
This is already decided.
Heavenly Dao assumed the stance of the Konoha Strong Fist, a faint smile on his lips.
"Neji-kun, you can make the first move."
"Understood, Heavenly Dao-senpai," Neji replied formally.
Having lost his father and not yet met Might Guy or his future teammates, Neji was currently in the darkest period of his life—cold, restrained, and mechanical in his dealings with others.
He took the stance of the Hyuga Gentle Fist. Veins bulged around his temples as the Byakugan activated silently. Within his nearly 360-degree field of vision, Heavenly Dao's chakra pathway system was laid bare in perfect detail.
"Please forgive me."
Before Neji's voice had fully faded, his feet were already moving. Using Gentle Fist footwork, he surged forward like a lone swan cutting across the sky.
To the watching students, his figure vanished—only to reappear instantly beside Heavenly Dao.
Neji's right palm sliced toward Heavenly Dao's ribs, while his left hand covertly formed a spear, aiming for a vital point on Heavenly Dao's right arm.
This was the Gentle Fist art: striking the tenketsu.
In the original story, he had used this technique against Hinata during the Chūnin Exams. That he had already mastered it before graduation was proof of his monstrous talent.
Yet Heavenly Dao wasn't flustered in the slightest.
Your technique is excellent, he thought, but my stats are higher.
The chakra within Heavenly Dao's body erupted.
"Konoha Hurricane!"
Power surged upward from the ground. Though his strike came later, it arrived first. Before Neji's tenketsu strike could land, Heavenly Dao's kick was already bearing down on him.
Neji saw the chakra explosion—but he couldn't react in time.
He could have continued his strike, but at best it would only disrupt Heavenly Dao's chakra slightly. Taking that kick head-on, however, would mean serious injury.
Left with no choice, Neji crossed his arms, abandoning the attack to block instead.
He'd intended to deflect the force—but the power transmitted through the collision was unexpectedly light.
"Good reaction," Heavenly Dao said calmly, withdrawing and returning to his original position rather than pressing the attack.
"Keep going."
Neji's expression grew complicated.
Since his father's death, he had closed his heart, believing all concern from others to be hypocritical. This rare, genuine kindness from a stranger stirred something within him.
"…Alright, Heavenly Dao-senpai."
The same words as before—but this time, they carried a trace of warmth.
Neji took his stance once more, preparing to unleash the strongest technique he currently possessed, as a sign of respect to his opponent.
He had contemplated this move countless times, never confident enough to use it.
But now, with his resolve shaken and clarified, realization struck.
Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.