"Of course, it is the Hyuga style," Lee said and made team 7 to look at him, all curious as to what he was talking about. "That is why the poses are the same. It is the most effective type of taijutsu, founded by our village. I have said it before, I have one my team, the man who' probably is the strongest genin ever to come out of the hidden leaf village. That man, Neji Hyuga"
The battle had finally begun. Both Hinata and Neji were attacking each other with taijutsu, giving everyone an amazing battle with their unique attack types which was based on releasing chakra and hitting the vital spots of your opponent. Both were giving their bests, Hinata proving how much stronger she truly was. She managed to find an opening and went for an attack at Neji's side, but the genin was fast enough and dodged it at the last second.
"Did she get him?" Sakura asked, uncertain due to their position upon the higher floor.
"No way, she barely touched him" Naruto commented.
"Even so, a blow like that is enough. That is what makes the Hyuga clan the most formidable opponents" Lee informed them.
"What does? What are you talking about?" Sakura asked him.
Before Lee could speak, Guy came closer and explained. "Their taijutsu is a unique one. It has passed down for generations. It is not the kind of taijutsu, Lee, Tsuki and I use. We tend to concentrate on inflicting external damage. We use crushing blows to break limps and strike our enemy. The Hyuga way is to attack their opponent's internal organs and the chakra network in which the chakra flows. Their way is more settle. Perhaps, not as thrilling to watch but it gradually takes effect with devastating results"
"Wow" Tsuki commented, having heard about the byakugan briefly but never knowing the truth debt or ever witnessing it in a true battle
"You see, you can't build up your internal organs no matter how much you train. Even the toughest ninja is vulnerable to this kind of attack" Kakashi explained right after.
They all turned back into the area, as the fight kept going; both genin holding nothing back. For a moment, it seemed that Hinata had the upper hand. Her comrade, Shino and her sensei Kurenai were watching surprised, as they had never seen her fight like that before.
"Hinata! Way to go!" Naruto cheered for her.
Tsuki stayed quiet but had a smile on her face. She didn't know Hinata personally, barely talking with her since she came to the village but always adored the naive and pure side she possessed. It made her want to protect and help the strong genin who lacked self-confidence.
"They attack the chakra network? These people are amazing." Sakura commented.
"Yeah, you could say that again, so what is the chakra network anyway," Naruto asked her.
"Don't you know anything?" Sakura asked him and left out a sigh. Tsuki did too as she was hearing Lee, who had volunteered to explain to him what is it but her eyes were constantly at the two siblings who were fighting.
"Wow Lee! How do you get to be so smart?"
"Idiot! How did you ever pass the class" the pink-haired genin yelled at him and smacked him on top of the head. "The chakra network is invisible to the eye, right? So, how do they know exactly where to land their blows?" she then asked as she turned to her sensei.
Tsuki kept listening while watching.
"You're forgetting the Byakugan. There are a few things invisible to those eyes. What is more, when they strike a blow, is a little different from a normal attack. A small part of their own chakra is released from their hand. It drills into the opponent's body, directly attacking his chakra network"
"Yeah, get him!" Naruto cheered for Hinata who thought that she had managed to strike Neji.
Tsuki, Kurenai, Kakashi, Lee and Guy's eye were wide open as they saw who gave the critical hit. A few seconds later, Hinata coughed blood that fell on Neji's bandaged hand.
"So, that's it. Huh? That's all there is to the mains branch's power?",Neji mocked her.
"Wait! What is going on? I mean, I saw Hinata getting Neji perfectly" Naruto shouted.
Hinata gathered all her will, pushed Neji's hand at the side and went for a critical strike. However, Neji was faster, so he grabbed her hand and hit her in her chakra points in her left hand. He raised her sleeve and revealed small, red dots all over her hand.
Hinata saw that and freak out. "But... you mean...all this time... you…" Hinata tried to say between breaths.
"That's right. I could see your chakra points, the whole time"
"Huh? What is he talking about?" Naruto asked.
"On the chakra network, there 316 energy centres and each is about the size of the head of a pin. Hitting one directly can affect chakra flow either stopping it or increasing it. Depending on how the attacker strikes the chakra points. Theoretically, doing so allows a ninja to have complete control over an opponent's chakra flow but these chakra points are undetectable even to my Sharingan eye. And even beyond his abilities to see the chakra points, he can target them effectively even in a tensed battle" Kakashi explained.
Tsuki's eye widened when she saw Neji striking Hinata at the chest and sent her back.
She landed on her back while coughing out blood.
"Look Hinata. I am completely out of your league and that will not change. This is what separates the elites from the failures. You may not like it but it is a fact. From the moment, you said that you would not run any more, your fate was sealed. You were destined for failure and now you are consumed with hopelessness. Now, this is your last warning Hinata. Forfeit this match"
Hinata was panting heavily while she was trying to stand up. Blood was dripping from her mouth. Everyone was silent, waiting for her answer. "I...I...I never...go back...on my world because that too... is my nindo... my ninja way" she said between breaths and managed to stand up.
"I had no idea that Hinata is as tough as she is" Naruto said.
"She is a lot like you," Lee said.
Sakura gave a nod. "You know, come to think of it. She is always watching you" Naruto looked with a shocked expression. His gaze then went back to Hinata who was struggling to stand up. Suddenly, Hinata touched her chest and spat more blood. "Doesn't seem like the difference in strength makes it unfair? He is just excessively strong. It a mismatch. Seriously", Sakura said.
Hinata took a big breath and attacked at Neji one more time, determination and fire in her eyes. She was trying to land hits on him without stopping. She was doing well until Neji stroked her under the chin, making more blood to drip from her mouth.
"Hinata!" Naruto yelled.
She was trying her best to keep standing. She started to cough but that did not stop her. Even if she was at her limits, she was not ready to give up. She went against him repeatedly. Finally, Neji gave her the most powerful and critical hit…on her heart. She coughed more blood before starting to fall.
"You just don't get it. Do you? Your strikes were ineffective from the very start. You are finished" Neji, said and as his eyes turned to normal.
"Since she is no longer able to continue this match-" Hayate was ready to say but he was cut off by Naruto.
"NO!" he yelled.
"What are you doing? Hinata had it. You can't see she is unconscious?" Sakura shouted at him. Naruto only smiled as Hinata gave her best and managed to stand up.
"What you think, you are doing?" Neji asked her, annoyance hearable in his voice.
"I am far... from finished", she said while holding her chest, at the place where her heart is.
"Give up, the tough guy act. I can tell you are barely standing. You have been caring a very heavy burden. Having been born to the main branch of the Hyuga clan and you cursed and blame yourself for being weak. Nevertheless, look, people cannot change the way they are. That is just how it is. Just accept defeat and you have to suffer anymore"
"You are wrong brother. You have it backwards. You see, I can tell that you are the one. You are suffering much more than I am"
"I am what?"
"You are the one who is always torn up about the name and the side branches of the Hyuga clan", she continued.
Neji full with anger ran towards her with full intention to kill but the jounin decided to finally interfere. Kurenai was holding his left leg, Guy was holding his neck from behind, Kakashi his right hand and Hayate was standing in front of him.
"Neji! Get a hold of yourself. You promised me that you wouldn't let this family thing get you riled up" Guy reminded him.
"Why are, the other jounin interfering? The head family gets special treatment huh?" Neji complained, his anger rising.
Tsuki herd Hinata's heart failure and in seconds, she appeared at her right as she started to fall. The wolf girl managed to catch her and placed her head on her laps while placing her purple hair out of her face.
"Hinata!" Kurenai called her name but she was not the only one.
"Hinata!" Naruto yelled and along with Sakura and Lee ran to her aid.
"Naruto... I just... do you… do you think..." she tried to say but she fainted.
"What is happening to her?" Naruto asked worriedly.
Neji narrowed his eyes at the loud blond. "Loser, I have 2 pieces of advice for you. First, if you intend to call yourself a shinobi, stop that cheering of yours. It's disgraceful. Second once a failure, always a failure. You can't change that."
"Hm, we will just see about that" Naruto said and Neji smirked. He went to attack him but he was stopped by Lee. "What do you think you are doing?"
"Naruto, I understand your anger, believe me. However, the rules say, that all the fighting must be done officially in a match. The loser beating the gifted genius through sheer will power. Now that wouldn't make an exciting match" Lee said.
Naruto knelt down and picked some of Hinata's blood with his right arm. He brought it in front of him and looked at Neji. "I am about to win"
"Yes Naruto, you will" Tsuki said as she gently placed Hinata's head on the ground and stood up, only to death glare at Neji. "You will crush him like a worm" her ears fell back on her skull, her eyes narrowed on his form.
The two of them started a glaring contest that seemed to have no winner. A deadly aura was coming from both of them but it soon was over as Kakashi placed his hand on Tsuki's shoulder, making her break her glare. "It's no worth it", he said and left out a sigh, Tsuki looked behind her only to see Hinata being taken away by medics.
"No, it's not," she said, her ears down as she pushed his hand aside and started to walk towards the upper level.
Tsuki hated many types of people but one thing she could never stand, where the people that seemed to see family like it was nothing. She hated when people would easily kill their own blood just for… for anything in that matter. She knew from personal experience what it meant to grow up without a family. She may have had the wolves but they could never replace the touch of a mother, a family friend, of another human being that you have a special connection with.
While medical-nin were taking Hinata away and Hayate was cleaning the arena, the rest had returned back to their teams. All expect Naruto and Tsuki who stood as far as possible from the others. Naruto was sitting on the railing, close to the end and was watching the arena. Tsuki was at his right, her weight against the railing and her mind elsewhere.
"Hey, you 2. How come all by yourselves? Why aren't you hanging with your buddies?" Kankuro asked while walking towards them.
"Huh? What's it to you?" Naruto said and ignored him.
Well, well, touchy Kankuro thought. "So, tell me something about this guy, Neji. I get the feeling that we didn't see the full extent of his power at the last fight, didn't we? So what's his story?"
"I am going to pulverized him, that is his story"
"I can't wait to see that" Tsuki commented as she turned to look at the sand genin while folding her hands in front of her chest and let her back touch the railing.
"Okay but that's not quite what I meant. What about you?" Kankuro said and turned his attention to Tsuki.
"Don't make me start" she said in a cold tone which caused him to shivered but also smirk
"You know, you seem like a nice guy. I like you," he said to Naruto. and then turned to Tsuki "And of course I like you too" he winked at her and forced her to look away while trying to hide her small blush.
"Well, don't take this the wrong way. But I don't like you!" Naruto shouted the last part and looked at him in the eyes.
"Since tried to hit Konohamaru, me neither" Tsuki commented and she turned her body once again, her attention back at the arena.
Hayate coughed and drew everyone's attention. "Now then, we will continue the competition"
The board started to pick up random names. It then landed on two, causing everyone to gawk as silence fell on the room.
Gaara VS Rock Lee
