Chapter 29: The Price of Protection
The Cursed Seal on Sasuke's body seemed to writhe with a life of its own, spreading across his skin like dark, malevolent flames!
"The Cursed Seal!" Ryouma's pupils contracted. His previously casual expression sharpened into one of intense focus.
"I can't lose!" Hearing the gasps around him, Sasuke's face was icy. He glanced disdainfully at the silver blade resting against his neck, smirked, and vanished in a blur, reappearing behind Ryouma!
"So fast... but..." Ryouma instantly teleported behind Sasuke, his silver sword held high!
But when he looked forward, Sasuke was already gone. A voice, cold as the grave, sounded from behind Ryouma. "Die..."
What? Behind me? How is he this fast... The teleportation cooldown is still two seconds... What do I do...?
Cold sweat trickled down Ryouma's temple. Now he finally understood what a real "cheat code" looked like!
"Sasuke, stop!" Just as Sasuke's fist was about to connect with Ryouma's back, Kakashi's voice cut through the tension at the perfect moment.
Ryouma turned his head to see Sasuke's hand frozen in mid-air, caught in Kakashi's firm grip.
"Do you have a death wish?!" Sasuke had lost all reason. His Sharingan glared at Kakashi with a chilling intensity that made onlookers shiver.
Thwack!
A green blur appeared beside Sasuke. Might Guy, with a swift chop of his hand, knocked Sasuke unconscious. Sasuke crumpled to the floor, the Cursed Seal receding from his skin.
"He'd lost his mind. Knocking him out was the only option," Gai stated flatly, still holding his hand in the chopping position.
"It had to be done," Kakashi agreed with a nod. He glanced at Ryouma, who stood to the side, but said nothing, instead turning his gaze to the Third Hokage.
"I declare Akizuki Ryouma the winner of the first match," Hiruzen Sarutobi announced, taking a slow draw from his pipe before standing.
...
After several more rounds of intense battles, the duel between Kiba and Naruto was particularly fierce. After Kiba and Akamaru swallowed their Soldier Pills and used their Fang Over Fang technique, combined with the rich combat experience gained from his missions with Ryouma, Naruto was nearly defeated.
Hyūga Hinata vs. Hyūga Neji!
Ryouma frowned at the names displayed on the electronic screen. While Neji would later become a reliable comrade, at this stage, crowned with the title of "genius," he was cold and arrogant. This was especially true toward Hinata; resentful of his own fate as a member of the branch family, he held a particular impatience and disdain for her, the heiress of the main house.
"Lady Hinata," Neji said coldly the moment he saw her. "You should forfeit."
"Neji-nii-san," Hinata replied, her voice softer but firmer than it would have been in the original timeline. "Please fight me seriously."
"Your personality may seem to have changed, but at your core, you are still the weak young lady. This stubbornness is meaningless." Neji's voice was low and dismissive. "Let me prove to you that you are still that weak little girl!"
"Byakugan!"
Blue veins bulged around Neji's eyes, and a mysterious, rippling power emanated from his pupils.
"Byakugan!"
Hinata was startled but activated her own Byakugan in response. She took the initiative, charging at Neji first!
Ha!
Transforming her fist into a palm, she aimed a standard Gentle Fist strike at the chakra points on Neji's left arm and shoulder. Hinata sought to strike first and sever the chakra flow there!
"Huh?" Neji was slightly surprised but still didn't take her seriously. He sidestepped, putting Hinata off-balance. Seizing the opening, he lashed out with his right hand, striking Hinata squarely on the shoulder.
"Ah..." Hinata gasped in pain, but her expression remained determined. She adjusted her stance and continued her assault.
"Hmph!"
Irritated by her persistence, Neji snorted coldly. He parried Hinata's flurry of attacks with both hands, leaving her defenses wide open. A flicker of ruthlessness passed through his eyes.
"Eight Trigrams, Sixty-Four Palms!"
Assuming the classic Gentle Fist stance, Neji's palms became a blur, targeting the chakra points all over Hinata's body.
"Two Palms!"
"Four Palms!"
"Eight Palms!"
"Sixteen Palms!"
Neji's attacks were a relentless storm from below. Up in the stands, Ryouma's fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white, his eyes flashing with conflict.
Should I let this continue? If I go down to save her, what will that mean...?
"Thirty-Two Palms!"
Pfft!
Hinata vomited a mouthful of blood, her face deathly pale. Crimson stains bloomed on her clothes.
"Eight Trigrams... Sixty-Four Palms!"
"Damn it!" Seeing Hinata vomiting blood and Neji showing no sign of relenting, Ryouma's fury finally boiled over. A silvery light flashed in his eyes, and he vanished from his spot.
"Oh no, this is bad," Kurenai thought, her heart sinking. She knew how close Ryouma and Hinata were. Seeing Neji's merciless assault and knowing Ryouma's temperament, she feared he wouldn't be able to stand by.
"And so he goes..."
"Great Ball Rasengan!"
Ryouma materialized instantly behind the combatants. Seeing Hinata's battered state up close fueled his rage even further. Without a second thought, he summoned the Great Ball Rasengan!
"What?!" Neji sensed the immense chakra and looked over. His Byakugan saw the swirling sphere of golden energy, and for the first time, a rare expression of pure terror crossed his face. He froze, his hands stopping mid-motion.
"That kid... what kind of jutsu is that?!" Gai was also stunned by Ryouma's actions.
"Chakra nature manipulation... a Rasengan? But this volume of chakra... and it's golden? How... how is that possible? Even the Fourth Hokage, Lord Minato, never created a Rasengan this massive..." Kakashi was utterly shocked.
"Huh? This jutsu?" The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stared in astonishment. "I've never seen this before. The principle seems similar to Minato's Rasengan, but to control such an immense amount of chakra..."
With the exception of Orochimaru, Kiba, and Hinata, everyone present was witnessing Ryouma's 'Great Ball Rasengan' for the first time. Its mere appearance left the entire room in awe.
"Hinata, I'm sorry," Ryouma said, his voice thick with apology as he looked at her. "I know this is your fight... but seeing you hurt like this... I just couldn't stand by." His gaze then turned to Neji, his eyes freezing over. "But... since I've intervened, the one who hurt you will pay the price!"
"Ryouma! What is the meaning of this?!" As the proctor, Moonlight Hayate immediately stepped between Ryouma and Neji, his brow furrowed in consternation.
Hayate was also deeply shaken by the power radiating from Ryouma. A grim certainty settled in his gut: if he were to face Ryouma, he might not win.
"Ryouma! Are you betraying the village?!" Hayate's usually sickly pallor was replaced by a sharp intensity as he stared Ryouma down.
"So what if I am?!" The fury burning in Ryouma's heart ignited the unruly, defiant nature that had always lain dormant within him. Perhaps this was the real Akizuki Ryouma!