Hyuga Neji listened calmly to the arrangements. Without voicing any objections, he stepped neatly into the training field.
Once it became clear that a fight was about to take place, excitement rippled through the crowd. Not only the students from Neji's class, but even Iruka's class began to stir restlessly. Iruka tried to restore order, but faced with the students' enthusiasm, he could only offer an apologetic smile to Heavenly Dao and the others. In the end, he suspended the original lesson and allowed the students to gather around the field to watch the sparring match.
It had to be said—so long as he didn't remove his forehead protector and reveal the ugly Caged Bird Seal etched onto his forehead, Hyuga Neji possessed an excellent appearance. His refined posture, elegant movements, and composed temperament instantly ignited a wave of cheers among the girls.
"Go, Neji-kun!"
"Neji-kun is so handsome!"
On the other side of the field, Heavenly Dao was never one to fall behind when it came to looking cool. He swiftly formed hand seals, and as fallen leaves scattered into the air, his figure appeared on the field at some unknown moment, concealed within the drifting foliage.
"It's the Body Flicker Technique!"
"That's so cool!"
"Go for it, handsome big brother!"
The loyalties of the onlookers shifted instantly.
Many people believed that the Body Flicker Technique was a space-time ninjutsu—a notion that was both correct and incorrect.
In truth, the Body Flicker Technique was a broad category that even included genuine space-time techniques such as the Flying Thunder God. Aside from such exceptions, most Body Flicker techniques relied on a combination of ninjutsu or taijutsu to achieve a movement effect similar to teleportation.
The Konoha Body Flicker was one such variation. It fused chakra-enhanced movement with taijutsu footwork, scattering leaves or debris during motion to confuse the enemy. During the Chunin Exams in the original storyline, Kakashi Hatake and Uchiha Sasuke had once used this very technique for their dramatic entrance.
Because it was also classified under Konoha-style taijutsu, Heavenly Dao was currently considered a master of the Body Flicker Technique. If things continued this way, perhaps one day he might even earn a nickname like "Body Flicker Heavenly Dao."
Although the Konoha Body Flicker wasn't the fastest among its peers, its style points were undoubtedly top-tier.
Heavenly Dao was extremely satisfied with his flashy entrance. Meanwhile, Hyuga Neji stood across from him with a steadiness far beyond his age. He took his stance silently, his expression unmoving. Gradually, the noise surrounding the field died down.
"This Hyuga Neji is not someone to underestimate," Inuzuka Akita murmured from the sidelines, her expression solemn. "I wonder if Heavenly Dao can handle him."
In the past, neither Inuzuka Akita nor Heavenly Dao had been known for outstanding martial strength, but they were still ninjas and had sparred with one another before.
From Akita's perspective, Heavenly Dao's strength could only be described as barely acceptable—just enough to qualify as a civilian Chunin.
That's right. Although the title of Chunin often seemed unremarkable in the Naruto world, there were clear distinctions within the rank itself.
Civilian Chunins formed one category, while Chunins from established ninja clans formed another entirely. The disparity in strength between the two could be described as worlds apart.
Their promotion paths differed as well. Civilian ninjas typically accumulated seniority over time and were promoted automatically once they met the requirements.
Clan ninjas, on the other hand, usually made their names during the joint Chunin Exams held among the great ninja villages. By displaying their strength and potential before high-ranking officials and nobles, they secured recognition early on.
Even those who failed the exams initially were often granted the rank soon afterward, and such individuals rarely remained at the Chunin level for long.
If the former Heavenly Dao could be considered a standard civilian Chunin, then Hyuga Neji—who had not even graduated from the Academy yet—already possessed strength comparable to a clan Chunin.
What a pity he was born into the Hyuga Branch House, Inuzuka Akita sighed inwardly. Her gaze shifted back to Heavenly Dao on the field. Though her face remained composed, concern flickered briefly in her eyes. I wonder if Heavenly Dao can hold out…
I can definitely hold out.
Heavenly Dao turned and flashed her a reassuring smile, brimming with confidence.
In the original storyline, Hyuga Neji had displayed strength bordering on the Jonin level. Through sheer self-realization, he had mastered secret techniques such as the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms and Rotation. During the Chunin Exams, when he attacked Hyuga Hinata, several Jonin had been required to restrain him.
While that response had been partly for safety, it also reflected Neji's threat level at the time.
However, that was two years in the future.
No matter how strong Neji would become later, it had nothing to do with the present.
Observing Neji's stance and movements, Heavenly Dao reached a simple conclusion.
This is already decided.
Heavenly Dao adopted the stance of Konoha-style Strong Fist, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Neji-kun, you can make the first move."
"Understood, Heavenly Dao-senpai," Hyuga Neji replied politely.
At this point in his life, having lost his father and not yet found companionship with Might Guy and his future teammates, Neji was trapped in the darkest phase of his existence. To the outside world, he behaved almost like a machine—cold, distant, and mechanical.
He assumed the Gentle Fist stance. 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 exquisite detail.
"Please excuse me."
Before the words had fully left his mouth, Neji's feet were already moving.
Using Gentle Fist footwork, he charged forward like a lone swan slicing through the sky.
The watching students felt their vision blur as Neji's figure vanished, only to reappear instantly beside Heavenly Dao. The edge of Neji's right palm sliced toward Heavenly Dao's ribs, while his left hand covertly formed into a finger sword, targeting a vital tenketsu on Heavenly Dao's right arm.
This was the Gentle Fist Art: Tenketsu—the same technique Neji would later use against Hinata during the Chunin Exams. It was unexpected that he had already mastered it before even graduating from the Academy.
However, Heavenly Dao showed no sign of panic.
Your tenketsu technique is impressive, he thought calmly, but my stats are simply higher than yours.
The chakra within Heavenly Dao's body erupted violently.
"Konoha Hurricane!"
Power surged up from the ground. Although Heavenly Dao struck later, his attack arrived first. Before Neji's tenketsu strike could land, Heavenly Dao's kick was already on the verge of sending him flying.
Neji clearly perceived the chakra eruption with his Byakugan, but perception did not equate to reaction.
He could have chosen to continue the tenketsu strike. At most, damaging the opponent's right arm would slightly disrupt their chakra flow. But if he took the full force of that kick, the consequences would be far more severe.
Forced to adapt, Neji crossed his arms in front of his chest and shifted from attack to defense.
Originally, he intended to deflect the force—but the power transmitted through the collision between leg and arm was unexpectedly light.
"Good reaction," Heavenly Dao said, withdrawing his attack and returning to his original position rather than pressing the advantage. "Keep attacking."
Hyuga Neji's expression grew complicated.
Since his father's death, he had sealed off his heart, viewing any concern from clan members as nothing more than thinly veiled hypocrisy. This rare display of kindness from someone outside the clan stirred something unfamiliar within him.
"…Alright, Heavenly Dao-senpai."
The same words as before—but now, they carried warmth.
Neji resumed his stance. This time, he resolved to use the strongest technique he currently possessed, as a sign of respect to his senior.
He had contemplated this move many times, yet had never believed he could truly execute it. But in this moment—his heart subtly moved—clarity struck.
Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.