Chapter 71: "If You're Like This, How Can I Have a Reason to Resent You!"
Inside the Hyūga clan grounds.
Two figures exchanged blows in the training ground, their steps nimble.
Bang bang bang!
Hinata, face resolute, used Gentle Fist to arduously block all of Neji's attacks.
But Neji's talent in Gentle Fist was undeniable. Even at his young age, whether in fist techniques, footwork, rhythm, or the use of his Byakugan, he already far surpassed his peers.
Neji relied on his Byakugan to see through the chakra pathways within Hinata's body, then attacked those pathways with Gentle Fist.
In comparison, Hinata was clearly much inferior.
Or rather, Little Hinata in her normal state was much inferior.
If someone lifted the sleeve of Hinata's arm, they would find various red spots already appearing around it.
Those were all special injuries inflicted by Gentle Fist.
The difference between the two wasn't physical talent, but talent in terms of personality.
Little Hinata's nature was too indecisive. Reflected in her fist style, her techniques were sloppy and disconnected, lacking coherence, full of openings, and her intentions were easily read, allowing opponents to launch a series of counterattacks.
The Hyūga clan's Gentle Fist, though not as overtly powerful as the Strong Fist style, possessed a sharpness in close quarters that was by no means inferior.
What Little Hinata lacked was precisely this sharpness.
Therefore, her Gentle Fist seemed to lack a soul, a mere empty shell. In others' eyes, it was just flashy but impractical.
Bang!
"Lady Hinata, give up. In your current state, you are no match for me at all."
After knocking Hinata back with a strike, Neji's eyes were cold, his tone somewhat impatient.
Due to Hinata's status as the main family's eldest young lady, he had already held back, only hoping Hinata would end this uninteresting battle quickly.
"As main family, yet so weak, lacking responsibility, unable to shoulder the main family's heavy burden."
"What right does such a person have to make countless branch family members sacrifice their lives to protect her?"
Looking at the panting Hinata before him, Neji felt even angrier, yet also helpless.
Some time ago, Hinata's temperament had changed drastically. In every spar, she could actually chase him down, her strikes ruthless and decisive.
And the words Hinata spoke at the family meeting earlier had even made Neji feel a measure of agreement.
But for some reason, Hinata seemed to have returned to normal recently.
Once again becoming the timid and weak Hinata she originally was.
This made Neji, who had felt a glimmer of hope, even more angry and helpless.
"Let's end today's sparring here. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Neji finished speaking coldly, turning to leave.
"Wait!"
Hearing a more forceful voice behind him, Neji stopped, frowning deeply as he turned his head.
He saw Hinata shakily get to her feet, once again assuming the Gentle Fist opening stance: "Continue. I haven't lost yet."
Sizing up the Hinata before him, a trace of joy flashed in Neji's eyes.
"Could it be... her personality changed again?"
The "Hinata" from before was the only main family member he acknowledged.
In front of everyone, she had directly and sharply berated the main family elders.
If that Hinata became clan head and led the Hyūga, perhaps she wouldn't let the main family naturally leech off the branch family.
Neji hesitated for a moment, then attacked again.
But after only a few minutes, Hinata was once again knocked back by Neji, falling powerlessly to the ground, her aura dispirited.
"Just as I thought..."
Neji looked at Hinata with a complex expression, completely disappointed in her now: "Has the Clan Head already 'cured' Hinata?"
Although Hinata had improved this time, she was still that weak Hinata.
"Brother Neji, let's continue."
Just then, Hinata stood up again.
Looking at her face and the blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, Neji couldn't help but be somewhat distracted.
Though Hinata's eyes lacked the brutality of some time ago, they also lacked her past weakness and timidity.
Instead, they had become extremely resolute.
Neji, for a moment, couldn't tell which Hinata this was.
He only felt the irritation in his heart intensify, shouting angrily: "Still don't understand the gap between us?"
To him, this Hinata was simply too weak.
Since you have no talent, then resign yourself to fate! Anyway, even if Hinata is useless, as the main family's eldest young lady, she's still a rank above a branch family member like me.
No matter his talent, whether he possesses potential surpassing Hinata's, in the end, his entire life will be restricted by the Caged Bird Seal.
This is the fate of the Hyūga branch family.
But Hinata lacks strength now. No matter how persistent she acts, what value is there?!
"I want to change the current situation. At least, I don't want to be powerless anymore," Hinata said resolutely, taking a deep breath.
If it were Big Sister, she could do anything easily.
But, I can't always hide behind Big Sister, naturally accepting everyone's goodwill.
Just as she couldn't accept herself, as the main family daughter, merely sitting atop all her branch family compatriots like those elders, forcibly maintaining her privileges and status through the so-called "Caged Bird".
That big brother's gentle words echoed again in Hinata's mind.
"Such a gentle child. But you need to protect yourself too."
"If you got hurt, who knows what would happen to those brats."
Just as Menma-nii said, she bore too many responsibilities.
She didn't want to hurt others, but precisely this weakness unintentionally hurt even more people.
If she continued to be weak, then more people would lose more because of her weakness.
Even... lose their lives...
Big Hinata, watching everything through Little Hinata's perspective, also sensed Little Hinata's resolve.
In a daze, she recalled words that guy Menma once spoke.
Power resides in people's hearts. If you believe, it's there; if you don't, it's not. Deceptive tricks, like floating shadows moving on a wall; even a small person can cast a giant shadow.
"Ha!"
Big Hinata chuckled somewhat helplessly.
Holding this thought from the very beginning, huh?
Truly a detestable fellow, even scheming against me.
Meanwhile, Hinata's words surprised Neji somewhat, but the next moment he retorted irritably: "Fine! Then I'll make you collapse completely!"
This time, he attacked Hinata with all his might, his strikes becoming fierce.
Even facing Neji's barrage of attacks, Hinata did her best to remain calm and respond steadily.
She was trying hard to find an opportunity to turn the tables.
Conversely, the longer it dragged on, the more irritable Neji became, gradually losing his grasp on the situation.
"Clearly... clearly already the main family's eldest young lady! As long as you peacefully inherit the clan head position, then obediently become a useless person protected by the branch family, wouldn't that be enough?"
Clearly, you can have everything without effort.
Why, why still resist?
"If you're like this, how can I have a reason to resent you!"
(End of Chapter)
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