Naruto: Naruto's Uchiha girlfriend is too arrogant

Chapter 253 Unnecessary Emotions Arose

After Genma Shiranui officially announced the results, Lee, who had been holding on, finally felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders. His will relaxed, and he collapsed softly to the ground.

Unable to contain himself any longer, Might Guy rushed onto the field, grabbed the exhausted Lee tightly in his arms, and burst into tears, his hot tears soaking his disciple's bodysuit.

"Li—! Did you see that?! Everyone witnessed your youth—!"

Although many people present understood that these were tears of joy and pride, Kai's overly intense way of expressing his emotions with a waterfall of tears still left many viewers feeling somewhat overwhelmed.

Respect... but not understanding.

It wasn't until the medical team arrived that they managed to pull the agitated Kayle apart and carefully lift the unconscious Lee and the equally injured Neji onto a stretcher and take them to the treatment room.

The murmurs in the audience lingered for a long time. Almost everyone was stunned by the duel they had just witnessed—how could such earth-shattering power be unleashed solely through physical combat?

It seems that Lee's promotion to Chunin is a foregone conclusion... even though the strength shown by Lee and Neji has far exceeded that of ordinary Chunin, and has even reached the level of Jonin.

Even the usually aloof Zuo Yue now wore a solemn expression. She never expected that Xiao Li, one of the "youthful master and apprentice" she had disliked, would actually possess such terrifying strength.

With her three-tomoe Sharingan, she could see Lee's movements after opening the five gates, but she had to admit that her own speed might not be able to keep up with that kind of explosiveness.

Of course, in Zuo Yue's heart, Naruto was always the strongest. Although Lee's performance was amazing enough, when she thought of the scene in the Forest of Death where Naruto fought the mysterious ninja standing on the giant snake... Lee's power was ultimately far inferior.

After a brief moment of amazement and discussion, the audience's enthusiasm quickly shifted to anticipation of the next match. After all, the primary goal of many of the ninja village leaders and even daimyo from various countries who had traveled from afar was not to enjoy a thrilling taijutsu duel.

Their eyes were already fixed on that legendary name—Naruto Uzumaki, whom the Third Hokage himself recognized as "the strongest genin in the history of Konoha."

Of course, perhaps Konoha deliberately released such exaggerated news because the highly anticipated Uchiha descendant unexpectedly failed to advance, in order to attract attention and sell expensive tickets? But in any case, that match was destined to become the focus of everyone's attention.

From the stands, Naruto watched as Neji was carried off the field on a medical stretcher. Even from a distance, he could clearly see the mixture of resentment, pain, and deep regret on Neji's face…

"Next match players, Nara Shikamaru and Temari, please enter the arena immediately."

Genma Shiranui's voice rang out again. Although Temari was worried about her younger brother Gaara's increasingly unstable condition and hoped that the plan would proceed smoothly, she could only calm herself down at this moment.

With a light leap, she landed in the center of the arena like a falling leaf, the huge Samsung fan slamming down beside her with a bang, exuding an imposing aura.

On the other side, Shikamaru looked at the sharp-eyed, clearly formidable female ninja from Sunagakure in the arena and felt a chill run down his spine. His aversion to trouble made him almost want to back down immediately.

I really don't want to fight... Damn it... This is only my first time participating in the Chunin Exams, why does it have to come to this? I might as well just forfeit...

He thought of Asuma sitting next to Kurenai in the audience. Surely the teacher wouldn't just throw him off this time? So, he slowly raised his hand, preparing to signal to the examiner that he was giving up.

"Go for it, Shikamaru! A ninja can't desert his post!"

Suddenly, an irresistible force came from behind him! Shikamaru turned around in surprise, and at the last moment before he lost his balance and fell into the arena, what came into view was Naruto Uzumaki's face with a harmless smile.

Although Shikamaru, who had just fallen into the arena, looked like he had been betrayed by his best friend and was questioning his life, Naruto thought that this duel would not only buy time but also lead to a good marriage in the future... Why not take advantage of such a good thing?

Ignoring the situation on the field, Naruto turned around, seemingly preparing to leave the rest area.

"Naruto, where are you going?" Shino Aburame, who had been silent all along, reminded him. "My opponent hasn't arrived yet, and it might be your turn to take the field soon."

In response to Shino's concern, Naruto simply gave him a reassuring look and spoke in a relaxed tone.

"It won't take long, it's just a trip to the restroom."

After saying that, he left the lounge. However, the moment he turned around, Gaara, who had been silent all along, fixed his gaze on Naruto's departing figure... and the surging bloodlust within him suddenly surged!

Those strange and disturbing emotions stemming from Naruto writhed within him like worms. He stubbornly believed that if he killed this blond boy, these inappropriate emotions would vanish completely, and he could become his complete self again…

"Mom... just a little longer..." he murmured to himself, forcibly suppressing the ferocious expression that threatened to contort his face. "Soon... I'll be able to calm him down..."

Despite his efforts to restrain himself, the uncontrollable, chilling killing intent emanating from him still instantly set off alarm bells for the perceptive Shino Aburame, whose brows furrowed tightly behind his sunglasses.

------

Inside the medical room, the green chakra light slowly dissipated. The medical ninja confirmed that Neji's broken ribs and internal organ concussions had mostly healed, and after instructing him to rest for a while, left the room.

However, Neji, lying in the hospital bed, slowly sat up, his inner turmoil far more intense than his physical injuries. He looked down at his bandaged hands, his eyes filled with confusion and self-doubt.

"With enough power, one can change their predetermined fate..." This was the life motto that sustained him through darkness and helped him grow stronger. To this end, he put in far more effort than ordinary people, honing his skills day and night, firmly believing that with this power, he would one day be able to break free from so-called "destiny."

But today, his life motto has been put into practice and proven by another person in the most direct and shocking way—the guy he always considered a "loser," Xiao Li, has truly and honorably defeated him, who was hailed as a genius, through a life-burning struggle!

Lee changed his "fate" and broke the curse of "genius always wins"... So what have I been doing all these years?! Neji questioned himself sharply in his heart, his teeth unconsciously biting his lower lip hard, trying to suppress the turmoil in his heart with sharp pain.

I risked my life... It turns out that it really is possible to go this far... Do I, someone like this, really deserve... to follow in that person's footsteps?

A strong sense of self-loathing grew within him, and just as Neji's tightly clenched lips were about to bleed—

"Hey, long time no see, Neji. You've grown a lot over the years."

The door to the medical room was silently pushed open. Neji instinctively looked up, and the moment he saw who it was, he froze on the spot as if struck by lightning, his mind going completely blank!

There stood the familiar figure that had appeared countless times in his dreams, standing in the doorway. The iconic fox mask, and the steady voice emanating from beneath it.

Menma pushed open the door and entered, speaking to the completely stunned Neji.