Chapter 125

Words : 1322 Updated : Oct 6th, 2025

Chapter 125 - 125 No one expected this—Neji wasn't sticking to just the Hyuga clan's Jūken. He had actually learned the Hachimon Tonkō (Eight Gates Release Technique)! This was a decision Neji had reached after careful thought. He could see the limitations—or rather, the ceiling—of the Hyuga's Gentle Fist, especially as a branch family member with no access to higher-level techniques. If he wanted to grow stronger, he had to learn something else. He needed power! After seeing Natsuki almost kill Orochimaru with a single Asa Kujaku (Morning Peacock), Neji set his sights on the Eight Gates. It was the strongest technique he could realistically learn—after all, Guy-sensei wouldn't hesitate to teach it to him. He'd be a fool not to seize that opportunity! As for the Hyuga clan's rules? The main family refused to teach him advanced techniques, so what was wrong with learning his sensei's techniques? If they had a problem with it, they should've given him the good stuff to learn in the first place! Whoosh! Neji suddenly vanished. Even though he had only opened the first gate, his chakra surged, and his speed jumped a level. Sasuke's Chidori surged forward, and his Sharingan locked onto Neji's form—but his body couldn't keep up. He watched in shock as Neji appeared at his side and struck with lightning-fast tenketsu strikes, instantly sealing Sasuke's chakra points. Sasuke's chakra was immediately blocked off, and the Chidori dissipated. He was left completely powerless. Wary of any hidden tricks, Neji pressed his fingers toward Sasuke's throat and turned to the referee. Genma immediately called out, "That's enough! Winner, Hyuga Neji from Konoha!" "Alright! Well done!" "That was an incredible fight!" "Just what you'd expect from the Uchiha and Hyuga clans!" The crowd erupted into cheers, the whole arena ignited by the thrilling match. Only the Hyuga clan's members wore sour expressions. After all, Neji hadn't won using Gentle Fist techniques but instead relied on the Eight Gates—this felt like a slap in the face to the Hyuga's pride. Little Hanabi quietly looked up at her father and asked innocently, "Father, what's the Eight Gates Technique? It looks really strong!" Uh... Hiashi didn't know how to respond. He wanted to say that the Gentle Fist was stronger, but the fact remained—Neji hadn't won with Gentle Fist, and the Eight Gates had been the decisive factor. If he tried to argue that Neji simply hadn't mastered Gentle Fist yet, it would raise more uncomfortable questions, like why such a talented child hadn't been taught the stronger techniques. With so many issues tangled up, Hiashi didn't know how to explain it to Hanabi. In the end, he could only fumble an excuse. "The Eight Gates is a secret technique taught by Neji's team leader. It's powerful, yes, but our Hyuga Gentle Fist is still stronger—Neji just hasn't fully mastered it yet." Hanabi stared at her father's awkward expression, seeming to see through his flimsy excuse. Still, she didn't press the issue. Father's such a liar. "Neji, that was awesome! Congratulations!" Lee and Tenten cheered, while Guy laughed heartily, striking a triumphant pose—his pride was written all over his face. After all, a win with the Eight Gates was a win for him, the teacher! Natsuki also gave Neji a thumbs-up. The match had been brilliant, and Neji learning the Eight Gates had truly taken him by surprise. It seemed Neji had become more open-minded—and smarter. The Hyuga's Gentle Fist had a long, proud history and was indeed strong, but its potential wasn't infinite, especially for a branch family member like Neji. That Neji had the courage to seek out other paths, taking his destiny into his own hands, was something worth admiring. Meanwhile, Sasuke returned with an ugly expression. Sakura and Naruto didn't know what to say, and even Kakashi remained silent. Neji, however, looked at Sasuke and said solemnly, "You're strong. I look forward to our next match!" Sasuke immediately shot back, "You won this time, but I'll definitely beat you next time!" See? Neji's single sentence did more to motivate Sasuke than any comforting words could have. Sasuke was instantly fired up, and he didn't let the loss drag him down. Kakashi, in turn, breathed a deep sigh of relief. He'd been worried that Sasuke might spiral emotionally after a loss, which could trigger Orochimaru's curse mark. Thankfully, it hadn't happened. All in all, though Sasuke had lost, he was safe, and that was what mattered. Plus, Sasuke's performance wasn't bad—he'd still likely earn a Chūnin promotion. With the fifth match concluded, it was time for the sixth. "Sixth match, Natsuki from Konoha vs. Gaara from Sunagakure!" Natsuki nodded to his friends, then shunshin'd into the center of the arena. Wearing his sunglasses, he looked effortlessly cool, immediately drawing cheers from the audience. From the stands, the shopkeeper couldn't help himself. "Hey, hey! That's my future son-in-law!" ... The people around him rolled their eyes. Yeah, yeah, we know already! We've been neighbors for years, you don't have to keep bragging! Natsuki ignored the commotion, raising his gaze toward the red-haired boy with the gourd on his back. His eyes were like a still lake, without a ripple of emotion—no provocation, but also a subtle sense of disregard, as if Gaara wasn't worth his attention. Gaara was instantly triggered. His bloodshot eyes gleamed with murderous intent. "Blood! Blood! Kill! I'll kill you!" Clatter... Temari and Kankuro, standing by, were filled with worry. "Be careful! He's strong!" Gaara paid them no mind. He opened the gourd on his back, sand spilling out and lifting him into the air. His bloodthirsty gaze locked onto Natsuki, as if he were ready to tear him to pieces. Genma looked a little uneasy, but he still announced the match's start. Gaara didn't seem to hear, standing still as a statue, eyes fixed on Natsuki. Natsuki couldn't care less what the red-haired boy was thinking. He casually threw out several kunai to test the waters. Sure enough, the sand automatically deflected them. This wasn't just for show—it was to demonstrate to the audience, especially the daimyo, that Gaara could block attacks with his sand, making him a formidable opponent. Once Natsuki defeated him in a stylish and impressive manner, it would naturally earn him high marks. The next moment, Natsuki formed a rapid string of hand seals and slammed his palm onto the ground. "Doton: Doryūheki! (Earth Style: Earth Wall!)" Earthen walls erupted from the ground, surrounding Gaara in a wide formation—large enough to prevent the sand from reaching him, yet much smaller than the arena, allowing Natsuki to control the field more easily. Natsuki leapt onto the wall, casually forming one-handed seals. Then he opened his mouth and unleashed a torrent of water. "Suiton: Suidanha! (Water Style: Water Severing Wave!)" Boom! Water flooded the space within the walls, instantly filling it. Gaara was submerged in an instant. His gourd sand tried to shield him, but the moment it emerged, it was soaked and rendered useless—unable to rise, much less protect him. "Not good! Gaara, watch out!" Temari and Kankuro's faces paled. They hadn't expected Natsuki to pull this move. Using Water Style? That was a hard counter to Gaara's sand! No matter how absolute the sand's defense was, it couldn't withstand such a massive flood. This was a total shutdown. Facing an opponent as overwhelming as Natsuki, Gaara was in serious trouble. (End of Chapter) [Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][/zaelum] [+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter] [Thank You For Your Support!]

Chapter 125

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