If he were defeated by Lee and the others, what would the consequences be? Neji didn't know, nor would he think about it, because he would never allow himself to fail! Neji's eyes flashed with a determination he had never shown before.
Hearing Neji's voice, Lee, Tenten, and Hyuga Seiju all wore grave expressions simultaneously. Although the elders of the Hyuga branch family had placed their future in Neji's hands, this did not mean that Hyuga Seiju would hold back. Hyuga Seiju had his own pride!
Their gazes clashed in the air. Neji, Lee, and the others all knew that the next attack would likely be the final one. Given their current physical condition, there was no way they could sustain high-intensity combat any longer.
One strike to decide the victor!
After a brief moment of silence across the battlefield, in the next instant, everyone moved simultaneously.
Neji raised his hand abruptly, grabbing a steel wire with one hand, and launched the Longsword - Sewing Needle toward Lee and his companions. With Neji's precise chakra manipulation, the Longsword - Sewing Needle sliced through the air at terrifying speed.
"I won't let you escape again!"
Seeing this, Tenten shouted, flipping out a scroll from her hand. As white smoke dispersed, chains appeared in both her hands.
Currently, Lee and Hyuga Seiju's physical conditions were quite poor. Although the distance between Tenten's group and Neji wasn't particularly far, it wasn't close either. This was why Neji had immediately manipulated the Longsword - Sewing Needle for a long-range attack.
Tenten understood this clearly.
So...
"I'll handle Neji's ninja sword. You two, fly over there!!"
Tenten raised the two chains in her hands and lightly flicked them, directly wrapping them around Lee and Hyuga Seiju's waists. In the next moment, Tenten quickly exerted force with both arms, hurling the chains binding Lee and the others toward Neji's direction.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Accompanied by two sounds of cutting through the air, Lee and Hyuga Seiju instantly flew out. At the same time, Tenten manipulated the two chains in her hands to clamp down on the incoming Longsword - Sewing Needle from both sides.
"When it comes to manipulating ninja tools, I won't lose to anyone. Besides, I'm the Scroll of Fans of Team 3, Neji!!"
Tenten's face showed a grave expression as her arms rapidly waved. The two chains moved like long snakes, clamping onto the Longsword - Sewing Needle flying through the air, preventing it from attacking Lee and Hyuga Seiju who were now suspended in mid-air.
Seeing the Longsword - Sewing Needle being restrained by Tenten, Neji's expression remained unchanged, as if he had expected this outcome.
Meanwhile, Lee and Hyuga Seiju had already appeared before Neji.
Eight Gates - Life Gate, Open!
Lee let out a mighty shout as violent chakra surged from within his body, rapidly gathering in his fist.
"Neji, this is my final strike!"
Lee raised his fist, now surrounded by pale green chakra, and swung it powerfully toward Neji.
Hyuga Seiju adjusted his body position in mid-air, assuming a palm strike stance.
The hope of the branch family? Let me see the gap between us!
"Gentle Fist Art - Eight Trigrams Air Palm!"
Hyuga Seiju gave a low shout, raising his hand and striking toward Neji's direction. A burst of chakra-formed energy instantly erupted.
"Indeed, it should end now."
Seeing the two attacking him simultaneously, Neji's eyes flickered slightly. He mobilized all the chakra within his body, rapidly crossing his arms in front of his chest with his palms facing outward.
Eight Trigrams - Void Strike!
A massive amount of chakra visibly appeared on Neji's palms, forming a thick energy column. In the next instant, this energy column burst forth, instantly engulfing both Lee and Hyuga Seiju.
This attack? How is it possible! How could Neji have mastered a technique from the main family?
Hyuga Seiju's eyes widened in disbelief. Before he could react, he was already struck by the attack.
On the other side.
"It seems it's over."
Yuto, who had been sitting on the stone bench, stood up and stretched lazily. While the outcome wasn't surprising, the fact that Neji had mastered the technique Yuto had taught him on the ship so quickly was somewhat unexpected to Yuto.
The Hyuga main family possessed an extremely powerful technique called "Eight Trigrams - Mountain Crusher." This technique utilized chakra to unleash an attack like a massive laser beam, with tremendous power capable of instantly destroying a small mountain.
Yuto knew of this technique because he had once fought against the head of the Hyuga main family during the Warring States Period. The head of the Hyuga main family at that time was truly powerful, completely unlike the current head of the Hyuga clan.
The "Void Strike" that Yuto had taught Neji was derived from that Hyuga main family head's "Eight Trigrams - Mountain Crusher." While the two techniques appeared similar, they were fundamentally different.
"Truly impressive talent."
Yuto gazed toward the battlefield, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
In the center of the battlefield, only two people remained standing. One was Neji, the other was Tenten.
Tenten's expression showed some bewilderment. She hadn't expected Lee and Hyuga Seiju to be defeated so quickly.
"Tenten! Surrender!"
Might Guy's face filled with reluctance as he suddenly shouted toward Tenten.
Hearing Guy's voice, the bewildered expression on Tenten's face disappeared.
"Guy-sensei, Lee and Hyuga Seiju worked so hard. How could I just surrender!"
Tenten tightly gripped the chains in her hands, stomped hard on the ground, and charged toward Neji.
Watching Tenten rushing toward him, Neji's gaze suddenly became very calm.
Only when Tenten had closed to within three meters of Neji did he speak in a voice only she could hear:
"Thank you, Tenten."
Longsword Ninja Art - Ricochet!
A weak current of chakra rapidly flowed along the steel wire into the spine of the Longsword - Sewing Needle. In the next instant, the sword shot out like a compressed spring. In a heartbeat, the Longsword - Sewing Needle directly embedded itself into a point on Tenten's chest.
Tenten, who had been charging forward, suddenly felt her body go rigid, and then she completely collapsed.
Neji quickly retracted the steel wire in his hand, and the Longsword - Sewing Needle returned to his grasp.
Tenten, now lying on the ground, remained fully conscious despite her inability to move. Although Neji's strike had appeared to pierce her chest, it hadn't caused significant injury. It had only struck an acupoint, instan
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tly paralyzing Tenten's body.
Tenten lay stiffly on the ground, tears glistening in her eyes. She had naturally heard Neji's final words: "Thank you, Tenten."
Tenten also understood the meaning behind that gratitude. Neji was thanking her for not standing in his way when he defected.
But equally, within that gratitude, Tenten sensed a decisive farewell. From now on, they would truly be enemies.
On the other side, seeing the last member of Team 3 fall, Might Guy's eyes held an unprecedented sense of loss. The bond between Neji and Team 3... had completely ended.