Naruto: Passerby and Returnee

Chapter 77 So-called Fate

"That can't be..."

Hiashi Hyuga, sitting in the stands, was utterly astonished. Neji hadn't executed the entire Eight Trigrams Palm technique, but the Hyuga clan head, an expert in the art, could still discern many clues. He quickly deduced that Neji had mastered at least thirty-two palm strikes—a remarkable feat for a child his age. And then, his astonishment grew wave after wave. First, the main clan's secret technique, the Heavenly Rotation; then, the ability to quickly locate the enemy after using Heavenly Rotation; and finally, the missed palm strike just now.

The Eight Trigrams Empty Palm is indeed a secret technique that every member of the Hyuga clan can learn, but it consumes a great deal of chakra and requires a certain speed in punching. Logically, children of this age shouldn't be able to learn it. But Neji did it, and used it in actual combat! Even if a single palm strike only creates a splash, it's still a genuine Eight Trigrams Empty Palm!

"Is that a reversal of fate, Father?" Little Flower looked at the battle below in surprise. A child's observation skills are not as good as an adult's; she only saw the more dazzling moves.

"Yes, Hanabi." Hiashi was filled with emotion, and inevitably thought of his sacrificed younger brother. "You should watch carefully. Neji is stronger than your sister, and perhaps even you can't beat him."

A powerful pressure of chakra crashed down, but this time Naruto's eyes didn't turn red. His eyes remained a calm blue, but the burst of chakra created a gust of wind around him, forcefully pushing Neji away.

Neji's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked up again, for he clearly saw that Naruto had just released chakra from every part of his body! Moreover, that chakra wasn't in its original form; it transformed almost instantly upon leaving the body, creating the wind barrier that pushed him away. Having trained in the Rotation Technique, he knew all too well how difficult it was to release chakra from the entire body! The Hyuga clan had to rely on rotation to enhance their defense, compensating for the limited chakra regeneration of the Rotation Technique, while Naruto could perform a chakra attribute transformation, creating a "vacuum" zone with a radius of two meters while standing still!

"Such impulsiveness, that's not like you." Naruto was still smiling, even raising his hand to touch the spot where Neji had almost hit him. He seemed to be commenting on his opponent's mistakes while sparring, just like usual, but on this kind of field, it was tantamount to provocation.

Especially when facing Neji, who was both angry and anxious.

Neji hadn't won a single sparring match in private, but each time he felt he was just a hair's breadth away, so he constantly honed his skills to close that gap. But the next time they fought, he was still just a hair's breadth short, and this cycle repeated itself until today. Perhaps because of the different environment, his intense competitive spirit made Neji realize that his shortcomings weren't just a tiny bit. Naruto was so effortless, able to parry every move Neji made. Naruto was genuinely feeding him sparring to help him improve, a fact Neji had refused to acknowledge in the past.

Could it be... that losing to him was also fate? Just like that damned curse he could never escape?

"Neji." Naruto's voice entered his mind, carrying a strange magic, "Is this match different from usual?"

"Of course!" Neji replied, "Even if my fate was decided at birth, I will prove to everyone that no one in the so-called Hyuga main family is better than me!"

Ah... he said it out loud...

Naruto's smile faded slightly as he said, "You know what? The first time I met you, you looked at me with that all-knowing gaze. Even now, do you still believe that a person's fate is predetermined?"

"What do you know!" After being provoked several times, Neji finally tore off the fig leaf of the so-called great clan. He took off his headband, revealing a strange green pattern to everyone's eyes. "Do you see this? This is fate, the so-called fate of the branch family!"

The Byakugan, the bloodline of the Hyuga clan, is considered one of the easiest bloodlines to inherit in the entire ninja world. Therefore, countless people covet the Byakugan. To ensure its safety, the Hyuga clan cruelly divided itself into two halves: the main family and the branch family. The main family possesses the complete Byakugan abilities, while the branch family members are branded with the "Caged Bird Seal," a mark that determines their life or death, and are forced to live their entire lives protecting the main family.

When Neji was just old enough to understand, his father died in place of Hiashi Hyuga in a deal between Konoha and Kumogakure, simply because his father was born a little later than Hiashi and became a member of the branch family. The resentment in his heart never faded with time; the hatred etched into his bones drove him to train relentlessly, to become stronger with every effort. But what was the purpose of this strength? Defeating Hiashi was still too early, and Hinata… was just a timid yet strong girl; venting his resentment on her was pointless. Even now, besides becoming stronger, he hadn't truly figured out what he should be doing.

Neji's story was captivating enough that the entire hall listened in silence. However, for a large clan, the existence of the main family and branch families was never a secret, and these rumors were not enough to break the old system.

Naruto still remembered how much effort he and Hinata had put in to abolish the "Caged Bird Seal." In the end, the Hyuga clan gained more benefits, and among the prices they paid was... Hinata voluntarily relinquishing her right to inherit the Hyuga clan. He had thought more than once that it would be better if Neji were still alive, but Neji was forever frozen at eighteen, passing away in the prime of his life.

What did I say back then? Something like, "Once I become Hokage, I'll change this fate." How audacious! But at least I succeeded. This time, however, having weathered the trials of time, I want to see another possibility.

"I, who have no family, cannot comment on your situation, but... Neji, what has bound you is never the 'caged bird,' but yourself."

Neji was stunned, a surge of anger rising within him from feeling misunderstood. He roared furiously, "Didn't you understand? This curse renders me powerless against the main branch of the family..."

"So what?" Naruto looked at him calmly and said, "You should know how people other than you address me, right?"

The venue fell silent once again. Everyone in Konoha knew the answer to this question.

"I am a perceptive type, and I am particularly sensitive to malice. I am overwhelmed by malice wherever I go."

……what?

Children who experience pain from a young age are either extremely indifferent and numb, or possess a strong capacity for empathy; Neji was clearly the latter. He could hardly imagine how Naruto could go on with the life Naruto described. He himself would probably have collapsed long ago, so why could Naruto... still smile?

"But so what? Others' opinions have no right to define me. I am who I am, and I will only live according to my own expectations. If there really is such a thing as destiny, then it must be my own choice."

"I will weave my own destiny, never give up, and forge my own path!"