Bab 45: Clash of clan's part 2
As the match began, Neji and I rushed at each other, He moved to strike me with his fingertips. I countered, moving to slam my fist into his chest which he redirected. Neji's second strike aimed straight for a chakra point near my shoulder. I swayed to the side, feeling the rush of air as his hand missed by mere inches. The crowd's anticipation was palpable, a low murmur rising every time Neji's attacks nearly found their mark.
His next moves were a rapid succession of strikes, each faster and more dangerous than the last. I dodged most, but one hit landed, sending a sharp pain through my side as it disrupted my chakra flow.
The tapping of our feet rang on the stone as each of us tried to gain the upper hand. Neji's eyes never wavered, his gaze as piercing as the strikes he aimed at me. I had to keep up, had to anticipate his moves. I ducked another sweeping hand, and in the brief moment his guard was down, I countered.
My fist connected with his midsection, a solid hit, but Neji absorbed the impact with a grunt and while I had managed to push him back a few steps he rushed back at me closing the small gap I had made.
Our exchange grew more heated, sweat mingling with the dust kicked up around us. Neji's next move was swifter than I anticipated; he managed to strike another chakra point, this time closer to my spine. My legs buckled slightly, the disruption in my chakra flow making it harder to maintain balance.
Neji didn't wait for me to recover. He advanced, He dashed as he closed the gap with a few quick steps. His hand struck out again, aimed directly at my chest, a move that could drastically limit my mobility by sealing the main chakra points.
The hit landed with the force of a falling hammer, Neji's palm making solid contact with my chest. I gasped, the air knocked out of me, and I was flung a few feet away, as a wave of dizziness washed over me.
I stumbled back, planting my feet firmly to stop my retreat. Our eyes locked, and in that moment, the world narrowed down to just the two of us, He was good, Honestly, I didn't know what I was expecting but it wasn't this, he really was a genus. Neji paused, something I was going to take advantage of.
Neji's strike had left me gasping for air, but I couldn't let him see any weakness. As he advanced, I focused inward, feeling the release surge through me, forcing open the chakra points Neji had closed. My skin tingled, veins turning a deep, pulsating purple.
Neji's eyes widened slightly at the sight, his calm facade cracking just a bit. He activated his Byakugan, the veins around his own eyes bulging as his enhanced vision took in my transformed state. For a moment, he seemed taken aback by the sheer volume of my chakra that he could no doubt see.
I didn't give him time to react. Forming hand signs swiftly, I created several shadow clones. The arena seemed to shrink as the clones surrounded Neji.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu," I muttered, my voice echoed by the clones. We didn't waste a second, launching into a coordinated attack. Each clone went through the hand signs, preparing to unleash a barrage of fireballs.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" we shouted in unison. The clones exhaled, releasing a torrent of fireballs that arced through the air towards Neji. The heat from the flames was intense as the air shimmered.
Neji's expression turned serious as he realized the scale of the attack. He spun rapidly, chakra flowing outward from his body in a protective dome. "Eight Trigrams Palms rotation!" he called out, his voice steady. The spinning shield of chakra deflected the fireballs, scattering flames across the arena floor as they created small cracks where they had landed.
Smoke and dust filled the air, the heat from the deflected fireballs adding to the already stifling atmosphere. I wasn't going to give him any chances as I rushed in with body flicker, I saw Neji standing firm, his Byakugan still active, his eyes locked on me even through the dust and smoke.
He rushed to meet me head-on, striking first as I dodged and parried, but he managed to land another hit, this time on my left leg. The chakra disruption made my leg buckle slightly, but I forced myself to stay upright, pushing through the pain.
"Is that all you've got?" Neji taunted, his voice cold and calculating. "Your clan's techniques are nothing compared to the Hyūga."
I clenched my fists, the power of the Kure Release surging through me. "You talk too much," I shot back, my voice steady.
With a burst of speed, I closed the gap, launching a flurry of punches and kicks. Neji countered, his Byakugan allowing him to anticipate my moves. Our blows connected, each one sending shockwaves through my arm. The crowd watched in stunned silence, the intensity of our fight leaving them breathless.
Neji's attacks were relentless, but I matched him blow for blow, refusing to back down. I could see the frustration building in his eyes as he struggled to find an opening.
Finally, my clones moved in and helped me fight, pressing Neji from all sides. We coordinated our attacks, a mix of physical strikes and ninjutsu to keep him off balance.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" several of my clones shouted, launching blazing spheres of flame toward Neji. The fiery orbs arced through the air, their heat distorting the space around them.
Neji's Byakugan flared as he saw the incoming attacks. With swift, precise movements, he cut through the fireballs, The fireballs split in half, dissipating harmlessly into the air. Right, I had forgotten they could do that.
But we weren't done. As Neji dealt with the fireballs, my other clones had already prepared their next attack. "Water Style: Waterball Jutsu!" they called out, hurling spheres of water toward him.
Again, Neji's used his Byakugan and sliced through the waterballs with the same attack, neutralizing each attack. The arena floor became slick with water, steam rising where the remnants of fire and water clashed.
The pressure we put on him was relentless. Clones moved in, engaging Neji in close combat while others continued to launch ninjutsu from a distance.
Neji's breathing grew heavier, and his movements were slightly slower than before. He spun, using his Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven to deflect another round of attacks. The sheer force of his rotation sent my clones sprawling, their forms flickering before disappearing into puffs of smoke. From 12 my clones had dropped to 8.
I pressed forward, using the momentary distraction to close the distance. "You're stronger than I expected, but this isn't over," I muttered, my voice filled with the adrenaline of the fight. I launched a series of rapid punches, my clones mirroring my movements.
Neji, although visibly exhausted, was not defeated. he continued to fend off the relentless barrage from my clones. His eyes were sharp and focused intently on reducing my clone's number. I had taken a note from Naruto and had spread my Chakra between me and my clones from the start So Neji wouldn't know which was my main body.
One by one, my shadow clones dissipated under his targeted strikes, their numbers dwindling from eight to three. The crowd's reaction grew. He was finally tired and it was showing more, his breaths deep and labored.
Maybe it was scummy of me for taking my time and tiring him out but I was going to play this smart while showing off. Going through the needed Hand signs "Wind Style: Gale Palm!" I called out. My voice carried across the arena. The remaining clones mimicked my movements, our actions synchronizing to maximize the impact.
As we advanced, the energy around my fists gathered, swirling with the raw power of the wind. Neji's eyes widened slightly, his Byakugan tracking the building energy with a wariness that had not been there before. He positioned himself, ready to counter, what small amount remained of his chakra I doubted he would be able to do anything.
Neji braced and the arena holding its breath, the unexpected intervention came. I felt my clones being destroyed and suddenly found myself face-first into the ground. With a firm yet careful grip, they pinned me. "That's enough!" The referee commanded, their voice cutting through the tension like a knife. The arena, previously buzzing with the electric excitement of the fight, fell silent, the abrupt end to the match leaving a palpable void.
Slowly, as I was helped to my feet, the referee announced, "This match is concluded. Ayumi is declared the winner."
As I stood, catching my breath and regaining my composure, Neji was assisted by medical personnel, as he could barely move, maybe I had taken things too far. There was no exchange of looks or words between us; the battle had been too fierce.
The crowd, now released from the spell of the fight, erupted into cheers and discussions about the match's dramatic end. I walked back to my place among the competitors.
I made my way to rest beside Team 7, feeling the weight of every eye in the stands. Lets hope I showed off enough. "Heavens, that girl's got some fire in her," an older ninja remarked
In the crowd, murmurs swirled like a brewing storm. "Did you see that move? She nearly took the protege of the Hyūga clan Neji out for good!" one spectator exclaimed, a mix of shock and admiration in his voice. Another chimed in, "Yeah, but did she have to go that far? That was intense!"
Among Team 7, reactions were mixed. Naruto, ever the enthusiast, was pumped. "Wow, Ayumi is awesome! Those attacks were amazing," he said, his eyes wide with excitement. Kakashi, his visible eye crinkling, nodded slightly, seemingly impressed yet contemplative about the display of raw power.
Sakura, however, was less enthusiastic. Her arms crossed, she muttered under her breath, "She's just showing off. It's not that impressive." Her voice carried a hint of jealousy, her eyes avoiding mine as I sat down.
From the Sand Ninja's side, a chilling interest was sparked, particularly from Gaara. His eyes, cold and calculating, fixed on me as I settled down. "She's strong. I want to kill her," he whispered, a sinister smile playing on his lips. His siblings glanced at him, unease flickering across their faces, familiar with his dangerous moods.
Kankuro, trying to lighten the mood, joked nervously, "Maybe just stick to the exams, Gaara." But the comment did little to dispel the tension that Gaara's words had stirred.
Among the Hyūga clan, the reaction was less complimentary. "She may have won, but she is still beneath the Hyūga clan," one elder scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. "Her clan was always a step behind ours, and this match hasn't changed that."
Hiashi Hyūga, the clan head, watched with a critical eye. "She's strong but reckless. That will be her downfall if she's not careful."
Hinata, on the other hand, was a stark contrast to her clan's dismissive attitude. She was not the timid girl everyone might have expected. As my best friend and someone who harbored a fierce crush on me, her reaction was intense.
"She's amazing," Hinata muttered under her breath, her eyes gleaming with admiration and a hint of possessiveness. "No one stands a chance against her." Her sharp tongue was ready to lash out at anyone who dared to speak ill of me.
[ sorry for the short chapter running behind on my posts. please if you enjoyed comment or send me some power stones]
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