Naruto: Starting from Eating the Gold Fruit

Chapter 553 Neji VS Naruto

[Title Page Story:]

Mizukage's Office, Kirigakure:

Mei Terumi frowned as she looked at the documents in her hand, when there was a knock on the door.

Terumi Mei: Enter.

Two figures, one large and one small, walked in from outside.

Mei Terumi looked up and asked, "Zabuza, is this the brat you were talking about?"

Zabuza nodded: That's right, his name is Haku, he's exactly 15 years old this year, which meets the registration requirements, and he has the Ice Release bloodline limit, so his strength is not bad. Next year, our Hidden Mist Village will definitely be able to get a very good ranking.

Mei Terumi looked at Zabuza, thought for a moment, and couldn't help but ask, "If you're 15 this year, how old will you be next year?"

Zabuza was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he meant: "16 next year! Uh... so Haku can't participate?"

Mei Terumi glanced at Zabuza and thought to herself how lucky she was that she hadn't just taken him down; she'd been so foolish.

She glanced at Shiro again, and after thinking for a long time, Mei Terumi raised her head and said seriously, "He's not 15 years old this year, he's 14, understand?"

Zabuza and Haku stared in disbelief at Mei Terumi's serious expression...

Are all people who act like shadows this shameless?!

……

In the inner city of Konoha, on the training ground of the Ninja Academy:

Hyuga Neji crossed his arms and looked at Naruto in front of him, coldly saying, "I really didn't expect you to actually dare to come!"

Naruto, hands in his pockets and looking nonchalant, said, "Stop talking nonsense. What do you want from me that you called me here in such a hurry?"

As the two confronted each other on the playground, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, Yamanaka Ino, Tenten, Rock Lee, Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and others watched from the sidelines.

(Shino Aburame: So I'm waiting for someone?)

The Konoha 12 were so busy with Sakura's studies that they had no time to come to the hospital after Sakura graduated and went straight to work as an intern.

Sasuke didn't come because he wasn't interested in the fight between the two—well, actually it was because Itachi was taking him to training today, and Sasuke compared the two and felt it would be better to train with his brother—so he didn't come.

Most of the others who were friends with Naruto or Neji are listed here.

"Go, Neji! Defeat Naruto too, and you'll be the strongest of the younger generation!" Tenten started stirring things up without holding back.

Neji's lips twitched slightly. To be honest, he had absolutely no interest in the title of the strongest among the younger generation.

The reason he came to cause trouble for Naruto was entirely because...

"Naruto! I'm asking you, what do you really think of Hinata?!" Neji didn't hesitate any longer and pointed at Naruto, preemptively questioning him.

Naruto looked puzzled, turned to look at Hinata standing by the edge of the playground, and after thinking for a moment, said, "Hinata is of course my friend. What's wrong? You're acting strange today. What happened?"

Neji gritted his teeth as he looked at Naruto's innocent expression. He said hatefully, "Hinata-sama is so heartbroken because of you, and you still have this indifferent attitude? What do you take Hinata for?!"

Naruto was confused, and frowned at Neji, asking, "What are you talking about?"

Neji pointed at Naruto and shouted, "I'm asking you, are you getting married?!"

Naruto's previously furrowed brows immediately turned into a look of utter bewilderment upon hearing this. After a long pause, Naruto could only express his confusion with a single interjection: "Huh?!"

Neji clenched his fist tightly: "Stop pretending! Not only are you getting married, but the bride isn't even a rich girl!"

Naruto was completely dumbfounded.

He then turned to look at Hinata beside him.

Hinata blushed and avoided his gaze.

"You're so despicable! You won't accept the young lady, yet you're stringing her along like this! Naruto! I challenge you to a duel!"

Seeing Neji's furious expression, Naruto quickly reached out to stop him: "Wait, wait, Neji! Is there some kind of misunderstanding?!"

Neji waved his hands wildly: "What misunderstanding could there be?! You're choosing the young lady?!"

Naruto never expected Neji to mean that, and he quickly explained, "I, I... I meant that we're still young. Shouldn't we wait until we're adults, at least 18, to do these kinds of things?!"

Neji roared, "Stop spouting nonsense! Are you going to agree or not?!"

Naruto sighed, "You can't force me..."

Neji had reached his limit. He gathered chakra in his palm and formed a tiger's head, then charged directly at Naruto.

Naruto took a step back, dodging the attack while extending his hand to form hand seals:

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

A dozen or so Narutos immediately appeared on the scene.

"So it really is a shadow clone?! Hmph! That kind of technique won't work on me!"

As he spoke, the muscles around Neji's eyes immediately furrowed.

He used his eye roll.

"Go, Neji! Teach Naruto a lesson!" Tenten exclaimed excitedly.

Li, standing to the side, looked speechless: "Tenten, why are you so agitated? Did Naruto offend you?"

Tian Tian chuckled, "The duel between Neji and Sasuke last time made me a lot of money, so of course I have to thank Neji."

Xiao Li's eyes widened: "What?! You actually gathered a group of people together every day...!"

"Shh! Shh! Don't shout so loudly!"

As she spoke, Tenten glanced cautiously at Hinata.

Lee also tilted his head and looked at Hinata.

In fact, all the other ninjas looked at Hinata.

After all, Hinata is Neji's sister, and apart from Naruto, everyone else here could more or less sense Hinata's feelings for Naruto.

Neji standing up for his sister aligns with the values ​​of many people, as many with younger siblings believe that older brothers (or sisters) should take care of their younger siblings.

Naruto's disregard for Hinata's feelings and his preparation to marry someone else is, undeniably, very strange to these people.

Hinata looked at the two who were now fighting each other at close range with a worried expression. She wanted to rush forward and stop them and shout: Stop fighting!

However, being a soft-hearted person, she ultimately didn't dare to do it.

After all, she and Naruto...

Strictly speaking, apart from being classmates, we have no other relationship whatsoever.

Although……

Naruto just said she was his friend...

But what she wanted to be was never just an ordinary friend...

Naruto and Neji continued fighting while he asked, "So what's wrong with you today?! Why are you acting so strange today? What happened?!"

Naruto truly knew nothing, after all, it was the one who spread the rumors...

It was Neji...

Neji ignored everything and attacked Naruto directly.

Naruto frowned, then spoke in a deep voice, "Although I don't know exactly what happened... it's not impossible to ask you slowly after I beat you down. Come on, Kurama! Lend me some of your power!"

While playing a game in the mental space inside Naruto's body, he casually plucked a few fox furs from his own body and threw them out of the sealed space.

"Take it, don't bother me, this is my Platinum 1 promotion match! I'll be Diamond soon!"

(End of this chapter)