People in Demon Slayer: The Journey That Began with Demon Slayer

As long as Neji continues to use the Rotation Technique, these chakra-connected threads will slow down the Rotation Technique until it stops by wrapping around him.

Neji is now completely entangled in threads that prevent him from moving. These threads contain chakra, making them incredibly tough and impossible to break free from easily.

"Gentle Fist Technique? One Strike to the Body!"

Neji extracted a large amount of chakra in one go, and then exerted a sudden force, snapping all the threads with the powerful, gentle force.

Neji was already panting heavily; the Rejuvenation Technique had consumed a large amount of chakra, and he was about to be exhausted.

In contrast, Sasuke's breathing was steady, and he was in no different state from before the battle.

Sasuke gripped his katana, but instead of using the Thunder Breathing sword technique, he chose to engage Neji in close combat using ordinary swordsmanship.

The instant Sasuke stepped into the attack range, Neji once again assumed the Gentle Fist stance.

"Gentle Fist Technique? Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"

Neji launched a fierce attack on Sasuke, who was within the range of the Eight Trigrams.

Every attack was aimed at Sasuke's pressure points.

After unleashing all sixty-four palm strikes, Neji took a deep breath, leaped backward, and distanced himself from Sasuke.

Such a fierce battle drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.

But Neji's face showed no joy, only bitterness.

Because his Bagua Sixty-Four Palms all missed.

Sasuke, relying on his Sharingan and speed, dodged the palm strike the instant it landed on him.

It was only because Sasuke was too fast that it appeared to others that Neji had successfully hit Sasuke.

Sasuke closed his eyes, savoring the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms technique he had just used.

As Neji unleashed the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, his Byakugan locked onto Sasuke, and a gentle force continuously pulled Sasuke, drawing him towards Neji's attack.

Sasuke has gained some insight and has a general direction for improving the sword form of Lightning Breathing.

The weakness of Thunder Breathing is that all attacks are in a straight line. Although the direction can be changed by using the terrain, it is still a straight line.

If, like the Gentle Fist of the Hyuga clan, one's attacks attract the target like a magnet, then this weakness in the straight line direction is mitigated.

However, Sasuke has only obtained the direction so far; how to implement it is still unknown.

Neji was panting heavily; his stamina was nearing its limit.

To thank Neji for his efforts, Sasuke suggested, "Just admit defeat; you have no chance of winning."

Neji did not choose ninjutsu, but instead removed his headband.

"I've always lived in a cage, destined from birth to serve the main family for life, without any freedom. I attribute all my misfortunes to fate; I dare not resist, nor can I resist fate..."

Looking at the seal on Neji's forehead, Sasuke frowned: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Neji looked at Sasuke with envy: "I envy you, Uchiha Sasuke. Konoha is a cage for your Uchiha clan, but you broke free from fate and escaped the cage. From the day I learned about it, I also wanted to break free from the cage that bound me, just like you."

Neji once again adopted the Gentle Fist stance.

"Come on, Sasuke Uchiha. A bird confined in a cage is not afraid of death, but it is afraid of one day losing its desire for freedom, losing its courage to fly, and losing its resistance to the cage. That is the most tragic thing."

Sasuke fell silent; he sensed Neji's will.

Even in death, a bird trapped in a cage still yearns to fly out.

Chapter 309 The Plan Is About to Begin

The conversation between Neji and Sasuke was drowned out by the bustling crowd.

However, a large number of ninjas still heard their conversation.

The main and branch families of the Hyuga clan require their children to serve the main family from birth, and they are imprinted with the Caged Bird Seal, their lives and deaths controlled by the main family.

In the Hyuga clan, the branch family members are essentially servants of the main family.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was grim. Although this was a matter within the Hyuga clan, the Hyuga clan was, after all, the largest ninja clan in Konoha.

However, this cruel hierarchical system occurred in Konoha, and specifically in the Hyuga clan, the largest ninja clan in the area.

This might lead others to believe that the entire Hidden Leaf Village operates under such a cruel hierarchical system.

At a time when Konoha desperately needs diplomacy, this is tantamount to adding a new wound to an old one.

Hiruzen Sarutobi also opposed this hierarchical system.

He advocates a policy where anyone with ability can be given important positions. This cruel hierarchical system might bury many talented ninjas, like Neji in the present.

However, Konoha is composed of ninja clans of varying sizes, and even the Hokage cannot interfere in their internal affairs.

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt great sympathy for Neji's plight, but there was nothing he could do to change it.

Jiraiya was in the same boat; he was powerless to change the situation.

Moreover, Jiraiya realized that Neji was seeking death this time.

After Tsunade stabilized Lee's injuries, she returned to the venue.

Jiraiya solemnly pleaded, "Tsunade, I may need your help again later."

Tsunade asked in surprise, "What is it now?"

Jiraiya told Tsunade what had just happened.

Tsunade slammed her fist on the wall beside her in anger, instantly smashing a large hole in it: "What happened to Konoha? Why has it become like this?!"

Jiraiya patted Tsunade on the shoulder and comforted her, "Let's talk about everything after the Chunin Exams. Everyone is watching Konoha right now, and as the host, we can't lose our composure."

In the field.

Neji was ready: "Uchiha Sasuke, come on! Let me see the power of the Uchiha!"

Sasuke lowered his head slightly: "I acknowledge your will. So, as you wish, let me show you the true power of the Uchiha."

The moment Sasuke raised his head, the three-tomoe Sharingan in his eyes transformed into the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Upon seeing the Mangekyou Sharingan, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others stood up in disbelief, recalling the night of the massacre and the terror of being dominated by the Mangekyou Sharingan of Fugaku and Itachi Uchiha.

They hadn't expected that Sasuke would also awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Jiraiya's body tensed, ready to rush down and save people at any moment.

Upon seeing Sasuke's Mangekyou Sharingan, Neji felt its unparalleled power, and his body trembled involuntarily.

The Sharingan of the Uchiha clan and the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan have always been compared.

However, the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan has no potential for growth and cannot be compared with the Sharingan at all.

Neji's trembling wasn't due to fear, but rather excitement. He had always heard about the Uchiha's Mangekyou Sharingan, and today he finally witnessed it firsthand.

"So this is the ultimate power of the Uchiha clan. I never thought I would be able to experience it myself at the last moment. This is truly wonderful."

Sasuke gripped his katana with both hands and looked directly at Neji in front of him: "May you find freedom in the future, Hyuga Neji."

"Fire Release: Kagutsuchi!"

Sasuke controls the shape and form of Amaterasu's black flames, attaching them to his weapons to enhance their power.

Sasuke lowered his body slightly, assuming a stance for drawing his sword.

"Thunder Breathing? First Form? Thunderclap Flash? Divine Speed!"

A fleeting, exquisite moment.

Because of Amaterasu's black flames, the blue lightning turned into an eerie black.

A black lightning bolt flashed by.

When everyone finally found Sasuke, he was already behind Neji, sheathing his katana.

Neji had a penetrating wound in his chest, but no blood was flowing out.

Because the Amaterasu Black Flame was constantly burning the wound and spreading in all directions.

Neji collapsed to the ground.

Before Genma Shiranui could announce the result, Sasuke had already walked off the field.

Jiraiya and Might Guy have already rushed into the field.

Might Guy looked at the flames on Neji's chest and tried to extinguish them, but Jiraiya stopped him.

"Don't touch it! This flame won't go out until the target is completely burned!"

Matt Kai was extremely anxious, but he was also at a loss.

Jiraiya took out a blank scroll, bit his finger, and formed hand seals.

"Fire Sealing Seal!"

The Amaterasu black flames attached to Neji were drawn into the scroll as if attracted by a magnet.

Tsunade immediately began treating Neji's injuries.

After initial treatment, Neji's chest wound, though horrific, did not reach any vital organs.

Neji used all his strength to look in the direction Sasuke had left. Despite his crushing defeat, there was a hint of astonishment and longing in Neji's eyes.

As Sasuke sheathed his katana after using Thunder Flash, he said something to Neji.

"If you're still alive, come find me in Yangyan Village. I'll find a way to break the seal on the Caged Bird."

As Neji was lifted onto a stretcher and sent for treatment, Genma Shiranui also remembered his duty.

"The winner is Uchiha Sasuke!"

The audience erupted in applause.

Each of the three matches was more exciting than the last.

They even witnessed the strongest Mangekyou Sharingan of the Uchiha clan, making the trip worthwhile.

Because the entire battlefield was severely damaged, a break had to be taken to allow for some basic repairs.

Meanwhile, Naruto and Kimimaro, who had infiltrated Konoha, were about to begin their plan.

"Naruto, the man next to the red-haired girl in the first row of the stands over there is Ubuyashiki Yosuke!"