Second Chance | COTE x Naruto

Chapter 15

The two Hyuuga stood ten meters apart, facing each other with different expression on their faces. Hinata was having a smug smile. She was full of confidence. Because of that, Neji was having the face of anger.

"The second battle of the second round, begin!"

Wasting no time, with byakugan active, Neji dashed forward. His hatred was apparent. He could no longer maintain a calm mind. Frustration, anger, and hatred had consumed him whole. Nevertheless, Hinata's smug smile didn't falter. Her byakugan also came to life.

Utilizing the renowned Gentle Fist, taijutsu style unique only to Hyuuga Clan, Neji attacked furiously. Hinata, without wiping her smug smile away, avoided each of Neji's strike effectively. She didn't counter attack even if there was an opening to do so.

"Hey, is it just me who thinks that Hinata has become way too scary?"

That question came out of Yamanaka Ino's mouth. She stood next to Sakura, watching the fight from the second floor. Almost all genins were there as well, excluding those who didn't make it to the building---or those who were taken by the medic-nin.

"You are not the only one," commented Sakura. "The Hinata I know was a shy and timid person. She was as soft as butterfly. But the current Hinata is a menace. She is...scary, indeed."

"Scary? Hinata is damn frightening!" muttered Kiba just barely above the whisper. "I can no longer count how many times she almost kill me. That girl is the devil!"

Meanwhile, Kushida stood next to Hirata and whispered: "Don't you think that Hyuuga Hinata's smile and her way of laughing resemble Sakayanagi-san, Hirata-kun? What do you think? Is it possible for Sakayanagi-san to, unlike us, reincarnated with a new appearance?"

Hirata narrowed his eyes at the princess of the Hyuuga Clan.

Back then, he wasn't close with Sakayanagi Arisu. They hadn't even talk at all. So, he honestly couldn't say anything in this regard. But if Kushida thought so, since she knew a lot of people in the school, perhaps there was a chance that girl down there to be the one and only Sakayanagi Arisu.

"Should we approach her and find out?" he whispered back. "But wait, if she is indeed Sakayanagi-san, she should be aware about us, right? Wouldn't she have approached us if she is indeed Sakayanagi-san?"

Kushida, Hirata, and Ike were classmates in Konoha Ninja Academy. They met for the first time when they were six, more than seven years ago. Upon seeing each other, they immediately approached each other to confirm the truth.

It was comforting knowing they were not the only one to be thrusted into this bizzare shit known as "reincarnation". And so, logically speaking, Sakayanagi Arisu would also act the same way if she saw them---regardless if her appearance changed.

"Now that you mention it, perhaps you are right. If she is Sakayanagi-san, she would definitely approach us."

Even though she said that, Kushida had her doubt. Her intuition told her that her assumption was spot on. Sakayanagi Arisu had been reincarnated as Hyuuga Hinata. She just needed to find another clue to prove it.

Back on the arena floor, Neji gritted his teeth in frustration and started to gather more chakra in his fingers. Then he took a few steps back and performed a certain stance. "I'll show you the true gap between us!" he yelled and once again rushed toward Hinata.

"Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms?" questioned Hinata as she blocked each jab of the older Hyuuga's fingers. Her fingers were covered by lightning chakra.

Neji definitely didn't expect that. Everytime Hinata blocked his jab with her own, his fingers felt numb. The more they fingers hit each other, the worse he felt. And gradually, he felt pain. It was like his fingers were about to break.