Reborn into Naruto World with Tenseigan

Neji gasped for breath, his chest rising and falling with each labored inhalation. As Kuroto had predicted, Neji had depleted most of his chakra while attempting that incomplete ninjutsu. At this point, he was left with little chakra, and facing numerous Shadow Clones of Naruto would be a daunting task.

Despite his exhaustion, Neji shifted his gaze to the Judge’s panel. There, at the center, sat Kuroto, observing the duel with a composed expression. However, Neji detected a hint of anticipation in Kuroto’s eyes, as if he were eagerly awaiting something.

Neji remained unaware of the exact nature of that anticipation. However, he was certain of one thing: “Losing would not only disappoint Itachi-Sensei and Otou-sama but also Kuroto-Sensei.” This was something Neji was determined to avoid.

Simultaneously, Naruto directed his gaze towards Kuroto among the judges. A similar sentiment echoed in his mind. Naruto felt an even stronger motivation not to lose. As the disciple of Konoha’s Hokage, he believed it was imperative to secure the top spot among the academy graduates. Failing to do so would, in his eyes, tarnish the name of the Hokage’s disciple.

This straightforward thought transformed the demeanor of both trainees, intensifying their focus. It was as if everything around them had faded away, and their sole attention was fixed on the goal ahead.

…

“This is… interesting,” Kuroto muttered in surprise, leaning forward.

As the object of admiration for the two boys, Kuroto naturally observed the shifts in their temperament. Both Neji and Naruto had grasped that they were no longer mere academy trainees vying for good scores. At this juncture, they were rivals—rivals striving to surpass each other in performance. This change in mindset acted as the catalyst, transforming them from trainees into genuine shinobi.

Kuroto wasn’t the sole observer of this transformation. Other seasoned and formidable shinobi also took note of the change in Neji and Naruto’s demeanor. Whether it was Elder Hiruzen, Elder Koharu, Tsunade-hime, or Jiraiya, all of them expressed surprise, leaning forward to closely scrutinize every detail.

Jiraiya went so far as to comment, “Suddenly, I see the shadow of Minato in Naruto.” Elder Hiruzen, chuckling while dangling his pipe, added, “Strange, isn’t it? I suddenly saw the shadow of Shodaime-sama in Naruto.”

Tsunade nodded in agreement, stating, “Yes,” and revealing that she, too, saw a shadow of her late lover Dan in Naruto. She further remarked, “It appears that Naruto’s potential is far greater than we assumed.”

The others concurred, acknowledging the unexpected depth of Naruto’s abilities.

Elder Koharu pointed out, “But don’t overlook that boy of the Hyuga Clan. The techniques he used earlier, and that last Ninjutsu he employed to destroy all those Shadow Clones created by Uzumaki Naruto… Although that Ninjutsu was clearly incomplete, if could be completed and perfected, it would be an extremely powerful Ninjutsu!”

“Hyuga Neji, huh?” muttered Elder Hiruzen. He continued, saying, “It seems we have another talented Hyuga. Following in the footsteps of Kuroto-kun, he too has started to deviate from the traditional Hyuga techniques. This Hyuga boy… regardless of the outcome of this battle, I have a feeling that he will become an amazing shinobi, just like his Sensei.”

No one disagreed with Elder Hiruzen’s words.

…

In the heat of battle, Neji, realizing his dwindling chakra reserves, abandoned his defensive stance and opted for an aggressive approach against Naruto.

“Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!”

Confronting Neji’s relentless assault, Naruto didn’t remain passive. He swiftly generated several dozen Shadow Clones and actively joined the close-quarters combat, utilizing his duplicates.

Poof! Poof! Bang! Bang! Bang! Poof! Bang!

The two clashed, with Neji’s strikes often landing on Naruto’s Shadow Clones, resulting in their dispersal. However, there were moments when Neji found himself overwhelmed by the sheer number of duplicates, sustaining injuries as Naruto’s attacks successfully landed.

Compared to the previous flashy fight that involved a lot of Ninjutsu and large-scale attacks, this current battle may not be as visually impressive, but it’s more intense because the direction of the fight is hard to discern. At times, Neji gains the upper hand, while at other times, the advantage shifts to Naruto’s side. Overall, it’s a challenging and prolonged battle—well beyond the one-minute and even the two-minute mark—with no clear indication of a victor or loser.

Frankly, nobody wants this intense battle to end prematurely. Neji, with his evident skill and experience, holds an edge, but he’s rapidly depleting his chakra reserves. The longer the fight persists, the more disadvantageous it becomes for him due to this depletion. On the other hand, Naruto, though less skilled and experienced, possesses raw power and tactics to keep Neji engaged, effectively buying time until Neji exhausts his chakra reserves.

If Neji manages to identify the real Naruto amid the sea of Shadow Clones, the match could conclude in a single move. However, it’s not as easy as others might think, as Naruto is playing smart. He consistently ensures that he doesn’t expose himself, understanding that revealing his true self would result in a loss. Even the typically bratty and obnoxious Naruto remains silent, avoiding any unnecessary exposure.

As time ticks away, Neji’s movements gradually slow down as he continues to eliminate more Shadow Clones. Simultaneously, the number of Shadow Clones Naruto can create diminishes with each iteration, indicating that Naruto is also running low on chakra.

“Haah… haah… poof not much is left…” Neji mutters as he destroys another Shadow Clone.

“Neji!” Naruto shouted as another Rasengan took form in his hands. Unlike previous attempts, this time he didn’t need the help of Shadow Clones to create the Rasengan. “This is my final attack! I’m going to use everything in this attack to defeat you!”

“Haah Final attack, huh?” Neji muttered, a fierce smile appearing on his face. “Looks like both of us are at the final stage, huh? I don’t have much chakra left either.” He began gathering all the chakra he could in the palm of his dominant hand. “It’s going to be my final attack as well.”

Not one for flashy moves, Neji usually preferred careful planning and waiting. However, in this moment, his blood was boiling, and he wanted to unleash a powerful attack. “Bring it on then! I too will use everything in this attack and defeat you!”

Neji drew every ounce of chakra from his body, concentrating it in the Tenketsu of his palms, forming a chakra blade around his hand. “Eight Trigrams: Ocean Splitter!”

Both Neji and Naruto locked eyes and dashed towards each other for the final blow.

Approaching each other with determined shouts of their names, “Neji!” “Naruto!” they leaped higher.

Naruto, with his Rasengan, and Neji, with his Ocean Splitter, clashed in mid-air.

BOOM!

A massive explosion erupted at the collision point between Rasengan and Ocean Splitter. The ground crumbled, and dust and smoke engulfed the battlefield, obscuring everyone’s vision.

Hizashi stared intently at the battlefield, his sweaty hands clenched tightly. The clash between Neji and Naruto had nearly reached its climax. Both combatants were injured and running low on chakra reserves, making it a moment where either side could emerge victorious. The outcome hinged on this final exchange.

All eyes were fixed on the battlefield—trainees, spectators, instructors, shinobi, and villagers alike. Everyone watched the duel with bated breath.

As the dust and smoke gradually cleared, the referee declared the result, “Both Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuga Neji have lost consciousness. The result is a draw!”

One by one, everyone stood up and applauded the incredible battle between Naruto and Neji.