Disclaimer:
Naruto and all of its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
“Dialogue”
‘Thoughts’
-Author notes-
Chapter 14: The Last Stand
The crowd’s roar was deafening as Sho stepped into the arena.
He never expected to see the entire clan coming to watch two young boys fight; he had apparently been wrong.
Across from him, Neji stood motionless, his white eyes looking cold and assessing.
There was no warmth in that gaze…only calculation.
Only judgment.
Only the expectation of victory.
Sho felt the weight of the audience’s stares.
Hundreds of Hyuga clan members, packed into the tiered seating, their all-seeing eyes fixed on the two finalists.
The whispers rippled through the crowd like wind through grass.
“Shokuhi?
The sickly spare?”
“How did he make it to the finals?”
“He must have gotten lucky.
Twice.”
“Neji will destroy him.”
Sho forced himself to ignore the whispers.
He’d heard them his whole life.
They were nothing new.
And he knew they were wrong.
He was no longer that person.
But Neji’s voice cut through the noise, cold and precise.
“I didn’t expect to see you actually make it here.”
Sho met his cousin’s gaze.
“Neither did I.”
Neji’s eyes narrowed.
“You’ve improved significantly.
In just one month.”
“Training does that.”
“Training.” Neji’s voice was flat.
“You’ve been training for less than two months in your entire life.
I’ve been training for years.
And yet…” He paused, his expression unreadable.
“You’re standing across from me in the finals.”
“Surprised?”
“Curious.” Neji’s hands came up, settling into a combat stance.
“And you still dont have a chance against me.”
The elder walked into the arena and raised his hand.
“Begin!”
Neji moved as if he was a sharp blade cutting through a soft piece of silk.
There was no wasted movement, no unnecessary motion.
His body flowed from one stance to the next with the precision of someone who had trained for years to achieve perfection.
Sho barely saw the strike coming.
His body reacted on instinct, trying to avoid the attack, but Neji’s palm was too fast and caught his shoulder with surgical accuracy.
Sho felt his chakra point lock up immediately, his arm going numb.
That was one less chakra point.
“Fascinating,” Neji murmured, his voice cold and clinical.
There was no taunting in his tone, no smug satisfaction.
Just cold, analytical curiosity.
“A month ago, you couldn’t even maintain a proper guard.
Now you almost dodged that strike.”
Sho gritted his teeth, switching to his other side.
“I’ve been training.”
“Clearly.” Neji’s eyes narrowed.
“But training alone doesn’t explain this.
You’ve improved too quickly.
It’s unnatural.”
“You should know about unnatural,” Sho shot back.
“You’ve been called a genius your whole life.”
Neji’s expression flickered…something dark passed behind his eyes.
“The title of genius is something you need to earn.”
“Then maybe I’m earning my strength too.”
Neji’s lips curved into a cruel smile.
“We’ll see about that.”
The fight continued, and the gap between them became painfully clear.
Sho’s months of training were nothing compared to Neji’s years of dedication.
Every strike Sho attempted was blocked.
Every opening he saw was a trap.
Every movement he made was anticipated.
Neji’s attacks were relentless, each one aimed with precision at Sho’s chakra points.
His style was elegant and devastating…the Gentle Fist perfected through years of obsessive practice.
“Your form is improving,” Neji observed, landing another strike to Sho’s ribs.
“But your footwork is still sloppy.
You’re telegraphing your movements.”
“I’ll…
I’ll work on that.”
“You won’t get the chance.
This match is already over.” Neji’s position changed, and his byakugan flared up.
“Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms!
”
Neji’s hands blurred into motion, striking Sho’s body with absolute precision.
One.
Two.
Three.
Each blow targeted a chakra point, sealing it shut.
Sho felt his chakra flow stutter, then stop.
Four.
Five.
Six.
His right arm went numb.
His left leg gave out.
His chest locked up, his breathing becoming shallow.
Seven.
Eight.
Nine.
Sho collapsed to his knees, his body no longer responding to his commands.
And then, just as Neji was completing the technique, Sho felt a sharp crack in his ribs.
The pain was blinding, searing through his body.
He gasped, the air driven from his lungs.
Neji paused, his eyes studying Sho’s crumpled form.
“Your bones are weak,” he observed, his voice devoid of emotion.
“I felt them break.
The impact wasn’t even that strong.
Your body is poorly conditioned.”
“Working…
on it,” Sho managed through gritted teeth.
One of his several negative status effects was called Brittle Bones (Mild).
So yes, Neji wasn’t wrong when he said that his bones were weak.
Neji shook his head slowly.
“Foolish.
You knew you couldn’t win.
Why did you even try?”
“Because…” Sho forced the words out, his vision blurring.
“Because I had to…
prove something.”
The elder raised his hand, preparing to call the match.
But then…
[Quest Complete: Eyes of the Clan]
Objective: Perform well in the next clan tournament to demonstrate your growth.
Reward: 5,000 Experience Points
Passive Skill Unlocked: “Quick Learner”
Quick Learner: All skill experience gained from training and combat is increased by 15%.
[Level Up!
Level: 3 → 4
All injuries healed!
Stat Points Gained: 3]
The warmth spread through Sho’s body like a river breaking through a dam.
His broken ribs mended.
His chakra points reopened.
The pain vanished, replaced by a surge of energy.
Neji’s eyes widened.
He was seeing something impossible.
He’d seen it with his own Byakugan.
The broken ribs.
The sealed chakra points.
The damage was undeniable.
And now…
there was nothing.
Sho surged to his feet, his body moving faster than it ever had before.
He saw the opening…Neji’s momentary shock, his guard dropping for just a fraction of a second.
“Palm Bottom (Shōtei)!.” He used his best attack.
His palm connected with Neji’s chest, the impact jarring his arm.
Neji stumbled backward, his balance thrown off.
For a moment, just a moment, Sho saw something in his cousin’s eyes.
It wasnt fear or anger but something else instead…confusion.
Pure confusion.
“How…” Neji’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“Your ribs were broken.
Your chakra points were sealed.
I saw it.
With my Byakugan.”
“I got better,” Sho said, his voice ragged.
Neji’s eyes narrowed.
“Impossible!.”
“Apparently not.”
But the moment didn’t last.
Neji recovered from his shock with terrifying speed.
His foot connected with Sho’s head, and the world exploded into pain.
Sho felt himself flying backward, his body slamming into the ground.
His vision swam, his ears ringing.
‘No…
I can’t…
I can’t…’
He tried to stand, but his body wouldn’t cooperate.
His legs trembled, his arms went numb, and his vision began to blur at the edges.
Neji stood over him.
“You’re a mystery,” He said quietly.
“A month ago, you were nothing.
Justs a weak, sick and pathetic boy.
And now…” He paused, something flickering behind his eyes.
“Now, you’re something else entirely.”
Sho tried to respond, but the words wouldn’t come.
The elder raised his hand.
“Winner: Hyuga Neji.”
The crowd erupted in applause.
Sho lay on the ground, staring up at the sky, his body broken but his heart full.
He could not have hoped for a better result.
He smiled, the darkness closing in.
‘I did my best.’ He knew he couldn’t win against his cousin.
The gap was too wide.
But…
‘Next time…it will be different.’ Sho thought as the darkness covered his vision.
<><>
He woke to the gentle light of the morning filtering through the paper screens of the room.
His head throbbed, a dull ache that pulsed with every heartbeat.
His body felt heavy, his limbs uncooperative.
‘Where am I?’
He blinked, his vision slowly focusing into the familiar ceiling of his room.
The soft futon beneath him.
The gentle scent of cherry blossoms from the garden outside.
And Hinata, sitting beside him, a book open in her lap.
“Sho-kun!” Her voice was a gasp of relief.
“You’re awake!”
She dropped the book, rushing to his side.
Her hands were on his face, his forehead, his cheeks, checking for fever, for injury, for any sign that he was still unwell.
“I’m…
I’m okay,” he managed, his voice rough.
“What happened?”
“You collapsed after the match,” Hinata said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“Neji hit you too hard!.
You were unconscious for almost a full day.
I was so worried.”
“A full day?”
“The healer said you had a concussion.
A bad one.
He said you should rest for at least a week.”
Sho tried to sit up, but the world spun.
He collapsed back onto the futon, groaning.
“Maybe…
maybe I should rest.”
“I told you.” Hinata smiled, though there was worry in her eyes.
“You never listen to me.”
“Only when it’s convenient.”
A soft knock at the door.
A servant entered, bowing.
“The healer is here to check on Shokuhi-sama.”
Hinata nodded.
“Let him in.”
The elderly healer entered, his expression as perpetually worried as ever.
He knelt beside Sho, his ancient eyes scanning his patient’s face.
“Shokuhi-sama.
How do you feel?”
“Like I was kicked in the head by a horse.”
The healer nodded grimly.
“That’s not far from the truth.
You received a powerful blow to the skull.
I was concerned about internal bleeding.”
He pressed cool fingers to Sho’s forehead, then his neck, then his chest.
A small device appeared in his hand…a chakra sensor, similar to the one Ryo had used.
“Hmm.”
“What is it?” Hinata asked, her voice tight with worry.
The healer shook his head slowly.
“Nothing.
He is perfectly fine.
The concussion is very mild….honestly, when I examined you yesterday, I thought the injuries were going to be much worse after taking such a beating, but…no, you are in decent shape.
Just make sure to rest.”
Sho knew that the healer was not wrong.
Neji had at least broken a few of his ribs and likely cause a few dozen bruises all over his body.
But the System had completely heal him after leveling up.
‘No wonder Neji was so shocked…and he was probably not the only one.
‘ He was just starting to understand how powerful that ability was.
Thought still made no sense how such a thing ended up in his hands.
‘What a mystery…’
“Thank you,” Hinata said.
“He will rest.
I’ll make sure of it.”
The healer packed up his equipment, shaking his head.
” I recommend rest.
At least two days of complete inactivity.
No training.
No exertion.
Just rest.”
He bowed and left the room.
Hinata was about to say something when the door slid open again.
“Father?!.” Hinata exclaimed.
Hiashi Hyuga stood in the doorway, his face as cold and unreadable as ever.
His eyes swept over Sho as if he was assessing his condition.
“Hinata.
Leave us.”
Hinata’s eyes flickered with concern.
“But Father-”
“Leave.
Now.”
She hesitated, then rose, squeezing Sho’s hand once before leaving.
The door slid shut behind her.
Sho met his father’s gaze, his heart pounding.
‘Here it comes.
He’s going to demand answers from me.
He is going to ask me how I managed to heal so fast…what am I going to tell him?.’ Sho thought.
He obviously could not mention the system.
He kept this a secret from Hinata because he didn’t think she would understand it, and his father was even less likely to do so.
Hiashi stepped closer, his shadow falling over Sho’s futon.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
The silence stretched between them, heavy and oppressive.
Then Hiashi finally said something.
“Have you been hiding your true talent?”
Sho blinked.
“What?”
Hiashi’s eyes narrowed.
“You were dying.
Less than two months ago, you were on the brink of death.
And now I see you fighting in the clan’s tournament finals, defeating Hanabi and standing against Neji on equal footing.”
“I didn’t fight him on equal footing.
He destroyed me.”
“You dont seem destroyed to me…” Hiashi had a knowing look on his face.
Sho said nothing.
“Is there something you wish to tell me?.” Hiashi asked.
“No,” Sho responded was flat and defininve.
If he was going to share his secrets with someone, it was not going to be this man.
Not with the father who had wished he died as to not burden the clan.
Not with father no never cared for him, not even once.
Hiashi stared at him for a long moment.
Then, slowly, he nodded.
“I see.”
He turned and walked toward the door.
But he paused at the threshold, his back to Sho.
“You fought well,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“You lasted longer than anyone expected and…you made the clan proud.”
And then he was gone.
Sho lay in his futon, staring at the closed door.
A tear escaped down his cheek.
[Status Update – End of Chapter 14]
Name: Hyuga Shokuhi
Level: 4 (↑ from 3)
Title: The Unbreakable
Stats:
Strength: 6
Agility: 6
Vitality: 6
Perception: 6
Chakra Capacity: 5
Chakra Control: 5
Available Stat Points: 3 (from Level Up)
Status Effects:
Chakra Vein Constriction (Mild) – Permanent
Brittle Bones (Mild) – Permanent
Byakugan Inefficiency – Permanent
Passive Skills:
Endurance: Intermediate (Level 1) – Your body has adapted to sustained physical stress beyond normal limits.
When activated, you may temporarily ignore pain and fatigue effects for a short duration.
Shuriken Throw: Novice (Level 6) – Increases accuracy when throwing shuriken and kunai by 35%.
Analytical Eye (NEW) – Your perception has sharpened through combat observation.
During a battle, you can identify your opponent’s physical weak points and attack patterns 15% faster.
Active Skills:
Clone Technique: Novice (Level 2) – Creates two tangible illusions of the user.
Clones have no substance but are visually identical.
Gentle Fist: Novice (Level 9) – Basic understanding of Hyuga Gentle Fist techniques.
Strikes are still clumsy and imprecise.
Basic techniques mastered: Palm Bottom (Shōtei).
Desperate Strike – A last-resort attack performed when the user is on the brink of collapse.
Only usable when health is below 10%.