As Neji's Eight Trigrams formation unfolded, Heavenly Dao felt a faint sense of threat; it was as if an invisible Eight Trigrams seal had appeared beneath his feet, restricting his movements.
'Is this the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms?' Heavenly Dao appeared calm on the surface, but he was internally bewildered.
'Shouldn't Hyuga Neji only master this move after graduation? Did he have a breakthrough during the battle?'
By now, Neji's Eight Trigrams Palms had already been unleashed. His palms moved so fast they were mere afterimages, his speed increasing several times over as he aimed directly for Heavenly Dao's acupoints.
Palm after palm struck out like raindrops toward Heavenly Dao. Though surprised, Heavenly Dao did not lose his composure.
'I was only using seventy percent of my strength just now. It seems I'll have to go all out.'
Heavenly Dao quickly mobilized his Chakra, using his immense power to resist the constraints of the Eight Trigrams formation. His mastery of Konoha Style Taijutsu and the extraordinary insight granted by his Uchiha Clan bloodline merged perfectly at that moment.
As the insights of Konoha Style Taijutsu flowed through his mind, Heavenly Dao keenly sensed that Neji's offensive could not be sustained.
'Win by defending; if I can hold out, I'll win.'
The situation played out exactly as he expected. After a series of relentless, airtight attacks, the rhythm of Neji's assault suddenly slowed. Having forced himself to use the unfamiliar Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, his Chakra was nearly depleted.
Seizing the opportunity, Heavenly Dao pushed aside Neji's arms. Before Neji could regain his stance, Heavenly Dao lightly tapped Neji's forehead with two fingers. "I'll take the win, little brother Neji."
[Mission Complete: Successfully defeated Hyuga Neji. The Byakugan mission reward has been issued; please claim it in time.]
As the result of the battle became clear, a roar of discussion erupted among the watching students. Most were not surprised by the outcome; after all, in their eyes, it was only natural for a Chunin to defeat a student who hadn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy.
However, in the eyes of the Twelve Genin—most of whom came from shinobi clans—it was a different story, especially for Hyuga Hinata.
'Ne... Neji-niisan has already... already learned the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms?'
Hyuga Hinata, who hadn't even mastered the Tenketsu Art yet, couldn't help but lower her head. She wanted to step forward to show concern for the defeated Hyuga Neji, but her overly introverted personality kept her rooted to the spot, and she didn't even dare to make eye contact with him.
Another person whose state of mind was shaken by this duel was Uchiha Sasuke. He stared fixedly at the center of the field, calculating in his mind. He felt that if he were to fight either of them, he probably wouldn't last more than a few moves, even if he gave it his all.
A sense of powerlessness clouded Uchiha Sasuke's heart.
Uchiha Sasuke, who had been training hard but was stagnating due to a lack of guidance, suddenly felt agitated.
'What have I been doing all these years...'
Uchiha Sasuke clenched his fists so tightly his nails nearly dug into his flesh.
Besides that, there was another point that bothered him immensely.
'That gesture of poking the forehead that Chunin just used... does he know that man?'
All sorts of doubts swirled in Uchiha Sasuke's mind.
However, his outward reaction was similar to Hyuga Hinata's; he simply stood there staring blankly, his expression shifting between light and dark.
After all, Sasuke was an emotionally stable child; only the appearance of Uchiha Itachi would likely cause him to lose his cool.
As someone who had read the original story, Heavenly Dao naturally understood that his action of poking Hyuga Neji's forehead would trigger Uchiha Sasuke's PTSD.
He hadn't pointed his finger randomly; he had come prepared.
After the two missions triggered by Mizuki, Heavenly Dao had been trying to control the mission triggers. Sure enough, after he provoked Uchiha Sasuke, the system responded simultaneously.
[Latest Mission: Increase Clan Strength. Train Hyuga Hinata and boost her self-confidence.]
[Mission Reward: Gentle Fist Art: Tenketsu.]
[Latest Mission: Increase Clan Strength. Train Uchiha Sasuke and shatter his self-confidence.]
[Mission Reward: Fire Nature Chakra Enhancement.]
Two missions had unexpectedly popped up at once. However, the system was as moronic as ever. He wouldn't say anything about training Uchiha Sasuke being considered 'increasing clan strength.'
But how did Hyuga Hinata count toward that?
'Does my Uchiha Restoration System consider my roots to go back to the Ōtsutsuki Clan? Is everyone of Ōtsutsuki descent considered an Uchiha?'
'Isn't this a bit of a reversal of the natural order...'
Mizuki watched the high-spirited Heavenly Dao in the field, his teeth itching with rage, but he still held onto the hope that the Hyuga Clan would resent Heavenly Dao from now on.
However, that hope was quickly shattered. After being defeated, Hyuga Neji quickly composed his emotions and approached Heavenly Dao to thank him for showing mercy. Heavenly Dao responded with a smile and even gave some pointers on the flaws he had discovered in Hyuga Neji's palm techniques during the fight. Mizuki could only watch from the side as the two talked amiably.
"Good, very good."
Along with an aged voice reaching their ears, a short figure walked into the training field. He had slightly protruding cheekbones and graying hair, looking like an unremarkable old man.
However, the Hokage Gown on his back revealed his identity.
Everyone quickly bowed in greeting.
"Hokage-sama."
"Alright, alright, you are all good children," the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, said with a smile, waving his hand to let everyone relax. "There is no Hokage here, only your principal."
"I've been watching from the beginning," Hiruzen Sarutobi said. "Doing a practical combat drill before graduation—that's a good idea."
"Who proposed this idea?" Hiruzen Sarutobi inquired.
Mizuki, standing to the side, quickly nodded and raised his hand.
"Allowing students to practice fighting against a formal ninja before graduation," Hiruzen Sarutobi praised, "is a very good idea."
Hearing the Third Hokage's praise, Mizuki felt as if he had drunk sweet nectar; even the side of his face that was swollen like a pig's head didn't seem to hurt anymore.
"The key is that the person chosen was excellent. I have been derelict in my duties as Hokage by failing to properly scout such talent," Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, but Mizuki felt the tone of the conversation was starting to shift.
"Heavenly Dao, you're quite the hidden gem for an Agricultural Machinery Researcher," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a chuckle, teasing Heavenly Dao after his casual praise of Mizuki. "It seems I, as Hokage, have wronged you."
"Hokage-sama, you overpraise me."
Heavenly Dao shook his head repeatedly as if to show humility, but the uncontrollable curve of his lips betrayed his true thoughts.
'Keep the praise coming, I can take it.'
"Hokage-sama, our Farm Implement Research Squad is just about to produce results," Inuzuka Akita, sensing what was happening, quickly spoke up. "Heavenly Dao is a core member of our group; you can't transfer him away right now."
"Oh, what's with this 'your group' and 'our group' talk? Everyone works for the sake of Konoha," the Third Hokage chided her for her cliquishness, but then he added:
"Don't worry, my idea is this: Heavenly Dao can take a part-time position at the Ninja Academy as a Combat Instructor. Two classes a week, specifically to give pointers on practical combat techniques to the graduating class. What do you think?"
"Our research group's schedule is also very tight," Inuzuka Akita tried to argue further.
"Starting next month, the funding for the Farm Implement Research Squad will be increased by twenty percent," the Third Hokage said nonchalantly, his calm words carrying heavy weight.
"Hokage-sama, my research tasks are indeed very heavy..."
Seeing Inuzuka Akita's struggling expression as she was about to retreat, Heavenly Dao quickly stepped in.
"I think your salary can also be adjusted upward, Heavenly Dao."
The Third Hokage won a complete victory.
"Remember to come to the school for work tomorrow."