Chapter 25: The Gentle Fist of Misunderstanding and the Nosebleed Victory part-2
"Aahhn~!"
It was not a cry of pain. It was a high-pitched, breathless moan that echoed through the silent arena. It sounded like something from one of Kakashi's orange books.
Neji froze. His hand was still pressed against my chest. His Byakugan eyes widened in sheer confusion.
"W-What?" Neji stammered.
The spectators on the balcony froze.
"Did she just...?" Kiba whispered.
"Oh my," Kakashi said, looking up from his book.
Neji pulled his hand back as if he had been burned. "You... what is wrong with you? Why did you make that noise?"
I was mortified. I wanted to die. But the System wasn't done.
[Passive Effect Triggered: "Pheromone Burst" (Defensive).]
[Description: When the Host is struck in a romantic zone, she releases a cloud of chakra-infused pheromones to confuse the attacker.]
A faint, pink mist erupted from my body. It smelled like strawberries and vanilla.
Neji, who was standing inches away and using his Byakugan (which sees chakra), got a face full of the pink mist.
He inhaled.
Neji Hyuga, the stoic genius, blinked. His pupils dilated. The killing intent vanished, replaced by a sudden, overwhelming rush of blood to the head.
"This scent..." Neji wobbled. "It is... pleasant?"
He looked at me. I was blushing, panting, and looking at him with watery eyes (from the pain/shame).
To the Pheromone-addled Neji, I didn't look like a failure. I looked... incredibly cute.
"Hinata-sama..." Neji whispered. His face turned red.
Then, a single stream of blood trickled down from his left nostril.
"Neji?" I whispered, confused.
Neji stumbled back. "I... I cannot strike... such a... flower..."
He clutched his nose. The blood flow increased. It became a geyser.
Splurt.
Neji's eyes rolled back in his head. The combination of the "moan" shock and the pheromone overdose was too much for his sheltered, repressed upbringing.
"Destiny..." Neji mumbled. "...is... soft..."
He collapsed face-first onto the stone floor.
Thud.
Silence. Absolute silence.
Hayate Gekko blinked. He walked over and poked Neji. Neji did not move. He was out cold, swimming in a small pool of his own nosebleed.
"Uh..." Hayate coughed awkwardly. "Neji Hyuga is unable to continue. Winner... Hinata Hyuga."
The crowd erupted—not in cheers, but in confused murmurs.
"What kind of jutsu was that?" Sakura asked, horrified.
"I don't know," Naruto said, looking slightly jealous. " But Neji just exploded!"
"That is the terrifying power of the Main Branch," Guy Sensei nodded solemnly to Lee. "The 'Sexy Jutsu' Variation: Innocent Seduction. Very dangerous."
I stood there, clutching my chest. I had won.
I had moaned at my cousin, gave him a nosebleed, and he fainted.
[Ding!]
[Victory Achieved!]
[Achievement: "The Pacifist Pervert." You defeated an enemy without dealing damage.]
[Reward: 3,000 Shy Points.]
[Current Status: The entire village now thinks you run a dungeon.]
Medical ninjas rushed in to collect Neji.
"He has lost a lot of blood!" one medic shouted. "It is an extreme vascular reaction!"
I slowly walked back up the stairs. I couldn't look anyone in the eye.
"Hinata!" Kiba grabbed my shoulders. "That was... I don't even know what that was! Did you poison him with perfume?"
"Something like that," I whispered.
"Good job," Shino nodded. "Psychological warfare is highly effective against rigid opponents like Neji."
I sat down in the corner and pulled my knees to my chest. I defeated Neji. I changed destiny.
But at what cost?
...............…..
The rest of the preliminaries passed in a blur. Lee lost to Gaara (it was tragic). Naruto beat Kiba (by farting—which made me feel slightly better about my own clumsiness).
Finally, it was over. The winners were gathered.
"You will fight in the finals in one month," the Hokage announced. "Use this time to train."
I drew a lot. I looked at the paper.
[Match 1: Naruto Uzumaki vs. Neji Hyuga]
[Match 2: Hinata Hyuga vs. Dosu Kinuta]
Wait. The bracket had shifted because I won. I was fighting the Mummy Guy. The guy I had accidentally stripped in the street.
Dosu stared at me from across the room. He pointed a bandaged finger at me.
"You," he growled. "This time, I will wear a belt. And suspenders. You won't humiliate me again."
I gulped.
............
We were dismissed. The sun was setting over Konoha.
"One month," Kurenai Sensei said, meeting us outside. "Hinata, I am going to train you personally. We need to control that... ability... you used on Neji."
"It wasn't an ability!" I cried. "It was an accident!"
"Whatever it was, it worked," Kurenai smiled. "But you need real defenses. Come with me."
As I followed Kurenai, I heard a voice.
"Hinata!"
Naruto was running toward me. He looked battered from his fight with Kiba, but happy.
"You were awesome!" Naruto grinned. "I mean, it was weird, but you won! We both won!"
"Y-Yes, Naruto-kun," I smiled shyly.
"Hey," Naruto scratched his cheek. "Since we have a month... maybe we can train together sometime? I need to learn how to deal with Neji, and you beat him."
My heart stopped. Naruto wanted to train with me. Alone.
"I... I would like that," I whispered.
"Great!" Naruto gave me a thumbs up. "See ya!"
He ran off.
I stood there, feeling lighter than air.
"System," I thought. "Maybe... just maybe... this isn't so bad."
[System Notification: Don't get cocky. You have a date with a mummy in 30 days. And training with Naruto implies high probability of 'Accidental Peeping', 'Waterfall Slips', and 'Hot Spring Mishaps'.]
[Shop Update: "Water-Repellent Towel" is now on sale.]
I sighed. "Buy it. Buy ten of them."
[Transaction Complete.]
I walked home, ready for the training arc.
.................
Name: Hinata Hyuga Shy Points: 4,800. Victories: Neji Hyuga (via Nosebleed KO). Reputation: The Siren of the Leaf / The Girl Who Makes Geniuses Faint. Next Opponent: Dosu (The Mummy). Love Interest Status: Naruto is impressed and slightly confused. Neji is recovering from anemia.
..............
.....
You can read the advanced chapters of all my novels at patreon for only 2.99$/ month at ultimate patreon tier
https://www.patreon.com/c/Vidhifate
...