Chapter 41 (Patreon)

“Huh?! But Genma-sensei, Sasuke still isn’t here!”

After hearing about the change to the match schedule, Naruto immediately protested. He had no idea what had happened to Dosu, but he was far more worried about Sasuke’s absence.

Genma Shiranui kept the senbon between his teeth and answered without the slightest concern.

“Whether he shows up or not has nothing to do with me.”

He glanced over the candidates.

“Now that you’ve seen the updated match list, everyone except Nerona Mihawk and Hyūga Neji will head to the waiting room.”

The other seven candidates began leaving the arena.

Even Naruto, who wanted to delay the matches and buy Sasuke more time, had no choice but to follow them.

Soon, only Mihawk, Neji, and Genma remained on the field.

In the audience, Hiashi Hyūga looked down at the two competitors.

“Hanabi, watch this match carefully,” he said. “Neji’s talent is far greater than your sister’s. He is a genius who has brought the Hyūga clan’s kekkei genkai close to its full potential.”

“Yes, Father.”

Hanabi answered at once, but most of her attention remained on Mihawk.

Compared to Neji, she was much more curious about the silver-haired boy who had arrived with her sister.

Excited voices spread through the stands before the match had even begun.

“This is great! We get to see a member of the Hyūga clan fight in the very first match!”

“That’s Neji Hyūga, isn’t it? I heard people were already calling him a genius while he was still at the Academy.”

“Who’s that silver-haired boy fighting him?”

“Poor guy. Getting matched against Neji in the first round is terrible luck.”

The spectators continued talking among themselves.

Many of them looked at Mihawk with pity, already convinced that he was about to lose.

Their reaction was understandable.

After the Uchiha clan, once known as Konoha’s strongest clan, had been wiped out, the Hyūga had taken that position within the village.

Neji’s reputation as a genius had also spread long before he graduated from the Academy.

Most ordinary villagers did not know much about shinobi combat, but even they understood that a ninja born with a kekkei genkai held a major advantage over one who was not.

Neji showed no sign of nervousness.

He activated his Byakugan, causing the veins around his temples to rise, and settled into the opening stance of the Gentle Fist.

“Draw your sword,” Neji said coldly. “I’ll repay you twice over for the humiliation you caused me a month ago.”

“Huh?”

Mihawk looked genuinely surprised.

Then a mocking smile appeared on his face.

“What are you talking about?”

Contempt filled his red eyes as he looked at Neji.

“You think someone like you is worth drawing my sword for?”

Neji’s expression darkened at once.

Mihawk ignored his anger and pulled a strip of black cloth from inside his kimono.

“Come to think of it, you and Hinata are cousins.”

His smile remained, but his gaze turned cold.

“For Hinata’s sake, I’ll give up both my eyes and my sword.”

Mihawk tied the black cloth over his eyes.

He then removed the red paper umbrella he carried on his back and held it loosely in one hand.

“I hope your Gentle Fist can at least make me put in some effort.”

Genma’s eyes narrowed.

Is this kid serious?

Even he had not expected Mihawk to go that far.

The audience erupted again.

“What is that silver-haired boy doing?”

“Why did he blindfold himself?”

“Does he have some kind of sensory technique?”

Inside the VIP box, Hiruzen sat beside Orochimaru, who was disguised as the Fourth Kazekage.

Both had heard Mihawk’s words.

“Konoha truly deserves its reputation for producing talented shinobi,” the disguised Orochimaru remarked. “It has been a long time since I’ve seen a young man with that much confidence.”

Hiruzen smiled and nodded.

“He doesn’t appear nervous in the slightest. That means this is not empty boasting.”

His eyes remained fixed on Mihawk.

“I’m interested to see what he does next.”

The other spectators saw Mihawk’s actions as reckless arrogance.

Hiruzen and Orochimaru saw something different.

Mihawk’s breathing was steady. His body was completely relaxed, and there was no hesitation in his movements.

He truly believed he could defeat Neji without his sight or his sword.

To Neji, however, Mihawk’s actions were nothing but humiliation.

His eyes grew colder as he turned toward Genma.

“Am I allowed to kill him?”

Genma did not react.

“Do what you want. Just don’t expect me to stop the match because you lose control.”

Neji turned back toward Mihawk.

“Fine.”

His voice was filled with anger.

“Then die with that arrogance of yours.”

Mihawk said nothing.

He casually spun the paper umbrella in his hand like a walking stick.

Then he raised his other hand toward Neji and curled his index finger, inviting him to attack.

Whoosh!

Neji did not waste another word.

He shot forward, becoming a blur as he rushed straight at Mihawk.

His bandaged right hand drove toward Mihawk’s chest in a sharp palm strike.

Mihawk did not move.

He remained in place until Neji’s palm was only inches away.

Then Neji suddenly stopped.

Mihawk’s left hand had caught his wrist.

No one had seen when he moved.

A layer of black Armament Haki covered Mihawk’s hand and wrist.

The movement had been so fast that even Neji’s Byakugan—and Genma’s trained eyes—had failed to follow it clearly.

Neji’s pupils contracted.

His left hand immediately moved to counter.

Thud!

Before he could strike, the tip of the red paper umbrella slammed into his stomach.

A crushing force exploded through Neji’s body.

His mouth fell open, and for an instant, he nearly lost consciousness.

Then a shoe filled his vision.

Still gripping Neji’s wrist, Mihawk pulled him forward and jumped.

His foot struck Neji squarely in the face.

Neji was sent flying across the arena.

Catch the wrist.

Drive the umbrella into the stomach.

Kick him away.

The three movements flowed together without the slightest pause.

It had all happened in less than three seconds.

And Mihawk had done it while blindfolded.

As Neji crashed to the ground, the once-noisy stadium fell completely silent.