Yuta

At the same time, another person also stepped out from the group.

Even though no one had announced his name, the mere fact that he entered the field alongside Gen, combined with his white eyes, made it clear that he belonged to the Hyūga clan.

"That's Yuta Hyūga... He was the best in his class last year. They say that during the evaluations of his promotion, it was already being said that he had the level of a Genin."

"Really!? If that's true, then he already has victory in the bag."

"Not necessarily. Gen Uchiha is also a prodigy—he appeared out of nowhere this past year, and they say he's incredibly strong. Even several teachers have praised him."

"This is going to be good... The Uchiha and the Hyūga are the most famous clans in the village. A fight between them isn't just any battle; it's a clash between two bloodlines. It'll definitely be a spectacle!"

When Gen and Yuta arrived, the atmosphere changed immediately.

They positioned themselves six meters apart, each maintaining distance. Around them, the observing students began murmuring. Their full attention was on the confrontation that was about to begin.

A clan does not become a legend by chance. Its reputation is forged through generations of exceptional men, with stories of power and feats that set them apart from the rest.

The Uchiha and the Hyūga were living proof of this.

Each new generation brought extraordinary talents, young prodigies who kept the prestige of their lineage alive.

Yuta Hyūga was one of them.

Gen, for his part, was no stranger to him. They belonged to the same generation, and Yuta's name had been mentioned many times as the most outstanding student of the previous year.

However, upon learning that his opponent would be him, Gen showed no reaction whatsoever. There was no surprise. He simply observed him calmly.

Gen Uchiha…

Yuta pressed his lips together discreetly as he watched Gen. His tranquility was irritating. He had expected a defiant look, some gesture of recognition, but instead, the Uchiha looked at him with serenity, as if he wasn't even worth taking seriously.

His teeth clenched slightly. Does he really think I'm not a threat?

Or is he just that confident in his own strength?

Unlike Gen, who seemed completely relaxed, Yuta maintained his composure, but his eyes reflected something more than mere calm.

Just as Gen knew who he was, Yuta was also aware of Gen's meteoric rise. Over the past year, Gen had gone from being an average student to becoming a recognized prodigy.

Yuta wasn't someone who ignored the strong, much less someone like him. He had followed his progress, he had observed him, and though he had full confidence in his own ability, he also understood that he couldn't underestimate this opponent.

However, Gen's indifference was beginning to irritate him.

What does that expression mean? Does he not even see me as an opponent?

With his brow slightly furrowed, his body tensed subtly in anticipation.

He was on high alert, but the other… seemed completely unconcerned, bored, and this annoyed him more than he wanted to admit.

The rivalry between the Uchiha and the Hyūga had always existed, and due to the competitive relationship between the clans, Yuta's gaze toward Gen became even sharper.

"Perform the Seal of Confrontation."

The instructor's deep voice resounded. As the examiner, his duty was to ensure that everything proceeded according to the rules. Now that both were ready, he gave the order.

Gen, with his unchanged expression, raised his hand and made the seal. In front of him, Yuta did the same, his face reflecting seriousness.

"…Begin!"

As soon as they completed the gesture, the instructor wasted no time in starting the fight.

'Byakugan, activated!'

The instant the battle began, Yuta activated his Byakugan without hesitation. The veins around his eyes swelled instantly.

Unlike the Uchiha's Sharingan, the Hyūga's Byakugan was much more accessible in terms of activation. As long as a certain level of chakra control was reached, the dōjutsu awakened without complications.

But Yuta was no ordinary Hyūga. As a direct descendant of the main house, he did not bear the cursed seal that restricted the power of those in the branch family.

This meant that he could harness his Byakugan to the fullest, without limitations.

His vision expanded instantly. Not only could he see Gen with complete clarity, but his perception was drastically amplified. The Byakugan granted him telescopic and X-ray vision, allowing him to analyze every detail of the battlefield.

Everything was within his range.

Swoosh

Chakra exploded beneath Gen's feet, propelling him to move faster. Before anyone could react, his silhouette vanished, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of Yuta, as if he had teleported.

'Fast!'

Yuta's eyes widened in astonishment, and his expression hardened upon seeing Gen suddenly materialize before him. Even with his Byakugan activated, he had barely managed to catch a faint trace of his movement.

His instincts made him react immediately. His arm moved in an instant, launching a Jūken palm strike.

But Gen, without altering his expression, simply moved just enough to effortlessly dodge the attack. In the same motion, his hand grabbed Yuta's wrist.

?!

A chill ran down Yuta's spine, but before he could even process what was happening, his body was already in the air.

Boom

The impact was immediate. Gen lifted him forcefully and slammed him into the ground without the slightest hesitation. A clean, decisive blow.

!

The spectators were stunned.

In the blink of an eye, Yuta had been lifted by Gen and slammed against the ground with such force that the ground trembled.

Pain shot through every fiber of his body, forcing a small groan from his lips. His mind was in shock. The impact had left him disoriented, as if his body had completely fallen apart under the force of the blow.

But Gen didn't give him time to react.

In a single movement, he twisted Yuta's body, forcing him onto his stomach, his face pressed against the ground.

With one hand still gripping his wrist, the other firm on the back of his neck, and his right knee digging into the lower part of his back, Gen had completely immobilized him.

"..."

Silence took over the field.

Everything had happened in a matter of seconds. From the moment the instructor gave the order until now, only a few seconds had passed, and yet, the fight already seemed to be decided.

The observing students were completely stunned. Their eyes were wide open, their mouths agape in disbelief. Even the examiners, responsible for overseeing the test, took a few seconds to react.

"What… what just happened?"

"Was that it? Is it already over?"

"No way! This was supposed to be an exciting fight—how the hell was it decided so quickly?"

After a few moments of silence, the crowd erupted.

Some had expressions of absolute astonishment, while others simply couldn't believe what they were seeing. Yuta Hyūga, a prodigy, had been completely overwhelmed in a matter of seconds.

"Winner, Gen Uchiha!"

The examiner's voice finally cut through their chatter, announcing the result of the match. But even as he spoke, he still carried a surprise he hadn't yet shaken off.

Exchanging glances with the other examiners, he could see the same bewilderment on their faces. No one had expected such an outcome.

Gen remained there, as calm as ever, showing no emotion, keeping Yuta restrained with complete control.

This result hadn't just taken the students by surprise. Even the examiners themselves hadn't foreseen something like this.