I'm Inside Naruto Manga

With clear skies above and the referee announcing the start of the finals, the highly anticipated showdown began before the audience.

"Uzumaki Naruto VS Hyuga Neji!"

Logan sat in his seat, watching the electronic screen across from the VIP area displaying the lineup for the first match. The audience, packed tightly, erupted into excitement, their discussions cooling down as the two figures in the arena stood still.

Considering that Neji, who had no rivals in their year and should have no trouble advancing to Chunin, would lose to Naruto, Logan couldn't help but shook his head. Neji's strength made his advancement to Chunin perfectly plausible, but he was facing the protagonist with the BGM playing, making him invincible for those few minutes, 'Neji, you're so miserable.'

'No, that wasn't the right thing to say here.' Logan slapped his forehead, realizing it just slipped out.

With a command from Genma, the match began. Logan watched below as the two did not immediately start fighting but stood still, likely engaging in the usual pre-fight verbal sparring. Naruto's verbal sparring was the strongest, after all.

Due to their different personalities and Hinata being involved, Naruto and Neji had a grudge, disliking each other. Their banter, silent to the spectators, quickly grew frustrating. Could they cut the theatrics and get down to business? Just as the audience was about to start booing, Naruto finally charged forward, only to quickly fall behind after a few exchanges.

The battle's course didn't diverge much from the original work. Logan rested his chin on his hand. He had seen enough new Ninjas in real fights, so watching a low-intensity match didn't really capture the fun and interest of the original work.

The Hyuga Clan's Taijutsu was renowned in Konoha. Naruto's attacks were all easily blocked, and Neji countered with Gentle Fist, knocking Naruto away. Seeing the situation worsen, Naruto used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, summoning a bunch of clones to help.

Logan watched the fight for a while, then his attention started wandering. The villagers around him were thoroughly enjoying the show, occasionally cheering. His gaze also scanned over Sakura and Ino sitting ahead, both clenching their fists, cheering for their comrades. Most people's reactions were similar, except for a few tense Ninjas.

An ANBU caught Logan's attention as he walked over, probably tired, taking a few steps towards the E area to stretch before heading back.

Logan turned his head, noticing the ANBU with a low presence scattered throughout the venue. He glanced at one ANBU standing motionless in the aisle, 'Although you're positioned at the back row, wearing an animal mask in broad daylight made you look quite conspicuous, you know?'

'Or was it that they were confident in handling any potential crisis?' Logan looked at the nearest ANBU, which is about eight or nine steps away from him, considering whether to strike up a conversation since Naruto's shadow clone tactic was getting dull.

The battle below was heating up, with Neji clearly dominating. In basic skills, Taijutsu, and timing, Neji had the advantage. However, Naruto resisted very tenaciously. Every time he fell to the ground, he would get up and fought again, relying on his large Chakra reserves and fast recovery.

"Sigh." Logan sighed, not interested in watching Naruto's imminent comeback accompanied with the usual BGM. He stood up from his seat in the back row and casually approached the nearby ANBU.

"Hey, buddy, standing there must be tiring. Why not take a seat?"

Logan's unusual greeting made the masked person hesitate for a moment. However, after understanding the content, the previously tense figure relaxed as Logan approached.

The ANBU gave Logan a brief glance and replied in a stiff tone, "No need."

'A bit aloof, huh?' Logan cleared his throat. After all, he had been the Captain in the ANBU himself, so couldn't he get some respect? Opening his mouth to speak, Logan thought better of it. After all, the ANBU was on duty, and there was no need to pull rank.

Standing awkwardly for a moment, pretending to watch the match, Logan noticed the ANBU remained motionless and silent, completely unreadable behind the mask. If he didn't break the ice, the silence would freeze over. After all, he had once been able to influence even the stoic Takeshi into making jokes. Logan quickly rallied.

"The two Genin down there are really going at it, huh? Haha, to be honest, the blond one is my student. He's getting beaten pretty badly now, but he'll definitely win."

'Win? How? Isn't that intriguing? Don't you want to know how Naruto, who's at a complete disadvantage, will turn the tables?'

"..."

Yet the silence remained unbroken.

The ANBU still didn't move, and the atmosphere remained as calm as a still pond. The cheers of the nearby audience seemed to belong to a different world.

Logan was stunned, and his expression froze, 'Come on, this is really awkward. At least respond, even if it's to say you're not interested. Just say something!'

"Please return to your seat and watch the match."

Finally, hearing such a formal reply. Logan actually felt relieved. At least he spoke. Feeling deflated, Logan walked back to his seat, his mood turning gray from the failed conversation.

'This doesn't make sense. We're from the same village, and it's not like there's an emergency. Why so unapproachable.' Logan thought, feeling both annoyed and puzzled. But the awkwardness from before made him quickly dismiss the thought.

"Wow! What's happening!"

"The blond kid hasn't lost yet?"

"Look, the Hinata Clan's genius has been knocked away!"

Not long after he sat down, the surrounding noise suddenly escalated. People were discussing and exclaiming in surprise. Evidently, the unexpected had occurred in the match.

Looking down, Logan saw that Naruto, through sheer willpower and some strategy, had turned the tables. Neji, exhausted by Naruto's relentless persistence and drained from the mental strain of his clan's internal conflict, was at his limit. Naruto's decisive punch knocked Neji down, unable to get up.

"Winner, Uzumaki Naruto!"

Although exhausted, Naruto stood up excitedly, raising his hand in victory.

Neji, who was lying on the ground, stared up at the sky, bewildered by his loss.

'Caged Bird'…

Under the glory of every great clan, there are dark things that ordinary people don't know about. Neji's radical attitude was a reflection of the Hyuga Clan's internal misunderstandings stemming from the main family's control over the branch family. The resolution and happy ending would be up to the influential figures of the clan to resolve.

A few minutes later, during the short break before the next match, while people were still immersed in the victory of the unpopular Uzumaki Naruto, Logan saw Aida walking over.

"Congratulations, I didn't expect your student to actually win." Aida's upright face was filled with emotion. As Naruto and Neji, who were both seriously injured, were carried off the field by the Medical-nin, Aida said, "Young people are scary."

"Naruto works very hard. Even geniuses shouldn't underestimate the determination of ordinary people."

"After all, he is the Fourth Hokage's..." Aida paused, not finishing the words, "But that kid Neji, such a talented child, actually has such views on the main family. It's troubling..."

Logan looked at Aida, who looked a little melancholy. As far as he knew, Aida wasn't fond of the family's practice of dividing into main and branch families to preserve their bloodline.

"Clan Head Hiashi has already left." Aida said, looking in a particular direction, seemingly lost in thought before regaining his focus.

Faced with the affairs and internal conflicts of the great clan, Logan knew it was better to talk less and listen more. Aida chatted with Logan for a while and got down to the topic.

"Hattori, have you noticed anything strange?" Aida's voice became softer, "For example, ANBU?"