Naruto: Naruto's Uchiha girlfriend is too arrogant

Chapter 254 I'm really bad at lecturing.

The person he most longed to see appeared precisely when he was at his most vulnerable and disheveled. All of Neji's thoughts were swept away.

He had been striving to follow the path the other person had pointed out, hoping to one day gain recognition, but just after suffering a crushing defeat and completely failing to live up to those expectations, he reunited with the other person.

He, hailed as a genius of the Hyuga clan, had only one thought at this moment: he wished he could disappear from the spot immediately, or find a crack in the ground to crawl into—he absolutely could not let the person in front of him see him in such a disheveled and humiliating state…

Is it a dream? Yes, it must be another dream!

That's right... Lord Menma is the mysterious and powerful leader of the [Jin] organization! How could he possibly appear in a Chunin Exams setting like this...? Yes, just like countless nights before, this is just a dream...

Neji frantically tried to convince himself internally, attempting to escape this cruel reality. Menma, completely unprepared for the boy's rich inner world, spoke again when he didn't respond.

"What's wrong? Don't you have anything to say to me? Hizashi misses you very much. I can't stay here too long. Do you have anything to say that you'd like me to pass on to your father?"

These seemingly simple words were completely different from any "dream" Neji had envisioned—there was no approval, no praise. These words were like a bucket of ice water, instantly waking Neji from his self-constructed fantasy, making him jolted awake!

This is not a dream... Lord Menma... has really come...

It really happened to him when he had lost so completely and was so utterly defeated!

"...Lord Menma...I'm so sorry!"

Neji suddenly got up from the hospital bed, bowed deeply to Menma, his voice choked with sobs, and tears welled up uncontrollably. This sudden action startled Menma.

Neji was filled with immense shame. He had always remembered Menma's expectations for his growth, and yet he had appeared before her in such a humiliating manner. For someone as proud and arrogant as him, this was nothing short of the deepest "humiliation."

"I...I have let you down...I...I have lost...I...I have failed the path you pointed out...I do not deserve your approval...I...I have brought shame to my father...I have disappointed you..."

He spoke haltingly, tears streaming down his face. He didn't look like a ninja who had just gone through a fierce battle; rather, he looked like a sinner who was repenting.

Although Menma had anticipated that Neji might be frustrated, Neji's intense reaction was still more serious than he had expected.

"Disappointed...?" Menma's voice rang out calmly, without the expected reproach. "Where am I disappointed?"

Neji lifted his tear-streaked face, his eyes filled with confusion and incomprehension, not understanding why Menma would ask such a question.

"Neji, tell me, how old are you this year?" Menma asked a different question.

Although he didn't understand the purpose of the question, Neji answered honestly, "Ten...fourteen years old."

Menma nodded. "So why should I be disappointed? A fourteen-year-old boy who already possesses strength approaching that of a Jonin—isn't that enough to satisfy me?"

This comforting praise made Neji instantly understand the other person's intention. He lowered his head again, his heart overwhelmed by a huge, overwhelming gratitude, unsure how to respond to the warmth and affirmation given to him in his most vulnerable moment.

"Neji, tell me," Menma took a step forward, "what exactly are you feeling guilty about?"

Menma guided Neji while inwardly sighing helplessly. Doing psychological counseling is really tiring... It's really not suitable for a ninja to be a psychologist.

"But... I still lost..." Neji's voice was low, filled with a bitterness that he couldn't let go of.

"Lost?" Menma shook his head slightly. "But what you felt, was it 'defeat' itself, or was it because you finally realized that you are not omnipotent? It seems that you misunderstood something from the beginning."

Ignoring the anxious and confused look on Neji's face, Menma continued, "The 'strength' I told you about back then was never about becoming the 'strongest,' nor was it about demanding that you never admit defeat."

"A rushing river. When it encounters an unbreakable rock, does it choose to 'wear it down' day after day, or wisely 'detour' to accumulate strength and flow towards the wider sea? Both choices demonstrate its power as a 'river.' Your battle with Li is not the end or stain of your fate, but a precious opportunity for you to truly see the essence of your own 'river' and clarify your future direction."

"Every attempt made with all our might may not yield results. But every sincere effort and challenge deserves respect in itself."

"A flourishing garden and abundant harvests both require a long process."

Menma leaned down and gently placed her hand on Neji's shoulder, which was trembling slightly due to his emotional state.

"Being able to clearly see the boundaries of one's abilities and the 'outer shell' of one's personality through this opportunity is itself a rare breakthrough. Daring to admit one's powerlessness at certain moments is precisely the starting point of strength."

"Remember, changing your destiny doesn't require you to smash every boulder in your path. True strength lies in whether you have the will and resilience to keep moving forward despite carrying these burdens and setbacks."

"Today's failure is the 'fate' you will have to bear in the future and ultimately overcome."

"When you no longer fall into a vortex of self-loathing because of a temporary setback, but can calmly accept it and transform it into a foundation that broadens your vision and solidifies your path—you, Hyuga Neji, have already truly embarked on the right path to change your destiny."

"So..." Menma concluded with absolute certainty, "You've done more than enough. There's no need, and you should never feel ashamed of the effort and sweat you've put in."

It wasn't a denial of the path he had always adhered to, but rather a pointing to a deeper direction for him... Neji's self-loathing began to gradually melt away and fade away in these words...

Instead, he felt a sense of relief and gratitude at being understood, forgiven, and fully known. He simply raised his head, staring blankly at the fox mask, as if trying to see more through it.

After saying these words, Menma looked at Neji's gaze—those pure Byakugan eyes were now filled with almost pure worship, unreserved trust, and deep dependence, and her fair cheeks were slightly flushed.

This side of Neji was completely new to Menma, who was familiar with the aloof and arrogant image of the "original work"... It made him feel a little nauseous and even somewhat uncomfortable.

However, judging from this reaction, the intervention seems to have been successful... Neji probably won't continue to wallow in guilt and self-doubt...

"This is exhausting..." Mianma silently wiped away a bead of sweat in his heart. Trying to change someone's mindset with the power of words... Don't be ridiculous, that kind of thing is just a joke, it doesn't exist in reality.